GERMANY: A LOT OF EFFORT FOR UNSER LIED FUR ISRAEL

From over 1.000 submissions down to 198 by an expert panel, then down to 20 by international jury for the Workshop. Apparently five acts didn't take part in the process even if chosen due personal or other reasons, and same further acts wished to remain anonymous - at least until they were chosen....

On Novembr 8, 2018 the six finalists were announced, three of them being among the originally named ones plus three names out of the blue.
The winner of Unser Lied für Israel be chosen by televote, 100 members of Eurovision panel and international jury of 20 members who have been involved in selecting the entry of their own country. The Eurovision panel has been involved in the process from the beginning and includes members from all over Europe and are fans etc.

Aly Ryan

BB Thomaz

Gregor Hägele

Barna

Daniel Schuhmacher

Diana Schneider

Dimi Rompos

Nicole Cross

Nina Kutschera

Sebastian Schub Iwithdraw)

Thilo Berndtand

Linus Bruhn

Lilly among Clouds

Makeda

On mid Nomember the songwriters attending the songwriting camp were revealed including several interesting names starting with Finnish Axel Ehnström (aka Paradise Oskar, ESC 2011), Danish Thomas Steengaard (co-writer of Eurovision winner Only teardrops and last year's German entry You let me walk alone), Danish Tim Schou of Friend in London fame (ESC 2011), Norwegian Laila Samuelsen aka Samuels, Nisse Ingwersen and Nina Muller, co-authors of You let me walk alone. Other foreign names include Americans Kristine Bogan, Andrew Tyler and Michael Ochs as well as Kevin Jones, Richard Judge, Oliver Som and Duncan Townsend from UK, Tamara Olorga from Austria and Jonas Shandel from Canada. German authors include Steven Bashir, Ricardo Bettiol, Marcus Brosch, Lucas Droese, David Jurgens, Michelle Leonard, Dennir Neuer, Tom Olbrich, Tim Uhlenbrock and of course all the artists who can also work their own songs, and songs outside the workshop will be also considered. Each artist selects one song for the final.

Finally in January the competing songs were announced, with addition of Sisters to the line up:

Aly Ryan: Wear Your Love

(Aly Ryan, Michelle Leonard, Thomas Stengaard, Tamara Olorga)

BB Thomaz: Demons

(BB Thomaz, Andrew Tyler, Ricardo Bettiol, Tim Schou)

Gregor Hägele: Let me go

(Gregor Hägele, Jonas Shandel, David Jürgens, Tamara Olorga)

lilly among clouds: Surprise

(Elisabeth Brüchner, Udo Rinklin)

Linus Bruhn: Our City

(Linus Bruhn, Dave Roth, Pat Benzner, Serhat Sakin, Simon Reichardt)

Makeda: The Day I Loved You Most

(Makeda, Tim Uhlenbrock, Kelvin Jones, Kristine Bogan)

Sisters: Sister

(Laurell Barker, Marine Kaltenbacher, Tom Oehler, Thomas Stengaard)

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Sabina Babayeva for Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani selection show for the represant was as long as the selection process for the five finalists. Kurt Calleja from Malta and Can Bonomo from Turkey were present with Ell/Nikki to see Sabina Babayeva to emerge as the winner after each and every finalist had done about zillion songs amongst other guests. Now the Azeri TV will shop around a suitable song for her.

SONGS OF THE YEAR 2015: #5 KRISTA SIEGFRIDS - ON & OFF

Krista Siegfrids is delivering nice pop tunes one after another and this one is particularly catchy and soon you will be singing along..... Hopefully her Melodifestivalen entry will be equally good!

ESC 2015 NORWAY: LISTEN TO THE FINALISTS

The Norwegian entries are now and there to listen, or here . This time Norway has only one off final with 11 songs and a live orchestra, so it will be interesting to hear how these songs will turn out as most are rather modern sounding and not so Eurovisionesque midtempo numbers. There could have been also only ten if they had dropped that joke entry from the line up. The old veterans Elisabeth and Tor have nothing to be ashamed among this lot. To be honest I didn't get excited by any of these really... Something is wrong in my books if a classic schlager like Heaven sounds almost the best... What's wrong Norway?

ESC 2016 WISH LIST: MARGARET FOR POLAND

Małgorzata Jamroży aka Margaret has also been tipped for Eurovision and apparently she did turn it down but she'd be perfect. She's got a look and persona you can't unnotice nor forget, she's got hit songs, she has been voted or nominated for everything from Trendy artist to the Hope of the Year, Fashion Icon and Glamour Woman of the year besides the usual best video, song, album, debut..... Oh she's also a fashion designer! She's very clever with social medias and would surely use it to her advantage if selected for Stockholm 2016. Her debut album is titled Add the blonde , do we need to say more? Except it includes mostly Swedish written pop tunes like Tell me how are ya , Wasted , Start a fire and Heartbeat . And of course her debut single and internationally noticed Thank you very much that you can enjoy below with all its anti-textil feel. I think she's Eurovision perfection, she's cheeky and fun, can we have her?

FINLAND: LORDI RELEASES SEXORCISM - THEIR 9TH STUDIO ALBUM

Brand new studio album SEXORCISM is released tomorrow, 12 years and 5 days after their monstreous victory in Athens 2006 Eurovision song contest. It is quite possibly the most controversial Lordi album yet and already their 9th stuido album (plus three compilations and one Ep)

THE ABBA REUNION 2016 - WATCH THEM SING TOGETHER AGAIN

The 2016 Eurovision song contest organizers didn't manage it - or any of the previous ones either nor those offering them millions of dollars - but they seem to get together for birthdays, the way the old friends do. Back in 1999 they performed together in a private party for Görel Hansel's 50th birthday, and now to celebrate the first meeting of Björn and Benny 50 years ago. Venue was Stockholm's Bern's Salonger and once again in a private setting but today even they can't stop the cell phone videos and social medias. Enjoy the magic of Frida's and Agnetha's voices again.

ESC 2016 BELARUS: NAKED WITH WOLVES?

Today's funniest Eurovision related story comes from Belarus. Some sources claim Ivan wants to perform on stage naked and with live wolf or wolves. It surely would be a first on Eurovision stage! We have seen some forgotten underwear over the years, and some cardbox animals though..... Is it time to take things a bit further? No, according the rules live animals are not allowed, and Eurovision being a family show nudity won't do either. (It seems to be ok to be half naked if you are a dancer though..... )

GOODBYE, FAREWELL...

The time has come. After all these years, 5,7 million visits, 12.000 articles I guess the time has come. As much as I love and care for Eurovision it just doesn't feel the same. The Corona years took their toll and the past two years and certain decisions have helped me to mature the idea that next year I will hear the songs for the first time in semi-final just like any so called local. The bubble has burst. Add the toxicity in social medias and fandom. The arrogant teenagers who saw their first contest somewhere 2017 or even 2021 who think they know it all and only their opinion matters. Did I mention the toxic atmosphere on social medias? I'm too old for that sh*t. It's been a long ride that took me to various Eurovision on spot as a fan and tourist, as a journalist, as a delegation member. I met some great people, made memories of lifetime. In stressful, sad periods of my life this blog has been my safe place, a place to escape and forget everything else for an hour o...

ITALY: WHO ARE MÅNESKIN - EUROVISION 2021 WINNERS? CAREER IN WORDS AND PHOTOS

"Siamo fuori di testa, ma diversi da loro" they wrote in Instagram already in May 2017. The street musicians from Rome have gone a long via X Factor to Sanremo and to Eurovision in a short time. As I didn't do any artist presentations this year, and to be honest I'm not so familiar with Måneskin, let's do a short biography who they are and what they have been up to in the past few years. The band is made of lead singer Damiano David (21), Victoria De Angelis (20) in bass, Thomas Raggi (19) in guitar and Ethan Torchio (20) in drums. Novembre 2015. Damiano asked Victoria to form a band, she brought in her friend and school mate from Monteverde Thomas. Ethan was found after an ad in Facebook. The year after they took part in a competition Pulse - High school band contest and won it. The same year they had their official concert and usually they were found playing in the streets of Rome, their hometown. 2017. They took part in X Factor when they all were j...

CAROLA'S BOOBS STEAL THE SHOW, SVT APOLOGIES

Update! Another thing got Swedes talking last night: Carola's boobs when she was giving away an award. This is not the first time her boombs cause headlines; her misfortunate adventures in the 80's in Japan wer explained with her boobs being too big for Japanese market. Ok.... Or was it the song ? Anyways, Carola apologies and says she thinks the dress is stylish and elegant (even her friends said so) and she's a mature woman in her 40s, not a 16-year-old girl and looks like one. The Swedish Oscars, Guldbagge awards were given out last night. Carola was there as a guest star to sing Barbra Streisand's The way we were when honoring the movie stars who passed away during 2012. However, the cameras were too much on Carola, not on the stars showed in photos in the background and that upset many viewers as that part of the show was to celebrate them, not Carola. Oh well... The producer of the show tells in Aftonbladet the part of the show was made the sam...

Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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