A magnificent show is what Russia is offering us tonight. An imposing opening featuring Dima Bilan performing last-year’s winning song. So far we’ve heard 8 songs, most of them deserving to win. Who is going to win tonight? Hang on till after 12.00 CET, when the winner will be announced.
Eurovision
In the heyday of the Eurovision season, Romania selected its 2009 Eurovision representative – this time a girl. Elena Gheorghe will sing the song The Balkan Girls – an upbeat pop song.
Romania has long traditions in Eurovision, and is constantly seducing its former entrants. For this reason, among the jurors who selected the song was also the old Eurovision acquaintance Mihai Traistariu.
Although in recent years, Romania has relied on songs performed in Romanian or Italian, this time the solo artist will sing in English. This is a serious turn, which in the combination of the pop style and with the even better dances of Elena, might bring success to the Balkan country.
Romania has participated in the European music event since 1994. For its ten participations, it made it to the third place thanks to Luminita Anghel and Sistem and their song Let Me Try
Have you ever thought that Eurovision artists can be or become popular in the US? It is possible only if the music is universal, which electronic music, and the music of DJ Balthazar specifically, is.
So, here he is, the charming and talented DJ Balthazar, a.k.a. in his country DJ Baltazvyar (DJ Balta-beast), going on a long tour across the USA. At the very start of the new year Balthazar is getting ready for his next tour – in mid-January he embarks on a journey to the various US cities, which will be his first tour in North America. His hectic schedule features 6 gigs in some of the hottest night clubs in Chicago, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Mmm, are you thinking of getting the plane to Hollywood?
In 2008, DJ Balthazar has eventually become one of the most popular Bulgarian DJs, thus one of the missionaries of Eurovision across the Atlantic. He managed to export the Bulgarian electronic music industry to countries such as Egypt, the UK, Portugal, Malta, Slovakia, Greece, Turkey, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, and Macedonia.
Just a week ago the Macedonian Radio Television announced the start of its national Eurovision campaign, called Festival “Skopje 2009”. The festival will be held on 19, 20 and 21 February 2009 in the Universal Hall in Skopje, Macedonia.
Fresh changes have been introduced this year: two Semifinal and a Great Final shows will decide the fate of the Macedonian song, which will participate in the 54th ESC, in May 2009. A professional jury will pick up 32 songs to compete in the two Semifinals (16 in each). Only 8 entries from each Semifinal will survive to see the Great Final on 21 February 2009. The winner will be decided by a blend of jury/televoting procedure.
It’s fascinating how the rules of the local selection suggest that all the songs have to be performed in the Macedonian language. Over Christmas, to be precise 25 December, is the deadline for submission of entries. The 32 songs to compete for the ticket to Moscow will be announced in January next year.
Special thanks to Gordana Andrasevska, MKRTV HOD ESC 2009 for this piece of news
“If you feel capable of imitating Massiel, Karina or Rodolfo Chikilicuatre, and want once and for all to bring Eurovision to Spain, this is your chance.” This is how the Spanish broadcaster TVE has decided to select its 2009 ESC representative – via an online announcement on Myspace.
This year they are not only looking for the most capable, talented, attractive, and charismatic representative of Spain at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow, but also for one of the five jurors who will help select them. 50 songs qualifying for the semi-final will be selected in a mixed jury and audience vote.
This is not the first time TVE has turned to online applications to pick its Eurovision entrant, remember? Last year they had the same process, which they reckon proved successful and sent Rodolfo to Serbia. The deadline is December 19, so if you feel like joining the extravaganza, be quick!
The European audience has just chosen its favourite 2008 Eurovision song – Belive!
He comes from Russia and this is his second participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Here is the top ten ranking:
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Greece
- Armenia
- Norway
- Serbia
- Turkey
- Azerbaijan
- Israel
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
Tonight we enjoyed a magnificent show. The First Semi-Final was a blend of wonderful songs and performances. Only 10 survived out of the 19 participants.
Here is the list of the songs qualifying for the Final on 24 May:
- Greece
- Romania
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Finland
- Russia
- Israel
- Azerbaijan
- Armenia
- Poland
- Norway
25th April, 9PM is the Friday you need to mark in your organisers because this will be a huge huge preview Eurovision party, to mark the last month before the Contest in Belgrade. The party will rock will the early hours of Saturday, as the hosts promise to close the event not earlier than 3AM. The venue – Scala, London.
This will be a party, which’ll give all Eurovision fans living on the Island, the change to warm up for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest. British, French, German and Dutch, as long as you like Eurovision, will be able to come and join in the hot show.
The main actor: DJ Dave Simmons will be blending in popular historical and trendy contemporary Eurovision sound. Several artists participating in this-year’s event in Belgrade will be special guests, among them Maltese Morena, the charismatic charmer from Ukraine Ani Lorak, American-born Isis Gee representing Poland this year, and the sweet Euroband from Iceland.
Well, this party definitely promises to become something that any Eurovision fan respecting themselves should not miss!
Have you already bought your ticket for the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade? No?! Just an hour ago internet sales opened up. So, brace yourself up and click your way to the ticket point.
Do you remember the long wait? It seems to have been worth it. This time the organisers have said ‘no’ to individual tickets, and up until mid-Match you will be able to only buy a ticket package for a number of events. That would come in very handy.
So, waste no time and get your package. See you there!
Much ado about Dansk Melodi Grand Prix and… Hera
XHera (but no Zeus) will fight hard to represent Denmark in Moscow in May this year. Ms. Hera Björk will sing the song “Someday” – a strong solo. “It is a great song with a catchy melody, fun to sing…,” says Hera herself in an interview for DR Denmark” There’s been so much information and campaigning about the Iclandic diva, that the rest of the competition seem to fade away, though not quite.
The young singer was born in Iceland, but has moved to the Danish capital four years ago. In fact the lot behind the song also come from all over Scandinavia and are well known for their fervent Eurovision activity: the composers Christina Schilling and Jonas Gladnikoff from Sweden, and the Swedish authors Henrik Szabo and Daniel Nilsson.
As you might remember from previous posts on Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, Ms. Björk will be competing with nine other artists in a new-style Danish domestic show – a single national final will select Denmark’s favourite.
The ten artists competing in Copenhagen on 31 January are: Christina Undhjem, Claus Christensen, Jeppe Laursen, Jimmy Jørgensen, SUKKERCHOK, Brinck, Hera Björk, Johnny Deluxe, Marie Carmen Koppel and Trine Jepsen.
Here is a short list with some notes for you to keep an eye on the Danish Melodi Grand Prix:
Brinck Believe Again — His earlier hit I don’t Wanna Love Her is a truly mild ballad with inspiring lyrics and genuine sound. Pop star Ronan Keating himself stands behind the project Believe Again.
Claus Christensen — Big Bang Baby — Yet another pop singer with substantial experience in Eurovision who can cry at the top of his voice “vote for me”.
Christina Undhjem — Underneath My Skin — Born in Norway, Christina has a taste for lyrical mystical music and she can do it well.
Hera Björk — Someday
SUGAR shocks — Det’ det
Trine Jepsen — I Never Fall In Love Again
Wildcard: Jeppe Laursen — Lucky Boy — and indeed he is…
Wildcard: Jimmy Jørgensen — Alice In The Wonderland — if music can be nostalgic, that’s his music
Wildcard: Johnny Deluxe — Crazy
Wildcard: Marie Carmen Koppel — Crying Out Your Name