All posts by Roy van der Merwe

2017 Junior Eurovision Song Contest

JUNIOR EUROVISION 2017 – AUSTRALIA SELECTS

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Isabella Clarke {copyright: ABCMe}
Isabella Clarke {copyright: ABCME}

 PRESS RELEASE

Sunday, October 8, 2017 — The ABC is excited to announce that Isabella Clarke will sing Speak Up, a modern pop anthem about young people having a voice in the world, at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2017 (JESC) held on Sunday 26 November at the Tbilisi Sports Palace, Georgia.Isabella, the 13-year-old singing sensation chosen to represent Australia at the JESC 2017, hails from Melbourne, Victoria. She made her debut on the Melbourne singing scene four years ago and has been a shining star ever since. As well as receiving many accolades performing at various singing competitions, Isabella also held a coveted principal vocalist role in the 2017 Victorian State Schools Spectacular.The upbeat and inspiring song is about believing in the power of youth and encourages younger generations to be confident and speak up about issues they’re facing. The song was composed and written by Toby Chew Lee, Cameron Nacson, Chloe Papandrea, and Jess Porfiri,

“I absolutely love Speak Up! To me it’s about being able to speak your mind and not be afraid. It’s about kids having the confidence to talk about the things happening in their lives. This is something I really believe in,” said Isabella Clarke. “Recording the song and music video has been a dream come true and I’m glad I was able to share this experience with my family and friends. I’m now looking forward to performing the song in Tbilisi.”

The Speak Up music video is a celebration of the creativity and power of young people and was inspired by High School Lip Dub videos. Filmed at Isabella’s high school, the video is a bold, colourful one take clip that follows Isabella through her school, as her friends join in her for dance and flash mob surprises.

Head of ABC Children’s Television, Michael Carrington, said: “Speak Up is an incredible song which carries an important message to children to encourage them to express their feelings. The energetic track allows Isabella’s exceptional vocal ability to shine through, and with its catchy chorus, will be an instant hit with not only ABC ME audiences, but youth around the world.”

Paul Clarke at Blink TV and Head of Delegation for Australia said, “We’re really delighted with our song, which is so catchy and fun, but also has a great positive message. We’re inspired by Isabella’s brilliant vocal – talk about nailing it! I’m sure she will fly our flag high. Speak Up maintains the high standard Australia has delivered at Eurovision, and as always we are committed to giving it our best shot. We can’t wait to get the chance to perform it on the Junior Eurovision stage.”

The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2017 will be broadcast on ABC ME, the ABC ME App and ABC iview on Monday 27 November at the family friendly time of 7.30pm AEDT.

ABC ME is calling on all Australians to get behind JESC 2017 and celebrate not only Isabella, but all the young performers competing, as Australian fans will be able to vote for their favourite performer online for the first time. Information on how to vote will be available shortly on the ABC ME website. Join the conversation: #JESC

Isabella is represented by Universal Music Australia, and Speak Up is released worldwide today.

Afri friend

AFRI FRIEND – N’DJAMENA – CHAD

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N’Djamena Africafriend
Country that represents: Chad
Gender: Female
Birhday: August 11
Eurovision Land counterpart: Copenhagen Eurofriend
N’Djamena is a creative girl who never experienced a creative’s block, thanks to her artistic spirit flowing each day from her 2 different coloured eyes to her boots filled with paint and adding new paintings on the Afrimusicville museum makes the most happiest artist in the Song Contest.
She enjoys helping people being inspired with art and creativity and adds an Afrimusic touch to her masterpieces… even though she makes a splash with the canvas!
Even she shares some of her art to Copenhagen Eurofriend, but some of the danish friend paintings she sends are given to Bucharest Eurofriend (Due to both friends share their flag colours) and she has to visit her Eurovision Land counterpart to see all kinds of art on all its glory.

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Afri friend

AFRI FRIEND – LUANDA – ANGOLA

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Luanda “Lulu” Africafriend
Country that represents: Angola
Gender: Female
Birthday: November 11
Eurovision Land Counerpart Friend: Madrid Eurettefriend
Luanda keeps all the Afrimusic dance moves alive as her heart desires to see them on the dancefloor and she’s not afraid to share to everyfriend around the Song Contest with her beats.
Just like Madrid, she finds the right moves to the music she listens and sometimes, this africafriend adds her favourite move Angola Capoeira. A real groovy friend who wants to see her friends dancing in town.
Even if she dances and spins, she’s having a danceball, and her poofy hair follows that statement in town! And her friends called her “Lulu” because of all those loopy twirl she does while she’s dancing.

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Afri friend

AFRI FRIEND – BISSAU – GUINEA-BISSAU

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Bissau Africafriend
Country that represents: Guinea-Bissau
Gender: Male
Birthday: September 10
Eurovision Land counterpart Friend: Tbilisi Eurettefriend
Bissau looks everything and everyfriend from a peaceful perspective and his love for Song Contest peace is loud and clear as water and this peacemaker makes sure to lives his personality!
He loves to see his friends living in harmony as a family and he teaches free Yoga lessons to them in Afrimusicville.
Easy as eating a piece of cake, Bissau spends to share relaxing moments with others and he always visits Tbilisi Eurettefriend for a meditation that will bring everyfriend live in peace.

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Artist announcement

ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT – BELGIUM

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Artist thoughts by Brussels Eurettefriend (Designed by Carolina Añazgo Leo):

“Say Cheese! I’m Brussels and my job is of course: making people smile in Eurovision makes me happy. I like to take photos of everything and everyfriend around me and I have a photographic memory, so I can remember who is who in Eurovision Land! Ready for a selfie? I do! With the other Eurofriends and beloved ones I put happiness in their faces.

I’m happy for Laura. She has achieved a lot in her 27 years. But now, she’s ready to share smiles here and at the announcement last night sang Salvador’s song in English. Reactions so far seems fairly positive. Belgium is taking the contest seriously and Laura has not enough time to plan on a good song. I’m smiling whatever happens during the Contest. My motto to my Eurostars: “Keep smiling in every situation, even in Eurovision” It always worth a million smiles!”- By Brussels Eurettefriend

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Joy Fleming

JOY FLEMING – GERMANY 1975 LIED

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We have just heard the sad news that yet another EUROVISION singer has passed away – this time from Germany – JOY FLEMING who sang for Germany in 1975 with EIN LIED KANNN EINE BRUCKE SEIN. This song is loved by many fans and many said it was way ahead if its time. ESCCovers never got into the song really but love the song she sang together with Lesley Bogaert and Brigitte Oelke in 2001 as WHITE CHOCOLATE in the German Eurovision selection. It is always so sad when anybody dies but especially a Euro singer because they sort of are in our lives day in and day out.

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