Today in voting shock or surprise, we turn to SWEDEN. Difficult to find a shock or surprise, but it seems Sweden likes to end 5th if they do not win – Robin Bengtsson was the 9th time Sweden ended in 5th place.
All posts by Roy van der Merwe
TEASER – FRIKKIE VAN BILJON – ELKE TREE
VOTING SHOCK/SURPRISE – SWITZERLAND
Next up in voting shock or surprise comes from Switzerland. Poor Switzerland who has not had a good Eurovision in so many years. Their 2017 entry APOLLO by Timebelle was the 10th time since the introduction of the semi finals that Switzerland did not qualify for the final. Really hope they have better luck in 2018.
SPOTLIGHT ON SA ARTISTS – KARIN BEKKER
Karin Bekker was born in Pretoria. Her passion for singing was sparked at the age of 5. She also started piano lessons at this early age.
In 2008 Karin was selected to sing in the University of Pretoria’s Jacaranda Children’s Choir and sang along with a few fellow choir members in 2010 on e-TV “live” for President Nelson Mandela during his birthday.
In 2011 Karin was part of a South African State Theater Opera Production viz. Carmen acted Bizet.Karin also obtained her UNISA , Trinity Pop & Rock and Trinity Classical Grades in Piano, Musical Theory and Vocal exams.
Karin’s gospel debut album, “Father, Son and Spirit” was released in 2014. She is also on the album “75 years celebration” from a church group.
Her music can be heard on a number of established radio stations as well as Internet radio stations. She took the No. 1 position in Springbok Internet Radio’s Top 20 and retain for nine weeks.
Her single “Friendskap” music video is now also available on YouTube and within the first week of release already 2000 views. It is also now available on Itunes and to see and on the South African satellite channel KykNet.
Karin’s warm personality and combined with her stage performance and crystal clear voice for a remarkable, very enjoyable show.
Her motto in life is Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
She is busy on a new CD and hopefully it will contain several EUROVISION covers.
VOTING SHOCK/SURPRISE – BELARUS
Around a month ago we stopped with our series VOTING SURPRISE or SHOCK as the person who compiled it for us, decided not to continue doing it anymore. We had done 21 of the 42 countries and now we will continue for the next 21 days with the 21 remaining countries – but in a slightly different manner.
We start off with BELARUS and for us the surprise in the voting for them in semi final 2 was the fact that they ended up with 55 points from the juries as well as 55 points from the public through televoting – so both groups liked them equally.
Maybe something else surprised or shocked you?
SPOTLIGHT ON SA ARTISTS – MINETTE DE BRUYN
Minette de Bruyn started singing at a very early age and music has always been a huge passion of hers. She has starred in a Musical ‘Thumbelina’ for OAK Youth Theater which was performed at the Atterbury theater . She has have also performed throughout Gauteng at different venues such as Industrial coffee works and other corporate events. She has also dominated on the South African competition scene and in 2016 she made it into the top 20 finals for ‘Sing for the Stars’ . She has performed at various theaters throughout SA including Otway’s Theater, Liedjieboer and the Barnyard theater to name a few. Not only is Minette a vocalist but also an incredible writer and pianist. She will have some of her original work released on Itunes in the next coming months and is ready to do his first Eurovision cover.
SPOTLIGHT ON SA ARTISTS – ROBERT GERBER
Robert Gerber is a 33 years oldmale singer. Yes is married with three children. He stays in Secunda and is a full time teacher. He studied theology and was in full-time ministry. His passion has always to make music and he considers himself a singer/songwriter and would like to influence the world with fresh new worship and Afrikaans songs. His first album is coming out in September 2017 and is called “whisper”. Hopefully he will keep on creating new music. Soon he will do his first Eurovision cover in Afrikaans.
COVER VERSION – YODEL IT from Romania
EUROVISION COVER – DSCHINGHIS KHAN (Finnish)
Here is a Finnish cover of the 1979 Eurovision song from Germany – DSCHINGHIS KHAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe6w0D97zSM
OGAEvision 2017 – FINLAND
We reached the 12th and last overview of the entries to the OGAEvision contest in Berlin during the weekend of 14 to 16 July. It is Johan-Cristian Brotkin who will represent OGAE Finland.