The only song from 2016 that made the top 100
53 – You are the only one – Sergey Lazarev (Russia 2016)
ESC COVERS TOP 100 EUROVISION SONGS – position 54
54 – Heaven – Jonsi (Iceland 2004)
Mini-interview with the finalist of Belarus National Selection 2017 – Lexy Weaver
Lexy Weaver (real name is Alexandra Tkach) – is the youngest finalist of Belarus National Selection 2017. She is 16 years old.
Our reporter in Belarus, Eliana Goncharova, caught up briefly with Lexy –
Eliana: – Hi, Alexandra! Please tell me about your music career, your achievements and about your song for ESC 2017.
Alexandra: – My music career started when I was six. I entered a music school. And then played in a music theatre. All the problems seemed so small while performing on the big stage and playing complicated roles. I learned to cope with them while being a child. Now I am a singer. And my story is a new trademark for our country. I am a person who handled real difficulties to become a strong personality. I’m a winner of different international competitions (The Voice of Baltia, for example). Now I am a finalist of a Belarusian selection of ESC. My song ‘Be Stronger’ is about becoming strong. Everybody can be a strong one. It can be expressed by sincere feelings, love, help…
I write songs by myself. And ‘Be Stronger’ was written by me, both lyrics and music. I have no problems writing in English. I study at the American College of Music online. That’s why all of the classes are in English. I love this language and can use it freely.
One of the main principles of my life is “Do what you should do and let it be”
On January 20 Alexandra’s number is #2.
You can see the official video for Be Stronger below.
ARTICLE AND INTERVIEW BY: Eliana Goncharova
Lithuania: Eurovizijos – dainu konkurso nacionaline atranka commences
The marathon selection process in Lithuania has begun with the 2017 Eurovizijos – dainu konkurso nacionaline atranka. 12 acts and songs took part and six progressed to the next phase.
The 12 acts and songs –
1. Justin 3 – Streets Of Vilnius
2. Rūta Andruškevičiūtė – The Way To Your Heaven
3. Paula – Never Let You Go
4. Vilius Krivickas – Septyni dievai
5. Augustė Vedrickaitė – It’s Not Over (Not to Me)
6. Sasha Song – Never Felt Like This Before
7. Dagna Kondratavičiūtė – Feel It
8. Audrius Petrauskas – Shine Like Gold
9. Benas Malakauskas – Rolling
10. Tadas Rimgaila & Samanta Tīna – Tavo oda
11. Otreya – Last Two Weeks
12. Edgaras Lubys – Could It Be?
The six acts to qualify by a combination of jury and televoting were –
- Edgaras Lubys
- Sasha Song
- Paula
- Golden Monkeys
- Otreya
- Benas Malakauskas
You can see the six qualifiers below.
Source: ESC Covers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k6akeSxSqU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtOAXt0mb20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So8v1BRH6xg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTDJTzGXAOI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FGHbUq0Ik4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJFywCwQKqc
Tamara Stojkovska performs ‘Ako odam vo Bitola’
Tamara Stojkovska is a young and talented singer from FYR Macedonia and she has just performed a popular song from her country all about the famous city Bitola. The song is called Ako odam vo Bitola (If I go to Bitola). It is a beautiful recording with the orchestra from the music high school in Bitola. Tamara’s vocals are charming, clear and atmospheric.
The song was recorded at the Ferzenk Studio and is a DrimKast production. The arrangement and piano is by Davor Nekak, conductor is Magdalena Kočoska, flute is by Angela Dimkovska and Kristina Ljuškoska, clarinet by Viktor Zekanoviča and Darko Saveski, violin by Mario Robe, Ivana Risteska, Bajram Ramadanoski and Leonid Nede Gogov, violas by Martina Zekanovič and Elena Tefova, cellos by Filip Nečkovski and Daniela Radevska and bass by Andrej Jovanovik.
Tamara recorded a unique version of Koga te nema (When you’re gone), originally by Helena Blagne, in 2015.
You can see the video for Ako odam vo Bitola below.
Source: ESC Covers
ESC COVERS TOP 100 EUROVISION SONGS – position 55
I like this a lot but know it is not rated that high by Norwegian fans
55 – High – Knut Anders Sorum (Norway 2004)
ESC COVERS TOP 100 EUROVISION SONGS – position 56
Such a catchy winner from Sweden
56 – Diggi loo diggi ley – Herreys (Sweden 1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZMV6qCkRnU
Participant profile: ESC 2017 Belarus national selection – Angelika Pushnova
Angelika Pushnova is a young Belarussian singer and a future journalist. She is the student of journalistic faculty in the Belarussian State University.
Her life is music from her childhood. In 2009 she took part in the Belarus National selection for JESC. Her producer is her father.
The idea of participating in ESC appeared after Angelica visited the Melodifestivalen in Sweden. She got amazing emotions after that trip.
In the future Angelika dreams to be famous not only in Belarus, but also abroad.
On 20 January Angelika’s number is #10. Her song is We Should Be Together. This song about real and magic love.
You can Angelika’s song below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rH4poKMIJg
Germany: Finalists announced for Eurovision Song Contest – Unser Song 2017
Photos @copyright: NDR/Eurovision.tv
Five finalists have been confirmed for the Eurovision Song Contest – Unser Song 2017 in Germany. There were over 2,000 applicants and the broadcaster, NDR, have whittled down the competitors to the following acts –
- Axel Maximilian Feige
- Felicia Lu Kürbiss
- Helene Nissen
- Isabella “Levina” Lueen
- Wilhelm “Sadi” Richter
The German national final will be on 9 February and amongst the judges is the 2010 winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, Lena.
Source: www.eurovision.tv; NDR, ESC Covers
Participant profile: ESC 2017 Belarus national selection – Naviband
Naviband will take part in the Belarus National selection for the second time. Navi – it is the music of sun from Minsk. Now they are one of the most popular Belarussian bands
The band was created in 2013 by Ksenia Zhuk and Artem Lukyanenko. Debut single was Abdymi myane (Give me a hug) and it got very good reviews from audience and music critics. Even Diana Arbenina (the famous Russian singer) appreciated the music of Naviband and then they gave two joint concerts with her in Mogilev (Belarus) and in Moscow. After that, Navi had their own Belarussian concert tours.
In 2016 Naviband took part in the Belarus National selection for ESC with song Heta zyamlya (This Land) and finished at fourth place. After the selection they gave a big concert in one of the biggest clubs in Minsk.
Also in 2016 Naviband took part in festival Dikaya myata (Wild mint) and sang with Georgian band Mgzavrebi. A lot of Belarussian people think that Naviband is the most romantic duo in the country.
On 20 January Naviband will sing song Gistoriya maigo zhytsya (History Of My Life) and their number is #4. The song is written by soloist of band – Artem Lukyanenko.
You can see Naviband’s video for their national selection song below.
ARTICLE BY: Eliana Goncharova