Destiny Chukunyere will represent Malta at the 2015 Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Sofia, Bulgaria. Her song entitled Not My Soul was revealed today with the official video.
The song was composed by Elton Zarb and Matthew (Muxu) Mercieca. The team were behind the previous two Malta Junior Eurovision entries by Gaia Cauchi (2013 winner with The Start) and Federica Falzon (2014 Diamonds).
You can see the video for Not My Soul below.
Source: PBS; www.junioreurovision.tv; www.esccovers.com
Jana Mirković will represent Montenegro at the 2015 Junior Eurovision Song Contest with her song Oluja (Storm) on 21 November in Sofia, Bulgaria. The song is composed by Mirsad Serhatlić and lyrics are by Boban Novović. The arrangement and production is by Vladimir Graić, who was the writer of the 2007 winning Eurovision song for Serbia by Marija Šerifović with Molitva.
The official video for Oluja has just been released. It is a very happy and upbeat song with a feelgood vibe. You can see the video below.
Source: Jana Mirković/Facebook; www.esccovers.com
Article by William Fedor
Unfortunately the mere mention of the country’s name conjures up images of war and destruction for many people. Though there is fighting going on in a few corners of this vast fertile country, business is usual in most of Ukraine. Ukrainian people can be extremely patriotic of their country as highlighted during the Orange Revolution and the Euromaidan crisis, but they also love their music. Apart from giving speeches during Euromaidan, they would sing. Sing to keep warm and sing from their hearts because that’s what Ukrainians love doing, but both can always work together hand in hand. Ukrainian artists’ participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, has made Ukraine one of the strongest countries in the game. This has happened in the relatively short time frame since they first entered this nutty and outlandish annual competition so dear to all our hearts. But why have they been so successful, winning the votes of so many viewers every year?
It all started in 2003, when Oleksandr Ponomarinov took the stage. The performance stood out from the crowd with their ballet dancer in a music box, and operatic vocals. This was not enough to gather up enough attention to bring them even close to a win that year. However, Ukraine’s second attempt brought them much more success. Ruslana brought the trophy home the following year with her song ‘Wild Dances’. It was a proud moment for the country. She may have looked like a Xena clone to many onlookers. But many do not know that the performance incorporated elements of Ukrainian culture, specifically of the Carpathian Mountains. Ruslana is born and raised in the beautiful city of Lviv, not far from the Carpathian Mountains themselves. From the crazy outfits of both the singer and dancers, to the’ trembita’ (Alpine Horn-like instrument used in the opening of the performance). All of these are based on Ukrainian traditions. Since her win, Ruslana has not only furthered her career as a performer, but also gained popularity as an activist in her home country, especially during Euromaidan.
Ukraine’s status as the host country in 2005 was in jeopardy for a short time preceding the contest. The ‘Orange Revolution’, in which the newly elected president Victor Yanukovych was accused of rigging the votes, causing some uncertainty of the country´s ability to organise a large international event. They pulled it off however. At least as far as hosting goes. Their entry ´Razom nas bahato’ (Together we are many, we cannot be defeated) by GreenJolly was also the unofficial anthem of the rebellion. It’s highly relevant and politically charged lyrics may have been dear the hearts of many Ukrainians, but the international stage was not as receptive to this. Perhaps most of Europe, not understanding the language, could not fully grasp the point. Or perhaps Eurovision fans is not equal to hip-hop fans?
Years 2006 and onward have generally been quite successful for Ukraine. They have never failed to qualify for the Final. They have sent a string of solo female/female impersonating artists ever year, and have even come very close to winning on a couple of occasions. But what else do the most successful of their songs have in common? Well let’s look at all of their songs placing in the top 5.
Ruslana with ‘Wild Dances’ – 1st place in 2004
Verka Serducka with ‘Dancing Lasha Tumbai’ – 2nd place in 2007
Ani Lorak with ‘Shady Lady’ – 2nd place in 2008
Mika Newton with ‘Angel’ – 4th place in 2011
Zlata Ognevich with ‘Gravity’ – 3rd place in 2013
These songs do not necessarily fall into the same genre, nor are they even a similar tempo to each other. It’s probably not the fact that none of them have LOVE in their titles, which appeals to the crowds either. They all have a catchy tune however. A melody which someone could sing to in the shower, hum on their commute to work, or even Wild Dance to at their Sunday afternoon Zumba class.
The stage performances of all of these top placing songs are also all memorable, and not for the same reason. Ruslana was memorable for her great costumes and dancing, Verka for her over-the-top craziness which even snuck its way into the popular movie ‘Spy’ eight years later, Ani Lorak for her great props and smooth moves, Mika Newton with her sand painting and Zlata for the great implementation of computer graphics and of course the larger than like man carrying her onto the stage. One may conclude from this that a catchy tune and a memorable performance makes a promising Eurovision entry. But that’s not exactly new information. So what is it about this country that makes their artists so appealing? Perhaps it’s because of their love of music.
Unfortunately Ukraine were not able to participate in glitz and glamour of the 60th Eurovision contest in Vienna due to the current situation, much to the dismay of many fans. They were able to send an entry to Malta for the Junior Eurovision Contest with a symbolically charged entry highlighting their love for Ukrainian traditions, and they have continued along with a similar trend with their entry in Bulgaria this November.
Will the situation in Ukraine influence what type of entry will be sent to Stockholm in 2016. Could it be along the lines of patriotism and the love of Ukrainian traditions that they will sing from their heart and give us a performance that will allow them to claim that top spot. I guess we will have to wait and see.
Post by Aaron Paraiso (who has lived in Finland for some years)
Hearing neighbours’ screams of joy in the middle of the night, cracking open the champagne and staying up till dawn waiting for the next morning’s news broadcast. These are all some of the experiences I had in 2006 when Finland won the Eurovision Song Contest.
One would assume at first that I, a Hawaii-born person, wouldn’t know much about Eurovision. Especially since most Americans don’t really know what it is. “Eurowhat? Oh I don’t really follow the soccer”. But I have definitely had my fair share of exposure to it, having lived in Finland a large chunk of my life and the last several years in Australia – a country with a large following and growing interest in the contest.
Finland has competed in Eurovision almost every year since the competition started. The acts sent to the contest by this small Nordic country have always appealed to the population within its borders. Many of the songs of past entries have even become classics in the country, heard on Easy Listening radio stations, Tango functions and karaoke nights alike. But the songs were never considered memorable by the rest of Europe, often failing to qualify for the Finals since the introduction of the Semi-finals in 2004. Not even creating an English version of the Finnish language entries gave them much of a boost.
To be honest, when I first heard that the band Lordi was competing in the Finnish National Final, I thought it sounded like a joke. ‘Of course they won’t win. They couldn’t be further from the Eurovision norm’ I thought. I wasn’t alone on this either. The group was well known within Finland before this time. Popular in some circles with their hard rock songs such as ‘Would You Love a Monsterman?’ and ‘Devil is a Loser’. They were not however, what anyone would consider as mainstream music.
In the months leading up to the National Final, both the song and band grew on me. A lot. It went right from the bottom of my list, to the top. I didn’t see that one coming. Perhaps it was partly due to the heavy media coverage and the so called ‘controversy’ of them competing. Although those factors may have played on my subconscious to make them more appealing, nothing could have beaten seeing them perform live on that dark winter night in Turku, Finland. The magic of the live performance, along with their monster-like costumes and pyrotechnics won me over. Apparently it also worked for public watching the show on television, because that night it was announced hard rock group from Lapland was headed to Athens!
Over the following months, their media coverage increased. Both on a national and European level. There was lots of hype about the uniqueness of the current Finnish entry, and whether it would appeal to the continent as a whole, or flop like a dog’s ears with its head out the car window. One thing was sure though, it was not going to be easily forgotten. You can never plan to be in the winning country at the moment when the live votes come through and we see who gets all the ‘Douze Points’. You can double your chances if you live near a land border and are able to pick up and go on a moment’s notice, or perhaps you may rely on betting odds. But you can never be absolutely sure until the time comes.
Being in my adopted home country when they took home the title of Eurovision Song Contest Winner 2006 was incredible. Of course I envied my fellow OGAE counterparts who were in Athens at the time to cheer them on. But just experiencing the atmosphere and mood of everyone around in the winning country, and putting an end to that joke ‘Hell freezes over, Finland wins the Eurovision Song Contest’ where it was most relevant, is an experience they will never have. I can’t wait to see what happens next year when I’m in Stockholm.
To the Head of TV Entertainment – Turkey
Surely no other country gives Eurovision more credibility in its goal of bringing people together than Turkey – a country that has spent its entire existence as a bridge for bringing people together. Turkey is often seen as the link between East and West and Europe and Asia. It is the crossroads, and it seems important to me that we get to hear music from this part of the world. Turkish music can blend the infectious pulse of pop with a traditional arrangement that springs from its ancient well. And please don’t try and convince me that any other dancers can dance as well as the Turkish women. They swirl and weave their own unique blend of magic on stage! There is so much exuberance and feeling. I have trouble staying in my seat when Turkish pop music is playing!
I have been captivated since 2003 when Turkey won with ” Every way that I can” and I would like to implore the Head of TV Entertainment in Turkey to advocate strongly for taking an entrant to Stockholm for Eurovision in 2016. Our world needs to become more connected and not lose music that can bring people together in celebration and joy.
Yours faithfully,
M S – A fan from Australia
To The Head Of Rádio e Televisão de Portugal,
I am writing to you today to try and convince you that Portugal should reconsider their decision not to enter Eurovision in 2016.
I understand your withdrawal came after a long and intensive evaluation of Portugal’s participation in the competition, and that you have chosen not to include the Eurovision Song Contest in your programming grid. I also know that you intend to return in 2017. But I believe that skipping 2016 is a mistake.
For me, Portugal is one of the most important countries contributing to the wonderful blend of cultures and music that defines Eurovision. Each year the entry from Portugal exposes Europe and the world to the beautiful Portuguese language and culture. It was seeing the lovely Portuguese entries year after year that inspired me to visit Portugal in 2008, and I’m so glad I did.
Portugal consistently sends uplifting and unique entries year after year. The rhythms, language and culture of Portuguese music is something that no other country can offer, and something many Eurovision fans look forward to. While it is unfortunate that this enthusiasm has not always been reflected in the voting outcome, I can assure you that the Portuguese entry is an absolutely essential piece of the Eurovision puzzle, much like Portugal’s active role in the European community.
Portugal is a Eurovision heritage country with so many years of entries. Entering Eurovision 48 times is something to be proud of, and songs like Ha um mar que nos separa and Quero ser tua have added to the wonderful catalogue of entries from over the years.
Please reconsider your decision, because a Eurovision Song Contest without Portugal is a very sad thing to see. Perhaps a 2016 entry could even lead to the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest being held in Lisbon?
Sincerely,
An Australian fan
An open letter to TRT
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to you about Turkey’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, imploring you to reconsider your decision to not attend in 2016.
As a great fan of Eurovision, and of Turkish entries in particular, it deeply saddens me that you have withdrawn from the contest indefinitely. It is particularly disappointing that you have cited moral objections, as Eurovision is inherently about inclusion and diversity. The contest is a celebration of differences, with no one being unwelcome: even Australia attended this year! What makes Eurovision so great is the manifestation of diverse cultures, attitudes and beliefs all coming together in one event. While your government may have objections to certain events that have occurred within the contest, it is a great shame for you to remove yourself entirely.
The theme of inclusivity is extremely relevant now, with Turkey playing such a pivotal role in the current Syrian refugee crisis. Participating in Eurovision again would be a wonderful gesture of Turkey’s willingness to be a part of the European community, with a view to improving diplomatic relations with the rest of Europe. The political implications of Eurovision participation cannot be lost on you, with you yourselves initially withdrawing for political reasons. While the contest was initially established as a tool to unify Europe after World War II, it continues to foster harmony amongst European nations. In the face of a global humanitarian crisis, continental unity is critical and Eurovision holds the key.
Politics aside, it is worth noting that Turkey has had great Eurovision success in recent years. Reaching the top ten seven times in ten years is a remarkable feat, and one of which you must be proud. Your bold stage presentations and Mediterranean/oriental flavoured pop music products are a winning combination; the voting population cannot get enough. And just think, Eurovision 2017 held in Istanbul could even further strengthen Turkey’s relationship with the rest of Europe. This could be a key opportunity for you to use the recent popularity of Turkish music and culture to your advantage.
Looking closer to home, Eurovision is very popular within Turkey itself. This year, hotel searches for Vienna increased by 91% in Turkey, higher than in any other country in the world. Clearly there is still huge support for Eurovision within Turkey. It is a great shame that Turkish fans can no longer enjoy the broadcast from within their own country, in addition to not being represented on the stage.
Let’s not forget that there are approximately 150,000 Turkish people living in Sweden. They must also be very disappointed that a representative from their homeland will not be joining them in Stockholm. There are millions of Turkish people living across Europe who are actively involved with Eurovision, as displayed in Eurovision voting. Turkey has historically received the most points from Germany, which has the largest Turkish population in the world outside of Turkey, estimated at four million people. The second and third most points received have come from France and the Netherlands, who have the second and third largest Turkish populations in Europe. Vast numbers of Turkish people at home and abroad support Eurovision and they are being let down by your non-participation.
There are a multitude of reasons why Turkey should reconsider their position, but in the end it boils down to this: a Eurovision without Turkey does not feel complete. Something is missing. Your absence is felt deeply by all the fans, Turkish and otherwise, and we urge you to rejoin us.
Kind regards,
Huge Eurovision fan
Dear RTL TV Luxembourg,
We would like to see you return to the Eurovision Song Contest stage in 2016.
After Italy’s successful return to the Eurovision stage in 2010, and in a short period of time Italy have produced two almost winners in the ESC competition in recent years. Now is the perfect time to bring back another classic country and blast from the past.
Luxembourg. Who in the past have been able to bring some amazing talent to the show from all over Europe. As one of the main french speaking countries when Eurovision was born way back in 1956.
Its clear to us many eurovision fans remember and adore Luxembourg’s entries from the past. So they want to see Luxembourg RTL back again.
Most certainly small countries have shown evidence of struggling to keep going in the Eurovision today. Mainly due to the low budgets and then there is always that big staging that seems to be more essential to success in ESC today.
We have good news for Luxembourg, and what EBU can do to help Luxembourg and other countries wanting to come back in Stockholm 2016.
We have the perfect solution, as its no secret EBU are keen to help out and include the mini state countries like Monaco San Marino. They are looking at making an exception for small countries with below a certain population they will now be able to have a joint Eurovision entry.
Doing this will advantage Luxembourg in the following ways:
(a) This will make those high costs half for a small country like Luxembourg.
(b) Euro-club parties can be shared as well by this duel entry policy.
(c) If Luxembourg and their partner country win ESC then they will have bids from both small countries to decide the following years host town or city.
(d) The small duel countries will have separated voting and do not have to share countries scoreboard votes at all.
Luxembourg is one of the historical Eurovision classics with a past 5 Eurovision winners as well as a back to back wins that is rare in today’s Eurovision back in 1972 and 1973.
Since 1956 through until 1993 -Luxembourg rarely missed ESC. In fact before Ireland’s Avalanche of winners in and during the 90s Luvembourg & France were the most successful competitor at Eurovision. So I think it’s important that they more than anyone else continue this tradition. Also we need a ole country to give the swedes a run for their money. (as the saying goes)
We hope this proposal will help bring Luxembourg and another small country back to Eurovision in 2016.
Summary Luxembourg 5 Winners 1961- 1983:
Jean-Claude Pascal – “Nous les amoureux”
France Gall – “Poupée de cire, poupée de son”
Vicky Leandros – “Après toi”
Anne-Marie David – “Tu te reconnaîtras”
Corinne Hermès – “Si la vie est cadeau”
