Can you heat the drums Fernando?
This is quite easy and simple. Lets turn our attention to Euro entries with drums – which song in Eurovision you love because of the drums?
FIRST ARTIST OF ESC 2016 CHOSEN!
The Netherlands has declared the 2016 Eurovision season open today when the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS announced that they have chosen the artist internally to represent the Netherlands in Stockholm.
Douwe Bob, a 22 year old singer songwriter, is the first artist to be announced for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. In 2012, he won the talent show De beste singer-songwriter van Nederland (The best singer-songwriter in the Netherlands ) and has released 2 albums since then, including his latest album Pass It On which reached number 1 on the Dutch charts.
The actual song is still be be announced, but in the meantime, you can hear him in action dueting with the 2014 ESC entry for the Netherlands, Anouk.
CHIQUITITA – SONG SEVENTEEN
Chiquitita, tell me the truth, I’m a shoulder you can cry on
Well, CHIQUITIA is a real ABBA classic, both in English and Spanish.
Now who in EUROVISION (artist – male or female) will you want to come and cry on your shoulder, especially after a shock result at Eurovision. I think Kate Ryan will be in many people’s minds but there are others. I still think 2010 is a great example for me, Sieneke not making the final and Didrik Solli doing so badly in front of his home crowd. Both can come and cry on my shoulder. I also want to share another experience from 2010. Morten and me and two other OGAE members had the honour to be in the green room (during that year the green room was not visible to the public). The 4 of us sat there surrounded by four countries – LATVIA, MALTA, FINLAND and SLOVAKIA and believe it or not, none of these 4 made it to the final – what a shock and sadness and seeing the head of delegation of Malta drying Thea Garrett’s tears with the huge Maltese flag is one of those moments burned into my mind forever. 
Introducing Dale Hardy
Dale Hardy, Melbourne Australia.
My name is Dale Hardy, born and bred in Melbourne one of Australia’s most diverse and multicultural cities. The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) fits our European ethnic culture perfectly. I cannot describe the joy of Vienna 2015 when Australia became a part of ESC for the first time. It was as if Australia joined the European party for that night although it was 5 am in the morning for us down-under.
It was at that moment I decided I wanted to be at the next ESC . I have followed Eurovision since 2003 and as a keen music fan I have observed the standard of songs and artists increase a little more each year. I felt that the 2014/2015 contests were some of the very best yet. Assuming Australia does not participate I have a keen interest to see UK reach the same success of Katrina and the Waves win in 1997 and believe it can really happen one day -bringing the contest back to the UK.
Let’s all join the party in 2016!
Introducing Steve Humphreys
Steve Humphreys, Melbourne Australia.
In May 2015 Eurovision celebrated the 60th contest in Vienna. I was unable to be in Vienna, but the most exciting part for me was voting from our living room, and the text votes were flying everywhere for both Semi Finals and the Grand Final.
I guess it was Australia taking part in Eurovision 2015 that inspired me to actually be there for next year 2016 in Stockholm Sweden. Am I actually going? I still have to pinch myself to just believe it’s true.
Now my Eurovision story goes back a very long way to, as a youngster growing up in the UK, in a town near Birmingham. Back then I even purchased LP records, by Vicky Leandros, Anne Marie David and then I slowly warmed to that 1974 winner ‘Waterloo’ and I became a Abba fan in 1975. At first Abba’s ‘ Waterloo’ seemed too rocky and different for the Eurovision song contest of mainly french romantic amazing ballads.
Now lets fast forward about 20 years or so when I developed a big interest in Melodifestivalen, so I wanted to help spread the word of Sweden’s home song contest that a bit like the Melbourne Cup- horse race here down under, annually actually stops the nation on Grand Final night. As the Swedes try and make the best selection for Eurovision Song Contest that year.
So I wanted to blog regular updates on new Melodifestivalen music and Eurovision news, as it happens to Aussies and anyone in the world (who does not understand Swedish) I started my schlagertunes blog in 2008.
Some of my personal highlights, have been when I found a cartoon u-tube clip called ‘ Fairytale’ the year before 2010. I remember thinking this song has something extra special, and I like it a lot. So I FB messaged Alexandra Rybak to wish him luck at Norsk MGP Semi Final, he answered right away, to a new supporter down-under in Melbourne. Of course I had no idea, what success was around the corner for Norway, only I did believe in his fairytale from the start.
Eurovision Song Contest each year is a fairytale, as amazing musical experiences happen with each year. It’s part of the fun to share them with so may different people and cultures as well.
I luv it.
THE DAY BEFORE YOU CAME – SONG SIXTEEN
So difficult to find a quote here because there is so much but least settle for this
I’m sure I had my dinner watching something on TV, there’s not, I think, a single episode of Dallas that I didn’t see.
Now the question is, is there a SINGLE EDITION of EUROVISION you have not seen? And why?
For me from 1980 when I saw the first on video cassette from a penfriend, there is not a single edition of Eurovision I had not seen – however prior to 1980, I have not seen a single episode.
DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW – SONG FIFTEEN
I could chat with you baby, flirt a little maybe
This song nearly got banned in South Africa from radio play as according to some this was inviting sex with minors. It did get airplay on some stations but it became one of ABBA’s least success songs in South Africa.
Now the question is which EUROVISION ARTIST (male or female) you would like to chat to flirt a little maybe and why.
For me it is MALE – DIMITRY of LITESOUND, FEMALE – SIENEKE
Elvina Milkauskaitė releases her new song – ‘All Now Are Gone’
Elvina Milkauskaitė has released her brand new single called All Now Are Gone. The song has a haunting and anthemic melody and showcases her beautiful and strong voice and versatility as an artist.
Elvina participated in the 2013 Lithuanian Eurovision national selection heats and was also a popular finalist in The Voice Of Lithuania in 2012.
You can hear All Now Are Gone below.
Source: www.esccovers.com
SUPER TROUPER – SONG FOURTEEN
Tonight the Super trouper, lights are gonna find me, shining like the sun
This line taught me a new English word at the time, SUPER TROUPER, I had no idea what it was and had to look it up.
Now today is the correct time for this song as today at the F N B station near me where the Soccer world cup 2010 main ceremony took place, will be SUPER SKOUSPEL with several OGAE ROW artists plus also SUSAN BOYLE from the UK. The newspapers reported she will sing one song in Afrikaans, she has been practicing it – but we have no clue as yet what it will be. Many people I know are going – some even with VIP tickets. As it is an outdoor venue, we are glad the weather is so good.
Now the question with this is, which ARTIST from EUROVISION would you like to sing in a language he or she has never sung, so if say you pick Mans and say I would like to hear him sing in Croatian and why.
Thea tops the radio charts in Malta with her new song – ‘Do It Again’
Thea Saliba has returned to the music scene in a big way with her brand new single Do It Again. The song is already a big hit in Malta and has already topped the Bay Radio charts and is proving a very popular song.
Thea represented Malta at the 2005 Junior Eurovision Song Contest with Make It Right but a lot has happened to her since those days. She has established herself as a popular and accomplished pop and r’n’b star in Malta and abroad. She has also combined her singing with a lot of hard and successful studying. She has also been working as a tv present in the popular fashion show Elle tv. She has also teached singing and music to her students at Thea’s Music Room. So has you can see she has been extremely busy.
Thea launched her new single at the Farsons Beer Festival in Malta. The song is perfect for the summer days and the beach. Do It Again is upbeat and catchy and perfect for the dance floors.
Do It Again adds to an impressive run of songs and hits for Thea including Bring It Up, On The Dance Floor, The Rules, Musilicious, Caught You Out, Hostage For Love, Say My Name, Let The Music Start It, I’m Your Fan and Fight The Fall.
You can see the fun video for Do It Again below.
Source: Thea Saliba; www.esccovers.com