Dihaj will represent Azerbaijan at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev. She has just released her brand new single entitled Eşqini Aşagı Sal (Float down the love).
Dihaj is renowned for her experimental music and this is no exception. The lyrics are by Uran and the music by Dihaj herself. The mixing and mastering is by Igor LOOPer Garanin.
Check out the video below.
Source: Amin Imani; Dihaj Official/YouTube; ESC Covers
Montenegro have selected Slavko Kalezić to represent them at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev with a song called Space. It is composed by Momčila Zekovića.
Slavko first became known after participating in X Factor Adria in 2013 and was mentored by Željko Joksimović (2004, 2012 ESC Serbia).
Space will be revealed in the new year. You can see Slavko perform a song he released in 2014 entitled Krivac below.
Source: www.eurovision.tv; ESC Covers
Artsvik will represent Armenia at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest after winning the national selection tv series Depi Evratesil (To Eurovision). The tv show stretched over a number of weeks beginning in October and culminated with Artsvik’s victory.
The result was decided by a combination of televoting and expert jury. The jury members were all well known to Eurovision and had all represented Armenia previously Iveta Mukuchyan (2016), Essai Altounian – part of Genealogy (2015), Aram MP3 (2014), Inga & Anush (2009) and Hayko (2007).
You can see Artsvik perform A Million Voices (2015 ESC Russia – Polina Gagarina) on the Depi Evratesil show below.
Source: www.eurovision.tv; ESC Covers
So, we have the first song for the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. Albania have selected Lindita to represent them in Kiev in May next year. Lindita won the Festivali i Këngës 55 in Tirana with her moody and dramatic ballad, Botë (World). The song will probably be given a drastic makeover for the Eurovision next year.
The voting was a combination of expert jury and for the first time this year public voting. Botë was composed by Gerald Xhari and Klodian Qafoku
Lindita (full name Lindita Halimi) was born in Kosovo and she won the popular Top Fest competition in Albania in 2009. She as also participated in the last season of American Idol in 2016 and also made the top 10 candidates in the Albanian Idol tv show, Ethet.
You can see Lindita perform Botë below.
Source: TVSH; ESC Covers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e3usZ779pw
After two semi-finals 14 acts have been announced to participate in the grand final of the Festivali i Këngës 55 in Albania to be held on Friday 23 December. The winning act will represent Albania at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev.
The 14 song and acts are –
1. Dilan Reka – Mos harro
2. Edea Demaliaj – Besoj në ëndrra
3. Fabiola Agalliu & Agnesa Çavolli – Shkon e vjen
4. Flaka Krelani – Osiris
5. Franc Koruni – Macka
6. Genc Salihu – Këtu
7. Lindita Halimi – Botë
8. Lorela – Me ty
9. LYNX – Sot
10. Orges Toçe – Shi diamantësh
11. Rezarta Smaja – Pse prite gjatë
12. Xhesika Polo – Eva jam unë
13. XUXI – Metropol
14. Yll Limani – Shiu
Source: wiwibloggs; ESC Covers
The lucky 16 finalists have been announced for the 2017 Malta Eurovision Song Contest final. A shortlist of 60 songs has been whittled down. Some familiar faces take to the stage once again hoping to represent Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Kiev, Ukraine in May of 2017. They include previous finalists Brooke Borg, Claudia Faniello, Deborah C (this time as part of a duet), Kevin Borg, Klinsmann Coleiro, Maxine Pace, Raquela Dalli Gonzi, Franklin Calleja and Richard Edwards.
Here are the 16 finalists –
Brooke Borg – Unstoppable
Cherton Caruana – Fighting To Survive
Claudia Faniello – Breathlessly
Crosswalk – So Simple
Deborah C & Josef Tabone – Tonight
Franklin Calleja – Follow Me
Jade Vella – Seconds Away
Janice Mangion – Kewkba
Kevin Borg – Follow
Klinsmann Coleiro – Laserlight
Maxine Pace – Bombshell
Miriana Conte – Don’t Look Down
Raquela Dalli Gonzi – Ray Of Light
Rhiannon Micallef – Fearless
Richard Edwards – You
Shauna Vassallo – Crazy Games
The date of the national selection is 18 February 2017.
Source: wiwibloggs
Austria have selected internally for Nathan Trent to represent them at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev. ORF and Eberhard Forcher and Christof Straub (father of Zoë, Austria’s 2015 entrant) looked for fresh new talent to enter the contest. They decided upon Nathan to do the job.
You can see Nathan’s latest single release, Like It Is, below.
Source: www.eurovision.tv; ESC Covers
Brendan Murray has been confirmed to be the representative for Ireland at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev. An announcement was made by his manager, Louis Walsh, on the Late Late Show on RTÉ tv in Ireland.
Brendan was a former member of the boyband, Hometown. A call for songs has been made and more information can be found at http://www.rte.ie/tv/eurovision/ Louis Walsh hinted he was looking for a ballad type song for Brendan in the style that Adele or Ed Sheeran might sing.
You can see Brendan do a short rendition of the Johnny Logan Eurovision winner, Hold Me Now (1987 ESC Ireland), below.
Source: www.eurovision.tv; ESC Covers
Elené Mikiashvili is one of the contenders in the 2017 Georgian Eurovision national selection with her song Fighter. Here Elené talks to ESC Covers about her song and music career so far –
1. Can you tell us something about your song ‘Fighter’?
My song’s composers and lyric authors are Swedish twin duo Ylva and Linda Persson, and the instrumental music author is Will Taylor. The lyrics are about the girl who is never giving up and always fighting for success like me.
2. What would it mean to you if you were to represent your country at the Eurovision Song Contest?
It’s very important to me and it would be a big responsibility, because it is my dream to represent my country at Eurovision, now I have a chance and I am going to do my very best.
3. You successfully participated in The Voice of Georgia. Can you tell us something about your experience in the show and songs you performed?
The Voice was the biggest experience for me, it was for me the first TV show and of course was a big challenge, and it is such a big competition. My first blind audition song was ‘Proud Mary’ by Tina Turner, which is my favourite song. The second battle song was ‘Love On Top’ by Beyonce and it was a different and interesting version and I won the battle third round knockout where I took a golden card from my mentor, then there were the live shows where I sang ‘Vogue’ by Madonna and I had a great stage show with dancers and on the second live show my song was ‘My Man’ by Barbra Streisand from the movie ‘Funny Girl’.
4. Your mentor was Anri Jokhadze (who represented Georgia at the 2012 Eurovision). What was it like working with him and have you spoke to him about entering a song for the Eurovision selection in Georgia?
Anri is my great friend, teacher and mentor and everything!! He always helps me and tries to give me good advice, of course he knows about Eurovision and he likes my song!
5. What are your favourite musical tastes? Who are your musical influences?
I like everything that is good, I can listen to classical music when I am in the mood or alternative rock or pop, etc. My favourite singers always were Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and favourite group is Coldplay.
6. You have recently been collaborating with DJ Giga Papaskiri. Could you tell us about this and the songs you have released.
Giga is a very talented and good boy, we are working together and already have our original songs and some covers, people like our music and we are doing our best, we have already made our first music video which will soon be published and we are working on a second one.
7. Do you have any favourite Eurovision songs from the past?
Yes, my favourite songs are Eldrine – ‘One More Day’ (ESC 2011 Georgia), Nina Sublatti – ‘Warrior’ (ESC 2015 Georgia), Loreen – ‘Euphoria’ (ESC 2012 Sweden), Aram mp3 – ‘Not Alone’ (ESC 2014 Armenia) and Mørland & Debrah Scarlett – ‘A Monster Like Me’ (ESC 2015 Norway).
8. Did you watch the Junior Eurovision Song Contest this year? What were your feelings about the win for Georgia and Mariam Mamadashvili?
I think Mariam Mamadashvili is a very talented young girl who has a huge future on the stage. When I first listened to the song I was shocked how beautiful she was singing , and when she won I was very, very proud!
9. Is there anywhere where readers can listen to your music?
Yes of course, on youtube I have several videos and on my Soundcloud channel.
Thank you Elené ….we wish you good luck with your participation
Thanks for the interview, best wishes
You can listen to Fighter below.
Source: ESC Covers
Sabina Chantouria will be participating in the Georgian Eurovision selection with her song Stranger. Sweden Songs are the publishers for the song and also for her latest release entitled Cry For Me.
Sabina is a Georgian/Swedish singer and songwriter. Cry For Me is produced by Kevin Jarvis from the USA, who has worked with artists such as Iggy Pop, Elvis Costello and Ben Vaughn.
You can see the video for Cry For Me below and listen to her Eurovision submission, Stranger.
Source: Sweden Songs; ESC Covers
https://soundcloud.com/sweden-songs/stranger-sabina-chantouria