Eurovision 2024 Preview: 🇸🇪 Sweden

We have arrived at the final destination on our preview journey and we are going to this year’s host country. It’s off to the country of meatballs, flat-packed furniture and a band who are celebrating a landmark anniversary this year. It’s Sweden!

History

Sweden first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1958 and will make their 63rd appearance in the contest this year. They are the joint most successful country in the contest’s history with seven victories. Their first win came in 1974, when a little-known band called ABBA won with “Waterloo”, which was later voted the best Eurovision song of all time. Ten years later, the Herreys won for Sweden again in 1984 with “Digiloo Digiley”. The 90’s gave Sweden two more wins. Carola won in 1991 with “Fångad av en stormvind” and Charlotte Perrelli got the last win of the 20th century in 1999 with “Take Me to Your Heaven”. In 2012, Loreen broke the record for the most sets of 12 points under the old scoring system with “Euphoria”, collecting 18 sets of 12’s on her path to victory. Måns Zelmerlöw claimed Sweden’s sixth win in 2015 with “Heroes”. 

At the 2023 contest, Loreen became the first woman to win Eurovision twice and gave Sweden their seventh victory with “Tattoo”. After a bidding process, Malmö, Sweden’s third-largest and southernmost city, was chosen to host Eurovision 2024. Malmö previously hosted the contest in 1992 and 2013, making them one of only five cities to have hosted Eurovision at least three times.

Selection

The Swedish broadcaster, Sveriges Television (SVT), organised the 64th edition of Melodifestivalen, to select their 2024 entry. 30 songs competed over five heats. In each heat, there were two rounds of public voting. In the first round, the song with the highest amount of votes went straight to the final. In the second round, the public vote was divided into age categories, each of which awarded a set of points. The act with the most points advanced to the final.

The third and fourth placed entries in each heat were sent to the final qualification round, which took place straight after the fifth heat. The top two songs in the public vote advanced to the final, where they joined the winners and runners-up of the five heats.

In the final, the winner was chosen by a combination of eight international juries (50%) and a public vote (50%). After winning both the jury and public vote, Marcus and Martinus were awarded the Swedish ticket to Malmö.

Artist

Marcus and Martinus Gunnarsen were born on February 21 2002 in Elverum in eastern Norway. They first rose to fame after winning 2012 edition of Melodi Grand Prix Junior, the children’s edition of the Norwegian selection for Eurovision. Their entry “To dråper vann” (Two drops of water), reached number eight on the Norwegian Singles Chart.

In 2015, Marcus & Martinus released their debut album “Hei” (Hi). The album reached number one on the Norwegian Albums Chart. One of the singles from the re-release of this album “Elektrisk” (Electrical), reached number three on the Norwegian Singles Chart and became the first ever Norwegian-language song to get over 100 million streams on Spotify.

In 2016, Marcus & Martinus released their first single in English, “Girls” featuring Madcon. This was their first number one single in Norway. This was followed by their first English-language album “Together” in November. It was their first album to go to number one in both Norway and Sweden. They later won “Artist of the Year” at the Spellemann Awards. In December, they performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert.

In 2017, Marcus & Martinus were the Norwegian spokespersons for the Eurovision Song Contest. They released their third album “Moments” later that year, which topped the Album Charts in Norway and Sweden again. In 2019, they released an EP called “Soon”.

In 2022, Marcus & Martinus took part in the second season of Masked Singer Sverige and won. In 2023, they competed in Melodifestivalen for the first time with “Air”. They finished second in the final.

The song that Marcus & Martinus will perform on home soil in Malmö is called “Unforgettable”. It was written and composed by Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb and Marcus & Martinus themselves. Three of the writers have written Eurovision winning entries, with Joy Deb and Linnea Deb writing “Heroes” (Eurovision 2015 winner) and Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt writing “Tattoo” (Eurovision 2023 winner). In addition to opening the Grand Final, Marcus and Martinus will also perform in the first semi-final on May 7.

Song Review

Awkward moment when you host Eurovision in Sweden and the only Swedish representation is from Ireland.

Marcus and Martinus are very competent performers. This whole song is slick and streamlined in such a quintessentially Swedish way. The performance looks like a music video. Every part of this has been thought through with no stone left unturned.

As good as this is, I don’t think it’s going places. I have been listening to a lot of Swedish radio over the past year and the gap between Melodifestivalen and actual music you hear on the radio is enormous. There is much more diversity in the Swedish music scene than Melodifestivalen would have you believe. “Unforgettable” is a good song but at times it feels like it’s been streamlined too much that there isn’t any soul or feeling left in it. It should do reasonably well in the contest but it isn’t challenging for the win.

The One That Got Away

This year, Sweden missed out on not just Swedish representation but representation in Swedish!

Medina first attempted to represent Sweden at Eurovision 2022 with “In i dimman” (Into the fog) and finished third in the Melodifestivalen final. This year, they returned with “Que Sera” (What will be) and were the only Swedish-language artists to qualify for the final. Despite finishing second, this song became their first number 1 hit in Sweden.

This song is feelgood summer vibes wrapped into three minutes. Hip hop is massive in Sweden right now and it would have been nice to show that off to Europe. Sweden is the only Nordic country in the 21st century that has not sent an entry in its own language. As someone who has been listening to a lot of Swedish radio lately, I can say that there is so much great Swedish-language music out there right now. This would have been an explosive opening to the show in front of a home crowd.

Lycka till Sverige!

Are Marcus & Martinus unforgettable or do you have trouble remembering them? Leave your comments below.

Once again, thank you for following the Eurovision preview journey this year. It was a bit hectic with uploading stuff, but hopefully next year will be a bit calmer. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to pack for a flight tomorrow. Vi ses i Malmö!

(Sources: eurovision.tv, SVT, YouTube)

Eurovision 2024 Preview: 🇮🇹 Italy

As we near the end of our preview journey, we head to the land of pizza, pasta and where rock’n’roll never dies. It’s Italy!

History

Italy was one of the seven countries to take part in the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. They will send their 48th entry to the contest this year. Despite not winning in 1958, “Nel blu, dipinto di blu” by Domenico Modugno went on to become on of the most successful Italian songs of all time, winning “Record of the Year” and “Song of the Year” at the very first Grammy Awards.

Italy withdrew from the contest a number of times, most notably from 1998 to 2010. Since their return to the contest in 2011, Italy have placed in top 10 every year except for 2014 and 2016. Italy have won the contest on three occasions. The first time in 1964 with the song “Non ho l’età” performed by Gigliola Cinquetti, then in 1990 with the song “Insieme: 1992” performed by Toto Cutugno and most recently in 2021 with “Zitti e buoni” performed by Måneskin.

At the 2023 contest, Marco Mengoni finished fourth with “Due vite”.

Selection

The Italian broadcaster, Radiotelevisione italiana (RAI) used the 74th edition of the Sanremo Music Festival, the inspiration for the Eurovision itself, to select their 2024 entrant. A total of 30 artists competed in the festival; 27 as Campioni or “Big Artists” and three newcomers from Sanremo Giovani. The winner would earn the right to represent Italy and first refusal of the offer. After five nights of the festival, Angelina Mango was crowned the winner. Shortly after her victory, she accepted the Italian ticket to Malmö.

Artist

Angelina Mango was born on April 10 2001 in Maratea in southern Italy. She is the daughter of the famous Italian singers and songwriters Pino Mango, commonly known as Mango, and Laura Valente, former frontwoman of Matia Bazar from 1990 to 1998. Following the cultural imprint of her family, Angelina and her brother were brought up with a musical education.

Angelina began her career as a singer in 2016 in Milan, when she joined a band with her brother. She released her first single “Va tutto bene” (Everything’s good) in 2020, before release of her first EP “Monolocale” (Studio) later that year.

In 2021, Angelina participated in Sanremo Giovani but did not make it to the final. The very same year, though, her career took a serious boost, as she signed a contract with Sony Music and took part in Concerto del Primo Maggio (a national Labour Day concert in Italy).

Angelina’s breakthrough came in November 2022, when she competed in the talent show Amici di Maria De Filippi. There she came second place overall, but she triumphed in the singing category. This opened the door to a large number of collaborations with many popular artists, and she also released many singles and EPs. One of these, “Voglia di vivere” (Will to live), debuted at number 2 on the Italian Albums Chart and was certified gold. The single of the same name was certified platinum. Her biggest hit so far was “Che t’o dico a fa'” (What am I telling you for?), which reached number 2 on the Italian Singles Chart.

The song that Angelina will perform in Malmö is called “La noia” (Boredom). It was written and composed by Dardust, Madame and Angelina herself. In addition to the Grand Final, Angelina will also perform during the second semi-final on May 9.

Song Review

A woman winning Sanremo and going to Eurovision afterwards? The curse is broken!

This song is like a breath of fresh air from Latin America that passed up through the Mediterranean. The cumbia rhythms are coupled with an Italian finesse and the catchy beats contrast the lyrics about reflections on life in general. It is an incredibly well crafted song.

The icing on the cake for this whole package is Angelina herself. She has star power. Everyone move she makes and every note she sings is filled with purpose. She starts off slow and then hits you with all of her power, no tricks needed.

You reap what you sow, as the saying goes. Italy put quality in and they get good results from it. I see at least at least a top 5 result for Italy. If some of the other favourites falter, Italy will be right there to take their fourth victory. If we do have to go to Italy again, can I just ask that we don’t have a rotating sun please?

The One That Got Away

Angelina was the first female soloist in ten years to win Sanremo. However, there has been another female soloist many have wanted to win Sanremo for years. Enter Annalisa.

Annalisa Scarrone has participated in Sanremo five times. Known mainly for her ballads, she came with the electro-pop song “Sinceramente” (Sincerely) and finished third overall. Annalisa does not stop serving and honestly, it’s a crime that she hasn’t been to Eurovision yet. That day needs to come soon because the world needs to see her power!

Buona fortuna Italia!

Are you dancing the cumbia with Angelina or are you just bored? Leave your comments below. Stay tuned tomorrow for the final Eurovision preview of this year!

(Sources: eurovision.tv, RAI, YouTube)

Eurovision 2024 Preview: 🇫🇷 France

Only three previews left! Today, we head to the land of baguettes, the current champions of Junior Eurovision (yet again) and the host nation of the 2024 Summer Olympics. It’s France!

History

France was one of the seven countries to take part in the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. This year marks their 66th appearance in the contest. They have won the contest on five occasions; in 1958 with “Dors mon amour” by André Claveau, in 1960 with “Tom Pillibi” by Jacqueline Boyer, in 1962 with “Un premier amour” by Isabelle Aubret, in 1969 with “Un jour, un enfant” by Frida Boccara as part of a four-way tie and finally in 1975 with “L’oiseau et l’enfant” by Marie Myriam.

In the 21st century, France has had less success. They have only finished in the top ten five times since 2000, most recently in 2021, when Barbara Pravi finished second with “Voilà”.

At the 2023 contest, La Zarra finished 16th with “Évidemment”.

Selection

The French broadcaster, France Télévisions, used an internal selection to select their 2024 entrant. Slimane was internally selected to represent France in Malmö.

Artist

Slimane Nebchi, better known simply as Slimane, was born to Algerian parents in Chelles in northern France on October 13 1989. He later moved to Les Lilas in Paris, where he worked for a charity.

Slimane began uploading covers to YouTube in 2009, and soon took part in several music competitions such as Nouvelle Star in 2009 and X Factor in 2011. He came to public attention after winning the fifth season of The Voice: la plus belle voix in 2016.

In 2016, Slimane released his debut single “Paname”, which was certified platinum. His debut album “À bout de rêves” (At the end of dreams) was released the same year and was certified double platinum. His second album “Solune” reached number 2 on the French Albums Chart in 2018. After “Solune” was released, he went on tour around France.

In 2019, Slimane released “Je te le donne” (I give it to you), a duet with French singer Vitaa. The success of the single inspired the pair to record a duet album called “VersuS”. The pair recorded two more “VersuS” albums before splitting up.

In 2022, Slimane released his first solo single since 2018, “La recette” (The recipe). This was followed by his latest album “Chroniques d’un cupidon” (Chronicles of a Cupid). One of the tracks on the album “Les amants de la colline” (The lovers of the hill) is a duet with La Zarra, who represented France last year. He will release “Essentiels” (Essentials), his first greatest hits album, on May 11, the day of the Eurovision final.

Apart from being a recording artist, Slimane also appeared in the French musical Marie-Antoinette et le Chevalier de Maison-Rouge in 2015. He has also been a coach on The Voice Belgique and The Voice Kids France.

The song that Slimane will perform in Malmö is called “Mon amour” (My love). It was written and composed by Yaacov Salah, Meïr Salah and Slimane himself. In addition to the Grand Final, Slimane will also perform during the second semi-final on May 9.

Song Review

France were very brave in revealing their song all the way back in November and to get someone as big as Slimane. I may have screamed in excitement when I heard the news that other people in the office were worried about me!

This song is Slimane on full throttle. This guy is known as one of the best and most emotional vocalists in France and he shows exactly why that is the case. This song is an ode to romance and love that captures all of the feelings that go with them.

As an automatic finalist, France has the advantage of being able to look for a song that appeals to both juries and the public. The juries will appreciate the vocal techniques and the composition. The public will be amazed at how you still hear Slimane clearly even when he is standing five metres away from the microphone. All going well, France can hope for a top 10 finish.

The One That Got Away

Now that France is attracting big names for Eurovision, why not give Zaz a chance?

Isabelle Geffroy, better known as Zaz, got her national and international breakthrough in 2010 with the single “Je veux”. With her unique blend of jazz, funk and French variety, Zaz has performed all over the world. Last year, she performed at the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup.

Zaz is used to taking inspiration from various parts of the world but still making it French. She has also performed for huge international audiences. Someone like that is perfect for Eurovision, don’t you think?

Bonne chance à la France!

Are you filled with love or hate for Slimane? Leave your comments below. Stay tuned tomorrow for another Eurovision preview!

(Sources: eurovision.tv, France Télévisions, YouTube)

Eurovision 2024 Preview: 🇪🇸 Spain

In two weeks time, the first semi-final of Eurovision 2023 will take place. The wait is almost over! Before then, we still have a few songs to preview. Today we head to the land of flamenco, sangria and the host nation of Junior Eurovision 2024. It’s Spain!

History

Spain first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961. This year marks their 63rd entry in the contest. They have participated every year since their debut, making them the longest participating country that has never withdrawn. They have won on two occasions; in 1968 with “La la la” by Massiel (albeit controversially with accusations of bribery by Franco) and in 1969 on home ground in Madrid as one of the four winners with “Vivo cantando” by Salomé. Spain has finished in the top ten 7 times in the 21st century, most recently in 2022, when Chanel finished third with “Slo Mo”.

At the 2023 contest, Blanca Paloma finished 17th with “Eaea”.

Selection

The Spanish broadcaster, Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE), used the third edition of Benidorm Fest to select their 2024 entry. A total of 16 songs competed across two semi-finals. In each semi-final, a combination of an expert jury (50%), a demoscopic jury (25%) and public voting (25%) chose four songs to advance to the final. The same voting method was used in the final to decide the winner. After winning the expert jury and public votes, Nebulossa were awarded the Spanish ticket to Malmö.

Artist

Nebulossa are a duo from Ondara in the Valencian Community in southeastern Spain, consisting of singer María “Mery” Bas and keyboardist and prodcuer Mark Dasousa. The pair have been married for 20 years and have two children.

Nebulossa was formed in 2018. The name of the group was came from a visit to an observatory in Port Ainé in the Pyrenees, where they constantly talked about nebulas. The double “s” in the name is a nod to the Valencian language.

Nebulossa released their debut EP “Ufo” in 2019. After releasing several singles in 2020, they released their first studio album “Poliédrica de mí” (Polyhedral of me) in 2021. In 2022, they participated as a trio with Ophelia Alibrando in Una voce per San Marino, the Sammarinese national selection for Eurovision, with “Anoche” (Last night) . They did not advance to the final.

The song that Nebulossa will perform in Malmö is called “Zorra” (Slut). It was written and composed by both members of Nebulossa. In addition to the Grand Final, Nebulossa will also perform during the second semi-final on May 9.

Song Review

This year, we have an act who tried to represent Spain last year but is representing San Marino this year and an act who tried to represent San Marino last year but is representing Spain this year. Go figure.

This song is 80’s synthpop goodness to a tee. It makes me think of neon lights and hazy dancefloors. Throwbacks to past decades are very much in this season. Apart from the sound, the song’s message and performers really drive it home.

The song is so unapologetic in its message. “Yes, I’m a bitch or a slut or whatever you want to call me. What are you going to do about it?” The fact that it’s coming from a singer in her 50’s is even more impactful. People seem to think that Eurovision is just a young person’s game and that no one over the age of 40 should be anywhere near the stage. Well, Nebulossa are here to tell you that they very much have their place in the contest!

I have had the chance to see this song performed live at Benidorm Fest and at the Madrid and Amsterdam pre-parties. Any of their performances in Spain were absolutely electric. Everyone in the crowd knew all the words and cheered from beginning to end. It’s easy to see why Spain has fallen in love with them. As for whether this will do well at Eurovision, I’m undecided. People might vibe with the message or they might just be staring at the dancers’ arses and forget to vote. Whatever happens, ¡nos vemos en Malmö, zorras!

The One That Got Away

For the first time in Benidorm Fest history, the expert jury had two songs in first after voting. One of them was “Zorra”. The other was St. Pedro with “Dos extraños (Cuarteto de cuerda)” (Two strangers (String quartet)).

Hailing from the Canary Islands, St. Pedro brought a beautifully sung bolero to Benidorm Fest. Despite some questionable staging choices, he finished second in the final. This was my favourite heading into Benidorm Fest but Nebulossa’s electric performance won me over. Still, St. Pedro, you are welcome to swing by my place any time you want.

¡Mucha suerte a España! Molta sort a Espanya! Zorte on Espainiari! Moita sorte a España!

Should Nebulossa shout what they’re feeling or should they stay quiet? Leave your comments below. Stay tuned tomorrow for another Eurovision preview!

(Sources: eurovision.tv, TVE, YouTube)

Eurovision 2024 Preview: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

It is officially rehearsals week! THE EXCITEMENT!

Our next preview takes us to last year’s host country; the land of tea, queuing and racing after cheese rolling down a hill. It’s the United Kingdom!

History

The United Kingdom first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957. This year will be their 66th participation in the contest. Having not missed a contest since 1959, the United Kingdom holds the record for the longest uninterrupted participation streak in the contest.

The United Kingdom has won five times. Their first victory came courtesy of Sandie Shaw with “Puppet on a String” in 1967, followed by Lulu with “Boom Bang-a-Bang” in 1969 (tied), Brotherhood of Man with “Save Your Kisses for Me” in 1976, Bucks Fizz with “Making Your Mind Up” in 1981 and finally Katrina and the Waves with “Love, Shine a Light” in 1997. In the 21st century, they have fared worse, only finishing in top 10 on three occasions. The 2010’s were the first decade in history in which the United Kingdom did not finish in the top 10. The United Kingdom has also finished second a record 16 times, most recently in 2022 with “Space Man” by Sam Ryder. They have also hosted the contest more than any other country with nine times, stepping in to host on behalf of another country on five occasions.

The 2023 contest was held in Liverpool after Ukraine was unable to host due to the ongoing war in the country. Mae Muller represented the United Kingdom on home ground with “I Wrote a Song” and finished 25th in the final.

Selection

The British national broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), internally selected their 2024 entry. Olly Alexander was selected to represent the United Kingdom in Malmö.

Artist

Oliver Alexander Thornton, better known as Olly Alexander, was born on July 15 1990 in Harrogate in northern England. As a child, he starred in two school productions and went on to further his education in Performing Arts at the Hereford College of Arts. He later dropped out of college to pursue his acting career through his agent at the age of 16.

Olly began professionally acting in 2008, when he appeared in the film Summerhill, and continued to pursue his career by starring in roles such as Peter Pan in the West End play Peter and Alice, and a supporting role in the television drama Skins. His most notable acting role is his performance as Ritchie Tozer in the Channel 4 2021 drama It’s A Sin, which earned critical acclaim.

Olly began his music career as the lead singer of Years and Years. The band had their breakthrough with “King”, which reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart in 2015. Two of their albums “Communion” (2015) and “Night Call” (2022) reached number 1 on the UK Albums Chart. From 2021 onwards, Years and Years became Olly’s solo project. He collaborated with the Pet Boy Shops on two singles; “Dreamland” (2019) and a cover of “It’s a Sin”, which was released to promote the drama of the same name.

The song that Olly will perform in Malmö is called “Dizzy”. It was written and composed by Daniel Harle and Olly himself. This is Olly’s first release under his own name. In addition to the Grand Final, Olly will also perform during the first semi-final on May 7.

Song Review

Imagine telling someone just five years ago that Olly Alexander of all people would be representing the United Kingdom at Eurovision. No one would believe you!

This song is a bit of a throwback to the 90’s, like quite a few of the songs this year but it still sounds like a modern pop. It is streamlined and sensual. It is far from a bad song. The only criticism I have is that is could go harder. This is Eurovision and you don’t get prizes for playing it safe! Maybe I’m just saying that because I’m very familiar with Olly’s music and the expectations were quite high for him anyway. This is not a winner and it’s not certain that this will do well. That being said, I hope that the UK doesn’t go back to its dark days when absolutely anyone would do as a Eurovision representative.

The One That Got Away

Whatever result Olly ends up getting in Malmö, I hope the BBC continue to put talented live performers on the Eurovision stage. Take Freya Ridings for example.

Freya got her breakthrough in 2018 with the simple and heartfelt piano ballad “Lost Without You”, which was featured on shows such as Love Island and Grey’s Anatomy. She has since gone on to have two top ten albums and has toured around the world.

Freya was rumoured to be representing the United Kingdom last year but of course, that turned out not to be true. I think Freya would be a great choice for the UK because she is a fantastic live artist. Hopefully, my wish can come true one day.

Good luck to the United Kingdom!

Is Olly making you dizzy or are you spinning out? Leave your comments below. Stay tuned tomorrow for another Eurovision preview!

(Sources: eurovision.tv, BBC, YouTube)

Eurovision 2024 Preview: 🇩🇪 Germany

We are in the home stretch now as we move on to the pre-qualified finalists. For the first time ever, they will also be performing during the semi-final live shows!

First up is the land of lederhosen, precision engineering and the host nation of UEFA Euro 2024. It’s Germany!

History

Germany was one of the seven countries to take part in the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. This year marks their 67th appearance in the contest, which is more than any other country. Apart from an absence in 1996, due to failing to qualify from a pre-contest elimination round, Germany has taken part in every single contest to date. They have won on two occasions; in 1982 when Nicole sang “Ein bisschen Frieden” and in 2010 when Lena sang “Satellite”.

At the 2023 contest, Lord of the Lost finished last in the final with “Blood and Glitter”. marking Germany’s second consecutive last-place finish and their fourth consecutive bottom five placing.

Selection

The German broadcaster, Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Working group of public broadcasters of the Federal Republic of Germany – ARD), used the national final Eurovision Song Contest – Das deutsche Finale 2024 (Eurovision Song Contest – The German final) to select their 2024 entry. A total of nine songs competed in the final; eight selected through a public selection and one selected via the casting show Ich will zum ESC! (I want to go to Eurovision). The results were decided by a combination of eight international juries (50%) and public voting (50%). After winning both votes, Isaak was awarded the German ticket to Malmö.

Artist

Isaak Guderian was born on January 31 1995 to an Icelandic mother and a German father in Minden in North Rhine-Westphalia in northwestern Germany. He grew up in Porta Westfalica. He currently lives in nearby Espelkamp with his wife and two children.

Isaak began his music career as a street musician, subsequently forming a band. In 2011, he took part in the second series of X Factor.

In 2020, Isaak started composing music and releasing original songs, beginning with his debut single “Too Late”. In 2021, he won the online talent show Show Your Talent. In 2022, his single “Baby Steps” reached number six on the German Singles Chart.

The song that Isaak will perform in Malmö is called “Always on the Run”. It was written and composed by Kevin Lehr, Leo Salminen, Greg Taro and Isaak himself. The original lyrics had to be changed to remove profanity, which is against the rules of Eurovision. In addition to the final, Isaak will also perform during the first semi-final on May 7.

Song Review

My first reaction to this song was “Germany has managed to fumble the bag again and will definitely finish last”. However, I’m starting to rethink this opinion.

First up, Isaak has one hell of a voice. I get neo-soul vibes from his voice and the song. He puts so much passion in to every performance he gives. There is something very charming about this.

Not every song at Eurovision has to be grandiose and fantastic. There is a place for a simple song sung very well. Germany occupies that place this year. I just hope he has some sort of a staging that doesn’t involve him just standing there. While I don’t think is a contender to win, I think Germany will surprise a lot of people and not finish in the bottom five for once.

The One That Got Away

Before Das deutsche Finale, Isaak was not favoured as a contender to win. All signs seemed to point towards Ryk.

After finishing third in the German selection in 2014, Ryk was back to try his luck with “Oh Boy”. With an emotionally charged song and flawless vocals, it seemed that victory was his for the taking. However, neither the juries nor the public vote loved it enough and Ryk finished third again. While I think Isaak could save Germany from another last place finish, Ryk would have definitely done it.

Viel Glück Deutschland!

Are you always on the run with Isaak or staying where you are? Leave your comments below. Stay tuned tomorrow for another Eurovision preview!

(Sources: eurovision.tv, ARD, Wikipedia, YouTube)

Eurovision 2024 Preview: 🇳🇱 Netherlands

We have reached the last country in the second semi-final and in the semi-finals overal. We’re off to the land of windmills, bikes and stroopwafels. It’s the Netherlands!

History

The Netherlands was one of the seven countries that took part in the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. They will make their 63rd appearance in the contest this year. They have won five times in total. Their first win came in 1957 with Corry Brokken singing “Net als toen”, followed in 1959 with Teddy Scholten singing “Een beetje”, in 1969 as a joint winner with Lenny Kuhr singing “De troubadour” and in 1975 with Teach-In singing “Ding-a-Dong”. Their fifth victory did not come until 2019, when Duncan Laurence won with “Arcade”.

At the 2023 contest, Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper finished 13th in the first semi-final with “Burning Daylight”, leaving the Netherlands out of the final for the first time since 2015.

Selection

The Dutch broadcaster, AVROTROS, internally selected their entrant for the 2024 contest. Joost Klein was selected to represent the Netherlands in Malmö.

Artist

Joost Klein was born on November 10 1997 in Leeuwarden/Ljouwert in Friesland in the north of the Netherlands. He was raised in the nearby village of Bitsum. After his parents died, he was looked after by his older brother and sister.

After starting out as a Youtuber, Joost released his debut album “Dakloos” (Homeless) in 2016. His second album “Scandinavian Boy” was his first album to chart. In 2018, he released his third studio album “M van Marketing” (M for Marketing) together with Dutch rapper Donnie. Later that year, he released a poetry book called “Albino”, which was also the name of his fourth album.

In 2019, Joost released fifth studio album “1983”. To promote the album, he toured the Netherlands and appeared at festivals such as Lowlands, Pukkelpop and Pinkpop. After touring, he released another album called “Joost Klein 7”.

In 2022, Joost released the album “Fryslân” (Friesland). This album spawned the singles “Florida 2009”, “Wachtmuziek” (Hold music) and “Papa en mama” (Mum and dad).

In 2023, Joost scored his first number one single in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria with the song “Friesenjung” (Frisian boy), a collaboration with German rapper Ski Aggu. The song has over 100 million streams worldwide and won Best Song at the 1LIVE Krone Radio Awards.

The song that Joost will perform in Malmö is called “Europapa” (Euro-daddy). It was written by Donny Ellerström, Tim Haars and Joost himself and was composed by Dylan van Dael, Paul Elstak, Teun de Kruif and Thijmen Melissan.

Song Review

Four words: Joost Klein, droom groot!

This song is so Dutch but so international at the same time. Its Dutch sound not only comes from the lyrics being in Dutch, but the inclusion of happy hardcore and gabber, two styles which originated in the Netherlands. The international sound, well, can you stay seated while listening to this song?

The lyrics are also very interesting to me. The pro-Europe lyrics are quite poignant against rising anti-EU sentiments in the Netherlands and as an EU worker myself, I approve this message! The fact that the lyrics are a tribute to Joost’s parents, both of whom are dead, is a recurring theme in Joost’s music and it’s touching that he will get to bring them to the largest stage in the world.

I saw this song performed live at Eurovision In Concert last week and given that the concert was held in Amsterdam, the roof was blown off of the place. While that performance was always going to pop off, I believe this has incredible international appeal. It will close the show in a big way and sail through to the final. I have heard from several Dutch people that they think Joost can bring them their sixth win and honestly, I can kind of see it. If it’s not going to win outright, it is certainly a contender for the win and will do very well in Malmö.

What Could Have Been

We know that the Netherlands are not afraid of sending music in their own language and someone who is willing to bring Dutch to Eurovision is Merol.

Merel Baldé, better known as Merol, is known for her playful and sometimes controversial lyrics. In 2022, she was rumoured to have applied to the Dutch selection with “Applaus” (Applause) but was just pipped at the post to get the Eurovision ticket. It would have better from what they did send!

Now that the Netherlands seems to have moved away from the thought that sad songs do well for them, maybe we can see Merol at Eurovision one day.

Veel succes Nederland! Succes Nederlân!

Will Joost go all the way or are his dreams too big? Leave your comments below. Stay turned tomorrow for another Eurovision preview!

(Sources: eurovision.tv, AVROTROS, YouTube)

Eurovision 2024 Preview: 🇳🇴 Norway

We are nearing the end of the previews! Next up is the land of oil, fjords and the host nation of Eurovision Young Musicians 2024. It’s Norway!

History

Norway first took part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1960 and will take part in the contest for the 63rd time this year. They have the dubious honours of finishing last and scoring zero points more times than any other country in the contest’s history. Fortunately for them, they have also won three times; in 1985 with “La det swinge” by Bobbysocks, in 1995 with “Nocturne” by Secret Garden and in 2009 with “Fairytale” by Alexander Rybak, the latter holding the record for the highest winning total and biggest winning margin under the old voting system.

At the 2023 contest, Alessandra finished fifth in the final with “Queen of Kings”. This was Norway’s best result since 2013.

Selection

The Norwegian broadcaster, Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK), organised Melodi Grand Prix for the 62nd time in order to select their 2024 entry.

A total of 18 entries competed across three semi-finals. In each semi-final, public voting chose three entries to advance to the final.

In the final, a combination of ten international juries (40%) and public voting (60%) decided the results. After finishing second in the jury vote and first in the public vote, Gåte were awarded the Norwegian ticket to Malmö.

Artist

Gåte (Riddle) was founded in 1999 in Trøndelag in central Norway. The line-up currently consists of Gunnhild Sundli (vocals), Magnus Børmark (guitar, keyboards), Jon Even Schärer (drums), Mats Paulsen (bass), and John Stenersen (nyckelharpa, moraharpa, and hurdy-gurdy).

Gåte released their first self-titled EP in 2000, followed by another self-titled EP in 2002. Their commercial breakthrough came in 2002 with the release of their first studio album “Jygri”, which proved to be popular in Norway, the rest of Scandinavia, and Germany.

After the release of their second album “Iselilja” in 2004, Gate took a break until 2009. After a series of concerts in 2009 and 2010, the band broke up.

Gåte made their comeback in 2017, releasing their EP “Attersyn”. They embarked on another Norwegian tour a year later. They have since released two more albums; “Svevn” in 2018 and “Nord” in 2021.

The song that Gåte will perform in Malmö is called “Ulveham” (Wolf pelt). It was written and composed by Gunnhild Sundli, Magnus Børmark, Jon Even Schärer, Marit Jensen Lillebuen, Ronny Graff Janssen and Sveinung Ekloo Sundli. The lyrics of the song are based on an ancient Scandinavian medieval ballad, which the band had to change for the final of Melodi Grand Prix to comply with Eurovision rules. It is the first Norwegian entry to be in Norwegian since 2006.

Song Review

Norway have stopped aiming for what could go viral on TikTok and have chosen quality.

To take a ballad that is centuries old and have very little time to write new lyrics to it and to still maintain its original standard is admirable. The song is stirring in its instrumentation and a little scary if you read the translation of the lyrics! It pulls you into the world of the song and makes you feel like you are wondering through a snowy forest after being banished from your home. It is not an easy song to pull off live but Gunnhild nails it with her distinctive voice every time.

This is one of those songs that has jury appeal for how well it is performed and public vote appeal for how hard it slaps. I could see this easily getting a top ten finish.

The One That Got Away

There are artists who use Eurovision as a stepping stone in their career and there are those who live Eurovision every day. Keiino are an example of the latter.

After finishing sixth at Eurovision 2019 and second in Melodi Grand Prix 2021, Keiino came back this year for the third time with “Damdiggida”. A little bit of a departure from what they normally do, Keiino still managed to get to the final and win the jury vote but finished second overall. Interestingly, Keiino would have won if the results were split 50-50!

I would have loved to see Keiino back, mostly because I predicted them to return to Eurovision in a Eurovision 2024 prediction game. I have no doubt we will see them back again in a few years. They’re never too far away.

Lykke til Norge!

Will Gåte be protected by the wolf pelt or meet their end? Leave your comments below. Stay tuned for another Eurovision preview tomorrow!

(Sources: eurovision.tv, NRK, YouTube)

Eurovision 2024 Preview: 🇪🇪 Estonia

We move on to the land of bogs, singing revolutions and Skype. It’s Estonia!

History

Estonia first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994. This year marks their 29th participation in the contest. Their first participation was not successful, as they finished 24th out of 25 entries and were relegated from the 1995 contest. Their fortunes quickly turned around however, as they finished in the top 10 every year from 1996 to 2002, with the exception of 1998. They were the first former Eastern bloc country to win the contest, when Tanel Padar, Dave Benton and 2XL claimed victory in 2001 with “Everybody”.

At the 2023 contest, Alika finished eighth in the final with “Bridges”, giving Estonia their best result since 2018.

Selection

The Estonian broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR), organised the 16th edition of Eesti Laul to choose their 2024 entrant. A total of 20 songs competed in the contest. All of the songs had to compete in the semi-final except for five automatic qualifiers. In the semi-final, a jury (50%) and public voting (50%) chose three finalists. The public then chose two more finalists from the remaining songs.

In the final, voting was conducted over two rounds. In the first round, an international jury (50%) and public voting (50%) chose three superfinalists. In the superfinal, public voting alone decided the winner. With 60% of the vote in the superfinal, 5Miinust and Puuluup were awarded the Estonian ticket to Malmö.

Artist

5Miinust (Five minuses) were formed in Võsu in northern Estonia in 2015. The line-up currently consists of Kristjan Jakobson (Estoni Kohver), Mihkel Tamm (Päevakoer), Karl Kivastik (Põhja-Korea), and Priit Tomson (Lancelot). They released their first albums “Aasta plaat” (Record of the year) in 2016 and “Rämmar” (Rumble) in 2017, which were named as two of the 18 most successful albums in Estonia a year later. Their song “(Ei ole) aluspükse” (I don’t have (underwear)) featuring Nublu became the third best-selling song in Estonia in 2019. 5Miinust have won Artist of the Year twice at the Estonian Music Awards.

Puulup was founded in 2014. The duo consists of Ramo Teder (known as Pastacas as a solo artist) and Marko Veisson. They use traditional instruments such as the talharpa in their music. They released their debut single “Martafana” in 2018. They have since released two studio albums; “Süüta mu lumi” (Light my snow) in 2018 and “Viimane suusataja” (The last skier) in 2021.

5Miinust and Puuluup will release the joint album “Kannatused ehk külakiigel pole stopperit” (Suffering, or the village swing, has no stopwatch) on April 26.

The song that 5Miinust and Puuluup will perform in Malmö is called “(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi” (We (really) don’t know anything about (those) drugs”. It was written and composed by Kim Wennerström, Kohver, Lancelot, Marko Veisson, Päevakoer, Põhja Korea and Ramo Teder. The song holds the record for the longest song title in the history of Eurovision. The song lyrics also had to be changed because of a reference to Lay’s, the brand of crisps, in the original lyrics. It is the first Estonian entry to be in Estonian since 2013.

Song Review

If this song doesn’t make you feel like you can break the land speed limit in a shopping trolley, then you aren’t listening to this properly.

I have been hooked to this song since the first listen. It is energetic, fun and just so out there. Behind its thumping beat is a jab at crime and class divide. It’s the first Estonian-language entry in over a decade. You can see why everyone who loves it really loves it.

Estonia saw how crazy and party their northern neighbours got last year and obviously saw a chance to do the same this year. I see this qualifying and, unlike Finland, I think this will be less divisive and may lead to a higher jury score. No matter what, this song is my drug and I’m addicted.

The One That Got Away

While Eurovision is a huge platform for artists, you don’t always need it to make it big.

Best known for their 2011 hit “Good Man Down”, Ewert and the Two Dragons are one of the most internationally successful bands to come out of Estonia. In 2013, they were awarded a European Border Breakers Awards.

For their first new release in several years, Ewert and the Two Dragons decided to participate in Eesti Laul 2024 with “Hold Me Now”. It ended up in seventh place and was a wonderful example of the band’s indie pop sound and the alternative sound that Eesti Laul is known for.

Õnn Eestisse!

Are 5Miinust x Puuluup your drug or are you straight edge? Leave your comments below. Stay tuned tomorrow for another Eurovision preview!

(Sources: eurovision.tv, ERR, YouTube)

Eurovision 2024 Preview: 🇧🇪 Belgium

Our next Eurovision preview takes us to my current country of residence; the land of chocolate, too many governments and the current holders of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It’s Belgium!

History

Belgium was one of the seven countries that took part in the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. They will take part in the contest for the 65th time this year. They have only won once, when Sandra Kim sang “J’aime la vie” in 1986. She is the youngest winner in history after winning the contest at 13 years old (although her song stated that she was 15!). The closest Belgium have come to winning since then was in 2003, when Urban Trad finished second with “Sanomi”, just three points behind the winners Turkey.

At the 2023 contest, Gustaph finished seventh with “Because of You”, giving Belgium their best result since 2016.

Selection

The selection of Belgium’s entry alternates between two broadcasters; the Dutch-language Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT) and the French-language Radio-télévision belge de la Communauté française (RTBF). RTBF was in charge this year.

RTBF used an internal selection to select their 2024 entry. Mustii was selected to represent Belgium in Malmö.

Artist

Thomas Mustin, better known as Mustii, was born on November 21 1990 in Brussels. He studied acting at the Institut des arts de diffusion in Louvain-la-Neuve. After graduating in 2012, he landed his first acting role in the Belgian police drama “À tort ou à raison” (Wrong or right). He also played Benvolio in a touring production of Romeo and Juliet, which notably was the first play to be performed in the Théâtre de Liège in 2013.

He continued to perform on both screen and stage in the following years; such as in the play “Débris” in 2014, the French-Belgian film “Un petit boulot” (Odd Job) in 2016 and the Belgian television series “La Trêve” (The Break) in 2016, which was also broadcast in France, Switzerland and worldwide on Netflix.

In 2014, Mustii signed a recording contract and released his debut single “The Golden Age”. The single received frequent airplay on both Dutch- and French-language radio stations in Belgium. After performing as a support act for multiple artists in Belgium and Luxembourg, he released his debut EP “The Darkest Night” in 2016. In December of that year, he won Revelation of the Year at the D6bels Music Awards.

In 2018, Mustii released his debut studio album “21st Century Boy”. In 2019, he won two acting awards; the Magritte Award for Most Promising Actor for his role in the film “L’Échange des princesses” (The princess exchange) and the Critics’ Choice Award for his role in a production of Hamlet.

In 2021, Mustii released his second studio album “It’s Happening Now”. He also was a featured artist on the song “What About Ecosystem?” by Mumiy Troll, who represented Russia at Eurovision 2001.

In 2023, he was announced as a jury member for Drag Race Belgique. He continued his role for the second season, which recently finished airing.

The song that Mustii will perform in Malmö is called “Before the Party’s Over”. It was written by Arianna Damato, Benoit Leclerq, Charlotte Clark, Nina Sampermans, Pierre Dumoulin, and Mustii himself. Nina Sampermans has written three Eurovision entries; “Would You?” (Belgium 2012), “Tout l’univers” (Switzerland 2021) and “Bridges” (Estonia 2023). Pierre Dumoulin has previously written two Belgian entries; “City Lights” (2017) and “Wake Up” (2019).

The last part of the song features a choir made up of over 1,000 recordings from members of the public. Mustii asked for members of the public to submit their recordings singing some lines of the songs, from which a choir was created.

Song Review

Last year, we got a happy gay song. This year, we got a dark gay song.

It is very clear from this song that Mustii is trained in the dramatic arts. This is starts off as moody but ends up being defiant in the face of everything bad life throws your way. It is the dark Belgian pop that we have come to know and love at Eurovision. And RTBF, thank you for realising that not every French-speaking artist in Belgium has participated in The Voice Belgique!

My worry for Eurovision is that Mustii has been going at Eurovision at a rate of knots and hasn’t found the time to rest yet. I know we say that you have to suffer for your art but if you don’t rest, you will be suffering in more ways than one! Staging has also traditionally not been Belgium’s strength (except for last year). However, if they can get both elements right, Belgium could be looking at a second consecutive top ten finish.

The One That Got Away

Now that RTBF have realised that artists exist outside of The Voice maybe they can continue picking high-quality artists. Rory would be a good example.

Hailing from Liège, Rori burst onto the Belgian music scene with her punk-influenced pop. Her 2022 song “Docteur” (Doctor) went viral and was her breakthrough hit. Since then, she has performed all over Belgium and even in front of the Belgian Royal Family.

Belgium has so many homegrown artists taking on the world at the moment. Hopefully we get to see a lot of them on the Eurovision stage over the next years.

Bonne chance à la Belgique! Veel succes België! Viel Glück Belgien!

Are you staying with Mustii until the party is over or are you leaving earlier? Leave your comments below. Stay tuned for another preview tomorrow!

(Sources: eurovision.tv, RTBF, YouTube)