April 11, 2024

🇧🇪 Road To Malmö: Belgium

photo: RTBf We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Belgium. Mustii Mustii, also known as Thomas Mustin, is a talented Belgian singer and actor born in Brussels in 1990. He studied theater at the Institut des Arts de Diffusion in Louvain-la-Neuve, finishing his studies in 2012. Mustii quickly made a name for himself in both acting and music. He started his acting career with a role in the French TV series “À tort ou à raison” and played Benvolio in a production of “Romeo and Juliet” that opened the new Théâtre de Liège. Mustii directed the play “Débris” in Brussels and was involved in “L’Auberge du Cheval-Blanc,” showcasing his versatility. He acted alongside famous actors in the movies “Odd Job” and “Les Survivors,” and in the popular TV series “The Break.” In 2014, Mustii’s music career took off when he signed with Black Gizah Records and released his hit single “The Golden Age.” He was recognized as a major new talent, winning Revelation of the Year at the 2016 D6bels Music Awards. In 2019, he won the Magritte Award for Most Promising Actor and continued to impress with his second album “It’s happening now” in 2022, which included the hit “Skyline.” Excitingly, on August 30, 2023, it was announced that Mustii will represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, promising to showcase his exceptional talents on an international stage. Languages in Belgium Belgium is a fascinating country with a rich linguistic landscape. It officially recognizes three languages: Dutch, French, and German. Dutch is spoken by the majority, particularly in the northern region of Flanders, while French is predominant in the southern part of Wallonia. German, though spoken by a smaller percentage, is primarily used in the eastern part of the country, in the region bordering Germany. This multilingual setup reflects Belgium’s complex history and cultural diversity. Each language area has its own distinct identity and cultural practices, contributing to the country’s unique mosaic. The bilingual capital, Brussels, serves as a melting pot where both Dutch and French are widely used, offering a microcosm of the nation’s linguistic diversity. Belgium’s language divide also extends into its political and educational systems, with separate governance for each linguistic community. This coexistence of languages fosters a vibrant cultural scene, but also presents challenges in terms of national unity and administration. Despite these challenges, Belgium’s multilingualism is a testament to its rich cultural heritage and openness to diversity. With Belgium speaking three languages, Mustii will sing in English. Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest The first Belgian participants were Fud Leclerc and Mony Marc in 1956. Leclerc took part 4 times in total. In one year, the Flemish broadcaster provides the entry, the other year the Wallon broadcaster does. Mustii represents Wallon broadcaster RTBf. One time so far, Belgium won: in 1986 Sandra Kim brought the trophy to Belgium with her song “J’aime la vie”. Jean Vallée (L’amour, ça fait chanter la vie in 1978) and Urban Trad (Sanomi in 2003) reached a 2nd place. In recent years Loïc Nottet (2015) and Blanche (2017) reached a 4th place. Last year, Gustaph was also very succesful with a 7th place with his song “Because of you”. The bookmakers Currently, Belgium is in 8th place in the betting odds to win the contest. In the odds to reach the final, Mustii has a 4th place. A good score for Belgium is likely. The Song And this is the song:

🇬🇪 Road To Malmö: Georgia

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Georgia. Nutsa Buzaladze Nutsa Buzaladze is a talented singer-songwriter from Georgia, born on January 28, 1997. She started her music journey when she was just 5 years old by joining a children’s group in Tbilisi, her hometown. Nutsa quickly showed her musical skills by playing in a band, singing, playing the guitar, and even learning piano by the time she was 8. Her big break came in 2011 when she competed in Georgia’s Got Talent, setting the stage for her solo career. Nutsa gained international fame in 2014 by winning at the New Wave Music Festival in Latvia, representing Georgia. Throughout her career, Nutsa has been part of various music contests and worked with famous artists like Hadise. In 2017, her song “White Horses Run” almost won Georgia’s choice for Eurovision. She released her first album, “Nutsa22,” in 2019, featuring popular songs in both Georgian and English. Nutsa continued to impress by participating in music shows around the world, including American Idol in 2023. Recently, on January 12, 2024, it was announced that Nutsa will represent Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Sweden with the song “Firefighter”. The New Wave Music Festival In 2014, Nutsa Buzaladze won the New Wave Music Festival. The New Wave Music Festival in Latvia is a prestigious international contest that showcases the talents of young musicians from around the globe. Held annually in the beautiful city of Jūrmala, the festival has become a launching pad for emerging artists since its inception in 2002. Over the course of several days, participants compete by performing a variety of songs, ranging from national hits to international classics, in front of a panel of esteemed judges and a live audience. The festival is known for its vibrant atmosphere, stunning coastal setting, and the opportunity it provides for young talents to connect with industry professionals. Winners of the New Wave gain significant exposure, opening doors to international careers in music. Besides the competition, the festival features performances by established stars, adding to its allure. Over the years, New Wave has solidified its reputation as a key event in the music calendar, celebrating new talent and the universal language of music. Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest “Firefighter” is the 16th Georgian entry in Eurovision. The country debuted in 2007 with Sopho Galvashi and her “Visionary dream”. The best scoring songs for Georgia were Sofia Nizharadze with “Shine” and Eldrine with “One more day”. Both songs were 9th in the final, Sophia in 2010 and Eldrine in 2011. The last time Georgia reached the final was in 2016 with Nika Kocharov & Young Georgian Lolitaz and their song “Midnight gold”. In 2009 Georgia withdrew: Stephane & 3G won the national selection with the song “We don’t wanna put in”. They had to change the lyrics due to a reference to Vladimir Putin, but they refused to do so. Sophia Nizharadze The Bookmakers Georgia is currently 18th in the odds to win the contest. In the odds to reach the final the country is 10th with 64%, against Denmark with 44% in an 11th place. So if the bookmakers are right, the spell of not reaching the final will be broken. The song And this is the song: