General

Ben Dolic: “I would like to come back as a songwriter”

Photo made by Zlatimir Arakliev This week the 2020 representative for Germany held a Twitter Space, and our reporter Kal had the chance to interview him. But how is Ben doing as of today? What are his upcoming plans? How does he feel about Eurovision these days? Ben told us everything. “I’m doing good! Right now we’re busy with my next single, and we’ve already got a location for the music video! Just like ‘Kissing Her, Missing you’, we’re shooting it in London again. We also have some plans for merch, but that has got to wait a little longer.” Kal: “New music? That’s always great to hear, but since there’s so much new music coming out, does this also mean there’s an album coming along the way?” Ben answered that “It takes a lot of time to make an album, ‘cause there’s so much that needs to be done. But maybe in about a year or two I might drop one.” Kal then asked how it is to perform at gigs now that everything opened up again. Ben: “It’s great now that the pandemic is kind of over, but I don’t perform that much. I still need some more tunes to sing. Maybe if I and some friends put a set list together for a festival or something, maybe than we can gather a crowd.” Kal: Now everything’s back open again, however this wasn’t the case in 2020. How do you feel about missing out on performing at Eurovision? Ben said that “It of course sucked. The week everything closed down, I was actually about to fly to the Caribbean Islands to film my postcard. It sucked that we didn’t get to see the end result of ‘Violent Thing’, but at least the German broadcaster put together a small Eurovision show, and I got to perform it there.” Kal was stunned to hear that Eurovision would go so far for postcards. After that he asked if Ben would ever return to Eurovision. Ben: “For now I wouldn’t say yes again to be the representative for a country. For a whole year you focus your life around one song, and it’s that song only. However I would like to come back as a song writer, or creative director in some sort of way.” Kal: I have always wondered what the staging for ‘Violent Thing’ was about to look like, so if you can maybe spill some details, then I would love that.” Ben answered that the staging was going to look very futuristic. “So the staging was about look like the German Eurovision show one, but way better. There would be pictures and videos that would kinda float in front of me, and it would look as if I’m in the future. The main colours of the staging would like the cover art, mainly red and blue.

Culinary Turin – the best places to visit during Eurovision 2022

Last week we told you all about the highlights and must sees. This week, we’re taking a deep dive in all things foods and drinks. In doubt about where to go after a long day of exploring the city? Or looking for a place to dance the night away after watching the Eurovision show? Look no further, we’ve got you covered!

Russia is suspended.

The European Broadcasting Union has come with an official statement regarding the situation with Russia. In short terms: Russia will not participate in this years Eurovision Song Contest.

Will we see Russia in Turin?

As you all may know, there’s a war going on in Ukraine. The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political event, but the war between Russia and Ukraine has raised attention from countries all over the world. Even in the tiny world of the Eurovision Song Contest this war strikes. Broadcasters from all over the continent have asked the European Broadcasting Union to suspend Russia from this years Eurovision that will be held in Turin Italy. The EBU has stated that they still welcome Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest, despite them invading Ukraine. As we speak, the broadcasters that have asked the EBU to suspend Russia are: NRK (Norway), SVT (Sweden), LRT (Lithuania), Avrotros (The Netherlands) and UA:PBC (Ukraine). Few broadcasters have taken a step that goes even further than just suspending Russia. If Russia still participates, YLE (Finland), ERR (Estonia) and RUV (Iceland) will withdraw from this years Eurovision. Some Eurovision artists have spoken out aswell about the situation in Ukraine. Manizha (Russia 2021) has stated this: The Roop (Lithuania 2020 and 2021) have posted on Instagram that they stand with Ukraine. Sergey Lazarev (Russia 2016 and 2019) said that he is against this war. Artists from 2022 that have stated something are Citi Zēni and Subwoolfer. Citi Zēni have contacted the EBU about suspending Russia, while Subwoolfer have posted a picture in their yellow (as usual) and blue wolf suits.

How a British rejected song became a hit

It was 1980. The United Kingdom had a national selection for Eurovision with no less than 12 songs. It was a close call: in the end, there was a tie between two songs, only a revote could bring a decision.But in this field of participants there was also a lady with the name of Sonja Jones. She sang the Tony Colton/Jean Roussell song “Here we’ll stay”. She ended up quite anonymous at the 11th place. The song would have been long forgotten. However, things went different. Abba’s Frida released a solo album, “Something goin’ on”, produced by Phil Collins. And of course it was inevitable: a duet between the two stars. And guess what! They chose the flopped Eurosong “Here we’ll stay”! However, Collins wasn’t credited on the song. So when Frida’s record company decided to release “Here we’ll stay” as the next single, he didn’t want to be associated with it at all. A solo version of “Here we’ll stay”, by Frida only, was made for the occasion. The success of the song was not as big as the first singles from the album, “I know there’s something goin’ on” and “To turn the stone”. It reached the charts in The Netherlands and Belgium. Okay, and in the United Kingdom: 1 week, on the number 100 spot. But many people know the song, either from the album or from the single version. And who could have said thát when Frida had never added it to her album……

New music from Helena Paparizou, Little Big and more….

Former Eurovision participants released new music this week. Benny Cristo was, only two weeks after Eurovision, ready for some new work. The song is in Czech and is called “Zlobiva”. Note also the video with a clay lookalike of Benny. Former winner Helena Paparizou (Greece 2001 and 2005) recorded a duet with former Alcazar-member Magnus Carlsson, who took part in Melodifestivalen numerous times. Isaiah Firebrace represented Australia in 2017. His new song and video is called “Blame on me”. Note also the new hairdo. Little Big, the Russian participants-to-be of 2020 (and who knows also of 2022?) released an EP called “Covers”. One of the covers is the song “Everybody (Backstreet’s back”), originally sung by the Backstreet Boys. The song is now called “Everybody (Little Big is back)”. Timebelle, the group who represented Switzerland in the 2017 contest, has new material too. The group is Swiss/Romanian, their new song is in Romanian. Rapper Nosfe joined Timebelle for the occasion.

Daði Freyr and Gagnamagnið to represent Iceland!

Photo Daði Freyr Today, Daði Freyr announced on Twitter and Instagram that he will be the 2021 Icelandic representant. This year, Daði Freyr and Gagnamagnið won Söngvakeppnin, the Icelandic national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. They were among the favourites to win the contest in Rotterdam with his song “Think about things”. Unfortunately, due to the COVID19 crisis, there was no Eurovision Song Contest. Daði and his companions however won a lot of alternative votings, among others the one of Eurostream 2020. Among many fans, the idea is that Iceland missed it’s first victory ever. Iceland participates in the contest since 1986 and became second in 1999 and 2009. Expectations around Daði Freyr and Gagnamagnið are high. It is not known whether Daði will come up with one song or will sing several songs in a national selection.