News

Yuval Raphael will represent Israel

Yuval Raphael will represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland. She was chosen through the national selection Hakokhav Haba. The song Yuval will sing will be written especially for her and presented later. These are the participants in the first round: Red Band & Moran Aharoni Valerie Hamaty Yuval Raphael Daniel Weiss Daniel Weiss was eleminated after this round by the televoters. In the second round, these were the results: Yuval Raphael, 157 pts Valerie Hamaty, 111 pts Red Band & Moran Aharoni, 92 pts

🇮🇱 Tonight Israel will select an artist

Tonight Israel will select an artist. As in many other years, HaKokhav HaBa will be the national final. After 15 shows, a quarter final and two semifinals, the moment is there. Four contestants will go into the arena. Three of them will be selected by televoters to head to a superfinal. Televoters and jury then will select the singer going to Basel. One of the jury members is former Eurovision participant Shiri Maimon. The show starts at 20:30 CET and you can watch it here. The contestants are: 1 Daniel Weiss 2 Red Band & Moran Aharoni 3 Valerie Hamaty 4 Yuval Raphael

🇱🇹 Lithuania: results of the 2nd heat are in

Lithuania: results of the 2nd heat are in! Out of 8 songs, two go to the final. Here are the full results: Petunija, “Į saldumą“, 22 Noy, “Just Take Me on a Date”, 22 Jokūbas Jankauskas, “Far Away”, 16 Vilija, “Liesti negalima”, 14 Halummi, “The Flame”, 11 Freya Alley, “Lalala”, 10 Káro, “Love Bug”, 9 Tomas Dirgėla, “Pašok”, 6 So…. Petunija and Noy go to the final! Petunija live in the show. Noy live in the show.

🇲🇩 Moldova: results are in

Moldova: results are in. Out of 30 songs, Moldovan television selected 12 songs for the final, to be held on February 22. One group, Eblansh Band, withdrew. Three others, Anna G, Dan Alexandrov and Valleria, just didn’t show up. Here are the results, the titles in bold are going to the final: Diana Elmas, “Fly Away” Sasha Khanedanyan, “Silent Hills” Nr. 11, “Bye” Nordika, “Ludmila” Royals ST, “Zboară-n sus” Tudor Bumbac, “Pace noi vrem” Sasha Letty, “Haute Couture” Nadya Crajevschi, “Not a Shadow” Sasha Bognibov, “All-Night Party” Predein Cristian, “Moldovian Dance” Chris Cross, “Eu vin” Vadim Eleni, “Mamă, să fii!” Rina, “Dorințele” Bacho & Carnival Brain, “Semafoare” Lylu, “Pop” Poops Ft Zaffi, “Destinul” Priza feat. MC Mike, “Kookoo” Lisa Volk, “O lacrimă, un dor” Y-gaga Band, “Alexia” Lodos, “Sentimental” Sasha Bognibov, “We Changed Our Gender” Katy Rain, “Timpul” Catalina Solomac, “Demons” Tanya Tudor, “Bring Me Back” Pavel Pașcan, “Alăturea de tine” Zelorielle, “Miracle”

🇧🇪 Belgium presents the first songs

photo: VRT Belgium presents the first songs tonight. Four of the eight entries will be presented on Belgian television. There will be no selection or competition yet. Next week, the other four will be presented and on February 1st, the Belgian selection will be held. The show starts at 20:45 CET and you can watch it here. These are the four songs of tonight: Grace sings “Pull up” Leez sings “Perfectly imperfect” Le Manou sings “Fille à papa” Lenn sings “Air Balloon” All four artists are new to Eurovision and the national finals. However, Lenn’s grandfather isn’t: Louis Neefs represented Belgium in the 1967 and 1969 Eurovision Song Contest.

🇱🇹 Eurovizija.LT 2025 continues

Tonight is the night in Lithuania: Eurovizija.LT 2025 continues. The show will start at 20.00 CET and you can watch it here and on YouTube. It’s the second out of 5 heats. Each heat contains out of 9 songs. However, because Austėja Lukaitė withdrew, there will only be 8 songs tonight. Two songs will head to the final on February 15. These are the 8 contestants of tonight: Halummi, “The Flame” Joy, “Just Take Me on a Date” Jokūbas Jankauskas, “Far Away” Petunija, “Į saldumą“ Freya Alley, “Lalala” Káro, “Love Bug” Vilija, “Liesti negalima” Tomas Dirgėla, “Pašok” Petunija took part in the national selection in 2016 and 2020 (both ended in the heats) and in 2023 (4th).Freya Alley and Káro took part in the 2024 heats.Vilija participated in the national selections in 2005 (7th), 2014 (1st), 2017 (heats), 2021 (heats), 2022 (semifinal) and 2024 (heats).

🇲🇩 Moldova: it’s the day of the auditions

In Moldova it’s the day of the auditions. Every year, around 30 songs take part in the audition round of Etapa Națională. This year, 29 songs will compete. The 30th, the Eblansh Band, withdrew. One of their band members currently stays in hospital. The show starts at 17.00 CET and you can watch it on YouTube. Here are the 29 contestants: Annag, “Meet Me In The Dark” Catalina Solomac, “Demons” Chris Cross, “Eu vin” Dan Alexandrov, “Can’t Escape” Diana Elmas, “Fly Away” Katy Rain, “Timpul” Lisa Volk, “O lacrimă, un dor” Lodos, “Sentimental” Lylu, “Pop” Macho & Carnival Brain, “Semafoare” Nadya Crajevschi, “Not a Shadow” Nordika, “Ludmila” Nr. 11, “Bye” Pavel Pașcan, “Alăturea de tine” Poops Ft Zaffi, “Destinul” Predein Cristian, “Moldovian Dance” Priza feat. MC Mike, “Kookoo” Rina, “Dorințele” Royals ST, “Zboară-n sus” Sasha Bognibov, “All-Night Party” Sasha Bognibov, “We Changed Our Gender” Sasha Khanedanyan, “Silent Hills” Sasha Letty, “Haute Couture” Tanya Tudor, “Bring Me Back” Tudor Bumbac, “Pace noi vrem” Vadim Eleni, “Mamă, să fii!” Valleria, “A Picture of Myself” Y-gaga Band, “Alexia” Zelorielle, “Miracle” Diana Elmas took part in the auditions in 2022 and 2023.Katy Rain participated in the 2022 auditions.Lisa Volk was one of the auditioning artists in 2023.Priza took part in the 2016 semifinals.MC Mike was 14th in the 2012 national final.Sasha Bognibov was involved in the 2010 and 2012 internet preselection, as well as the 2022, 2023 and 2024 auditions. He never got through any selection so far.Sasha Letty was 14th in 2020 and 9th in 2024.Tudor Bumbac took part in the 2022 and 2024 auditions.Valleria was involved in last year’s auditions.

🇱🇹 Finalists are known in Lithuania

The two finalists are known in Lithuania. The first round of Eurovizija.LT was held. Anyanya and Justė Baradulinaitė will go to the final on 15 February. Here are the full results: Anyanya, “Running Out Of Time”, 24 Justė Baradulinaitė, “Tired”, 20 Mantas Ben, “Svajonės po 12”, 14 Ewa, “Tell me lie”, 14 Rūta Budreckaitė, “Tai kur namai”, 12 LIT, “You’re not alone”, 10 Viktorija Faith, “Scary beautiful”, 8 Euften, “Goodbye Hell”, 8 Aistay, “Meilę sapnavau”, 4 Winner Anyanya Runner up Justė Baradulinaitė

🇱🇹 Lithuania: Eurovizija.LT 2025 starts

Tonight is the night in Lithuania: Eurovizija.LT 2025 starts. The show will start at 20.00 CET and you can watch it here and on YouTube. It’s the first out of 5 heats. Each heat contains out of 9 songs. Two songs will head to the final on February 15. These are the 9 contestants of tonight: LIT sings “You’re not alone” Mantas Ben sings “Svajonės po 12” Rūta Budreckaitė sings “Tai kur namai” Anyanya sings “Running Out Of Time” Aistay sings “Meilę sapnavau” Ewa sings “Tell me lie” Viktorija Faith sings “Scary beautiful” Justė Baradulinaitė sings “Tired” Euften sings “Goodbye Hell” Anyanya was a backing vocal for Alekseev, ESC 2018 Belarus.Aistay took part in the 2020 and 2024 national heats.Viktorija Faith took part in the 2022 and 2023 national heats.

Malta’s first participant Joe Grech died

Malta’s first participant Joe Grech died. He was 90 years old. Grech is most known for his Eurovision participation, in 1971, with the song “Marija L-Maltija”. He reached an 18th place. Grech didn’t participate in other years. He never did a second attempt via the Maltese national final. Joe Grech at the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest Joe Grech started his career playing the trumpet with the Żejtun Band. Later, he began singing. His big moment came in 1960 when he won the Malta Song Festival with the song “Vola Uccellino.” This was the first of many competition wins. In 1962, he won the same festival again with “Żgħażagħ Rebbieħa.” In 1964, Joe became famous internationally. He won Best Singer/Composer at the Bari International Song Festival with the song “Dorina.” During his career, he toured many countries. He performed for Maltese communities in Canada, Australia, the US, and more. In 1967, Joe became one of Malta’s most loved pop singers. His popular songs included “Il-Kaċċatur,” “Il-Festa Tagħna,” “Ku Klu Ku Klu,” “Il-Lejla tal-Vitorja,” and “Nhar San Girgor.” Joe also released notable albums like Eviva l-Maltin in 1995 and Katarin in 2000. He was known for his charity work and helping others. In 2019, Joe received the Ġieħ ir-Repubblika award for his lifetime contributions to music. Malta’s first participant Joe Grech died today, 30 december 2024. On Monday, Culture Minister Owen Bonnici honored Joe. He praised his Eurovision success, his impact on Maltese music, and his 1960 festival win. Joe Grech in 2015 in the show Living Stars