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🇦🇲 Road To Malmö: Armenia

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: Armenia. Ladaniva Ladaniva is a special band from Lille, France, known for its unique world music. The group was created by Zhaklin Baghdasaryan and Louis Thomas. Zhaklin was born in Armenia in 1997 and moved to France in 2014. She’s been singing since she was a kid. Louis, born in Lille in 1987, comes from a family of musicians and is a talented jazz artist. They met in 2018 during a music session in Lille and formed Ladaniva in 2019. Their music is inspired by sounds from around the world, like the Balkans, Maloya, and Armenian traditions. The name “Ladaniva” comes from an old Russian car, the Lada Niva. They became popular during the 2020 lockdown with videos that got a lot of love online. In 2023, they put out their first album with [PIAS]. Armenian Language The Armenian language is a unique and ancient language spoken by millions of people, mainly in Armenia and in communities around the world. It’s part of the Indo-European family, which means it’s distantly related to languages like English, Spanish, and Russian, but it stands out because it has its own branch in this family tree. Armenian has its own alphabet, invented by a scholar named Mesrop Mashtots in the 5th century. This was a big deal because it helped preserve the country’s culture and literature. Armenian is split into two main types: Eastern Armenian, which is spoken in Armenia, and Western Armenian, used by Armenians in other countries. Even though it’s old, Armenian is very much alive, changing over time and used in books, music, and on the internet. It’s a language with a rich history, connecting people to their heritage and to each other. Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest Ladaniva provides the 16th Armenian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. They started participating in 2006, when André represented the country. “Without your love” was an instant success with an 8th place in the Eurovision final. Armenia reached the top-5 twice, both with a 4th place. In 2008 it was Sirusho‘s “Qele Qele”, in 2014 Aram mp3‘s “Not alone”. The latter was the number 1 at the bookmakers for a long time. We can not speak about Armenian Eurovision history without mentioning Rosa Linn and her “Snap”. In the Grand Final of 2022 she reached a 20th place only. Thanks to TikTok “Snap” became a worldwide hit and one of the most viewed Eurovision songs ever. The Bookmakers Currently, Armenia is 17th in the odds to win the Eurovision Song Contest. The country is 5th in the odds to reach the final this year. Conclusion: it is safe to say that Armenia might do well in the contest again. The Song And this is the song:

🇩🇰 Road To Malmö: Denmark

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: Denmark. Saba Saba, whose real name is Anna Saba Lykke Oehlenschlæger, is a singer, actor, and model from Denmark. She and her twin sister were adopted from Ethiopia when they were just eight months old and grew up in a place called Ringkøbing in Denmark. Saba has had a challenging journey; she shared that she has bipolar I disorder and has been in the hospital many times until 2020. She talked about these struggles in a documentary called “My Insane Twin.” She also works to help others as an ambassador for the Danish Depression Association. Saba left high school early and moved to Copenhagen with her sister. She started working as a model and in the teeth whitening business. Her sister chose singing and musical theater. Saba’s big moment in acting came in 2023 when she played Dionne in the musical “Hair,” taking over for her sister who was pregnant. In 2024, Saba’s music career took off when she won a big competition in Denmark with her song “Sand.” This win means she will represent Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest, a huge international music competition. Dansk Melodi Grand Prix Since the first moment Denmark took part in the Eurovision Song Contest, Melodi Grand Prix was the national final. In Denmark, it’s almost always a one evening event. This year, eight contestants competed. Among them, former Eurovision participant Basim. In a superfinal with three songs, jury and televoter chose the winner. Saba was the favourite of the jury, while Basim was the televoter’s winner. Overall, Saba had the highest amount of points. Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest Denmark debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest with “Skibet skal sejle i nat”, sung by Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler. The duo ended the song with a long and passionate kiss. So many years later, that kiss is still the talk of the town. The first Danish victory came in 1963 with Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann and their “Dansevise”. Denmark quit the contest after 1966, unsatisfied with the blockvoting. They only returned in 1978, and despite high scores, they had to wait until 2000. The Olsen Brothers won the contest with the song “Fly on the wings of love”. A third victory followed in 2013 with Emmelie De Forrest‘s “Only teardrops”. It’s already since 2019 that Denmark reached the final, so there is a task for Saba. The Bookmakers Currently, Saba is no. 25 in the odds for the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest. For the semifinal, her song “Sand” has an 11th place. That means it’s gonna be exciting for Denmark according to the bookmakers. The song And this is the song:

🇦🇹 Road To Malmö: Austria

photo: ORF 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: Austria. Kaleen Kaleen, whose real name is Marie-Sophie Kreissl, was born in 1994 in Austria. She loves dancing, choreographing dances, and singing. Even when she was very young, she enjoyed watching music shows and dancing in her living room. She started learning ballet when she was a little girl and soon learned many other types of dance like jazz, tap, and even Latin dances. Kaleen was really good at dancing from the start. She won her first big dance competition when she was just seven years old. Over the years, she won more than 100 competitions in Austria and Europe, and she even won five world championships. That’s a lot of wins! In 2018, Kaleen started working with the Eurovision Song Contest. She first joined as a stand-in lead artist and choreographer, helping to create dances for the show. Kaleen is also very talented in music. In 2021, she released her very first song that she made all by herself, and in 2023, she put out her first album called “Stripping Feelings.” Kaleen didn’t stop there. By 2021, she became the creative director for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for Spain and Bulgaria. She was in charge of the stage for the 2022 contest in Spain and helped Austria, Armenia, Germany, and Georgia with their performances for the contest in Liverpool in 2023. On January 16, 2024, it was announced that Kaleen will be the one to represent Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest. She has come a long way from dancing in her living room to performing on one of the biggest music stages in the world! How Austria selects a song ÖRF (Österreichischer Rundfunk) does not have a tradition of national finals. The majority of the Austrian entries have been selected internally. The first time the Austrian song was selected by a national final was in 1981, but still Marty Brem was the only contestant. A year later, the first national final, with 12 competitors, was a fact. The last time was in 2016.One national final we cannot deny was the one of 1990; the contest was won by the duo Duett, singing “Das Beste”. Half way through the performance, Duett-singer Monika fainted and fell on the floor. Duett was allowed to sing the song again, and guess what: they won. However, the song already competed in a German semifinal 2 years before and was disqualified for that. In the end it was Simone who represented the country with “Keine Mauern mehr”. Duett, with Monika who fainted during her performance. Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest It was Bob Martin who brought Austria to the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957. After two failed attempts, Udo Jürgens won the trophy in 1966 with “Merci Cherie”. The country took several breaks, had some top-5 positions but finally won again in 2014, when Conchita Wurst presented her “Rise like a Phoenix”. Conchita brought Austria on the map again. Already 4 years later, César Sampson won the jury vote. His “Nobody but you” became 3rd overall. Conchita Wurst; Albin Olsson, Wikimedia Commons The Bookmakers A new success for Austria is a serious option: Kaleen is currently 10th in the betting odds for Eurovision win. In the odds for making it through the final, she has an 8th place. Conclusion: as soon as she is in the final, she will make it there. The song This is the song:

🇫🇷 Road to Malmö: France

photo: EBU 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: France. Slimane Slimane Nebchi, widely known as Slimane, is a celebrated French-Algerian singer and songwriter. Born on October 13, 1989, in Chelles, Seine-et-Marne, Slimane’s music is deeply enriched by his Algerian roots, blending diverse cultural influences. He gained fame through his participation in music competitions, notably winning “The Voice: la plus belle voix” in 2016 with 33% of the public vote at age 26. Before this triumph, Slimane had been sharing his compositions online, including notable pieces like “Toi et moi” and the duet “Amour Impossible” with Princesse Sofia. Post-“The Voice,” he released his debut album and several singles, quickly becoming a key figure in the French music scene. Besides his recording achievements, Slimane has taken on roles in musicals, including “Marie-Antoinette et le Chevalier de Maison-Rouge.” His career reached a new milestone when he was chosen to represent France at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Mon Amour” in November 2023. A French winner…. or not? France won the contest in 1991, and yet they did not. France and Sweden ended up with a tie. Even the amount of twelves was the same. Sweden won because of a higher amount of tens. Amina Annabi, often just called Amina, is a famous singer from Tunisia who also grew up in France. She sings, acts, and has been making music for a long time. Amina is special because she mixes music from Tunisia with music from France and other places, making her songs interesting and different. Her Eurovision song became the most famous of her songs: “Le Dernier qui a parlé” which means “The Last One to Speak.” The song “Le Dernier qui a parlé” is really catchy and talks about how important it is to talk and understand each other to make peace. Amina’s beautiful singing and the mix of traditional and modern music made this song stand out. It did really well in the competition and almost won, coming in second place by just one point. The song became a hit single in various countries. France in the Eurovision Song Contest As said, France almost won in 1991. That would have been the 6th victory. The row of French victories started in 1958, when André Claveau won with the song “Dors mon amour”. Two years later, the trophy went to France again, this time thanks to Jacqueline Boyer and her “Tom Pillibi”. Again two years later, Isabelle Aubret did the job singing “Un premier amour”. In 1969, Frida Boccara‘s “Un jour un enfant” was one of the four winners. The last time so far France won was in 1977, with Marie Myriam holding the trophy thanks to her “L’oiseau et l’enfant”. In the last few years France is less succesful, except a few highlights. We have to mention Barbara Pravi in this; she was the runner up in 2021, but her “Voila” became a hit and a Eurovision classic. Marie Myriam The Bookmakers As France will be placed directly in the final, there are no betting odds about reaching the final. In the odds to win the contest, France is currently 7th. That would mean one of the better scores for France in the last few years. The song And this is the song:

🇨🇿 Road to Malmö: Czechia

photo: CT 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: Czechia. Aiko Alena Shirmanova, better known as Aiko, is a singer from Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, born on December 26, 1999. She became famous on a show called “Česko Slovenská SuperStar.” Aiko released her first music album, named after herself, in 2018. Her song “Hunt” from her 2020 album “Expiration Date” got a lot of attention. She made history twice: once when her picture was shown on a big screen in New York’s Times Square and again when she joined a special Spotify music campaign. Aiko has performed at big music events and opened shows for famous musicians like Alice Merton. Her songs have been played on TV shows like “Teen Mom” and “Love Island.” In 2023, Aiko released an album called “Fortune’s Child.” She also won a competition with her song “Pedestal,” which means she will represent the Czech Republic at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. Aiko now lives in Brighton, England, and is getting ready for Eurovision, where she’ll sing in front of lots of people. ESCZ 2024 Czechia had a national final this year. Seven songs were presented on the internet. They were put online on 28 November 2023. A week later they were presented again in a show, hosted by Adam Mišík en César Sampson. In that show, Czech and international televoters chose a winner. While the Czech audience preferred Elly, the international audience chose Aiko. The latter won. Czechia in the Eurovision Song Contest Czechia debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2007 with rock band Kabát and their song “Malá dáma”. It was not a success: 1 point in the semifinal. Two years later, Gypsy.cz even got no points at all. Czechia quit after that failure, to return in 2015. The best score so far was for Mikolas Josef in 2018. He became 6th. Mikolas Josef, EBU/Thomas Hanses The bookmakers Currently, the odds predict a 34th place for Czechia to win the contest. To reach the semifinal, they even predict a last place. However, still anything can happen, so we stay positive. The song This is the song:

🇨🇭 Road to Malmö: Switzerland

photo: EBU 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: Switzerland. Nemo Nemo Mettler, known as Nemo, was born on August 3, 1999, in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. Speaking German naturally, Nemo stepped into the spotlight in 2012, acting in a musical inspired by Udo Jürgens’ famous song. By 2015, Nemo showcased their rap skills on “Die grössten Schweizer Talente” and released their first EP, “Clownfisch,” which made a splash in the Swiss music charts. Their 2017 hit “Du” climbed to 4th place, earning them the SRF 3 Best Talent award. Choosing Berlin as their new home in 2021, Nemo also participated in “The Masked Singer Switzerland” as the Panda, finishing fifth. A pivotal moment came in November 2023, when Nemo publicly identified as non-binary, adopting they/them pronouns. In a thrilling announcement on February 29, 2024, Nemo was chosen to represent Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with their song “The Code,” promising an exciting performance on the international stage. Non-binary artists in Eurovision 2024 is a special year in Eurovision. No less than three participants identify as non-binary. It is the first time in Eurovision that people, participating, have come out as non-binary at the moment of their participation. Apart from Nemo, als Bambie Thug (Ireland) is non-binary. Their pronouns are they and them. Olly Alexander already came out in 2016: “I feel very non-binary, and you know, I identify as gay and queer and non-binary.” However, he identifies as he and him.The reason that this only happens in 2024 is the term non-binary. People who do not (solely) identify as male or female only use the term since not too long ago. As said, Olly Alexander used the term in 2016. Artists who later came out as non-binary are Jamie-Lee (2016, Germany), Rykka (2016, Switzerland), Montaigne (2021, Australia) and Roxen (2021, Romania). Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest Switzerland takes part in the Eurovision Song Contest from the first moment on. They even organized the first contest in Lugano, ánd their contestant Lys Assia won it with the song “Refrain”. It took a long time before the second Swiss victory was there. In 1988, it was Celine Dion who did the job. In those years she was quite unknown and sang “Ne partez pas sans moi”. Oh, how things have changed since then! The Bookmakers Currently, the bookmakers think that Swiss Nemo will be the winner. Ever since they took over the first place from Croatian Baby Lasagna, their change to win is groing more and more. Who knows, next year we will head to Zürich, or Geneva, or Basel, or….. The song And this is the song:

🇬🇷 Road to Malmö: Greece

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: Greece. Marina Satti Marina Satti, a dynamic Greek singer with a rich multicultural background, was born in Athens to a Sudanese father and a Greek mother from Heraklion, Crete. Although Athens was her birthplace, Marina was raised in Heraklion and spent her childhood summers in Sudan, immersing herself in a blend of cultures from an early age. Her passion for music began early, starting with classical piano before expanding to vocal training in high school. Despite initially pursuing architecture, Marina’s heart belonged to music. Her dedication led her to achieve degrees in lyrical monody and advanced classical studies, and she even explored jazz at the prestigious Berklee College of Music on a scholarship. Marina’s career is as diverse as her background. She performed with the European Jazz Orchestra, collaborated with Bobby McFerrin, and founded Fonés, an all-female a cappella group, delving into traditional polyphonic songs. Her singles, like “Koupes” and “Mantissa,” have gained international acclaim, with millions of views and recognition in top music charts. In 2017, she initiated cultural events leading to the creation of the choir Chόres, blending traditional songs with archaeological settings. Her debut album “YENNA” led to a successful European tour, and in 2023, Marina was chosen to represent Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. Greek artists with another background Since 2020, all the Greek artists have roots or a background in another country. Stefania (2020 and 2021) has Greek parents, but is born and raced in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Amanda Tenfjord (2022) had a Norwegian mother and a Greek father. And last year, Viktor Vernicos represented Greece: he had a Danish father and a Greek mother. And as you could read above, Marina Satti has a Sudanese father and a Greek mother. Victor Vernicos, EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest The very first Greek entry was “Krassi, thalassa ke t’agori mou” in 1974, sung by the famous Marinella. She only reached an 11th place. It was the group Pascalis, Marianna, Robert & Bessy who managed to reach the top-5 with “Mathéma solfege”. It took a long time before that record was broken. Greek-Swedish duo Antique did the job in 2001 with the song “Die for you”: they became 3rd. Helena Paparizou of Antique finally managed to win the contest in 2005 with “My number one”.Greek entries often do well in the contest. Last year however, Greece didn’t make it to the final. There are high hopes for Marina Satti to do better. Helena Paparizou The Bookmakers Greece currently is 4th to reach the final, and 8th to win the overall contest. Can we safely say that Greece is likely to do well in the contest this year. I guess so!

🇦🇱 Road to Malmö: Albania

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: Albania. Besa Besa Kokëdhima, known as Besa, is a famous singer from Albania. She was born on May 29, 1986, in Fier, Albania. When she was 15, she moved to the UK to study. Her music career started in 2003 with her first song, “Më Beso,” which won an award. She released her first album in 2006 with songs made with famous Albanian musicians. Besa has done really well in music contests. She won an R&B award for her song “Lëshoje Hapin.” She tried to get into Eurovision with “Nothin’ Gonna Change” and won an award for Best Female Singer in 2010 with “Kalorësi i Natës.” She’s also known for songs like “Fishekzjarre” and “Burning.” Besides singing, Besa judged on The Voice of Albania and released albums that got great reviews. In 2022, she sang “En Equilibre” in French. Recently, she was chosen to represent Albania in Eurovision 2024 with “Zemrën n’dorë” after winning the televote. Festivali i Këngës Festivali i Këngës is a prestigious music competition held annually in Albania, beginning in 1962. It’s famous for showcasing new talents and original songs across various genres, becoming a cornerstone of Albanian culture. Over the years, it has evolved but always remains true to celebrating Albanian music and creativity. This festival also serves as Albania’s method for selecting its Eurovision Song Contest entry since 2004, adding an international dimension to its significance. Winners gain not only national fame but also the chance to represent Albania on the Eurovision stage, making it a highly anticipated event in the country’s musical calendar. Since last year, a jury decides the winner, televote decides who will represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest. Besa won the televote this year with the song “Zemrën n’dorë”, which is now translated into English, titled “Titan”. Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest The first ever Albanian eurovision song was “The image of you” by Anjeza Shahini in 2004. “Titan” will be the 20th Albanian Eurovision song. Over the years, Albania has reached the Grand Final in many occasions. However, only one time the Albanians managed to reach the top-5: that was in 2012 with Rona Nishliu and her song “Suus”; she reached the 5th place. The Bookmakers Currently, Albania is 32nd in the betting odds to win the contest. However, the experience is that Albania reaches the final quite easily, so there is serious hope for Besa. The song And this is the song:

🇲🇹 Road to Malmö: Malta

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: Malta. Sarah Bonnici Sarah Bonnici is a singer from Malta, born in Gozo on May 30, 1998. Her dad, Marcel Bonnici, is a big deal, being the CEO of Mercury Towers and a football club. Sarah is super smart too, with a master’s in accountancy. When she was younger, Miriam Christine taught her about music. In 2009, she did really well in a song contest in Malta, getting third place. The next year, she won a singing festival with a song Miriam Christine wrote and was even named the best singer there. She also danced in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest that year. As a teenager, Sarah sang in song contests all over, like in Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary. She even won a festival in Romania with her song. In 2018, she was on X Factor Malta and kept making music. In 2022, she sang “Heaven” in another big Malta song contest. Then, in 2023, she sang “Loop” and won, making her Malta’s choice for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2024. Malta Eurovision Song Contest The national preselection in Malta is called Malta Eurovision Song Contest. This year, four semifinals were held with 9 songs each. Kurt Calleja (eurovision 2012) was one of the participants, but didn’t make it to the final. Twelve other songs did. Sarah Bonnici’s “Loop” was the clear favourite of the jury, while the televoter prefered Matt Blxck’s “Banana”. However, it was not enough for “Banana” to win the contest. Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest The first ever Maltese entry came in 1971. Joe Grech sang in Maltese “Marija L-Maltija” end ended up at the bottom of the scoreboard. After participation in 1972 and 1975, Malta quit. They returned in 1991 to never quit again. “Loop” will be the 36th Maltese Eurovision song. Malta never won the contest, but in 2002 (Ira Losco with “7th wonder”) and 2005 (Chiara with “Angel”) they were the runner up. The last few years it is quite hard for Malta to do well in the contest. Destiny did well with a 7th place in 2021, but last year The Busker didn’t make it to the final. Chiara The Bookmakers At this moment, Malta doesn’t do very well in the betting odds, with a 30th place to win the final. But staging and performance in Malmö might change all that as we all know. The song And this is the song:

🇱🇺 Road to Malmö: Luxembourg

photo: RTL 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: Luxembourg. Tali Tali Golergant is a singer, songwriter, film actor, and musical theater performer from Israel, who now lives in Luxembourg. She’s becoming very popular in New York City’s music and art world. Tali loves music by Lizzy McAlpine, Sara Bareilles, and Lady Gaga. She mixes pop, indie, and R&B to make her own special sound. Her first song, made when she was just 16, got played over 70,000 times on Spotify. In 2021, she put out her first collection of songs called “lose you” with help from another artist, Francis of Delirium. After COVID-19, Tali started doing live shows in New York with her band. She’s performed at famous places like RockWood Music Hall and Mercury Lounge. People love her singing and her songs. Tali is also doing great in movies and theater. She acted in a short movie called “Agua” and played big roles in plays like “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Les Miserables.” On January 27, 2024, Tali was picked to sing for Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest with her song “Fighter.” She’s really talented in many ways and is getting noticed for her work in music and acting. Luxembourg Song Contest The Luxembourgish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest was called Luxembourg Song Contest. After a lot of auditions, eight artists took part in the Luxembourgish final. De show was hosted by, among others, Désirée Nosbusch. She’s a familiar face to the Eurovision crowd, as she hosted the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest. Three artists, Joel Marques Luna, Krick and Tali, headed to a superfinal. Tali won as she was the choice of the jury. Krick won the televote but it was a close call, so Tali ended up with the highest amount of point in total. Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is a unique year for Luxembourg: they return to the contest after a long break. Their previous entry was in 1993. Luxembourg has often been a succesful country, with no less than five victories. Jean-Claude Pascal (1961, “Nous les amoureux”), France Gall (1965, “Poupée de cire, poupée de son”), Vicky Leandros (1972, “Après toi”), Anne Marie David (1973, “Tu te reconnaitras”) and Corinne Hermes (1983, “Si la vie est cadeau”) brought the trophy to Luxembourg. The Bookmakers In the odds, Luxembourg doesn’t do well with a 35th place. However, we don’t know yet what kind of show we can expect. Luxembourg can easily bring us a surprise in Malmö. The song And this is the song: