Encyclopedia

Noa

About Quick Facts NameAchinoam Nini Born23 June 1969 Nationality🇮🇱 Israeli National SelectionKdam Eurovision 2009 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongThere must be another way (& Mira Awad, 2009) Biography Achinoam Nini (born June 23, 1969), also known as Noa, is an Israeli singer, composer, and left-wing activist.  Biography Achinoam Nini was born in Tel Aviv to parents from Bat Yam. Her family moved to New York when she was two years old because her father, a chemical engineer, received a scholarship. She grew up in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, where she attended modern orthodox schools and studied singing and dance. At age 15, she started attending the High School of Performing Arts in New York. She also joined the Riverdale tribe of Tzofim Tzabar Scouts, which strengthened her connection to Hebrew and Israel. During a tour of Israel organized by the Society for the Protection of Nature, she met Asher Barak and fell in love with him. At 17, she returned to Israel alone, intending to stay for about a year. During this time, she studied at the Mae Boyar High School in Jerusalem and lived in a boarding school. She decided to stay in Israel, and after a few years, her parents followed. After completing high school, she served in the IDF’s Northern Command band, where she sang the song “Always 18.” Her early career saw her recording the song “Babel” for the soundtrack of the film “Notre Dame de Paris” by Gerald Pullicino in 1988. The song was in English, French, and Hebrew and became a hit in France in 1989. Achinoam Nini’s acceptance to the Rimon School of Music in 1990 marked a significant turn in her career, where she met guitarist and arranger Gil Dor. They started working together as a musical duo. The duo performed at the international jazz festival in Eilat in 1990. Following this, they released their first album, “Achinoam Nini and Gil Dor Live” in July 1991. Their second album, “Achinoam Nini Gil Dor,” came out in September 1993, featuring songs by Leah Goldberg and Rachel, including the hit “Boi Kala.” Her international career began in 1994 with the album “Noa.” She collaborated with many international artists and performed for Pope John Paul II in 1994 and 2000. Continuing her music journey, she released “Calling” in May 1996, “Achinoam Nini” in April 1997, and “Achinoam Nini and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra” in April 1998. Further albums include “Blue Touches Blue” in March 2000, “Now” in September 2002, and “Noa Live” in October 2005. She explored new sounds with “Napoli-Tel Aviv” in September 2006 and “Genes and Jeans” in March 2008. In 2009, she collaborated with Mira Awad on “There Must Be Another Way.” Chosen to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest in January 2009, she performed the song with Mira Awad in Hebrew, English, and Arabic, finishing in 16th place. The creative journey continued with “Noapolis – Noa Sings Napoli” in February 2011, “Eretz, Shir” in April 2011, “Love Medicine” in June 2014, and “Letters to Bach” in 2019. In 2023, she was selected to perform at the championship celebrations of Napoli. Political Positions Achinoam Nini frequently expresses left-wing political views. She participated in a left-wing demonstration in Jerusalem in May 2010, supporting “one capital for two peoples.” Ahead of the UN session in September 2012, where Palestinians declared statehood, she criticized Netanyahu’s government, saying it did not represent her. She performed at an alternative memorial ceremony for Jewish and Palestinian bereaved families and faced boycotts from right-wing groups. In January 2017, she compared US President Donald Trump to Hitler and called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vulgar and racist. She actively participated in protests against Benjamin Netanyahu and the thirty-seventh Israeli government, which sometimes led to the cancellation of her performances. Nini serves as a board member of the New Israel Fund. After the surprise attack on Israel in October 2023, she was involved in organizing a letter condemning violence against Israeli civilians and calling for humanitarian aid to Gaza. Personal Life Achinoam Nini is married to pediatrician Asher Barak, and they have three children. She has been a vegetarian since 2011. Her sister, Odia Nini, is also a singer-songwriter. Awards In 2006, she was awarded the title of “Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity” by the President of Italy. In 2019, she received the Shulamit Aloni Lifetime Achievement Award. Entries There must be another way (& Mira Awad) Country🇮🇱 Israel Year2009 LanguageEnglishHebrewArabic LyricsGil DorAchinoam NiniMira Awad MusicGil DorAchinoam NiniMira Awad BackingsGil Dor?? Results Semi Points: 75Position: 7Running order: 10 Results Finals Points: 53Position: 16Running order: 2 https://youtu.be/bBTQFOkFZw8?si=acmzkXO5AkmFsjxr

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Kalamari

About Quick Facts MembersJože Pepi JežMatjaž ŠvagelRok Tomažinčič (not on stage)Egon Prinčič (not on stage) Active1993 – 2020 Nationality🇸🇮 Slovenian National SelectionEMA 2010EMA 2004 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongNarodnozabavni Rock (& Ansambel Žlindra, 2010) Biography Kalamari was a coastal music group that started in November 1993. Jože Jež (Pepi), Matjaž Švagelj, and Aleksander (Sandi) Kokošar came together to perform a few shows at a hotel. They quickly stood out because of their good performances and especially their three-part singing, which other groups couldn’t do as well. Early on, they tried writing their own songs and released an album called “Dobra vila” in 1995. This album had some radio hits, but the group became well-known across Slovenia with their second album “S tabo držim.” The song “Angelca” from this album became a big hit and is still popular at parties today. The group grew from three members to four and then five, which made their live shows even better. They became very successful with their third album, especially with the song “V vetru rdečih zastav,” which won second place and a lyrics award at the “Slovenska popevka” festival. Their live shows became even more popular, and they started performing not just in Slovenia but also in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro. Because of their busy schedule, some members left, deciding not to become professional musicians. However, the group kept writing new songs and did well at music festivals, winning awards for songs like “Kup besed,” “Zadnja šansa,” and “Preden zaspi.” With the song “Boš prišla”, Kalamari took part in EMA 2004, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. Unfortunately, they didn’t make it to the EMA final. Their biggest success was at the EMA 2010 competition, where they won with the song “Narodnozabavni rock” along with the Roka Žlindre ensemble. Slavko Ivančić and the late Danilo Kocjančič, who wrote some of their songs, often performed with Kalamari. After their big win at EMA, the group’s popularity and the number of performances slowly decreased. In 2014, frontman Jože Jež (Pepi) left the group and was replaced by Darjan Gržina. In 2020, partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group decided to split up. Entries Narodnozabavni Rock (& Ansambel Žlindra) Country🇸🇮 Slovenia Year2010 LanguageSlovenian LyricsLeon Oblak MusicMarino Legovič Backings– Results Semi Points: 6Position: 16Running order: 11 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/2faHkE1JZwc?si=8VAHdktaElgzHKPY

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Ansambel Žlindra

About Quick Facts MembersRok ŽlindraBarbara OgrincNejc DrobničRok Modic Founded2005 Nationality🇸🇮 Slovenian National SelectionEMA 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongNarodnozabavni Rock (& Kalamari, 2010) Biography Ansambel Roka Žlindre, also known as Ansambel Žlindra,  is a folk music group that started in 2005. They are from Sodražica. The group has three musicians and two singers. In 2010, they performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo with the group Kalamari. The Roka Žlindre Ensemble includes Rok Žlindra, who plays the accordion and leads the group, Boštjan Merhar on guitar, Rok Modic on bass, and singers Barbara Ogrinc and Kristjan Oven. Before Merhar, Toni Tomas Lovšin played guitar, and before Oven, Tadej Osvald was a singer. The group has been active since 2005. In the next two years, they joined the Graška Gora festival and won the Silver Shepherd award twice. After two years, they did well at a festival in Dolenjske Toplice, winning awards from both the audience and the judges. In 2008, they performed in Škofja Loka and Graška Gora, winning audience awards and other prizes. Their most successful years were 2009 and 2010. They won awards at top festivals like Slovenska polka in valček and in Ptuj. They are best known for winning EMA and performing at Eurovision in Oslo in 2010 with the song “Narodnozabavni rock.” They did not make it to the final round. In 2011, the group toured western Canada, hosted by Slovenian clubs. They spent most of their time in Vancouver and Calgary, and also visited Kelowna. During the tour, they saw sights like Myra Canyon and watched a hockey game. They even visited the USA for a day. The tour lasted one month. In 2015, to celebrate their 10th anniversary, they held a concert called “Mi ga pa žlindramo” in Ribnica’s Sports Hall. Television Slovenia recorded the concert and showed it in two parts the next year. At this concert, they introduced a new song “Nasmehni se,” recorded with their idols, the Franc Mihelič Ensemble, who are also from Sodražica. In February 2016, they released a single “Le tvoj parfum”. In June, it was followed by “Mi ga pa žlindramo”. Also in 2016, bass singer Tadej Oswald left the band. He was succeeded by Kristian Oven. The first record with the new bass singer was called “Pogrešam te” and was released in March 2017. The song immediately reached the Slovenian charts, and reached the #1 spot on the domestic charts. In December, the song “Neumen in mlad” came out. At the Pesem prepostih Ljudi concert the band received the award for best ensemble by the jury in February 2018. In the summer, they did a lot of performances. In September, Boštjan Merhar left the band. The last song including him was called “Ko se ženi ribnčan”. Matic Padaršič was the new group member. In December 2018 the band came up with two Christmas songs, “Srečno novo leto” and “Srečno novo leto”. The new song “Veliko je želja” was premiered at the Slovenska Polka in Valček Festival in 2019. For the festival they teamed up with the group Amabile. They reached the final with their song. In September of the same year they released the song “Kaj pa vidva”. In February 2020 the band started a concert tour along with Amabile, the Iskreno tour. Unfortunately, some of the concerts had to be cancelled. Due to COVID19 they could not be held on another time. In September 2020, the new single “V tvojem objemu se pomirim” came out. After a long time of silence, in January 2022 the news came that Rok Modic, Matic and Kristian left the band. Only Rok Žlindra and Barbara continued, together with new members Blaž Žnidaršič (guitar and drums) and Jernej Oblak (tuba, accordion, trumpet, baritone, and bass). In March 2024 they released a new polka, “Nočem bit ujet”. Entries Narodnozabavni Rock (& Kalamari) Country🇸🇮 Slovenia Year2010 LanguageSlovenian LyricsLeon Oblak MusicMarino Legovič Backings– Results Semi Points: 6Position: 16Running order: 11 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/2faHkE1JZwc?si=QcJWZx4srVTPW_yJ

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Aisha

About Quick Facts NameAija Andrejeva Born16 January 1986 Nationality🇱🇻 Latvian National SelectionEirodziesma 2010Eirodziesma 2009Eirodziesma 2008Eirodziesma 2007 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongWhat For (2010) Biography Aija Andrejeva-Aišpure, known as Aija Andrejeva and formerly as Aisha, is a Latvian singer and musical theater actress. She was born on January 16, 1986, in Lielvārde, Latvia. Aija spent her childhood in Lielvārde and attended Edgars Kauliņš Lielvārde Secondary School. At five years old, she competed in the children’s vocal contest Cālis ’91 and won second place. She started learning to play the flute and piano at the Lielvārde Music School at age ten. At eleven, she participated in a young flautist competition, earning 12th place. A year later, she won the Jauno diriģentu parāde competition. In 2002, she conducted the wind orchestra Sirius. In 2004, Aija, using the stage name Aisha, joined the TV5 reality show Fabrikas muzikālais teātris. She won the final, thanks to viewer votes. That summer, she participated in the musical Tā ir jānotiek and performed with her father in a concert celebrating Latvia’s accession to the European Union, singing “Tu un es.” At the end of 2004, Aisha won the Best Soloist of the Year award at the LNT Music Video Awards Ceremony. In February 2005, she debuted in theater, playing Dorothy in the Daile Theater’s musical The Wizard of Oz. In the spring of that year, she toured with the group Credo. On July 8, 2005, Aisha performed as the opening act for the Russian band BI-2 with Opus Pro at the Ogre stage. In 2006, she hosted the TV show Mīl — nemīl and recorded the album “Tu un es” with her father’s band. In 2007, Aisha participated in the LNT show Divas zvaigznes with Frīdis, launching her solo career afterward. At the beginning of 2008, she competed in the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “You Really Got Me Going,” making it to the final and finishing second. A year later, she also participated in the TV3 show Dejo ar zvaigzni! 2, finishing second. She released her first solo album, “Viss kārtībā, mincīt,” featuring successful songs like “Dziesma pustumsā.” Coming in 2009, Aisha competed in the Eurovision national selection again with the song “Hey, Hey,” finishing sixth overall. She won the European selection of the New Wave competition in Riga and placed fourth in the main event. In September 2009, she released her solo album “Dvēselīte.” In 2010, Aisha won the Latvian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “What For?” She represented Latvia in Oslo, Norway, but did not qualify for the final, finishing last in her semi-final on May 25. In September 2011, she presented a website with her own name, Aija Andrejeva, and a new single, “Kafijas krūze”. She played the role of Baiba in the musical “Pūt, vējiņi”. In 2013 she started performing as the soloist of the Ventspils Bigbend. In October she released a single, “”Mežā”, as an announcement of the album with the same name. The album itself came out in November. Aija won the contest Muzikālā Banka in 2015 with the song ”Soļi”. A ‘ten years on stage’ tour followed with guest performances of big names in every single show. She teamed up with Goran Gora for the song “Pavasaris”. A year later, she started a project, “Satikšanās mūzikā”, where people could register to make music with Aija. In October of that year, her song “Mazais Princis” was released. Two months later she teamed up with Kārlis Būmeisters to sing the song “Ēnas”. With Alex she released the song “Mēs pārejam uz tu”, in 2017. The song was awarded most valuable song of the year. With Colt she recorded “Man ir viss”, solo “Tu mani sauc”. Her new album was also called “Mēs pārejam uz tu”, which was released in February 2018.  A new single, “Pinies man pa kājām”, was released in May 2018. Meanwhile, Aija participated in a project to release her own postcards. She teamed up with DJ Rudd for the song “varbūt šodien, varbūt rīt”. Her song “Es iešu tālāk” reached the Latvian top-10. She also did the Latvian voice of Silvera in the movie Angry Birds 2. Her single “Bungādiņas” reached the no. 1 spot in the Latvian charts. Her album “Es iešu tālāk” was released in 2020. While it was in the middle of the COVID19 pandemic, the presentation of the album took place in a special car concert. In March 2021 Alija teamed up with ZeBrene for the song “Šamanis”. In November 2022 Aija teamed up with Intars Busulis for the song ”Ziemassvētki džungļos”, the theme song of the family- and adventure movie ‘Viss ko es šodien vēlos”. In June 2023, the song “Pērkons Pāries” was released. With the Baltic Groove Orchestra, Aija sang the song “Jūk”. A new album, “Tagadne”, was released on March 12th.  It was in 2013, Aija married Toms Bērziņš in Valmiera, but they divorced in 2016. Since 2021, she has been married to singer Jānis Aišpurs.  Entries What For Country🇱🇻 Latvia Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsGuntars Račs MusicJānis Lūsēns BackingsRaili OrravaKatrīna CīruleMadara KačorekaLāsma Ivansone Results Semi Points: 11Position: 17Running order: 6 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/oRjtqVkj5w0?si=yYqEQKawyY7EPQLW

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Kristína

About Quick Facts NameKristina Peláková Born20 August 1987 Nationality🇸🇰 Slovak National SelectionEurosong 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongHorehronie (2010) Biography Kristína Peláková, known by her stage name Kristína, was born on August 20, 1987, in Svidník, Slovakia. She is a Slovak singer. Kristína showed an early interest in music, singing, playing the piano, and dancing from a young age. She studied at the conservatory in Košice. After meeting producer Martin Kavulič and signing with H.o.M.E. production, Kristína began her active singing career. Her first single, “Som Tvoja,” featuring rapper Opak from her favorite Bratislava group A.M.O., was released in spring 2007. In 2008, she covered Beáta Dubasová’s song “Vráť mi tie hviezdy,” which brought her widespread fame in Slovakia. On November 11, 2008, Kristína released her debut album, …ešte váham. The album includes eleven tracks and two remixes, featuring the songs “Som Tvoja,” “Vráť mi tie hviezdy ’08,” and “Zmrzlina,” the latter performed with Czech singer Victoria. In 2010, Kristína participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with the song “Horehronie,”. She won the fifth quarter-final with 36.7% of the votes and the first semi-final with 31.2% of the votes and the highest points from the jury. On February 28, 2010, she competed in the national final and, despite a tie with another contestant, Kristína triumphed due to more viewer votes, earning her the chance to represent Slovakia at the Eurovision final in Norway from May 25-29, 2010. She performed on May 25, 2010, in the first semi-final but did not advance to the final. On September 20, 2010, Kristína released her second album, “V sieti ťa mám”. This album came in two versions: a standard edition and a digipak. The first single from Kristina’s 3rd album, “Jabĺčko,” was released on April 10, 2012, reaching 13th place on Slovak radio and also gaining airplay in the Czech Republic. The album, “Na slnečnej strane sveta”, was officially released on June 25, 2012, featuring fourteen tracks plus three bonus remixes. The album was launched on June 27, 2012, at Bontonland Megastore in Prague, where she received a platinum disc for her previous album’s sales in the Czech Republic. The second single, “Viem, lebo viem,” was released on June 23, 2012. In 2014, she released a compilation album titled “Tie naj”. Kristína’s subsequent albums include “Mať srdce”, released in 2017 with a standard and a deluxe version featuring 2 CDs, and “Snívanky”, released in 2020. She also released a duet with Michal David, “Nla Dani”. A Christmas song, “Čas zimných zázrakov”, followed. In September 2022, her song “Oceán” came out. Her next single was “Pre Teba”, released in May 2023, followed in October by “Tancuj”. She teamed up with Martin Kavulič again for a song “Tatranci”, which was released in December. Entries Horehronie Country🇸🇰 Slovakia Year2010 LanguageSlovak LyricsMartin Kavulič MusicMartin Kavulič BackingsDavid SchimmerHanku ServickúMartin MikulášekPeter ŽivnerSlavomír Kolkovič Results Semi Points: 24Position: 16Running order: 4 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/j8G6byTMr0o?si=SnjPvKvqM71IRaAw

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Tomas N’Evergreen

About Quick Facts NameTomas Christiansen Born12 November 1969 Nationality🇩🇰 Danish🇷🇺 Russian National SelectionDansk Melodi Grand Prix 2010Evrovidenie 2009 (Russia) In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongIn A Moment Like This (with Chanée, 2010) Biography Tomas N’evergreen (born Tomas Christiansen on November 12, 1969, in Hadsten) is a Danish pop singer and songwriter. He is best known for winning the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix in 2010 with the song “In a Moment Like This,” a duet with the singer Chanée. The song placed fourth at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. Tomas has been successful in Eastern Europe, especially in Russia. He has had #1 hits and many other top 10 songs with tracks like “Since You’ve Been Gone” and “Everytime (I See Your Smile)” from his debut album “Since You’ve Been Gone” in 2007. The album sold more than 250,000 copies in Russia. He lived in Moscow, and in 2009 he competed in the Russian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “One More Try.” He reached an 11th place. In 2010, Tomas teamed up with Christina Chanée to take part in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. They won with “In A Moment Like This” and became 4th in the Grand Final. More than a year later, in November 2011, Tomas teamed up with Kristina Orbakaite to sing “Tayna Bez Tayn”. It lead him to performing in front of the president of Kazahstan. In the years from 2010, Tomas performed a lot for the Russian TV-channel MuzTV. It brought him in Kazahstan for a 2nd time in 2015. He collaborated with the Kazakh artists A-Studio in that year. He also was nominated for a Muz-TV Award for best song in a strang language  in 2015. In 2016, Tomas released a new single, “Pick up the phone”. In 2019 he got the chance to perform in Baku at Zharafest. In September of the same year he was able to perform in Yerevan. In September 2021 a single came out: “We go back”. The song hit the Danish charts. Meanwhile, he also played a role in a Russian tv-series. On New Years Eve 2022/2023 he performed at a concert in Dubai. In July 2023 his new single “I play for you” was released. In 2024, Chanée and N’Evergreen performed in the Euroclub in Malmö during the Eurovision week. Entries In A Moment Like This (& Chanée) Country🇩🇰 Denmark Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsThomas G:sonHenrik SethssonErik Bernholm MusicThomas G:sonHenrik SethssonErik Bernholm BackingsGry Trampedach JørgensenAnne MurilloJaana VähämäkiMads Enggård Jørgensen Results Semi Points: 101Position: 5Running order: 4 Results Finals Points: 149Position: 4Running order: 25 https://youtu.be/Px2UsvO1lCg?si=qqcnCXL3KXxvoYBX

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Christina Chanée

About Quick Facts NameChristina Ratchanée Birch Wongskul Born06 January 1979 Nationality🇩🇰 Danish National SelectionDansk Melodi Grand Prix 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongIn A Moment Like This (& N’Evergreen, 2010) Biography Christina Chanée (born Christina Ratchanée Birch Wongskul) is a Danish-Thai pop singer and songwriter. She won the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix in 2010 with Tomas N’evergreen, singing “In a Moment Like This.” They later achieved fourth place at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. Chanée began her career singing jazz and has performed both as a solo artist and a backup singer. In 2003, she sang on the track “Gone Away” for the soundtrack of the movie “Anja Efter Viktor,” and also on the title song for the musical film “Askepop – The Movie.” She has also performed in two cover bands, Diva2Diva and Sanne Jam. In 2004, she joined the house band Nubian Fräuleins on the DR1 show Endelig Fredag with Amin Jensen. There, she met Kid Creole, who invited her to audition for Marvin Gaye – The Musical. Despite having no experience in musicals or acting, she got the lead role and later toured with Kid Creole and The Coconuts. In 2010, Christina teamed up with Tomas N’Evergreen to take part in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. They won with “In A Moment Like This” and became 4th in the Grand Final. In the same year, Christina was part of the christmas album “Eldorado Jul”. Christina Chanée released an album in 2012, with the title “Just The Beginning”. She also teamed up with Dex for the single “Stereo”. In 2016, we saw Christina back in Melodi Grand Prix, but now as a member of the jury. Three years later Chanée and N’Evergreen performed as an interval act in Melodi Grand Prix. In the same year, Christina joined the party band Mint Condition. Chanée has had small roles in the TV series Klovn (2005) and 2900 Happiness (2007), and in the film Smukke Mennesker (2010). She also performed as a soloist in Jan Glæsel’s Orchestra from fall 2010 to 2024. Entries In A Moment Like This (& N’Evergreen) Country🇩🇰 Denmark Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsThomas G:sonHenrik SethssonErik Bernholm MusicThomas G:sonHenrik SethssonErik Bernholm BackingsGry Trampedach JørgensenAnne MurilloJaana VähämäkiMads Enggård Jørgensen Results Semi Points: 101Position: 5Running order: 4 Results Finals Points: 149Position: 4Running order: 25 https://youtu.be/Px2UsvO1lCg?si=qcH0-PM6-itW8CzH

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Ilkin Dovlatov

@EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett About Quick Facts Nameİlkin Dövlətov Born16 June 1990 Nationality🇦🇿 Azerbaijani National SelectionInternal selection 2024 In Eurovision2024 Malmö SongÖzünlə apar (& Fahree, 2024) Biography Ilkin Dovlatov (Azerbaijani: İlkin Dövlətov), born on June 16, 1990, is renowned for his contributions to Azerbaijani music as a mugham vocalist. Born into a musically inclined family in Baku in 1990, Dovlatov was greatly influenced by his father, sparking his interest in music from a young age. At just four years old, he performed “Qəlbimdə qaldı,” marking the beginning of his musical journey. His exceptional singing talent was recognized by a school music teacher who encouraged him to showcase his musical talents. Dovlatov’s career saw a significant milestone in 2023 when he participated in The Voice of Azerbaijan, specializing in native songs, under the mentorship of Ilqar Khayal. He secured the runner-up position in the competition and has also been a contestant in the Azəri Star song contest. In the latter part of October 2023, İctimai Television announced a group comprising Ilkin Dovlatov, Mila Miles, and Etibar Asadli as contenders in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest selection process for Azerbaijan. They progressed to the final six candidates the following week, performing the song “İnsanlar.” Although Fahree was initially chosen for the Eurovision representation on March 7, 2024, a subsequent announcement on March 13 revealed that Dovlatov would join Fahree on stage, presenting the song “Özünlə apar.” Unfortunately, the two didn’t reach the final. Entries Özünlə apar (& Fahree) Country🇦🇿 Azerbaijan Year2024 LanguageEnglishAzerbaijani LyricsFahreeMado Salikh MusicFahreeEdgar RavinHasan HaydarMila Miles Backings– Results Semi Points: 11Position: 14Running order: 12 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/QhN9r8TH2Hw?si=GOjsQd0BfXoI7M94

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Robert Wells

About Quick Facts NameRobert Henry Arthur Wells Born07 April 1962 Nationality🇸🇪 Swedish National SelectionInternal selection 2010Eirodziesma 2007Melodifestivalen 2003Melodifestivalen 1987 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongButterflies (with 3+2, 2010) Biography Robert Wells, born in Stockholm on April 7 1962, is a Swedish composer, arranger and musician.  Wells was educated at Adolf Fredrik’s Music Classes and the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. Throughout the 1980s, he played alongside numerous Swedish artists, such as Lill-Babs, Gösta Linderholm, Eva Bysing, and Jerry Williams. He later embarked on a solo career, achieving success with the hit “Upp på berget,” which reached Svensktoppen in 1986. In the Melodifestivalen of 1987, he participated with the song “Sommarnatt,” and he returned to the Melodifestivalen stage in 2003, performing in a duet with Sofia Källgren the song “My Love.” Wells gained significant popularity as a pianist on the TV game show “Så ska det låta,” where he showcased his extensive musical talent. His “Rhapsody in Rock” annual concert tours have been audience favorites in Sweden and internationally, drawing over 1.9 million spectators in Sweden since 1998. In addition to his Melodifestivalen appearances, Wells also competed in the Latvian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, Eirodziesma, in 2007 with the song “The Legends of Rock and Roll.” as a member of the group Johnny & Meldra featuring The Rockettes. In 2007, Wells contributed his piano skills to “A Song For You,” featuring vocals by Céline Dion, and also co-wrote the song. His music was selected as the official TV music for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. During the winter of 2008/2009, he was part of TV4’s “Körslaget,” leading his own choir. He wrote “7 Days & 7 Nights” for the Swedish hard rock band The Poodles for their 2009 album “Clash of the Elements,” and also played piano on the album. Additionally, he performed on the piano for Belarus’ entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. In 2021, Wells appeared on TV4’s “Masked Singer” disguised as a raven. Entries Butterflies (& 3+2) Country🇧🇾 Country Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsMalka Chaplin MusicMaxim Fadeev Backings– Results Semi Points: 59Position: 9Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: 18Position: 24Running order: 9 https://youtu.be/MvK2KU2zfzA?si=KFhGTi9aHc9hlIw4

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3+2

About Quick Facts MembersYulia ShishkoArtsem MikhalenkoElgiazar FarashanAlena KarpovichNinel Karpovich Active2009 – 2010 Nationality🇧🇾 Belarusian National SelectionInternal selection 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongButterflies (feat. Robert Wells, 2010) Biography 3+2 was a pop group from Belarus that participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 held in Oslo, Norway. The creation of the band was spearheaded by the Belarusian TV channel ONT alongside the initiative “New Voices of Belarus” in 2009. The band comprised finalists from this television competition. Securing a spot in the national selection for Eurovision 2010 significantly boosted the group’s popularity. On February 25, 2010, 3+2 was selected through an internal process to fly the Belarusian flag at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010.  The group received various song submissions from Belarusian and foreign songwriters. After considering numerous proposals for their song, visuals, and stage performance, the group’s management decided to seek insight from the renowned producer and songwriter Max Fadeev. Fadeev delivered a complete package for the group within a week, including the song “Butterflies,” which he co-wrote with Swedish musician Robert Wells and Polish poet Malka Chaplin specifically for 3+2. Initially, the group had selected “Far Away” for their Eurovision entry but switched to “Butterflies” following unfavorable feedback online. In the grand finale, “Butterflies” ended up in 24th place, accumulating a total of 18 points. After the Eurovision Song Contest, the group had not been active together. Entries Butterflies (featuring Robert Wells) Country🇧🇾 Belarus Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsMalka Chaplin MusicMaxim Fadeev Backings– Results Semi Points: 59Position: 9Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: 18Position: 24Running order: 9 https://youtu.be/MvK2KU2zfzA?si=hkYZ0kobr6MbVQPq

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Noa

About Quick Facts NameAchinoam Nini Born23 June 1969 Nationality🇮🇱 Israeli National SelectionKdam Eurovision 2009 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongThere must be another way (& Mira Awad, 2009) Biography Achinoam Nini (born June 23, 1969), also known as Noa, is an Israeli singer, composer, and left-wing activist.  Biography Achinoam Nini was born in Tel Aviv to parents from Bat Yam. Her family moved to New York when she was two years old because her father, a chemical engineer, received a scholarship. She grew up in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, where she attended modern orthodox schools and studied singing and dance. At age 15, she started attending the High School of Performing Arts in New York. She also joined the Riverdale tribe of Tzofim Tzabar Scouts, which strengthened her connection to Hebrew and Israel. During a tour of Israel organized by the Society for the Protection of Nature, she met Asher Barak and fell in love with him. At 17, she returned to Israel alone, intending to stay for about a year. During this time, she studied at the Mae Boyar High School in Jerusalem and lived in a boarding school. She decided to stay in Israel, and after a few years, her parents followed. After completing high school, she served in the IDF’s Northern Command band, where she sang the song “Always 18.” Her early career saw her recording the song “Babel” for the soundtrack of the film “Notre Dame de Paris” by Gerald Pullicino in 1988. The song was in English, French, and Hebrew and became a hit in France in 1989. Achinoam Nini’s acceptance to the Rimon School of Music in 1990 marked a significant turn in her career, where she met guitarist and arranger Gil Dor. They started working together as a musical duo. The duo performed at the international jazz festival in Eilat in 1990. Following this, they released their first album, “Achinoam Nini and Gil Dor Live” in July 1991. Their second album, “Achinoam Nini Gil Dor,” came out in September 1993, featuring songs by Leah Goldberg and Rachel, including the hit “Boi Kala.” Her international career began in 1994 with the album “Noa.” She collaborated with many international artists and performed for Pope John Paul II in 1994 and 2000. Continuing her music journey, she released “Calling” in May 1996, “Achinoam Nini” in April 1997, and “Achinoam Nini and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra” in April 1998. Further albums include “Blue Touches Blue” in March 2000, “Now” in September 2002, and “Noa Live” in October 2005. She explored new sounds with “Napoli-Tel Aviv” in September 2006 and “Genes and Jeans” in March 2008. In 2009, she collaborated with Mira Awad on “There Must Be Another Way.” Chosen to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest in January 2009, she performed the song with Mira Awad in Hebrew, English, and Arabic, finishing in 16th place. The creative journey continued with “Noapolis – Noa Sings Napoli” in February 2011, “Eretz, Shir” in April 2011, “Love Medicine” in June 2014, and “Letters to Bach” in 2019. In 2023, she was selected to perform at the championship celebrations of Napoli. Political Positions Achinoam Nini frequently expresses left-wing political views. She participated in a left-wing demonstration in Jerusalem in May 2010, supporting “one capital for two peoples.” Ahead of the UN session in September 2012, where Palestinians declared statehood, she criticized Netanyahu’s government, saying it did not represent her. She performed at an alternative memorial ceremony for Jewish and Palestinian bereaved families and faced boycotts from right-wing groups. In January 2017, she compared US President Donald Trump to Hitler and called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vulgar and racist. She actively participated in protests against Benjamin Netanyahu and the thirty-seventh Israeli government, which sometimes led to the cancellation of her performances. Nini serves as a board member of the New Israel Fund. After the surprise attack on Israel in October 2023, she was involved in organizing a letter condemning violence against Israeli civilians and calling for humanitarian aid to Gaza. Personal Life Achinoam Nini is married to pediatrician Asher Barak, and they have three children. She has been a vegetarian since 2011. Her sister, Odia Nini, is also a singer-songwriter. Awards In 2006, she was awarded the title of “Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity” by the President of Italy. In 2019, she received the Shulamit Aloni Lifetime Achievement Award. Entries There must be another way (& Mira Awad) Country🇮🇱 Israel Year2009 LanguageEnglishHebrewArabic LyricsGil DorAchinoam NiniMira Awad MusicGil DorAchinoam NiniMira Awad BackingsGil Dor?? Results Semi Points: 75Position: 7Running order: 10 Results Finals Points: 53Position: 16Running order: 2 https://youtu.be/bBTQFOkFZw8?si=acmzkXO5AkmFsjxr

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Kalamari

About Quick Facts MembersJože Pepi JežMatjaž ŠvagelRok Tomažinčič (not on stage)Egon Prinčič (not on stage) Active1993 – 2020 Nationality🇸🇮 Slovenian National SelectionEMA 2010EMA 2004 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongNarodnozabavni Rock (& Ansambel Žlindra, 2010) Biography Kalamari was a coastal music group that started in November 1993. Jože Jež (Pepi), Matjaž Švagelj, and Aleksander (Sandi) Kokošar came together to perform a few shows at a hotel. They quickly stood out because of their good performances and especially their three-part singing, which other groups couldn’t do as well. Early on, they tried writing their own songs and released an album called “Dobra vila” in 1995. This album had some radio hits, but the group became well-known across Slovenia with their second album “S tabo držim.” The song “Angelca” from this album became a big hit and is still popular at parties today. The group grew from three members to four and then five, which made their live shows even better. They became very successful with their third album, especially with the song “V vetru rdečih zastav,” which won second place and a lyrics award at the “Slovenska popevka” festival. Their live shows became even more popular, and they started performing not just in Slovenia but also in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro. Because of their busy schedule, some members left, deciding not to become professional musicians. However, the group kept writing new songs and did well at music festivals, winning awards for songs like “Kup besed,” “Zadnja šansa,” and “Preden zaspi.” With the song “Boš prišla”, Kalamari took part in EMA 2004, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. Unfortunately, they didn’t make it to the EMA final. Their biggest success was at the EMA 2010 competition, where they won with the song “Narodnozabavni rock” along with the Roka Žlindre ensemble. Slavko Ivančić and the late Danilo Kocjančič, who wrote some of their songs, often performed with Kalamari. After their big win at EMA, the group’s popularity and the number of performances slowly decreased. In 2014, frontman Jože Jež (Pepi) left the group and was replaced by Darjan Gržina. In 2020, partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group decided to split up. Entries Narodnozabavni Rock (& Ansambel Žlindra) Country🇸🇮 Slovenia Year2010 LanguageSlovenian LyricsLeon Oblak MusicMarino Legovič Backings– Results Semi Points: 6Position: 16Running order: 11 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/2faHkE1JZwc?si=8VAHdktaElgzHKPY

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Ansambel Žlindra

About Quick Facts MembersRok ŽlindraBarbara OgrincNejc DrobničRok Modic Founded2005 Nationality🇸🇮 Slovenian National SelectionEMA 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongNarodnozabavni Rock (& Kalamari, 2010) Biography Ansambel Roka Žlindre, also known as Ansambel Žlindra,  is a folk music group that started in 2005. They are from Sodražica. The group has three musicians and two singers. In 2010, they performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo with the group Kalamari. The Roka Žlindre Ensemble includes Rok Žlindra, who plays the accordion and leads the group, Boštjan Merhar on guitar, Rok Modic on bass, and singers Barbara Ogrinc and Kristjan Oven. Before Merhar, Toni Tomas Lovšin played guitar, and before Oven, Tadej Osvald was a singer. The group has been active since 2005. In the next two years, they joined the Graška Gora festival and won the Silver Shepherd award twice. After two years, they did well at a festival in Dolenjske Toplice, winning awards from both the audience and the judges. In 2008, they performed in Škofja Loka and Graška Gora, winning audience awards and other prizes. Their most successful years were 2009 and 2010. They won awards at top festivals like Slovenska polka in valček and in Ptuj. They are best known for winning EMA and performing at Eurovision in Oslo in 2010 with the song “Narodnozabavni rock.” They did not make it to the final round. In 2011, the group toured western Canada, hosted by Slovenian clubs. They spent most of their time in Vancouver and Calgary, and also visited Kelowna. During the tour, they saw sights like Myra Canyon and watched a hockey game. They even visited the USA for a day. The tour lasted one month. In 2015, to celebrate their 10th anniversary, they held a concert called “Mi ga pa žlindramo” in Ribnica’s Sports Hall. Television Slovenia recorded the concert and showed it in two parts the next year. At this concert, they introduced a new song “Nasmehni se,” recorded with their idols, the Franc Mihelič Ensemble, who are also from Sodražica. In February 2016, they released a single “Le tvoj parfum”. In June, it was followed by “Mi ga pa žlindramo”. Also in 2016, bass singer Tadej Oswald left the band. He was succeeded by Kristian Oven. The first record with the new bass singer was called “Pogrešam te” and was released in March 2017. The song immediately reached the Slovenian charts, and reached the #1 spot on the domestic charts. In December, the song “Neumen in mlad” came out. At the Pesem prepostih Ljudi concert the band received the award for best ensemble by the jury in February 2018. In the summer, they did a lot of performances. In September, Boštjan Merhar left the band. The last song including him was called “Ko se ženi ribnčan”. Matic Padaršič was the new group member. In December 2018 the band came up with two Christmas songs, “Srečno novo leto” and “Srečno novo leto”. The new song “Veliko je želja” was premiered at the Slovenska Polka in Valček Festival in 2019. For the festival they teamed up with the group Amabile. They reached the final with their song. In September of the same year they released the song “Kaj pa vidva”. In February 2020 the band started a concert tour along with Amabile, the Iskreno tour. Unfortunately, some of the concerts had to be cancelled. Due to COVID19 they could not be held on another time. In September 2020, the new single “V tvojem objemu se pomirim” came out. After a long time of silence, in January 2022 the news came that Rok Modic, Matic and Kristian left the band. Only Rok Žlindra and Barbara continued, together with new members Blaž Žnidaršič (guitar and drums) and Jernej Oblak (tuba, accordion, trumpet, baritone, and bass). In March 2024 they released a new polka, “Nočem bit ujet”. Entries Narodnozabavni Rock (& Kalamari) Country🇸🇮 Slovenia Year2010 LanguageSlovenian LyricsLeon Oblak MusicMarino Legovič Backings– Results Semi Points: 6Position: 16Running order: 11 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/2faHkE1JZwc?si=QcJWZx4srVTPW_yJ

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Aisha

About Quick Facts NameAija Andrejeva Born16 January 1986 Nationality🇱🇻 Latvian National SelectionEirodziesma 2010Eirodziesma 2009Eirodziesma 2008Eirodziesma 2007 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongWhat For (2010) Biography Aija Andrejeva-Aišpure, known as Aija Andrejeva and formerly as Aisha, is a Latvian singer and musical theater actress. She was born on January 16, 1986, in Lielvārde, Latvia. Aija spent her childhood in Lielvārde and attended Edgars Kauliņš Lielvārde Secondary School. At five years old, she competed in the children’s vocal contest Cālis ’91 and won second place. She started learning to play the flute and piano at the Lielvārde Music School at age ten. At eleven, she participated in a young flautist competition, earning 12th place. A year later, she won the Jauno diriģentu parāde competition. In 2002, she conducted the wind orchestra Sirius. In 2004, Aija, using the stage name Aisha, joined the TV5 reality show Fabrikas muzikālais teātris. She won the final, thanks to viewer votes. That summer, she participated in the musical Tā ir jānotiek and performed with her father in a concert celebrating Latvia’s accession to the European Union, singing “Tu un es.” At the end of 2004, Aisha won the Best Soloist of the Year award at the LNT Music Video Awards Ceremony. In February 2005, she debuted in theater, playing Dorothy in the Daile Theater’s musical The Wizard of Oz. In the spring of that year, she toured with the group Credo. On July 8, 2005, Aisha performed as the opening act for the Russian band BI-2 with Opus Pro at the Ogre stage. In 2006, she hosted the TV show Mīl — nemīl and recorded the album “Tu un es” with her father’s band. In 2007, Aisha participated in the LNT show Divas zvaigznes with Frīdis, launching her solo career afterward. At the beginning of 2008, she competed in the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “You Really Got Me Going,” making it to the final and finishing second. A year later, she also participated in the TV3 show Dejo ar zvaigzni! 2, finishing second. She released her first solo album, “Viss kārtībā, mincīt,” featuring successful songs like “Dziesma pustumsā.” Coming in 2009, Aisha competed in the Eurovision national selection again with the song “Hey, Hey,” finishing sixth overall. She won the European selection of the New Wave competition in Riga and placed fourth in the main event. In September 2009, she released her solo album “Dvēselīte.” In 2010, Aisha won the Latvian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “What For?” She represented Latvia in Oslo, Norway, but did not qualify for the final, finishing last in her semi-final on May 25. In September 2011, she presented a website with her own name, Aija Andrejeva, and a new single, “Kafijas krūze”. She played the role of Baiba in the musical “Pūt, vējiņi”. In 2013 she started performing as the soloist of the Ventspils Bigbend. In October she released a single, “”Mežā”, as an announcement of the album with the same name. The album itself came out in November. Aija won the contest Muzikālā Banka in 2015 with the song ”Soļi”. A ‘ten years on stage’ tour followed with guest performances of big names in every single show. She teamed up with Goran Gora for the song “Pavasaris”. A year later, she started a project, “Satikšanās mūzikā”, where people could register to make music with Aija. In October of that year, her song “Mazais Princis” was released. Two months later she teamed up with Kārlis Būmeisters to sing the song “Ēnas”. With Alex she released the song “Mēs pārejam uz tu”, in 2017. The song was awarded most valuable song of the year. With Colt she recorded “Man ir viss”, solo “Tu mani sauc”. Her new album was also called “Mēs pārejam uz tu”, which was released in February 2018.  A new single, “Pinies man pa kājām”, was released in May 2018. Meanwhile, Aija participated in a project to release her own postcards. She teamed up with DJ Rudd for the song “varbūt šodien, varbūt rīt”. Her song “Es iešu tālāk” reached the Latvian top-10. She also did the Latvian voice of Silvera in the movie Angry Birds 2. Her single “Bungādiņas” reached the no. 1 spot in the Latvian charts. Her album “Es iešu tālāk” was released in 2020. While it was in the middle of the COVID19 pandemic, the presentation of the album took place in a special car concert. In March 2021 Alija teamed up with ZeBrene for the song “Šamanis”. In November 2022 Aija teamed up with Intars Busulis for the song ”Ziemassvētki džungļos”, the theme song of the family- and adventure movie ‘Viss ko es šodien vēlos”. In June 2023, the song “Pērkons Pāries” was released. With the Baltic Groove Orchestra, Aija sang the song “Jūk”. A new album, “Tagadne”, was released on March 12th.  It was in 2013, Aija married Toms Bērziņš in Valmiera, but they divorced in 2016. Since 2021, she has been married to singer Jānis Aišpurs.  Entries What For Country🇱🇻 Latvia Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsGuntars Račs MusicJānis Lūsēns BackingsRaili OrravaKatrīna CīruleMadara KačorekaLāsma Ivansone Results Semi Points: 11Position: 17Running order: 6 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/oRjtqVkj5w0?si=yYqEQKawyY7EPQLW

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Kristína

About Quick Facts NameKristina Peláková Born20 August 1987 Nationality🇸🇰 Slovak National SelectionEurosong 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongHorehronie (2010) Biography Kristína Peláková, known by her stage name Kristína, was born on August 20, 1987, in Svidník, Slovakia. She is a Slovak singer. Kristína showed an early interest in music, singing, playing the piano, and dancing from a young age. She studied at the conservatory in Košice. After meeting producer Martin Kavulič and signing with H.o.M.E. production, Kristína began her active singing career. Her first single, “Som Tvoja,” featuring rapper Opak from her favorite Bratislava group A.M.O., was released in spring 2007. In 2008, she covered Beáta Dubasová’s song “Vráť mi tie hviezdy,” which brought her widespread fame in Slovakia. On November 11, 2008, Kristína released her debut album, …ešte váham. The album includes eleven tracks and two remixes, featuring the songs “Som Tvoja,” “Vráť mi tie hviezdy ’08,” and “Zmrzlina,” the latter performed with Czech singer Victoria. In 2010, Kristína participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with the song “Horehronie,”. She won the fifth quarter-final with 36.7% of the votes and the first semi-final with 31.2% of the votes and the highest points from the jury. On February 28, 2010, she competed in the national final and, despite a tie with another contestant, Kristína triumphed due to more viewer votes, earning her the chance to represent Slovakia at the Eurovision final in Norway from May 25-29, 2010. She performed on May 25, 2010, in the first semi-final but did not advance to the final. On September 20, 2010, Kristína released her second album, “V sieti ťa mám”. This album came in two versions: a standard edition and a digipak. The first single from Kristina’s 3rd album, “Jabĺčko,” was released on April 10, 2012, reaching 13th place on Slovak radio and also gaining airplay in the Czech Republic. The album, “Na slnečnej strane sveta”, was officially released on June 25, 2012, featuring fourteen tracks plus three bonus remixes. The album was launched on June 27, 2012, at Bontonland Megastore in Prague, where she received a platinum disc for her previous album’s sales in the Czech Republic. The second single, “Viem, lebo viem,” was released on June 23, 2012. In 2014, she released a compilation album titled “Tie naj”. Kristína’s subsequent albums include “Mať srdce”, released in 2017 with a standard and a deluxe version featuring 2 CDs, and “Snívanky”, released in 2020. She also released a duet with Michal David, “Nla Dani”. A Christmas song, “Čas zimných zázrakov”, followed. In September 2022, her song “Oceán” came out. Her next single was “Pre Teba”, released in May 2023, followed in October by “Tancuj”. She teamed up with Martin Kavulič again for a song “Tatranci”, which was released in December. Entries Horehronie Country🇸🇰 Slovakia Year2010 LanguageSlovak LyricsMartin Kavulič MusicMartin Kavulič BackingsDavid SchimmerHanku ServickúMartin MikulášekPeter ŽivnerSlavomír Kolkovič Results Semi Points: 24Position: 16Running order: 4 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/j8G6byTMr0o?si=SnjPvKvqM71IRaAw

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Tomas N’Evergreen

About Quick Facts NameTomas Christiansen Born12 November 1969 Nationality🇩🇰 Danish🇷🇺 Russian National SelectionDansk Melodi Grand Prix 2010Evrovidenie 2009 (Russia) In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongIn A Moment Like This (with Chanée, 2010) Biography Tomas N’evergreen (born Tomas Christiansen on November 12, 1969, in Hadsten) is a Danish pop singer and songwriter. He is best known for winning the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix in 2010 with the song “In a Moment Like This,” a duet with the singer Chanée. The song placed fourth at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. Tomas has been successful in Eastern Europe, especially in Russia. He has had #1 hits and many other top 10 songs with tracks like “Since You’ve Been Gone” and “Everytime (I See Your Smile)” from his debut album “Since You’ve Been Gone” in 2007. The album sold more than 250,000 copies in Russia. He lived in Moscow, and in 2009 he competed in the Russian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “One More Try.” He reached an 11th place. In 2010, Tomas teamed up with Christina Chanée to take part in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. They won with “In A Moment Like This” and became 4th in the Grand Final. More than a year later, in November 2011, Tomas teamed up with Kristina Orbakaite to sing “Tayna Bez Tayn”. It lead him to performing in front of the president of Kazahstan. In the years from 2010, Tomas performed a lot for the Russian TV-channel MuzTV. It brought him in Kazahstan for a 2nd time in 2015. He collaborated with the Kazakh artists A-Studio in that year. He also was nominated for a Muz-TV Award for best song in a strang language  in 2015. In 2016, Tomas released a new single, “Pick up the phone”. In 2019 he got the chance to perform in Baku at Zharafest. In September of the same year he was able to perform in Yerevan. In September 2021 a single came out: “We go back”. The song hit the Danish charts. Meanwhile, he also played a role in a Russian tv-series. On New Years Eve 2022/2023 he performed at a concert in Dubai. In July 2023 his new single “I play for you” was released. In 2024, Chanée and N’Evergreen performed in the Euroclub in Malmö during the Eurovision week. Entries In A Moment Like This (& Chanée) Country🇩🇰 Denmark Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsThomas G:sonHenrik SethssonErik Bernholm MusicThomas G:sonHenrik SethssonErik Bernholm BackingsGry Trampedach JørgensenAnne MurilloJaana VähämäkiMads Enggård Jørgensen Results Semi Points: 101Position: 5Running order: 4 Results Finals Points: 149Position: 4Running order: 25 https://youtu.be/Px2UsvO1lCg?si=qqcnCXL3KXxvoYBX

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Christina Chanée

About Quick Facts NameChristina Ratchanée Birch Wongskul Born06 January 1979 Nationality🇩🇰 Danish National SelectionDansk Melodi Grand Prix 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongIn A Moment Like This (& N’Evergreen, 2010) Biography Christina Chanée (born Christina Ratchanée Birch Wongskul) is a Danish-Thai pop singer and songwriter. She won the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix in 2010 with Tomas N’evergreen, singing “In a Moment Like This.” They later achieved fourth place at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. Chanée began her career singing jazz and has performed both as a solo artist and a backup singer. In 2003, she sang on the track “Gone Away” for the soundtrack of the movie “Anja Efter Viktor,” and also on the title song for the musical film “Askepop – The Movie.” She has also performed in two cover bands, Diva2Diva and Sanne Jam. In 2004, she joined the house band Nubian Fräuleins on the DR1 show Endelig Fredag with Amin Jensen. There, she met Kid Creole, who invited her to audition for Marvin Gaye – The Musical. Despite having no experience in musicals or acting, she got the lead role and later toured with Kid Creole and The Coconuts. In 2010, Christina teamed up with Tomas N’Evergreen to take part in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. They won with “In A Moment Like This” and became 4th in the Grand Final. In the same year, Christina was part of the christmas album “Eldorado Jul”. Christina Chanée released an album in 2012, with the title “Just The Beginning”. She also teamed up with Dex for the single “Stereo”. In 2016, we saw Christina back in Melodi Grand Prix, but now as a member of the jury. Three years later Chanée and N’Evergreen performed as an interval act in Melodi Grand Prix. In the same year, Christina joined the party band Mint Condition. Chanée has had small roles in the TV series Klovn (2005) and 2900 Happiness (2007), and in the film Smukke Mennesker (2010). She also performed as a soloist in Jan Glæsel’s Orchestra from fall 2010 to 2024. Entries In A Moment Like This (& N’Evergreen) Country🇩🇰 Denmark Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsThomas G:sonHenrik SethssonErik Bernholm MusicThomas G:sonHenrik SethssonErik Bernholm BackingsGry Trampedach JørgensenAnne MurilloJaana VähämäkiMads Enggård Jørgensen Results Semi Points: 101Position: 5Running order: 4 Results Finals Points: 149Position: 4Running order: 25 https://youtu.be/Px2UsvO1lCg?si=qcH0-PM6-itW8CzH

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Ilkin Dovlatov

@EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett About Quick Facts Nameİlkin Dövlətov Born16 June 1990 Nationality🇦🇿 Azerbaijani National SelectionInternal selection 2024 In Eurovision2024 Malmö SongÖzünlə apar (& Fahree, 2024) Biography Ilkin Dovlatov (Azerbaijani: İlkin Dövlətov), born on June 16, 1990, is renowned for his contributions to Azerbaijani music as a mugham vocalist. Born into a musically inclined family in Baku in 1990, Dovlatov was greatly influenced by his father, sparking his interest in music from a young age. At just four years old, he performed “Qəlbimdə qaldı,” marking the beginning of his musical journey. His exceptional singing talent was recognized by a school music teacher who encouraged him to showcase his musical talents. Dovlatov’s career saw a significant milestone in 2023 when he participated in The Voice of Azerbaijan, specializing in native songs, under the mentorship of Ilqar Khayal. He secured the runner-up position in the competition and has also been a contestant in the Azəri Star song contest. In the latter part of October 2023, İctimai Television announced a group comprising Ilkin Dovlatov, Mila Miles, and Etibar Asadli as contenders in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest selection process for Azerbaijan. They progressed to the final six candidates the following week, performing the song “İnsanlar.” Although Fahree was initially chosen for the Eurovision representation on March 7, 2024, a subsequent announcement on March 13 revealed that Dovlatov would join Fahree on stage, presenting the song “Özünlə apar.” Unfortunately, the two didn’t reach the final. Entries Özünlə apar (& Fahree) Country🇦🇿 Azerbaijan Year2024 LanguageEnglishAzerbaijani LyricsFahreeMado Salikh MusicFahreeEdgar RavinHasan HaydarMila Miles Backings– Results Semi Points: 11Position: 14Running order: 12 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/QhN9r8TH2Hw?si=GOjsQd0BfXoI7M94

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Robert Wells

About Quick Facts NameRobert Henry Arthur Wells Born07 April 1962 Nationality🇸🇪 Swedish National SelectionInternal selection 2010Eirodziesma 2007Melodifestivalen 2003Melodifestivalen 1987 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongButterflies (with 3+2, 2010) Biography Robert Wells, born in Stockholm on April 7 1962, is a Swedish composer, arranger and musician.  Wells was educated at Adolf Fredrik’s Music Classes and the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. Throughout the 1980s, he played alongside numerous Swedish artists, such as Lill-Babs, Gösta Linderholm, Eva Bysing, and Jerry Williams. He later embarked on a solo career, achieving success with the hit “Upp på berget,” which reached Svensktoppen in 1986. In the Melodifestivalen of 1987, he participated with the song “Sommarnatt,” and he returned to the Melodifestivalen stage in 2003, performing in a duet with Sofia Källgren the song “My Love.” Wells gained significant popularity as a pianist on the TV game show “Så ska det låta,” where he showcased his extensive musical talent. His “Rhapsody in Rock” annual concert tours have been audience favorites in Sweden and internationally, drawing over 1.9 million spectators in Sweden since 1998. In addition to his Melodifestivalen appearances, Wells also competed in the Latvian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, Eirodziesma, in 2007 with the song “The Legends of Rock and Roll.” as a member of the group Johnny & Meldra featuring The Rockettes. In 2007, Wells contributed his piano skills to “A Song For You,” featuring vocals by Céline Dion, and also co-wrote the song. His music was selected as the official TV music for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. During the winter of 2008/2009, he was part of TV4’s “Körslaget,” leading his own choir. He wrote “7 Days & 7 Nights” for the Swedish hard rock band The Poodles for their 2009 album “Clash of the Elements,” and also played piano on the album. Additionally, he performed on the piano for Belarus’ entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. In 2021, Wells appeared on TV4’s “Masked Singer” disguised as a raven. Entries Butterflies (& 3+2) Country🇧🇾 Country Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsMalka Chaplin MusicMaxim Fadeev Backings– Results Semi Points: 59Position: 9Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: 18Position: 24Running order: 9 https://youtu.be/MvK2KU2zfzA?si=KFhGTi9aHc9hlIw4

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3+2

About Quick Facts MembersYulia ShishkoArtsem MikhalenkoElgiazar FarashanAlena KarpovichNinel Karpovich Active2009 – 2010 Nationality🇧🇾 Belarusian National SelectionInternal selection 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongButterflies (feat. Robert Wells, 2010) Biography 3+2 was a pop group from Belarus that participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 held in Oslo, Norway. The creation of the band was spearheaded by the Belarusian TV channel ONT alongside the initiative “New Voices of Belarus” in 2009. The band comprised finalists from this television competition. Securing a spot in the national selection for Eurovision 2010 significantly boosted the group’s popularity. On February 25, 2010, 3+2 was selected through an internal process to fly the Belarusian flag at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010.  The group received various song submissions from Belarusian and foreign songwriters. After considering numerous proposals for their song, visuals, and stage performance, the group’s management decided to seek insight from the renowned producer and songwriter Max Fadeev. Fadeev delivered a complete package for the group within a week, including the song “Butterflies,” which he co-wrote with Swedish musician Robert Wells and Polish poet Malka Chaplin specifically for 3+2. Initially, the group had selected “Far Away” for their Eurovision entry but switched to “Butterflies” following unfavorable feedback online. In the grand finale, “Butterflies” ended up in 24th place, accumulating a total of 18 points. After the Eurovision Song Contest, the group had not been active together. Entries Butterflies (featuring Robert Wells) Country🇧🇾 Belarus Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsMalka Chaplin MusicMaxim Fadeev Backings– Results Semi Points: 59Position: 9Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: 18Position: 24Running order: 9 https://youtu.be/MvK2KU2zfzA?si=hkYZ0kobr6MbVQPq

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Noa

About Quick Facts NameAchinoam Nini Born23 June 1969 Nationality🇮🇱 Israeli National SelectionKdam Eurovision 2009 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongThere must be another way (& Mira Awad, 2009) Biography Achinoam Nini (born June 23, 1969), also known as Noa, is an Israeli singer, composer, and left-wing activist.  Biography Achinoam Nini was born in Tel Aviv to parents from Bat Yam. Her family moved to New York when she was two years old because her father, a chemical engineer, received a scholarship. She grew up in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, where she attended modern orthodox schools and studied singing and dance. At age 15, she started attending the High School of Performing Arts in New York. She also joined the Riverdale tribe of Tzofim Tzabar Scouts, which strengthened her connection to Hebrew and Israel. During a tour of Israel organized by the Society for the Protection of Nature, she met Asher Barak and fell in love with him. At 17, she returned to Israel alone, intending to stay for about a year. During this time, she studied at the Mae Boyar High School in Jerusalem and lived in a boarding school. She decided to stay in Israel, and after a few years, her parents followed. After completing high school, she served in the IDF’s Northern Command band, where she sang the song “Always 18.” Her early career saw her recording the song “Babel” for the soundtrack of the film “Notre Dame de Paris” by Gerald Pullicino in 1988. The song was in English, French, and Hebrew and became a hit in France in 1989. Achinoam Nini’s acceptance to the Rimon School of Music in 1990 marked a significant turn in her career, where she met guitarist and arranger Gil Dor. They started working together as a musical duo. The duo performed at the international jazz festival in Eilat in 1990. Following this, they released their first album, “Achinoam Nini and Gil Dor Live” in July 1991. Their second album, “Achinoam Nini Gil Dor,” came out in September 1993, featuring songs by Leah Goldberg and Rachel, including the hit “Boi Kala.” Her international career began in 1994 with the album “Noa.” She collaborated with many international artists and performed for Pope John Paul II in 1994 and 2000. Continuing her music journey, she released “Calling” in May 1996, “Achinoam Nini” in April 1997, and “Achinoam Nini and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra” in April 1998. Further albums include “Blue Touches Blue” in March 2000, “Now” in September 2002, and “Noa Live” in October 2005. She explored new sounds with “Napoli-Tel Aviv” in September 2006 and “Genes and Jeans” in March 2008. In 2009, she collaborated with Mira Awad on “There Must Be Another Way.” Chosen to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest in January 2009, she performed the song with Mira Awad in Hebrew, English, and Arabic, finishing in 16th place. The creative journey continued with “Noapolis – Noa Sings Napoli” in February 2011, “Eretz, Shir” in April 2011, “Love Medicine” in June 2014, and “Letters to Bach” in 2019. In 2023, she was selected to perform at the championship celebrations of Napoli. Political Positions Achinoam Nini frequently expresses left-wing political views. She participated in a left-wing demonstration in Jerusalem in May 2010, supporting “one capital for two peoples.” Ahead of the UN session in September 2012, where Palestinians declared statehood, she criticized Netanyahu’s government, saying it did not represent her. She performed at an alternative memorial ceremony for Jewish and Palestinian bereaved families and faced boycotts from right-wing groups. In January 2017, she compared US President Donald Trump to Hitler and called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vulgar and racist. She actively participated in protests against Benjamin Netanyahu and the thirty-seventh Israeli government, which sometimes led to the cancellation of her performances. Nini serves as a board member of the New Israel Fund. After the surprise attack on Israel in October 2023, she was involved in organizing a letter condemning violence against Israeli civilians and calling for humanitarian aid to Gaza. Personal Life Achinoam Nini is married to pediatrician Asher Barak, and they have three children. She has been a vegetarian since 2011. Her sister, Odia Nini, is also a singer-songwriter. Awards In 2006, she was awarded the title of “Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity” by the President of Italy. In 2019, she received the Shulamit Aloni Lifetime Achievement Award. Entries There must be another way (& Mira Awad) Country🇮🇱 Israel Year2009 LanguageEnglishHebrewArabic LyricsGil DorAchinoam NiniMira Awad MusicGil DorAchinoam NiniMira Awad BackingsGil Dor?? Results Semi Points: 75Position: 7Running order: 10 Results Finals Points: 53Position: 16Running order: 2 https://youtu.be/bBTQFOkFZw8?si=acmzkXO5AkmFsjxr

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Kalamari

About Quick Facts MembersJože Pepi JežMatjaž ŠvagelRok Tomažinčič (not on stage)Egon Prinčič (not on stage) Active1993 – 2020 Nationality🇸🇮 Slovenian National SelectionEMA 2010EMA 2004 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongNarodnozabavni Rock (& Ansambel Žlindra, 2010) Biography Kalamari was a coastal music group that started in November 1993. Jože Jež (Pepi), Matjaž Švagelj, and Aleksander (Sandi) Kokošar came together to perform a few shows at a hotel. They quickly stood out because of their good performances and especially their three-part singing, which other groups couldn’t do as well. Early on, they tried writing their own songs and released an album called “Dobra vila” in 1995. This album had some radio hits, but the group became well-known across Slovenia with their second album “S tabo držim.” The song “Angelca” from this album became a big hit and is still popular at parties today. The group grew from three members to four and then five, which made their live shows even better. They became very successful with their third album, especially with the song “V vetru rdečih zastav,” which won second place and a lyrics award at the “Slovenska popevka” festival. Their live shows became even more popular, and they started performing not just in Slovenia but also in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro. Because of their busy schedule, some members left, deciding not to become professional musicians. However, the group kept writing new songs and did well at music festivals, winning awards for songs like “Kup besed,” “Zadnja šansa,” and “Preden zaspi.” With the song “Boš prišla”, Kalamari took part in EMA 2004, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. Unfortunately, they didn’t make it to the EMA final. Their biggest success was at the EMA 2010 competition, where they won with the song “Narodnozabavni rock” along with the Roka Žlindre ensemble. Slavko Ivančić and the late Danilo Kocjančič, who wrote some of their songs, often performed with Kalamari. After their big win at EMA, the group’s popularity and the number of performances slowly decreased. In 2014, frontman Jože Jež (Pepi) left the group and was replaced by Darjan Gržina. In 2020, partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group decided to split up. Entries Narodnozabavni Rock (& Ansambel Žlindra) Country🇸🇮 Slovenia Year2010 LanguageSlovenian LyricsLeon Oblak MusicMarino Legovič Backings– Results Semi Points: 6Position: 16Running order: 11 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/2faHkE1JZwc?si=8VAHdktaElgzHKPY

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Ansambel Žlindra

About Quick Facts MembersRok ŽlindraBarbara OgrincNejc DrobničRok Modic Founded2005 Nationality🇸🇮 Slovenian National SelectionEMA 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongNarodnozabavni Rock (& Kalamari, 2010) Biography Ansambel Roka Žlindre, also known as Ansambel Žlindra,  is a folk music group that started in 2005. They are from Sodražica. The group has three musicians and two singers. In 2010, they performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo with the group Kalamari. The Roka Žlindre Ensemble includes Rok Žlindra, who plays the accordion and leads the group, Boštjan Merhar on guitar, Rok Modic on bass, and singers Barbara Ogrinc and Kristjan Oven. Before Merhar, Toni Tomas Lovšin played guitar, and before Oven, Tadej Osvald was a singer. The group has been active since 2005. In the next two years, they joined the Graška Gora festival and won the Silver Shepherd award twice. After two years, they did well at a festival in Dolenjske Toplice, winning awards from both the audience and the judges. In 2008, they performed in Škofja Loka and Graška Gora, winning audience awards and other prizes. Their most successful years were 2009 and 2010. They won awards at top festivals like Slovenska polka in valček and in Ptuj. They are best known for winning EMA and performing at Eurovision in Oslo in 2010 with the song “Narodnozabavni rock.” They did not make it to the final round. In 2011, the group toured western Canada, hosted by Slovenian clubs. They spent most of their time in Vancouver and Calgary, and also visited Kelowna. During the tour, they saw sights like Myra Canyon and watched a hockey game. They even visited the USA for a day. The tour lasted one month. In 2015, to celebrate their 10th anniversary, they held a concert called “Mi ga pa žlindramo” in Ribnica’s Sports Hall. Television Slovenia recorded the concert and showed it in two parts the next year. At this concert, they introduced a new song “Nasmehni se,” recorded with their idols, the Franc Mihelič Ensemble, who are also from Sodražica. In February 2016, they released a single “Le tvoj parfum”. In June, it was followed by “Mi ga pa žlindramo”. Also in 2016, bass singer Tadej Oswald left the band. He was succeeded by Kristian Oven. The first record with the new bass singer was called “Pogrešam te” and was released in March 2017. The song immediately reached the Slovenian charts, and reached the #1 spot on the domestic charts. In December, the song “Neumen in mlad” came out. At the Pesem prepostih Ljudi concert the band received the award for best ensemble by the jury in February 2018. In the summer, they did a lot of performances. In September, Boštjan Merhar left the band. The last song including him was called “Ko se ženi ribnčan”. Matic Padaršič was the new group member. In December 2018 the band came up with two Christmas songs, “Srečno novo leto” and “Srečno novo leto”. The new song “Veliko je želja” was premiered at the Slovenska Polka in Valček Festival in 2019. For the festival they teamed up with the group Amabile. They reached the final with their song. In September of the same year they released the song “Kaj pa vidva”. In February 2020 the band started a concert tour along with Amabile, the Iskreno tour. Unfortunately, some of the concerts had to be cancelled. Due to COVID19 they could not be held on another time. In September 2020, the new single “V tvojem objemu se pomirim” came out. After a long time of silence, in January 2022 the news came that Rok Modic, Matic and Kristian left the band. Only Rok Žlindra and Barbara continued, together with new members Blaž Žnidaršič (guitar and drums) and Jernej Oblak (tuba, accordion, trumpet, baritone, and bass). In March 2024 they released a new polka, “Nočem bit ujet”. Entries Narodnozabavni Rock (& Kalamari) Country🇸🇮 Slovenia Year2010 LanguageSlovenian LyricsLeon Oblak MusicMarino Legovič Backings– Results Semi Points: 6Position: 16Running order: 11 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/2faHkE1JZwc?si=QcJWZx4srVTPW_yJ

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Aisha

About Quick Facts NameAija Andrejeva Born16 January 1986 Nationality🇱🇻 Latvian National SelectionEirodziesma 2010Eirodziesma 2009Eirodziesma 2008Eirodziesma 2007 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongWhat For (2010) Biography Aija Andrejeva-Aišpure, known as Aija Andrejeva and formerly as Aisha, is a Latvian singer and musical theater actress. She was born on January 16, 1986, in Lielvārde, Latvia. Aija spent her childhood in Lielvārde and attended Edgars Kauliņš Lielvārde Secondary School. At five years old, she competed in the children’s vocal contest Cālis ’91 and won second place. She started learning to play the flute and piano at the Lielvārde Music School at age ten. At eleven, she participated in a young flautist competition, earning 12th place. A year later, she won the Jauno diriģentu parāde competition. In 2002, she conducted the wind orchestra Sirius. In 2004, Aija, using the stage name Aisha, joined the TV5 reality show Fabrikas muzikālais teātris. She won the final, thanks to viewer votes. That summer, she participated in the musical Tā ir jānotiek and performed with her father in a concert celebrating Latvia’s accession to the European Union, singing “Tu un es.” At the end of 2004, Aisha won the Best Soloist of the Year award at the LNT Music Video Awards Ceremony. In February 2005, she debuted in theater, playing Dorothy in the Daile Theater’s musical The Wizard of Oz. In the spring of that year, she toured with the group Credo. On July 8, 2005, Aisha performed as the opening act for the Russian band BI-2 with Opus Pro at the Ogre stage. In 2006, she hosted the TV show Mīl — nemīl and recorded the album “Tu un es” with her father’s band. In 2007, Aisha participated in the LNT show Divas zvaigznes with Frīdis, launching her solo career afterward. At the beginning of 2008, she competed in the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “You Really Got Me Going,” making it to the final and finishing second. A year later, she also participated in the TV3 show Dejo ar zvaigzni! 2, finishing second. She released her first solo album, “Viss kārtībā, mincīt,” featuring successful songs like “Dziesma pustumsā.” Coming in 2009, Aisha competed in the Eurovision national selection again with the song “Hey, Hey,” finishing sixth overall. She won the European selection of the New Wave competition in Riga and placed fourth in the main event. In September 2009, she released her solo album “Dvēselīte.” In 2010, Aisha won the Latvian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “What For?” She represented Latvia in Oslo, Norway, but did not qualify for the final, finishing last in her semi-final on May 25. In September 2011, she presented a website with her own name, Aija Andrejeva, and a new single, “Kafijas krūze”. She played the role of Baiba in the musical “Pūt, vējiņi”. In 2013 she started performing as the soloist of the Ventspils Bigbend. In October she released a single, “”Mežā”, as an announcement of the album with the same name. The album itself came out in November. Aija won the contest Muzikālā Banka in 2015 with the song ”Soļi”. A ‘ten years on stage’ tour followed with guest performances of big names in every single show. She teamed up with Goran Gora for the song “Pavasaris”. A year later, she started a project, “Satikšanās mūzikā”, where people could register to make music with Aija. In October of that year, her song “Mazais Princis” was released. Two months later she teamed up with Kārlis Būmeisters to sing the song “Ēnas”. With Alex she released the song “Mēs pārejam uz tu”, in 2017. The song was awarded most valuable song of the year. With Colt she recorded “Man ir viss”, solo “Tu mani sauc”. Her new album was also called “Mēs pārejam uz tu”, which was released in February 2018.  A new single, “Pinies man pa kājām”, was released in May 2018. Meanwhile, Aija participated in a project to release her own postcards. She teamed up with DJ Rudd for the song “varbūt šodien, varbūt rīt”. Her song “Es iešu tālāk” reached the Latvian top-10. She also did the Latvian voice of Silvera in the movie Angry Birds 2. Her single “Bungādiņas” reached the no. 1 spot in the Latvian charts. Her album “Es iešu tālāk” was released in 2020. While it was in the middle of the COVID19 pandemic, the presentation of the album took place in a special car concert. In March 2021 Alija teamed up with ZeBrene for the song “Šamanis”. In November 2022 Aija teamed up with Intars Busulis for the song ”Ziemassvētki džungļos”, the theme song of the family- and adventure movie ‘Viss ko es šodien vēlos”. In June 2023, the song “Pērkons Pāries” was released. With the Baltic Groove Orchestra, Aija sang the song “Jūk”. A new album, “Tagadne”, was released on March 12th.  It was in 2013, Aija married Toms Bērziņš in Valmiera, but they divorced in 2016. Since 2021, she has been married to singer Jānis Aišpurs.  Entries What For Country🇱🇻 Latvia Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsGuntars Račs MusicJānis Lūsēns BackingsRaili OrravaKatrīna CīruleMadara KačorekaLāsma Ivansone Results Semi Points: 11Position: 17Running order: 6 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/oRjtqVkj5w0?si=yYqEQKawyY7EPQLW

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Kristína

About Quick Facts NameKristina Peláková Born20 August 1987 Nationality🇸🇰 Slovak National SelectionEurosong 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongHorehronie (2010) Biography Kristína Peláková, known by her stage name Kristína, was born on August 20, 1987, in Svidník, Slovakia. She is a Slovak singer. Kristína showed an early interest in music, singing, playing the piano, and dancing from a young age. She studied at the conservatory in Košice. After meeting producer Martin Kavulič and signing with H.o.M.E. production, Kristína began her active singing career. Her first single, “Som Tvoja,” featuring rapper Opak from her favorite Bratislava group A.M.O., was released in spring 2007. In 2008, she covered Beáta Dubasová’s song “Vráť mi tie hviezdy,” which brought her widespread fame in Slovakia. On November 11, 2008, Kristína released her debut album, …ešte váham. The album includes eleven tracks and two remixes, featuring the songs “Som Tvoja,” “Vráť mi tie hviezdy ’08,” and “Zmrzlina,” the latter performed with Czech singer Victoria. In 2010, Kristína participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with the song “Horehronie,”. She won the fifth quarter-final with 36.7% of the votes and the first semi-final with 31.2% of the votes and the highest points from the jury. On February 28, 2010, she competed in the national final and, despite a tie with another contestant, Kristína triumphed due to more viewer votes, earning her the chance to represent Slovakia at the Eurovision final in Norway from May 25-29, 2010. She performed on May 25, 2010, in the first semi-final but did not advance to the final. On September 20, 2010, Kristína released her second album, “V sieti ťa mám”. This album came in two versions: a standard edition and a digipak. The first single from Kristina’s 3rd album, “Jabĺčko,” was released on April 10, 2012, reaching 13th place on Slovak radio and also gaining airplay in the Czech Republic. The album, “Na slnečnej strane sveta”, was officially released on June 25, 2012, featuring fourteen tracks plus three bonus remixes. The album was launched on June 27, 2012, at Bontonland Megastore in Prague, where she received a platinum disc for her previous album’s sales in the Czech Republic. The second single, “Viem, lebo viem,” was released on June 23, 2012. In 2014, she released a compilation album titled “Tie naj”. Kristína’s subsequent albums include “Mať srdce”, released in 2017 with a standard and a deluxe version featuring 2 CDs, and “Snívanky”, released in 2020. She also released a duet with Michal David, “Nla Dani”. A Christmas song, “Čas zimných zázrakov”, followed. In September 2022, her song “Oceán” came out. Her next single was “Pre Teba”, released in May 2023, followed in October by “Tancuj”. She teamed up with Martin Kavulič again for a song “Tatranci”, which was released in December. Entries Horehronie Country🇸🇰 Slovakia Year2010 LanguageSlovak LyricsMartin Kavulič MusicMartin Kavulič BackingsDavid SchimmerHanku ServickúMartin MikulášekPeter ŽivnerSlavomír Kolkovič Results Semi Points: 24Position: 16Running order: 4 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/j8G6byTMr0o?si=SnjPvKvqM71IRaAw

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Tomas N’Evergreen

About Quick Facts NameTomas Christiansen Born12 November 1969 Nationality🇩🇰 Danish🇷🇺 Russian National SelectionDansk Melodi Grand Prix 2010Evrovidenie 2009 (Russia) In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongIn A Moment Like This (with Chanée, 2010) Biography Tomas N’evergreen (born Tomas Christiansen on November 12, 1969, in Hadsten) is a Danish pop singer and songwriter. He is best known for winning the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix in 2010 with the song “In a Moment Like This,” a duet with the singer Chanée. The song placed fourth at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. Tomas has been successful in Eastern Europe, especially in Russia. He has had #1 hits and many other top 10 songs with tracks like “Since You’ve Been Gone” and “Everytime (I See Your Smile)” from his debut album “Since You’ve Been Gone” in 2007. The album sold more than 250,000 copies in Russia. He lived in Moscow, and in 2009 he competed in the Russian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “One More Try.” He reached an 11th place. In 2010, Tomas teamed up with Christina Chanée to take part in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. They won with “In A Moment Like This” and became 4th in the Grand Final. More than a year later, in November 2011, Tomas teamed up with Kristina Orbakaite to sing “Tayna Bez Tayn”. It lead him to performing in front of the president of Kazahstan. In the years from 2010, Tomas performed a lot for the Russian TV-channel MuzTV. It brought him in Kazahstan for a 2nd time in 2015. He collaborated with the Kazakh artists A-Studio in that year. He also was nominated for a Muz-TV Award for best song in a strang language  in 2015. In 2016, Tomas released a new single, “Pick up the phone”. In 2019 he got the chance to perform in Baku at Zharafest. In September of the same year he was able to perform in Yerevan. In September 2021 a single came out: “We go back”. The song hit the Danish charts. Meanwhile, he also played a role in a Russian tv-series. On New Years Eve 2022/2023 he performed at a concert in Dubai. In July 2023 his new single “I play for you” was released. In 2024, Chanée and N’Evergreen performed in the Euroclub in Malmö during the Eurovision week. Entries In A Moment Like This (& Chanée) Country🇩🇰 Denmark Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsThomas G:sonHenrik SethssonErik Bernholm MusicThomas G:sonHenrik SethssonErik Bernholm BackingsGry Trampedach JørgensenAnne MurilloJaana VähämäkiMads Enggård Jørgensen Results Semi Points: 101Position: 5Running order: 4 Results Finals Points: 149Position: 4Running order: 25 https://youtu.be/Px2UsvO1lCg?si=qqcnCXL3KXxvoYBX

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Christina Chanée

About Quick Facts NameChristina Ratchanée Birch Wongskul Born06 January 1979 Nationality🇩🇰 Danish National SelectionDansk Melodi Grand Prix 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongIn A Moment Like This (& N’Evergreen, 2010) Biography Christina Chanée (born Christina Ratchanée Birch Wongskul) is a Danish-Thai pop singer and songwriter. She won the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix in 2010 with Tomas N’evergreen, singing “In a Moment Like This.” They later achieved fourth place at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. Chanée began her career singing jazz and has performed both as a solo artist and a backup singer. In 2003, she sang on the track “Gone Away” for the soundtrack of the movie “Anja Efter Viktor,” and also on the title song for the musical film “Askepop – The Movie.” She has also performed in two cover bands, Diva2Diva and Sanne Jam. In 2004, she joined the house band Nubian Fräuleins on the DR1 show Endelig Fredag with Amin Jensen. There, she met Kid Creole, who invited her to audition for Marvin Gaye – The Musical. Despite having no experience in musicals or acting, she got the lead role and later toured with Kid Creole and The Coconuts. In 2010, Christina teamed up with Tomas N’Evergreen to take part in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. They won with “In A Moment Like This” and became 4th in the Grand Final. In the same year, Christina was part of the christmas album “Eldorado Jul”. Christina Chanée released an album in 2012, with the title “Just The Beginning”. She also teamed up with Dex for the single “Stereo”. In 2016, we saw Christina back in Melodi Grand Prix, but now as a member of the jury. Three years later Chanée and N’Evergreen performed as an interval act in Melodi Grand Prix. In the same year, Christina joined the party band Mint Condition. Chanée has had small roles in the TV series Klovn (2005) and 2900 Happiness (2007), and in the film Smukke Mennesker (2010). She also performed as a soloist in Jan Glæsel’s Orchestra from fall 2010 to 2024. Entries In A Moment Like This (& N’Evergreen) Country🇩🇰 Denmark Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsThomas G:sonHenrik SethssonErik Bernholm MusicThomas G:sonHenrik SethssonErik Bernholm BackingsGry Trampedach JørgensenAnne MurilloJaana VähämäkiMads Enggård Jørgensen Results Semi Points: 101Position: 5Running order: 4 Results Finals Points: 149Position: 4Running order: 25 https://youtu.be/Px2UsvO1lCg?si=qcH0-PM6-itW8CzH

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Ilkin Dovlatov

@EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett About Quick Facts Nameİlkin Dövlətov Born16 June 1990 Nationality🇦🇿 Azerbaijani National SelectionInternal selection 2024 In Eurovision2024 Malmö SongÖzünlə apar (& Fahree, 2024) Biography Ilkin Dovlatov (Azerbaijani: İlkin Dövlətov), born on June 16, 1990, is renowned for his contributions to Azerbaijani music as a mugham vocalist. Born into a musically inclined family in Baku in 1990, Dovlatov was greatly influenced by his father, sparking his interest in music from a young age. At just four years old, he performed “Qəlbimdə qaldı,” marking the beginning of his musical journey. His exceptional singing talent was recognized by a school music teacher who encouraged him to showcase his musical talents. Dovlatov’s career saw a significant milestone in 2023 when he participated in The Voice of Azerbaijan, specializing in native songs, under the mentorship of Ilqar Khayal. He secured the runner-up position in the competition and has also been a contestant in the Azəri Star song contest. In the latter part of October 2023, İctimai Television announced a group comprising Ilkin Dovlatov, Mila Miles, and Etibar Asadli as contenders in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest selection process for Azerbaijan. They progressed to the final six candidates the following week, performing the song “İnsanlar.” Although Fahree was initially chosen for the Eurovision representation on March 7, 2024, a subsequent announcement on March 13 revealed that Dovlatov would join Fahree on stage, presenting the song “Özünlə apar.” Unfortunately, the two didn’t reach the final. Entries Özünlə apar (& Fahree) Country🇦🇿 Azerbaijan Year2024 LanguageEnglishAzerbaijani LyricsFahreeMado Salikh MusicFahreeEdgar RavinHasan HaydarMila Miles Backings– Results Semi Points: 11Position: 14Running order: 12 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/QhN9r8TH2Hw?si=GOjsQd0BfXoI7M94

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Robert Wells

About Quick Facts NameRobert Henry Arthur Wells Born07 April 1962 Nationality🇸🇪 Swedish National SelectionInternal selection 2010Eirodziesma 2007Melodifestivalen 2003Melodifestivalen 1987 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongButterflies (with 3+2, 2010) Biography Robert Wells, born in Stockholm on April 7 1962, is a Swedish composer, arranger and musician.  Wells was educated at Adolf Fredrik’s Music Classes and the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. Throughout the 1980s, he played alongside numerous Swedish artists, such as Lill-Babs, Gösta Linderholm, Eva Bysing, and Jerry Williams. He later embarked on a solo career, achieving success with the hit “Upp på berget,” which reached Svensktoppen in 1986. In the Melodifestivalen of 1987, he participated with the song “Sommarnatt,” and he returned to the Melodifestivalen stage in 2003, performing in a duet with Sofia Källgren the song “My Love.” Wells gained significant popularity as a pianist on the TV game show “Så ska det låta,” where he showcased his extensive musical talent. His “Rhapsody in Rock” annual concert tours have been audience favorites in Sweden and internationally, drawing over 1.9 million spectators in Sweden since 1998. In addition to his Melodifestivalen appearances, Wells also competed in the Latvian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, Eirodziesma, in 2007 with the song “The Legends of Rock and Roll.” as a member of the group Johnny & Meldra featuring The Rockettes. In 2007, Wells contributed his piano skills to “A Song For You,” featuring vocals by Céline Dion, and also co-wrote the song. His music was selected as the official TV music for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. During the winter of 2008/2009, he was part of TV4’s “Körslaget,” leading his own choir. He wrote “7 Days & 7 Nights” for the Swedish hard rock band The Poodles for their 2009 album “Clash of the Elements,” and also played piano on the album. Additionally, he performed on the piano for Belarus’ entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. In 2021, Wells appeared on TV4’s “Masked Singer” disguised as a raven. Entries Butterflies (& 3+2) Country🇧🇾 Country Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsMalka Chaplin MusicMaxim Fadeev Backings– Results Semi Points: 59Position: 9Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: 18Position: 24Running order: 9 https://youtu.be/MvK2KU2zfzA?si=KFhGTi9aHc9hlIw4

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3+2

About Quick Facts MembersYulia ShishkoArtsem MikhalenkoElgiazar FarashanAlena KarpovichNinel Karpovich Active2009 – 2010 Nationality🇧🇾 Belarusian National SelectionInternal selection 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongButterflies (feat. Robert Wells, 2010) Biography 3+2 was a pop group from Belarus that participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 held in Oslo, Norway. The creation of the band was spearheaded by the Belarusian TV channel ONT alongside the initiative “New Voices of Belarus” in 2009. The band comprised finalists from this television competition. Securing a spot in the national selection for Eurovision 2010 significantly boosted the group’s popularity. On February 25, 2010, 3+2 was selected through an internal process to fly the Belarusian flag at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010.  The group received various song submissions from Belarusian and foreign songwriters. After considering numerous proposals for their song, visuals, and stage performance, the group’s management decided to seek insight from the renowned producer and songwriter Max Fadeev. Fadeev delivered a complete package for the group within a week, including the song “Butterflies,” which he co-wrote with Swedish musician Robert Wells and Polish poet Malka Chaplin specifically for 3+2. Initially, the group had selected “Far Away” for their Eurovision entry but switched to “Butterflies” following unfavorable feedback online. In the grand finale, “Butterflies” ended up in 24th place, accumulating a total of 18 points. After the Eurovision Song Contest, the group had not been active together. Entries Butterflies (featuring Robert Wells) Country🇧🇾 Belarus Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsMalka Chaplin MusicMaxim Fadeev Backings– Results Semi Points: 59Position: 9Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: 18Position: 24Running order: 9 https://youtu.be/MvK2KU2zfzA?si=hkYZ0kobr6MbVQPq

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Noa

About Quick Facts NameAchinoam Nini Born23 June 1969 Nationality🇮🇱 Israeli National SelectionKdam Eurovision 2009 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongThere must be another way (& Mira Awad, 2009) Biography Achinoam Nini (born June 23, 1969), also known as Noa, is an Israeli singer, composer, and left-wing activist.  Biography Achinoam Nini was born in Tel Aviv to parents from Bat Yam. Her family moved to New York when she was two years old because her father, a chemical engineer, received a scholarship. She grew up in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, where she attended modern orthodox schools and studied singing and dance. At

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Kalamari

About Quick Facts MembersJože Pepi JežMatjaž ŠvagelRok Tomažinčič (not on stage)Egon Prinčič (not on stage) Active1993 – 2020 Nationality🇸🇮 Slovenian National SelectionEMA 2010EMA 2004 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongNarodnozabavni Rock (& Ansambel Žlindra, 2010) Biography Kalamari was a coastal music group that started in November 1993. Jože Jež (Pepi), Matjaž Švagelj, and Aleksander (Sandi) Kokošar came together to perform a few shows at a hotel. They quickly stood out because of their good performances and especially their three-part singing, which other groups couldn’t do as well. Early on, they tried writing their own songs and released an album called “Dobra vila” in

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Ansambel Žlindra

About Quick Facts MembersRok ŽlindraBarbara OgrincNejc DrobničRok Modic Founded2005 Nationality🇸🇮 Slovenian National SelectionEMA 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongNarodnozabavni Rock (& Kalamari, 2010) Biography Ansambel Roka Žlindre, also known as Ansambel Žlindra,  is a folk music group that started in 2005. They are from Sodražica. The group has three musicians and two singers. In 2010, they performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo with the group Kalamari. The Roka Žlindre Ensemble includes Rok Žlindra, who plays the accordion and leads the group, Boštjan Merhar on guitar, Rok Modic on bass, and singers Barbara Ogrinc and Kristjan Oven. Before Merhar, Toni Tomas

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Aisha

About Quick Facts NameAija Andrejeva Born16 January 1986 Nationality🇱🇻 Latvian National SelectionEirodziesma 2010Eirodziesma 2009Eirodziesma 2008Eirodziesma 2007 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongWhat For (2010) Biography Aija Andrejeva-Aišpure, known as Aija Andrejeva and formerly as Aisha, is a Latvian singer and musical theater actress. She was born on January 16, 1986, in Lielvārde, Latvia. Aija spent her childhood in Lielvārde and attended Edgars Kauliņš Lielvārde Secondary School. At five years old, she competed in the children’s vocal contest Cālis ’91 and won second place. She started learning to play the flute and piano at the Lielvārde Music School at age ten. At eleven, she

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Kristína

About Quick Facts NameKristina Peláková Born20 August 1987 Nationality🇸🇰 Slovak National SelectionEurosong 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongHorehronie (2010) Biography Kristína Peláková, known by her stage name Kristína, was born on August 20, 1987, in Svidník, Slovakia. She is a Slovak singer. Kristína showed an early interest in music, singing, playing the piano, and dancing from a young age. She studied at the conservatory in Košice. After meeting producer Martin Kavulič and signing with H.o.M.E. production, Kristína began her active singing career. Her first single, “Som Tvoja,” featuring rapper Opak from her favorite Bratislava group A.M.O., was released in spring 2007. In

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Tomas N’Evergreen

About Quick Facts NameTomas Christiansen Born12 November 1969 Nationality🇩🇰 Danish🇷🇺 Russian National SelectionDansk Melodi Grand Prix 2010Evrovidenie 2009 (Russia) In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongIn A Moment Like This (with Chanée, 2010) Biography Tomas N’evergreen (born Tomas Christiansen on November 12, 1969, in Hadsten) is a Danish pop singer and songwriter. He is best known for winning the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix in 2010 with the song “In a Moment Like This,” a duet with the singer Chanée. The song placed fourth at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. Tomas has been successful in Eastern Europe, especially in Russia. He has had #1

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Christina Chanée

About Quick Facts NameChristina Ratchanée Birch Wongskul Born06 January 1979 Nationality🇩🇰 Danish National SelectionDansk Melodi Grand Prix 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongIn A Moment Like This (& N’Evergreen, 2010) Biography Christina Chanée (born Christina Ratchanée Birch Wongskul) is a Danish-Thai pop singer and songwriter. She won the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix in 2010 with Tomas N’evergreen, singing “In a Moment Like This.” They later achieved fourth place at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. Chanée began her career singing jazz and has performed both as a solo artist and a backup singer. In 2003, she sang on the track “Gone Away”

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Ilkin Dovlatov

@EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett About Quick Facts Nameİlkin Dövlətov Born16 June 1990 Nationality🇦🇿 Azerbaijani National SelectionInternal selection 2024 In Eurovision2024 Malmö SongÖzünlə apar (& Fahree, 2024) Biography Ilkin Dovlatov (Azerbaijani: İlkin Dövlətov), born on June 16, 1990, is renowned for his contributions to Azerbaijani music as a mugham vocalist. Born into a musically inclined family in Baku in 1990, Dovlatov was greatly influenced by his father, sparking his interest in music from a young age. At just four years old, he performed “Qəlbimdə qaldı,” marking the beginning of his musical journey. His exceptional singing talent was recognized by a school music teacher

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Robert Wells

About Quick Facts NameRobert Henry Arthur Wells Born07 April 1962 Nationality🇸🇪 Swedish National SelectionInternal selection 2010Eirodziesma 2007Melodifestivalen 2003Melodifestivalen 1987 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongButterflies (with 3+2, 2010) Biography Robert Wells, born in Stockholm on April 7 1962, is a Swedish composer, arranger and musician.  Wells was educated at Adolf Fredrik’s Music Classes and the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. Throughout the 1980s, he played alongside numerous Swedish artists, such as Lill-Babs, Gösta Linderholm, Eva Bysing, and Jerry Williams. He later embarked on a solo career, achieving success with the hit “Upp på berget,” which reached Svensktoppen in 1986. In the Melodifestivalen

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3+2

About Quick Facts MembersYulia ShishkoArtsem MikhalenkoElgiazar FarashanAlena KarpovichNinel Karpovich Active2009 – 2010 Nationality🇧🇾 Belarusian National SelectionInternal selection 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongButterflies (feat. Robert Wells, 2010) Biography 3+2 was a pop group from Belarus that participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 held in Oslo, Norway. The creation of the band was spearheaded by the Belarusian TV channel ONT alongside the initiative “New Voices of Belarus” in 2009. The band comprised finalists from this television competition. Securing a spot in the national selection for Eurovision 2010 significantly boosted the group’s popularity. On February 25, 2010, 3+2 was selected through an internal

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