UEFA 2020: DAY 8

The European Soccer Championship has already reached it’s 8th day. Today, we will see three other matches. To start with Sweden-Slovakia. What we found was a couple of mystical songs. Sweden once sent the group One More Time to the contest with the song “Den vilda”. One of the members of One More Time was Peter Grönvall, the son of Abba’s Benny Andersson. Another one, his wife Nanne Grönvall, is still very famous in Sweden. For Slovakia we chose a song about the beautiful area of Horehronie in Slovakia. The song, which was also called “Horehronie”, was sung by Kristina and hit the number one spot in the Slovak charts.

Croatia and Czech Republic will play against eachother. Girls in not too much clothes! That is what brings those two countries together. We thought about Albina, who represented Croatia this year. We also thought about Tereza Kerndlová, who sang “Have some fun” in 2008.

And the last match for today is the one between England and Scotland. That made us bring up two ladies, who both earned the trophy for the United Kingdom. Who remembers Sandie Shaw, barefoot, back in 1967? And who remembers Lulu, with false eyelashes and dressed in pink, yelling “Olé!” at the end of the song? Sandie was English, Lulu was Scottish.

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Eurovision 2026

In the Spotlight: France

Tomorrow the big final of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in the Wiener Stadshalle in Vienna . 25 countries compete for the win. One of them is France , represented by Monroe. But who is she? Let’s give her a spotlight. Although she is only 17 years old, Monroe already boasts an impressive musical background. From singing in a small church choir to performing on the Eurovision stage, her journey reflects remarkable talent, dedication, and ambition.With her powerful lyrical voice and impressive stage presence, Monroe combines classical elegance with modern pop appeal.Although she is only 17 years old, Monroe already boasts an impressive musical background. From singing in a small church choir to performing on the Eurovision stage, her journey reflects remarkable talent, dedication, and ambition. Early Life and Musical Background Monroe was born in 2008 in Salt Lake City to a French mother and an American father. Raised in a bilingual household, she grew up speaking both French and English. Her mother strongly encouraged a “double culture” upbringing, allowing Monroe to embrace both sides of her heritage. Her musical journey began in a local church choir, where she first discovered her love for singing. Soon after, she developed a passion for classical music. Monroe learned to play the piano and received formal vocal training, helping her develop the remarkable voice she is known for today. Besides music lessons, Monroe also participated in musical theatre productions and a youth opera programme. These experiences strengthened her acting abilities and stage confidence from an early age. Among her biggest influences are renowned mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli and global superstar Céline Dion. Their influence can clearly be heard in Monroe’s versatile musical style. Winning Prodiges Monroe’s breakthrough came in late 2024 when she auditioned for season 11 of Prodiges, France’s prestigious classical music competition for young talents. Encouraged by her aunt in France, Monroe decided to audition before exceeding the programme’s age limit. Throughout the competition, Monroe impressed both the jury and viewers with her vocal control, emotional delivery, and charisma. One of her standout moments was a stunning performance of Mozart’s famous “Queen of the Night” aria, which see also sang in a station.   In January 2025, Monroe was crowned the winner of the season. The victory immediately turned her into one of France’s most promising young performers. Winning Prodiges also led to a recording contract with Warner Classics, marking the beginning of her professional recording career. Debut Album and Growing Success Following her success on Prodiges, Monroe began working on her debut album. In November 2025, she released her self-titled record, Monroe. The album highlights both her operatic strengths and her crossover appeal. Critics praised the release for its elegance and musical diversity. The tracklist combines famous classical pieces with beloved popular standards. Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma” appears alongside Édith Piaf’s iconic “L’hymne à l’amour”, while “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz also features on the album. After the album release, Monroe embarked on a concert tour across France, performing in historic churches and cathedrals. One of the most notable scheduled performances was at the Vatican’s “Jubilee of the Poor” event in Rome, where Pope Francis was expected to attend. However, following her Eurovision selection, several concerts had to be postponed due to rehearsals and preparations for the contest. Eurovision Song Contest 2026 In March 2026, France Télévisions officially announced Monroe as the French representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Her Eurovision entry, Regarde!, combines opera, musical theatre, and contemporary pop influences. The song was written by Fred Savio, Fredie Marche, and the violin duo Violin Phonix. “Regarde!” delivers an emotional message about love as a universal language that can overcome differences and division. Thanks to Monroe’s strong vocal performance and theatrical interpretation, the song has already generated significant attention among Eurovision fans and music critics alike. France is automatically qualified for the Grand Final as one of the Big 4. Now all eyes are on this young star… could she be the one to bring victory home for France?        

Read More »
Eurovision 2026
Anja Kroeze

In the Spotlight: France

Tomorrow the big final of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in the Wiener Stadshalle in Vienna . 25 countries compete for the win. One of them is France , represented by Monroe. But who is she? Let’s give her a spotlight. Although she is only 17 years old, Monroe already boasts an impressive musical background. From singing in a small church choir to performing on the Eurovision stage, her journey reflects remarkable talent, dedication, and ambition.With her powerful lyrical voice and impressive stage presence, Monroe combines classical elegance with modern pop appeal.Although she is only 17 years old, Monroe already boasts an impressive musical background. From singing in a small church choir to performing on the Eurovision stage, her journey reflects remarkable talent, dedication, and ambition. Early Life and Musical Background Monroe was born in 2008 in Salt Lake City to a French mother and an American father. Raised in a bilingual household, she grew up speaking both French and English. Her mother strongly encouraged a “double culture” upbringing, allowing Monroe to embrace both sides of her heritage. Her musical journey began in a local church choir, where she first discovered her love for singing. Soon after, she developed a passion for classical music. Monroe learned to play the piano and received formal vocal training, helping her develop the remarkable voice she is known for today. Besides music lessons, Monroe also participated in musical theatre productions and a youth opera programme. These experiences strengthened her acting abilities and stage confidence from an early age. Among her biggest influences are renowned mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli and global superstar Céline Dion. Their influence can clearly be heard in Monroe’s versatile musical style. Winning Prodiges Monroe’s breakthrough came in late 2024 when she auditioned for season 11 of Prodiges, France’s prestigious classical music competition for young talents. Encouraged by her aunt in France, Monroe decided to audition before exceeding the programme’s age limit. Throughout the competition, Monroe impressed both the jury and viewers with her vocal control, emotional delivery, and charisma. One of her standout moments was a stunning performance of Mozart’s famous “Queen of the Night” aria, which see also sang in a station.   In January 2025, Monroe was crowned the winner of the season. The victory immediately turned her into one of France’s most promising young performers. Winning Prodiges also led to a recording contract with Warner Classics, marking the beginning of her professional recording career. Debut Album and Growing Success Following her success on Prodiges, Monroe began working on her debut album. In November 2025, she released her self-titled record, Monroe. The album highlights both her operatic strengths and her crossover appeal. Critics praised the release for its elegance and musical diversity. The tracklist combines famous classical pieces with beloved popular standards. Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma” appears alongside Édith Piaf’s iconic “L’hymne à l’amour”, while “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz also features on the album. After the album release, Monroe embarked on a concert tour across France, performing in historic churches and cathedrals. One of the most notable scheduled performances was at the Vatican’s “Jubilee of the Poor” event in Rome, where Pope Francis was expected to attend. However, following her Eurovision selection, several concerts had to be postponed due to rehearsals and preparations for the contest. Eurovision Song Contest 2026 In March 2026, France Télévisions officially announced Monroe as the French representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Her Eurovision entry, Regarde!, combines opera, musical theatre, and contemporary pop influences. The song was written by Fred Savio, Fredie Marche, and the violin duo Violin Phonix. “Regarde!” delivers an emotional message about love as a universal language that can overcome differences and division. Thanks to Monroe’s strong vocal performance and theatrical interpretation, the song has already generated significant attention among Eurovision fans and music critics alike. France is automatically qualified for the Grand Final as one of the Big 4. Now all eyes are on this young star… could she be the one to bring victory home for France?        

Read More »
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