2005

Chiara

About Quick Facts NameChiara Siracusa Born25 September 1976 Nationality🇲🇹 Maltese National SelectionGO Malta Eurosong 2009Malta Song For Europe 2005Maltese national final 1998 In Eurovision2009 Moscow2005 Kyiv1998 Birmingham SongWhat if we… (2009)Angel (2005)The One That I Love (1998) Chiara Siracusa, known mononymously as Chiara, is one of Malta’s most celebrated vocalists. Born on September 25, 1976, Chiara’s journey to stardom began in earnest in 1998. As a relatively unknown artist, she walked onto the Eurovision stage in Birmingham and delivered a powerful rendition of “The One That I Love,” a song written by Jason Cassar and Sunny Aquilina. Her performance captured the hearts of many and secured a remarkable third-place finish, catapulting her into the spotlight. Between 1998 and 2003, Chiara’s star continued to rise. She released three successful albums in Malta and was honored with the “Best Female Artist” award at the Malta Music Awards in 1998. Her talent and stage presence led to notable performances alongside international stars such as Leo Sayer in 2000 and Boney M in 2001, showcasing her versatility and appeal across different musical genres. In 2005, Chiara made a triumphant return to the Maltese Eurovision Song Contest finals with “Angel,” a song she penned herself. Her powerful performance won her the opportunity to represent Malta at the 50th Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv. Chiara’s heartfelt rendition of “Angel” made her one of the favorites to win and secured her a memorable second-place finish, further solidifying her status as a Eurovision icon. That same year, Chiara, with unwavering support from her father, embarked on creating a new album featuring songs by esteemed songwriters from Sweden, Belgium, and the United States, including the legendary Diane Warren. This album marked a significant milestone in her career, highlighting her growth as an artist and her international appeal. Following her success in 2005, Chiara remained active in the music scene, performing extensively in Malta and abroad, particularly in Greece and Cyprus. In 2008, she added another feather to her cap by presenting the Malta Song for Europe and serving as a supporting act during Michael Bolton’s concert in Malta. However, Chiara’s life was not without its challenges. The birth of her daughter, Ebony, brought immense joy, while the loss of her father in late 2008 was a profound personal tragedy. His unwavering support had been a cornerstone of her career, and his passing fueled her determination to achieve even greater success as a tribute to his memory. In 2009, Chiara once again returned to the Malta Eurosong finals with “What If We,” a song written by Gregory Bilsen and Marc Paelinck. She represented Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow, reaching the final for the 3rd time. Chiara Siracusa served as Malta’s spokesperson at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, announcing the points from the Maltese vote during the final. In June 2010, she released the Official Malta Gay Pride Anthem titled “Believe (We Are One).” She re-recorded it for 2011. She also featured in the Slink-track “Music is the answer”. In 2011, Chiara got the chance to perform in Amsterdam for the Eurovision Artists Event. She also performed at the Eurovision event in Portugal. She teamed up with Ludwig Galea for the Christmas song “Ħelu Bambin”. Chiara presented a new song in October 2012: “Forget forgetting me”. The song reached the no. 1 spot in the Maltese I-Tune charts within a week after the release. She started the year 2013 with several performances in San Francisco. She teamed up with Haffi Haff, who featured in the song “Zarbun”. This song, released in April 2013, became a hit too. In the summer of 2013 she recorded an EP along with Hera Björk as Two Divas: “9 to 5”, a cover version of Dolly Parton’s song. On May 4 2014, Chiara premiered her new song in the Euro Fan Cafe in Copenhagen during the Eurovision week: “Mermaid in Love”. In 2015 she performed in London and, along with Hera Björk, in Iceland. In January 2016 she sang in Munich. Especially as a tribute for the late Sunny Aquilina, Chiara wrote the song “Ismani Ftit Habib”, which she premiered in January 2017. She was also part of the show A Night With Tom Jones And The Best Of Soul. In February 2018, Chiara was part of the concert series of Spiteri Lucas Entertainment A Night with Engelbert, Sinatra, Shirley Bassey and Tina. She also played a role in the musical Il Ħanina Maddalena. A new series of concerts came up in February 2019: A Night with Cliff Richard, Robbie Williams, Withney Houston and Celine. In May she performed in Tel Aviv during the Eurovision week. A month later she performed at a Eurovision related concert in Hannover. In January 2020 a new tribute concert was there: A Night with Paul Anka, Elton John and the Best of Divas. Chiara performed in Rotterdam during the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 at the virtual Eurovillage. In August 2022 she performed at the Eurovision concert in Setúbal. Meanwhile, she kept on performing with the Spiteri Lucas Band. In October 2022 Chiara performed in Cardiff at Eurobash, along with Katrina. A month later, she sang in Cologne. In June 2023 she was able to perform with the 3 Tenors and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. She also sang at Amsterdam Calling in April 2024. Entries What If We… Country🇲🇹 Malta Year2009 LanguageEnglish LyricsGregory Bilsen MusicMarc Paelinck Backings– Results Semi Points: 86Position: 6Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: 31Position: 22Running order: 14 https://youtu.be/kX5STdIuiEg?si=NNcFi0HNWPb-zHKI Angel Country🇲🇹 Malta Year2005 LanguageEnglish LyricsChiara Siracusa MusicChiara Siracusa Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 192Position: 2Running order: 3 https://youtu.be/FS52OvqzmF8?si=mbpqWOqzwaS3d-cl The One That I Love Country🇲🇹 Malta Year1998 LanguageEnglish LyricsSunny Aquilina MusicJason Paul Cassar Conductor– Backings– Results Points: 165Position: 3Running order: 10 https://youtu.be/j82DG4HmrUQ?si=NhGUmszmpK8k3VeB

Feminnem

About Quick Facts MembersNika Antolos (2010)Ivana Marić (2005)Neda ParmaćPamela Ramljak Active2004-2012, 2022- Nationality🇧🇦 Bosnian (Ivana, Pamela)🇭🇷 Croatian (Nika, Neda) National SelectionDora 2010Dora 2009Dora 2007BH Eurosong 2005 In Eurovision2010 Oslo2005 Kyiv SongLako je sve (2010)Call me (2005) Biography Feminnem is a Croatian female pop-dance group made up of Pamela Ramljak, Neda Parmać, and Nika Antolos. The group is known for writing their own songs and for their urban pop-dance music. Their name was inspired by the American rapper Eminem. Feminnem’s Beginnings In 2004, after participating in the TV show Hrvatski Idol, Pamela, Neda, and Ivana Marić formed Feminnem and released their first hit single, “Volim te, mrzim te.” They quickly became popular and became the leading Croatian girl band after the group Divas broke up. 2004 – 2007: First Eurovision, Feminnem Show, and Ivana Leaves In 2005, they represented Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Call Me” by Andrej Babić, finishing in 14th place. In December 2005, they released their first album, Feminnem Show, named after their TV show on BHT. In 2006, they performed at HRF with the song “Reci nešto, al’ ne šuti više.” In 2007, they competed in Dora with the song “Navika” and placed 9th. Later that year, Ivana left the group to start a solo career. Neda and Pamela began searching for a new member. 2007 – 2009: Nikol Joins and Leaves, Another Try at Dora Neda and Pamela held auditions and chose Nikol Bulat as the new member. They released the single “Chanel 5” and performed at HRF, winning an award for most online votes. In 2009, they competed in Dora with the song “Poljupci u boji,” placing 3rd. That summer, they performed at HRF with “Oye, Oye, Oye” featuring Spanish singer Alex Mungo. However, Nikol didn’t fit well with the group and left in late summer 2009 after many disagreements. 2009 – 2012: Second Eurovision, Lako je sve, Easy to See, and Breakup Neda and Pamela found a new member, Nika Antolos, who started her career on RTL’s Hrvatska traži zvijezdu. They released the hit single “Sve što ostaje.” In 2010, they competed in Dora with “Lako je sve,” winning the most points from the jury and televoters. They released their second album Lako je sve. In May, they competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 and placed 13th in the semifinals. They then released their third album Easy to See, with songs from Lako je sve in English and a Spanish song, “Mil Amantes.” They performed at the Mediterranean Song Festival in Budva and released the single “Baš mi je dobro” for the CMC Festival in Vodice. In April 2011, their new single “Sve što ti nisam znala dati” leaked online. In November 2011, they released “Subota bez tebe” with Antonija Šola and Branimir Mihaljević. In February 2012, they confirmed their breakup on Dalibor Petko’s music show. 2022: Return to Music In May 2022, the group announced on social media that they had reunited. Since December, Pamela and Neda had been thinking about bringing Feminnem back while recording a Christmas song. In March, they contacted Nika, who happily joined. They gave an exclusive interview to Story magazine about their comeback. They use the hashtag #FeminnemDokNePreminem to promote their return on social media. In early May, they released the single “Zajedno,” which they performed at the 14th CMC Festival in Vodice. On June 1, they released the official video for “Zajedno,” which received nearly 100,000 views in a week. 2023: Victory at the 70th Zagreb Festival They won the 70th Zagreb Festival with the song “Trending” in a duet with Alejandro Buendija (Saša Antić from TBF). Entries Lako je sve Country🇭🇷 Croatia Year2010 LanguageCroatian LyricsPamela RamljakNeda Parmać MusicBranimir Mihaljević DancersLydia IvekovićIrma Results Semi Points: 33Position: 13Running order: 15 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/JYU37jzeQTo?si=OehMW7HpduBWjFzr Call Me Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2005 LanguageEnglish LyricsAndrej Babić MusicAndrej Babić BackingsMija Martina?? Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 79Position: 14Running order: 21 https://youtu.be/Kqof50gLBIo?si=voGepXnKZ8tXruQH

Zdob și Zdub

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts MembersRoman Iagupov (05-11-22)Mihai Gîncu (05-11-22)Valeriu Mazîlu (05-11)Pugaci Anatol (2005)Igor Buzurniuc (2005)Victor Dandeș (2011)Sveatoslav Starus (11-22)Andrei Cebotari (11-22) Established1994 Nationality🇲🇩 Moldovan National SelectionO melodie pentru Europa 2005, 2011, 2022 In Eurovision2022 Turin2011 Düsseldorf2005 Kiev SongTrenulețul (2022, with Fraţii Advahov)So lucky (2011)Boonika bate doba (2005) Biography Zdob şi Zdub is a rock band from the Republic of Moldova. The band was founded in 1994 by a group of friends from the city of Straseni, Moldova. When the band was formed in 1994, they still performed in various formations. Their initial sound was more like hardcore punk, the lyrics of their songs were mostly in Russian. The group made their debut at an event called “10 Years After Chernobyl” in Chisinau. In November 1994 they recorded their first demo tape and played at a festival in Moscow, where they performed for the first time under the name “Zdob și Zdub”. In July 1996 they opened for Rage Against the Machine at the same festival with songs in Russian and Romanian. The song “Hardcore Moldovenesc” became a hit. In the same year Zdob și Zdub signed a contract with the Russian record company FeeLee and released their debut album “Hardcore Moldovenesc”. Around 1998 their sound began to change, the songs were provided with elements of local folklore, the lyrics were mainly in Romanian. In May 1999 their second album was released with the title “Tabăra Noastră” In august of the same year, Zdob și Zdub played at the Russian MTV party held on Red Square in Moscow, along with Russian bands such as Gorky Park and I.F.K and the American Red Hot Chili Peppers. In October 2000, the group recorded a cover version of the song “Videli still” by the Russian band Kino. With this song they took part in the tribute album “Kinoproby” for the late poet, actor and frontman of the band Kino, Viktor Tsoi. The cover became a hit across the Commonwealth of Independent States and topped the charts in many CIS countries throughout the year. About half a million of the tribute albums have been sold. The band was awarded the best live band of the year 2000 in Russia by the St. Petersburg music magazine Fuzz. The band has toured extensively and continues to do so, mainly in Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Romania, but also in Germany (1998), the Netherlands (2000) and more recently Serbia, Hungary and Italy. In 2001, the album “Agroromantica”, which roughly means “country romance”, was presented. The following year, the group won the equivalent MTV Romania Video Music Award. In 2003, her song “Everybody in the Casa Mare” was played in the opening and closing credits of the short film Călătorie la oraș (A Trip to the City). In November of the same year, a new album was released. The album reached number 12 in the World Music Charts Europe. In October 2004, the group was working on a new album in their studio, which would be dedicated to the band’s 10th anniversary. The album included the 10 best songs of the last 10 years, according to Zdob și Zdub, and 5 new tracks. In 2005, Zdob și Zdub was chosen to be the very first representatives of Moldova in the Eurovision Song Contest. The band reached a 7th place. In 2007, the band appeared in the BBC travel documentary series Michael Palin’s New Europe. Also in 2007, a mashup music video called “Black Eyed Peace ft Zdob şi Zdub – Don’t Mess with Inima Mea” surfaced on the internet, featuring a mix of the Black Eyed Peas’ song “Don’t Phunk with My Heart”. In 2009, the group released the song “Na rechke, na rechke”, for the project “Solj” on Russian Radio. In December 2009, Zdob și Zdub recorded the track “Telega” for the tribute album “Maschinopisj”, dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Russian band Maschina Vremeni. In February 2011, the band was again chosen to represent Moldova at the Eurovision Song Contest, this time with the song “So Lucky”. They reached a 10th place. In 2012 the album Basta Mafia!, partly produced in Germany, was released, followed by a tour. For the 20th anniversary in 2015 an album with songs accompanied by an orchestra was released. In 2018 they released the single “Balkana Mama” together with singer Loredana Groza and in 2019 the new album Bestiarium. In 2022 the band again represented Moldova in the 66th Eurovision Song Contest, this time with the duo Frații Advahov and the song “Trenulețul”. For their participation they received a special reward from the Moldovan president. In March 2023 the band performed in Brussels and London. Zdob și Zdub was awarded the Gavriil Muzicescu Culture Award. In July they performed in Barcelona. In November they teamed up with the Romanian band Voltaj to record the song “Fraz”. Entries Trenulețul (with Fraţii Advahov) Country🇲🇩 Moldova Year2022 LanguageRomanian LyricsMihai GîncuRoman IagupovSviatoslav StaruşAndrei CebotariVitalie AdvahovVasile Advahov MusicMihai GîncuRoman IagupovSviatoslav StaruşAndrei CebotariVitalie AdvahovVasile Advahov Backings– Results Semi Points: 154Position: 8Running order: 9 Results Finals Points: 253Position: 7Running order: 19 https://youtu.be/DUqf_zO2QaI So lucky Country🇲🇩 Moldova Year2011 LanguageEnglish LyricsAndy ShumanMarc Elsner MusicRoman IagupovMihai GincuMarc Elsner DancersTatjana Ilescu (circus artist) Results Semi Points: 54Position: 10Running order: 7 Results Finals Points: 97Position: 12Running order: 15 https://youtu.be/nHAY_OVN_gY Boonika bate doba Country🇲🇩 Moldova Year2005 LanguageRomanianEnglish LyricsRoman Iagupov MusicMihai Gincu Backings– Results Semi Points: 207Position: 2Running order: 4 Results Finals Points: 148Position: 6Running order: 7 https://youtu.be/mVhtWfC7RF4

Laura Põldvere

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameLaura Põldvere Born30 August 1988 Nationality🇪🇪 Estonian National SelectionUuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2021 (Finland)Eesti Laul 2020Eesti Laul 2017Eesti Laul 2016Eesti Laul 2009Eurolaul 2007Eurolaul 2005 In Eurovision2017 Kyiv2005 Kyiv SongVerona (2017, with Koit Toome)Let’s get loud (2005, Suntribe) Biography Laura Põldvere is an Estonian singer. She was born in the Estonian city of Tartu. Laura’s career started in 2005, when she took part in Eurolaul, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. As a solo singer, she sang “Moonwalk”. The song became 2nd and reached the #1 spot in the Estonian charts. However, she also participated as a member of the girlband Suntribe. The group won and represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Let’s get loud”. The band had previously recorded a song in Estonian, “Ei tunne mind”. After 2005, the group split up and Laura went for a solo career. In 2007, Laura was back in Eurolaul, this time with the song “Sunflower”. She reached the 3rd place. Again, Laura’s song reached the #1 spot in the Estonian charts. In the same year, on 1 September, her debut album “Muusa” was released. Laura took a break from her singing career to study at Berklee College in Boston, USA.In 2009, Laura made a comeback at Eesti Laul, now the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. Her song “Destiny” reached a 3rd place. Another album followed, “Ultra”, which was released on 8 December 2009. In November 2011 the album was followed by a compilation album with the title “Sädemeid taivast”. After a few years of silence, Laura made a comeback in 2016, and her stage again was Eesti Laul. The song “Supersonic” became 2nd and again was good for a #1 in the Estonian charts. The follow up song “94-95” had the same success. Together with Koit Toome, Laura took part in Eesti Laul 2017. The song “Verona” won and took part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. “Verona” did not reach the final. On 12 May 2017 however, a “Greatest hits” album appeared with “Verona” on it. In 2018, Laura released a few non-album singles: “Waterfall”, “Tõusulained” and “Lennujaamas”. A new album, “9 Elu” found it’s release on 3 December 2019. On this album a.o. another duet with Koit Toome. In 2020, Laura took part in Eesti Laul again. The song this time was called “Break me”. Laura reached the 11th place in the final this time. The song was followed by one in Estonian, “On meie aeg”. In 2021, Laura participated in Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu, the Finnish national selection for the Eurovision song contest. Unfortunately, her song “Play” became last in the final. After this, she released two new singles and went on to perform in Poland and Italy. In 2022, on 11 March, a new single was released: “Gameboy”, which was a collaboration with Jyrise. The band Tabloided invited her to record a song together, which was titled “Zeitgeist”. In May of that year, the new song “Prayers to you” came out. In the summer, Laura organized a music camp, Make Music Until You Drop. It was in March 2023 that Laura released a song called „Lilled jäävadki Sulle“. With that song, she participated in the show Uus Laul II. She and her team reached the final of the contest. In August she opened for Bonnie Tyler. A new single, “Pahupidi”, was released in September. Laura took part in Eesti Laul 2024, where she sang “Here’s Where I Draw The Line”. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it to the final. Entries Verona (with Koit Toome) Country🇪🇪 Estonia Year2017 LanguageEnglish LyricsSven Lõhmus MusicSven Lõhmus BackingsKaire VilgatsDagmar OjaRolf Roosalu Results Semi Points: 85Position: 14Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/NxqPpzWYN1c Let’s get loud (Suntribe) Country🇪🇪 Estonia Year2005 LanguageEnglish LyricsSven Lõhmus MusicSven Lõhmus Backings– Results Semi Points: 31Position: 20Running order: 12 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/mqvOUfdwQtw