2015

Bojana Stamenov

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts NameBojana Stamenov Born24 June 1986 Nationality🇷🇸 Serbian National SelectionOdbrojavanje za Beč 2015 In Eurovision2015 Vienna SongBeauty Never Lies (2015) Biography Bojana Stamenov (born June 24, 1986, Belgrade) is a Serbian jazz and blues singer. Bojana has been involved in singing since the age of seven. She completed three departments at the Music High School – guitar, lute, and Renaissance singing. She participated in the third season of the talent show program Ja imam talenat! which aired on RTS from November 2011 to March 2012, where she finished in 4th place in the finals. She has been a participant in festivals and events such as Belgrade Beer Fest, Runjiceve Veceri in Split, Foam Fest in Belgrade, Cantat Talents in Novi Sad, Open Heart Street in Belgrade… Since 2011, she has been a guest performer in children’s performances at the Belgrade Theater Bosko Buha. She was chosen as the Serbian representative for the Eurovision Song Contest. At the national selection of Serbia on February 15, 2015, she performed the song “Ceo Svet Je Moj” composed by Vladimir Graic and written by Leontina Vukomanovic. After winning in the finals against Danica Krstic and Aleksa Jelic, she represented Serbia in the competition held in Vienna from May 19 to 23. Bojana finished in 10th place with 53 points. On June 13, Bojana held her first solo concert at the Sava Center in Belgrade, and after that, she began working on her first album, which will be entirely in English. In 2016, Bojana took part in Dečje beogradsko proleće for the first time, with the song “Nezgoda”. A year later she took part again, this time with the song “Ako voliš snažno”. In 2018 she sang “Ljubav je štetna”, while in 2019 she brought the song “Plan za letovanje”. In 2021 she performed “Ako voliš snažno / Plan za letovanje”. Currently, Bojana Stamenov performs with the Bojana Stamenov Band. In 2022 she won the award for best interpretation at Dečje beogradsko with the song “Kada kažeš ljubav”. It was a duet with Markom Toljom. In the same year, she performed at J’aime La Vlie in The Netherlands. Entries Beauty Never Lies Country🇷🇸 Serbia Year2015 LanguageEnglish LyricsCharlie Mason MusicVladimir Graić BackingsSaška JankovićSanja BogosavljevićOliver KatićMarko Nikolić Results Semi Points: 63Position: 9Running order: 9 Results Finals Points: 53Position: 10Running order: 8 https://youtu.be/gXGo70i94S8

Genealogy

© Ailura, Wikimedia Commons About Quick Facts MembersEssaï AltounianTamar KaprelianVahe TilbianStephanie TopalianMary-Jean O’Doherty BasmadijanInga Arshakyan Active2015 Nationality🇫🇷 French (Essaï)🇺🇸 American (Tamar)🇪🇹 Ethiopian (Vahe)🇯🇵 Japanese (Stephanie)🇦🇺 Australian (Mary-Jean)🇦🇲 Armenian (all members) National SelectionInternal selection 2015 In Eurovision2015 Vienna SongFace The Shadow (2015) Biography Genealogy, an Armenian supergroup, was formed with the purpose of representing Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015. The group consisted of six members, five of whom hailed from different continents as part of the Armenian diaspora. The dispersion of their families around the world was a result of the Armenian genocide in 1915. The five artists from the diaspora symbolized the five petals of the forget-me-not flower, which served as the official logo for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, commemorated in April 2015. The sixth member, based in Armenia, represented the center of the flower. Their entry for the contest was the song “Face the Shadow,” initially titled “Don’t Deny.” However, the organizers decided to change the title due to its political nature, as it alluded to the denial of the Armenian genocide. Genealogy represented Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 final, held on May 23, 2015, and secured the 16th position overall with a total of 34 points from eight countries, receiving the maximum 12 points from Georgia. The group comprised individuals from diverse backgrounds. The first member announced was Essaï Altounian, a French Armenian, on February 16, 2015. Tamar Kaprelian, an American-Armenian singer, was revealed as the second member on February 20, 2015. Vahe Tilbian, an Armenian-Ethiopian singer, became the third member, announced on February 23, 2015. Stephanie Topalian, a singer of Armenian-American-Japanese heritage residing in Japan, was introduced as the fourth member on February 27, 2015. Mary-Jean O’Doherty Basmadjian, an Australian opera singer of Armenian descent, joined as the fifth member, announced on March 3, 2015. Inga Arshakyan, who had previously represented Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 alongside her sister, Anush, completed the group as the sixth member. On April 28, 2015, during an audience with President Serzh Sargsyan, the five members from the Armenian diaspora (Kaprelian, O’Doherty Basmadjian, Tilbian, Altounian, and Topalian) were granted Armenian citizenship and received their Armenian passports. Inga Arshakyan already held Armenian citizenship at the time. Entries Face The Shadow Country🇦🇲 Armenia Year2015 LanguageEnglish LyricsInna Mkrtchyan MusicArmen Martirosyan Backings– Results Semi Points: 77Position: 7Running order: 2 Results Finals Points: 34Position: 16Running order: 6 https://youtu.be/Z6O8pr7HH94

Electro Velvet

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts MembersAlex LarkeBianca Nicholas Active2014-2015, 2018 Nationality🇬🇧 British National SelectionInternal selection 2015 In Eurovision2015 Vienna SongStill In Love With You Biography Electro Velvet were a British musical duo. The duo existed of Bianca Nicholas and Alex Larke. Bianca Nicholas has appeared on popular TV shows like The X Factor and The Voice UK. She has had notable performances, including singing a duet with Will Young and performing in front of Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry. In 2011, Nicholas released a single called “Hold On To Your Dreams,” which made it onto the UK Top 100 singles chart. Additionally, she had a small role in the 1999 film Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp. It’s worth noting that Nicholas suffers from cystic fibrosis. Larke, on the other hand, was born in Welwyn Garden City. He currently serves as the lead singer for The Rolling Stones tribute group called The Rolling Clones and has toured extensively with the band in the UK and internationally. Larke has collaborated with notable artists like Cut La Roc and Donald D on their album Larger Than Life, which also features Gary Lightbody, the frontman of Snow Patrol. Apart from his music career, Larke works part-time in a primary school and teaches ukulele and recorder. In the past, he worked in a special needs school, focusing on children and young adults with profound to severe learning difficulties. Regarding their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2015, Electro Velvet was chosen by the BBC to represent the United Kingdom with their song “Still in Love with You.” The song received mixed to negative reviews upon its announcement. In the contest, they received 5 points and ranked 24th out of 27 participants. Following their Eurovision experience, Electro Velvet expressed gratitude to their fans on their official Facebook page and hinted at upcoming plans. However, their debut EP, which was scheduled for release and available for pre-order on PledgeMusic, was ultimately canceled due to Nicholas’ ongoing health issues. After a pause of three years, Electro Velvet went back to the studio in 2018 to record a new song, “Take me home”. However, the song did not know any follow up. Entries Still In Love With You Country🇬🇧 United Kingdom Year2015 LanguageEnglish LyricsDavid MindelAdrian Bax White MusicDavid MindelAdrian Bax White BackingsScarlette DouglasJoe HuntSophie Carmen JonesRyan Heseltine Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 5Position: 24Running order: 5 https://youtu.be/Ethyx4A5ajM

Nadav Guedj

© Elena Volotova/EBU About Quick Facts NameNadav Guedj Born02 November 1998 Nationality🇮🇱 Israeli National SelectionHaKokhav Haba 2015 In Eurovision2015 Vienna SongGolden Boy (2015) Biography Nadav Guedj (born November 2, 1998 in Paris) is an Israeli singer and actor. When he was three years old, his family moved to Israel and settled in the village of Neve Yamin. When he was 13, his parents divorced, and a year later, he moved with his mother and brother to live in Netanya. He served as a vocalist in the band “Tza’irei HaSharon,” the representative band of the city of Netanya. Guedj enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in November 2016 and was assigned to an army band in the Education Corps. In December 2014, Guedj became known for the first time when he started participating in the second season of the reality show Hakokhav Haba, the show in order to select the contestant for the Eurovision Song Contest. The prizes for winning the show included an air conditioner, an iPhone 6, a one-year communication package, and representing Israel at Eurovision 2015, held in Vienna, Austria. He performed the song “Golden Boy”. The song received over twenty million views on YouTube and reached the top spot twice on the Israeli Media Forest chart, as well as ranking third in the 100fm chart. In the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest, he finished in 9th place out of 27 countries. In August 2015, Guedj filmed the music video for the song “Summer Together,” written and composed by Doron Medalie. The video was funded by Coca-Cola’s Summer Love events. In the same month, he released his third single, “Good Vibes,” written and composed by Ruby Feier and Guedj himself, with musical production by Yanon Yahel. The song reached the top spot on the Israeli Media Forest chart. In November 2015, Guedj released his fourth single, “Jump,” which he composed together with Ruby Feier. In March 2016, he released the ballad “Make You Mine.” Later that year, he released his debut album, self-titled “Nadav Guedj.” In December 2017, Guedj released his first Hebrew-language single, “Ulai nidaber” which he also composed with Kfir Ben Salman. On August 19, 2018, he released his second single from his second album, “Ma at omra”. In July 2019, he released the single “38 Ma’alot” which is also the theme song from the movie “Full Gaz” directed by Kobi Mahat. Guedj also appeared as an actor in the film. In November 2019, he released his fourth single from his second album, “Lirkod”. Acting Career Guedj started his acting career in 2019 when he joined the cast of the third season of the youth series “Kadabra” in the role of Adi Gaon. In the same year, he played the role of Didi in Kobi Mahat’s film “Full Gaz” In 2021, he had a guest role in the sequel series. On 29 September of that year, his song and video “Auto plastic” was released. Entries Golden Boy Country🇮🇱 Israel Year2015 LanguageEnglish LyricsDoron Medalie MusicDoron Medalie BackingsHananel EdriImri Ziv DancersDor RaybiTomer TenenboymAdam Cohen Results Semi Points: 151Position: 3Running order: 9 Results Finals Points: 97Position: 9Running order: 3 https://youtu.be/-w-2K9U8UIs

Lisa Angell

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts NameVirginie Vetrano Born21 September 1968 Nationality🇫🇷 French National SelectionInternal selection 2015 In Eurovision2015 Vienna SongN’oubliez Pas (2015) Biography Lisa Angell, stage name of Virginie Vetrano, is a French singer born on September 21, 1968, in Paris. Of Italian origin on her father’s side, Lisa Angell participated in several radio contests during the Nice Carnival from the age of eleven to fourteen. She emerged as the winner for four consecutive years. At fifteen, she began classical vocal training at the Conservatoire de Nice, but she quickly stopped. Despite discontinuing her classical training, Lisa Angell pursued singing and worked as a pianist-singer in piano bars on the French Riviera. In 2001, she moved to Paris, where she met Didier Barbelivien. He wrote the song “Des années après” for her, but the experience was not successful, and Lisa Angell returned to the French Riviera. In 2009, Dani Lary invited her to participate in his show Le Château des secrets, which led to her meeting Patrick Sébastien on the set of “Le Plus Grand Cabaret du monde.” Patrick Sébastien offered her the opportunity to sing in “Les années bonheur,” produced her, and wrote songs for her first album, “Les Divines,” released in 2011 by Polydor. The album reached number 31 in France and number 86 in Belgium. Her second album, “Des mots…,” produced by Philippe Swan, was released in 2013. The first single from the album, “Je saurai t’aimer,” was a cover of Mélanie Cohl’s adaptation of Céline Dion’s “The Power of Love” in French. From September of the same year until the end of June 2014, she regularly participated in the weekly show “Les chansons d’abord” on France 3. She accompanied Tony Carreira in a duet on “L’Oiseau et l’Enfant,” featured on his album “Nos fiançailles, France/Portugal.” Her third album, “Frou-Frou,” a tribute to female interpreters of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, was released on April 21, 2014. It included notable songs like “C’était bien” (Le petit bal perdu) by Robert Nyel and Gaby Verlor. In November 2014, she joined Il Divo on their album “A Musical Affair,” where they performed “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” together. On January 23, 2015, Lisa Angell was chosen by France 2 to represent France at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with the song “N’oubliez pas,” written and composed by Robert Goldman. In the final in Vienna on May 23, 2015, she finished 25th out of 27 with a total of 4 points. Lisa Angell changed record labels and released her fourth album, self-titled “Lisa Angell,” on May 11, 2015. The album included the song “N’oubliez pas” and collaborations with Serge Lama, Patrick Fiori, and Jacques Veneruso. In December 2016, Lisa Angell released her fifth album, titled “Lisa Angell chante le Québec,” featuring covers of songs by Ginette Reno, Céline Dion, Diane Tell, and more. She subsequently embarked on a tour throughout France, which concluded on September 23, 2017, at the Zèbre de Belleville in Paris. In 2018, she opened her singing school, “REV’S,” in Saint-Raphaël. In 2019, Lisa participated in the eighth season of “The Voice: La Plus Belle Voix.” She reached the duels but did not go any further. Entries N’oubliez Pas Country🇫🇷 France Year2015 LanguageFrench LyricsMoïse AlbertMichel Illouz MusicMoïse AlbertLaure Izon BackingsDelphine Elbé Tambours:Yann ForleoJulien BotasBenoit CrozatierWilliam Pigache Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 4Position: 25Running order: 2 https://youtu.be/tJful-Jtc9o

Maraaya

About Quick Facts MembersMarjetka VovkAleš Vovk (Raay) Founded2014 Nationality🇸🇮 Slovenian National SelectionEMA 2015 In Eurovision2015 Vienna SongHere For You (2015) Biography Maraaya is a Slovenian pop duo founded in 2014 by Marjetka Vovk and Raay. The name is a combination of their names. Before music author and producer Raay (real name: Aleš Vovk) and singer Marjetka Vovk (born Jurkovnik) started working as Maraaya, they were members of the bands Turbo Angels and Tangels. In 2014, they released their first single “Lovin’ Me” under the name Maraaya. The song experienced great success on the iTunes charts in Belgium, Germany, Italy and Slovenia. It was among the twenty best-selling singles in Italy. It was among the ten best-selling singles in Italy, and was also included on the Polish compilation “Bravo Hits Zima 2015”. It reached the German DJ’s Dance Top 100 singles chart. The highest rankings of the song “Lovin’ Me” on the most important official national single charts: on the Slovenian SloTop50, it ranked 13th. It also reached the charts in Italy and Belgium. They won the 2015 EMA, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest with their second single “Here for You” and thus qualified for Eurovision, where they reached the final. The song reached the #1 spot in the Slovenian charts. It also became a hit in Austria, Slovakia, Belgium, Sweden and Germany. In September 2015, they premiered their third single “Living Again” at the Red Cross charity concert in Cankarjev dom. At EMA 2016, they presented their fourth single “Nothing Left for Me” as special guests. On May 26, 2017, Maraaya, in collaboration with BQL, performed live on Cankarjeva cesta in Ljubljana, where they premiered their fifth single “It’s Complicated” and at the same time the music video. On June 10, 2017, Maraaya performed at the Croatian festival CMC Vodice 2017, where they presented a Croatian version of the single “Sjaj”, which was officially released the day before. In fall, Maraaya signed a contract with Warner Music, one of the biggest labels in the world. On September 22, their sixth single “Diamond Duck” was released. In the official SloTop50 ranking, they took first place already in the first week of airing. So far, only BQL has managed to do this. In 2018, they performed again at the CMC Vodice festival, in a duet with Domestikus with the song “Noć (Mi corazón es tuyo)”. They recorded it in Croatian – “Noć (Mi corazón es tuyo)” – and English – “Mi corazón es tuyo” – version (both also have Spanish lyrics). The music video for the Croatian version was uploaded to YouTube on June 8, 2018. In fall, they started the Maraaya & Jazzilaz project, in which they perform world hits in a swing-jazz guise. In September 2020, they released their first song in Slovenian, “Obujem nove čevlje”. They shot a video, in which the Croatian dancer and tiktoker Luciano Plazibat performs. The ballad “Drevo” followed in November. In March 2021, their new single “Dobr’ gre” was released. The song reached the no.1 spot in the Slovenian charts. Marjetka became a judge in Slovenia Ima Talent in the 2021 season. Meanwhile, the duo teamed up with Jan Plestenjak for the song “V naju še verjamem”. It was followe in November by the song “Zdaj pa greš”. Both songs became no. 1 in the trending for music list. Maraaya teamed up with Kvatropirci for the song “Življenje”, which was released in September 2022. One month later, Maraaya’s own single “Le ob tebi” was released. On 6 June 2023, Maraaya released a brand new single, “Nebesa”. Entries Here For You Country🇸🇮 Slovenia Year2015 LanguageEnglish LyricsRaayCharlie Mason MusicRaayMarjetka Vovk BackingsManca ŠpikNika ZorjanKarin ZemljičLara Slekovec (Violin) Results Semi Points: 92Position: 5 Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: 39Position: 14Running order: 1 https://youtu.be/y1c7gDOaFY0