2018

SuRie

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameSusanna Marie Cork Born18 February 1989 Nationality???????? British National SelectionEurovision: You Decide 2018 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongStorm (2018) Biography SuRie is an English singer and songwriter. She was born in Harlow, Essex and raised in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire. As a child soloist, she sang in front of Charles, prince of Wales. She submitted a song to the national selection for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest but was not selected. Growing older, she graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she was trained classically. She provided backing vocals and was a dancer for Belgian Eurovision artist Loïc Nottet in 2015 and was the musical director of Blanche in the 2017 contest. In 2016, SuRie released her first album “Something beginning with….”. She represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal, with her song “Storm” and finished 24th. Her performance was interrupted by a man who grabbed the microphone to make his own political statement. SuRie was offered to perform again, but she declined. A year after Eurovision, SuRie released her second album “Out of universe”. In 2020, she released a christmas record, “Last christmas”; her own version of the Wham! song. In February 2021 her single “Only you and I” was released. Entries Storm Country???????? United Kingdom Year2018 LanguageEnglish LyricsNicole BlairGil LewisSean Hargreaves MusicNicole BlairGil LewisSean Hargreaves BackingsCharlotte ChurchmanDebby BracknellMark DeLisser Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 48Position: 24Running order: 9 https://youtu.be/8dmlXBBC6J8 Note that this is the live version from the Grand Final. The EBU also published the version of the General Dress Rehearsal, as it was not interrupted.

Cláudia Pascoal

About Quick Facts NameCláudia Rafeala Teixeira Pascoal Born12 October 1994 Nationality???????? Portuguese National SelectionFestival Da Canção 2018 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongO jardim (2018) Biography Cláudia Teixeira Pascoal is a Portuguese singer. She was born in Gondomar in 1994. In 2010 she participated in the program Ídolos. She also competed in the first edition of X Factor Portugal in 2014, but without great impact . In 2015, she returned to participate in the program Ídolos. In 2017, she was a contestant on The Voice Portugal . She ended up in the semifinals. In the same year, the project Morhua was founded. It’s a Portuguese jazz band, With Cláudia Pascoal singing and playing the ukulele. The project lasted a year. The last concert was in July 2018.In 2018, Cláudia Pascoal won the Festival RTP da Canção, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song “O Jardim”, written and composed by Isaura. The song reached the #1 spot in the iTunes charts. However, the song ended up taking last place in the Eurovision Song Contest. On March 29, 2019, Cláudia Pascoal published her first single “Ter e não ter”.. This song wa the first song revealed from what was going to be be Cláudia Pascoal’s first solo album. In 2020 the song “Ter e Não Ter” was part of the soundtrack of the soap opera Quer o Destino. In March of the same year, her album called “!” (the title is pronounced as “blah”), was released. In 2021 the song “Mais Fica Pra Mim” was part of the soundtrack of the soap opera A Serra and the theme “Quase Dança” was part of the soundtrack of the soap opera Para Semper. Entries O jardim Country???????? Portugal Year2018 LanguagePortuguese LyricsIsaura MusicIsaura BackingsIsaura Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 39Position: 26Running order: 8 https://youtu.be/mHjGbADMcOI

Alexander Rybak

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts NameAlexander Igorevich Rybak Born13 May 1986 Nationality🇳🇴 Norwegian National SelectionMelodi Grand Prix 2018Melodi Grand Prix 2009 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon2009 Moscow SongThat’s how you write a song (2018)Fairytale (2009) Biography Alexander Rybak, is a Norwegian singer-composer, violinist, pianist and actor. He was born in Minsk, Belarus, in those days part of the Soviet Union. He played the violin and piano since he was five years old, but after a while he chose to concentrate on the violin. Alexander practiced violin with his father Igor Rybak until he was a teenager, when Alexander began studying at the Barratt Due Music Institute. During that time he played in the Vivaldi Orchestra, which was led by his father, and the Barrat Dues Junior Orchestra. From 2000 to 2003, Alexander was a student of violinist, conductor and educator Alf Richard Kraggerud, followed by study with Eileen Siegel, 3rd Concertmaster in the Oslo Philharmonic, and with Lena Rist-Larsen, violin educator and Norwegian master of accordion. He has also had lessons and masterclasses with many other great names. In the summer of 2002, Alexander received a scholarship in the form of a free course in New Jersey, where he studied under Stephen Shipps, and where he was selected to conduct a masterclass with Pinchas Zukerman. Alexander Rybak had participated in several Norwegian courses and festivals, such as “Valdres Sommersymfoni” and the international Hemsedal Festival for dancers and musicians, where Rybak participated as one of the musicians. He was a concertmaster during Halsnøy’s symphony project in the summer of 2004, and soloist with several good orchestras such as the Minsk Chamber Orchestra and the Kringkastingsorkesteret. He has toured in Chicago, Spain, Russia and Poland. In the same year he won Anders Jahre’s cultural award. In the fall of 2005, Rybak performed the violin concerto “Musica Avventurosa” by young composer Daniel Thornhill, together with the orchestra Ung Symphoni. Alexander Rybak participated in the tv-show Idol. In 2006, he won the talent contest Kjempesjansen. In 2007, Rybak debuted as an actor when he was the fiddler in Fiddler on the roof. In 2008, Alexander was featured on the children’s album “Magiske kroker & hemmeligheter”. In November 2008, Elisabeth Andreassen invited Rybak on a tour in 2009, with songs from “Bettans” record Spellemann, with music from both Norway and Sweden with inspiration from folk tones. In 2009, Alexander Rybak won Melodi Grand Prix 2009 with the song “Fairytale”. He was able to represent Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest and won the contest. “Fairytale” became a huge hit all over Europe. Shortly after the contest Rybak released the album “Fairytales”. Rybak was awarded the Musician of the Year award under the Spellemann Prisen 2009.In 2010, another album, “No boundaries” was released. Also a Russian version, “Nebesa Evrope”, was released. A year later, he hosted the tv show Allsang På Grensen and released an album entirely in Swedish: “Visa vid vindens änger”. In may 2012 he sang a duet and had a small tour with Paula Seling. In 2013 Rybak composed a song for Melodi Grand Prix called “I’m With You” sung by Annsofi Pettersen. In 2015, he composed “Still Here” for Franklin Calleja in the Maltese National Finals. He also composed a song for the Belarusian group Milki entitled “Accent”, which got 4th place in the national final. In the same year he released an album called “Trolle og den magiske fela” and a year later it was followed by “I came to love you”. In 2018, Rybak took part in Melodi Grand Prix again with the song “That’s how you write a song”. For the second time, Rybak was able to represent his country in the Eurovision Song Contest. Rybak won the semifinal, but ended up just in 15th place in the final.In 2019, Rybak’s children’s musical “Trolle og den magiske fela” premiered. The show sold over 10,000 tickets and had to schedule extra performances to curb the demand. In 2020, Rybak co-wrote an entry for Melodi Grand Prix 2020 with JOWST. Singer Magnus Bokn sang the song, which reached the Melodi Grand Prix final. Rybak started attending Columbia College Chicago online from his home in Norway in the fall of 2020. By August 2021, he had moved to Chicago to continue his studies in person. He graduated from Columbia in July 2022. He released a new single in that year, “Memories”. He teamed up with Annsofi Klevfoss to release a new single “No More Me And You” in February 2023, exactly 10 years after Annsofi presented Alexanders song in Melodi Grand Prix. Two months later, he released a solo song and video, “1000 views”. In September, his new song “Kid” was released. Meanwhile, Rybak told his fans that he had been stalked for a while by a woman. That happened for over an entire year. Entries That’s How You Write A Song Country🇳🇴 Norway Year2018 LanguageEnglish LyricsAlexander Rybak MusicAlexander Rybak BackingsLisa BørudLene Kokai FlageJens Jeffry TrinidadFrode VasselAlvaro Estrella Results Semi Points: 266Position: 1Running order: 1 Results Finals Points: 144Position: 15Running order: 7 https://youtu.be/N17BdRwOvBA Fairytale Country🇳🇴 Norway Year2009 LanguageEnglish LyricsAlexander Rybak MusicAlexander Rybak BackingsKarianne KjærnesJorunn HaugeSigbjørn RuaTorkjell BørsheimHallgrim Hansegård Results Semi Points: 266Position: 1Running order: 1 Results Finals Points: 144Position: 15Running order: 7 https://youtu.be/WXwgZL4zx9o

Elina Nechayeva

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameElina Netšajeva Born10 November 1991 Nationality🇪🇪 Estonian National SelectionEesti Laul 2022Eesti Laul 2018 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongLa Forza (2018) Biography Elina Nechayeva is an Estonian soprano singer. She was born in Tallinn and graduated from Tallinn French Lyceum in 2011 and in 2016 from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theater with a Master’s degree in Classical Singing. Netchayeva participated in the competition of young musicians of Estonian Television in the television show Klassikatähed 2014 and was among the three finalists. In 2017, she co-hosted the semi-finals of Eesti Laul, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest on ETV with Marko Reikop. In 2018, she won Eesti Laul with the song “La forza” and thus represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2019 she released another single called “La voce dell”alba”. This song reached the n0. 1 spot in the Estonian music charts and also reached the French singles charts. In 2020, she played a role in the Eurovision movie “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga”. In the same year, she participated in the Estonian version of The Masked Singer. Playing The Phoenix, she finished 2nd. Her return to Eesti Laul came in 2022, when she sang the song “Remedy” and reached the 8th place in the final. In June of the same year, she performed “Queen of the night” in the opera “The magic flute”. Entries La Forza Country🇪🇪 Estonia Year2018 LanguageItalian LyricsKsenia KuchukovaMihkel MattisenElina NechayevaTimo Vendt MusicKsenia KuchukovaMihkel MattisenElina NechayevaTimo Vendt BackingsMihkel MattisenTimo Vendt Results Semi Points: 201Position: 5Running order: 9 Results Finals Points: 245Position: 8Running order: 6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImawXdXIGd8

Cesár Sampson

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameCesár Sampson Born18 August 1983 Nationality???????? Austrian National SelectionInternal selection 2018 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongNobody But You (2018) Biography Cesár Sampson is an Austrian singer, songwriter, producer, dancer and model. He was born in Linz. Sampson worked as a social worker for years. Cesár has worked in the music business as a producer for many years, including with the Symphonix International producer collective. He formed this team together with Borislav Milanov, Johan Alkenäs and Joacim Persson. The team was responsible for several Eurovision entries. As a backing vocal, Sampson was on stage at the Eurovision Song Contest twice in a row, in 2016 and 2017, representing Bulgaria. In 2018 he was chosen to represent his home country Austria with the song “Nobody but you”. Sampson won the jury voting, and became 3rd overall.In 2019, Sampson released a single “Stone cold”, followed by “Where are you” and in 2020 “Lazy suit”. In the same year, he took part in the Austrian version of the show Dancing with the Stars, together with Cornelia Kreuter. The two reached a second place. On March 15, 2021, Cesár Sampson was revealed as a cheeky rascal on The Masked Singer Austria. Entries Nobody But You Country???????? Austria Year2018 LanguageEnglish LyricsCesár SampsonBorislav MilanovSebastian ArmanJoacim PerssonJohan Alkenäs MusicCesár SampsonBorislav MilanovSebastian ArmanJoacim PerssonJohan Alkenäs BackingsRachelle JeantySandra KurzweilSunay BalkanRicardo Soler da Costa Francisco Perreira Results Semi Points: 231Position: 4Running order: 13 Results Finals Points: 342Position: 3Running order: 5 https://youtu.be/a8Yvzo1puoE

Ieva Zasimauskaitè

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameIeva Zasimauskaitė Born02 June 1993 Nationality???????? Lithuanian National SelectionPabandom iš naujo! 2022Eurovizijos Atranka 2018Eurovizijos Atranka 2017Eurovizijos Atranka 2016Eurovizijos Atranka 2014Eurovizijos Atranka 2013 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongWhen we’re old (2018) Biography Ieva Zasimauskaitė-Kiltinavičienė (born Zasimauskaitė) is a Lithuanian singer, born in Kaunas. When she was seven years old, she started singing lessons at the music school in Kaunas, where she kept on studying for eight years. She sang in the childrens’ vocal band Linksmasis do. Ieva took part in several contests and festivals and was a backing vocal in the 2007 Junior Eurovision Song Contest. When she was 16, as a member of the Kaunas Choir, she took part in the tv show Chorų karai. In 2012, she took part in Lietuvos Balsas, the Lithuanian version of The Voice. In 2013, 2014 and 2017, she took part in Eurovizijos Atranka, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2018 she participated again and won. She represented Lithuania in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “When we’re old”. The song was not only a success in Lithuania, but also reached the Swedish top-10. After the contest, she released another eight singles. In 2020, she hosted Pabandom iš naujo!, the new name for the Lithuanian preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2022, Ieva participated in it again, now with the song “I’ll be there”. She reached the 7th place in the final. Entries When We’re Old Country???????? Lithuania Year2018 LanguageEnglish LyricsVytautas Bikus MusicVytautas Bikus BackingsAkmėja BruMarius Kiltinavičius Results Semi Points: 119Position: 9Running order: 6 Results Finals Points: 181Position: 12Running order: 4 https://youtu.be/pPDFhfU25go

Lea Sirk

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts Name Lea Sirk Born 01 September 1989 Nationality ???????? Slovenian National Selection EMA 2018 EMA 2010 EMA 2009 In Eurovision 2018 Lisbon Song Hvala, ne! (2018) Biography Lea Sirk is a Slovenian singer. She was born in Koper, Slovenia. Lea Sirk studied flute at the Geneva Conservatory of Music. In 2004, she performed at the festival of FeNS with the song “Kitarist” and a year later with the song “Pustite me živeti”. In 2005, she was awarded the Most Promising Singer Award at the Cologne International Competition for Orchestras and Soloists. Lea became known to the general public through her participation in Season 3 of the Bitke Talentov. After this, the door to all major Slovenian music festivals opened. In 2007 she performed on Melodijah Morja in Sonca, in a duet with Jasno Jug. In 2009 and 2010 she participated in EMA, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2011, she attended the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest as a member of the group Leaparfume, but dropped out after the first appearance. Lea has also sung extensively as a backing vocalist. In 2014 she accompanied Tinkara Kovac at the Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen and in 2016 ManuElla in Stockholm. She also writes songs herself. Between 2012 and 2014, she sang in the house band of the show Moja Slovenija. In 2014, her debut album “Roža” came out. In 2018, she won EMA and represented Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon with the song “Hvala, ne!”. In the same year, her 2nd album “2018” was released. In 2021, she took part in the Slovenska popevka festival. Entries Hvala, ne! Country ???????? Slovenia Year 2018 Language Slovenian Lyrics Lea Sirk Music Lea Sirk Tomy Declerque Backings Karin Zemljič Karin Putri Tajda Kožamelj Veronika Škrlj Anja Möderndorfer Results Semi Points: 132 Position: 8 Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: 64 Position: 22 Running order: 3

Melovin

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameKostyantyn Bocharov Born11 April 1997 Nationality???????? Ukrainian National SelectionVidbir 2017Vidbir 2018 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongUnder the ladder (2018) Biography Melovin is a Ukrainian singer, born in Odessa. He participated in the Ukrainian talent show X Factor three times, but never made it to the television castings. In 2015, he finally made it to the show. Melovin managed to win the show. After that, he went on a concert tour of Ukraine. In 2017 he participated in Vidbir, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, performing the song “Wonder”. In the end, he finished third. In November of the same year, Melovin released his first EP, “Face to Face”, which included five English-language tracks and one Ukrainian-language. In 2018, he participated in Vidbir again and won, so he represented Ukraine in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Under the ladder”. In 2019, he released a second mini album, called “Octopus”. This album contained “Under the ladder”. In the same year, Melovin received an M1 Music Award for ‘breakthrough of the year’. In 2020, Melovin scored two hits, both non album singles: “Vitryla” and “I krov kypyt”. A year later, he came out as bisexual at the Atlas Weekend. In 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, Melovin released a single about the war, “Ne zvolikay”. He also performed in Germany and Poland to ask for attention for the Ukrainian situation. Entries Under The Ladder Country???????? Ukraine Year2018 Language???????? English LyricsMike Ryals MusicMelovin BackingsDasha PtashnikDenis NadyozhinKonstantin SologubLuiza Kazaryan Results Semi Points: 179Position: 6Running order: 18 Results Finals Points: 130Position: 17Running order: 1 https://youtu.be/lhOuMYtQ94M