2021

Benny Cristo

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameBen Cristovao Born08 June 1987 Nationality🇨🇿 Czech National SelectionInternal selection 2021Eurovision Song CZ 2020 In Eurovision2021 Rotterdam2020 Rotterdam (cancelled) SongOmaga (2021)Kemama (2020, cancelled) Biography Benny Cristo, real name Ben Cristovao is a Czech singer, songwriter, actor and sportsman. He is the son of a Czech mother and an Angolese father. In 2009 he was in finalist of Czech Slovak Superstar, where he finished 7th. In 2010, he released his debut album “Definitely Different” A year later he already released the second album “Benny Cristo”. One of the songs, “Cheers”, became a hit. Benny Cristo opened for stars such as Far East Movement and Pitbull.In 2013, Benny and his video “Bombs” were nominated for video clip of the year. Ben also participated in a political project, which called for the 2013 elections and warned against the return of communists and inclinations to Russia. In the same year, he released his third album “Made In Czechoslovakia”.In 2015, Ben Cristovao performed in the sold-out Forum Karlín in Prague. In 2016, he was awarded the Czech Nightingale award in the category Most Streamed Czech Song. He did not receive the award personally and said that he did not want to be in the same room with the band Ortel, which is known for its xenophobic lyrics. In 2017 Ben released the album “Poslední”. This album wasn’t released on a classic CD, but fans could download it via a QR code on a T-shirt with special graphics. In September 2017 Benny Cristo performed in Prague’s Yellow Spa for 4000 people. The recording of several songs from this concert was released in video form via VR glasses. In 2019 Ben gave his biggest concert so far at the O2 arena in Prague. In 2020 he was chosen to represent the Czech Republic in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Kemama”. Unfortunately, due to the corona crisis, that didn’t happen. However, Czech Television chose Benny again to represent the Czech Republic in 2021 with the song “Omaga”.In addition to his musical career, Ben is an active athlete, has been a top-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu in recent years, and has toured around the world. Also, he is a convinced vegan and an animal rights activist. Entries Omaga Country🇨🇿 Czech Republic Year2021 LanguageEnglish LyricsBen Cristovao MusicBen CristovaoFilip Vlček BackingsFilip Vlček DancersDJ FuuseAlberto GolaAneta PrchalováAnna Lipoldová Results Semi Points: 23Position: 15Running order: 3 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/cgGRCTUPsqY Kemama Country🇨🇿 Czech Republic Year2020 LanguageEnglish LyricsBen CristovaoCharles Sarpong MusicOsama Verse-AtileRudy RayFilip Zangi Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/wROqCHLnbko

Vasil Garvanliev

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts NameVasil Garvanliev Born2 november 1984 Nationality🇲🇰 North Macedonian🇧🇬 Bulgarian National SelectionInternal Selection 2020 and 2021Skopje Fest 2007 In Eurovision2021 Rotterdam2020 Rotterdam (Cancelled) SongHere i stand (2021)You (2020) Biography Vasil Garvanliev is a North Macedonian singer. He was born in Strumica, at the time of his birth part of Yugoslavia. When he was 7 years old, Vasil scored a hit called “Marionka”. With that song, Vasil became a child star. When he was 10 years old, his family moved to the United States, where he sang at the Chicago Childrens Choir. He did a lot of performances in these days, among others in front of president Clinton. When he was 17, the family moved back to North Macedonia. Vasil also lived and studied in Milan. As a pop singer, he participated in the 2007 national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. Soon after this, he moved to Toronto where he was admitted to the Royal Conservatory with a full scholarship and remained there for 9 years.After his return in 2018, He released several singles like “Gerdan” and “Patuvam”. He was a backing vocal for Tamara Todevska in the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. In 2020, he was chosen to represent North Macedonia in the contest himself. Unfortunately, due to the cancellation of the contest, it didn’t happen. However, North Macedonian television invited him again to do the job in 2021, with the song “Here I stand”. Not everything went smoothly; in the video of the song, the Bulgarian flag or something that looked like that, was visible. Vasil also has the Bulgarian nationality. A petition against Vasil as a representative of North Macedonia was, in the end, rejected. Shortly before the contest, Vasil came out as being gay, which made him the first openly gay North Macedonian participant. In 2022, Vasil released an EP in English, “Porcelain soldier”, an EP he calls a journey of self discovery. In april of the same year, his single and video “Beautiful” came out. Entries Here i stand Country North Macedonia Year2021 LanguageEnglish Lyrics & MusicVasil Garvanliev Backings– Results Semi Points: 23Position: 15Running order: 6 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/WRcSHPb_Qwc You Country North Macedonia Year2020 LanguageEnglish LyricsNevena NeskoskaKalina NeskoskaAlice Schroeder ComposersNevena Neskoska Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPZumQQExQc

Jeangu Macrooy

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts NameJeangu Macrooy Born6 november 1993 Nationality🇳🇱 Dutch🇸🇷 Surinamese National SelectionInternal Selection In Eurovision2020 Rotterdam (Cancelled)2021 Rotterdam SongGrow (2020)Birth of a new age (2021) Biography Jeangu Macrooy is a Dutch singer of Surinam origin. He was born in Paramaribo. His musical career started in 2011 when he and his brother Xillan formed the band Between Towers. In january 2013 they released their debut album “Stars on my radio”. Meanwhile, Jeangu studied at the conservatory in Paramaribo. In 2014, Jeangu moved to the Netherlands to follow a study at the ArtEZ pop Academy in Enschede. That’s where he met producer Pieter Perquin. In december 2015, he signed a record contract and in 2016, his debut single “Gold” was released. It was a success: the song was used in a commercial for HBO series Game of thrones. Radio broadcaster 3FM awarded him as “Serious Talent”. In 2017, this success was followed by a debut album and a second one in 2019. He also played at festivals like Noorderslag, North Sea Jazz and Festival Mundial. In 2018, Jeangu played the role of Judas in the annual Dutch Easter tv show The Passion. In 2020, Jeangu Macrooy was supposed to represent The Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest. Due to the cancellation of the contest, that didn’t happen. Also the tour he planned, the Horizon Tour, had to be cancelled midway. Jeangu was invited to represent the country in the 2021 contest. He wrote the song “Birth of a new age” for the occasion. In december 2021, he was supposed to have a new tour. However, it was postponed until May and June 2022 and called “Jeangu Spring Tour 2022”. A year later, he released a new album, “Summer Moon”. Jeangu had the opportunity to play the role of Jesus in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar in 2024. Entries Birth of a new age Country The Netherlands Year2021 LanguageEnglishSranan Tongo LyricsJeangu Macrooy MusicJeangu MacrooyPieter Perquisite BackingsXillan MacrooyA Milli DancersGil Gomes Leal Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 11Position: 23Running order: 23 https://youtu.be/o3Da5cr2fTs Grow Country🇳🇱 The Netherlands Year2020 LanguageEnglish LyricsJeangu Macrooy MusicJeangu MacrooyPieter Perquisite Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/sMcxWB90TTY

Tornike Kipiani

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameTornike Kipiani Born11 December 1987 Nationality???????? Georgian National SelectionGeorgian national final 2017Georgian Idol 2020Internal selection 2021 In Eurovision2021 Rotterdam2020 Rotterdam (canceled) SongYou (2021)Take me as I am (2020) Biography Tornike Kipiani is a Georgian singer, born in Tiblisi. At the age of 19 he formed his own musical group, “Circle Corner”, where he played guitar and sang. His first appearance on tv as a solo singer was in 2012, when he was a finalist in the show Magtifani. In 2016, he rose to fame in Georgia by winning the X-Factor. In 2017, he took part in the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest in a duet with Giorgi Bolotashvili, “You are my sunshine”. At December 31, 2019, Tornike won Georgian Idol, which gave him the ticket to represent Georgia in the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest. Due to the corona crisis, he was not able to take part. Georgian television decided to ask him again to do the job, now for the 2021 contest. His song, “You”, unfortunately didn’t reach the final. Entries You Country???????? Georgia Year2021 LanguageEnglish LyricsTornike Kipiani MusicTornike Kipiani Backings– Results Semi Points: 16Position: 16Running order: 10 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/5qnogt74_F8 Take me as I am Country???????? Georgia Year2020 LanguageEnglish LyricsTornike Kipiani MusicTornike Kipiani Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/LjNK4Xywjc4

Vincent Bueno

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts NameVincent Mendoza Bueno Born10 December 1985 Nationality🇦🇹 Austrian National SelectionInternal selection 2021Internal selection 2020 In Eurovision2021 Rotterdam2020 Rotterdam SongAmen (2021)Alive (2020, cancelled) Biography Vincent Bueno is an Austrian singer of Phillipine origine; bot his parents are from the Phillipines. As a musician, he studied music and performing arts at the Vienna Conservatory. Vincent really rose to fame in 2008, when he took part in the ORF-show “Musical! Die Show!” and won it. In 2010, Bueno performed on Phillipine television for the first time. In 2011, he gave a mini concert in San Juan, Phillipines.Vincent joined the Eurovision stage with Nathan Trent, who represented Austria at the 2017 contest. As the male half of the duo The Buenos, Vincent released the video “Stay”.In december 2019, ORF (Austrian Television) announced that Vincent Bueno would be the Austrian representative for the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Alive”. Unfortunately, due to the Corona crisis, that didn’t happen. Bueno is invited to represent Austria in the 2021 contest. To do so, he will sing the song “Amen”. In June, 2021, Vincent Bueno released an EP, “Demos”, with songs that were meant for the Eurovision Song Contest but not chosen. In May 2022 he released a new video, “Rays on a shell”. Entries Amen Country🇦🇹 Austria Year2021 LanguageEnglish LyricsTobias CarsheyAshley HicklinJonas Thander MusicTobias CarsheyAshley HicklinJonas Thander Backings– Results Semi Points: 66Position: 12Running order: 5 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/xV9_pKj8Df8 Alive Country🇦🇹 Austria Year2020 LanguageEnglish LyricsVincent Bueno MusicVincent BuenoDavid “Davey” YangFelix van GönsArtur Aigner Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/cOuiTJlBC50

Victoria

©EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameVictoria Georgieva Born21 februari 1997 Nationality🇧🇬 Bulgarian National SelectionBulgarian selection 2021 In Eurovision2021 Rotterdam2020 Rotterdam SongGrowing up is getting old (2021)Tears getting sober (2020) Biography Victoria Georgieva is a Bulgarian singer. She rose to fame when she took part in X-factor Bulgaria in 2015, and stayed there for 9 weeks. One year later, she signed a record contract and released several singles so far. In 2019, she had a hit in English, called “I wanna know”. In november 2019, it was announced that she was chosen to represent Bulgaria in the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen due to the corona crisis. Bulgarian TV invited Victoria to sing in the 2021 contest. For that purpose, six songs were selected. In a tv-show, in which Victoria sang several songs, the chosen entry appeared to be “Growing up is getting old”. With that song, she represented Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest. In december 2021, Victoria won “The Masked Singer” in Bulgaria as ‘Miss’. Entries Growing up is getting old Country🇧🇬 Bulgaria Year2021 LanguageEnglish Lyrics & MusicHelena LarssonVictoria GeorgievaOliver BjörkvallMaya Carlsson BackingsMaya Carlsson Results Semi Points: 250Position: 3Running order: 13 Results Finals Points: 170Position: 11Running order: 17 https://youtu.be/B1ZiPrMwMYA Tears getting sober Country🇧🇬 Bulgaria Year2020 LanguageEnglish LyricsVictoria GeorgievaLukas Oscar JanischBorislav Milanov MusicVictoria GeorgievaLukas Oscar JanischBorislav MilanovCornelia Wiebols Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/V_hgYnwZR8I

Blas Cantó

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameBlas Cantó Moreno Born26 april 1991 Nationality🇪🇸 Spanish National SelectionDestino Eurovisión 2011Internal selection (2020)Internal selection (2021) In Eurovision2020 Rotterdam (Cancelled)2021 Rotterdam SongUniverso (2020)Voy a quedarme (2021) Biography Blas Cantó is a Spanish singer, born in Ricote but raised in Molina de Segura. He was only eight years old when he won the Veo Veo festival, an important song contest, in his region. Two years later he competed again and reached the national final of Veo Veo. In 2004, he participated in the national final for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Blas Cantó became a member of the band Auryn in 2010. They reached fame when their version of the song “Umbrella” reached almost 20.000 views on Youtube in the first hours. Auryn took part in the 2011 national final for the Eurovision Song Contest and became 2nd. With Auryn, Cantó won the LOS40 Music Awards and the MTV Europe Music Awards for best Spanish artist in 2013. The band released a total of 6 studio albums. In 2016 the band split up. Blas Cantó participated in the show “Tu cara me suena” (Your face sounds familiar) right after leaving Auryn. He won the show. In 2017, Blas Cantó released his first solo single “In your bed”, followed by hits like “Drunk and irresponsible” and “He is not me”. The latter was so far his greatest success, getting a gold and platinum record, with more than 51 million views on the official video clip on YouTube, and reaching the #1 spot in the Spanish Top 40. In september 2018, his album “Complicado” was released. In just 1 week of its release it reached # 1 in the best-selling albums in Spain. Blas Cantó would be the representative of Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. Unfortunately, his song “Universo” couldn’t be sung in the contest, due to the cancellation of Eurovision. TVE announced him as the 2021 Spanish representative. Out of two songs, “Voy a quedarme” was chosen. Blas Cantó became 24th. The Eurovision participation was followed by a collaboration with the band Echosmith, a song called “Americana”. Entries Voy a quedarme Country Spain Year2021 LanguageSpanish Lyrics & MusicBlas CantóDan HammondLeroy SanchezDangelo Ortega BackingsAlba GilIrene AlmanDaira MonzónDaniel OrtegaHéctor Artiles Results Semi Points: – Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 6Position: 24Running order: 13 https://youtu.be/thV-vhOQHvQ Universo Country Spain Year2020 LanguageSpanish LyricsBlas CantóDan Hammond ComposersBlas CantóDan HammondDangelo OrtegaMaciej Mikolaj TrybulecAsh Hicklin Backings– Results Semi Points:Position:Running order: Results Finals Points:Position:Running order: https://youtu.be/zuDdex1st-Y

Natalia Gordienko

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameNatalia Gordienko Born11 december 1987 Nationality🇲🇩 Moldovan National SelectionMoldovan National Final 2005Moldovan National Final 2006Moldovan National Final 2020Internal selection 2021 In EurovisionRotterdam 2021Rotterdam 2020 (Cancelled)Athens (2006) SongSugar (2021)Prison (2020)Loca (2006, with Arsenium and Connect-R) Biography Natalia Gordienko is a Moldovan singer and dancer. She was born in the capital Chișinău. When she was 10 years old, she already performed in a show called Zolotoy Klyutchik. After finishing highschool, Natalia joined the Academy of Music, Theater and Fine Arts, in the Pop and Jazz Vocal section. She was the lead singer of the band Millennium. The band took part in the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest and took part in the Golden Deer International Contest in Romania. In 2006, she was chosen to represent Moldova in the Eurovision Song Contest together with Arsenium and Connect-R. A year later, she won the New Wave Song Contest in Belarus. Natalia’s debut album “Time” was released in 2010, followed by a second album, “Cununa de flori” in 2011. In 2015, she released a new single called “Summertime”. Natalia Gordienko was chosen to represent Moldova again in the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Prison”. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen due to the cancellation of the contest. She was, however, invited to represent Moldova in the 2021 contest. The same team from “Prison” also wrote “Sugar” for her, the entry she sang in 2021. Natalia reached the final with her song. The follow up of the song, “High heels”, reached the charts in Spain. Entries Sugar Country🇲🇩 Moldova Year2021 LanguageEnglish LyricsSharon VaughnMikhail Gutseriev ComposersPhilipp KirkorovDimitris Kontopoulos BackingsVictoria Chalkitis DancersIgor KuleshynMaxim BondarKostya VecherskyVyacheslav Veretennikov Results Semi Points: 179Position: 7Running order: 7 Results Finals Points: 115Position: 13Running order: 14 https://youtu.be/5I_1GTehgkI Prison Country🇲🇩 Moldova Year2020 LanguageEnglish LyricsSharon Vaughn ComposersPhilipp KirkorovDimitris Kontopoulos Backing Vocals– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/RnD1ApDo5_k Loca (with Arsenium and Connect-R) Country🇲🇩 Moldova Year2006 LanguageEnglish/Spanish LyricsArsenium ComposersArsenium Backing Vocals3 backing vocals, names unkonown. Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 22Position: 20Running order: 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11Xi8u1gkTo

Hooverphonic

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts MembersGeike Arnaert (2021)Alex CallierRaymond GeertsLuka Cruysberghs (2020) Founded1995 Nationality🇧🇪 Belgian National SelectionInternal Selection In Eurovision2021 Rotterdam2020 Rotterdam (Cancelled) SongThe wrong place (2021)Release me (2020) Biography Hooverphonic is a Belgian band that formed in October 1995. The band originally called themselves Hoover, but later changed their name to Hooverphonic after discovering other groups were already using the Hoover name On 10 October 2008, Geike Arnaert, the lead singer of the band, announced she would leave the group by the end of the year to pursue her solo career. Arnaert had been working on solo material for a few months. The last concert Hooverphonic did with Geike was on 13 December 2008 in Tele-Club, Ekaterinburg, Russia. On 29 October 2010, Hooverphonic announced a new single on their website. The videoclip showcased fourteen possible singers but only one of them, Noémie Wolfs, proved to be the real successor to Geike Arnaert. On 4 November 2010, the new singer was announced on De Laatste Show at the VRT, the Flemish public broadcasting organization. On 26 March 2015, Hooverphonic announced that Noémie Wolfs would be leaving the band “in mutual agreement”. In April 2018, Hooverphonic introduced their new singer Luka Cruysberghs. They were supposed represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam. However, due to the corona crisis, that didn’t happen. Flemish tv VRT invited Hooverphonic to represent the country in the 2021 contest. In november 2020 however, the group announced that Luka Cruysberghs was no longer their singer. They also announced the return of Geike Arnaert. With Geike, they brought up their new Eurovision song “The wrong place”. They ended up in the final of the contest. Entries The wrong place Country Belgium Year2021 LanguageEnglish Lyrics & MusicAlex CallierCharlotte Foret BackingsMonique HarcumArnout HellofsStef Caers Results Semi Points: 117Position: 9Running order: 11 Results Finals Points: 74Position: 19Running order: 4 https://youtu.be/HbpxcUMtjwY Release me Country🇧🇪 Belgium Year2020 LanguageEnglish LyricsAlex Callier ComposersAlex CallierLuca Chiaravalli Backing Vocals– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/lAqjksxc4iA

Senhit

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts NameSenhit Zadik Zadik Born01 october 1979 Nationality🇮🇹 Italian National SelectionInternal Selection In Eurovision2021 Rotterdam2020 Rotterdam (Cancelled)2011 Düsseldorf SongAdrenalina (2021)Freaky! (2020)Stand By (2011) Biography Senhit Zadik Zadik known as Senhit (previously Senit), is an Italian singer of Eritrean descent. She was born in Bologna. Senhit began her musical career playing main roles in successful musicals such as “The Lion King” (2001/2002) in Germany, the Swiss versions of “Fame” (1999/2000) and “Hair” (2002) and and in Italy Il Grande Campione (2001/2002). She worked together with Italian singer Stadio, with whom she had the opportunity to tour. In September 2005 the singer signed a contract and released her first album “Senit”. In June 2007 she released the single “La fronte che ho”, which anticipated on the release of the second album “Un tesoro è necessariamente nascosto”. In 2009, the third, this time English, album “So High” was released. In 2011, Senit represented San Marino in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song” Stand By”. Right after the contest, the uptempo “Through the Rain” was released, a single following the singer’s participation in Eurovision. In 2013 she released a new single, “AOK”. In 2014, when she released her single “Relations”, she chose her official first name Senhit as her stage name. In 2019 she decided to sing in Italian again: she published the single “Dark Room” in april of that year, followed by “Un bel niente” in september. In 2020 she was supposed to represent San Marino again in the Eurovision Song Contest. Unfortunately, due to the corona crisis, that didn’t happen. She was chosen again by San Marinese television to do the job in 2021. Her song “Adrenalina” was a co-operation with the famous rapper and producer Flo Rida. The two reached the final. Senhit also caught attention with her #freakytriptoRotterdam, a series of videos in which she sang Eurovision classics. Senhit hosted Una Voce Per San Marino, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, in February 2022. A new single, “Follow me”, was released in July of the same year. She also recorded a Christmas song, “Jesus, oh what a wonderful child”. On the last day of 2022, her single “Try to love you” came out. Senhit was asked to host Una Voce Per San Marino once again in 2023. In May 2023, the new single “Pow” was released, followed in November by “I am what I am”. In the first two months of 2024, she did an international tour, the I Am What I Am-tour. She performed in Spain, France, Germany, Serbia, Sweden, Austria, The Netherlands, the UK and the USA. Entries Adrenalina (feat. Flo Rida) Country🇸🇲 San Marino Year2021 LanguageEnglish Lyrics & MusicChanel TukiaTramar Dillard (Flo Rida)Jimmy ThörnfeldtJoy DebLinnea DebKenny SilverdiqueMalou RuotsalainenSenhit Zadik ZadikSuzi PancenkovThomas Stengaard DancersIlaria CavolaLucrezia StopponiStefano Rei FerrariPatrizio Ratto Results Semi Points: 118Position: 9Rank: 1 Results Finals Points: 50Position: 22Rank: 26 https://youtu.be/TkhiH-JXFPs Freaky! Country San Marino Year2020 LanguageEnglish Lyrics and musicGianluigi FazioHenrik Steen HansenNanna Bottos Backings – Results Semi Points: –Position: –Rank: – Results Finals Points: –Position: –Rank: – https://youtu.be/c6ZNo_hVA6E Stand by Country San Marino Year2011 LanguageEnglish LyricsRadiosa Romani ComposersRadiosa Romani Backings Gino EmnesKasia WalcząkAdam EvansBen EpsteinMonica Sarti Results Semi Points: 34Position: 16Rank: 12 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Rank: – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTCBm8Z2CrY