Bands

Lovebugs

About Quick Facts MembersAdrian SieberFlorian SennSimon RamseierStefan WagnerThomas Rechberger Founded1992 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionInternal selection 2009 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongThe Highest Heights (2009) Biography Lovebugs, a Swiss rock band from Basel, was founded in 1992 by Adrian Sieber, Sebastian “Baschi” Hausmann, and Julie Lagger. The band originated when Adrian placed an ad looking for a drummer, which led to their early success by winning a local talent contest. This victory enabled them to record their debut album, Fluff, released in 1994. Shortly after, Julie left the band and was replaced by Simon Ramseier on drums. The band’s momentum grew as they embarked on their first European tour in 1995 and released their second album, Tart. Their breakthrough came in 1996 when the single “Fantastic” climbed to number 40 in the Swiss charts, leading to a deal with BMG Ariola. In 2000, Transatlantic Flight hit number three in the Swiss charts, followed by their first number one album, Awaydays, featuring the hit single “Music Makes My World Go Round.” Over the years, the band saw lineup changes, with bassist Florian Senn and keyboardist Stefan Wagner joining. In 2006, their album In Every Waking Moment topped the Swiss charts, and the single “Avalon” featuring Lene Marlin became a notable success. After a hiatus and a Eurovision appearance in 2009, Lovebugs returned with their 2024 album Heartbreak City, marking their resurgence with a fresh lineup. Entries The Highest Heights Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2009 LanguageEnglish LyricsAdrian Sieber MusicAdrian SieberThomas RechbergerFlorian Senn Backings– Results Semi Points: 15Position: 14Running order: 8 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/bMv0nMrrScE?si=XGLpBh6u0kx_Z87j

Gipsy.cz

About Quick Facts MembersRadoslav ‘Gipsy’ BangaVojta LavičkaNoemi FialováTibor ŽidaMatěj ČernýOliver Lipenský Active2004-2013 Nationality🇨🇿 Czech National SelectionEurosong 2009Eurosong 2008Eurosong 2007 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongAven Romale (2009) Biography Gipsy.cz was a Czech Romani hip hop group renowned for their innovative fusion of hip hop and traditional Romani music. The band’s lyrics were primarily sung in the Romani language, with some songs featuring Czech and English. They have made significant strides in the music industry, gaining international recognition and acclaim. Early History and Formation: 2004-2008 In 2004, rapper Radovan “Radek” Banga released his solo album “Ya favourite Cd Rom.” Shortly thereafter, he met violinist Vojta Lavička and brothers Jan (upright bass) and Petr Surmaj (guitar and accordion). Together, they formed Gipsy.cz, blending their diverse musical backgrounds to create a unique sound. The band’s rise to fame began in 2006 with the release of their single “Romano Hip Hop,” from their debut album of the same name. This single reached the MTV World Chart Express and was later certified Gold in the Czech Republic. That same year, Gipsy.cz won the Discovery of the Year award at the Anděl Awards, marking their breakthrough into the mainstream music scene. In 2007, Gipsy.cz participated in the Czech national final for the Eurovision Song Contest with their song “Muloland,” finishing in second place. They achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Czech group to perform at the prestigious Glastonbury Festival. Additionally, their song “Jednou” was included in the “Gypsy Groove” compilation album published by Putumayo in 2007. The following year, at the 2008 Český slavík awards, they won the Rising Star of the Year award. With the song “Benga Beat”, they participated in the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest again. In June 2008, they released their second studio album, “Reprezent,” which reached second place on the World Music Chart in Europe and stayed there for four weeks. The album included the controversial song “A na závěr si s námi dejte trochu té Čunárny,” which mocked politician Jiří Čunek known for his anti-Roma comments. To avoid legal issues, Gipsy.cz released an alternate version of the song without the offending lyrics. Eurovision and Continued Success: 2009-2013 In January 2009, Jan and Petr Surmaj left the band. New members joined, including Tomáš Baroš on electric upright bass and Jan Sochor on accordion. This year marked a significant achievement as Gipsy.cz finally succeeded in representing the Czech Republic at the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow with their song “Aven Romale.” Unfortunately, they finished last in the first semi-final without receiving any points. In 2011, Gipsy.cz toured Australia as part of the Karavan Festival and released their third studio album, “Desperado.” This album showcased the band’s ability to blend diverse musical influences while staying true to their Romani roots. Two years later, they issued their fourth record, “Upgrade,” further solidifying their presence in the music industry. That was the last album, released by Gipsy.cz as a group. Throughout their career, Gipsy.cz has received several accolades. They were nominated for the Best Hip Hop Album at the 2005 Anděl Awards. In 2006, they received nominations for Best Album in the World and Best New Artist, winning the latter. Band Members The last lineup of Gipsy.cz included Radoslav Banga aka Gipsy on vocals, Tomáš Baroš on electric upright bass, Jan Sochor on accordion, and Viliam Didiáš on violin. Past members who contributed to the band’s success include Vojta Lavička on violin and vocals, Noemi Fialová on violin and vocals, Tibor Žida on guitar and vocals, Matěj Černý on bass, Oliver Lipenský on drums, and the Surmaj brothers, Petr on guitar and accordion and Jan on electric upright bass. With a discography that includes “Romano Hip Hop” (2006), “Reprezent” (2008), “Desperado” (2011), and “Upgrade” (2013), Gipsy.cz continued to inspire and innovate within the music world. After 2013, Radoslav Banga aka as Gipsy continued solo. Entries Aven Romale Country🇨🇿 Czechia Year2009 LanguageRomaniEnglish LyricsRadoslav ‘Gipsy’ Banga MusicRadoslav ‘Gipsy’ Banga Backings– Results Semi Points: 0Position: 18Running order: 2 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/F39OvgrEEpg?si=hEv9lZXnTrUNYgTo

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

Waldo’s People

About Quick Facts MembersWaldoKaroliina KallioCapri VirkkunenPäivi SeloSami Lehto (not on stage)Karl Sinkkonen (not on stage)Kimmo Nissinen (not on stage) Founded1998 Nationality🇫🇮 Finnish National SelectionEuroviisut 2009 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongLose Control (2009) Biography Waldo’s People is a Finnish electronic dance music group that became famous in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The group is led by a talented musician known as Waldo, whose real name is Marko Reijonen. Waldo’s People created energetic and catchy dance music that captured the hearts of many fans in Finland and beyond. The band’s journey began in the late 1990s when electronic dance music was becoming very popular. Waldo’s People quickly made a name for themselves with their unique sound. They released their first album, “Waldo’s People,” in 1998. This album featured the hit single “U Drive Me Crazy,” which became a big success, reaching number 3 on the Finnish charts and even charting in Sweden. The album itself also did well, reaching number 6 on the Finnish charts. The success of this album was a significant achievement and helped the band gain even more popularity. Following their successful debut, Waldo’s People continued to produce great music. They released their second album, “No Man’s Land,” in 2000. This album included popular tracks like “I Dream,” “Let’s Get Busy,” and “1000 Ways,” the latter reaching number 4 on the Finnish charts. The album itself again reached number 6 in Finland. Their music is known for its upbeat and danceable tunes. In the early 2000s, Waldo’s People continued to influence the Finnish electronic dance music scene. In 2001, they released singles like “Remedy” and “Disconnected,” keeping their presence in the music scene alive. However, after a few years of success, the band took a break and was not as active. In 2008, Waldo’s People made a big comeback. They released a new single called “Back Again” on May 19, 2008, which reached number 1 on the Finnish charts. This comeback was followed by a compilation album, “Back Again: The Greatest Hits,” which included many of their popular songs and reached number 27 on the Finnish charts. This comeback was exciting for their fans, who had missed their energetic music. The following year, in 2009, Waldo’s People achieved another milestone. They released their third album, “Paranoid,” which reached number 13 in Finland. They were also selected to represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest. They performed the song “Lose Control” in the semifinals on May 12, 2009, in Moscow. Band members Sami Lehto, Karl Sinkkonen and Kimmo Nissinen were not on stage at the event. The performance was a success, and the band made it to the finals with the help of the jury votes. In the finals, they performed second to last. Although they finished in last place with 22 points, it was one of the highest point totals ever for a song that placed last in the Eurovision finals. This was still a proud moment for the band and their fans. In 2010, they continued to release new music, with singles like “I Wanna Be a Rockstar,” which reached number 15 in Finland, and “Jackpot,” which reached number 19. They followed up with more singles such as “Echo” in 2011 and “You” in 2014, maintaining their presence in the music industry. In 2019 Waldo’s People teamed up with Movetron for the song “Nousee”, Oku Luukkainen featuring in the song. Entries Lose Control Country🇫🇮 Finland Year2009 LanguageEnglish LyricsAri LehtonenKarimaWaldoAnnie Kratz-Gutå MusicAri LehtonenKarima DancersNiko VirtanenAnton Kasmir Jolma Results Semi Points: 42Position: 12 (saved by the jury)Running order: 15 Results Finals Points: 22Position: 25Running order: 24 https://youtu.be/D-Wr0z1_quw?si=sMCMIV8c4Qpc65K9

Urban Symphony

About Quick Facts MembersSandra NurmsaluMann HelsteinJohanna MängelMari Möldre Active2007 – 2010 Nationality🇪🇪 Estonian National SelectionEesti Laul 2009 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongRändajad (2009) Biography Urban Symphony was an Estonian music group. In autumn 2007, Sandra Nurmsalu participated in the singing talent show 2 takti ette, organized biennially by Eesti Televisioon and broadcast nationwide. During one week of the contest, contestants were tasked with forming their own bands and producing a performance. Nurmsalu, who had studied violin for two years at the Georg Ots Music School and previously arranged Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” for a string ensemble, decided to form a string-based band. She recruited Mann Helstein on viola, Johanna Mängel on cello, a female contrabass player, and a male keyboardist from her former school. The newly formed band re-arranged the song “Hungry” by Kosheen, resulting in a well-received televised and recorded performance. After the talent show ended, Nurmsalu, Helstein, and Mängel decided to continue their collaboration. They brought in new cello player Mari Möldre and began working with music producer Sven Lõhmus. Their first completed track was “Rändajad”, which they entered into Eesti Laul, Estonia’s selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. The song earned them a 6th place finish in the Eurovision final. For this project, Marilin Kongo and Mirjam Mesak joined the group as backing vocalists. They also performed in other songs such as “Päikese poole”, “Skorpion”, and “Crying in the Rain”. In 2010, Urban Symphony announced their disbandment. The decision came as Sandra Nurmsalu wished to prioritize motherhood, while the other members chose to continue their studies and pursue other interests. Sandra Nurmsalu participated in Eesti Laul twice more. In 2014 her song “Kui tuuled pööprduvad” reached a 5th place, while “Soovide puu” was 8th in 2019. Entries Rändajad Country🇪🇪 Estonia Year2009 LanguageEstonian LyricsSven Lõhmus MusicSven Lõhmus BackingsMirjam MesakMarilin Kongo Results Semi Points: 115Position: 3Running order: 18 Results Finals Points: 129Position: 6Running order: 15 https://youtu.be/gi0FEO2tFFA?si=4PR2hl24THvalkOh

Grupa Regina

About Quick Facts MembersDavor EbnerAleksandar ‘Aco’ ĆovićDenis ČabrićBojan Milićević Active1990-2000, 2006- Nationality🇧🇦 Bosnian National SelectionInternal selection 2009 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongBistra voda (2009) Biography In 1989, five members—Aleksandar Čović, Bojan Milicevic, Bojan Milijas, Boris Milijas, and Goran Lucic—started an amateur band in Sarajevo, in those days in Yugoslavia. They had a problem because they didn’t have a singer. Soon, they found Davor Ebner, who gave the band the name Regina. That same year, Regina released their first album, called Regina. Aleksandar Čović wrote the lyrics, and he was inspired by the Irish band U2. The first album had hit songs like “Spavaj,” “Ne pitaj me,” and “Kao nekada ona,” and the band quickly became one of the most popular in the former Yugoslavia. In 1992, they released another album called “Ljubav nije za nas,” but the band stopped working because the war started in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Even though the band stopped performing, Aleksandar Čović continued working in Belgrade between 1992 and 1999, releasing several albums: “Regina,” “Oteto od zaborava,” “Godine lete,” “Ja nisam kao drugi,” “Kad zatvorim oči,” and “Devedesete.” From 2000, the band didn’t work until 2006, when Čović started working again with singer Davor Ebner, and they reformed the band. They soon released another album called “Sve mogu ja.” On January 12, 2009, BHT announced that Regina, with their song “Bistra voda,” would represent Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow. The song was officially presented on March 1, 2009. Theyqualified for the final on May 16, 2009, performing 12th. In the final, they finished in 9th place with 106 points. On June 5, 2009, they released their 10th studio album called “Vrijeme je.” The album included the Eurovision song “Bistra voda,” its English and Russian versions, and 10 new songs. In 2011, the band recorded a duet with Tifa, the former singer of the band Bijelo Dugme, titled “Ptico mala,” which premiered in the summer of 2011, along with a music video. They also announced a new album, “Sarajevo,” with “Ptico mala” as the lead single. Although “Sarajevo” was announced for autumn 2011, the band postponed the album release. In May 2012, it was announced that a new song “Kad poludimo” was recorded. The music video was released on May 8, 2012, and it was announced that the new album would be titled “Kad poludimo,” set to be released by the end of May 2012. On May 18, 2012, Regina announced that the album was on sale. In 2015, Bojan Miličević left the band. On 16 August 2016, the band’s long-time bassist, Denis Čabrić, suddenly died of a heart attack, leaving the band with three members. On Valentine’s Day 2017, Regina, now a trio, released a new studio album called “U srcu,” with the single “Za one stare dane,” the video for which was filmed in Paris. After thirty years of performing and many concerts, Davor Ebner decided to start a new project called “Ebner,” with some well-known Sarajevo musicians. The idea of the project was for Davor Ebner to try a different style of music compared to Regina. With his lead and the new musicians, Regina entered a new phase, aiming to connect the “Ebner” project with the Regina band by trying to produce and perform music closer to new market trends. Regina’s songs are still performed in their original form but with a more modern and better sound to make the differences between genres smaller along with the “Ebner” project songs. In December 2022, Ebner left Regina, leaving the band as a duo. Entries Bistra voda Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2009 LanguageBosnian LyricsAleksandar ‘Ćović MusicAleksandar Ćović BackingsElma SelimovićDanijela Večerinović Results Semi Points: 125Position: 3Running order: 18 Results Finals Points: 106Position: 9Running order: 12 https://youtu.be/TcRWjoEkzMk?si=LzeMNMSO6B_60ZKG

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

Flor-de-lis

About Quick Facts MembersPedro MarquesAna Sofia CampeãJorge MarquesJosé CamachoPaulo PereiraDaniela VarelaRolando Amaral (not on stage) Founded2008 Nationality🇵🇹 Portuguese National SelectionFestival RTP da Canção 2009 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongTodas as Ruas do Amor Biography Flor de Lis is a Portuguese musical group that won the Festival RTP da Canção in 2009. História (History) Flor de Lis started in 2008. Their music is based on Portuguese popular and folk music, with influences from around the world, especially Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. In 2009, they joined the Festival RTP da Canção and won with the song “Todas as Ruas do Amor.” This meant they represented Portugal in Moscow at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. They performed in the first semifinal on May 12 and made it to the final on May 16. In the Eurovision final, they finished in 15th place with 57 points. Their album “Signo Solar” came out in April 2010. The main influence was Portuguese popular music and folklore. In the next year, they released a limited edition with extra tracks. Flor de Lis released the single “Cinema Paraíso” in 2013 and the single “Dona Rosa” in 2014. After that, they took a break from making new songs and focused on live performances. In 2020, they came back with a new look and sound. The main band members were still Daniela Varela (vocals), José Camacho (guitars), Vasco Corisco (bass), and Pedro Marques (percussion and drums). They also had guest musicians like Inês Vaz (accordion) and Bruno Vicente (guitars). The band continues to play live concerts and create music regularly. Entries Todas as Ruas do Amor Country🇵🇹 Portugal Year2009 LanguagePortuguese LyricsPedro Marques MusicPaulo PereiraPedro Marques Backings– Results Semi Points: 70Position: 8Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: 57Position: 15Running order: 6 https://youtu.be/ryE2npWRICk?si=tYPlbdAtL2Rmt7_6

InCulto

© Ane Charlotte Spilde, Wikimedia Commons About Quick Facts MembersJurgis DidžiulisAurelijus MorlencasLaurynas LapėJonas NarbutasJievaras JasinskisŠarūnas Kirdeikis Active2003-2011 Nationality🇱🇹 Lithuanian National Selection“Eurovizijos” dainų konkurso nacionalinė atranka 2010“Eurovizijos” dainų konkurso nacionalinė atranka 2006 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongEastern European Funk (2010) Biography Formed in 2003, InCulto was a Lithuanian band known for blending unconventional electronic music with diverse musical influences, striving to merge organic and synthetic sounds and juxtaposing aggression with serenity. Their musical journey began ambitiously with the release of “PostSovPop” in 2004, marking their initial steps into the music industry with a mix of electronic and lively beats. That same year, the radio single “Jei labai nori” was released in collaboration with Linas Karalius, followed by the playful track “Suk, suk ratelį.” Their creative momentum continued into 2005 with the energetic “Boogaloo.” In 2006, InCulto made their first attempt to enter the Eurovision Song Contest with “Welcome to Lithuania,” securing a commendable second place in the national selection. The band’s experimentation and collaborative spirit were further showcased in 2007 with the release of “Marijos Žemės Superhitai” and two notable singles, “Reikia bandyt” featuring Erica Jennings and “Pasiilgau namų” alongside Andrius Rimiškis. In 2010, a pivotal year, they launched the “Eastern European Funk EP” and the album “Closer Than You Think”, capturing attention both locally and internationally. Their song “Eastern European Funk” won unanimous support during the national selection, earning them the honor to represent Lithuania at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. Although they did not progress to the Grand Final, this experience was a significant highlight of their career. That year, the band also released “Keep on Dancing,” “Close to Midnight,” and “If Not Me,”. However, despite their success, InCulto announced in early 2011 that they would discontinue their activities. Entries Eastern European Funk Country🇱🇹 Lithuania Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsJurgis DidžiulisAurelijus MorlencasLaurynas LapėJonas NarbutasJievaras JasinskisŠarūnas Kirdeikis MusicJurgis DidžiulisAurelijus MorlencasLaurynas LapėJonas NarbutasJievaras JasinskisŠarūnas Kirdeikis Backings– Results Semi Points: 44Position: 12Running order: 1 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/XeOn-GG_eHo?si=Z5noEZ8X2UgeD_HX

maNga

About Quick Facts MembersCem BahtiyarEfe YılmazFerman AkgülÖzgür Can ÖneyYağmur Sarıgül Founded2001 Nationality🇹🇷 Turkey National SelectionInternal selection 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongWe Could Be The Same (2010) Biography maNga, an Ankara-based Turkish rock band, delves into Alternative Rock, Nu-Metal, and Rapcore, boasting six studio albums to date. Their story unfolds from late 2001, beginning with Yağmur Sarıgül “Yamyam” (Guitar) merging rock with electronics, alongside Orçun Şekerusta (Bass Guitar), Özgür Can Öney (Drums), Efe Yılmaz (Turntable), and Ferman Akgül (Vocals), embracing Nu-Metal and Hardcore. This blend was spurred by Yamyam’s expulsion from a bar band and fueled by a desire to innovate within rock’s realms. Their ambition took them to the “Sing Your Song” contest in September 2001, marking the start of their album journey, which was further shaped by Orçun’s departure and Cem Bahtiyar’s entry. This pivotal moment led to the birth of maNga, inspired by Japanese comics, uniting diverse musical tastes and narratives. Their initial success was clinched with a second-place win at the “Sing Your Song” contest with “Kal Yanımda,” propelling them to produce hits like “Bitti Rüya,” “Libido,” and “Yalan.” Their endeavors were amplified by Haluk Kurosman’s support, driving them to share their music across Turkey. December 5, 2004, marked their debut album’s release, “maNga,” featuring collaborations with notable artists and achieving over 180,000 sales, earning a Gold Disc. The album’s tracks, including “Bir Kadın Çizeceksin,” found a place in EA Sports’ FIFA 2006 soundtrack, showcasing their growing influence. In June 2006, “maNga” was re-released as “maNga+” with new tracks and a DVD, reflecting the band’s evolving identity post-tours. This was followed by “Şehr-i Hüzün” in 2009, a testament to their refined sound and broader musical scope, resonating with fans and critics alike. A significant highlight was their Eurovision 2010 representation for Turkey with “We Could Be The Same,” achieving second place and marking a historic moment in their career. 2012 saw “E-akustik,” blending electric and acoustic sounds, featuring duets that underscored maNga’s versatility. This album underscored their adaptability and innovative spirit. In 2013, amidst their evolving journey, maNga announced the departure of DJ Efe Yılmaz, continuing as a quartet with unwavering commitment to their music and performances. Transitioning into a Rock-Nu Metal style, “Işıkları Söndürseler Bile” was unveiled in 2014, continuing their tradition of thematic and musical evolution. This period also saw their contribution to the soundtrack of “Hadi İnşallah,” reinterpreting Nilüfer’s “Yeniden Sev.” Post-2014, maNga embarked on cover projects and announced their studio return in 2018 under Demir Demirkan’s production, releasing “maNga X.” This era included summer tours, a 2019 maxi-single “Süper Güçlerimiz Var,” and teased an upcoming German single amidst plans for a new album in 2020, leading to the single “Zor” during COVID-19 quarantine days. The band’s shift towards progressive metal materialized with “Antroposen 001” in 2021, followed by “Antroposen 002” in 2023, marking their first entirely metal and experimental album. Entries We Could Be The Same Country🇹🇷 Turkey Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsEvren ÖzdemirCem BahtiyarEfe YılmazFerman AkgülÖzgür Can ÖneyYağmur SarıgülFiona Movery Akıncı MusicCem BahtiyarEfe YılmazFerman AkgülÖzgür Can ÖneyYağmur Sarıgül BackingsNathalie Marrable Results Semi Points: 118Position: 1Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: 170Position: 2Running order: 14 https://youtu.be/HB_GnnhNz-8?si=KmDEflRzgEj_K1Nr