Bands

Anti Social Media

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts MembersPhilip ThornhillNikolaj TøthDavid VangEmil Vissing Active2015-2016 Nationality🇩🇰 Danish National SelectionDansk Melodi Grand Prix 2015 In Eurovision2015 Vienna SongThe Way You Are (2015) Biography Anti Social Media was a Danish pop rock group. The band is composed of Philip Thornhill, Nikolaj Tøth, David Vang, and Emil Vissing. They took part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 as Denmark’s representative. They performed the song “The Way You Are”. Unfortunately they did not reach the final. On 4 May 2015 Anti Social Media released the single “More Than a Friend”. On 11 May 2015 they released their debut EP “The Way”. In July of the same year they performed at the Roskilde Festival. They also opened for Rasmus Seebach at his concerts. In September, one of the songs from “The Way”, “Fire exit”, was released as a single. The band also toured and performed in 2016. After that year, nothing has been heard or released from the band. Entries The Way You Are Country🇩🇰 Denmark Year2015 LanguageEnglish LyricsRemeeChief1 MusicRemeeChief1 BackingsNellie EttisonJohanna Beijbom Results Semi Points: 33Position: 13Running order: 13 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/J–Tgi_iZQ8

Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts MembersPertti KurikkaKari AaltoSami HelleToni Välitalo Active2009-2016 Nationality🇫🇮 Finnish National SelectionUuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2015 In Eurovision2015 Vienna SongAina Mun Pitää (2015) Biography Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät (also known as PKN) was a Finnish punk band that operated from 2009 to 2016. The band consisted of Pertti Kurikka (guitar, compositions, lyrics), Kari Aalto (vocals, lyrics), Sami Helle (bass), and Toni Välitalo (drums). The band was managed and their music arranged by disability instructor Kalle Pajamaa. Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät originated in 2009 at the Lyhty Association’s art workshop in Konala, Helsinki, which provides services for people with disabilities. Film director Pekka Karjalainen wanted to include a band of individuals with developmental disabilities in his movie called “Vähän kunnioitusta” (“A Little Respect”). Although the association had several bands, they decided to form a completely new one specifically for the film, centered around guitarist Pertti Kurikka, who had a strong punk background. Kurikka composed the song “Kallioon” (“Into the Rock”) during the summer of 2010 for the film’s premiere, with lyrics written by the band’s vocalist Kari Aalto. Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät gained national attention in the spring of 2009 when Kalle Pajamaa, the instructor at the workshop, created a music video for the song and uploaded it to YouTube. Within a few weeks, it garnered over ten thousand views, and soon the band was offered a gig at the F*cking Disco punk club in Helsinki. In February 2010, Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät performed at Tavastia Club, and that same winter, they embarked on their first concert tour outside the Helsinki metropolitan area, playing in Tampere. Following that, the band played hundreds of concerts and also performed internationally in countries such as the United States, Germany, Canada, Kosovo, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Norway. In May 2014, the band performed at a charity concert in Rovaniemi alongside Mr. Lordi of the band Lordi. In December 2014, Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät embarked on a ten-concert tour in the United Kingdom with the English punk band Hard Skin. Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät participated in Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu, the Finnish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, in 2015 with their song “Aina mun pitää” (“I Always Have To”). The band eventually won. However, in the Eurovision Song Contest, the band did not qualify for the final and was eliminated in the first semifinal, not among the ten acts that advanced. Pertti Kurikka announced his retirement from playing rock music after turning 60, and the band ceased its activities on Kurikka’s birthday, December 26, 2016. The tickets for their final show at On the Rocks club in Helsinki cost 60 cents. Otto Talvio from Helsingin Sanomat described the band’s last performance as sweaty, cramped, and emotional. However, on December 5, 2017, Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät performed one last time at Kansalaistori Square in Helsinki. The band had promised to do one more show if the “Ei myytävänä!” (“Not for Sale!”) citizens’ initiative received over 50,000 signatures, which is the requirement for the initiative to be considered by the Finnish Parliament. The citizens’ initiative opposes the outsourcing of housing and daily life services for people with disabilities. Entries Aina Mun Pitää Country🇫🇮 Finland Year2015 LanguageFinnish LyricsPertti Kurikan Nimipäivät MusicPertti Kurikan Nimipäivät Backings– Results Semi Points: 13Position: 16Running order: 5 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/v4Y0HOPL5GU

Voltaj

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts Members Călin GoiaGabriel ConstantinAdrian CristescuValeriu IonescuOliver Sterian Founded1982 Nationality🇷🇴 Romanian National SelectionSelecţia Naţională 2015 In Eurovision2015 Vienna SongDe la capăt (2015) Biography Voltaj was founded in 1982 in Bucharest with Horațiu Rad on bass, Nikki Dinescu on drums, Gabi Nacu on guitar, Cristi Minculescu on vocals, and Adrian Ilie on guitar. Their early sound leaned towards the heavier side of hard rock, making them one of the pioneering acts of traditional heavy metal in the Romanian music scene. During this period, the band went through numerous lineup changes, which eventually led to the formation of a second Voltaj known as Voltaj 88′. This lineup also released several albums in the 1990s. By the time of their debut album in 1996, “Pericol de Moarte,” only drummer Nikki Dinescu remained from the original lineup. The album, which also featured Tavi Colen Talisman on vocals, showcased their heavy metal style and remains their only record in that genre. In 1998, the two remaining members, bass player Vali Ionescu and guitarist Gabi Constantin, recruited a new lineup with Bobby Stoica on keyboards and Călin Goia as the new vocalist. With Goia’s vocals and creative input, the group quickly gained success and popularity. They transitioned to an electronic-influenced pop-rock sound with the release of their album “Risc Maxim 2.” In 2002, Oliver Sterian joined the band as the drummer. Voltaj went on to release numerous hit singles, including “20 ani,” “Albinuța,” “De mâine,” “De la capăt,” and “Doar pentru ea,” establishing themselves as one of the most well-known groups in Romania. They won the Best Romanian Act award at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2005. After winning Selecția Națională in 2015, they represented Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “De la capăt.” They advanced from the semi-finals and placed 15th in the final with 35 points. In 2016, a new album, “X”, was released. It contained several hits, like “Merci de box” and “De la capăt”. A third song, “Om”, became a hit in 2020. That was even after the release of the 2019 album “Ca La 20 De Ani”. Between December 3 and 5, 2021, Voltaj performed several concerts, both in Toronto and Montreal. During Christmas, they released “Anotimpuri” (Seasons), a collaboration with Vali Sterian, the late Romanian musician, singer, and composer known for his folk and rock music. The entire concert can be found on Voltaj’ Youtube Channel. On 1 June 2023, a new single was released: “Copile”. Entries De la Capăt Country🇷🇴 Romania Year2015 LanguageRomanianEnglish LyricsCălin GoiaGabriel ConstantinAdrian CristescuPăduraru Silviu-MarianAlstani Victor-RăzvanMonica-Ana StevensAndrei-Madalin Leonte MusicCălin GoiaGabriel ConstantinAdrian CristescuPăduraru Silviu-MarianAlstani Victor-Răzvan Backings– Results Semi Points: 89Position: 5Running order: 15 Results Finals Points: 35Position: 15Running order: 20 https://youtu.be/BGw0tUKOW7o

The Makemakes

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts MembersDominic ‘Dodo’ MuhrerMarkus ChristFlorian Meind Active2012-2020 Nationality🇦🇹 Austrian National SelectionWer Singt Für Österreich? 2015 In Eurovision2015 Vienna SongI Am Yours (2015) Biography The Makemakes were an Austrian rock music group consisting of Dominic “Dodo” Muhrer and musicians Florian Meindl and Markus Christ. The name is derived from the dwarf planet Makemake, which in turn was named after the creator deity Makemake in the culture of Easter Island. The band gained recognition in 2013 when they performed as the opening act for Bon Jovi. The band’s popularity was also fueled by a widely quoted rumor in the press that the group’s singer, Dodo Muhrer, could be an illegitimate son of actor Christoph Waltz. They were chosen as Austria’s candidate for the Eurovision Song Contest 2015. Their song “I Am Yours” faced plagiarism allegations, claiming similarities to the song “The Scientist” by the British band Coldplay. An official examination concluded that no plagiarism had occurred. Their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, held in Vienna on May 23, 2015, was not successful, as they received zero points. They finished last out of 27 participating countries. In reference to the successful Swedish winning song, The Makemakes released a satirical video titled “We are the Zeroes of our Time” on Facebook on the night of the contest. The video received over half a million views in a few days and was interpreted by the media as a fitting gesture. In response, German particpant Ann Sophie, inspired by The Makemakes, released her own version of the Austrian parody the following day. For the reimagined version of the song “Climb Every Mountain” from the musical The Sound Of Music, the US producer Humberto Gatica enlisted The Makemakes as duet partners for American Idol finalist Joshua Ledet. In 2017, they filmed the ServusTV documentary The Makemakes in Hollywood – In the Footsteps of The Sound of Music. In March 2018, The Makemakes released their official comeback single “Keep On Moving” in Austria, in which they claimed to return to their musical roots. In December, The Makemakes participated in the production of the third episode of the first season of “My Hit Your Song” on ProSieben. With their rock arrangements of the songs “Love Is All Around” and “Freedom” by DJ BoBo, they emerged as winners, earning a prize of 25,000 euros. The German audience responded positively to the band, who were relatively unknown in Germany at the time. In 2019, two singles of the band, “The Beach” and “Heyo”, became successes in the United Kingdom. In 2020, the band released their version of “Vivo Per Lei”. That was the last time The Makemakes released music together. Currently, Dodo Muhrer is using the social media of The Makemakes to publish his own music. Entries Song Title Country🇦🇹 Austria Year2015 LanguageEnglish LyricsJimmy HarryDominic MuhrerFlorian MeindlMarkus Chris MusicJimmy HarryDominic MuhrerFlorian MeindlMarkus Chris BackingsChris CorasHarald BaumgartnerRegina Mallinger Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 0Position: 26Running order: 14 https://youtu.be/-f993p0CAV8