Female Artists

Mira Awad

About Quick Facts NameMira Anwar Awad Born11 June 1975 Nationality🇮🇱 Israeli National SelectionKdam 2009Kdam 2005 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongThere must be another way (& Noa) Biography Mira Anwar Awad is an Arab-Israeli singer, actress, TV host, composer, songwriter, and political activist. BiographyMira Awad was born on June 11, 1975, and grew up in the village of Rama in Israel. Her father, an Arab-Christian, is a family doctor, while her mother, a Bulgarian-Christian, specializes in Slavic languages. They met when her father was studying medicine in Bulgaria. Awad also identifies as Palestinian and is a graduate of the Rimon School of Music. Career Early Music Career At 16, Awad started her music career as the lead singer of the band “Samana,” which sang Western rock in Arabic. During the early 2000s, she hosted Zap L’Rishon on Channel 1 and participated in Festigal in 2002, performing the song “Tze El HaMasa,” which placed sixth. In 2005, she was part of Idan Raichel’s album “Mi’Ma’amakim,” singing the Arabic song “Azini”, which she wrote. That same year, Awad competed in the Kdam Eurovision with the song “Zman,” which came last. Eurovision and Albums 2009 marked a significant year as Awad, alongside Achinoam Nini, was chosen to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow. They sang “There Must Be Another Way”, a song about peace and coexistence, finishing in 16th place. Awad was the first Arab to represent Israel in Eurovision. In August of that year, she and Nini received an award from the Mayor of Lourdes in France. June 2009 saw the release of her first album, “Bahlawan”, featuring songs in Arabic and English, produced by guitarist Amos Ever-Hadani. A joint album with Nini, “There Must Be Another Way,” was also released, including Eurovision songs and a cover of the Beatles’ “We Can Work It Out.” Awad was named Arabic Singer of the Year by Kol Yisrael in 2009, with her album winning Album of the Year. She composed music for the Arabic solo performance “Not Noah’s Ark,” directed by actor Norman Issa, and won an award for Best Music at the Masrahid Arabic Solo Performance Festival. A recording contract with Sony followed in 2010, leading to the release of three international albums, starting with the first in 2011. “All My Faces,” her second album, produced by Sony and Carlos Jean, was released in April 2011. That same year, Awad performed at the Medal of Freedom ceremony in Philadelphia, where Bill Clinton awarded the Medal to Tony Blair. She also performed with Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli at Masada. Collaborations and New Projects Awad collaborated once again with Idan Raichel in 2013, singing “Ana Ana Wa’anta Anta,” meaning “I am I and you are you” on his album “Reva L’sheva.” In June of that year, she sang “Through Fire and Water” with the Israeli metal band Orphaned Land on their album “All Is One.” Theater Career After completing her studies at “Rimon,” Awad began acting in theater in 1998. She gained fame in 2002 for her role as Eliza Doolittle in the musical “My Fair Lady” at the Cameri Theater, alongside Oded Kotler as Professor Higgins. Her theatrical career continued with roles in the musical play “Another Place and a Foreign City” in 2006 and “This Great Sea” at the Cameri Theater in 2007. Awad was selected to join the “Excellence in Culture Fund” as a theater actress in 2008. Television and Film Awad’s television career includes hosting the program “Shvil HaSipurim” on Educational Television in 2003. From 2007 to 2013, she acted in the comedy series Arab Labor on Channel 2, playing Amal, a feminist Arab lawyer. She participated in the fifth season of the reality show Dancing with the Stars on Channel 2 in 2010. From 2012 to 2013, Awad co-hosted the TV show Achla Yom on Educational Television with fashion designer Yuval Caspin. She also appeared in the film Farewell Baghdad (directed by Nissim Dayan, based on the book by Eli Amir), released in 2014. In April 2014, Awad took part in the TEDxHIT-Interaction event, discussing walking a fine line between opposites (Acrobat – Bahlawan). Early 2019 saw the broadcast of the TV series “Muna” on Kan 11, created by Awad, for which she won the Shulamit Aloni Award in 2021. Personal Life Awad married Costa Mogilevich, an Israeli of Ukrainian-Jewish descent, in December 2013. The couple currently lives in London. Political Activity Awad ran for the Tel Aviv-Jaffa City Council in the 2008 municipal elections with the City for All party and is part of the Expanded Faction Forum guiding the party’s council members. She supported the Hadash party in the Israeli Knesset elections in 2009 and is a member of the Public Council of the New Israel Fund. Entries There must be another way (& Noa) Country🇮🇱 Israel Year2009 LanguageEnglishHebrewArabic LyricsGil DorAchinoam NiniMira Awad MusicGil DorAchinoam NiniMira Awad BackingsGil Dor?? Results Semi Points: 75Position: 7Running order: 10 Results Finals Points: 53Position: 16Running order: 2 https://youtu.be/bBTQFOkFZw8?si=ObDFCvUvJBnWcXzh

Noa

About Quick Facts NameAchinoam Nini Born23 June 1969 Nationality🇮🇱 Israeli National SelectionKdam Eurovision 2009 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongThere must be another way (& Mira Awad, 2009) Biography Achinoam Nini (born June 23, 1969), also known as Noa, is an Israeli singer, composer, and left-wing activist. Biography Achinoam Nini was born in Tel Aviv to parents from Bat Yam. Her family moved to New York when she was two years old because her father, a chemical engineer, received a scholarship. She grew up in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, where she attended modern orthodox schools and studied singing and dance. At age 15, she started attending the High School of Performing Arts in New York. She also joined the Riverdale tribe of Tzofim Tzabar Scouts, which strengthened her connection to Hebrew and Israel. During a tour of Israel organized by the Society for the Protection of Nature, she met Asher Barak and fell in love with him. At 17, she returned to Israel alone, intending to stay for about a year. During this time, she studied at the Mae Boyar High School in Jerusalem and lived in a boarding school. She decided to stay in Israel, and after a few years, her parents followed. After completing high school, she served in the IDF’s Northern Command band, where she sang the song “Always 18.” Her early career saw her recording the song “Babel” for the soundtrack of the film “Notre Dame de Paris” by Gerald Pullicino in 1988. The song was in English, French, and Hebrew and became a hit in France in 1989. Achinoam Nini’s acceptance to the Rimon School of Music in 1990 marked a significant turn in her career, where she met guitarist and arranger Gil Dor. They started working together as a musical duo. The duo performed at the international jazz festival in Eilat in 1990. Following this, they released their first album, “Achinoam Nini and Gil Dor Live” in July 1991. Their second album, “Achinoam Nini Gil Dor,” came out in September 1993, featuring songs by Leah Goldberg and Rachel, including the hit “Boi Kala.” Her international career began in 1994 with the album “Noa.” She collaborated with many international artists and performed for Pope John Paul II in 1994 and 2000. Continuing her music journey, she released “Calling” in May 1996, “Achinoam Nini” in April 1997, and “Achinoam Nini and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra” in April 1998. Further albums include “Blue Touches Blue” in March 2000, “Now” in September 2002, and “Noa Live” in October 2005. She explored new sounds with “Napoli-Tel Aviv” in September 2006 and “Genes and Jeans” in March 2008. In 2009, she collaborated with Mira Awad on “There Must Be Another Way.” Chosen to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest in January 2009, she performed the song with Mira Awad in Hebrew, English, and Arabic, finishing in 16th place. The creative journey continued with “Noapolis – Noa Sings Napoli” in February 2011, “Eretz, Shir” in April 2011, “Love Medicine” in June 2014, and “Letters to Bach” in 2019. In 2023, she was selected to perform at the championship celebrations of Napoli. Political Positions Achinoam Nini frequently expresses left-wing political views. She participated in a left-wing demonstration in Jerusalem in May 2010, supporting “one capital for two peoples.” Ahead of the UN session in September 2012, where Palestinians declared statehood, she criticized Netanyahu’s government, saying it did not represent her. She performed at an alternative memorial ceremony for Jewish and Palestinian bereaved families and faced boycotts from right-wing groups. In January 2017, she compared US President Donald Trump to Hitler and called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vulgar and racist. She actively participated in protests against Benjamin Netanyahu and the thirty-seventh Israeli government, which sometimes led to the cancellation of her performances. Nini serves as a board member of the New Israel Fund. After the surprise attack on Israel in October 2023, she was involved in organizing a letter condemning violence against Israeli civilians and calling for humanitarian aid to Gaza. Personal Life Achinoam Nini is married to pediatrician Asher Barak, and they have three children. She has been a vegetarian since 2011. Her sister, Odia Nini, is also a singer-songwriter. Awards In 2006, she was awarded the title of “Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity” by the President of Italy. In 2019, she received the Shulamit Aloni Lifetime Achievement Award. Entries There must be another way (& Mira Awad) Country🇮🇱 Israel Year2009 LanguageEnglishHebrewArabic LyricsGil DorAchinoam NiniMira Awad MusicGil DorAchinoam NiniMira Awad BackingsGil Dor?? Results Semi Points: 75Position: 7Running order: 10 Results Finals Points: 53Position: 16Running order: 2 https://youtu.be/bBTQFOkFZw8?si=acmzkXO5AkmFsjxr

Aisha

About Quick Facts NameAija Andrejeva Born16 January 1986 Nationality🇱🇻 Latvian National SelectionEirodziesma 2010Eirodziesma 2009Eirodziesma 2008Eirodziesma 2007 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongWhat For (2010) Biography Aija Andrejeva-Aišpure, known as Aija Andrejeva and formerly as Aisha, is a Latvian singer and musical theater actress. She was born on January 16, 1986, in Lielvārde, Latvia. Aija spent her childhood in Lielvārde and attended Edgars Kauliņš Lielvārde Secondary School. At five years old, she competed in the children’s vocal contest Cālis ’91 and won second place. She started learning to play the flute and piano at the Lielvārde Music School at age ten. At eleven, she participated in a young flautist competition, earning 12th place. A year later, she won the Jauno diriģentu parāde competition. In 2002, she conducted the wind orchestra Sirius. In 2004, Aija, using the stage name Aisha, joined the TV5 reality show Fabrikas muzikālais teātris. She won the final, thanks to viewer votes. That summer, she participated in the musical Tā ir jānotiek and performed with her father in a concert celebrating Latvia’s accession to the European Union, singing “Tu un es.” At the end of 2004, Aisha won the Best Soloist of the Year award at the LNT Music Video Awards Ceremony. In February 2005, she debuted in theater, playing Dorothy in the Daile Theater’s musical The Wizard of Oz. In the spring of that year, she toured with the group Credo. On July 8, 2005, Aisha performed as the opening act for the Russian band BI-2 with Opus Pro at the Ogre stage. In 2006, she hosted the TV show Mīl — nemīl and recorded the album “Tu un es” with her father’s band. In 2007, Aisha participated in the LNT show Divas zvaigznes with Frīdis, launching her solo career afterward. At the beginning of 2008, she competed in the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “You Really Got Me Going,” making it to the final and finishing second. A year later, she also participated in the TV3 show Dejo ar zvaigzni! 2, finishing second. She released her first solo album, “Viss kārtībā, mincīt,” featuring successful songs like “Dziesma pustumsā.” Coming in 2009, Aisha competed in the Eurovision national selection again with the song “Hey, Hey,” finishing sixth overall. She won the European selection of the New Wave competition in Riga and placed fourth in the main event. In September 2009, she released her solo album “Dvēselīte.” In 2010, Aisha won the Latvian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “What For?” She represented Latvia in Oslo, Norway, but did not qualify for the final, finishing last in her semi-final on May 25. In September 2011, she presented a website with her own name, Aija Andrejeva, and a new single, “Kafijas krūze”. She played the role of Baiba in the musical “Pūt, vējiņi”. In 2013 she started performing as the soloist of the Ventspils Bigbend. In October she released a single, “”Mežā”, as an announcement of the album with the same name. The album itself came out in November. Aija won the contest Muzikālā Banka in 2015 with the song ”Soļi”. A ‘ten years on stage’ tour followed with guest performances of big names in every single show. She teamed up with Goran Gora for the song “Pavasaris”. A year later, she started a project, “Satikšanās mūzikā”, where people could register to make music with Aija. In October of that year, her song “Mazais Princis” was released. Two months later she teamed up with Kārlis Būmeisters to sing the song “Ēnas”. With Alex she released the song “Mēs pārejam uz tu”, in 2017. The song was awarded most valuable song of the year. With Colt she recorded “Man ir viss”, solo “Tu mani sauc”. Her new album was also called “Mēs pārejam uz tu”, which was released in February 2018. A new single, “Pinies man pa kājām”, was released in May 2018. Meanwhile, Aija participated in a project to release her own postcards. She teamed up with DJ Rudd for the song “varbūt šodien, varbūt rīt”. Her song “Es iešu tālāk” reached the Latvian top-10. She also did the Latvian voice of Silvera in the movie Angry Birds 2. Her single “Bungādiņas” reached the no. 1 spot in the Latvian charts. Her album “Es iešu tālāk” was released in 2020. While it was in the middle of the COVID19 pandemic, the presentation of the album took place in a special car concert. In March 2021 Alija teamed up with ZeBrene for the song “Šamanis”. In November 2022 Aija teamed up with Intars Busulis for the song ”Ziemassvētki džungļos”, the theme song of the family- and adventure movie ‘Viss ko es šodien vēlos”. In June 2023, the song “Pērkons Pāries” was released. With the Baltic Groove Orchestra, Aija sang the song “Jūk”. A new album, “Tagadne”, was released on March 12th. It was in 2013, Aija married Toms Bērziņš in Valmiera, but they divorced in 2016. Since 2021, she has been married to singer Jānis Aišpurs. Entries What For Country🇱🇻 Latvia Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsGuntars Račs MusicJānis Lūsēns BackingsRaili OrravaKatrīna CīruleMadara KačorekaLāsma Ivansone Results Semi Points: 11Position: 17Running order: 6 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/oRjtqVkj5w0?si=yYqEQKawyY7EPQLW

Christina Chanée

About Quick Facts NameChristina Ratchanée Birch Wongskul Born06 January 1979 Nationality🇩🇰 Danish National SelectionDansk Melodi Grand Prix 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongIn A Moment Like This (& N’Evergreen, 2010) Biography Christina Chanée (born Christina Ratchanée Birch Wongskul) is a Danish-Thai pop singer and songwriter. She won the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix in 2010 with Tomas N’evergreen, singing “In a Moment Like This.” They later achieved fourth place at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. Chanée began her career singing jazz and has performed both as a solo artist and a backup singer. In 2003, she sang on the track “Gone Away” for the soundtrack of the movie “Anja Efter Viktor,” and also on the title song for the musical film “Askepop – The Movie.” She has also performed in two cover bands, Diva2Diva and Sanne Jam. In 2004, she joined the house band Nubian Fräuleins on the DR1 show Endelig Fredag with Amin Jensen. There, she met Kid Creole, who invited her to audition for Marvin Gaye – The Musical. Despite having no experience in musicals or acting, she got the lead role and later toured with Kid Creole and The Coconuts. In 2010, Christina teamed up with Tomas N’Evergreen to take part in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. They won with “In A Moment Like This” and became 4th in the Grand Final. In the same year, Christina was part of the christmas album “Eldorado Jul”. Christina Chanée released an album in 2012, with the title “Just The Beginning”. She also teamed up with Dex for the single “Stereo”. In 2016, we saw Christina back in Melodi Grand Prix, but now as a member of the jury. Three years later Chanée and N’Evergreen performed as an interval act in Melodi Grand Prix. In the same year, Christina joined the party band Mint Condition. Chanée has had small roles in the TV series Klovn (2005) and 2900 Happiness (2007), and in the film Smukke Mennesker (2010). She also performed as a soloist in Jan Glæsel’s Orchestra from fall 2010 to 2024. Entries In A Moment Like This (& N’Evergreen) Country🇩🇰 Denmark Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsThomas G:sonHenrik SethssonErik Bernholm MusicThomas G:sonHenrik SethssonErik Bernholm BackingsGry Trampedach JørgensenAnne MurilloJaana VähämäkiMads Enggård Jørgensen Results Semi Points: 101Position: 5Running order: 4 Results Finals Points: 149Position: 4Running order: 25 https://youtu.be/Px2UsvO1lCg?si=qcH0-PM6-itW8CzH

In the Spotlight: Angelina Mango

Tomorrow, the big final of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in the Malmö Arena. 26 countries compete for the win. One of them is Angelina Mango, representing Italy But who is Angelina? Let’s give her a spotlight. Angelina was born on April 10, 2001 in Maratea, in the South of Italy. Angelina comes from a musical family. Her mother, Laura Valente, was the singer of Matia Bazar; she joined the band in 1990, after their Eurovision participation (1979) and after their mega hit Ti sento (1985). Her father, Giuseppe Mango (or simply Mango), was a popular singer in Italy. After the early death of her father, the family moves to Milan, her mother’s birthplace, in 2016. Together with her brother she was part of a cover band, which was the start of her musical career. Career On November 13, 2020, Mango released her debut single “Va tutto bendo” (Everything is okay). In 2022, she signed a recording contract with Sony Music. On May 12, 2023, Angelina released the EP “Voglia di vivere” (The will to live). The EP debuted at number two on the Italian charts. On October 6, 2023, she released the single “Che t’o dico a fa” (What do I tell you), which reached the second place on the Italian charts. San Remo Festival Where her father once started, just before his breakthrough in the eighties, Angelina shines this year: in San Remo, the Italian music festival of which the number one goes to the Eurovision Song Contest. She brings a tribute to Giuseppe; she sings his hit “La rondine” (The Swallow). She wins the festival, and confirms to represent Italy with the song “La noia” (Boredom). The song The song tells about the difficult time after the early death of her father, but that we must not be afraid of boredom: it must be welcomed, it is important, as are all the feelings that bring us down, deep down. There is always an upswing. Will she be able to win the festival? It is absolutely possible. Tomorrow, we will know. Photo: EBU/Alma Bengtsson

🇮🇱 Road To Malmö: Israel

photo: IPBC/Kaan We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Israel. Eden Golan Eden Golan is an Israeli singer born on October 5, 2003, in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. At the age of five and a half, she moved with her family to Moscow, Russia. This move was challenging as she faced social isolation due to her Israeli identity, with peers often calling her “Natasha” instead of her name. Eden’s musical journey began in earnest in 2015 when she competed in the Russian pre-selection for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Schastye,” finishing fifth. She further showcased her talent on “The Voice Kids Russia” in 2018, choosing Pelageya as her mentor and impressing with her rendition of Rihanna’s “Love on the Brain,” although she did not make the top three. Returning to Israel in 2022, Eden collaborated with Lithuanian producer Lucky Luke on the track “Ghost Town,” which garnered around 700,000 Spotify streams. She continued to release music, including the singles “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” with TYMMA, and “Taxi” and “DOPAMINE” in 2023. 2024 was a pivotal year for Eden as she competed in HaKokhav HaBa’s 10th season. Her powerful audition of “Rise Up” by Andra Day scored a perfect 100%, paving her way to victory. Eden is set to represent Israel at Eurovision 2024 with the song “Hurricane,” originally titled “October Rain,” after overcoming lyric controversies. HaKokhav HaBa HaKokhav HaBa (Rising star) is the national selection for the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. It is a talent show with audition rounds. Among others former Eurovision participant Shiri Maimon was a member of the jury. In the final, four artists competed against eachother. Eden Golan was the clear winner. The song, “Hurricane”, was written for Eden in a later stage. One of the jury members, Keren Peles, is one of the co-writers of the song. Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest In 1973, Ilanit was the first Israeli representative in the Eurovision Song Contest. Israel was and is able to participate in the contest as the country is a member of the EBU. Not only European countries, but also neighbouring countries are members of the EBU.Israel won the contest four times: in 1978 Izhar Cohen & The Alpha Beta sang “A-ba-ni-bi” to a first place. A year later, Gali Atari & Milk and Honey kept the trophy in Israel with “Hallelujah”. It was Dana International who won the contest with “Diva” in 1998. In recent years, 2018 to be more precise, Netta won the contest with her song “Toy”.Last year, Noa Kirel reached a 3rd place with her song “Unicorn”. Netta, photo: EBU/Andres Putting The Bookmakers Currently, the bookmakers predict a 9th place for Israel in the odds to win the contest. In the odds for the 2nd semifinal, the country is 7th. So it is likely that Israel will make it to the final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. The Song And this is the song:

🇮🇹 Road To Malmö: Italy

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Italy. Angelina Mango Born on April 10, 2001, in Maratea, Italy, Angelina Mango has emerged as a gifted Italian singer-songwriter. Raised in a musically inclined family, her father was the well-known singer Mango, and her mother, Laura Valente, sang for Matia Bazar. Angelina grew up in Lagonegro with her older brother Filippo, absorbing musical influences from the Rolling Stones to Venetian school composers like Giovanni Gabrieli. Angelina’s formal education at a scientific high school was paused due to her father’s sudden death, leading the family to move to Milan in 2016. Here, she continued her studies and explored music alongside her brother. Angelina’s career took a significant turn with the release of her debut single “Va tutto bene” in 2020, soon followed by her first EP “Monolocale.” Her musical journey flourished with performances at Milan Music Week and a collaboration with Sony Music and producer Enrico Brun in 2022. Angelina also made notable appearances on television shows and festivals, excelling in the twenty-second season of “Amici di Maria De Filippi” where she finished second and won in the singing category. Her song “Voglia di vivere” became a summer hit in 2023, reaching triple platinum status. Most recently, Angelina won the 74th Festival Di Sanremo with her performance of “La noia,” continuing her rise as a prominent figure in Italian music. Festival di Sanremo The festival of San Remo (Festival di Sanremo) was first held in 1951. The festival was a blueprint for the Eurovision Song Contest. In all those years, many classics came from the Festival Di Sanremo, as well as many stories. The winner of the festival was, on many occasions, the Italian participant for the Eurovision Song Contest. This year, the winner had the first choice to represent Italy. Angelina Mango said yes rightaway. She won the contest out of 30 contenders. Mahmood, Diodato, Il Volo, Ricchi e Poveri and Emma were among them. Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest Italy debuted at the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. It was in 1964 when they had their first victory with Gigliola Cinquetti’s “Non ho l’eta”. It took until 1990 when this happened again with Toto Cutugno and his “Insieme: 1992”. In 2021 Måneskin won with “Zitti e buoni”. However, many Eurovision classics came from Italy. What to think about Domenico Modugno’s “Volare” and “Piove”? Do you remember Alice & Battiato singing “I treni di Tozeur”, or Tozzi & Raff presenting “Gente di mare”. And let’s not forget, in more recent years, Mahmood’s “Soldi”. Måneskin, photo: EBU The Bookmakers Italy is placed directly for the final. In the betting odds to win this final, Italy is currently 3rd. Will Angelina Mango do the job for Italy for a 4th time? Given the betting odds, it’s not impossible… The song And this is the song:

🇬🇪 Road To Malmö: Georgia

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Georgia. Nutsa Buzaladze Nutsa Buzaladze is a talented singer-songwriter from Georgia, born on January 28, 1997. She started her music journey when she was just 5 years old by joining a children’s group in Tbilisi, her hometown. Nutsa quickly showed her musical skills by playing in a band, singing, playing the guitar, and even learning piano by the time she was 8. Her big break came in 2011 when she competed in Georgia’s Got Talent, setting the stage for her solo career. Nutsa gained international fame in 2014 by winning at the New Wave Music Festival in Latvia, representing Georgia. Throughout her career, Nutsa has been part of various music contests and worked with famous artists like Hadise. In 2017, her song “White Horses Run” almost won Georgia’s choice for Eurovision. She released her first album, “Nutsa22,” in 2019, featuring popular songs in both Georgian and English. Nutsa continued to impress by participating in music shows around the world, including American Idol in 2023. Recently, on January 12, 2024, it was announced that Nutsa will represent Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Sweden with the song “Firefighter”. The New Wave Music Festival In 2014, Nutsa Buzaladze won the New Wave Music Festival. The New Wave Music Festival in Latvia is a prestigious international contest that showcases the talents of young musicians from around the globe. Held annually in the beautiful city of Jūrmala, the festival has become a launching pad for emerging artists since its inception in 2002. Over the course of several days, participants compete by performing a variety of songs, ranging from national hits to international classics, in front of a panel of esteemed judges and a live audience. The festival is known for its vibrant atmosphere, stunning coastal setting, and the opportunity it provides for young talents to connect with industry professionals. Winners of the New Wave gain significant exposure, opening doors to international careers in music. Besides the competition, the festival features performances by established stars, adding to its allure. Over the years, New Wave has solidified its reputation as a key event in the music calendar, celebrating new talent and the universal language of music. Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest “Firefighter” is the 16th Georgian entry in Eurovision. The country debuted in 2007 with Sopho Galvashi and her “Visionary dream”. The best scoring songs for Georgia were Sofia Nizharadze with “Shine” and Eldrine with “One more day”. Both songs were 9th in the final, Sophia in 2010 and Eldrine in 2011. The last time Georgia reached the final was in 2016 with Nika Kocharov & Young Georgian Lolitaz and their song “Midnight gold”. In 2009 Georgia withdrew: Stephane & 3G won the national selection with the song “We don’t wanna put in”. They had to change the lyrics due to a reference to Vladimir Putin, but they refused to do so. Sophia Nizharadze The Bookmakers Georgia is currently 18th in the odds to win the contest. In the odds to reach the final the country is 10th with 64%, against Denmark with 44% in an 11th place. So if the bookmakers are right, the spell of not reaching the final will be broken. The song And this is the song:

🇩🇰 Road To Malmö: Denmark

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Denmark. Saba Saba, whose real name is Anna Saba Lykke Oehlenschlæger, is a singer, actor, and model from Denmark. She and her twin sister were adopted from Ethiopia when they were just eight months old and grew up in a place called Ringkøbing in Denmark. Saba has had a challenging journey; she shared that she has bipolar I disorder and has been in the hospital many times until 2020. She talked about these struggles in a documentary called “My Insane Twin.” She also works to help others as an ambassador for the Danish Depression Association. Saba left high school early and moved to Copenhagen with her sister. She started working as a model and in the teeth whitening business. Her sister chose singing and musical theater. Saba’s big moment in acting came in 2023 when she played Dionne in the musical “Hair,” taking over for her sister who was pregnant. In 2024, Saba’s music career took off when she won a big competition in Denmark with her song “Sand.” This win means she will represent Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest, a huge international music competition. Dansk Melodi Grand Prix Since the first moment Denmark took part in the Eurovision Song Contest, Melodi Grand Prix was the national final. In Denmark, it’s almost always a one evening event. This year, eight contestants competed. Among them, former Eurovision participant Basim. In a superfinal with three songs, jury and televoter chose the winner. Saba was the favourite of the jury, while Basim was the televoter’s winner. Overall, Saba had the highest amount of points. Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest Denmark debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest with “Skibet skal sejle i nat”, sung by Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler. The duo ended the song with a long and passionate kiss. So many years later, that kiss is still the talk of the town. The first Danish victory came in 1963 with Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann and their “Dansevise”. Denmark quit the contest after 1966, unsatisfied with the blockvoting. They only returned in 1978, and despite high scores, they had to wait until 2000. The Olsen Brothers won the contest with the song “Fly on the wings of love”. A third victory followed in 2013 with Emmelie De Forrest‘s “Only teardrops”. It’s already since 2019 that Denmark reached the final, so there is a task for Saba. The Bookmakers Currently, Saba is no. 25 in the odds for the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest. For the semifinal, her song “Sand” has an 11th place. That means it’s gonna be exciting for Denmark according to the bookmakers. The song And this is the song:

🇦🇹 Road To Malmö: Austria

photo: ORF We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Austria. Kaleen Kaleen, whose real name is Marie-Sophie Kreissl, was born in 1994 in Austria. She loves dancing, choreographing dances, and singing. Even when she was very young, she enjoyed watching music shows and dancing in her living room. She started learning ballet when she was a little girl and soon learned many other types of dance like jazz, tap, and even Latin dances. Kaleen was really good at dancing from the start. She won her first big dance competition when she was just seven years old. Over the years, she won more than 100 competitions in Austria and Europe, and she even won five world championships. That’s a lot of wins! In 2018, Kaleen started working with the Eurovision Song Contest. She first joined as a stand-in lead artist and choreographer, helping to create dances for the show. Kaleen is also very talented in music. In 2021, she released her very first song that she made all by herself, and in 2023, she put out her first album called “Stripping Feelings.” Kaleen didn’t stop there. By 2021, she became the creative director for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for Spain and Bulgaria. She was in charge of the stage for the 2022 contest in Spain and helped Austria, Armenia, Germany, and Georgia with their performances for the contest in Liverpool in 2023. On January 16, 2024, it was announced that Kaleen will be the one to represent Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest. She has come a long way from dancing in her living room to performing on one of the biggest music stages in the world! How Austria selects a song ÖRF (Österreichischer Rundfunk) does not have a tradition of national finals. The majority of the Austrian entries have been selected internally. The first time the Austrian song was selected by a national final was in 1981, but still Marty Brem was the only contestant. A year later, the first national final, with 12 competitors, was a fact. The last time was in 2016.One national final we cannot deny was the one of 1990; the contest was won by the duo Duett, singing “Das Beste”. Half way through the performance, Duett-singer Monika fainted and fell on the floor. Duett was allowed to sing the song again, and guess what: they won. However, the song already competed in a German semifinal 2 years before and was disqualified for that. In the end it was Simone who represented the country with “Keine Mauern mehr”. Duett, with Monika who fainted during her performance. Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest It was Bob Martin who brought Austria to the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957. After two failed attempts, Udo Jürgens won the trophy in 1966 with “Merci Cherie”. The country took several breaks, had some top-5 positions but finally won again in 2014, when Conchita Wurst presented her “Rise like a Phoenix”. Conchita brought Austria on the map again. Already 4 years later, César Sampson won the jury vote. His “Nobody but you” became 3rd overall. Conchita Wurst; Albin Olsson, Wikimedia Commons The Bookmakers A new success for Austria is a serious option: Kaleen is currently 10th in the betting odds for Eurovision win. In the odds for making it through the final, she has an 8th place. Conclusion: as soon as she is in the final, she will make it there. The song This is the song: