Helsinki

Stoyan Yankoulov

About Quick Facts NameStoyan Yankoulov Born10 September 1966 Nationality🇧🇬 Bulgarian National SelectionInternal selection 2022Bŭlgarskata pesen v „Evroviziya 2013”Bŭlgarskata pesen v „Evroviziya 2007” In Eurovision2022 Turin2013 Malmö2007 Helsinki SongIntention (2022, Intelligent Music Project)Samo Shiampioni (2013, with Elitsa Todorova)Water (2007, with Elitsa Todorova) Biography Stoyan Yankulov was born on September 10, 1966, in the town of Elin Pelin, Sofia region. At the age of eight, he began piano lessons. At the same time, he showed interest in percussion instruments. From an early age, he was already the basis of musical groups as a drummer. In Sofia, he graduated from the “Lyubomir Pipkov” music school, and then the “Pancho Vladigerov” State Music Academy specializing in percussion instruments. He was admitted to the Big Band of the Bulgarian National Radio. Yankulov plays with rock and jazz groups, folklore ensembles, jazz-rock, and fusion groups. He has performed in Bulgaria, Finland, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Turkey, the USA, Canada, Japan, and Russia. Stoyan Yankulov has presented Bulgarian cultural heritage in front of the presidents of Bulgaria, Greece, Armenia, Hungary, His Highness Prince Albert, the King and Queen of Sweden, Koichiro Matsuura – UNESCO, and OSCE ministers. He participated in projects with Bobby McFerrin, Okay Temiz, Cornel Horvat, Carlo Ritzo, Arabel Karayan, Enver Izmailov, as well as with Theodosii Spassov, Ivo Papazov, Milcho Leviev, Simeon Shterev, Yildiz Ibrahimova, Anatoli Vapirov, and Petar Ralchev. In a duet with Elitsa Todorova, Yankulov ranked an impressive 5th place in the Eurovision Song Contest’s final in 2007 in Finland. Together with the Wladigeroff Brothers, Stoyan gave a jazz concert in April 2011 in Montreal, Canada. In 2013, he and Elitsa Todorova were again chosen to represent Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest. Out of three songs, the song “Kisnet” was chosen. However, due to a copyright issue with the composer of the song, it was withdrawn and replaced by “Samo Shiampioni”. Unfortunately, Elitsa and Stoyan didn’t manage to reach the final. In December, Yankoulov performed at the Bulgarian festival MoMental. In 2014, Stoyan teamed up with the fusion Jazz Band Zone C for a couple of performances and recordings. In October of the same year he worked together with the Classic FM Orchestra and a month later with the Black Sea Quartet. Stoyan Yankoulov also joined the Intelligent Music Project. At the end of 2021 it was announced that Intelligent Music Project would participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin. The band sang the song “Intention”. Unfortunately, the group did not make it to the final. Entries Intention (Intelligent Music Project) Country🇧🇬 Bulgaria Year2022 LanguageEnglish LyricsMilen VrabevskiMD MusicMilen VrabevskiMD Backings– Results Semi Points: 29Position: 16Running order: 7 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/EwZTI5AoTg4?si=ZTNgdNfyl9Q1C2Zw Samo Shiampioni (with Elitsa Todorova) Country🇧🇬 Bulgaria Year2013 LanguageBulgarian LyricsElitsa TodorovaChristian Talev MusicElitsa TodorovaChristian Talev BackingsDesislava GeorgievaBilyana SokolovaBiserka Danova-PilarskaVenci Venc’ Results Semi Points: 45Position: 12Running order: 7 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/Cb46Mhy_mCI?si=W7vdlU5LmBd16nD1 Water (with Elitsa Todorova) Country🇧🇬 Bulgaria Year2007 LanguageBulgarian LyricsElitsa Todorova MusicElitsa TodorovaStoyan Yankoulov Backings– Results Semi Points: 146Position: 6Running order: 1 Results Finals Points: 157Position: 5Running order: 21 https://youtu.be/CVO3mEj8Udo?si=AbtLJDRFxjrfHVDo

Elitsa Todorova

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameElitsa Todorova Born02 September 1977 Nationality🇧🇬 Bulgarian National SelectionBŭlgarskata pesen v „Evroviziya 2013”Bŭlgarskata pesen v „Evroviziya 2007” In Eurovision2013 Malmö 2007 Helsinki SongSamo Shiampioni (2013, with Stoyan Yankoulov)Water (2007, with Stoyan Yankoulov) Biography Elitsa Todorova is a Bulgarian folk singer, percussionist, music producer, and inventor. She was born in Varna, Bulgaria, on September 2nd 1977. As a child, she spent 7 years with her parents in Africa. She graduated from the Dobri Hristov Music School in Varna with a specialty in Percussion instruments. She then completed her studies at the Filip Kutev Music School in Kotel with a specialty in folk singing. Later, she graduated from the Pancho Vladigerov State Music Academy in Sofia, specializing in percussion instruments. She is a soloist of the Varna Ensemble and the choir Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria. In 2003, together with her partner Stoyan Yankoulov, considered one of the most innovative Bulgarian percussionists, they started the Drumboy project. Among the instruments she plays are the tarambuka, drum set, maracas, claves, pendaris, shepherd bells, streamers, lustra, and guiro. Todorova uses traditional percussion instruments in an unconventional way, blending authentic folklore with jazz, drum and bass, classical, and ethnic music with a lot of improvisation. In 2005, she received the Golden Phenomenon award for exceptional achievements in the field of vocal and instrumental art and the presentation of Bulgarian culture worldwide. In February 2007, Elitsa Todorova and Stoyan Yankoulov won the right to represent Bulgaria at the Eurovision 2007 with their song “Water”. They qualified for the competition’s final, and osecured fifth place in the final ranking. In 2008, the BNT team and Lili Ivanova invited Elitsa and Stoyan to remake Ivanova’s song “Panairi” with Elitsa’s folkloric voice, bagpipes, and percussion instruments. In 2009, she created the “Stihia” (Element) comic along with Daniel Atanasov, dedicated to the elements of water, earth, fire, wind. Its premiere presentation was in concerts in Tokyo, Japan, accompanied by the environmental campaign “Keep the Earth clean”! Together with 2,000 Bulgarians in national costumes, she represented Bulgarian culture at the World Cultural Music Festival at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin in 2011. In her performance, she introduced a unique drum patented in her name – “Cosmic Tree from Bulgaria”. In 2012, Elitsa Todorova created an instrument called “Bulgaria’s Olympic Drum”. She has performed in 40 countries, showcasing Bulgarian folklore and culture. Along with Stoyan Yankoulov, they have performed for notable figures such as Princess Victoria, the King and Queen of Sweden, Pope John Paul II, Prince Albert II of Monaco, presidents of all Balkan countries, Dmitry Medvedev and Todor Zhivkov. On May 24, 2011, at the UN headquarters, the singer participated in a joint concert with soloists from all Slavic countries. In 2013, she and Stoyan Yankoulov were again chosen to represent Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest. Out of three songs, the song “Kisnet” was chosen. However, due to a copyright issue with the composer of the song, it was withdrawn and replaced by “Samo Shiampioni”. Unfortunately, Elitsa and Stoyan didn’t manage to reach the final. From 2013 to 2017, she participated in a trio consisting of Elitsa Todorova (voice and percussion), Martin and Kristian Pishtolski (drums and voice) on tours in Bulgaria and Europe. In 2017, Elitsa sang and played with 101 bagpipes at the first international Devin festival and at the “Bells” monument. She has worked for many years with the daughter of the world-renowned conductor Herbert von Karajan. In 2021, she released her illustrated biography book “With Rhythm and Love”. In 2022 she re-released the album “Water” with new versions of the songs. She also released a new single, “Sharena gayda”, in duet with Nancy Ivaylova. She also was awarded the Dostoyna Varnenka (Preserve the Woman) Award 2022. She also did masterclasses and shows with children, to make them familiar with traditional music. In 2023 her musical album “Svetlina” was released. Meanwhile, Elitsa was a member of the jury of the dance competition “Be A Star”. Entries Samo Shiampioni (& Stoyan Yankoulov) Country🇧🇬 Bulgaria Year2013 LanguageBulgarian LyricsElitsa TodorovaChristian Talev MusicElitsa TodorovaChristian Talev BackingsDesislava GeorgievaBilyana SokolovaBiserka Danova-PilarskaVenci Venc’ Results Semi Points: 45Position: 12Running order: 7 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/Cb46Mhy_mCI?si=PoUjkIYNE20STVas Water (& Stoyan Yankoulov) Country🇧🇬 Bulgaria Year2007 LanguageBulgarian LyricsElitsa Todorova MusicElitsa TodorovaStoyan Yankoulov Backings– Results Semi Points: 146Position: 6Running order: 1 Results Finals Points: 157Position: 5Running order: 21 https://youtu.be/CVO3mEj8Udo?si=R7avcgiYzk_gH9bk

Natalia Barbu

EBU/Alma Bengtsson About Quick Facts NameNatalia Barbu Born22 August 1979 Nationality 🇲🇩 Moldovan National SelectionEtapa națională 2024Selecția Națională 2013 (Romania)O melodie pentru Europa 2011Pentru Eurovision 2007 In Eurovision2024 Malmö2007 Helsinki SongIn The Middle (2024)Fight (2007) Biography Natalia Barbu (born August 22, 1979, in Bălți, Moldavian SSR, USSR) is a rock and pop singer from the Republic of Moldova. Natalia Barbu is the daughter of the folk music, romance, and stage music performer Ana Barbu. Career In her career, Natalia has worked with the band Trigon on a jazz-folk alternative music experiment. Natalia Barbu is a songwriter, writing the lyrics for most of her songs herself. In 2006, Natalia signed a 3-year contract with the record label Cat Music Records (Sony Music) in Romania. Among her greatest successes is the release of the single “Îngerul meu” (“My Angel”) in Romania. The song was at No. 1 in the Romanian Top 100 for 11 weeks and received extensive media coverage on MTV Romania. On December 14, 2006, Natalia Barbu won the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 with the song “Fight.” At the contest, she qualified from the semifinal on May 10, 2007, to the final, which took place on May 12, 2007, finishing in 10th place with a total of 109 points. In 2012, she began collaborating with music producer Radu Sîrbu and composer Ana Sîrbu (Sianna) under the Rassada Music label. At the end of the summer, Natalia presented her new song, “I Said It’s Sad,” which, according to her, was a major style change for her. The new song reached No. 1 in the Top 10 Airplay in Moldova. Later in 2012, she released “Iubire cu aromă de cafea” (“Love with a Scent of Coffee”) and “Confession,” with which she participated in the national selection for Eurovision 2013. In December 2015, Natalia Barbu was named the sexiest woman alive from the Republic of Moldova in a ranking made by the American magazine Esquire. Natalia Barbu represented her country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song “In the Middle,” after winning the National Selection that same year. Unfortunately, she didn’t manage to make it to the final. Entries In The Middle Country🇲🇩 Moldova Year2024 LanguageEnglish LyricsKhris RichardsNatalia Barbu MusicNatalia Barbu Backings– Results Semi Points: 20Position: 13Running order: 11 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/evIoGkZXj2s?si=Mx5SiYe1z7rsWxvM Fight Country🇲🇩 Moldova Year2007 LanguageEnglish LyricsElena Buga MusicAlexandru Braşoveanu BackingsLudmila ZnamenskiRodica Sterbet??? Results Semi Points: 91Position: 10Running order: 9 Results Finals Points: 109Position: 10Running order: 24 https://youtu.be/SZzcIOvoIfo?si=hCvF5R5KGbtQ_JBc