Liverpool

Andrew Lambrou

© EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett About Quick Facts NameAndrew Lambrou Born01 month 1900 Nationality🇦🇺 Australian National SelectionInternal selection 2023Eurovision – Australia decides 2022 In Eurovision2023 Liverpool SongBreak a broken heart (2023) Biography Andrew Lambrou is an Australian singer. He was born in 1998 in Sydney, Australia to a Greek Cypriot family. He attended AMS Music School where he learned to play the piano. At the age of 5, he won first place in a competition held by his school, singing “Do-Re-Mi” from The Sound of Music. Lambrou first gained attention in 2013 after uploading a cover of Evanescence’s “My Immortal” to YouTube. A 15-second cover of “Stay With Me”, uploaded to Instagram, was shared by a Spain-based music page and earned Lambrou over 2,000 followers overnight. In 2015, Lambrou entered The X Factor Australia, reaching the top 20. That same year, he was spotted by Sony ATV and signed by Maree Hamblion. His debut single, “Throne,” was released in 2021. In 2022, Lambrou competed in the Australian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, Eurovision – Australia Decides, with the song “Electrify”. He finished 7th in the final of the competition. On 17 October 2022, it was announced that Lambrou will represent Cyprus at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. On March 2nd 2023, the Eurovision song “Break a broken heart” was presented. In the contest itself Lambrou reached the final and became 12th there. Entries Break A Broken Heart Country🇨🇾 Cyprus Year2023 LanguageEnglish LyricsJimmy ‘Joker’ ThornfeldtJimmy JanssonThomas StengaardMarcus Winther-John MusicJimmy ‘Joker’ ThornfeldtJimmy JanssonThomas StengaardMarcus Winther-John Backings– Results Semi Points: 94Position: 7Running order: 6 Results Finals Points: 126Position: 12Running order: 7 https://youtu.be/49YiimKeyDI

Tvorchi

© EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett About Quick Facts MembersJimo Augustus KehindeAndrii Hutsuliak Founded2017 Nationality🇳🇬 Nigerian🇺🇦 Ukrainian National SelectionVidbir 2023Vidbir 2020 In Eurovision2023 Liverpool SongHeart of steel (2023) Biography TVORCHI is a Ukrainian music band from Ternopil, founded in 2018 by sound producer Andrii Hutsulyak and vocalist Jeffrey Kenny (Jimo Augustus Kehinde) . On May 30, 2017, the duo releasted their first single called “Slow”. On September 4, the second single “You” was released. On February 2, 2018, the band released their debut album, which was called The Parts. On September 20, 2018, the band released a video clip for the song “Molodist”. A year later, on February 14, 2019, the second album Disco Lights was released. On February 21, the band released a video clip for the song “Believe”. Within a few days, the video gained 400,000 views on YouTube, and the song itself took the 9th place in the Google Play charts in Ukraine. In the summer of the same year, the band performed at the music festivals Fine City (Ternopil), Atlas Weekend (Kyiv) and Ukrainian Song Project (Lviv). On September 9, the duo released the single “#Ne tanchchyuyu”, and on September 16 the music video came out. On January 31, 2020, TVORCHI presented the song “Bonfire”, dedicated to the problems of ecology, andtook part in Vidbir, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. “Bonfire” became the most popular Ukrainian song of 2020 on the European Deezer platform. For 12 months, the track topped the top charts of the platform. On May 7, the premiere took place on the band’s YouTube channel and in DK Premier show on M1 TV, the music video for the song “Mova tila” from the second studio album “Disco Lights”. On May 31, 2020, the Zolota Zhar-ptytsya music award was won by TVORCHI in the Indie category. In September 2020, TVORCHI released their third album, “13 Waves”, which was recorded remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine. The record received over two million listens on music platforms in the first week of its release. On December 19, 2020, the artists became winners of the online music award “Culture Ukraine” in two nominations: “Best New Artist” and “English-language single” with the hit “Bonfire”. Ukrainian music award YUNA-2021 was held on May 12 at the National Palace of Arts “Ukraine”. TVORCHI won in the nominations “Best Pop Group”, “Best Album” and “Best Electronic Hit”. On September 10, 2021, the musical duo presented their fourth album Road on all music platforms. In July 2022, the band won two YUNA Awards for Best Live Show and Best Song in Another Language (“Falling”). On December 17, 2022, they won the National Selection for Eurovision 2023 with the song “Heart of Steel”, and thus represented Ukraine in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. They reached a 6th place in the final. Entries Heart Of Steel Country🇺🇦 Ukraine Year2022 LanguageEnglish LyricsJimoh August KehindeAndrii Hutsuliak MusicJimoh August KehindeAndrii Hutsuliak BackingsAndrii VeselyiDima Barkalov DancersAleksandra MakarovskayaAndrii Podkaliuk Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 243Position: 6Running order: 19 https://youtu.be/I2oqDpefJ1s

Gustaph

© EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett About Quick Facts NameStef Caers Born5 July 1980 Nationality🇧🇪 Belgian National SelectionEurosong 2023 In Eurovision2023 Liverpool SongBecause of You (2023) Biography Stef Caers, born in Leuven in 1980, is a Belgian singer, musician, producer and singing teacher.He initially performed under the stage name Steffen and later as Gustaph. Caers followed secondary education at the Academie voor Muziek-Woord-Dans in Heist-op-den-Berg. He graduated as a producer at the music conservatory of Ghent. At the age of nineteen, still during his studies, he scored a hit in 2000 as Steffen with the song “Gonna Lose You”, which reached 22nd place in the Flemish Ultratop 50. Caers won a prize at Flemish Radio 2 in the subcategory “The debut” that year with the song. His next single, “Sweetest Thing”, was a more modest success: the song got stuck in the charts. Caers later noted that his songs like Steffen, which he wrote as a sixteen-year-old, are not entirely in line with his style. The music world made it clear to him that he should keep his homosexuality a secret so as not to undermine his popularity. It therefore remained with these singles under that name. Caers focused more on studio work and writing music. He also made jingles for Radio Donna and Q-music. However, he also remained active on stage, including as a pianist and background singer. With Mo Harcum, Sofie Verbruggen and Sandrine Van Handenhoven he paid homage to Marvin Gaye. With the latter two, he paid homage to Ella Fitzgerald in the 2021-2022 theater season, together with the VRT Bigband. He has been performing solo since 2008 under the name Gustaph. Four years later, under that name, he began singing and writing for Hercules & Love Affair, a group best known in the LGBTQ+ community. As a result, he performed at Pukkelpop, Glastonbury and Chanel shows, among others. Caers left the group in 2018. Caers is also a teacher at Hogeschool Gent within the jazz / pop course and at the pop and rock music course at Hogeschool PXL. Caers went to the Eurovision Song Contest twice as a backing singer. In 2018 with Sennek and in 2021 at Hooverphonic. He also was a voice coach for Geike Arnaert of Hooverphonic. In January 2023, he took part in Eurosong, the Flemish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. Gustaph won Eurosong 2023, which meant that he was chosen as the Belgian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. He reached the final there and became 7th. Entries Because Of You Country🇧🇪 Belgium Year2023 LanguageEnglish LyricsJaouad AlloulStef Caers MusicJaouad AlloulStef Caers BackingsMonique HarcumChantal KashalaSandrine van Handenhoven DancersPussCee West Results Semi Points: 90Position: 8Running order: 5 Results Finals Points: 182Position: 7Running order: 16 https://youtu.be/U1xD14IMKtg

Albina Kelmendi

© EBU/Chloe Hashemi About Quick Facts NameAlbina Kelmendi Born27 January 1998 Nationality🇦🇱 Albanian National SelectionFestivali i Këngës 2022 In Eurovision2023 Liverpool SongDuje (2023) Biography Albina Kelmendi is an Albanian singer and songwriter from Kosovo. She was born in Peja, Kosovo (then part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia). She studied clarinet and piano at a music school in her hometown and began performing with her family under the name Family Band. She became famous in 2014, when she was runner-up in the fourth season of The Voice of Albania. A year later, she took part in the twelfth edition of Top Fest, where she presented the song “Nuk ka ma mirle”. In June 2022, Albina Kelmendi released her debut album, “Nana loke”. In December of the same year, she participated in the 61st Song Festival, where she presented the song “Duje”, during the performance of which she was accompanied by five members of her family named the Familja Kelmendi. Despite being ranked second in the final night, the result of which was decided by a jury, the public vote chose her as the Albanian representative at the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, United Kingdom. They reached the final and became 22nd there. Entries Duje Country🇦🇱 Albania Year2023 LanguageAlbanian LyricsEriona Rushiti MusicEnis Mullaj BackingsBujar KelmendiAlbana KelmendiAlbin KelmendiVesa KelmendiSidorela Gashi – Kelmendi Results Semi Points: 83Position: 9Running order: 14 Results Finals Points: 76Position: 22Running order: 10 https://youtu.be/TI9rSDhXwyc

Gustaph represents Belgium

Gustaph will represent Belgium with the song “Because of you”, written and composed by Jaouad Alloul and Stef Caers. After an exciting voting, the televoter chose Gustaph as the winner with a landslide, while Gala Dragot was the favourite with the expert jury. It is to be announced in which of the semifinals in Liverpool Belgium will perform. Gustaph, “Because of you”, 278 pts. The Starlings, “Rollercoaster”, 277 pts Gala Dragot, “T’inquiette”, 271 pts. Chérine, “Ça m’ennuie pas”, 268 pts. Ameerah, “The carnival”, 171 pts. Loredana, “You lift me up”, 167 pts. Hunter Falls, “Ooh la la”, 128 pts.

Estonia: results are in

The results are in in Estonia. In bold letters you will find the finalists. M els was chosen by televoting only, while the other four were chosen by mixed jury and televoting. Inger sings “Awaiting you” Linalakk, Bonzo sing “Aeg” Meelik sings “Tuju” Elysa sings “Bad philosophy” Robin Juhkentahl sings “Kurbuse matused” M els sings “So good (at what you do)” WIIRALT sings “Salaliik” Sissi sings “Lighthouse” Carlos Ukareda sings “Whiskey won’t forget” Alika sings “Bridges” This means, the line up for the final on February 11 is complete.

Estonia: 2nd semifinal Eesti Laul

Tonight is the night: Eesti Laul will have it’s second semifinal. Out of 10 songs, 5 will be chosen to go to the final: four of them by a 50/50 jury-televoting. After that, one more song will be chosen by televoting only. The show will be aired on ETV at 18:30 CET and you can watch it here. The contestants are: Inger sings “Awaiting you” Linalakk, Bonzo sing “Aeg” Meelik sings “Tuju” Elysa sings “Bad philosophy” Robin Juhkentahl sings “Kurbuse matused” M els sings “So good (at what you do)” WIIRALT sings “Salaliik” Sissi sings “Lighthouse” Carlos Ukareda sings “Whiskey won’t forget” Alika sings “Bridges” Inger became 6th in Eesti Laul in 2019 and 8th in 2020.Meelik was a member of Tenfold Rabbit, who took part in 2012 (3rd) and 2013 (semifinal)Elysa was 3rd in Eesti Laul last year.Robin Juhkentahl won in 2010 as a member of Malcolm Lincoln and represented Estonia in the ESC with “Siren”. Malcolm Lincoln also took part in the 2012 semifinal. In 2015, Robin and his band The Big Bangers became 6th. WIIRALT took part in 2012 (semifinal) and 2022 (quarter final).Sissi was present in 2019 (4th) and 2021 (2nd).

Norway: Melodi Grand Prix starts

Tonight knows the start of Melodi Grand Prix, the Norwegian selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. Three semifinals will all contain 7 songs. 3 of them will be selected to go to the final, chosen by 100% televoting. The show starts at 19:50 CET and you can watch it here. The participants are: Allessandra Mele sings “Queen of kings” Erik Næss sings “Wave” Rasmus Thall sings “Tresko” Kate Gulbrandsen sings “Tårer i paradis” Umami Tsunami sings “Geronimo” Ulrikke sings “Honestly” Byron Williams jr. ft. JOWST sing “Freaky for the weekend” Kate Gulbrandsen won Melodi Grand Prix in 1987 and represented Norway with “Mitt liv”. She also took part in 1989, but didn’t reach the superfinal.Ulrikke took part in 2017 (4th) and 2020 (1st). However, in 2020 the festival was cancelled and her song “Attention” thus never reached the Eurovision stage.JOWST was the 2017 winner. With “Grab the moment” they represented Norway.

Belgium selects entry

After a week of tv-shows on Flemish television, in which all the contestants chose a song out of two, there will be a final in Belgium. The show starts at 20:20 and you can watch it here. The contestants are: * Loredana You lift me up * Chérine Ça m’ennuie pas * Hunter Falls Ooh la la * Ameerah The carnival * Gala Dragot T’inquiète * Gustaph Because of you * The Starlings Rollercoaster Loredana took part in Eurosong 2014 with 2Fabiola and reached the semifinal.Tom Dice (The Starlings) represented Belgium in 2010 with the song “Me and my guitar”.

Malta: first quarterfinal MESC 2023

Tonight, Malta makes a start with their first quarter final of MESC (Malta Eurovision Song Contest). The show starts on 21.00 CET and you can watch it here. Four quarter finals will be held. Out of 13 songs, 8 will be chosen to go to the semifinal. The songs are: Aidan sings “Regina” Christian Arding sings “Eku car” Clintess sings “Lura Qatt” Eliana Gomez Blanco sings “Guess what” Fabrizio Faniello sings “Try to be better” Geo Debono sings “The mirror” Haley sings “Tik Tok” Jason Scerri sings “Anything can happen” Klinsmann sings “Piranha” Maria Debono sings “X’allegria” Mikhail sings “Leħen Fiċ-Ċpar” Nathan sings “Creeping walls” Stefan Galea sings “Heartbreaker” Aidan took part in MESC in 2018 (4th), X-Factor 2019 (semifinals) and MESC 2022 (2nd)Christian Arding took part in 2006 (5th) and 2009 (semifinal)Fabrizio Faniello took part in 1998 (2nd), 1999 (8th), 2000 (2nd), 2001 (1st), 2004 (3rd), 2005 (12th), 2006 (1st), 2011 (4th), 2012 (6th) and 2014 (semifinal). He took part in Eurovision in 2001 with “Another summer night” and in 2006 with “I do”.Klinsmann took part in 2007 (3rd), 2008 (7th), 2009 (13th), 2010 (11th), 2011 (7th), 2012 (16th), 2013 (semifinal) and 2017 (10th).Mikhail took part in X-Factor 2019 (semifinals).Stefan Galea took part in 2016 (semifinal) and X-Factor 2019 (auditions).