national finals

🇳🇴 Norway: Melodi Grand Prix starts

The Norwegian national final Melodi Grand Prix starts today. We will be able to watch three heats with 6 songs each. Half of the songs will go through to the final. The show starts at 19.50 CET and you can watch it here. These are the six entries of tonight: Mathilde SPZ feat. Chris Archer and Slam Dunk sing “Woman show” Fredrik Halland sings “Stranded” Myra sings “Heart on fire” Gothminister sings “We come alive” Ingrid Jasmin sings “Eya” Margaret Berger sings “Oblivion” Gothminister took part in the 2013 semifinal.Margaret Berger represented Norway in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest. Margaret Berger sings “I feed you my love” in 2013.

🇲🇩 MOLDOVA: audition round!

Today, the audition round in Moldova will be held. 30 songs will take part in Etapa Națională, the national selection of Moldova. 10 of them will be selected for the final. The show starts at 15.00 CET and you can watch it here, here or on YouTube. These are the 30 titles: Anna G sings “Ay Ay Ay” Anna Gulko sings “Perfect place” Cătălina Solomac sings “Fever” Denis Midone sings “Back to me” DPSTP sings “Rise up” Formația Vele sings “Carnaval” Iulia Teleucă sings “Runaway” Laura sings “Spune-mi” Maria Colac sings “Break free” Max Cara sings “Broke the chain” Natalia Barbu sings “In the middle” Nicoleta Sava sings “Brava” Nino sings “Up again” OL sings “No time no space” Oleg Spînu sings “Jungle” Oliv Sky sings “Another universe” Oliv Sky sings “Loud and clear” Poli sings “Lui” Reghina Alexandrina sings “Contrasens” Sasha Bognibov sings “Married to twins” Sasha Letty sings “DNA” Tudor Bumbac sings “Tudorel” Valeria Pasha sings “Anti-princess” Valleria sings “Rule (Rai di ri di)” Valleria sings “Run” Victor Gulic sings “Fever” Victor Lozinsky sings “Dirty wind/Joker and Harley move” Viola Julea sings “Light up!” Y-Limit sings “Revolution” Y-Limit sings “what’s the fun” Anna Gulko participated in 2010 (internet round), 2012 (14th), 2013 (13th), 2014 (semifinal) and 2016 (semifinal)Denis Midone took part in 2020 (14th) and 2022.Formaţia Vele auditioned last year.Natalia Barbu represented Moldova in the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest. In 2011 she became 2nd in the national final.Nicoleta Sava became 7th in 2018.Nino reached a 7th place in 2022.OL was 6th last year.Sasha Bognibov auditioned in 2007, took part in the 2010 internet round, took part in 2022 and auditioned in 2023.Sasha Letty was 14th in 2020.Tudor Bumbac auditioned in 2020 and in 2022.Valleria auditioned last year.Victor Gulic was 9th last year.Viola Julea took part in 2022.Y-Limit auditioned in 2022 and 2023. Natalia Barbu sang “Fight” in ESC 2007.

🇲🇩 🇳🇴 🇱🇹 🇮🇱 Update on several countries

Yesterday was the last quiet Saturday in the Eurovision universe. We have some upcoming events however: Moldova 31 songs will enter the annual audition round. 32 songs were planned, but Aliona Moon, who was selected, withdrew. We still have Natalia Barbu, the 2007 contestant, who will attempt to represent the country again. And….. Pasha Parfeny (2012 and 2023) wrote a song for Valeria Pasha. Norway Melodi Grand Prix, the Norwegian selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, starts next Saturday too. Last week, it was announced that KEiiNO and Margaret Berger will return. As 50% of the duo Mistra, we will also see Benedicte Adrian. Who!? Well, she was also 50% of Dollie Deluxe (1984). Lithuania Also Lithuania starts with their national selection. The name Pabandom iš naujo! is gone, the contest will now take place under the name Eurovizija LT. Not new is the name of one of the favourites: Monika. Could it be Monika Marija this time? A familiar name among the contestants however is…. The Roop!!! Will Lithuania colour yellow again? Israel The time of the auditions is over. The jury made a shortlist of 14 contestants. Devided over 2 shows, they performed again. This time, only the artist who was placed last is out of the competition. 3 January Mika Moshe, 96% Or Cohen, 94% Jonathan Bitton, 65% Moria Angel, 50% Dor Shimon, 60% Gal Kafri, 41% – eliminated Eden Golan, 85% 7 January Lian Biran, 93% Ido Bartal, 67% Shai Tamino, 84% Yehuda Saado, 50% – eliminated Orel David, 95% Mika Kertis, 72% Arik Sinai, 91% Arik Sinai also participated in the national final in 1985, and became 4th.

🇦🇱 🇮🇱 🇨🇭 Update on what happens in and around Europe

Albania has chosen, Israel continues and Switzerland teases. That is what happens in Europe on the field of Eurovision. Albania Albania has chosen. Not Mal Retkonceri, who won Festivali i Këngës goes to Eurovision. The favourite of the televote, Besa Kokëdhima, will do so. It is not known whether her song “Zemrën n’dorë” will be in Eurovision in the way it was presented last week. We will keep you updated. Note that you can find her biography, and all the others of the chosen artists so far, can be found on our website. Israel Israel continues to have auditions. Still, when a candidate gets 70% of the votes (50% of the audience, 50% of an expert jury) they are through to the next round. 17 december Noah Aharon, 94%Zohar Zacharov, 81%Or Giny, 55%Libi Natfali, 82% 18 december Mika Kertis, 87%Israel Levi, 70%Frida Uziel, 57%Eitan Jomo, 90%Romi Netz, 78% Note that Frida Uziel also took part in 2019. She was rejected, but saved by the hosts. This time, a saviour by the hosts is not possible. Frida didn’t make it to the next round 20 december Or Cohen, 83%Gal Kafri, 86%Shoval Mualem, 62%Tahel Perry, 79%Tamar Ben-Zvi, 77% Switzerland Swiss TV announced that they will not be represented by a man with a ballad. Still, everything is possible. A man, with an uptempo song? A woman, with a ballad? Or a woman, but uptempo? Or a group? We don’t know yet, but thanks for the teaser Switzerland!

🇦🇱 Besa Kokëdhima represents Albania

Besa Kokhëdima represents Albania with the song “Zemrën n’dorë “. The song was chosen by televoting out of all the participating songs from Festivali i Këngës, the national song contest in Albania. Besa wrote the song together with Kledi Bahiti and Rozana Radi. The winner of the contest itself was Mal Retkoceri. These are, as far as we know, the results of the contest: Mal Retkoceri, “Çmendur” Tiri Gjoci, “Në ënderr” Shpat Deda, “S’mund t’fitoj pa ty” other songs in the final: Kastro Zino, “2073” Erina & The Elementals, “Jeten n’skaj” Melodajn Mancaku, “Nuk jemi më” Kleansa Susaj, “Pikture” Irma Lepuri, “Me prit” Festina Mejzini, “Melos” Eldis Arrnjeti, “Nje kujtim” Martina Serreqi, “Vetem ty” Besa Krasniqi, “Esenciale” Sergio Hajdini, “Uragan” Olimpia Smajlaj, “Saj” Anduel Kovaci, “Nan” Michela Paluca, “Për veten” PeterPan Quartet, “Nje here” Besa Kokëdhima, “Zemrën n’dorë” Arsi Bako, “Sgjohu” Elsa Lila, “Mars” Andi Tanko, “Herë pas here” Big Basta & Vesa Luma, “Mbinatyrale”

🇦🇱 Albania: second night Festivali i Këngës

Tonight is the second night of Festivali i Këngës, the Albanian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. The second semifinal will be held tonight, 21.00 CET. You can watch it here and on YouTube. The show will be aired from the Palace of Congress in Tirana and will be hosted by Adriana Matoshi, Kledi Kadiu, Xhuliano Dule & Krisa Çaushi. Full results are not expected tonight. These are the songs: Big Basta & Vesa Luma sing “Mbinatyrale” Elsa Lila sings “Mars” Jasmina Hako sings “Ti” Michela Paluca sings “Për veten” Anduel Kovaci sings “Nan’” Irma Lepuri sings “Me prit” Eden Baja sings “Ajër” Erina & The Elementals sing “Jetën n’Skaj” Kleansa Susaj sings “Pikturë” Arsi Bako sings “Zgjohu” Tiri Gjoci sings “Në ëndërr” Besa Krasniqi sings “Esenciale” Bledi Kaso sings “Çdo gjë mbaroi” Troy Band sing “Horizonti i ëndrrave” Martina Serreqi sings “Vetëm ty” Vesa Luma took part in 2005 (final), 2008 (semifinal) and 2013 (15th).Elsa Lila won Festivali i Këngës last year, but the choice of the televoters went to Eurovision.Arsi Bako took part in the 2023 semifinal.Tiri Gjoci participated in 2018 (final) and 2020 (final).Besa Krasniqi took part in 2016 (final).

🇦🇱 Albania: Festivali i Këngës, first evening tonight

Tonight is the first night of Festivali i Këngës, the Albanian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. Normally, this marks the start of the national final season. However, this year everything is different. We already know two songs for Eurovision. The first semifinal will be held tonight, 20.00 CET. You can watch it here on YouTube and on Facebook. The show will be aired from the Palace of Congress in Tirana and will be hosted by Adriana Matoshi, Kledi Kadiu, Xhuliano Dule & Krisa Çaushi. Full results are not expected tonight. These are the songs: Stivi Ushe sings “Askush si ty” Besa Kokëdhima sings “Zemrën n’dorë” Mal Retkorceri sings “Çmendur” Eldis Arrnjeti sings “Nje kujtim” Shpat Deda sings “S’mund t’fitoj pa ty” Jehona Ponari sings “Evol” PeterPan Quartet sings “Edhe nje here” Festina Mejzini sings “Melos” Kastro Zizo sings “2073” Luan Durmishi sings “Përsëritja” Melodajn Mancaku sings “Nuk jemi ne” Olsi Ballta sings “Unë” Andi Tanko sings “Herë pas here” Sergio Hajdini sings “Uragan” Santino de Bartolo sings “Dua të rry me ty” Olimpia Smajlaj sings “Asaj” Besa Kokëdhima already took part in 2009 (4th) and 2011 (8th).Festina Mejzini was present in 2017 (semifinal), 2018 (final) and 2021 (3rd).Kastro Zizo participated in 2020 (semifinal), 2021 (final) and 2022 (semifinal).Melodajna Mancaku and Sergio Hajdini both reached the final in 2023.Andi Tanko took part in the 2016 semifinal.Olimpia Smajlaj reached the final in 2022.

🇨🇿 🇬🇧 🇮🇱 🇳🇱 🇸🇮 🇸🇪 Update after a turbulent week

It has been a turbulent week in the world of Eurovision. No less than four countries presented their participant, one of which also included a song. And as if that was not enough, the EBU also presented the theme art. Israel Let’s all start were it started. The 10th of december was the day of the next round in Israel. This was the result: Malki Lipsker, 95% Raz Levi, 53% Dor Shimon, 93% Yehuda Saado, 73% None of them took part before in Kokhav Nolad when it was the national final for Eurovision. However, Yehuda Saado won the contest in 2005, way before it became the Eurovision national final. The Netherlands Last Monday, it was announced that the Netherlands will be represented by Joost Klein. Joost is especially known for his international hit “Frieschenjung”. You can read everything about Joost here. The song will be presented in March. Slovenia Tuesday was the day of Slovenia. Rumour had it already, but now it was confirmed that Raiven will be the Slovenian representative. Raiven took part in the national selection EMA more than once. Read all about it here. Czechia Wednesday, the result of the Czech final was announced. Aiko is the happy one, her song “Pedestal” will be the Czech entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. You can also find out who Aiko is at her page on our site. Theme Art Thursday, the theme art was published. The theme art makes it possible to have a consistent experience regardless of platform or screen size. Also good to know: the allocation draw, in which it will be decided which country will perform in which semifinal, will be held on January 30. United Kingdom Surprise, surprise, Saturday evening Olly Alexander suddenly announced that he will be the 2024 UK representant. The song will be announced later, in 2024. But until then, you can find all the information about Olly here.

Czechia chose Aiko

The Czech national final for the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest has been won by Aiko. With her song “Pedestal” she was selected by both Czech and international televoters. The full results are: Aiko, “Pedestal”, 1st Elly, “The angel’s share”, 2nd Gianna Lei, “Starlet” Lenny, “Good enough”, 4th Mydy, “Red Flag Parade”, 3rd Tom Sean, “Dopamine overdose”, 6th Tomas Robin, “Out of my mind”

🇨🇿 Tonight: Czechia selects a song!

Tonight Czechia selects a song! The Czech audience will select their song out of seven contestants. The show will be aired from the Roxy in Prague. The show will be hosted by Adam Mišík and former Austrian representative Cesár Sampson. The show starts at 20.15 and you can watch it here. Although the plan was that the titles and songs were going to be revealed during the show itself, some of the songs leaked. None of the contestants participated before. These are the participants: Aiko The angel’s share Elly Gianna Lei Lenny Red Flag Parade MYDY Tom Sean Out Of My Mind Tomas Robin