returning artist

Gjon’s Tears

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameGjon Muharremaj Born29 june 1998 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionInternal Selection In Eurovision2021 Rotterdam2020 Rotterdam (Cancelled) SongTout l’univers (2021)Répondez-moi (2020) Biography Gjon’s Tears, real name Gjon Muharremaj, is a Swiss singer of Kosovar origin. His stage name Gjon’s Tears is based on a childhood experience: When he was nine, he moved his grandfather to tears with a performance of Elvis Presley’s “Help Falling in Love”. It was his grandfather who registered him for Albania’s Got Talent in 2011, where he finished third. The following year, Gjon’s Tears participated in Die grössten Schweizer Talente. He also took part in the French version of The Voice. In 2020, he was supposed represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Répondez-moi”. Unfortunately, due to the cancellation of the contest, that didn’t happen. Swiss TV has now invited him to be the 2021 contestant. His song, “Tout l’univers”, became the winner of the expert jury. Overall, Gjon became 3rd. Also in 2021, Gjon’s Tears featured in a song of Arilena Ara, with the title “Dance me”. He won an MTV Europe Music Award for best Swiss song. At the end of 2021 he participated in The Voice All Stars France. In 2022, his song “Silhouette” became a huge hit in Albania. Entries Tout l’univers Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2021 LanguageFrench Lyrics & MusixGjon MuharremajWouter HardyNina Sampermans MusicGjon MuharremajWouter HardyNina SampermansXavier Michel Backings– Results Semi Points: 291Position: 1 Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: 432Position: 3Running order: 14 https://youtu.be/jznH_fltcYA Répondez-moi Country Switzerland Year2021 LanguageFrench Lyrics & MusicGjon MuharremajXavier MichelAlizé OswaldJeroen Swinnen Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/O9GAfFHZE-E

Ira Losco

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameIra Losco Born31 June 1981 Nationality🇲🇹 Maltese National SelectionMalta Eurovision Song Contest 2016Malta Song For Europe 2002Malta Song For Europe 2001Malta Song For Europe 2000 In EurovisionYear City SongSong (Year) Biography Born in 1981 in Sliema, Malta, Ira Losco’s passion for music was ignited during her childhood. She embarked on her musical journey by actively participating in various performances at her schools. At the same time, she joined a local alternative band called Tiara, which allowed her to showcase her talent in different venues such as hotels and clubs. Together, they released an album titled “Hi-infidelity” in 2001 before eventually parting ways in 2002. Ira made her introduction to the local music scene as a solo artist when she took part in the Festival Kanzunetta ghaz-zghazagh 1999. It was during this time that she also participated in the Festival internazzjonali Kanzunetta Maltija, where she achieved a notable 5th place with her song “Thallinix.” Her outstanding performance earned her the prestigious FIDOF award, recognizing her as the most promising singer. After making her mark on the local music scene, Ira Losco ventured into the realm of Eurovision by participating in the national preselection event, Malta Song For Europe 2000. It was her first time competing, and she managed to secure a spot in the final with not just one, but two songs: “Shine” and “Falling in love.” These impressive achievements catapulted her into the spotlight, solidifying her reputation as one of the esteemed and prominent local singers. Furthermore, Ira experienced another monumental triumph in her career with her involvement in the musical production “Rita ta’ Cascia,” where she skillfully portrayed the leading character. Her career breakthrough came in 2002, when she represented Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 with the song “7th Wonder”. She placed second in the competition, Malta’s best ever result. Fourteen years later, she returned and represented Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song “Walk on Water”, placing twelfth. Losco has released five studio albums in her career, and is one of the most successful Maltese musicians of all-time. In 2018, she served as a judge on the inaugural season of X Factor Malta. Entries Walk On Water Country🇲🇹 Malta Year2016 LanguageEnglish LyricsLisa DesmondTim LarssonTobias LundgrenMolly Pettersson-HammarIra Losco MusicLisa DesmondTim LarssonTobias LundgrenMolly Pettersson-HammarIra Losco BackingsAnna AzzopardiPamela BezzinaMolly Pettersson-HammarLars Säfsund DancersSkorpion Results Semi Points: 209Position: 3Running order: 18 Results Finals Points: 153Position: 12Running order: 22 https://youtu.be/58YS5m3EYVY 7th Wonder Country🇲🇹 Malta Year2002 LanguageEnglish LyricsGerard James Borg MusicPhilip Vella BackingsAiri AllveeJelena JuzvikLiisi KoiksonDagmar OjaKaire Vilgats Results Points: 164Position: 2Running order: 20 https://youtu.be/CSDAd2GfcQA

Zdob și Zdub

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts MembersRoman Iagupov (05-11-22)Mihai Gîncu (05-11-22)Valeriu Mazîlu (05-11)Pugaci Anatol (2005)Igor Buzurniuc (2005)Victor Dandeș (2011)Sveatoslav Starus (11-22)Andrei Cebotari (11-22) Established1994 Nationality🇲🇩 Moldovan National SelectionO melodie pentru Europa 2005, 2011, 2022 In Eurovision2022 Turin2011 Düsseldorf2005 Kiev SongTrenulețul (2022, with Fraţii Advahov)So lucky (2011)Boonika bate doba (2005) Biography Zdob şi Zdub is a rock band from the Republic of Moldova. The band was founded in 1994 by a group of friends from the city of Straseni, Moldova. When the band was formed in 1994, they still performed in various formations. Their initial sound was more like hardcore punk, the lyrics of their songs were mostly in Russian. The group made their debut at an event called “10 Years After Chernobyl” in Chisinau. In November 1994 they recorded their first demo tape and played at a festival in Moscow, where they performed for the first time under the name “Zdob și Zdub”. In July 1996 they opened for Rage Against the Machine at the same festival with songs in Russian and Romanian. The song “Hardcore Moldovenesc” became a hit. In the same year Zdob și Zdub signed a contract with the Russian record company FeeLee and released their debut album “Hardcore Moldovenesc”. Around 1998 their sound began to change, the songs were provided with elements of local folklore, the lyrics were mainly in Romanian. In May 1999 their second album was released with the title “Tabăra Noastră” In august of the same year, Zdob și Zdub played at the Russian MTV party held on Red Square in Moscow, along with Russian bands such as Gorky Park and I.F.K and the American Red Hot Chili Peppers. In October 2000, the group recorded a cover version of the song “Videli still” by the Russian band Kino. With this song they took part in the tribute album “Kinoproby” for the late poet, actor and frontman of the band Kino, Viktor Tsoi. The cover became a hit across the Commonwealth of Independent States and topped the charts in many CIS countries throughout the year. About half a million of the tribute albums have been sold. The band was awarded the best live band of the year 2000 in Russia by the St. Petersburg music magazine Fuzz. The band has toured extensively and continues to do so, mainly in Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Romania, but also in Germany (1998), the Netherlands (2000) and more recently Serbia, Hungary and Italy. In 2001, the album “Agroromantica”, which roughly means “country romance”, was presented. The following year, the group won the equivalent MTV Romania Video Music Award. In 2003, her song “Everybody in the Casa Mare” was played in the opening and closing credits of the short film Călătorie la oraș (A Trip to the City). In November of the same year, a new album was released. The album reached number 12 in the World Music Charts Europe. In October 2004, the group was working on a new album in their studio, which would be dedicated to the band’s 10th anniversary. The album included the 10 best songs of the last 10 years, according to Zdob și Zdub, and 5 new tracks. In 2005, Zdob și Zdub was chosen to be the very first representatives of Moldova in the Eurovision Song Contest. The band reached a 7th place. In 2007, the band appeared in the BBC travel documentary series Michael Palin’s New Europe. Also in 2007, a mashup music video called “Black Eyed Peace ft Zdob şi Zdub – Don’t Mess with Inima Mea” surfaced on the internet, featuring a mix of the Black Eyed Peas’ song “Don’t Phunk with My Heart”. In 2009, the group released the song “Na rechke, na rechke”, for the project “Solj” on Russian Radio. In December 2009, Zdob și Zdub recorded the track “Telega” for the tribute album “Maschinopisj”, dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Russian band Maschina Vremeni. In February 2011, the band was again chosen to represent Moldova at the Eurovision Song Contest, this time with the song “So Lucky”. They reached a 10th place. In 2012 the album Basta Mafia!, partly produced in Germany, was released, followed by a tour. For the 20th anniversary in 2015 an album with songs accompanied by an orchestra was released. In 2018 they released the single “Balkana Mama” together with singer Loredana Groza and in 2019 the new album Bestiarium. In 2022 the band again represented Moldova in the 66th Eurovision Song Contest, this time with the duo Frații Advahov and the song “Trenulețul”. For their participation they received a special reward from the Moldovan president. In March 2023 the band performed in Brussels and London. Zdob și Zdub was awarded the Gavriil Muzicescu Culture Award. In July they performed in Barcelona. In November they teamed up with the Romanian band Voltaj to record the song “Fraz”. Entries Trenulețul (with Fraţii Advahov) Country🇲🇩 Moldova Year2022 LanguageRomanian LyricsMihai GîncuRoman IagupovSviatoslav StaruşAndrei CebotariVitalie AdvahovVasile Advahov MusicMihai GîncuRoman IagupovSviatoslav StaruşAndrei CebotariVitalie AdvahovVasile Advahov Backings– Results Semi Points: 154Position: 8Running order: 9 Results Finals Points: 253Position: 7Running order: 19 https://youtu.be/DUqf_zO2QaI So lucky Country🇲🇩 Moldova Year2011 LanguageEnglish LyricsAndy ShumanMarc Elsner MusicRoman IagupovMihai GincuMarc Elsner DancersTatjana Ilescu (circus artist) Results Semi Points: 54Position: 10Running order: 7 Results Finals Points: 97Position: 12Running order: 15 https://youtu.be/nHAY_OVN_gY Boonika bate doba Country🇲🇩 Moldova Year2005 LanguageRomanianEnglish LyricsRoman Iagupov MusicMihai Gincu Backings– Results Semi Points: 207Position: 2Running order: 4 Results Finals Points: 148Position: 6Running order: 7 https://youtu.be/mVhtWfC7RF4

Omar Naber

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameOmar Kareem Naber Born07 July 1981 Nationality🇸🇮 Slovenian National SelectionEMA 2017EMA 2014EMA 2011EMA 2009EMA 2005 In Eurovision2017 Kyiv2005 Kyiv SongOn My Way (2017)Stop (2005) Biography Omar Naber, born in Ljubljana, is a Slovenian musician and singer. He originates from a Slovenian mother and a Jordan father. In the first grade of elementary school, Omar joined the school choir and soon took on the role of soloist. In the sixth grade, he gave his first solo performance at a school event. He continued his singing career in the youth choir of RTV Slovenija, and shortly afterwards in the mixed youth choir of Ljubljana high school students, called Veter, which is still active today. He started writing his own music at the age of sixteen. In 1999, he founded a band that is still active today with minor personnel changes, with which he has recorded over 800 performances, of which over 100 are for charity. In 2001, he took second place at the music competition ‘Kdo bo osvojil Triglav‘ and immediately afterwards signed a contract with Nika Records. He worked as a backing vocalist for many Slovenian performers, both in studio recording and at performances. He recorded backing vocals for various albums. Omar achieved wider media recognition at the end of 2004 by winning Bitka Talentov in the show Spet Doma. The prize for winning the Bitka Talentov was participation in EMA 2005, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. Omar won EMA and in the same year represented Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest with his own composition “Stop” and reached 11th place in the semi-finals. In the same year, he released his self-titled debut, an album with the simple title “Omar”, from which he recorded no less than seven hits, most of which he is the author of: “Vse, kar si želiš”, “Krasen dan”, “Stop”, “Polje tvojih sanj”, “Skrivaj sanjava”, “Omar ti teslo” and “Ves tvoj svet”. The record was a great springboard for further musical journey. The album sold more than 10,000 copies. In this year, he performed a lot outside the borders of Slovenia; in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Italy, Austria, Ukraine, Spain and Slovakia. In 2005, he was the most played author in Slovenia. As a performer, he was nominated for Viktor in 2006 along with Siddhartha and Neisha. In 2006, he also recorded and released his debut album in Serbia. He released his third original album called “Kareem” in 2007. It contained 15 original tracks, tjree of which were released on single: “Poseben dan”, “Vse, kar imam” and “Vladarjev um”. In 2009, Omar participated in EMA again. He managed to reach the 2nd place in the final with the song. Along with several other songs released between 2008 and 2012, the song could be found on the 2014 album “Na glavo”. Same goes for “Bistvo skrito je očem”, the song Omar sang at EMA 2011. Unfortunately, he was less succesfull with this song, not reaching the final. In 2014, he released his fourth original album, simultaneously in Slovenia and England. The Slovenian version is called “Na glavo”, while the English version is called “No Helmet”. In 2015 and 2016 Omar released a total of 6 singles. On February 25, he won EMA 2017 with “On My Way.” He represented Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv, where he unfortunately did not reach the final. In the same year, he teamed up with Slovenian rapper Vauks for the song “Placebo” and with Bojan Cvjetićanin for the song “Aleppo”. In 2018 Omar released two singles: “I still believe in you” and “Rad bi spet verjel”. Two years later, in 2020, his song “Fight for victory” appeared in the Irish indie film Bad Boyz. He also released two other singles: “Mamma Maria” and “Cesta in nebo”. On May 20, 2022, his song “Ogenj!” was released on video. Three months later he teamed up with Saša Lešnjek for the new song “Glas srca” Entries On My Way Country🇸🇮 Slovenia Year2017 LanguageEnglish LyricsOmar Naber MusicOmar Naber Backings– Results Semi Points: 36Position: 17Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/vbGub2klcV4 Stop Country🇸🇮 Slovenia Year2005 LanguageSlovenian LyricsOmar Naber MusicOmar NaberUrša Vlašić BackingsTeja Saksida Results Semi Points: 69Position: 12Running order: 23 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/qUTIYik9cRA

Mahmood

About Quick Facts NameAlessandro Mahmoud Born12 september 1992 Nationality🇮🇹 Italian National SelectionFestival di San Remo 2019Festival di San Remo 2022 In Eurovision2019 Tel Aviv2022 Turin SongBrividi (with Blanco, 2022)Soldi (2019) Biography Mahmood is an Italian singer-songwriter from Milan. He was born to a Sardinian mother and an Egyptian father. His stage name Mahmood is a play on words between the surname (Mahmoud) and the English expression my mood (my mood). After graduating from high school, he studied at the CPM Music Institute-Centro Professione Musica in Milan, where he met Andrea Rodini, his teacher and first manager, and Francesco Fugazza, Elia Pastori and Marcello Grilli, members of his band and first producers. In 2012 he took part in the talent show X Factor. After the X Factor, he begins to write and produce his songs. In 2013 he published the EP Fallin ‘Rain, containing five versions of the song. In 2015 he took part in Area Sanremo, winning the first prize and the right to participate in the Sanremo Festival 2016 in the Nuove Proposti category with the song “Dimentica”. Meanwhile, he published an English-language single, “The Chair”, in collaboration with Martha. In 2017 he published the single “Pesos”, with which he participated in the Summer Festival 2017. In the same year, he collaborated with Michele Bravi, writing and singing a duet “Presi Male”. He also wrote songs for other artists. In September 2018 his EP “Gioventù bruciata” was released. A victory in Sanremo Giovani allows Mahmood to participate in the Sanremo Festival 2019 with the song “Soldi”. He was the surprise winner of the festival. Following the victory, the song reached the top of the Italian charts, where it remained for six weeks. Because of his victory in Sanremo, Mahmood became first choice to represent Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest. He said yes, but later started to doubt about it. After a Twitterstorm, he decided to do it, and became 2nd in Tel Aviv with “Soldi”. In 2020, Mahmood wrote a song for Elodie, which she sang at the Sanremo festival. A year later, he wrote songs for Francesca Michelin and for Fedez. Also in 2021, he was finally able to release his second album “Ghettolimpo”. In 2022 he participated in the festival of Sanremo again, now in duet with Blanco. They won the prize. They represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest with their song “Brividi”. Entries Brividi (with Blanco) Country Italy Year2022 LanguageItalian LyricsAlessandro MahmoodRiccardo ‘Blanco’ FabbriconiMichele ‘Michelangelo’ Zocca MusicAlessandro MahmoodRiccardo ‘Blanco’ FabbriconiMichele ‘Michelangelo’ Zocca BackingsMichelangelo Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 268Position: 6 Running order: 9 https://youtu.be/blEy4xHuMbY Soldi Country Italy Year2019 LanguageItalian LyricsAlessandro Mahmoud MusicCharlie CharlesDario ‘Dardust’ FainiAlessandro Mahmoud Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 472Position: 2Running order: 22 https://youtu.be/M-aoyPa41Ic

Serhat

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts NameAhmet Serhat Hacıpaşalıoğlu Born24 October 1964 Nationality🇹🇷 Turkish National SelectionInternal selection 2019Internal selection 2016 In Eurovision2019 Tel Aviv2016 Stockholm SongSay na na na (2019)I didn’t know (2016) Biography Serhat is a Turkish singer, songwriter, composer, producer and television presenter. He was born in Istanbul. He originally studied dentistry, but his career in showbusiness started when he established a production company in 1994. He produced the show Riziko!, a Turkish version of the American show Jeopardy!. He hosted the show himself and received several awards for it. While keeping on hosting shows, Serhat began a career in music as well in 1997. That was the year he released his debut single “Rüya”. He sang a duet with Viktor Lazlo in 2005, “Total disguise”, and with Tamara Gverdtstiteli in 2008. It took him until 2014 to release a new single, “Je m’adore”. Serhat’s working field had now changed to France and Germany. The song topped several dance charts in Germany, France, the UK and Switzerland. In 2016, Serhat represented San Marino in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “I didn’t know”. Although he did not reach the final, a disco version of the song reached the US dance charts. In 2018, Serhat re-released “Total disguise”, but now in duet with Helena Paparizou. In 2019, Serhat represented San Marino again with the song “Say na na na”. The song became the best scoring song for San Marino so far. In October 2020, the Spanish version of the song, “Di Na Na Na”, with Spanish lyrics by Adolfo Caiman, was released in a music video. In 2023, Serhat co-wrote the song “Unsaid” together with Jens Geerts. It was released on single by Belgian singer Els Deschepper. Entries Say Na Na Na Country🇸🇲 San Marino Year2019 LanguageEnglishTurkish LyricsSerhat HacıpaşalıoğluMary Susan Applegate MusicSerhat Hacıpaşalıoğlu BackingsGiulia WahnChantal HartmannInès Schubert DancersJohan D. SeilSebastián Millepied Results Semi Points: 150Position: 8Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: 77Position: 19Running order: 7 https://youtu.be/d_iEis_ZRoQ I didn’t know Country🇸🇲 San Marino Year2016 LanguageEnglish LyricsNektarios Tyrakis MusicOlcayto Ahmet Tuğsuz BackingsCaroline HauwelEllia PalazziEmilie WeberJessica FagniotOphelie Crispin Results Semi Points: 12Position: 68Running order: 8 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/HzPkDb2FSeg