Rock

They will rock you!

It is often said: Rock music… that doesn’t belong in the Eurovision Song Contest. But why not? And who decides? That is the counter-question. The answer is simple; If we look at the rules of the EBU, there are rules about length, publication, originality, but not about the genre.So…. Rock music at Eurovision: Sure thing! The early years For the very first Rock entry, we’re going all the way back to…..1956! An entry in the very first year of Eurovision, which would not be out of place for Elvis (regardless of the language). The Austrian Freddy Quin was one of the German representatives; his song was called was “So geht das jede Nacht”. As with every entry in the Eurovision Song Contest of 1956, apart from the winner, the placement is unknown. Varying degrees of success and the lowest ranking Rock songs were submitted with varying degrees of success in the years that followed. In 1982 a Rock-bottom was reached: Finland’s Kojo with “Nuku pommiin”, took the very last place with 0 points. Was it really that bad, or was Europe not ready for it? Judge for yourself: Rock Win It took quite some time before Rock really made a difference at Eurovision, but in 2006 the time had come: Lordi for Finland with “Hardrock Hallelujah” won the contest with 292 points. Rock is part of it After that, Rock as a type of music at Eurovision was taken a lot more seriously. Bigger successes were achieved, and in 2018 even a Hungarian hard metal band managed to reach the finals. That AWS with “Viszlát Nyár” finished last in the grand final, doesn’t matter… They made it to the finals. The icing on the Rockcake was, of course, Måneskin in 2021. France was the big favorite (Barbara Pravi), but with 524 points, Italy left France behind. The conclusion may be that Rock definitely belongs at Eurovision, although opinions will always be divided on this. 2024 was a year without Rock. We are curious to see what 2025 will bring.

Kalamari

About Quick Facts MembersJože Pepi JežMatjaž ŠvagelRok Tomažinčič (not on stage)Egon Prinčič (not on stage) Active1993 – 2020 Nationality🇸🇮 Slovenian National SelectionEMA 2010EMA 2004 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongNarodnozabavni Rock (& Ansambel Žlindra, 2010) Biography Kalamari was a coastal music group that started in November 1993. Jože Jež (Pepi), Matjaž Švagelj, and Aleksander (Sandi) Kokošar came together to perform a few shows at a hotel. They quickly stood out because of their good performances and especially their three-part singing, which other groups couldn’t do as well. Early on, they tried writing their own songs and released an album called “Dobra vila” in 1995. This album had some radio hits, but the group became well-known across Slovenia with their second album “S tabo držim.” The song “Angelca” from this album became a big hit and is still popular at parties today. The group grew from three members to four and then five, which made their live shows even better. They became very successful with their third album, especially with the song “V vetru rdečih zastav,” which won second place and a lyrics award at the “Slovenska popevka” festival. Their live shows became even more popular, and they started performing not just in Slovenia but also in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro. Because of their busy schedule, some members left, deciding not to become professional musicians. However, the group kept writing new songs and did well at music festivals, winning awards for songs like “Kup besed,” “Zadnja šansa,” and “Preden zaspi.” With the song “Boš prišla”, Kalamari took part in EMA 2004, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. Unfortunately, they didn’t make it to the EMA final. Their biggest success was at the EMA 2010 competition, where they won with the song “Narodnozabavni rock” along with the Roka Žlindre ensemble. Slavko Ivančić and the late Danilo Kocjančič, who wrote some of their songs, often performed with Kalamari. After their big win at EMA, the group’s popularity and the number of performances slowly decreased. In 2014, frontman Jože Jež (Pepi) left the group and was replaced by Darjan Gržina. In 2020, partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group decided to split up. Entries Narodnozabavni Rock (& Ansambel Žlindra) Country🇸🇮 Slovenia Year2010 LanguageSlovenian LyricsLeon Oblak MusicMarino Legovič Backings– Results Semi Points: 6Position: 16Running order: 11 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/2faHkE1JZwc?si=8VAHdktaElgzHKPY

maNga

About Quick Facts MembersCem BahtiyarEfe YılmazFerman AkgülÖzgür Can ÖneyYağmur Sarıgül Founded2001 Nationality🇹🇷 Turkey National SelectionInternal selection 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongWe Could Be The Same (2010) Biography maNga, an Ankara-based Turkish rock band, delves into Alternative Rock, Nu-Metal, and Rapcore, boasting six studio albums to date. Their story unfolds from late 2001, beginning with Yağmur Sarıgül “Yamyam” (Guitar) merging rock with electronics, alongside Orçun Şekerusta (Bass Guitar), Özgür Can Öney (Drums), Efe Yılmaz (Turntable), and Ferman Akgül (Vocals), embracing Nu-Metal and Hardcore. This blend was spurred by Yamyam’s expulsion from a bar band and fueled by a desire to innovate within rock’s realms. Their ambition took them to the “Sing Your Song” contest in September 2001, marking the start of their album journey, which was further shaped by Orçun’s departure and Cem Bahtiyar’s entry. This pivotal moment led to the birth of maNga, inspired by Japanese comics, uniting diverse musical tastes and narratives. Their initial success was clinched with a second-place win at the “Sing Your Song” contest with “Kal Yanımda,” propelling them to produce hits like “Bitti Rüya,” “Libido,” and “Yalan.” Their endeavors were amplified by Haluk Kurosman’s support, driving them to share their music across Turkey. December 5, 2004, marked their debut album’s release, “maNga,” featuring collaborations with notable artists and achieving over 180,000 sales, earning a Gold Disc. The album’s tracks, including “Bir Kadın Çizeceksin,” found a place in EA Sports’ FIFA 2006 soundtrack, showcasing their growing influence. In June 2006, “maNga” was re-released as “maNga+” with new tracks and a DVD, reflecting the band’s evolving identity post-tours. This was followed by “Şehr-i Hüzün” in 2009, a testament to their refined sound and broader musical scope, resonating with fans and critics alike. A significant highlight was their Eurovision 2010 representation for Turkey with “We Could Be The Same,” achieving second place and marking a historic moment in their career. 2012 saw “E-akustik,” blending electric and acoustic sounds, featuring duets that underscored maNga’s versatility. This album underscored their adaptability and innovative spirit. In 2013, amidst their evolving journey, maNga announced the departure of DJ Efe Yılmaz, continuing as a quartet with unwavering commitment to their music and performances. Transitioning into a Rock-Nu Metal style, “Işıkları Söndürseler Bile” was unveiled in 2014, continuing their tradition of thematic and musical evolution. This period also saw their contribution to the soundtrack of “Hadi İnşallah,” reinterpreting Nilüfer’s “Yeniden Sev.” Post-2014, maNga embarked on cover projects and announced their studio return in 2018 under Demir Demirkan’s production, releasing “maNga X.” This era included summer tours, a 2019 maxi-single “Süper Güçlerimiz Var,” and teased an upcoming German single amidst plans for a new album in 2020, leading to the single “Zor” during COVID-19 quarantine days. The band’s shift towards progressive metal materialized with “Antroposen 001” in 2021, followed by “Antroposen 002” in 2023, marking their first entirely metal and experimental album. Entries We Could Be The Same Country🇹🇷 Turkey Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsEvren ÖzdemirCem BahtiyarEfe YılmazFerman AkgülÖzgür Can ÖneyYağmur SarıgülFiona Movery Akıncı MusicCem BahtiyarEfe YılmazFerman AkgülÖzgür Can ÖneyYağmur Sarıgül BackingsNathalie Marrable Results Semi Points: 118Position: 1Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: 170Position: 2Running order: 14 https://youtu.be/HB_GnnhNz-8?si=KmDEflRzgEj_K1Nr