Eurovision Song Contest 2020

[haiducii]

The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 will be the 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. The contest will take place in Rotterdam, Netherlands, following the country's victory at the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv, Israel, with the song "Arcade" performed by Duncan Laurence.



The contest will be held at Rotterdam Ahoy; it will consist of two semi-finals on 12 and 14 May, and the final on 16 May 2020. This will be the fifth time that the Netherlands hosts the contest, the last edition having been the 1980 contest, and the first Eurovision event to be hosted in the country since the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2012. Forty-one countries will participate in the contest. Bulgaria and Ukraine will return after their absences from the 2019 contest, while Hungary and Montenegro will withdraw.



On 4 December 2019, NPO announced that three presenters would host the three shows: actress and TV host Chantal Janzen, singer and the Dutch commentator for the contest Jan Smit and singer Edsilia Rombley, who represented the Netherlands in the 1998 and 2007 contests.

 

[haiducii]

Albania: Arilena Ara - Shaj

Arilena Ara (born 17 July 1998), also known mononymously as Arilena, is an Albanian recording artist and singer. She rose to significant fame in the Albanian-speaking world following her victory of the second season of the talent competition X Factor Albania.

In December 2019, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) announced Arilena as the Albanian representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, after she won the 58th edition of Festivali i Këngës with the song "Shaj (Shout)".

"Shaj" was written by Albanian songwriter Lindon Berisha and composed by Macedonian producers Darko Dimitrov and Lazar Cvetkovski. The song was met with a positive response from music critics following its release and victory at Festivali i Këngës. Eurovision(.)de writer Irving Wolther describes the song as a "melancholic power ballad".

 

[haiducii]

Spain: Blas Cantó - Universo

Spanish public broadcaster RTVE has unveiled that 'Universo' (Universe) is the title of the song that Blas Cantó will sing in Rotterdam in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 Grand Final on 16 May. Universo will be Spain's 60th entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, as the country has never been absent from the competition since its first participation back in 1961.

Blas Cantó Moreno (born 26 October 1991 in Ricote) is a Spanish singer. He rose to prominence as a member of the Spanish band Auryn. In 2017, he embarked on a solo career. His debut studio album Complicado was released in September 2018, the album peaked at number one on the Spanish Albums Chart.

Universo is a somewhat new sound for Blas Cantó, but the song stays true to the pop essence for which he is known in Spain. Filmed between Lanzarote and Tenerife and directed by Cristian Velasco, the video for Universo was developed with a Canarian team of about 70 people and was styled by Ana Locking.

 

[haiducii]

Czech Republic: Benny Cristo - Kemama

With a combined total of 22 points for his song 'Kemama', Benny Cristo has won the Czech national selection ESCZ. Benny received 12 points from the public and 10 from the jury. He will represent the Czech Republic on 14 May in the second Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020.

Ben Cristóvão (born 8 June 1987), also known as Benny Cristo has been a regular on the Czech music scene for over 10 years. His biggest hits so far are Bomby (24 million views on YouTube), Asio (14 million views) and Padam (24 million views). In addition to his musical career, he is a professional jiu-jitsu competitor, holding prestigious awards from international tournaments in his category.

Debuting in 2007, the Czech Republic’s first few attempts at Eurovision were not so successful. They failed to qualify to the grand final with their first three entries, coming last in the semi-final in 2007 and 2009. After taking a five year break, things eventually began to turn around for the central European nation. Gabriela Gunčíková took Czechia to the grand final of the contest for the first time in 2016 with her power ballad “I Stand”.

 

[haiducii]

Italy: Diodato - Fai rumore

'Sanremo 2020' has come to an end. During the final broadcast of the Italian song festival, the final scores were tabulated and it was announced that Diodato had won with the song 'Fai Rumore' (Make Noise). The singer will represent Italy in Rotterdam this May.

Antonio Diodato, born 30 August 1981, is an Italian singer/songwriter born in Aosta and has lived in Taranto and Rome. After making his first music in Stockholm, Diodato came back to Italy where he has released 3 albums so far.

Fai Rumore was written by Diodato and Edwyn Roberts and released on his fourth album, Che vita meravigliosa.

 

[haiducii]

Latvia: Samanta Tīna - Still Breathing

During final of Latvia’s Supernova, Samanta Tīna was chosen the winner of the show and will, therefore, represent the country in May in Rotterdam.

Samanta Poļakova (better known as Samanta Tīna), born 31 March 1989, is a singer from the small town of Tukums in Latvia. This year marks her sixth time entering the Latvian Eurovision selection process. Whilst bringing very different songs each time, what remains the same are her powerful vocals. She describes her voice as a god-given talent that needs to be heard on the big stage.

Samanta Tina's song, Still Breathing, is self-produced alongside producer Arnis Račinskis and co-written with Aminata Savadogo who represented Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with her song Love Injected. It combines her message of female empowerment with a voice you cannot fail to notice.

 

[haiducii]

Australia: Montaigne - Don't Break Me

During the final of the country’s national selection ‘Eurovision – Australia Decides’, Australia chose Montaigne to represent them at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. She will sing 'Don't Break Me' in Rotterdam next May.

Jessica Alyssa Cerro (born 14 August 1995), who performs as Montaigne, is an Australian art pop singer-songwriter-musician. At only 24, Sydney-based artist Montaigne has become a major name in Aussie indie music. Her debut album, Glorious Heights (2016) peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2016 she won Breakthrough Artist – Release for the album.

"Don’t Break Me is a depiction of the enough is enough phase of a relationship breakdown, where one person feels like they are putting much more time, energy and resources into the relationship than the other person and becomes frustrated and resentful. I wrote it while reading Codependent No More by Melody Beattie, which really informed the qualities of the character and the relationship dynamic.”

 

[takeitall456]

Glad to hear that, this year again, Australia is a part of european community :rofl:

 

[haiducii]

Glad to hear that, this year again, Australia is a part of european community :rofl:

Nowhere in the ESC rulebook does it say that participating countries must have a close proximity to Europe. They only have to be EBU members. And Australia is an associate member.

The link between Australia and Eurovision goes a very long way back. A number of Australian linked participants have represented other countries since the 1970s.

British-born, but Australian resident, Olivia Newton-John competed for the UK in 1974. Mr Eurovision himself Johnny Logan may be Irish, but he grew up just south of Melbourne in the city of Frankston where much of his family still resides. The UK entrant for 1996, Gina G, was more than “Just a Little Bit” Australian having hailed from Brisbane...

Australia debuted in the ESC in 2015 as part of celebrations marking 60 years of the ESC. The broadcaster SBS has broadcast Eurovision in Australia since 1983.

As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, the 2015 contest recorded a total viewing audience of over 4.2 million people. Of that 4.2 million, 263,000 watched the contest bleary eyed as the contest played live at 5am local time.

These are the highest ratings ever recorded by SBS – which is amazing considering that SBS broadcasts most international sporting events such as the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup.

Are Aussies European at heart? I think so.

BTW, in 2016 the contest was being aired in the United States and China for the first time.

 

[haiducii]

Norway: Ulrikke - Attention

Norwegian public broadcaster NRK hosted the final of 'Melodi Grand Prix' last night. Finalists from all regions of Norway that went head-to-head to battle for the country’s ticket to Eurovision 2020. After the public votes were tabulated, Ulrikke was announced the winner of 'MGP 2020' and Norway's representative for Rotterdam with her song 'Attention'.

Ulrikke Brandstorp (born 13 July 1995), known mononymously as Ulrikke, is a Norwegian singer. She participated in the Norwegian edition Idol 2013 and NRKs Stjernekampen in 2018. Ulrikke is known to fans of MGP as she participated in 2017 and made it to the Gold Final with the song Places.

The song Attention was the pre-contest favourite and was written by former A1 member Christian Ingebrigtsen and Mørland, who represented Norway in 2015 with the song A Monster Like Me alongside Debrah Scarlett.

 

[haiducii]

Lithuania: The Roop - On Fire

Lithuania’s 'Pabandom iš naujo!' has come to an end. After 3 heats, 2 semi-finals and last night’s final, broadcast live from the Kaunas Žalgiris Arena, The Roop won the contest and will represent the country in Rotterdam with 'On Fire'. The Roop received 12 points from the professional jury, as well as from the viewers at home for a total of 24 points.

The Roop are 3 band members from Lithuania who describe their musical style as a mix of pop-rock and indie. Although they have only been working together since 2014, all band members have been involved in the music industry much longer. The Roop's debut album, To Whom It May Concern, came out in 2015. The band has since played music around the world, from Lithuania to Belgium, Serbia and Brazil.

According to the band, the song name On Fire relates to being in a state of excitement, feeling passionate, engaged and full of energy. The vibrant music video was produced by director Indrė Juškutė and cinematographer Adomas Jablonskis.

 

[haiducii]

Armenia: Athena - Chains On You

Armenia’s national selection show ‘Depi Evratesil’ came to an end last night as Athena Manoukian was announced the representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. Athena will sing 'Chains On You' in Rotterdam this May.

Athena Manoukian (born 22 May 1994) is a Greek-Armenian singer and songwriter. Manoukian's first experience in the music industry was in 2007, when she participated in and won first prize at a talent contest called "This Is What’s Missing", an international TV show production of Alpha Television Network Greece.

Armenia made its debut in the Contest in 2006 with André’s Without Your Love. Armenia has reached the top 10 on 7 occasions to date, the best results being 2 4th-place finishes achieved by Sirusho in 2008 and Aram MP3 in 2014.

 

[haiducii]

Slovenia: Ana Soklič - Voda

Comedian and TV presenter Klemen Slakonja hosted the Slovenian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest EMA 2020 last night, with 12 finalists competing for the ticket to Rotterdam. After a 'superfinal' round against Lina Kuduzović, it was announced that Ana Soklič won the national selection with her song 'Voda' (Engl: Water) and will represent the country during the first Semi-Final on 12 May in Rotterdam.

From a young age, Anna Soklič (born in 1984) developed and refined her musical skills at the opera and jazz academy, before she started to write her own music. The winning song of EMA 2020, Voda, is written by Ana herself alongside Bojan Simončič.

Slovenia made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993 having previously entered the Eurovision Song Contest as part of Yugoslavia. To date Slovenia's best placing in the Eurovision Song Contest is seventh, which it achieved in 1995 and 2001. Whilst Slovenia has not won the Eurovision Song Contest it did win Eurovision Choir of the Year in 2017.

 

[haiducii]

Ukraine: Go_A - Solovey

It's Go_A for Ukraine! The band has won 'Vidbir 2020', the Ukrainian national selection with a total of 12 points. They received the maximum of 6 points from both the jury and the Ukrainian televote. Go_A will represent Ukraine on 14 May in the 2nd half of the first Semi-Final in Rotterdam.

Go_A combines Ukrainian vocals, modern dance beats, African drums and powerful guitars. The band has participated in popular festivals (e.g. Koktebel Jazz, The Country of Dreams, Gogolfest) and represented Ukrainian music in Israel, Poland and Belarus.

Go_A impressed both the jury and the audience with their originality and vocal prowess. Despite its very unique vocal delivery, which harks back to something ancient, the production is extremely contemporary. It’s no wonder that Go_A have become the first act to ever win both the jury and televote of Ukraine’s national final.

 

[haiducii]

Belgium: Hooverphonic - Release Me

After being played for the first time on Belgian radio in the early morning of Monday 17 February, Hooverphonic officially premiers the music video of 'Release Me' on our YouTube channel. The trio will represent Belgium on 12 May, in the 2nd half of the 1st Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020.

Hooverphonic is a Belgian band that formed in October 1995. Though originally categorized as a trip hop group, they quickly expanded their sound to the point where they could no longer be described as a lone genre, but rather encompass alternative, electronica, electropop, rock, and a mixture of others.

Hooverphonic's Eurovision Song Contest 2020 entry Release Me was written by band member Alex Callier and was composed by Alex Callier and Italian composer Luca Chiaravalli, who has previously co-written and co-arranged other Hooverphonic songs and has worked on multiple Sanremo entries throughout the years, notably on Sanremo winner Francesco Gabbani's (Italy 2017) Occidentali's Karma.

 

[haiducii]

France: Tom Leeb - The Best in Me

In July 2019, France Télévisions started crafting their strategy for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. The public broadcaster decided to return to an internal selection and to concentrate all its efforts on finding the right song for the ESC.

Broadcast live from the Eiffel Tower in Paris, French public broadcaster FT presented their song for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. Tom Leeb (born 21 March, 1989), a French actor, singer and comedian, will sing the French-English ballad 'The Best In Me' during this year’s Grand Final on Saturday 16 May in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The Best In Me has been written by Peter Boström, Thomas G:son, John Lundvik (Sweden 2019), Tom Leeb, Amir Haddad (France 2016) and Lea Ivanne. The composers are Peter Boström and Thomas G:son. Peter and Thomas have previously achieved massive Eurovision success with Loreen's Euphoria, the winning song at the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku.

 

[Mari0]

Thanks for starting this thread for another (hopefully) great ESC year haiducii! :heart:

My favorite so far is Lithuania :thumbs up:

And hopefully Dotter wins Melodifestivalen, so I can stan Sweden this year, lol.

 

[Mari0]

BTW, in 2016 the contest was being aired in the United States and China for the first time.

In the United States the ESC was broadcasted previously in LOGO, a US television channel focused on LGBT programming, but they stopped broadcasting it last year. Netflix currently has the broadcasting rights for last year and this years show. They will not be broadcasted live but instead will be available for streaming after the show ends. Netflix will release a movie based in the ESC, so that is why they're doing that, I guess.

China got booted out of the ESC when they didn't broadcast a couple of performances (Ireland for the gay couple that was part of the staging and Albania because of the tattoos of the performer) in 2018. I have no idea if they broadcasted it in 2019.

 

[topdog]

... Tom Leeb (born 21 March, 1989), a French actor, singer and comedian, will sing the French-English ballad 'The Best In Me' during this year’s Grand Final ...

Damn! They know their audience.

 

[Mari0]

Damn! They know their audience.

Too bad his song is trash (IMHO).