As we continue our weekly series Around The Continent, we will discuss the news and tell the story of each country’s preparation for Eurovision Song Contest 2022.
General
At the moment, 31 countries have confirmed participation at Eurovision 2022:
Albania, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy (Host Country), Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine.
What About The Rest?
This leaves us with uncertainty regarding the 8 countries that participated in Eurovision 2021 but haven’t confirmed participation for Eurovision 2022 yet. They are:
Austria, Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Georgia, North Macedonia, Azerbaijan, and Moldova.
Moreover, it is still unknown whether Armenia, Montenegro, and Turkey will take a part in the upcoming Eurovision.
Italy As a Host Country
Italian broadcaster RAI has officially confirmed that there is a delay in choosing the host city.
Stefano Coletta, director of TV and radio, reacted:
RAI is working very hard and methodically to organize Eurovision. A committee of professionals has been formed and is working hard to choose the city that will host Eurovision 2022. The truth is that we are late in choosing the city, but this is because we have to work transparently and accurately for decision making.
Moreover, 41 year old Television Presenter Alessandro Cattelan is one of the leading candidates to host the contest
Alessandro Cattelan hosted “X Factor Italy” and he speaks fluent English.
According to the next Instagram story, made by the official page of Festivali I Këngës, we can expect the names of “Festivali I Këngës 60” on Friday the 22nd of October 2021:
As always, Albania will select an artist and a singer for Eurovision via the traditional music festival – “Festivali I Këngës“. This time, it will be the 60th edition of the festival.
The festival will probably include 3 shows and it will be held around Christmas.
Therefore, Albania will once again be the first country to reveal its song for Eurovision 2022.
Last Wednesday, Belgian broadcaster RTBF revealed the identity of the Belgian artist for Eurovision 2022. As we’ve reported before, the rumors were true:
Jérémie Makiese will represent the country at Eurovision 2022.
Jérémie Makiese is a 20-year-old singer. he rose to fame after winning the latest edition of “The Voice of Belgium.” Jérémie studied Geology and plays football in his free time.
The Belgian’s entry for Eurovision 2022 will be revealed at a later date. We can predict that Belgium’s song for Eurovision 2022 will be released in February 2022.
As in previous years, Belgium chose the artist and the song for Eurovision behind closed doors.
Therefore, once again Belgium was the first country to announce the artist for Eurovision, as they did in 2018 and 2020.
Meanwhile, we were able to see Jérémie alongside together with Pierre Dumoulin.
Pierre Dumoulin is a Belgian composer who composed 2 Belgian songs at Eurovision:
“City Lights” by Blanche (Eurovision 2017) and “Wake Up” by Eliot (Eurovision 2019).
Is it possible that RTBF will use the same composer for 3 Walloons entries in a row?
Bulgarian rock group Intelligent Music Project claims they are in discussions with Bulgarian broadcaster BNT to represent the country at Eurovision 2022.
BNT hasn’t released any official announcements regarding Eurovision 2022, all we know is that the country is planning to participate in Eurovision 2022.
In recent years, Bulgaria preferred internal selection rather than national selection.
The Intelligent Music Project was formed by the Bulgarian businessman Dr. Milen Vrabevski. Most of the time, the group collaborated with famous rock legends all over the world.
So far, the group has released 6 studio albums, the last of which was released this year.
The line-up of the band isn’t consistent, so they will probably have to get a decision of who will fly to Italy soon.
Dr. Milen Vrabevski hinted at Eurovision 2022 participation in the radio program “Radio Plovdiv.”
Croatian broadcaster HRT has announced that Croatia will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.
Croatian broadcaster has confirmed that national selection Dora will very likely be used to select the Croatian entry for Eurovision 2022.
As we previously mentioned, Dino Jelusick who won Junior Eurovision 2003 now expressed his interest to take a part in “Dora” after seeing the success of Maneskin.
Dora was Croatia’s platform for choosing the Eurovision act between the years 1993 – 2011.
In the years 2012, 2013, 2016 – 2018, Croatia used internal selection.
Since 2019, Dora has returned in a brand new version.
Even though the country hasn’t confirmed Eurovision 2022 participation in public, we have learned that the country will participate in the upcoming content.
As of 2018 and 2020, the Cypriot broadcaster will collaborate with Panik Records.
According to the Greek website EurovisionFun, Cypriot musician Michalis Hatzigiannis got a proposal to compose the Cypriot entry for Eurovision 2022.
Michalis Hatzigiannis isn’t a stranger to Eurovision fans – in 1998, he represented Cyprus with the song “Genesis” and ended up in 11th place in the grand final:
However, we still have to discuss the singer. Unofficial sources raised the name Tania Breazou, who won the latest edition of “Your Face Sounds Familiar“
If the rumors are true, then we expect Tania to perform a ballad or mid-tempo pop song. It will be the first time since 2015, that Cyprus will enter with a song composed by a Cyprian musician.
Nevertheless, we would like to consider the reports as unofficial until any news is revealed.
Meanwhile, you’re invited to listen to one of her songs:
Czech broadcaster Ceska Televize has opened a submission window for songs. The deadline is the 30th of September 2021.
The main regulations of the process:
- Songs will be sent in a demo version
- There aren’t national limitations regarding the composers and writers of the songs.
- However, the lead singer that will perform the song must be a citizen of the Czech Republic.
Once again, the broadcaster stated that they have the right to cancel the selection process and even avoid participating in Eurovision 2022.
Last Friday, Danish broadcaster DR revealed details regarding the upcoming “Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2022“:
- The hosts will be Tina Müller and Martin Brygman. The two hosted the national selection in 2021 as well.
- The national final will be held in Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning.
- For the first time since 2019, a live audience will be able to attend the show. Tickets for the show will go out on 23rd September 2021.
- The song submission window is still open and will remain open until 29th October 2021
- Only 8 songs will be shortlisted to participate in the national final.
- “Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2022” will be held on the 5th of March 2022.
- The 8 songs in the line-up will be released in February 2022.
- In the weeks before the show, Herning and other Danish cities will host other cultural activities to warm up all of Denmark. A full list of events will be announced in January of 2022.
This will be the 6th edition that will be held in Herning and the 3rd edition will be held in the Jyske Bank Boxen venue.
Greek broadcaster ERT keeps on collecting suggestions from Greek record labels.
The deadline is the 10th of October 2021.
Greek Music Labels can submit their proposals. They should name artists with 1-3 songs. ERT will base its decision not only on the songs but on other parameters as well.
According to Greek media, there are 5 leading names to represent the country at Eurovision 2022:
1.Kalomira (who represented the country in 2008 and ended up in 3rd place in the grand final)
2.Amanda Georgiadis – A Greek singer who lives in Norway.
3.Good Job Nicky – One of the rising stars in Greece who was recommended as an artist we would like to see at Eurovision in the Looker series
4.Ilias Kozas (lead singer of Koza Mostra)
Koza Mostra & Agathon Iakovidis represented Greece at Eurovision 2013. They performed the song “Alcohol is Free” and ended up 6th in the grand final.
5. Joanne (Ioanna Georgakopoulou)
The singer won the latest edition of “The Voice of Greece“. Her coach was Eurovision 2005 winner Elena Paparizou.
19 years old Joanne conquered the audience’s heart with her voice.
You’re welcome to listen to her cover of “Twist In My Sobriety“:
6. Constantinos Christoforou
Constantinos is one of the most appreciated and experienced Greek singers.
He has already participated in the Eurovision Song Contest on 3 different occasions:
In 1996, he performed the ballad “Μόνο για μας” (Eng: Only For Us) and ended up 9th:
In 2002, he was part of the boy band ONE who ended up 6th in the grand final with the song “Gimme“:
In 2005, he represented Cyprus with the song “Ela Ela” and ended up 18th in the final:
Last Tuesday, the semi-final of “X-Factor Israel” was recorded. The show will be aired in October 2021. However, our sources gave us the image of 4 finalists.
We will prevent you from revealing accurate names, but here are some hints to relieve the curiosity:
- The four finalists are 2 women and 2 men.
- All of them are younger than 30 and older than 20.
- 3 of them have already participated in Israeli music reality shows (“The Voice of Israel” + “X-Factor Israel“).
- 3 of them sing pop and ballads, while the other sings in “Mizrahit” (middle east pop).
- The first letter of their names are: S, E, M, I.
- The grand final will be held live on January 2022.
- The finalists will perform 1-2 original songs intended for Eurovision 2022.
Irish broadcaster RTE has announced that the country will use national selection “The Late Late Show” to select Irish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.
Ireland’s Head of Delegation Michael Kealy said:
“I am very excited by the return of a Eurovision National Final on The Late Late Show and the prospect of giving the public a greater say in selecting our entry for Italy.”
“Every year the Eurovision gets bigger and more competitive than ever and given the enormous exposure and huge financial rewards for the winner I’m hopeful that we will attract a very high calibre of songwriter and performer.”
Song submissions are open and deadline of song submissions are open till 19:00 CET CET 22nd October 2021.
You can read full rules here:
Details of the exact date when the ”Eurovision Late Late Show Special” is not announced yet but it was said it will happen early 2022 which is very likely late January 2022 or early February 2022 from past national selection dates.
In the years 2008–2015, Ireland used a similar format of national selection “Eurosong“.
In the years 2010 – 2013, they qualified for the final.
The Italian broadcaster RAI announced some changes regarding the regulation of “Sanremo Giovani“.
“Sanremo Giovani” is an Italian music competition that has been held in Sanremo since 1993. Young singers participate with the aim of being selected – in different ways from year to year – for the Sanremo Festival the following year.
Format of “Sanremo Giovani 2021”
- Young singers between the ages of 16 and 30 are welcome to participate
- Each of them has to submit 2 different original songs: one of them is intended for “Sanremo Giovani 2021“, while the other is intended for “Festival Di Sanremo 2022“.
- 30 candidates among the applicants will be shortlisted for the live auditions of Sanremo Giovani 2021“.
- 12 singers will be chosen out of 30: 8 singers will be chosen by a music committee (lead by Amadeus) and 4 others will be chosen by the Area Sanremo process. These 12 artists will participate in the grand final of “Sanrenmo Giovani 2021”.
- The final of “Sanrenmo Giovani 2021″ will be held on the 15th of December 2021.
- The top 2 singers in the grand final of “Sanrenmo Giovani 2021″, wil lhave the right to compete in “Festival Di Sanremo 2022”, alongside the big artists.
- Record companies must be sent to the Festival Organization – starting Thursday 16th of September 2021 and strictly no later than Saturday 16th October 2021.
About “Festival Di Sanremo 2022”
“Festival Di Sanremo 2022″ will be held at the beginning of February 2022. The festival will last 5 days: starting on Tuesday the 1st of February 2022 and ending on Saturday the 5th of February 2022.
As always, we can expect big names to participate in the festival alongside the top 2 finishers of “Sanrenmo Giovani 2021″.
In 2019, Mahmood was one of the 2 winners of “Sanrenmo Giovani” and ended up winning the whole “Sanreno 2019” festival.
Slovenian broadcaster RTVSLO announced that Slovenia will participate at Eurovision Song Contest 2022.
It has also expressed interest that traditional national selection EMA will be used as a mechanism to choose Slovenian act for Eurovision 2022. More details will be revealed soon.
Swedish broadcaster SVT has closed its song and artist submissions for Melodifestivalen 2022.
2,530 songs were submitted for the national festival. Only 28 songs will compete in Melodifestivalen 2022,14 songs will be chosen directly from the submissions process by a selected jury and 14 songs by artists or songwriters that have been invited to compete or songs that SVT has chosen from the songs that were sent in.
