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 2023.
As the submission window for “Festivali i Këngës 61” is still open, rumors for potential artists are in the air.
One of them is the duo Yll Limani and NOIZY
Additional rumored artists include:
- Orgesa Zaimi
- Elvana Gjata
- Dafina Zeqiri
For the music production of the festival there are 2 contenders: Bojken Lako or Flori Mumajesi
According to local media, it seems that ORF will broadcast a music show in the autumn of 2023.
Could it be a platform to choose the Austrian representative for Eurovision 2023?
According to the Belgian website, “Songfestival.be“, some artists won’t be able to submit their candidacy for Eurovision 2023.
Instead of opening the submission window, Flemish Belgain broadcaster VRT will choose to work directly with the leading record labels in the country.
The national broadcaster will approach them to suggest artists compete in the national selection.
According to rumors (that aren’t confirmed at this time), it is possible that Bulgaria won’t take part at Eurovision 2023. Or at least, it seems uncertain how the participation will be planned:
“Dora 2023″ will be the selection process for Eurovision 2023.
- HRT will ordain a professional jury committee that will evaluate the submitted songs.
- The submission window will close on the 20th of November 2022.
- Between 12 and 28 songs will be performed in “Dora 2023“.
- “Dora 2023” will be held in February 2023, in the city of Opatija.
- The exact format for “Dora 2023” (including the decision on whether the semi-finals will be included) will be determined on January 10, 2023.
- Applicants are required to submit their applications via an online form available on the official website of HRT.
- Performers (solo artists or groups of 2-6 people) must be citizens of Croatia .
- Performers must be at least 16 years of age on the day of submissions.
- The maximum song duration is 3 minutes.
- Songs can be submitted in Croatian or another official European language
- HRT reserves the right to determine the order of the performance of compositions at “Dora 2023″.
- The winner of “Dora 2023” will be determined by a combination of national jury and public vote.
- HRT reserves the exclusive right to choose the artist, as well as the right to change the already chosen artist of a particular song until the start of the “Dora 2023“ competition, especially in the event of the impossibility of performing or achieving better performance quality.
The Czech Republic hasn’t confirmed participation at Eurovision 2023.
In recent years, Czech Republic was one of the countries to select their entry in the early time.
They used to do it with “ESCZ“.
Is it possible that the country will select an artist internally?
The grand final of the “Dansk Mekodi Grand Prix 2023″ will be held on the 11th of February 2023
Song Submissions
- Songs can be delivered through this link: http://www.dr.dk/grandprix
- The deadline is the 28th of October 2022
- Either the composer, lyricist or performing artist must be a Danish citizen or have a similarly strong connection to Denmark. (Residence in Denmark for a number of years, married or in a relationship with a Dane or similar).
- Danes living in the Faroe Islands and Greenland can also participate
- The maximum song duration is 3 minutes
- Songs mustn’t have been published before.
- Composers and lyricists can participate with several entries.
- There are no restrictions regarding the language of the songs
- DR will consider inviting the Danish music industry to contribute songs to “Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2023“
- Performers must be at least 16 years of age by April 2023
National Selection
- The professional jury will listen to all the submitted songs. They will narrow down the list to 8 songs only
- The results will be based on a public vote.
- 100% of singing must be performed live in the show, whilest in Eurovision backing vocals will be allowed
- The national selection will be held on March 2023
Estonia will use the “Eesti Laul 2023” as the selection process for Eurovision 2023.
The selection will include 2 semi-finals and a grand final.
Song Submissions close on 12th October 2022 at 11:00 CET.
Songs will be revealed on 4th December 2022.
- Semi-Final 1: Thursday, 12th January 2023
- Semi Final 2: Saturday, 14th January 2023
- Grand Final: Saturday, 11th February 2023
The cost of submissions is 50 euros per Estonian, and 100 euros for foreign, the last week of the submissions doubled the price.
Artists must do their own music videos.
The main regulations are:
- Submissions must include the final and mastered version of the song.
- The maximum song duration is 3 minutes
- The lyrics or the songs themselves mustn’t be published before the 4th of December 2022
- The date of birth of the performer must be no latar than 19th of May 2007
- Up to 6 people will be allowed on stage
- Performers can’t compete in a parallel selection process for any other country.
- Any performer, writer or composer can submit up to 5 songs for the selection process.
- Song’s performers may be citizens, residents, and non-residents of the Republic of Estonia.
- Each song can have up to 1 composer/writer who isn’t an Estonian citizen or Estonian resident.
- Each submission must include the lyrics of the song ( + Estonian translatio in case the song isn’t in Estonian), a high quality audio version, a short biography of the performers and promotional photographs of the performers.
- The particiapation fee will depend on the time of submission and langauge of the song
- From 12 September to 17 October 2022 , €50 for a song in Estonian
- From 12 September to 17 October 2022, €100 for a song in a foreign language or a multilingual song
- From 17 October (from 12.00) to 20 October 2022 (until 12.00), €100 for a song in Estonian
- From 17 October (from 12.00) to 20 October 2022 (until 12.00), €200 for a song in a foreign language or a multilingual song
- Professional jury will judge all the submitted songs “blindly” (without knowing who is standing behind them) and will shortlist up to 20 of them for the semi-finals.
- ERR, the Estonian broadcaster, will publish the competing songs by the 3rd of December 2022
- The shortlisted artists will have to submit a music video by the 25th of November 2022.
- 10 songs will compete in each one of the 2 semi-finals. 6 of them will qualify for the final from each semi-final.
- The results of each show will be determined by 2 rounds. In the first round, by a comnibation of 50% jury vote and 50% public vote. In the second round, by the public vote solely.
Some artists have already hinted they will try their luck in the upcoming selection:
Anna Sehlene (represented Estonia at Eurovision 2002, participated in “Eesti Laul 2022“)
Suured Tüdrukud (Dagmar Oja and Kaire Vilgats) – mostly known for singing backing vocals for some Estonian singers at Eurovision. They have also participated in “Eesti Laul 2021“.
Alika Milova
Elysa – Finished in 3rd place in “Eesti Laul 2022“
The submission window will close on the 9th of October 2022.
However, according to Greek media, 40 songs have been submitted to ERT.
For comparison, last year ERT received a total of 43 songs at the end of the deadline.
So that we can assume that a record will be broken this year.
So far, the following artists have shown interest in submitting songs for selection:
- Leon of Athens
- Melissa Mantzoukis
- Joanne
- Evangelia
- Vasilis Kourtis
- Klavdia
- Antonia Kaouri
- Artemis Matafia
- Operatical
- Aretha
- Cynthia Verazie
In an interview Noa Kirel gave to the Israeli media, she revealed more details about the plans for Eurovision 2023:
Noa Kirel’s team plans to allocate an additional budget on top of the budget given by Kan.
Noa stated that financial issues aren’t her biggest concern. Her main aim is to give honor to Israel at Eurovision, whatever it takes.
Doron Medalie, Ron Beaton, Jordi, Nitzan Kaykov, Itay Shimoni, and Eitan Peled are rumored to take part in creating the winning formula for Israel at Eurovision 2023.
Noa also plans to take an active part in the song’s writing.
In contrast to the last few years, the national broadcaster Kan will let Noa have the desired artistic freedom. The selection of the final song will be under the responsibility of Noa Kirel and her team.
Latvia will choose an artist and a song for Eurovision 2023 via “Supernova 2023“
How songs will be chosen:
- Song structure – originality, arrangement, message, compliance with modern market trends;
- Song and Participant’s opportunities and potential to compete in the international pop music market
- Performer’s vocal abilities and personality
- Past achievements in the industry or potential for future achievements and existence in the real market.
- In January 2023, LTV will publish the names of the entries selected by the jury and enter the next round, including Song Authors.
North Macedonia hasn’t confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2023.
Earlier this year, Meri Popova, the head of the North Macedonian delegation, presented a detailed report that focused on how North Macedonia can improve the results in the contest.
The report also referred to the selection process and the optimization of budget.
However, if we follow the budget plan suggested by MRT, it looks like no budget was allocated for Eurovision 2023 participation:
Will North Macedonia participate in Eurovision 2023?
As the submission window for the “Melodi Grand Prix 2023″ opened, many songwriting camps filled the continent.
Some of them took place in Norway, while others were out of the country (for example, in Czech Republic).
Some artists, composers and songwriters have been seen there:
Elsie Bay — “Melodi Grand Prix 2022” Finalist
Imerika — “Melodi Grand Prix 2021” Finalist
Emmy — “Melodi Grand Prix 2021” Finalist
Raylee — “Melodi Grand Prix” 2020 + 2021 Finalist
Åge Nilsen — Wig Wam (Norway, Eurovision 2005) lead singer
Tone Damli “Melodi Grand Prix” 2009 + 2020 Finalist
Lillen Stenberg — “The Voice of Norway 2017”
Christian Ingebrigtsen — “Melodi Grand Prix 2022” Finalist
Jan Vavra — Part of the Czech jury, Eurovision 2022
Teya — Norwegian singer-songwriter
Eniar Kvaløy — One of the composers of “Lights Off” (Czech Republic Eurovision 2022)
NYLAN (Lasse M. Nymann) — Norwegian producer
Oda Gondrosen — “Melodi Grand Prix 2022” Finalist
Ben Adams — Composer of “Attention” (Norway, Eurovision 2020)
Jonas Jensen — Composer of “Death of Us” (Melodi Grand Prix 2022“)
Morten Franck and Bjørn Edvardsen — Composer of “I Can’t Escape” (Melodi Grand Prix 2021“)
Poland will hold a national selection for Eurovision 2023. Here are the main details:
- The submission window will close on the 15th of January 2023 at 22:00 CET
- Performers must be at least 16 years of age by May 2023
- Applications should be sent to eurowizja@tvp.pl
- Performers can be solo singers or groups with up to 6 members
- The maximum song duration is 3 minutes
- There are no restrictions regarding the song’s language
- Songs that were publicly released before September 1st, 2022, won’t be allowed as submissions
- Songs must not contain any content that discriminates against any social group
- TVP will appoint a Competition Committee of 5 people, including the Chairman of the Competition Committee, for each competition stage. The Competition Commission’s composition may differ at each step of the Competition.
- 10 of the submitted songs will be shortlisted to participate in the national selection by the professional jury.
- The list of finalists will be announced by January 25, 2023.
- It is possible that one of the 10 shortlisted artists will be the artist that will get a special invitation from TVP
- Each of the 10 finalists will be required to supply an official video clip by the 5th of February 2023.
- Each of the 10 finalists will have to design a concept for his/her/their staging in the national final.
- In the final, the results will be determined by 2 rounds of voting. Each one of them will involve 50% public vote and 50% national jury voting.
- Each juror will individually evaluate each performance, distributing points on a scale of 1-10 to all participants of the competition.
- The top 3 artists at the end of the first round will qualify for the second round.
- At the beginning of the second round, the votes will be reset. The jury and public will evaluate the performances once again.
- The nantioal selection will be held of Sunday, the 26th of February 2023
Artists from different 17 countries have submitted their candidacy for “Una Voce Per San Marino 2023“:
Slovenia confirmed its participation at Eurovision 2023.
The selection process is still unknown.
If we compare the timelines to the ones in 2020 and 2022, we can assume that “EMA Freš” won’t be part of the selection (as the early stages have been held in November).
Is it possible the Slovenian act will be selected internally?
2,824 different songs were submitted via the open path for “Melodifestivalen 2023“.
This is the highest number of submissions in the last 10 years of the festival!
Mónica Naranjo and Inés Hernand will be the presenters of “Benidorm Fest 2023“.
The final of “Vidbir 2023” is reportedly to take place on the 17th of December 2022.
Timur Miroshnychenko will be one of the hosts.
