As we continue our weekly series Around The Continent, we will discuss the news and tell the story of each country’s preparation for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.
The long wait has paid off: Liverpool will host Eurovision 2023.
It will be the first time that the Eurovision Song Contest arrives in the city.
According to Albanian media, more than 140 songs were submitted to “Festivali i Këngës 61”.
This is one of the most impressive numbers compared to Albania in recent years:
In contrast to his announcement last week, Mirud has ruled out his participation in “Festivali i Këngës 61”
However, he hinted about possible participation in another national selection.
Elvana Gjata was one of the biggest fan-favourites in “Festivali i Këngës 58”, was included in the list of rumored artists for this year’s festival.
However, she denies the rumors:
In the coming weeks, the professional jury will listen to the submitted songs and will select an unknown number of them to participate in the festival
It might be random. If we follow the Facebook account of Eberhard Forcher (the musician in charge of the Austrian selection at Eurovision), we can extract the following information from one of the posts.
According to Forcher, it seems like ORF (Austrian broadcaster) opened the submission window for Eurovision 2023.
What can also be inferred here is that the submission window is probably closed, and maybe the listening session has already ended.
One can suggest that ORF has approached specific musicians in order to submit their entries.
As the submission window for “UMK 2023″ closed at the beginning of September, local media started to spread rumors about the national selection:
- “UMK 2023″ will be held on February 2023, in Skuta city.
- One of the rumored participants is a well-known band from the city of Turku.
- Other names in the blend of rumors are Robin Packalen, and Portion Boys.
- Robin has an unreleased song that was co-written by one of the writers of “Embers” (UK, Eurovision 2021)
- In addition, Hanna Pakarinen (Finalnd Eurovision 2007) has hinted that she will submit a song to “UMK 2023” in her Tiktok
- A rapper would probably compete in “UMK 2023“
The submission window will close on the 9th of October 2022.
However, according to Greek media, 50 songs have been submitted to ERT.
For comparison, last year ERT received a total of 43 songs at the end of the deadline.
One of the most interesting artists, Leon of Athens has already submitted his song.
According to OGAE Greece, he will collaborate with the dream team.
It puts him on one of the front lines to demand the stage for Greece at Eurovision 2023.
A partial list of artists that expressed their intention to submit songs for internal selection are:
- Leon of Athens
- Melissa Mantzoukis
- Joanne
- Evangelia
- Vasilis Kourtis
- Klavdia
- Antonia Kaouri
- Artemis Matafia
- Operatical
- Aretha Kosmidou – “The Voice of Greece 2014“. She submitted an electro-pop and EDM song
- Cynthia Verazie
- Antigoni Buxton
Another name on the plate: Kalomira, who represented Greece at Eurovision 2008.
She has 3 songs ready that she is doubting whether to submit to ERT
Earlier this week, Khabar Agency expressed their hope that Kazakhstan will participate in Eurovision 2023 (and not just in Junior Eurovision).
In a press conference about Junior Eurovision 2022, Producer Zhan Mukanov said:
Since the Khabar Agency is an officially accredited member of the European Broadcasting Union, there is every chance to enter the adult Eurovision next year. I really hope, we hope that everything works out.
The country will have to wait for full membership in the EBU before being invited to participate at Eurovision 2023
Metal folk band Cruachan have expressed their willingness to compete in the Irish selection for Eurovision 2023:
Diodato ruled out a possible participation at the “Festival Di Sanremo 2023”
Why not? I don’t think this is the right time for that. But Sanremo is a great opportunity to reach many people. This is a great opportunity. But right now I want to go my own way and then we’ll have to look further. In the near future I will go on tour in America. They are in Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Toronto. And I’m working on my new album. It’s over.
Another rumored artist, Ron, ruled out his participation and even criticized the festival
They didn’t invite me… It would be the selection for Eurovision, so they should choose according to the songs, instead it seems to me that it’s all about the characters, about who sings.
So that we can update the list of rumored artists in “Festival Di Sanremo 2023”:
- Tiziano Ferro
- Pinguini Tattici Nucleari
- Ghali
- Marco Mengoni (Eurovision 2013)
- Alessandra Amoroso
- Levante
- PTN
- Ghali
- Annalisa
- Madame
- Mara Sattei
- Manuel Agnelli
- Tiziano Ferro
- Paola Turci
- Chiara
- LDA
- Bresh
- Luigi Strangis
- Paola Turci
- Ariete
- Al Bano (Eurovison 1976, 1985)
- Marcella Bella
Arian Engebø and Stian “Staysman” Thorbjørnsen will be the hosts of the “Melodi Grand Prix 2023″
Kåre Magnus Bergh marks the end of his hosting of the the “Melodi Grand Prix” after 8 years in a row
According to local media, it seems that the “Melodi Grand Prix 2023” will start on the 14th of January 2023.
The date of the grand final is yet to be confirmed, due to the unknown format of selection (number of shows)
Singer Daria, who ended up 2nd in the national selection for Eurovision 2022, expressed her willingness to compete in the national selection for Eurovision 2023
In fact, one of the rumored potential songs is her brand new song (that was released today) – “Lowkey”
Javiera Mena (who participated in “Benidorm Fest 2022”) is debating whether to submit a song for “Benidorm Fest 2023”:
While another singer that has no doubts about being willing to participate in the festival is Borja Escalona (34 years old from Barcelona)
Tickets for the festival will be available starting on the 1st of November 2022
“Vidbir 2023” is set to take place on the 17th of December 2022.
Tentative venue for the “Vidbir 2023” is Kyiv, Maidan Nezalezhnosti metro station. In the recent months, several TV productions took place in this place. The aim is to reduce the risk of potential sir strikes during the show
- The submission window will close on the 15th of October 2022.
- Songs can be performed in each language, except Russian.
- 10 artists will be shortlisted to participate in the final
- Rehearsals will be held between the 14th and 16th of December
- In addition, the jury members are yet to be known. In fact, they will be chosen through online voting, by the Ukrainian public. At least 3 jurors will be part of the jury
- Musician Dmytro Shurov (Pianoboy) will become the official music producer of “Vidbir 2023”.
At the moment, more than 106 songs have been submitted for selection.
