Around the Continent 2023: Week 6

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 EBU has published a list of participating countries at Eurovision 2023 which will be held in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

37 countries will take part in the contest:

1. 🇺🇦 Ukraine
2. 🇬🇧 The United Kingdom
3. 🇩🇪 Germany
4. 🇮🇹 Italy
5. 🇪🇸 Spain
6. 🇫🇷 France
7. 🇦🇱 Albania
8. 🇦🇲 Armenia
9. 🇦🇺 Australia
10. 🇦🇹 Austria
11. 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
12. 🇧🇪 Belgium
13. 🇨🇾 Cyprus
14. 🇭🇷 Croatia
15. 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
16. 🇩🇰 Denmark
17. 🇪🇪 Estonia
18. 🇫🇮 Finland
19. 🇬🇪 Georgia
20. 🇬🇷 Greece
21. 🇮🇸 Iceland
22. 🇮🇪 Ireland
23. 🇮🇱 Israel
24. 🇱🇻 Latvia
25. 🇱🇹 Lithuania
26. 🇲🇹 Malta
27. 🇲🇩 Moldova
28. 🇳🇱 The Netherlands
29. 🇳🇴 Norway
30. 🇵🇱 Poland
31. 🇵🇹 Portugal
32. 🇷🇴 Romania
33. 🇸🇲 San Marino
34. 🇷🇸 Serbia
35. 🇸🇮 Slovenia
36. 🇸🇪 Sweden
37. 🇨🇭 Switzerland

🇲🇰 North Macedonia – source
🇧🇬 Bulgaria – source
🇲🇪 Montenegro – source

The chosen line-up of “Festivali i Këngës 61” alongside the songs are expected to be revealed in 3 weeks.

However, we can suggest (following reports from Albanian media):

• Orgesa Zaimi (FIK 56, 57, 59)
• Olimpia Smajlaj (FIK 60)
• Soni Malaj (FIK 57)
• Lidia Lufi (2nd place, FIK 57)
• Enxhi Nasufi (FIK 54, 59)
• Tuna
• Xhensila Myrtezaj
• Kanita Suma (FIK 58)
• Rozana Radi
• Fifi
• Manjola Nallbani (FIK 28 winner, FIK 31 winner, FIK 32 winner, FIK 33, FIK 34, FIK 44, FIK 46, FIK 56, FIK 58)
• Flaka Krelani (FIK 44, FIK 54, FIK 55)
• Mirihe Braja (FIK 33, FIK 34)
• Rovena Dilo (FIK 36, FIK 48)
• Alisa Opari Luzi

Following the EBU’s announcement, we finally know Armenia will take part in the contest.
Nothing has been said about the selection method.

It is most likely to see an internal selection for the country.
And now let’s raise one of the speculations in the fandom.
If you focus on Athena Manoukian‘s Instagram account, we will see mutual following of her and 2 of the Greek Dream Team members: Dimitrios Kontopoulos and Ilias Kokotos:

Athena should have represented Armenia at Eurovision 2020 with the song “Chains On You”.
Is it possible that Athena will work with the two mentioned on a song for Eurovision 2023?

Once again we emphasize – this is a speculation.

Australia‘s participation at Eurovision 2023 was finally confirmed officially.
Just for a comparison, prior Eurovision 2022 the submission window for “Australia Decides 2022” was opened on the 27th of August 2021.
Therefore we can see 2 potential scenarios:

1. Internal selection for Australia at Eurovision 2023
2. Will Announcement of national selection come soon?

As we have reported before, the Belgian selection “Eurosong 2023“ will be held in February 2023.

• IBE (was recommended on our Eurovision Wishlist)
• Luka Cruysberghs (former “Hooverphonic” lead singer, should have represented Belgium at Eurovision 2020)
• Pauline Slangen
• Bazart (one of the members is Oliver Symons who represented Belgium at Junior Eurovision 2008)

A total of 7 artists will be part of the line-up.
At the meantime, other artists ruled out their participation: Laura Tesoro (Belgium 2016), Thijs, Camille.

We learn several new details of “Dora 2023”

Tomislav Štengl, Head of Delegation for Croatia, gave an interview to the Croatian website Eurosong.hr and here are the main takeaways:

1. Shortlisted acts will be required to supply an official music video or at least lyrics video.
2. The shortlisted songs will be revealed to the public at a very early time, compared to recent years.
3. There’s only a possibility that the songs will be presented in a television show (before “Dora”).
4. The number of songs that will be part of the “Dora 2023” line-up is yet to be decided.
5. Main change: “Dora 2023” will probably include 12-28 songs. If the number of songs is suitable, then the plan is to have 2 semi-finals and a grand final.
6. HRT considers giving financial rewards to participants
7. HRT spoke with the composers’ society, the music union, and Croatian publishers to motivate their performers and authors to submit songs.

CyBC, the Cypriot broadcaster has confirmed that Andrew Lambrou will represent the country at Eurovision 2023

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A post shared by CYBC: Eurovision Cyprus (@cybc_eurovision)

Andrew’s is part of a collaboration between CyPB, Panik Records of Greece, and City Pop Records of Australia

The Czech Republic has finally confirmed participation at Eurovision 2023.
The selection method hasn’t been decided yet.

The Czech delegation has arranged a meetup with the country’s representatives in the years 2019-2022 to discuss the plans for Eurovision 2023:

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A post shared by ESCZ – OFFICIAL ⭐️ (@escz_official)

The delegation encourages artists to start preparing songs to submit.
This means that the artist hasn’t been chosen yet.
Will we have an internal selection this time?

Last Thursday (20th of October 2022), the submission window for “Eesti Laul 2023” closed. Here are the main details:

1. 217 songs were submitted to the selection.
2. 92 of the songs are in Estonian language, while the remaining 125 songs are in foreign languages (English and more).
3. 20 semi-finalists who made the shortlisted list will be announced at the beginning of November, and the songs will be heard for the first time in December 2022.
4. A jury panel consisting of 16 musician, radio hosts and more will select the 20 shortlisted songs.
5. In the list of artists who submitted songs, we can find:
   • Well-known artists and authors who have past in “Eesti Laul” and Eurovision experience
   • New artists

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A post shared by Eesti Laul (@eesti_laul)

“The Voice of Georgia 2023” will start soon.
It will be used as mechanism to choose the Georgian representative for Eurovision 2023:

Next season of The Voice Georgia, their national final for Eurovision 2023, to start "soon" according to new trailer on 1TV! 🇬🇪 pic.twitter.com/gp5RXvPoXz

— kjet 🇬🇪 (@VlSlONARYDREAM) October 18, 2022

According to the reports by “All Music Italia“, the following names (including collaborations) have submitted songs for “Sanremo 2023”

Amadeus is receiving a large number of submissions and some of them are coming from some unexpected artists!

These are some of the names (and unexpected duets!) that @AllMusicItalia reports MIGHT compete in #Sanremo2023! pic.twitter.com/2F3rkYYr3N

— Festival di Sanremo (en) (@sanremo_en) October 19, 2022

Some of the more familiar names are:

• 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
• Raf
• Al Bano (Eurovison 1976, 1985)
• Marcella Bella

Secondo Adnkronos Amadeus annuncerà al tg1 i nomi dei Big in gara l'1 o il 2 dicembre.

Ma nel regolamento, che è stato pubblicato mesi fa, c'è scritto che l'annuncio dei big avverrà il 3 dicembre

Gli artisti devono inviare il proprio brano entro il 28 novembre#sanremo2023

— Festival di Sanremo💐 (@SanremoESC) October 19, 2022

The list of established artists that will compete in the festival is expected to be published on the 1st – 2nd of December 2022. While the dealione is 28th of November 2022.

adnkronos reports some interesting details regarding “Sanreno Giovanni 2022”:

• Around 900 songs were submitted for “Sanreno Giovanni 2022”.
• The auditions will start on the 4th of November 2022 in Rome.
• 12 finalists will be revealed on the 27th of November 2022
• The final of “Sanremo Giovanni 2022″ will be held on the 16th of December 2022

On the 17th of October 2022, the Maltese broadcaster PBS opened the submission window for national selection – “MESC 2023″

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A post shared by Eurovision Song Malta (@eurovision_malta)

Submissions

1. The submission window opened on the 17th of October 2022 and will close on the 31st of October 2022.
2. The professional committee will narrow the list of submitted songs to 40.
3. Artists can submit more than 1 song, but only one of them will be shortlisted among the chosen 40 songs.
4. The lead singer (or the only singer in the case of a solo performer) must hold a Maltese nationality
5. There are no restrictions regarding the nationality of the composers, writers, and producers of the songs.
6. There are no restrictions regarding the language of the songs.
7. Each performer must be 16 years old by the 1st of May 2023
8. The maximum song duration is 3 minutes
9. Submitted songs must not be commercially released before 15th October 2022.
10. Submissions should be done electronically at the link provided during the submission window here
11. Full regulations can be found here

Television Shows

1. The selection process will include 4 quarter-finals, 1 semi-final, and a final.
2. 10 artists will participate in each quarter-final, and 6 of them will qualify for the semi-final
3. 24 artists will compete in the semi-finals, and 16 of them will qualify for the final
4. 16 artists will compete in the final and the winner will represent Malta at Eurovision 2023
5. The results of each show will be determined by a combination of a national jury and a public vote
6. The qualifiers from the quarter-finals will be announced at the end of the 4th quarter-final
7. The 40 quarter-finalists will be revealed in November 2022. The draw for the quarter-finals will take place in November.
8. The deadline for remastering will be the 1st of December 2022.
9. The dates of selection are:

• Quarter-Final 1 – 13th of January 2023
• Quarter-Final 2 – 20th of January 2023
• Quarter-Final 3 – 27th of January 2023
• Quarter-Final 4 – 3rd of February 2023
• Semi-Final – 9th of February 2023
• Grand Final – 11th of February 2023

According to the local media, and especially the podcast Grand Prix Podkasten , the format of the “Melodi Grand Prix 2023” might be different than usual:

As of last year, 21 songs will be part of the line-up.
However, the number of semi-final shows will be 3 (and not 4-5 as in 2020 – 2022).

What is still uncertain is whether the selection will include several automatic qualifiers (as in previous ones). Therefore, it is also possible to see more than 1 qualifier in each semi-final.

NRK, the Norwegian broadcaster, is still debating whether to include an international jury or not.
The last time an international jury was involved was in 2019.

Stig Karlsen, the head of the Norwegian delegation for Eurovision, believes that there are 4 songs among the submissions that can give the Eurovision trophy to Norway.

The submission window for the “Festival da Canção 2023” closed on the 21st of October 2022.

• The festival will include 2 semi-finals and a grand final
• The shows will be held in February and March 2023
• 10 artists will compete in each one of the 2 semi-finals
• 6 artists will qualify from each semi-final.

Careful reading of the regulations for the 2023 edition suggests a change in the format of the festival.
The results of the semi-finals will be determined by 2 rounds:

• Round 1 – The results will be determined by 50% national jury voting and 50% public vote. Top 5 will qualify for the final
• Round 2 – The remaining 5 songs will phase another voting round that will be determined by 100% public vote. This means the 6h qualifier will be chosen by the public!

This method of voting wasn’t part of the festival’s format in recent years.
Some might find it similar to the format of the “Eesti Laul” semi-finals.

Earlier this week, San Marino RTV presented the second edition of “Una Voce Per San Marino” in Rome

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A post shared by Eurovision San Marino (@unavocepersanmarino)

Jonathan and Senhit, who hosted last year’s national selection, will continue to host the show in 2023 as well

Achille Lauro, who won “Una Voca Per San Marino 2022” will perform as a special guest in the grand final of “Una Voca Per San Marino 2023”.

So fat, San Marino has received more than 500 submissions for national selection, arriving from 32 different countries including:

• Australia
• Austria
• Belarus
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Italy (more than 50% of the submissions)
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Poland
• Russia
• United Kingdom
• San Marino (3 songs only)
• Serbia
• Spain (largest number of songs, after Italy)
• United States
• Switzerland
• Ukraine

Vanjo Vardjan, editor-in-chief of entertainment program at RTV SLO, gave an interview to the Slovenian website novice.svet24 where he revealed that Slovenia will hold a national selection for Eurovision 2023, probably “EMA 2023”.

However, a final decision regarding “EMA 2023” will be made near the middle of November 2022

It was also mentioned in the interview that some members of the RTV SLO wanted Slovenia to withdraw, due to low achievements in recent years.

You can read the main points from the interview here

The 16 semi-finalists of “Benidorm Fest 2023″ will be revealed on Thursady, the 27th of October 2022

📢RTVE anunciará los 16 artistas del Benidorm Fest el jueves, 27 de octubre.

Será en un programa especial presentado por @InesRisotas y @_rodrigovazquez, con la presencia de los seleccionados y artistas de la 1ª edición
👇👇https://t.co/bD4Bvk8cXs pic.twitter.com/ODzuV0x9Df

— Eurovisión RTVE (@eurovision_tve) October 19, 2022

According to the Swedish website Aftonbaldet, there are 3 artists rumored to participate at the “Melodifestivalen 2023“

#1. Wikotria

Wiktoria Johansson is 25 years old.
So far, she has participated 3 times in the “Melodifestivalen“

In 2016, she finished in 4th place in the final, with “Save Me“

In 2017, she participated with “As I Lay Down” and ended in 6th place in the final:

In 2019, she performed “Not With Me” and ended 6th in the final:

#2.Nordman

The duo are among the veterans in the Swedish music industry. They started releasing music back in 1994.
Recently, they reunited again.
Nordman has participated twice in “Melodifestivalen“.

In 2005, they performed the song “Ödet var min väg” and ened in 9th place

In 2008, they performed “I Lågornas Sken” and ended in 6th place in the final:

#3. Loulou LaMotte

Loulou LaMotte isn’t a stranger to “Melodifestivalen” either.
She is part of “The Mamas”.
In 2019, they featured in John Lundvik‘s performance for “Too Late for Love”.
In 2020, the Mamas won “Melodifestivalen 2020” with the song “Move”

In 2021, they competed with the song “In The Middle” and ended in the 3rd place in the final:

With the close of the submission window for Eurovision 2023, Ukrainian broadcaster Suspline revealed some more details about the national selection for Eurovision 2023 – “Vidbir 2023”.

The national broadcaster received 384 applications from 299 participants.
This means that several artists have submitted at least 2 songs.

• Some of the songs talk about the war’s consequences
• Some of the songs arrived in a demo version
• There are songs that resemble the style of Go_A band

10 artists are expected to take part in “Vidbir 2023”.
The national selection is planned to take part on the 17th of December 2022

Some rumours in the local media suggest that Liverpool-based band London Grammar is in the mix to represent the UK at Eurovision 2023