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.
General
The hosts for Eurovision 2023 have been announced!
- Eurovision legend Graham Norton (will be part of the grand-final)
- Ukrainian singer of the famous band The HARDKISS Julia Sanina
- Internationally acclaimed musical theatre performer and multiple award-winning actresses Hannah Waddingham,
- Pop star and TV presenter Alesha Dixon.
Ukrainian broadcaster Timur Miroshnychenko will be the Eurovision Correspondent in Liverpool, appearing throughout the show plus giving live insights from Ukraine’s commentary box in the Liverpool Arena. Alongside Liverpool presenter Sam Quek, he will front the Opening Ceremony live stream on the official Eurovision Song Contest YouTube Channel.
For the Grand Final commentary on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom, Graham Norton and actress and comedian Mel Giedroyc will take turns in the commentary box to bring those watching home their unique and expert views on the competing acts. And for the first time in the UK’s Eurovision Song Contest history, both Semi-Finals will be live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer (in the United Kingdom), with radio DJs and Eurovision experts, Scott Mills and Rylan bringing UK audiences their colorful and insightful commentary.
Postcard filming has begun. The first country to film its postcard was Slovenia.
This year, each artist will film the postcard in their own country.
“Euro club 2023” will be held between the 5th of May and the 13th of May at Camp and Furnace, Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle.
The list of guests will gradually be published. At the meantime, the revealed artists are:
- Linda Martin (Ireland Eurovision 1984 + 1992) – Tuesday, 9th of May
- Conchita Wurst (Austria Eurovision 2014) – Wednesday, the 10th of May
- Charlotte Perrelli (Sweden, Eurovision 1999+2008) – Friday, the 12th of May
As the making of the revamped version of “Duje” is still under construction,
it has been revealed that Swedish Sacha Jean-Baptiste will be the art director of the Albanian performance at Eurovision 2023
Brunette will probably release her song for Eurovision 2023 on the 9th of March 2023 (not confirmed yet!).
The song is rumored to be named “Irresistible”.
It is rumored to combine electro dance with jazz elements.
In addition, some claimed it will feature a unique musical instrument.
Australian broadcaster SBS has internally chosen Voyager to represent the country at Eurovision 2023.
They will perform the song “Promise”:
Andrew Lambrou will perform the song “Break a Broken Heart” at Eurovision 2023.
You can listen to the snippet here:
The full version will be released on Thursday, the 2nd of March 2023.
This Saturday, Finalnd will hold its national selection “UMK 2023“.
7 artists will perform in the following running order:
- Robin Packalen – Girls Like You
- KUUMAA – Ylivoimainen
- Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha
- Keira – No Business On The Dancefloor
- Benjamin Peltonen – Hoida mut
- Lxandra – Something To Lose
- Portion Boys – Samaa taivasta katsotaan
You can find the full playlists here:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Music
You can take a look at the “UMK 2023” stage:
You can watch rehearsals snippets here:
The results will be determined by a combination of a 75% public voting and a 25% international jury.
The international jury are from 7 different countries: Australia, Germany, the UK, Ukraine, Sweden, Spain and Poland.
The show will be commentated in 8 different languages: Finnish, Ukrainian, English, Russian, Swedish, Northern Sami, Inari Sami and sign language.
You are welcome to read Doron’s review of the songs here
France‘s entry for Eurovision 2023 is “ Évidemment” by La Zarra.
The song was released last Sunday.
German broadcaster reveals running order for “Unser Lied für Liverpool” – national selection for Eurovision 2023
- TRONG – Dare To Be Different
- René Miller – Concrete Heart
- Anica Russo – Once Upon A Dream
- Lonely Spring – Misfit
- Will Church – Hold On
- Patty Gurdy – Melodies Of Hope
- Ikke Hüftgold – Lied mit gutem Text
- Frida Gold – Alle Frauen in mir sind müde
- Lord Of The Lost – Blood And Glitter
The playlists can be found here:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Music
“Unser Lied für Liverpool” (Eng: our song for Liverpool) will be held on Friday, the 3rd of March 2023 at 22:20 CET.
The host will be the beloved Barbara Schöneberger
The results will be determined by a 50% international jury, and a 50% public vote.
A total of eight international juries will vote, with each jury consisting of five people.
The public vote has opened and is available here
Things are getting complicated regarding Greece’s participation at Eurovision 2023.
Previously, 7 artists were shortlisted to the internal selection.
Based on a joint decision of a Demoscopic jury from the public (50.6%) and national jury (49.4%), the list of 7 artists was reduced to 3 artists:
- Victor Vernicos – What They Say (740 points)
- Antonia Kaouri & Maria Maragkou – Shout Out! (720 points)
- Melissa Mantzoukis – Liar (440 points)
According to ERT, the winner of the internal selection is Victor Vernicos. However, the winner of the Demoscopic jury was Melissa Mantzoukis.
Melissa has claimed the jury vote was biased, stating that in the last round, the jury voted for all 7 songs, and for the 3 shortlisted songs only.
By this, Melissa claimed they have a chance to downgrade her chances to win.
After several statements, Melissa has decided to take the issue to the closed rooms of a court.
Next week, the issue will be discussed in a official hearing in court.
One of the risks can be that ERT will be asked to stop any procedures related to Eurovision 2023 participation.
One of Melissa‘s requirements is to be announced as the internal selection winner.
She also requires Financial compensation from ERT.
Iceland will hold the second semi-final of “Söngvakeppnin 2023“.
5 artists will compete for additional 2 spots in the final:
- Kristín Sesselja – Óbyggðir / Terrified
- Langi Seli og Skuggarnir – OK
- Silja Rós & Kjalar – Ég styð þína braut / Together We Grow
- Úlfar – Betri maður / Impossible
- Sigga Ózk – Gleyma þér og dansa / Dancing Lonely
Last week, 2 artists qualified from the first semi-final:
- Diljá – Lifandi inni í mér / Power
2. Bragi – Stundum snýst heimurinn gegn þér / Sometimes the World’s Against Us
Playlists can be found here:
YouTube (Icelandic Versions)
YouTube English Versions
Spotify
Apple Music
You can read Doron’s review here:
Wild Youth has stated their Eurovision 2023 song “We Are One” might be revamped
Noa Kirel will reveal her Eurovision 2023 entry, “Unicorn“, on Wednesday, the 8th of March 2023.
The song premiere will be part of a special show on KAN 11, with some special guests included.
This isn’t a coincidence that it will happen on International Women’s Day.
KAN will dedicate the whole day to Eurovision related content.
The special day will also feature international guests.
At 21:15 Israel time (20:15 CET) the special show will start. There’s a possibility, the premiere of the song will be part of a live performance.
2 weeks ago, Marco Mengoni won “Festival Di Sanremo 2023″ with the song
Based on the singer’s statements in the Italian media, he confessed that he still has doubts about which song to perform at Eurovision 2023.
According to the “Sanremo” regulations, he might represent Italy with another song, based on his own choice.
At the meantime, the song received gold certification in Italy:
Last Saturday, Monika Linkytė won “Pabandom iš naujo 2023” with the song “Stay”.
She finished first in the national jury vote and second in the public vote.
5 of the 9 jury members, ranked her first.
You can listen to the official studio version:
According to the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, we can reveal the date when the country will reveal its song for Eurovision 2023: Wednesday, the 1st of March.
The writers behind the songs are: Dion Cooper, Mia Nicolai, Duncan Laurence (Eurovision 2019 winner) and Jordan Garfield.
Polish broadcaster TVP revealed the running order for the national selection “Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hity na Eurowizję 2023″.
The national selection will be held on Sunday, the 26th of February 2023.
10 artists were shortlisted to participate in the Polish selection. They will be performed in the following running order:
- Natasza – LIFT U UP
- Kuba – You Do Me
- Ahlena – Booty
- Dominik Dudek – Be Good
- Alicja Szemplinska – New Home (Song will be released on Friday)
- Felivers – Never Back Down (Snippet)
- Maja Hyzy – Never Hide
- Jann – Gladiator
- Blanka – Solo
- Yan Majewski – Champion
Playlists can be found here:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Music
- The final will be held on Sunday, the 26th of February 2023 at 17:30 CET.
- The results will be determined by a 50% public vote and a 50% national jury vote.
- The head of the jury panel will be Edyta Górniak, who represented Poland at Eurovision 1994
Special guests for the final will be:
- Kalush Orchestra (Ukraine ESC 2022)
- Stefania (Greece ESC 2020+2021)
- Efendi (Azerbaijan ESC 2020+2021)
- Edyta Górniak (Poland ESC 1994)
- Ochman (Poland ESC 2022)
- Sara James (Poland JESC 2021)
- Roksana Węgiel (JESC 2018)
The jury panel will include 4 members:
- Edyta Górniak – Poland ESC 1994
- Marek Sierocki – TV presenter
- Agustin Egurola – Choreographer
- Marcin Kusy – Director of radio station
Portugal will hold tonight (Saturday) the first semi-final of the “Festival da Canção 2023“.
10 artists will perform tonight in the following running order:
- MoYah – Too Much Sauce
- BOLHA – Sonhos de Liberdade
- April Ivy – Modo Voo
- Churky – Encruzilhada
- Cláudia Pascoal – Nasci Maria
- SAL – Viver
- Mimicat – Ai Coração
- You Can’t Win, Charlie Brown – Contraste Mudo
- Neon Soho – Endless
- Esse Povo – Sapatos de Cimento
Studio Playlist
Spotify
Apple Music
YouTube
The results will be determined in 2 rounds:
- Round 1 – based on a 50% public vote, and a 50% national jury vote. The top 5 artists will advance for the final.
- Round 2 – 5 remaining artists will fight for 1 additional spot in the final. The results will be determined by the public vote only
The semi-final jury will be:
- Maro (Portugal Eurovision 2022)
- Neev (“Festival da Canção 2021“)
- Marcia (“Festival da Canção 2017“)
- Alex D’Alva Teixeira (“Festival da Canção 2019“)
- Carlos Mendes (“Festival da Canção” 1968+1972)
- Pedro Ribeiro (Director of Radio)
- Sara Coreeia (Fado Singer)
Take a look at the beautiful stage of the festival:
Tânia Ribas de Oliveira and José Carlos Malato will host the first semi-final.
“Una Voca Per San Marino” will come to an end tonight.
A total of 106 artists competed in the semi-finals.
22 of them qualified for the final:
- Alfie Arcuri – Collide (Australia)
- Deborah Iurato – Out of Space (Italy)
- Deshedus – Non basterà (Italy)
- E.E.F. – Something for You (Italy)
- Edoardo Brogi – Due punti sull’equatore (Italy)
- Eiffel 65 – Movie Star (Italy)
- Ellynora – Mama Told Me (Italy)
- Iole – Sul tetto del mondo (Italy)
- Kida – Stessa pelle (San Marino)
- Le Deva – Fiori su Marte (Italy)
- Lorenzo Licitra – Never Give Up (Italy)
- Mate – Prisma (Italy)
- Mayu – C’è qualcosa in me che non fuziona (Switzerland)
- Nevruz – L’alieno (Italy)
- Piqued Jacks – Like an Animal (Italy)
- Ronela Hajati – SALVAJE (Albania)
- Roy Paci – Tromba (Italy)
- Simone – Catching Memories (San Marino)
- Thomas – 23:23 (Italy)
- Tothem – Sacro e profano (Italy)
- Vina Rose – Oblivious (UK)
- XGiove – Fuoco e benzina (Italy)
The hosts of the final will be Jonathan Kashanian and Senhit. The winner will be chosen by a 5 jury panel chaired by Italian legend Al Bano.
You can listen to some of the songs here:
Spotify
AppleMusic
YouTube
Serbia will broadcast its national selection “Pesma za Evroviziju 23” next week:
Semi-Final 1, 1st of March 2023
YouTube Playlist
- Mattia Zanatta and Angela Kassiani – Novi svet (Eng: New World)
- Adem Mehmedović – Osmeh (Eng: Smile)
- Nađa – Moj prvi ožiljak na duši (Eng: My first scar on my soul)
- Tijana Dapčević (North Macedonia 2014) – Mamim (Eng: mother)
- Stefan Zdravković – Cvet sa istoka (Eng: Flower from the East)
- Filip Baloš – Novi plan drugi san (Eng: New plan, second dream)
- Filip Žmaher – Čujemo se sutra (Eng: See You Tomorrow)
- Luke Black – Samo mi se spava (Eng: I’m just sleepy)
- Angellina – Lanac (Eng: Chain)
- Empathetic Soul Project – Indigo
- Stefan Maljković Shy – Od jastuka do jastuka (Eng: From pillow to pillow)
- Hercenšlus – Vremenska zona (Eng: Time zone)
- Savo Perović – Presidente (Eng: President)
- Igor Stanojević – Iza duge (Eng: Behind the Rainbow)
- Boris Subotić – Nedostupan (Eng: Unavailable)
- Chegi & Braća Bluz Bend – Svadba ili kavga (Eng: Wedding or fight)
Semi-Final 2, 2nd of March 2023
YouTube Playlist
- Hurricane – Zumi zimi zami
- Nadja Terzić – Devojka tvog dečka (Eng: Your boyfriend’s girlfriend)
- Filarri – Posle mene (Eng: After me)
- Zejna – Rumba
- Frajle – Neka, neka (Eng: Let Let)
- Igor Vins & Bane Lalić – Zato što volim (Eng: Because I love)
- Egert (Petar Pupić) – Ako shvatim kasno (Eng: If I understand)
- Dzipsii – Greh (Eng: Sin)
- Eegor – Starac dana (Eng: Old man of the day)
- Jelena Vlahović – Kao grom iz vedra neba (Eng: Like a bolt from the blue)
- Ivona – U noćima (Eng: At Night)
- Gift – Liberta (Eng: Liberty)
- Milan Bujaković – Fenomen (Eng: Phenomenon)
- Duo Grand (Aleksandar Simić & Nenad Osmanović) – Viva la vida
- Andjela – Loše procene (Eng: Bad estimates)
- Doris Milošević – Tišina (Eng: Silence)
The results of each show will be determined by a 50% public vote and a 50% national jury vote.
The songs will be released in upcoming weeks.
16 artists will participate in each semi-final, 8 of them will qualify from each final.
The grand final will be held on the 4th of March 2023.
Tonight, Sweden will hold the 4th heat of “Melodifestivalen 2023“.
The line-up will be:
- Kiana Blanckert – Where Did You Go? [audio snippet] [video snippet]
- Signe & Hjördis – Edelweiss [audio snippet] [video snippet]
- Smash Into Pieces – Six Feet Under [audio snippet] [video snippet]
- Mariette – One Day [audio snippet] [video snippet]
- Emil Henrohn – Mera Mera Mera [audio snippet] [video snippet]
- Axel Schylström – Gorgeous [audio snippet] [video snippet]
- Loreen – Tattoo [audio snippet] [video snippet]
The first 2 places will get a direct path for the final, while the 3rd and 4th places will get another chance in the semi-final.
Recent weeks results are:
Finalists
- Jon Henrik Fjällgren, Arc North feat. Adam Woods – Where You Are (Sávečan)
- Tone Sekelius – Rhythm Of My Show
- Maria Sur – “Never Give Up”
- Panetoz – “On My Way”
- Marcus & Martinus – Air
- Paul Ray – Royals
Semi-Finalists
- Victor Crone – Diamonds
- Elov & Beny – Raggen Går
- Theoz – Mer Av Dig
- Tennessee Tears – Now I Know
- Melanie Wehbe – For The Show
- Nordman – Släpp Alla Sorger
Eliminated
- Rejhan – Haunted
- Loulou LaMotte – Inga Sorger
- Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos – Länge Leve Livet
- Wiktoria – All My Life (Where Have You Been)
- Eden – Comfortable
- Uje Brandelius – Grytan
- Casanovas – Så Kommer Känslorna Tillbaka
- Laurell – Sober
- Ida-Lova – Låt Hela Stan Se På
Remo Forrer will represent Switzerland at Eurovision 2023.
He won the 3rd edition of The Voice of Switzerland, which took place in 2020
The BBC still hasn’t revealed who will represent the country at Eurovision 2023.
The mix of rumors now includes singer Freya Ridings.
She is a 28 year old English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumenalist.
Meanwhile, Rina Sawayama and Ellie Goulding are still on the rumored list.
Grace Carter denied the rumors:
