GREECE 🇬🇷
In 1980, Vissi participated in the 25th Eurovision Song Contest representing Greece with the song Autostop (“Hitch-Hike”), finishing 13th with 30 points. In the same year she released her third album Nai (“Yes”) reaching gold status with 50,000 units sold. The album produced the hits Oso Eho Foni (“As long as I have my voice”) and Methysmeni Politeia (“Drunken state”). One year later her fourth, self-titled album Anna Vissi was released, reaching gold status. In 1982, she represented her native Cyprus at the 27th Eurovision Song Contest with the song she composed herself, Mono I Agapi (“Only love”), which ended fifth with 85 points scoring Cyprus its second highest position to date. The songs were not released on any album or CD single until 2006, when both were released on CD single in time for Vissi’s third Eurovision appearance. The English version of “Mono I Agapi”, however, was released as a 7-inch single in 1982, titled “Love Is A Lonely Weekend”. Its b-side I’m Gonna Be A Fool for You remains unreleased on CD. Greek national broadcaster ERT chose Vissi to represent Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. There were four candidate songs, which she sang during a song selection show on 14 March 2006 at “Votanikos” club. Greek viewers used televote and SMS messages along with a panel of judges to choose the song Vissi would sing in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. Two of the competing songs, were composed by Nikos Karvelas, namely “Everything” and “Who Cares about Love”, with Vissi herself penning the lyrics to “Everything”. The third song, “A Beautiful Night”, was written by composing group Pigassos, while the last song, “Welcome to the Party”, was written by Greek composer Dimitris Kontopoulos. “Everything” was selected as the entry song of Greece, winning 47.79% of the votes. The day after the final, Vissi filmed the song’s music video. Her previous record label, Minos EMI, released a CD single of her two prior Eurovision entries “Autostop” and “Mono I Agapi”, shortly after.
BULGARIA 🇧🇬
Bulgaria decided not to use a multi-heat selection system of previous years and select their artist internally. A panel of 51 music experts voted for a number of candidates with Miroslav Kostadinov the winner with 10 votes, followed Poli Genova with 7 and Nora in third place with 3. Other artists in the running were Slavi Trifonov, Maria Ilieva, Lili Ivanova, Elitsa Todorova and Stoyan Yankoulov, the 2007 Bulgarian representatives. A national final was organized, where Miroslav Kostadinov performed five songs, written especially for him in five different music genres ranging from ethno to rock. The winning song, selected by televote, was “Angel si ti”. It was performed on the second semifinal on 27 May, and did not qualify to the final.
SLOVENIA 🇸🇮
Sala & Gasper is a Slovenian musical duo from Maribor consisting of vocalist Zala Kralj and multi-instrumentalist Gašper Šantl. The duo represented Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 with the song “Sebi”, finishing 15th [a] (out of 26 entrants) in the final. The duo formed in 2018, after Kralj had begun performing vocals on some songs written and produced by Šantl. Initially, Kralj was only credited as a featured artist. They released the singles “Valovi”, “Baloni”, and “S teboi” in 2018, before releasing their debut extended play Štiri in February 2019.
SPAIN 🇪🇸
Alfred García Castillo (born 14 March 1997) is a Spanish singer. He gained national recognition when he took part in series nine of the reality television talent competition Operación Triunfo, where he finished in fourth place, and also represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal, alongside Amaia Romero, with the song “Tu canción”, finishing in twenty-third place.
FINLAND 🇫🇮
One of the most popular songs by lesbian artist Saara Aalto has been chosen as Pride in London official anthem for 2019. Written by the Finnish-born singer, Dance Like Nobody’s Watching encompasses the true meaning of Pride, encouraging everyone to live their lives as though ‘nobody’s judging who you love’.
RUSSIA 🇷🇺
In March 2004, Yulia participated in another contest, World’s Best,as Russia had finished the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 in the top 11, the song was pre-qualified for the final. In the final, it was performed fourteenth she, came 11th with her song, “Believe Me”.[1] Her first album was finally released in 2005 with the title Vysoko. About half the material on the album was co-written with former musicians from the band Total.
GREECE 🇬🇷
Helena Paparizou, is a Greek naturalized Swedish singer, songwriter and television personality. Born and raised in Sweden to Greek parents, she enrolled in various arts schools before launching a career in Sweden in 1999 as a member of the laïko (Greek folk music) and Eurodance duo Antique, who participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 and afterwards became popular.
