SOFIA, BULGARIA – Welcome to the 13th edition of Junior Eurovision Song Contest as 17 country will fight for the trophy tonight. read more information about the show and its broadcast details here. Australia, Armenia, Malta and Ireland are the favourites to win according to most people including the readers of oikotimes.com, 13,500 of which voted in our Junior Europrediction. In the press center voting Malta, Australia and Armenia are the favourites followed by Russia and Serbia. The live report begins: ENJOY THE SHOW AND MAY THE BEST WIN!.
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With amazing images from Bulgarian landscapes and folk or music the show begins introducing us to the amazing beauty of Bulgaria while WIFI at the press area is collapsing all the time and we are during a live coverage event! With an amazing entrance from video to the arena the show begins with Krisia performing on stage followed by a great dance opening act. The parade of the participants begin with the artists entering the arena green room premises from both side of the stage. After the parade more Bulgarian images broadcast with amazing festival music and the 11,000 spectators at the Arena Armeec go frantic, Bulgarians are extremely proud tonight hosting the event! The parade continues while kids are presenting another dance act and there are also kids playing the strings on stage. Audience go frantic when Bulgaria presented on stage. Malta received the biggest applause after the host country! (make note of that). Poli Genova enters the stage and performs the opening song. Big applause as the show begins. Good luck everyone!
01. Serbia โ Lena Stamenkoviฤ โ Lenina pesma
After the explanation of the voting and interactive participation for the social media (#discover, #jesc2015) Serbia takes the stage. Lena is opening the competition for some unfairly as she was considered a strong competitor. Many say she cannot win because of the draw in order of appearance but this might not be exactly true. The postcard presents wonderful images of Bulgaria with kids enjoying the Bulgarian nature and then through a map the stage takes its red colour and Lena performs. I have already told you that I admire in Lena two things: she is too shy out of the stage and she is a total fire on stage while her voice is simply perfect. Tonight she did amazing job until the last part of the song. In the last chorus she missed all notes and she destroyed the song.
02. Georgia โ The Virus โ Gabede
The song which reminds me the 2010 Junior Eurovision entry of Georgia is simply amazing. The lead singer is a showman and he makes everyone laugh. The vocals are great, there is passion and enthusiasm on stage and the camera work is extremely great for this entry. I think I have my driest dark horse. The three girls are making a great stage presentation. Well done Georgia you definitely bid for the trophy tonight.
03. Slovenia โ Lina Kuduzoviฤ โ Prva ljubezen
With some notes missed Lina is giving a powerful performance of the song which was written by Slovenian participants in Eurovision 2015 Maraaya. The song might not be nothing more than a typical ballad but the powerful voice of Lina makes you pay attention. There are already polls on the web considering Slovenia an outside for the victory
04. Italy โ Chiara & Martina โ Viva
The Scarpari sisters are given a good presentation of their song and it feels like I watch Sanremo Festival and along with the Italian language which I love, it is a nice entry but still there is nothing appealing for me to make me vote for this song. The press centre voting have them last in their prediction. Though the two girls are confident and with no stress on stage and they have a great future in the music industry for sure.
05. Netherlands โ Shalisa โ Million Lights
Shalisa is next to take stage and gives a very good performance. I have to tell you that she has great family support in Bulgaria and even her grandmother 68 year old is here (Tiny) to watch and be more proud than ever for her grandfather. I love the staging of the Dutch entry: first the less are showing the dance act that takes place aside the stage and there are two vocalists on the other side of the stage. Shalisa, the girl that smiles all the time deserves a great position tonight. The tune might not be appealing but she is amazing. Well done Shalisa and congratulations Tiny for your granddaughter.
06. Australia โ Bella Paige โ My Girls
There is definitely something wrong with the Australian entry tonight. The big favourite is not performing well. The vocals by Bella are unstable, not to mention that I still am the only person that opening call the song a copycat of Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire” something for which no delegation dared to openly express although in off the record discussions everyone laughs with the similarities of the two songs. Let’s see what happens tonight. Inside the arena the people love it and the last part of the song is delivered flawless by Bella who seems less stressed now.
FIRST BREAK OF THE EVENING – INTERVAL ACT
07. Ireland โ Aimee Banks โ Rรฉalta na Mara
Aimee is giving a stunning operatic performance. In the backstage area we got to know that Aimee wanted badly her grandmother to be here but unfortunately she died earlier this year. But she is with her on stage. How? Aimee is wearing the earrings her grandmother made and gave her. The best debut for the Irish broadcaster to the competition and Irish language sounds simply amazing. I will not be surprised if she wins tonight. We remember what happened with Malta singing operatic song last year but Aimee can really make it.
08. Russia โ Mikhail Smirnov โ Mechta (Dream)
Surpise, surprise, Misha is smiling tonight. Confident and professional he performs his song which although an old fashioned ballad, was revamped by Dimitris Kontopoulos, the author of the 2014 Russian entry (among other Eurovision entries of his). There is a girl and a moon on stage. The girl comes off the moon and gives a nice dance act alongside Misha making it theatrical. Still something is missing to make it a hot favourite, though Russia can easily get CIS votes and top the scoreboard.
09. FYR Macedonia โ Ivana & Magdalena โ Pletenka
Ivana and Magdalena finally decided to change their rehearsal clothes and dress more simple and in their age. The song is totally indifferent but at least the vocal performance is OK. I cannot comment the choreography in the way I would have wanted – you see commenting FYR Macedonia in a freely way cuts your accreditation in this event!
10. Belarus โ Ruslan Aslanov โ Volshebstvo (Magic)
This boy is giving me the chills. Although we have a typical sentimental ballad, Ruslan come son stage and with no stress and pressure launches a voice that no other boy of his age has. I am amazed with his breath during the song which only an experienced professional could have. Amazing graphics prepared by BTRC for the stage and the camera work is fantastic. Belarus made an amazing job once again. I will not be surprised if Minsk 2016 becomes a reality tonight!
11. Armenia โ Mika โ Love
YOU WILL SIMPLY LOVE HIM! The PINK ARMENIAN SMURF with the amazing dance and vocal skills. Good old pop rock from the 60s with amazing stage presentation and excellent choreography. Mika can win the entire thing tonight and his perfect presentation makes this song even stronger favourite. His Michael Jackson movements are amazing and in the meantime he is SO SMALL. Armenia deserves to write a history tonight and Yerevan already said they will host it if they win! Congrats Armenia!!!
12. Ukraine โ Anna Trincher โ Pochny z sebe
Through a blooming flower Anna Trincher begins her performance. I was never fun of the song as a tune. I am thinking of the song message though about peace and becoming one as humans. The vocals of Anna are amazing along with the graphics behind. The windy dress is giving great movement to the song. Well done Ukraine (the country is not sure what will happen though if they win! and we fully understand them. Ukraine we are all here for you! PEACE)
SECOND BREAK OF THE EVENING – INTERVAL ACT
13. Bulgaria โ Gabriela Yordanova & Ivan Stoyanov โ Colour of Hope
Gabi begins performing the first part of the song aside to the stage and seems like a princess or a small doughty with that beautiful dress. It’s the host country time and they deserve a great applause. It’s not how it felt in Malta, but for SURE the Bulgarians made us feel like home and they city is amazing as you can see here. Gabi joins Ivan in the centre of the stage giving a stunning duet performance although I would prefer another outfit for Ivan. Anyway I don’t see Bulgaria performing the miracle of winning again but they deserve a big applause for an amazing and well organised (and secure) hosting! Great graphics with the rainbow while Gabi and Ivan are ending the song by forming a heart with their hands. BRAVO BULGARIA
14. San Marino โ Kamilla Ismailova โ Mirror
A Russian for San Marino. Well I don’t mind as long she is not a niece of Valentina Monetta! Kamilla has one good and one bad thing: She is professional, perfect vocalist and very social but in the meantime maybe the make up on stage make her look a bit aggressive for the viewers. The dress with the mirrors is an excellent concept and the dancers dressed all over with mirrors are the smartest idea this year in #jesc2015. Great vocal performance and dance act which could have been more minimalistic if they didn’t use so many colours on stage (maybe if they did something like Belgium 2015 in senior Eurovision would help). San Marino is a dark horse for me. If they don’t win they surely made me sing the chorus of the song all day while in Bulgaria.
15. Malta โ Destiny Chukunyere โ Not My Soul
I HAVE NO COMMENT: SHE MUST WIN TONIGHT – WE ALL VOTE FOR MALTA TONIGHT! THE PERFECT SONG & SINGER
16. Albania โ Mishela Rapo โ Dambaje
Unfortuantely Mishela comes after Malta. Don’t know if this can harm her as she is performing a song that we can all love if we spare 1 minute to understand the meaning of it. The international language of all people be happy and together under peace and love. Mishela is a good ambassador to deliver the message with her amazing and stable vocals. Albanian entry although originally I didn’t like, seems appealing enough although this international tune from the music of the world cannot be easily understood by most of us. Mishela did a great job!
17. Montenegro โ Jana Mirkoviฤ โ Oluja
What not to comment here? Poor vocals, indifferent song and a stage presentation which no one can understands. I am sorry but this song has no future although a webiste considers is a top ten finisher (as if…)
Here the live report concluded while the interval acts, the recap of the songs begin and the voting will take place. Enjoy the live voting part and we will see you in our next post with the results and the winner. Good luck to all, may the best win!
