Sweden - Undo - Sanna Nielsen

3 - 218 pts / 2 - 131 pts in semi 1
Melodifestivalen 2014 is won by Sanna Nielsen who then represented Sweden in the Copenhagen Eurovision Song Contest with the song Undo.
The song is written by Fredrik Kempe, David Kreuger, Hamed “K-One” Pirouzpanah..
It's the 7th Melodifestival(en) entry for Nielsen, so it pays to persevere.

Undo is released on cdsingle with an instrumental version as track 2.
(Parlophone 196122324)
On May 9 the cdsingle was released in Germany and some other countries.
Check out BeaRecords.
A digital release, the Undo EP features the Eurovision song and three other tracks: Rainbow, Ready and You First Loved Me.

promo box

The promo used in Copenhagen has the same 2-track cdsingle (with the first version) in a special box with info booklet and postcard.
The EU cdsingle has the new 'sad love' version.

New version
A new version with a few minor adjustments in the lyrics (replacing "Undo my sad" with "Undo my sad love" at the end of the refrain) has been released. It replaces the original single download releases and streaming version like Spotify.
The new version is also on the Copenhagen 2CD and the EU released cdsingle.


Remixes
Six remixes have been released through iTunes and other (streaming) services like Wimp
see versions below.
See comments for some other remixes.

Pic from Sanna's Facebook

Album '7'
Sanna releases her new album 7 on June 30 (digital). The CD is in the Swedish shops on July 2nd.
The album includes Undo and an acoustic edit of the song. It also has the track previously released on the digital Undo EP. Full tracklist below.
(Parlophone / WMS 5054196218621)

EU cds

Versions
Undo - original MF version
- on CD Melodifestivalen 2014
Undo - new version
- On the official Copenhagen CD
Undo - Instrumental
- cdsingle, official karaoke album (digital release)
Undo - Brainbeaters radio remix
Undo - Brainbeaters remix
Undo - Eray Oktav and K-One Radio edit
Undo - Eray Oktav and K-One Extended
Undo - Peet Syntax and Alexie Divello Late Night Radio edit
Undo - Peet Syntax and Alexie Divello Late Night Club mix
- all remixes digital release
Undo - Acoustic edit
- on album '7 '

Charts
8 days before the MF final Undo entered the Swedish charts at no. 57, going up to no. 7 the day before the final. It reached #2, being kept off the #1 spot (in the official charts) by Ace Wilders Busy Doin' Nothin', the MF runner up.
Sweden top 60: [2-16]: 57, 7, 2, 4, 7, 10, 14, 18, 19, 34, 43, 9, 23, 38, 49, 59, -

Sweden Digilistan top 60* (Digital sales charts): 6, 1, 3, 4, 8, 8, 13, 12, 12, 16, 22, 3, 10, 17, 20, 25, 37, 56, 48, 38, 48, 44, 42

* The official charts in Sweden have gone crap, with mainly Spotify as source. The Digilistan is now the main sales based Swedish chart.

Belgium (Flemish charts): [25-2]: 25, 34, -
Belgium (Walloon charts): [48-1]:48, -
Denmark top 40: [5-3]: 5, 9, 39
Ireland top 100:[21-2]: 21, 99, -
Netherlands sales top 100:[21-1]: 21, -
France top 200:[131-2]: 131, 173, -
U.K. top 100:[40-1]: 40, -
Germany top 100:[32-1]: 32, -
Switzerland top 75:[11-2]: 11, 72
Austria top 75:[12-3]: 12, 54, 73
Australia top 100:[81-1]: 81, -

Sanna Nielsen in MF:

2001 Igår, Idag
- 3rd place in 10-song Melodifestival*, 32/3 hit

2003 Hela Världen För Mig
- 5th in MF final, written by G:son, 35/7 hit

2006 Du Och Jag Mot Världen 
- Duet with Fredrik Kempe, 8th in final, 20/7 hit        

2007 Vågar Du, Vågar Jag
- 7th in the final, via the second chance round (Andra chansen), 10/13 hit

2008 Empty Room
- 3rd place in the final, 2/20 hit

2011 I’m In Love
- 4th in the final, 32/3 hit

All Sanna Nielsens entries scored a hit in the Swedish charts, the biggest being Empty Room.
Her 2008 album Stronger was a no. 1.

* this was before the 32 song Melodifestivalen extravaganza format which had its debut in 2002.

Sanna's MF songs except Hela Världen För Mig and Undo can be found on a mid-price compilation CD 16 Bästa. Out on April 9 on MSE records.

Tracklist '7 '

1. Skydivin'

2. Breathe

3. Rainbow

4. Undo

5. All About Love

6. Trouble

7. Ready

8. You First Loved Me

9. Undo Acoustic Edit

Coverversions
A rock version (or Hardpop as they call it themselves) of Undo is released by My Remorse. Their version is released through your usual digital sources. And Spotify.
My Remorse facebook.

An instrumental  piano coverversion of Undo is released by Hugo Sellerberg. It's available through iTunes and other sources.

Dansband Highlights have recorded Undo for their album När Vi Är Tillsammans. (Atenzia records)
Highlights website

Melodifestivalen 2014
All 32 songs of the Swedish National Final, Melodifestivalen, have been released on a 2CD.
The 2 disc set went on sale at Statoil gasstations minutes after the 4th heat and will be in other shops a few days later.
Of course there will also be digital stores selling the 32 songs.
The official Melodifestivalen CD has been the #1 selling album of the year in Sweden every year since 2007.
In 2004, 2005 and 2006 it was #2, in 2003 it was #4, in 2002 it was #13.
Check out more statistics here at the Malmö Collection

More Sweden
Home entry You by Robin Stjernberg ended 14th in Malmö and ended #9 in the Swedish sales charts of 2013. 2012 is a success story not seen often in modern Eurovision. Loreen and her Euphoria won the Baku contest and went on to score the biggest hit in Europe for a Eurovision song for a long time. Euphoria sold over a million copies and was the best selling single of the year in Sweden, clocking up 9x platinum.
In 2011 the window shattering Popular by Eric Saade ended third, a welcome return to the upper echelons for Sweden.
In 2010 Anna Bergendahl got the dubious honour of being the only one not reaching the Eurovision final for Sweden. But This Is My Life was a#1 hit anyway.
La Voix, the classical pop fusion song by Malena Ernman reached the final, but only made it to #21 in Moscow. La Voix is the only song not to score a #1 hit at home since 2001.
For more Swedish MF / Hit statistics, please check last years Swedish post at the Malmö Collection.

Links and sources
Sanna Nielsen FB and Website
SVT MF pages
Sanna Nielsen and MF CDs at BeaRecords
Thanks to STHLM MIX

Full tracklist Melodifestivalen 2014 CD.

CD 1

1 To the End - Yohio

2 Aleo - Mahan Moin

3 Bröder - Linus Svenning

4 Casanova - Elisa Lindström

5 Bedroom - Alvaro Estrella

6 Songbird - Ellen Benediktson

7 Bygdens son - Sylvester Schlegel

8 Survivor - Helena Paparizou

9 Love Trigger - JEM

10 Hallelujah - The Refreshments

11 Glow - Manda

12 Efter solsken - Panetoz

13 I Am Somebody - Pink Pistols

14 Undo - Sanna Nielsen

15 Set Yourself Free - Little Great Things

16 När änglarna går hem - Martin Stenmarck

CD 2

1 Echo - Outtrigger

2 Red - EKO

3 Yes We Can - Oscar Zia

4 Burning Alive - Shirley Clamp

5 All We Are - State of Drama

6 En enkel sång - CajsaStina Åkerström

7 Busy Doin’ Nothin’ - Ace Wilder

8 Around the World - dr. alban & Jessica Folcker 

9 Blame It On The Disco - Alcazar

10 Fight Me If You Dare - I.D.A

11 Hollow - Janet Leon

12 Raise Your Hands - Ammotrack

13 Hela natten - Josef Johansson

14 Ta mig - Linda Bengtzing

15 En himmelsk sång - Ellinore Holmer

16 Natural - Anton Ewald

Absent Friends

37 countries competed in Copenhagen. We can rejoice for Poland and Portugal return to the fold.
Sadly several countries have opted out this year, most citing financial reasons. And Turkey is fed up with us, so they're going it alone with a Turkvision contest.

Serbia just missed out on the final with Moje 3 (2013). Our Zeljko ended 3rd in the final (2012), Nina's Čaroban was # 14, Milan Stanković's fab Ovo Je Bakan 13th.
Marko Kon and Milaan's hymn to footwear adoration Cipela missed out on the Moscow final in 2009 thanks to the weird jury-picking-one-finalist thing (which is thankfully abandoned now).

Bosnia- Herzegovina's last entry to date is Korake Ti Znam by Maya Sar. It finished 18th in 2012. Dino Merlin's return to the Eurovision stage in 2011 resulted in a 6th place. Vukašin Brajić's Thunder And Lightning end 17th. Regina's Bistra Voda was #9 in Moscow.

Croatia's early Eurovision career is filled with top 10 songs, but the past four years they didn't make it to the final. 2009 saw the last finalist: Igor Crukov's Lijepa Tena finished 18th. He was only #13 in the semi but was selected by the jury to go to the final.
The Klapa Boys (2013), Nina Badrić (2012), Daria Kinzer (2011) and Feminnem never made it to saturday.

Cyprus also opts out this year. 2013 was unlucky, Despina's Olympiou's ballad An Me Thimase ended 15th in its semi. Ivi Adamou ended only 16th in the final but scored a hit in several countries with her La La Love.
Jon Lilygreen and the Islanders tried something different for Cyprus and were rewarded with a place in the final (21 in 2010).
Christos Mylordos (2011) and Christina Metaxa (2009) failed to reach the final.

Under new gouvernment approved management Turkey's broadcaster TRT is dissatisfied with Eurovision as it is right now. (They're dissatisfied with everything basically). I can only speculate they're upset with block voting or with the attemps to try and bring neighbourly friendlyness down. (update: and the Bearded woman didn't go down well either)  I do know a lot of Turkish fans are upset with Turkey's absence.
First sign of trouble happened when Turkey didn't make it to the final in 2011 with Yüksek Sadakat but other recent results have been quite impressive. Can Bonomo ended 7th in 2012, maNga 2nd in 2010 and Hadises Düm Tek Tek was #4 in 2009 and scored an international hit even going #1 in Belgium and top 10 in several Japanese charts.

In 2013 TRT organized a new contest, Türkvisyon, with countries and regions with Turcic languages competing. But Turkey couldn't win that either.

Bulgaria only qualified to the final once, in 2007 Elitsa Todorova and Stoyan Yankoulov ended 5th with the impressive ethno-techno of Voda (Water). When the duo tried again in 2013 their Samo Shampioni failed to reach the final.
Sofi Marinova (2012), Poli Genova (2011), Miro (2010) and Krassimir Avramov (2009) suffered the same fate.

Slovakia's attendance record has always been patchty. Only eight attempts since 1993*.
This century they participated four years in a row, but none of the entries qualified for the final.
Kamil Mikulčík & Nela Pocisková in 2009, Kristina in 2010, Twiins in 2011 and Max Jason May in 2012.

Twiins had the best result with a 13th place in the semi.
* In 1993 Slovakia ended 4th in the Eastern Europe Qualifier Kvalifikacija za Millstreet,  where three countries proceded to the Eurovision final.
In 1995, 1997, 1999 Slovakia were out anyway because of the low results the previous years.

Slovakia's neighbours The Czech Republic have participated three times, collecting only 10 points in three semi finals. The most recent entry was Aven Romale by Gipsy.cz, scoring a big fat zero.

We also have a Facebook page. Here you'll find the occasional bit of release news and even some opinion of yours truly. It's not an overly active Facebook page, but we'd appreciate a visit and a like if you can spare one.

Latvia - Cake To Bake - Aarzemnieki

13 - 33 pts in semi 1
Cake To Bake by Aarzemnieki  won the Latvian national final Eirovīzijas Dziesmu Konkurss 2014. The song is written by Guntis Veilands.Aarzemnieki is a band fronted by Joran Šteinhauer.
You can listen to all the Latvian contestants here at LTV. Cake To Bake is here.
A new version has been recorded for the Eurovision 2CD and promo.
The song is in English but the Cep Cep Kuku bits are Latvian for Bake Bake Cake.

A promo cds is issued, it has the Eurovision and karaoke versions.
Another promo item is a USB stick with audio, video, photos and Latvia information.

promo cds

Aarzemnieki USB

Versions:
Cake To Bake - Eurovision version
- on the official Copenhagen 2CD
Cake To bake - Karaoke
- on the official karaoke album, digital release
- both on promo cds
Cake To Bake - Dough Mix version (first version)
- soundcloud and LTV website

More Latvia
Latvia's early Eurovision years were top, but they haven't been able to leave their mark on Eurovision in recent years. The last five entries didn't make it to the final. Intars Busulis (2009), Aisha (2010), Musiqq (2011), Anmary (2012) and PeR all finished in the bottom of their semi.
Still, Latvia have some interesting records and first to their name. They were the first to intruduce sign language to their entry (2004's The War Is Not Over) and also the first to send an acapella song (Cosmos' I Hear You Heart in 2006). The also sent the only song ever to mention Johnny Logan in the lyrics (2012).
2004 entry Dziesma Par Laimi by Fomins and Kliens holds the record for most language versions recorded by original artist. With 9 officially released versions they beat Vicky Leandros (L'Amour Est Bleu) and Nicole's who both have 7 to their name.

Links and sources
Aarzemnieki FB, Website and Soundcloud
Thanks to Jean-François
LTV Eurovision pages

Iceland - No Prejudice - Pollapönk

promo cds

15 - 58 pts / 8 - 61 pts in semi 1
The band Pollapönk won the Icelandic final Söngvakeppnin 2014 with the song Enga Fordóma (No prejudice). The song is written by bandmembers Heiðar Örn Kristjánsson en Haraldur Freyr Gíslason.
You can listen to the original song here at RÚV.
The song was performed in English in Copenhagen as No Prejudice.
Lyrics for the English version are written by John Grant, American singer-songwriter currently living in Reykjavik. John Grant also has a beard.
You can watch the official video at HandsUps Youtube.

A promo cds (cd-r) has four tracks.
No Prejudice
No Prejudice - Lo-Fi version
No Prejudice - Club mix
No Prejudice - karaoke version
It comes in a card sleeve in an A5 folder with pictures, lyrics and biographies

Who Is Pollapönk bandið?
Pollapönk are Heiðar Örn Kristjánsson (in the turqoise suit), Haraldur Freyr Gíslasson (red), Arnar Þór Gíslason (pink) and Guðni Finnsson (yellow).

Pre-school teachers Heiðar Örn Kristjánsson and Haraldur Freyr Gíslasson were members of Botnleðja who entered the Icelandic selection in 2003 with the song Euróvísa which ended 2nd behind Birgitta Haukdals Segðu Mér Allt.
Record store employees Arnar Þór Gíslason and Guðni Finnsson were members of rock band Dr. Spock who entered the Icelandic Söngvkeppni in 2008 with Hvar Ertu Nú? They finished third.
Gíslasson also played in a zillion other bands including Stolía, Írafár and Ensími (with Finnson).
The Pollapönkers were joined joined by former bookseller now MP Óttarr Proppé in purple (of HAM and Dr. Spock) and playwright Snæbjörn Ragnarsson in orange (of Skálmöld).

Predjudice is not a word, so after initially releasing No Predjudice via iTunes the new digital release image reads No Prejuduce.

Oooops

Here's a video of John Grant teaching the English version to the Pollapönkers. (Thanks to HandsUp Music)
In the Söngvakeppnin super final a part of the song was performed in English.
You can listen to the English version here at a page from Pollapönks sponsors some may actually have some prejudice against.

EP and album
A digital EP release of No Prejudice includes five versions of the song.
The Eurovision version, Club mix, Lo Fi version, Karaoke version and Icelandic version.
The Lo-Fi version of the Icelandic version is also released. It's on the new Best Of collection Bebebe-Besta Pollapönkið. The album (digital release) also includes the original Icelanic version and Club Mix in English.
On the Icelandic digital issue (at Tónlist) the Club mix is named Enga Fordóma (Eurostuð) but it's in English.

The remix of No Prejudice is made by Örlygur Smári (Oggi), writer of several Icelandic entries ('00, '08, '10 and '13). Check out the Euro Club mix here (youtube).

Note: Amazon offers CD versions of a five track single and the BeBeBe-Besta album. These are not regular CDs but CD-r's made by request. You just might as well do that yourself of course.

Versions

No Prejudice - English version
- digital release, promo cds, CPH 2CD
Enga Fordóma - original version in Icelandic
- CD Söngvakeppnin 2014, digital release
No Prejudice - Euro club mix by Örlygur Smári
- Youtube, digital release, promo cds
No Prejudice - Lo-Fi version
- No Prejudice EP, digital release. promo cds
Enga Fordóma - Lo-Fi version
- album Bebebe-Besta Pollapönkið, digital release
Enga Fordóma - karaoke
- CD Söngvakeppnin 2014,  digital release
No Prejudice - karaoke
- official karaoke album, digital release, promo cds
All digital releases through Hand Up Music


A CD with all entries from the Söngvakeppnin 2014 has been released. It also includes the karaoke versions of all 10 songs. (Sena records)
Available at BeaRecords
All songs have first been released through Tónlist (digital). The release also includes the karaoke versions.

You can listen to all songs at RÚV's Söngvakeppnin pages

Charts: 
U.K. top 100: 70
Austria top 75: 68

Picture from HagKaup

The Technicolor Tracksuits
If you want to do some more shopping, Pollapönks trademark tracksuits are also available for your kids in sizes 98 to 116 (Icelandic sizes of course)
Check 'em out here at Hagkaup. Don't know if the must have item for the 2014 fashion season will also become available in adult sizes.

More Iceland
Iceland have had an impressive run of six entries making it to the final but only one song was able to follow up with a good result: Is It True by Yohanna ended 2nd behind Norways Fairytale in 2009 equalling the placing for Selma Björnsdottirs All Out Of Luck in 1999.
Eyþór Ingi ended 17th in the final in Malmö. Greta Salomé and Jónsi only made it to #20 (2012). The friends of the late Sjónni Brink also ended 20th in the final and Hera Björk made it to #19.

Links and sources
Pollapönk FB
RÚV Söngvakeppnin pages
Thanks to Jean-François and to HandsUp music

Malta - Coming Home - Firelight

23 - 32 pts / 9 - 63 pts in semi 2
The Malta Eurovision Song Contest was won by Firelight with their song Coming Home.
The song is written by bandmember Richard Micallef.

3-track cdsingle

Dynasty digital release image

You can listen to the song here at TVM.
Firelight have been working on their album and Coming Home is included.
The album is  titled Backdrop Of Life and the album is out since September 26..
The CD is out in Germany (and ??) on the Artists and Acts label, distributed through Universal.

Coming Home is released digitally on March 12. (through Albam records) The release also includes karaoke and instrumental.
A single track digital release (in Germany) was released through Dynasty records on April 15.

Two promos have been issued.
One has three versions of Coming Home.
Coming Home
Coming Home - Instrumental
Coming Home - Karaoke
(Albam ESC2P)

The 2nd promo has 6 tracks
Coming Home
Victor The Hungarian Man
Her Song
Bite The Bullet
Coming Home - Instrumental
Coming Home - Karaoke
(Albam ESC2p / 502454569152)

Both promos have similar picture sleeves.

Album Backdrop Of Life

Albam rec. digital release image

versions
Coming Home
- on the official Copenhagen 2CD
Coming Home - Instrumental
Coming Home - Karaoke
- on the official karaoke collection, digital release
- all on promo cds, digital release
Coming home - first version
- digital release

Charts
Ireland top 100: 93
U.K. top 100: 82
Switzerland top 75: 58
Germany top 100: 83
Austria top 75: 50
Swedish Digilisatn top 60: 26, 35

Picture from Malta Eurovision delegation

More Malta
2013 saw a well deserved top 10 placing for Malta with Tomorrow by Gianluca Bezzina (8th in Malmö).
Kurt Calleja also made it to the final and finish 21st. Glen Vella (2011) and Thea Garett didn't make it.
In 2009 Chiara tried for the third time, but after her successful entries The One That I Love (3rd in 1998) and Angel (2nd in 2005) a 22nd place in the final was a bit disappointing.


Links and sources
Firelight FB
TVM Eurovision pages
Thanks to Jean-François and Daniel d'Anastasi at the Malta Eurovision Delegation.

Georgia - Three Minutes To Earth - The Shin and Mariko Ebralidze

Promo cds image

15 - 15 points in semi 2
Georgia was represented in Copenhagen by The Shin and Mariko Ebralidze (მარიკო ებრალიძე).
German based band The Shin have been going for 20 years. Mariko Ebralidze is a jazz singer from Tblisi.

USB promo

On the 24th of Februari the song title Three Minutes To Earth was revealed. The song was presented on March 14.
Watch and listen here.
The song is written by band member Zaza Miminoshvili and Eugen Eliu..

A 1-track promo is issued. There's also a promotional USB stick including the Three Minutes To Earth video and a video about Georgia plus other info.

More Georgia
Sopho Gelovani and Nodi Tatishvili ended 15th in the final in 2013. Anri Joxadze was not so lucky, he's the only Georgian entrant not to make it to the final. Eldrine (9th) and Sophia Nizharadze (also 9th) scored the best results for the country.
The 2009 entry for Moscow, We Don't Wanna Put In by Stephane and 3G was withdrawn after a row over the political (and anti-Putin) content of the song.

Links and sources
The Shin FB
Thanks to Jean-François.

Switzerland - Hunter Of Stars - SEBalter

13 - 64 pts / 4 - 92 pts in semi 2.
SEBalter (Sebastiano Paù-Lessie) has won the Swiss National Final, Die Grosse Entscheidungsshow and went on to represent Switzerland in Copenhagen with the self penned song Hunter Of Stars.
SEBalter was selected for the National Final by RSI, the Italian language broadcaster in Switzerland. Six songs competed in the final.
The song is available on iTunes, you can listen to the song at SEBs Youtube.
A new version is released for Eurovision, also available through most digital sources.

promo

A promo disc with audio, video and information is issued. It includes the Eurovision version.

Versions:
Hunter Of Stars - Eurovision version
- official Copenhagen album, promo
Hunter Of Stars - Original version
- first digital release
Hunter Of Stars - Karaoke version
- official karaoke album (digital release)

Second digital release image

Charts:
Hunter Of Stars enters the Swiss charts at # 37 but falls out the following week. It re-entered at #6 after the contest.
Switzerland top 75: 37, -, 6, 45, -
Ireland top 100: 49, -
Netherlands sales top 100: 98, -
U.K. top 100: 85, -
Germany top 100: 77, -
Austria top 75: 48, -
Sweden Digilistan top 60 (Digital sales charts): 39, -

First digital release image

More Switzerland
The much debated Salvation Army band Takasa didn't make it to the final in 2013. Neither did Sinplus in 2012, but they seem to have a bit of a career going right now.
Anna Rossinelli was the last one to reach the final, but she only ended 25th. She scored a #3 hit in her home country.
2010 and 2009 didn't bring much luck to the Swiss: Michael von der Heide and Lovebugs stranded in their semi's.

links and sources
SEBalter FB and Tumblr
RTS Eurovision pages
SF Eurovision page
Thanks to Jean-François and to Bastiaan

Hungary - Running - András Kállay-Saunders

2nd digital release image

1st digital release image

5 - 143 pts / 3 - 127 pts in semi
András Kállay-Saunders a.k.a. Kállay-Saunders won the 30 song Hungarian selection (A Dal) with the song Running.

The song is written by Krisztián Szakos, Kállay- Saunders and István Tabár.
Watch the official video here at Mistral Music. The song is released through iTunes.
The newest iTunes release also has the karaoke version and a teddybear added for your entertainment.

promo cds

Versions
Running - Eurovision version
- on the official Copenhagen 2CD, A Dal 2CD
Running - Karaoke version
- on the official karaoke collection, digital release

A 4-track promo is issued, it features 4 different songs

1. Running

2. I love You (A Dal 2012)

3. My Baby (A Dal 2013)

4. Tonight
Tonight is also the follow up (digital single) for Kalláy-Saunders.

Business card promo

There's also a 1 track promo businesscard-cdr.




Charts
Ireland top 100: 92
Germany top 100:  93

Sweden Digilistan top 60 (Digital sales charts): 29, 53

Denmark top 40: 40, -
U.K. top 200: 116, -

Delivery Boy
2015: Kállay Saunders (or rather Kállay Saunders Band) have rleased the album Delivery Boy on march 19. It includes the Eurovision song Running.

3 X A Dal for Kalláy-Saunders
Running is the 3rd attempt for Kalláy-Saunders in the A Dal competition.
In 2012 he entered with I Love You which ended 5th in the first semi final. It was a #2 hit in the Hungarian charts.
In 2013 he entered My Baby. The song made it to the final and got the maximum points from the jury. But the (undisclosed) televotes picked another winner: Kedvesem by ByeAlex. My Baby was a #1 hit in several Hungarian charts.


A Dal 2014 CD
The 30 songs competing for a ticket to Copenhagen are released on a 2CD in Hungary.
Details are here at Bookline, .
Full tracklist below.

More Hungary
The Hungarian preselections are pretty good the past few years, but only one recent entry has made it to the top 10 in Eurovision: 2013's ByeAlex ended 10th with Kedvesem.
Compact Disco made it to the final but only ended 24th with The Sound Of Our Hearts, shame really, it was my favorite of the Baku Collection.
Internally chosen Katy Wolf ended 22nd in the final in 2011.
There was no entry in 2010 and in 2009 the Fashion Police had some major issues with Adok Zoli, who ended 15th is his semi.

Links and sources
András Kállay-Saunders FB
A Dal 2014 at BeaRecords
Bookline.hu
MTVA's A Dál / Eurovision pages
Thanks to Jean-François

Tracklist 2CD A Dál 2014

CD1

1. Honey Beast – A Legnagyobb Hős

2. Király Viktor – Running Out Of Time

3. Muzikfabrik – This Is My Life

4. Oláh Ibolya – 1 Percig Sztár

5. Joni – Waterfall

6. Mystery Gang – Játssz Még Jazzgitár

7. Hien – The Way I Do

8. Gájer Bálint – Elmaradt Pillanatok

9. Extensive – Help Me

10. Szabó Leslie – Hogy Segíthetnék?

11. Bogi – We All

12. Group N Swing – Retikül

13. Kállay-Saunders – Running

14. Vastag Tamás – Állj Meg Világ

15. Szécsi Böbe És Szécsi Saci – Born To Fly

CD2

1. Belmondo – Miért Ne Higgyem?

2. Király Linda – Everything

3. Polyák Lilla – Karcolás

4. New Level Empire – The Last One

5. Lil C – Break Up

6. Bülbüls – Minden Mosoly

7. Radics Gigi – Catch Me

8. 2beat Or Not 2beat – Meg Akarom Mondani

9. Fool Moon – It Can’t Be Over

10. Cserpes Laura – Úgy Szállj

11. Gatti Di Amalfi Feat Pál Dénes – Brave New World

12. Depresszió – Csak A Zene

13. Marge – Morning Light

14. Knoll Gabi – Sweet Memories

15. Dér Heni – Ég Veled

Finland - Something Better - Softengine

11 - 72 pts / 3 - 97 in semi 2
The band Softengine has won the multi week Finnish selection UMK with their song Something Better.
On the Softengine website you can listen to the song via the medium of a lyric-video. (here)
The song is released on the UMK CD (see below) and has also been released on iTunes.
A new version has been recorded and is available through iTunes and other sources.
The new version official video is here.

2nd cdsingle promo

Two1-track promo have been issued including the Eurovision version of Something Better. The first one is a white disc in plastic sleeve with insert. Distributed by Sony before the contest.
The second one, used in Copenhagen is a black disc (Rokka / Sony 888430778221). Pictures on the sleeves are identical.
There's also a video folder, a booklet that actually plays the Something Better video and can be recharched through a usb connection.

We Created The World
Softengine released their debut album We Created The World on October 17. It includes the Eurovision version of Something Better.
more later........

Video folder

Versions:
Something Better - Eurovision version
- digital release, promo
Something Better - original
- on UMK CD, digital release
Something Better - karaoke
- on official karaoke collection, digital release

Charts
Ireland top 100: 72, -
U.K. top 100: 93, -
Germany top 100: 80, -
Austria top 75: 62, -
Sweden Digilistan top 60 (Digital sales charts): 47, -

UMK 2014
The first Eurovision release of the 2014 season is out now. The 12 songs participating in the Finnish preselection Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu have been released on the album simply titled UMK 2014.
The CD is out through Warner Brothers Finland and available in several webshops. Of course there's also a digital version. (Warner 5054196063023)

Tracklist CD

1 Lauri Mikkola – Going Down

2 Mikko Pohjola – Sängyn Reunalla

3 Hukka Ja Mama – Selja

4 Miau – God/Drug

5 Lil Lambert – Let Me Take You There

6 Clarissa Feat Josh Standing – Top Of The World

7 Madcraft – Shining Bright

8 Softengine – Something Better

9 Makea – Painovoima

10 Hanna Sky – Hope

11 Dennis Fagerström – My Little Honey Bee

12 Jasmin Michaela – Kertakäyttösydän

More Finland

Krista Siegfrieds' marriage proposal got an I Do in the semi but only ended 24th in the final. A better result than Pernilla's Swedish language song När Jag Blundar which only made it to #12 in the semi.

Axel Ehnström, the artist known back then as Paradise Oskar made it to the final and ended 21st with Da Da Dam..

Värttinä singers Kuinkuiskaajat stranded in the semi in 2010, preceded by another not very high place in the final by Waldo's People in 2009. Their dance stomper Lose Control ended 25th in Moscow. It didn't stop them from having a #1 hit at home and even a very successful coverversion in Afrikaans by Snotkop and MoniQue.

Links and sources:
Softengine FB and Website

The UMK CD is available at BeaRecords

YLE UMK and Eurovision pages (in Finnish)
UMK Facebook

Israel - Same Heart - Mei Finegold

14 - 9 pts in semi 2

1 track promo

Israel's national broadcasters IBA have announced Mei Finegold (also: Feingold, מיי פיינגולד) to be the country's representative in the Copenhagen Eurovision Song Contest.
On March 5 the song Same Heart was chosen to represent Israel in Copenhagen.
Same Heart is sung in a mix of English and Hebrew.
Mei Finegold had three songs lined up in a small NF.
- Same Heart
- Nesheret Iti
- Be proud

A 1 track promo of Same Heart is issued (see top pic).

Pic from Mei Finegolds Facebook

Finegold participated in the 7th series of Kokhav Nolad (Israels version of Idol/Idols). She ended third in the competition, even though she was the juries favorite in the final.

More Israel
In Malmö Moran Mazor stranded in the semi's with Rak Bishvilo. Izabo and returning champion Dana International didn't do very well either. In Oslo Harel Skaat reached the 14th place in the final.
World music superstar Noa teamed up with Mira Awad and their multi language There Must Be Another Way ended 16th in the Moscow final.


Links and sources
Mei Finegold  FB
Eurovision.tv
Thanks to Jean-François

Belarus - Teo - Cheesecake

Digital release image

16 - 43 pts / 5 - 87 pts in semi 2
Teo (Yuri  /Yura Vashchuk, Юрий Ващук) has won the Belarus national final with the song Cheesecake.
The song is written by Vashchuk himself with lyrics by Dmitry Novik.
Watch and listen here
A new version was recorded for Eurovision and several remixes will be released.

A promo cd /dvd set has five versions of Cheesecake.
1. Cheesecake
2. Cheesecake - Karaoke
3. Cheesecake - Acapella ft Five Men
4. Cheesecake - DJ Nejtrino & DJ Baur remix
5. Cheesecake - DJ Famous remix
and on the dvd
1. Cheesecake - Karaoke video
2. Cheesecake - Video

Belarus TV has hardly ever stuck to the original winner chosen, so chances are, this is probably not the entry for Copenhagen yet.
Teo is an expert on being replaced in Belarus. He co-wrote the winning songs of the 2010, 2012 and 2013 Belarus National Finals, but they all got replaced.

Versions
Cheesecake - Eurovision version
- on official Copenhagen CD
Cheesecake - Karaoke
- on the official karaoke album, digital release
Cheesecake - ft. Five Men (Acapella version)
Cheesecake - DJ Nejtrino & DJ Baur remix - free Download at Luxury Music Soundcloud
Cheesecake - DJ Famous remix
- all above on promo set.
Cheesecake - Original version
- first digital release*
* iTunes original digital release has been replaced with the new version, even though the old januari release date is still mentioned.

Charts
Ireland top 100: 68, -
Austria top 75: 75, -
Sweden Digilistan top 60 (Digital sales charts): 49, -
U.K. top 200: 140,-

More Belarus
Alyona Lanskaya finished 16th in Malmö with the country's 10th entry Solayoh, but Litesound (2012) and Belarus Loving Anastasia Vinnikova (2011) didn't make it to the final.
3 + 2 and their Butterfly wings made it to #24 in the final in 2010. Eyes That Never Lie by Peter Elfimov stranded in the semi.
Belarus made it to the final three times out of ten.

Links and sources
Yuri / Teo's FB
BT (TVR) Eurovision pages
Thanks to Jean-François

Armenia - Not Alone - Aram Mp3

4 - 174 pts / 4 - 121 pts in semi 1
Armenian TV have selected Aram Mp3 (Aram Sargsyan, Արամ Սարգսյան) to represent Armenia at the Copenhagen contest.

promo cds

The song, premiered on March 14 is titled Not Alone.
The song is written by Aram MP3 with lyrics by Garik Papoyan.
Listen and watch here

Digital release image

On May 5 the song and a remix by Serjo have been released as digital single through Universal.
Listen to the remix at Arams Youtube
A promo cdsingle includes the same two tracks.

Versions
Not Alone - Eurovision version
- official Copenhagen 2CD
Not Alone - Remix by Serjo
- digital release
Not Alone - Karaoke
- official karaoke album, digital release.

I guess Aram uses the Aram Mp3 moniker not to be confused with the former Prime Minister of Armenia.

Charts:
Denmark top 40: 21, 40, -
Ireland top 100: 60, -
Netherlands sales top 100: 94, -
Sweden top 60: 45, -
Sweden Digilistan top 60 (Digital sales charts): 12, 26
U.K. top 100: 88, -
Germany top 100: 44, -
Switzerland top 75: 53, -
Austria top 75: 31, -

R.R.I remix

More Armenia
In Malmö Dorians made it to the final with their Lonely Planet co-written by Black Sabbath's Tony Iommy and ended 18th. The 2012 Baku contest didn't see an Armenian representative.
Emmy's Boom Boom was the first Armenian entry that didn't make it to the final.
Eva Rivas (7th place in 2010) and the Aryakshans (10th in 2009) fared better. Armenia particpates since 2006 and have reached the top 10 with their first five entries.

Links and sources
Aram MP3 FB
Thanks to Jean-François