Sunday, March 9, 2014

Belgium - Mother - Axel Hirsoux

14 - 28 pts in semi 1
Axel Hirsoux has won the final of the Belgian Eurosong selection 2014 with the song Mother written by Rafael Artesero with lyrics by Ashley Hicklin.

The 56th Belgian entry for Eurovision was selected through the revitalized Eurosong series with a final on March 16.

It's the 4th Eurovision entry for Rafael Artesero. He wrote the Andorran entries of 2005 and 2006 and the Spanish entry of 2011.
For a list of his entries and preselection songs (20+!), check the Spanish post at the Düsseldorf Collection.

Digital release image
Versions
Mother
- on official Eurosong and Copenhagen albums.
Mother - Karaoke (is actually instrumental)
- on official karaoke album, digital release.
No cdsingle or promo disc was issued.

Charts
Mother enters the Ultratop at # 8. Nine Eurosong tracks made it to the top 50 (Flemish Belgian Charts).
A week later Hirsoux also enters the charts in Wallonia.
Belgian Ultratop (Flemish) top 50: 8, 7, 33, 41, 49, -, re: 38, -
Belgian Ultratop (Walloon) top 40: 32, -, re: 50, -

All (new) songs from the Belgian Eurosong marathon are released on a CD Eurosong 2014 (CNR Entertainment, out March 10). It also includes four potential entries by the artists that were axed in an early stage of the competition.
The digital release also features karaoke versions of all songs, not sure if they will be released on CD.
See tracklist below.

Euphoria
Newcomer Hirsoux released one other song in his career so far: a coverversion of Euphoria, Loreens 2012 Eurovision winner.
It has appeared on various digital compilations. The earliest is various artists collection Euphoria (Bif Artista records) released in July 2012.
Also available as seperate track.

More Belgium
Belgium qualified to the Eurovision final twice in the past five years. Tom Dices Me And My Guitar ended 6th in 2010 and last years Love Kills by Roberto Bellarosa ended 12th.
Copycat a.k.a. Patrick Ouchene (2009), Witloof Bay (2011) and Iris (2012) didn't make it to the final night.

Full tracklist Eurosong 2014
1. Bandits – One
2. Petra – Killer Touch
3. Day One – Who Ever You Are
4. Sil – What’s The Time In Tokyo
5. Yass – Need You Tonight
6. White Bird – Fire & Ice
7. Tisha Cyrus – Kitty Cat
8. Udo – Hero (In Flanders Fields)
9. Axeela – Chasing Rainbows
10. Axel Hirsoux – Mother
11. Nelson – Wild Side
12. Eva Jacobs – Nothing Is Impossible
13. Joyce – I Think I
14. Mr. Jones – Still Believe
15. 2 Fabiola feat. Loredana – She’s After My Piano
16. Jessy – Beautiful

Links and sources
Axel Hirsoux FB
VRT Eurosong pages
Thanks to Jean-François

Russia - Shine - The Tolmachevy Sisters


7 - 89 pts / 6 - 63 pts in semi 1
The Tolmachevy Sisters (Сёстры Толмачёвы, Masja and Nastya Tolmatsjeva) represented Russia in Copenhagen.
promo cds (see below)
The song is titled Shine and is written by Dimitris Kontopoulos and Philippe Kirkorov with lyrics by John Ballard, Ralph Charlie and Gerard James Borg. The lyrics to the Russian version are written by the sisters themselves.
promo front
The song is released through iTunes.
Listen to the song at the sistersYoutube. You can also listen to the Russian version.
You can download the Russian version at the Soundcloud of the producers Arnold Sound Studio.

A promo with audio and video is issued. It comes in a sleeve with a front (pic right) that folds away and reveals the sisters (top picture).
It includes:
Shine - Full version
Shine - Karaoke version
Polovina - Full version
Polovina - Karaoke version
Shine - Video

Digital release image
Versions
Shine - English Eurovision version
- on the official Copenhagen 2CD, promo cds
Половина (Polovina, half) - Russian version
- both at the sisters Youtube., also on promo cds
Shine - karaoke
- on the official karaoke album, digital release. also promo cds
Половина (Polovina) - Karaoke
- on promo cds



Coverversion
U.K. Eurovision star Nicki French recorded Shine for a coverversions EP in 2021. Find out more about that here at Eurocovers.

The composers.
It seems an odd bunch of songwriters but they have some Eurovision entries between them.
Philippe Kirkorov (Фили́пп Кирко́ров, pictured in the top image) is of course known from Russia's second ever entry Kolbelnya Dlya Vulcana (17th in 1995) that he forgot to tell us was covered from a 1983 LP by Moldovan singer Anastasia Lazariuc.
Dimitris Kontopoulos (Δημήτρης Κοντόπουλος) composed many Greek (and a few Russian) National Final entries. With John Ballard Ballard and Ralph Charlie (Al Fahel) he wrote last years entry for Azerbaijan, Hold me by Farid Mammadov (2nd place). Ballard had a few Melodifestival entries in the 80's and worked with Ace Of Base.
Gerard James Borg co-wrote five Maltese entries and is a keen supplier of songs to national finals of any country that allows foreign songwriter input. Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, France and Iceland all had one or more Borg songs assimilated into their preselections.
He had 43 songs in the Maltese selection since1999, four songs in 2014.


In a way they already won Eurovision. In 2006 that is, and it was the Junior version. Their song Veseniy Jazz  (Весенний джаз, Spring jazzwon the kiddie contest in Bucharest, Romania. But the girls have grown a bit, and now they're in the competition for the grups.

More Russia
Russia has never failed to get to the Eurovision final. Dina Garipova ended 5th with her sincere song of peace and love for everyone. The evil grannies Buranovskiye Babusky partied their way to #2 in 2012.
Alex Sparrow (2011) ended only 16th and both Peter Nalitch (2010) and home entry Mamo by Anastasia Prikhodko (2009) ended at place 11.

Links and sources
Eurovision.tv

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Slovenia - Spet / Round And Round - Tinkara Kovač

25 - 9 pts / 10 - 52 pts in semi 2
Slovenia was represented by Tinkara Kovač with the song Spet (again) / (Round and Round).
The song is performed in a mix of English and Slovenian.
The song is written by Raay (Aleš Vovk), Tinkara Kovač, Hannah Mancini (Eurovision 2013) and Tina Piš.
Promo cds

Digital release image
versions:
Round And Round - ESC version (Slovenian/English) 3:00
- on official Copenhagen 2CD

Round And Round - Official ESC (Slovenian/English) 3:16
Spet - Slovenian
Round And Round - International (Slovenian/Italian/English)
Round And Round - English
Round And Round - ESC Karaoke
 - also on the official karaoke album, digital release
Round And Round - ESC Intrumental
Spet - Karaoke
Round And Round - International Karaoke
Round And Round - International F*G*Pella edit (flute, guitars and acapella)
- all above except the first one are on the promo cd-rom, see below for complete run-down of the tracks.

Spet / Round And Round - first bilingual version
- videoclip
Spet - instrumental (of first version)
- Tinkara's EMA Youtube


Promo
Tinkara promo (data cd) has 9 versions of her Eurovision entry plus a videoclip.
The audio tracks come in both mp3 and wave format.
1. Round And Round - Official ESC (Slovenian/English)
- This is actually the longer video version (3:16)
2. Spet - Slovenian
- also the longer version but in Slovenian only
3. Round And Round - International (Slovenian/Italian/English)
- also the longer version
4. Round And Round - English
- this is the 3:00 edit, as on the CPH CD, but in English only
5. Round And Round - ESC Karaoke
- 3:00 edit
6. Round And Round - ESC Intrumental
- 3:00 edit
7. Spet - Karaoke
- Slovenian karaoke longer edit 3:16
8. Round And Round - International Karaoke
- 3:16 karaoke of track 3.
9. Round And Round - International F*G*Pella edit (flute, guitars and acapella)
- same as the International version but with different instrumentation.
10. Videoclip
Great job figuring all that out Bastiaan!
- all 9 tracks now also as digital release (Amazon)

Pic from Rockonnet
Spet / Round And Round is Tinkara's 4th EMA song. Here's a list:
1997 Veter Z Juga (South wind)
- 10th place
1999 Zakaj (Why)
- 2nd place
2001 Sonce V Očeh (Sun in the eyes)
- 5th place in the EMA final

Since 1997 Tinkara has released eight albums and a greatest hits compilation. Zazibanke from 2013 is the most recent.



More Slovenia
In the past five years Slovenia made it to the final just once. Maja Keuc's No One finished 13th in Düsseldorf.
Quartissimo ft. Martina (2009), Ansambel Žlindra ft Kalamari (2010) and Hannah Mancini (2013) all finished 16th in their semi. Eva Boto (2012) finished 17th in hers.

Links and sources
Tinkara Kovač FB and Website
Tinkara's versions at her EMA Youtube
Thanks to Bastiaan

Friday, March 7, 2014

Denmark - Cliché Love Song - Basim

digital release image 
9 - 74 pts / not in semi
Basim (Anis Basim Moujahidwon the Danish Melodi Grand Prix with Cliché Love Song and represented the host country in Copenhagen.
The song is written by Lasse Lindorff, Kim Nowak-Zorde, Daniel Fält and Basim.
Here's the live performance (DR's YT)

After being noticed in Danish X-Factor 2008, Basim has released two albums when he was 15 / 16 years young. Alt Det Jeg Ville Have Sagt (All I would have said) in 2008 and Befri Dig Selv (Free yourself) in 2009.
His most recent release is a digital EP titled '5' from 2013.
He scored four minor hits in Denmark, the biggest being Lad Ikke Solen Gå Ned (Don't let the sun go down), a duet with Lis Sørensen which reached No. 15 in the Danish top 40.
Cliché Love Song is Basims first release sung in English.

Basim is using a bit of the F-word in the original version. EBU rules require a new version for the contest and the F word is replaced by the Another.
An acoustic version has also been recorded (release date 28-4)

Versions:
Cliché Love Song - clean version
- on the official Copenhagen 2CD
- as 'Another version' on digital single/EP
Cliché Love Song - original
- on DMGP 2014 CD
Cliché Love Song - acoustic
- digital release
Cliché Love Song - Rothmann remix
- digital release
Cliché Love Song - karaoke
- on the official karaoke collection, digital release
Cliché Love Song - instrumental
- on DMGP 2014 CD 
Of course all versions have (also) been released digitally.
No cdsingle or promo disc has been issued.


Charts:
Danish tracklisten top 40: 2, 2, 5, 7, 13, 10, 9, 9, 10, 3, 7, 20, 30
Spain top 50: 50, -
Ireland top 100: 38, -
Netherlands sales top 100: 71, -
Sweden top 60: 19, 9, 16, 30, 41
Sweden Digilistan top 60 (Digital sales charts): 8, 11, 11, 17, 27, 51
U.K. top 100: 46, -
Germany top 100: 50, -
Switzerland top 75: 55, -
Austria top 75: 37, -

DMGP CD

The CD with all entries to this years Danish selection, Dansk Melodi Grand Prix is out now. All 10 songs are also included in their karaoke versions. (Sony)
The karaoke version of Basims Eurovision song is actually instrumental.


Tracklist DMGP 2014
01 Sonny - Feeling the You
02 Anna David - It Hurts
03 Basim - Cliche Love Song
04 Rebekka Thornbech - Your Lies
05 Glamboy P - Right by Your Side
06 Bryan Rice - I Choose U
07 Nadia Malm - Before You Forget Me
08 Michael Rune Feat. Natascha Bessez - Wanna Be Loved
09 Emilie Moldow - Vi Finder Hjem
10 Danni Elmo - She's the One

plus all versions in karaoke/instrumental

More Denmark
Of course we all know Denmark won the 2013 contest with Only Teardrops by Emmelie De Forest. But the Danish course of radio friendly pop tunes has paid off nicely in recent years. Denmark have made it to the final the past 6 years.
Soluna Samay(2012)  finished only 23rd, but A Friend In London (5th in 2011) and Chaneé and N'evergreen (4th in 2010) made top 5
Niels Brinck got a little help from Ronan Keating in 2009 and ended at no. 13.

Links and sources
Basim FB and website
DR Melodi Grand Prix pages
Thanks to Nissim 2901 (see comments)


Eurovision 2014 CD releases, cdsingles

Let's Get Physical
I know we're a breed on the brink of extinction, but some of us Eurovision fans still like to collect the CDs of our beloved event.
The digital era blah blah blah, etcetera. Here's a list of CD releases commercially available.
More details (also on promo's and digital releases) can be found in each countries seperate section.

CDsingles in the shops
The first cdsingle of the year is the one from Sweden, Sanna Nielsens Undo was released just before the national final (Melodifestivalen). A similar release is out in other countries since May 9.
At least (or: only) four other MF act have cdsingle releases: Yohio, Little Great Things, JEM and State Of Drama.
The Common Linnets (Netherlands) released a 1-track cd single when the song was presented. A 2 track cdsingle is out in Europe since may 30.
The German entry Is It Right by Elaiza got a cdsingle release on March 28.
The Norwegian entry cds is not available in the shops but can be ordered through Carl Espens website
Spain: Ruth Lorenzo released a cdsingle on April 20, Available at Fnac & El Cortes Ingles stores in Spain.
The week after the victory Austria's cdsingle is out in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, more to follow.
Romania's Miracle is also available in Scandinavian stores.

Official CD and DVD
The official 2CD including all 37 entries is released on April 11 on Universal / Polystar records.
It also includes Emmelie De Forests song Rainmaker which is the theme song for the Copenhagen contest.
The karaoke versions are released digitally or you can have a listen at Spotify.
The DVD release has 3 discs and is out in the first week of June. No Blu ray or other fancy issues are planned.

Compilation albums
The Nordics don't let us down, except Norway. Last year the Norwegian release was saved by DaWorks, but no such luck this time.
We'll have to make do with the compilations of Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Denmark.
A bit further south: Belgium and Hungary have also released their national final songs on CD.

Details on the releases of the German selection can be found here at our Facebook.

Artists albums 2014
Italy: La Mia Città can be found on the re-issue of Emma's Schiena CD titled Schiena vs. Schiena. In November Emma releases a live album including a live version of her Eurovision hit.
Netherlands: The Common Linnets album is out since May 9. It even charts in several countries (U.K., Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium) unprecedented for a Eurovision act.
Germany: Elaiza have their album Gallery out in May.
France: Twin Twin re-issue their album Vive La Vie now including Moustache. (April 14)
San Marino: Valentina Monetta releases her CD album Sensibilità in May.
Ovi (Romania) release his new album on may 5.
Lithuania: Vilija's album Attention! is out now.
Sweden: Sanna's new album 7 is out on june 30 in Sweden, July 4 in Germany.
Malta: Firelights album was planned for Februari but has been finally released in September.
Poland:Donatan and Cleo have finished their album Hiper Chimera, originally planned release was September, but we´ll have to wait a bit longer.
Spain: Ruth Lorenzo´s debut album Planeta Azul is out on novermber 29.

Of course In The Shops doesn't mean you can buy them anywhere or everywhere, but the avid Eurovision collector knows BeaRecords is the place to shop.

Monday, March 3, 2014

United Kingdom - Children Of The Universe - Molly

Digital release image, from Molly's Facebook
17 - 40 pts / not in semi
1 track promo cds
For the 4th time in a row the BBC have opted for an internal selection to find a Eurovision representative.
But this time they have gone for a new talent, Molly Smitten-Downes.
The song is titled Children Of The Universe, penned by Molly herself with Anders Hansson.


The song was officially released on April 28, no physical release though, although the picture is mentioned as 'official single sleeve' at Molly's Facebook.
She signed an album deal with Warner Music.
Two promo's have been issued. A 1-track promo in cardsleeve and a 4-track in plastic case. (Warner / East/West records).

4 track promo sleeve
Anders Hansson
Co-writer Hansson is known from several Swedish Melodifestivalen hits including Eurovision entry It Hurts  (Det Gör Ont) by Lena Philipsson (2004) and MF tracks by Alcazar, BWO and Agnes (Carlsson).
His first MF entry was Dansa I Neon by Lena Ph. from 1987, now a Swedish evergreen.

Club Mix
You can listen to a Scott Mills Club mix here at Molly's Youtube. Three remixes were released on April 27 (digital release). See versions below.

Versions
Children Of The Universe - Eurovision version
- Official Copenhagen 2CD, promos
Children Of The Universe - Karaoke
- Official karaoke album (digital release)
Children Of The Universe  - Scott Mills Club mix
Children Of The Universe  - Scott Mills radio mix
Children Of The Universe  - Secaina Hudson remix
- remixes digital release on April 27, also on 4-track promo

Charts
Molly enters the U.K. top 100 at #48 the sunday before the contest week.
U.K. top 100: 48, 33, 23, 88, -
Ireland top 100: 87, 36, -
Denmark top 40: 37, -
Germany top 100: 94, -
Switzerland top 75: 63, -
Austria top 75: 63, -
Sweden Digilistan top 60 (Digital sales charts): 31, -

More United Kingdom
Jade Ewen was chosen to sing It's My Time, penned by Andrew Lloyd Webber and she gave the U.K. their best result since 2002. (5th). Josh Dubovie also got himself a song by a well known composer, but Pete Waterman and Mike Stocks That Sounds Good To Me didn't sound good to Europe. A measly 10 points and 25th place.
A new course led to the BBC overusing the defibrillators. First old Boyband Blue was revived, and with success. I Can ended 11th and scored a top 10 hit in several European countries. (No. 16 in the U.K.).
Engelbert Humperdinck was an even bigger surprise, but Love Will Set You Free only made No. 25.
In 2013 Bonnie Tyler was received with a lot of love in Malmö, but the points didn't come, she ended up with a 19th place and a measly No. 93 hit at home.

Pic from BBC's twitter

Links and sources
BBC Eurovision pages
Molly FB
Molly Website
Thanks to Jean-François.

The ESCzine handbook 2014

Again it's bigger and better, the 2014 handbook, now ESCzine. (a.k.a. OGAE's Eurosongnews). It has all the details you need on the artists, preselections, hosts and other important stuff on the Copenhagen contest. It has a foreword by Jon-Ola Sand.
144 pages of Eurovision fun in colour and in English.
Highly recommended reading and coffee table material, for now and as a future reference work.

Special thanks to Ivor Lyttle.

You can check some pages out here.
It's also available at BeaRecords
Here are the links to your national OGAE clubs.


Copenhagen Quick Links 
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Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Latvia 
Lithuania Macedonia Malta Moldova Montenegro 
Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania
Russia San Marino Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland 
Ukraine United Kingdom       Absent Friends

Sunday, March 2, 2014

France - Moustache - Twin Twin

promo cds
Digital release image
26 - 2 pts / not in semi
Twin Twin have won the French selection with their song Moustache.
Twin Twin are Lorent Idir, François Djemel and Patrick Biyik
The song is written by Pierre Beyres, Kim N'Guyen, Lorent Idir and François Ardouvin.
Moustache is available on iTunes and other digital sources.
A 1 track promo cdsingle is issued by Warner Music France.

Pic from Twin Twins Facebook
Twin Twin's 2013 album Vive La Vie was re-issued on April 14, now including Moustache.
Both on CD and digital.

Versions
Moustache - Original
- on Copenhagen 2CD and promo cds
Moustache - Karaoke
- On official Karaoke collection (digital release)

Charts
France top 200: 115, 184, -
Ireland top 100: 79, -
Sweden top 60: 53, -
Sweden Digilistan top 60 (Digital sales charts): 19, 32, -
U.K. top 100: 89, -
Germany top 100: 89, -
Austria top 75: 60, -

More France
The last top 10 result for France was in 2009 when Patricia Kaas took her Et S'Il Fallait Le Faire to no. 8 in Moscow.
Jessy Matador finished 12th in 2010. Sognu, a song in Corsican by Amaury Vassili was a pre-contest favorite for the victory, but it only managed a 15th place. Angguns Echo (You And I) made it only to 22. In Malmö Amandine Bourgeois ended 23rd.

Links and sources
Twin Twin FB and Website
Thanks to Jean-François

Azerbaijan - Start A Fire - Dilara Kazimova

22 - 33 pts / 9 - 57 pts in semi 1
Dilara Kazimova (Dilarə Kazımova) won the Azerbaijani talent selection Böyük Səhnə (Big stage). The song for Copenhagen is titled Start A Fire and was presented on March 16.
7 track promo cds

The 'Amsterdam' promo
Start A Fire is written by Stefan Örn, Johan Kronlund and Alessandra Günthardt.
For Swedish songwriter Örn it's his 4th Eurovision entry for Azerbaijan. He co-wrote the entries from 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Watch the song here at Eurovision.tv's Youtube
The song has been released through various digital outlets like Amazon and iTunes. The first release also features the karaoke version of Start A Fire.
An Azerbaijani version is also recorded. It's titled Bir Qığılcım and you can listen here at Dilara's Youtube.
A Turkish version Alev Gibi is also recorded and can be heard through Dilara's Youtube.

Copenhagen promo DVD
Promo's
- A promo cd-rom was made for use at the Amsterdam Eurovision In Concert event. It has audio (in mp3 format), video, and a biography (document).
- Another promo features 7 tracks including all versions of the remix EP and two Eurovision versions (although these appear to be the same track)
- A DVD in 7"inch sleevehas the English and Azerbaijani verrsions.


Remix EP
A new digital release (iTunes) includes five versions of Start A Fire
Start A Fire - Azerbaijan version
Start A Fire - Etostone Dubstep remix
Start A Fire - Etostone House Extended remix
Start A Fire - Etostone House remix
Start A Fire - live
You can listen to the remixes at Dilara's Youtube
Digital release image remic EP
versions
Digital release image
Start A Fire - Eurovision version
- on official Copenhagen 2CD
Bir Qığılcım - Azerbaijani version
Start A Fire - Etostone Dubstep remix
Start A Fire - Etostone House Extended remix
Start A Fire - Etostone House remix
Start A Fire - live
- digital releases, promo(s)
Alev Gibi - Turkish version
- videoclip
Start A Fire - Karaoke version
- On the official karaoke album, digital release

Dilara Kazimova was a member of duo Milk and Kisses who participated in the 2010 Azerbaijani preselection. In the final they sang Drip Drop, Under My Skin and Cancelled, but it was Safura's version of Drip Drop that went on to the Oslo Eurovision.

More Azerbaijan
All Azerbaijan's Eurovision entries have made it to the top 10 (until CPH that is). After finishing 8th with their debut entry Day After Day it was just a few years to the first victory for the country in 2011.
In 2009 Always by Aysel and Arash finished 3rd, Safura finished 5th with Drip Drop in 2010.
The victory came in Düsseldorf with Ell and Nikki and their Running Scared. Home entry When The Music Dies by Sabina Babayeva ended 4th and Fit Farid took his Hold Me to No. 2.
You can also find some more on Azarbaijani entries here at the Baku Collection.

links and sources
Böyük Səhnə pages
Dilara's Eurovision talents pages and FB
Dilara's Soundcloud has some interesting coverversions
Thanks to Jean-François, to Bastiaan and to Maxim (see comments).

Emmelie's Rainmaker, Australia's love for Eurovision and more

This years theme song is Rainmaker by Emmelie De Forest (last years winner)
The song can be found as a bonus track on the official 2CD with all the entries (see CD releases)

Next to the official version there is also a remix released. The Sidelmann remix has been released through the usual digitessen and can also be heard on Spotify.

Emmelie De Forest Facebook

Australia
Australia's dedication to Eurovision was celebrated by a segment in the 2nd semi final. After a clip where the continent was dropped in Europe (almost smashing the British isles) there was a performance by Jessica Mauboy.
Her song Sea Of Flags is released (digitally) through all the usual digital stores.
On may 2 she also released her single Never Be The Same, also on cdsingle in Germany.

Jessica Mauboy website and Facebook
Joyful
Momoland entertained the world in the interval in the final. Their reworking of Beethoven's 9th (titled Joyful) is now released through your favorite digital stores.

The Tunes and such.
All the songs and many of this years versions have been released through digital stores. Not all are specifically mentioned in each country's page, I'm sure you can find them for yourself.
iTunes is the most popular source and there are many sites dedicated to lists with iTunes sales.
The one to visit for all your Eurovision updates is Esctracker. Like last year you can see which entries are selling in which countries. If you click the option Previous Years the list will also include entries of past years in the lists. (And boy, is Euphoria still doing well!).
Another iTunes list page I like a lot is this one.

Other links
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.
For the OGAE handbook of 2014 visit this page at the Copenhagen Collection
Absent Friends, a little look into the countries that are not with us because the wells are dry or because they're sick of us. (link inside the CPH Collection)

The 2014 entries' pages

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Romania - Miracle - Paula Seling and Ovi

12 - 72 pts / 2 - 125 pts in semi 2
Paula Seling and Ovi (Jacobsen)* got another chance to achieve Eurovision glory for Romania. Their song Miracle won the Romanian national final.
The duo already participated in 2010 with Playing With Fire and ended 3rd in Oslo.
cdsingle
The song is written by Ovi Jacobsen, Philip Halloun, Beyond51 and Frida Amundsen.
Listen here at Paula Selings Youtube channel.
The song is released on iTunes, Amazon and other digital sources. (DaWorks entertainment)

*Ovi has a few aliases. His birthname is Ovidiu Cernăuţeanu, he's also tried Ovi Martin and Bill Martin, but Ovi Jacobsen it is today.

Versions
Miracle - Original
- digital release, Copenhagen CD, cdsingle
Miracle - Karaoke
- on official karaoke album, also seperate digital release, cdsingle
Miracle - Acoustic
- on Ovi CD A Bit Of Pop Won't Hurt Anyone
For remix purposes you can download an acapella version at Soundcloud.

cdsingle and promos
A cdsingle sold as the "Official Souvenir CD single" has been released through DaWorks (DACDS 321)
It has three tracks
Miracle
Miracle - Karaoke version
Playing with fire.
It's for sale through several Scandinavian shops like CDON, Klicktrack and Platekompaniet

A promo cdsingle has 4 tracks:
Miracle
Miracle - Karaoke
Miracle - Acoustic
Playing With Fire

Another promo has three tracks
Miracle
Miracle - Karaoke
Miracle - Acoustic

All discs come in similar (front) sleeves

There's also a promo USB stick-bracelet including
Miracle
Hello Europe (video message)
Photos and bios.
USB bracelet

Remix Kit
A do it yourself remix kit is released through Amazon or cheaper at Klicktrack. Here's you'll find the seperate tracks to make your own remix.

Charts
Ireland top 100: 88, -
U.K. top 200: 174, -

A Bit Of Pop Won't Hurt Anyone
Ovi released a new album on May 5 and it's titled A Bit Of Pop Won't Hurt Anyone. It features Miracle, also in an acoustic version. Another highlight must be She's After My Piano the Belgian preselection song (see below), now a duet with Ovi and Paula. (DaWorks DACD717)
Full tracklist below.

Paula and Ovi's National Final attempts
Paula Seling in the Romanian national finals.
2008: Seven Days (3rd)
2004: Perfect (6th)
2003: Let's Go! (3rd)
1998: Te Iubesc (I love you) (4th)
Ovi in the Norwegian finals
2009: Seven Seconds (final, place 5 to 8 undisclosed)
2006: Better Side Of Me (stranded in the second chance round)

Hands Off My Piano
Ovi also has a song in the Belgian selection this year, together with Philip Halloun (who co-wrote Miracle), Simen Eriksrud and Cecelie Harboe he wrote She's After My Piano in 2011 for himself and Danish singer Ceelay, but it remained unreleased.
2 Fabiola ft. Loredana performed it in the 2nd Belgian semi final. Even though it didn't reach the final, it was the biggest hit of the Belgian selection.
update: Ovi and Paula recorded She's After My Piano for Ovi's new album.
Eriksrud was the producer of 2010's Playing With Fire.

More Romania
Since the semi's were introduced Romania has never missed the final and they made it to the top five three times since.
Paula Seling and Ovi had the best result in recent years: their Playing With Fire was #3 in 2010.
Elena Georghe only ended 19th in 2009 but she managed to pick up a few international hits afterwards.
Hotel FM (2011) was #17, Mandinga (2012) #12 and last years Cezars operatic acrobatics took Romania to #13.

Links and sources
TVR Eurovision pages
Team Miracle Facebook
Paula Seling Facebook
Ovi Jacobsen Facebook
Thanks to Jean-François

Tracklist Ovi album A Bit Of Pop Won't Hurt Anyone
1. Miracle - feat. Paula Seling
2. One Day
3. Girl - feat. Philip Halloun
4. She´s After My Piano - feat. Paula Seling
5. Dirty Beautiful
6. Calling You - feat. Paula Seling
7. We Got Something - feat. Paula Seling
8. Broken
9. Miracle (Acoustic) - feat. Paula Seling

Estonia - Amazing - Tanja

12 - 36 pts in semi 1
Amazing by Tanja (Tatjana Mihailova, Татьяна Михайлова) is the winner of Eestilaul 2014 and represented Estonia in Copenhagen.
The song is written by Timo Vendt and Tatjana Mihhailova herself.
The song is available at iTunes.
Listen and watch here.
You can listen to the remixes here at ERR. (Thanks Jussi!)
promo cds
Promo cds
A promo cds has four versions of the song. The main track is named Radio edit, which is the Eurovision version.
The Hert remix is made by Kermo Hert, who already remixed her 2013 singles All In My Head and Second Chance.
The same 4 tracks are now also available through iTunes.

Digital release image
Versions
Amazing - Eurovision version (Radio edit)
- on the official Copenhagen 2CD
Amazing - Hert remix
Amazing - Chillout version
Amazing - Acoustic version
- all on promo cds
Amazing - Karaoke
- on the official karaoke album, digital release



Estonian Voices cover
In 2015 an acapella coverversion was released by Estonian Voices.
See the video here at ERRs Youtube channel.
Estonian Voices Website.

Nightlight Duo
In the 00's Tanja was a member of Nightlight Duo (with Ly Lumiste). The duo entered the Estonian selection twice. In 2002 Another Country Song (with Cowboys)  finished 2nd, in 2003 I Can B The 1 ended 4th.
In 2012 she released her solo album Gemini.

More Estonia
Estonia has reached the final four out of five times since 2009. Two 6th places were scored by songs in Estonian: Rändajad by Urban Symphony (2009) and Kuula by Ott Lepland. Rändajad ended a string of five failures. Kuula was also covered in Dutch and that became a chart hit in the Netherlands.
Last years Et Uus Saaks Alguse by Birgit Õigemeel made it to #20.
Still, the English language songs didn't do as well. Rockefeller Street by Getter Jaani was 24th in 2011 and Malcolm Lincolns Siren failed to reach the final.

Links and soursces
ETV / ERR Eurovision and Eestilaul pages
Tanja's website and FB
Thanks to Jean-François and to Bastiaan.