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

Albania - One Night's Anger - Hersi Matmuja

Promo image from Hersi's Facebook

15 - 22 pts in semi 1
Herciana (Hersi) Matmuja won the 52nd Festivali i Këngës in Albania with the song Zemërimi I Një Natë (Anger of the night).
The song is written by Jorgo Papingji and Genti Lako.
For Eurovision an English version with a new arrangement is recorded. The Eurovision version is titled One Night's Anger.
Watch and listen here at the official Youtube channel
A promo set with cdsingle and DVD is issued. According to the inner sleeve it includes

CD :

- Zemërimi I Një Natë - original Albanian 3:33

- One Night's Anger - Instrumental 3:00

- One Night's Anger - Karaoke 3:00

- One Night's Anger - Official 3:00

- One Night's Anger - Unplugged 3:03

DVD :

One Night's Anger - Video

and the 5 same songs.
But in fact both discs have the five songs in mp3 (192) format and no video is included.

Versions
One Night's Anger - Eurovision version
- on the official Copenhagen 2CD
Zemërimi I Një Natë - original Albanian
- promo cds
One Nights Anger - First English version, slightly different intro
- video clip.

One Night's Anger - Unplugged 3:03
One Night's Anger - Instrumental 3:00
- unplugged and instrumental on promo cds

One Night's Anger - Karaoke
- on the official karaoke album, digital release, promo

pic from TVSH 

Zemërimi I Një Natë is the fourth Festivali i Këngës entry for the singer:
Last year Hersi ended third in the Albanian competition with Kush Ta Dha Këtë Emër (Who gave you this name).
In December 2010 she participated with Me Cilin Rri Ti Dashuri (Stay with the one you love) and finished 11th.
In 2006 Ah Jetë, Oh Jetë (Ah life, Oh life) ended 10th in the FiK final.

More Albania
Hairy Rockers Adrian Lulgjuraj and Bledar Sejko failed to reach the final in 2013, but 2012 saw the best result for Albania ever: Rona Nishliu took her stunning Suus to the 5th spot in the final.
Festivali I Këngës veteran Aurela Gaçe got stuck in the Eurovision semi in 2011 but both Juliana Pasha (16th in 2010) and Kejsi Tola (17th in 2009) made it to the final.

Links and sources
Herciana's FB

Thanks to Jean-François and to Elona Malosmani at RTSH.

Ukraine - Tick Tock - Mariya Yaremchuk

Promo cds

6 - 113 pts / 5 - 118 pts in semi 1
Mariya Yaremchuk (Мария Яремчук) has won the Ukrainian selection for Eurovision 2014 with the song Tick Tock.
You can listen here.
A new version was recorded for Eurovision.
Listen and watch the new version here at the official Youtube channel. The song is also out on iTunes, Amazon and other digital sources.
Tick Tock is written by Maria herself with some lyrical help by Sandra Bjurman.

Digital release image

versions
Tick Tock - Eurovision version
- on the official Copenhagen CD
Tick Tock - Original version
- websites
Tick Tock - karaoke
- on the official karaoke album, digital release
A version with a different arrangement from the two above has been performed live.

1 track promo

Promos

CPH promo pack

A promo disc (cdrom) has audio, video and press info, it seems there are at least three different issues.
The first issue has a white disc and the hat sleeve and includes Tick Tock (wave file), videoclip, biography and photos.
The second issue has a black disc and the same sleeve.
The third one comes in circular picture sleeve and was used in Copenhagen.
More details wanted

Charts:

Sweden Digilistan top 60 (Digital sales charts): 42, -
U.K. top 200: 190, -

More Ukraine
Giant Igor Vovkovinskiy carried Zlata Ognevich onto the Malmö stage. Her Gravity ended third.
Gaitana didn't fare as well, Be My Guest ended 15th in the final. Mika Newton ended 4th with a little help from sandlady Kseniya Simonova. Sweet People by Alyosha ended 10th in 2010.
Can't believe it's already five years ago since Anti Crisis Girl Svetlana Lobodo paraded her Hell Machine onto the Moscow stage. You'd think the crisis would be over by now.

links and sources:
Maria Yaremchuk Website, FB (new) and VK
Thanks to Jean-François.

Macedonia - To The Sky - Tijana Dapčević

13 - 33 pts in semi 2
Tijana Dapčević (Тијана  Дапчевиќ) represented Macedonia (F.Y.R.O.M.) at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest.

2nd promo (Copenhagen)

1st promo (Amsterdam)

On februari 2014 the song Tamu Kaj Shto Pripagjam (Таму кај што припаѓам, The place I belong) was presented, and also its English version To The Sky, which is the Eurovision version.

You can watch both through Tijana's Youtube channel
The English version is available through iTunes as To The Sky (Where Do We Go Now)
Next to English and Macedonian a Serbian version is recorded. You can download the Serbian version Voli Me at here Tijana's website.

The song is written by Darko Dimitrov, Lazar Svetkoski and Elena Risteska.
Elena Risteska is known from her own Macedonian Eurovision entry Ninanajna from 2006. (12th place)

A 3-track promo is issued for use at the Amsterdam Eurovision In Concert event.
It has the English, Macedonian and Serbian versions of the song. (see versions)
The promo (cd-rom) used in Copenhagen has four versions. The same three language versions plus the karaoke version.

There's also a USB stick-bracelet including all versions, a video of the Macedonian version, photos, bio's and lyrics.

Tijana's USB bracelet.

Originally the title Pobeda (Победа, Victory) was announced, it being an energetic uptempo track sung in Macedonian. I don't know if the song presented is the same song with just a different title or a new track.

Digital release image

Versions
To The Sky (Where Do We Go Now) - English version
- digital release, official Copenhagen CD

Tamu Kaj Shto Pripagjam (таму кај што припаѓам) - Macedonian
- youtube video
Voli Me (Воли Ме) - Serbian
- download at Tijana's website
To The Sky (Where Do We Go Now) - karaoke
- official karaoke album: digital release

Digital release image

Tijana has one Eurovision attempt to her name. She entered the Serbia and Montenegro selection with the song Greh. She ended 8th but Serbia-Montenegro ended up not participating at all.

She has released five albums since 2000, Muzika from 2010 being the most recent one.

Tamara of 'Tamara, Vrcak and Adrian' fame (Eurovision 2008) is the younger sister of our Tijana.

More Macedonia.

In 2013 Esma and Lozano didn't fare well with their Pred Da Se Razdeni (16th in semi) but several versions of the song were released.
Kaliopi did a lot better, ending 13th in the final in 2012 with the majestic Crno I Belo.

Next Time (2009), Gjoko Taneski and Billy Zver (2010) and Vlatko Ilievski (2011) didn't make it to the final.

Links and sources

Tijana Dapčević FB and website

MMM
Thanks to Jean-François, to Lior, to Bastiaan and to the Macedonian Eurovision team.

Austria - Rise Like A Phoenix - Conchita Wurst

Conchita Wurst is the winner of the 59th Eurovision Song Contest.

It's been a while, almost 50 years, but Austria clocked up their 2nd Eurovision victory with the much talked about song Rise Like A Phoenix by Conchita Wurst.
Since Conchita is the winner, her page has moved up. Please go here at the Copenhagen Collection to find out all about Conchita Wurst and the releases, versions, charts and everything else about Rise Like A Phoenix.

Promo cds image

1 - 290 pts / 1 - 169 pts in semi 2
Conchita Wurst (Thomas Neuwirth to his mum) was chosen to represent Austria in the Copenhagen contest already in November 2013.
The song Rise Like A Phoenix was presented on March 18 in a morning radio show at Hitradio Ö3.
RLAP is written by Charly Mason, Joey Patulka, Ali (Alexander) Zuckowski and Julian Maas.
Watch the video here. The song is released on iTunes and other digital sources.
A promo cds is issued including the Eurovision version and instrumental.

CDsingle
The CDsingle of this years winner is out now in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. (ORF/Heinzelmann)
The disc has the Eurovision version and karaoke.

Versions
Rise Like A Phoenix - Eurovision version
- on official Copenhagen 2CD, promo
Rise Like A Phoenix - Karaoke (is actually fully instrumental)
- on official Copenhagen 2CD, promo

More here

San Marino - Maybe (Forse) - Valentina Monetta

24 - 14 pts / 10 - 40 pts in semi 1
La Storia di Valentina Monetta continues. The Sammarinese singer was selected to represent the Italy-locked country for the third time in a row. And she took her country's result up again by reaching the final.
San Marino seems to be in no hurry, with five entries they have bettered the previous result just a little bit, but it's going up!

Promo single sleeve

The song for Copenhagen, written again by Ralph Siegel, is titled Maybe.
Lyrics are by Mauro Balestri, who also wrote the lyrics for Crisalide (Vola). Watch and listen here at the official Youtube.
An Italian version Forse is also recorded, the video of that one is here.

A digital release (March 6) features 5 versions of the song,
The same five versions are issued on a promo cds also including biographies, videos, lyrics, photos and other info. It comes in an 8 inch folder. (Sony / Jupiter 88843  061012)

Versions
Maybe - ESC version
Maybe - Radio version
Forse - ESC version in Italian
Forse - Radio version in Italian
Maybe - Dance version
- all digital release (Meteor music / Eurosong records), promo cds
Maybe (Forse) - Karaoke version
- on the official karaoke album (digital release)

Sensibilitá

A new album Sensibilità is out now and it includes three version of the Eurovision song

Maybe (Forse) (ESC-Version)
Maybe (Forse) (Radio Version)
Forse (Maybe) (Radio Version)

It also includes three versions of the title track Sensibilità and a duet with Vincenzo Monetta (of the Vincenza Monetta Trio) who is Valentina's brother.

Other duets are with Joshua de Cadenéx and with Sarah Jane Ghiotti.

The album includes 20 tracks in all, see full tracklist below.

The early rumour mill had Sensibilità as the title of the ESC entry, but in the end it became the titletrack of the new album.
Out on Sony / Jupiter (8441802652), digital out now (April 4), CD out since May.

Three In A Row: Third Time Lucky?

Not many artists have entered Eurovision three times in a row, but those who did all have a victory to their name.

Lys Assia (for Switzerland) and Corry Brokken (Netherlands) both entered in 1956, 1957 and 1958. Lys won the first contest, Corry the second.

Udo Jürgens sang three times consecutive for Austria. 1964 saw Warum Nur Warum finished 6th, but the song became a worldwide hit as Walk Away for Matt Monro. In 1965 Jürgens ended 4th and he completed his trio with the 1966 winner Merci Cherie.

More San Marino

In 2013 Valentina sang Crisalide (Vola) and she just missed out on a place in the final ending 11th in the thursday semi.

The much debated Social Network Song ended 14th in the tuesday semi in 2012. All included, 18 versions of the ill fated tune have been released.

Stand By sung by Senit ended 16th in the semi.

San Marino's debut entry was Complice by Miodio which ended last in its semi in 2008.

Links and sources:

Valentina Monetta's FB and website

Thanks to Jean-François and to Team Valentina Monetta.

Full tracklist Sensibilità

1. Sensibilità
2. Guardarmi ancora
3. Maybe (Forse) (ESC-Version)
4. Il grande risveglio
5. Telepatia
6. Il vento
7. Viaggio samba (Duet with Vincenzo Monetta)
8. Non mi vergogno più
9. Hotel
10. Per te
11. Molto di più
12. Di nuovo qui
13. Il coraccio per amare
14. Il fiume
15. A Kiss (Duet with Joshua de Cadenéx)
16. Sensibility

17. Maybe (Forse) (Radio Version)

18. Sensibilità (Hip Hop Version)
19. Se (Duet with Sarah Jane Ghiotti)
20. Forse (Maybe) (Radio Version)

Watch This Space

Continously Under Construction: the Copenhagen Collection.
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