Melodifestivalen 2014. Photograph courtesy of SVT

Summer is truly over and we are now in Eurovision 2014 mode. Copenhagen is now selected for the host city for 2014 and now the countries begin their search for their next or first Eurovision win.

3 countries have opened their selection process – Russia, Iceland and Sweden

• Russia

KTO – Russian Eurovision 2014 Selection. Photograph courtesy of Russia.tv

Ring in the new year with the Russian National Selection that will take place on New Year’s Eve – December 31st of course. The selection show will be called quite simply “Kto? or Who?”.

You can find all the application details on the official KTO? site here

We do like the invite that the website has. It reads simply ”

“If you sing better than anyone, if you have an amazing voice, compelling artistry, talent and sheer will of the leader, if you are confident that you can win the top position in the world ranking singers – take a chance! Take part in the contest! Become the star of “Eurovision!”

Russia.tv has expressed clearly that the songs should be “modern and contemporary with some traditional aspects”. 25 songs will be selected for the final and the public will vote for their Eurovision entrant for 2014.

2014 will mark Russia’s 20th anniversary in the contest. Their début was in Dublin in 1994 with the wonderful Youdipph in the architectural dress of the contest!

• Iceland

Söngvakeppninni 2014 is now accepting songs for the Icelandic Eurovision National Selection. Photograph courtesy of RUV

Iceland are still waiting for their first win at Eurovision. They have come close to taking the Grand Prix before. Will this be the year that the island nation wins Eurovision? Well the National Broadcaster RÚV are determined for this to be the case and have released details of Söngvakeppninni 2014 – their national selection process.

Submissions of songs are now taking place by RÚV . Composers can enter 2 songs, that must be written in Icelandic. The closing date for entries is October 7th. For the application process and details follow the official site here

There is a composers winning prize fund of 1 million Icelandic kroner or €6,300 approximately.

Iceland came so close to winning Eurovision in 1999 in Israel with Selma. Should have won.

• Sweden

Melodifestivalen 2014. Photograph courtesy of SVT

Melodifestivalen 2014 are accepting submissions of songs from composers up until September 18th.

32 songs will make it through to the live shows in 2014. For the 16 songs that are being selected through the public selection process, an internal jury will select up to 15 songs which have at least one songwriter/lyricist whom has had work published already in their career. Then at least 1 song from unpublished composers will be selected.

Composers/Artists with “Published Material” should apply here

Composers/Artists with “No Previously Published Material” should apply here

For the remaining 16 songs in Melodifestivalen 2014, 15 songs will be invited especially by SVT and the band EKO have already guaranteed their place by winning the ’Svensktoppen Nästa 2013′ contest.

For the complete set of rules and regulations you can read them here

There seems like no holding back Sweden in their search for yet another Eurovision win in 2014. We would love to see them return to a groovy sound like they had in 1968 with one of our favorite Swedish entries performed by Claes-Göran Hederström – “Det Börjar Verka Kärlek, Banne Mej” or in English “It’s starting to look like love – Darn”. That is a proper song title.

We will bring you more information on up coming National Eurovision selections for 2014

Author/Website co-founder and Editor in Chief Garrett Mulhall

Source : Russia.tv, RÚV and SVT