ITALY: And the Sanremo winner is… The 70th Sanremo Festival is over, and Diodato has won with the song Fai rumore. After a combination of public voting, he/she/they will (hopefully) be representing RAI at the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam in May. Francesco Gabbani was runner-up, with Pinguini […]
ICELAND: Two finalists for Söngvakeppnin 2020 The first semi-final of Söngvakeppnin has finished, and two songs have made it through to the final on 29 February. They performed in Icelandic tonight, but have free rein in three weeks time. The lucky finalists are Isold & Helga with “Klukkan […]
SWEDEN: Two more finalists for Melodifestivalen 2020 The second semi-final of Melodifestivalen 2020 from Göteborg has finished, and we have more songs for the Grand Final and Andra Chansen. In the Grand Final on 7 March we’ll see Anna Bergendahl with the song “Kingdom Come” and Dotter with […]
BIRTHDAY: Claudette Pace from Malta is 52 today We’re already 20 contests or so into the 21st Century. Where has the time gone? It only seems like yesterday since we were at Globen for the first time, when it was a shiny building with a large ornamental lake […]
BIRTHDAY: Jimmie Wilson is 39 today We seem to be having a run of duos and duets lately, so here’s another one. After all, with two singers for the price of one, you’re bound to connect with at least 50% of the singers trying to sell you a […]
BIRTHDAY: Trijntje Oosterhuis is 37 today Four years too early? Well, It’s not often someone is four years too early outside of an Olympic setting. But as we’re heading to Rotterdam’s fair city in the spring, it’s good to celebrate what the Dutch have done in the past. […]
BIRTHDAY: Markko Aro from Finland is 70 today We like to celebrate songs from all years, even those from the time before many of us were alive. Did you know, for example, that there were contests before 2001? Well, nearly 50 years ago, Eurovision started anew. Previews for […]
BIRTHDAY: Nina Zilli from Italy is 40 today Can Italy get a third win this decade? Since they came back to the party in 2011, they’ve had – arguably – the most consistent record of the Big Five. Some say Italy could win whenever they want, but they […]
BIRTHDAY: Nico from Romania is 50 today We’ve made it through January. Are you pleased? It means we’re a month closer to our favourite TV show. Are you getting excited? Has your favourite country picked its song yet? Or do you have a favourite already? With forty-one countries […]
BIRTHDAY: Dave Benton is 69 today A win. It’s a remarkable thing. Only one of them comes along each year, so it’s precious. Especially if it’s your first one. And if it comes less than ten years after your first participation, even better. Back in 2001, we witnessed […]