One day to Eurovision in Concert

Sandra Reemer Co-host of Eurovision In Concert  

Amsterdam, Netherlands - In just 24 hours time, in Amsterdam, the sixth annual Eurovision In Concert will take place. Outside of the actual Eurovision Song Contest itself, this is the biggest gathering of artists from the 2014 contest, and Eurovision.tv will be there to cover it, and to bring interviews with the artists, as well as their performances at the Melkweg venue in the city centre.

Over the course of this week, we have been previewing the acts that are going to be appearing at Eurovision In Concert, either through interviews, or videos of the entries. Today we have a look at what will be happening at this keenly anticipated event, which is already sold out, and which special guests will be appearing.

Say wonderful things

Before the concert in the evening, there is a packed afternoon for the artists as they meet the press. There will be a short introductory event, at 13:30 with:
-Cornald Maas (Host of Eurovision In Concert)
-Sietse Bakker (Event Supervisor of EBU)
-Jan Lagermand Lundme (Head of Show, Danish broadcaster DR)
-Emmelie de Forest (Winner of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest)
-All 25 participating delegations
From 14:15 until 16:30 the artists will be having a series of one-to-one interview with the press, whilst also undertaking their soundchecks.

Be my guest

Eurovision In Concert will be hosted by Cornald Maas, along with Sandra Reemer. The latter represented the Netherlands in three editions of Europe's Favourite Tv Show, in 1972, 1976 and 1979, achieving a highly respectable fourth place in the 1972 edition (in a duet with Andres) with the song Als Het Om De Liefde Gaat.
Reuniting for Eurovision In Concert are the Dutch all girl group Frizzle Sizzle, who represented the Netherlands in the 1986 contest with the song Alles Heeft Ritme, which finished in 13th place in Bergen.
Plus, as mentioned above, Emmelie de Forest will also be performing at the concert.

Watch Emmelie de Forest perform Only Teardrops

Sing me a song

The 25 acts from 2014 who will perform at Eurovision In Concert

• Albania - Hersi
• Armenia - Aram MP3
• Austria - Conchita Wurst
• Azerbaijan - Dilara Kazimova
• Belarus - Teo
• Belgium - Axel Hirsoux
• Denmark - Basim
• France - Twin Twin
• F.Y.R. Macedonia - Tijana
• Georgia - The Shin and Mariko
• Greece - Freaky Fortune feat. RiskyKidd
• Latvia - Aarzemnieki
• Lithuania - Vilija Matačiūnaitė
• Malta - Firelight
• Moldova - Cristina Scarlat
• Montenegro - Sergej Ćetković
• Netherlands - The Common Linnets
• Norway - Carl Espen
• Portugal - Suzy
• Romania - Paula Seling and Ovi
• San Marino - Valentina Monetta
• Spain - Ruth Lorenzo
• Switzerland - Sebalter
• Ukraine - Maria Yaremchuk
• United Kingdom - Molly

Stay tuned to Eurovision.tv to watch interviews and performances from Eurovision In Concert 2014. To the 1500 or so attendees at the Melkweg venue in Amsterdam, we wish you all an enjoyable and memorable event.

The Party's Over

The Official Eurovision in Concert Afterparty will take place at Odeon; a trendy party venue located in the heart of Amsterdam's canal belt (fiveminutes by foot from Melkweg) with a capacity of 450 people. Join Us! There will be several Eurovision performances as well! Tickets cost € 10.00 and will be available at the entrance to Eurovision In Concert.

Eurovision In Concert 2015?

So before Eurovision In Concert 2014 has even taken place, the big question is will there be another event in 2015?
"I can't tell you yet whether there will be an Eurovision In Concert 2015 or not" says René Romkes "every year the team comes together after Eurovision In Concert and then we ask each other: 'are we going on with it or not?' You can imagine Eurovision In Concert takes a lot of preparation and time. We all have our full time jobs as well. You have to be a little crazy to do it I guess..and yes...the Dutch are crazy!"

Which act will you be supporting at Eurovision In Concert?

Former winners to appear at preview events

Anne Marie David 1973 winner

Europe - Two former winners of Europe's Favourite Tv Show are amongst the acts who are appearing at preview parties across Europe. Anne Marie David who won the contest for Luxembourg in 1973 has just been confirmed for the London Preview Party on the 13th April, whilst last year's winner Emmelie de Forest will be a special guest at Eurovision In Concert in Amsterdam on the 5th April.

The entries for the 2014 contest have been formally submitted, and the Semi-Finalists now know their position in the running order, and fans now wait patiently for the rehearsals to commence. In the meantime though, a number of preview events are taking place across Europe. Let's have a look at who is going to be appearing, when and where, over the next few weeks.

29th March: Riga, Latvia

For the first time in Riga, a Eurovision preview party will take place. The following countries from the 2014 contest will be appearing: Austria , Lithuania and Poland will perform their songs. As an opening act at the preview show will be the band PeR who represented Latvia at the Eurovision Song Contest last year.
The artists who are going to Eurovision preParty Riga 2014 will have an opportunity not only to sing in Riga, European Capital of Culture 2014, but to see Riga on the next day after the Concert, they will have a sightseeing tour of Riga for all the artists and journalists.
Eurovision preParty Riga 2014 concert will be streamed live on the internet on Latvian Public Media

5th April: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Eurovision In Concert is Europe's biggest preview party, and this year takes place for the sixth time in Amsterdam. Last year a record 25 countries were represented at the event, and this year already 20 countries have confirmed their appearance at the Melkweg venue in the city centre,
So far, the following countries from the 2014 contest wll be appearing: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Denmark, France, FYR Macedonia, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine and United Kingdom.
Special guests will be Frizzle Sizzle who represented the Netherlands in 1986 with the song Alles Heeft Ritme and Emmelie de Forest who won the 2013 contest for Denmark with the song Only Teardrops.
The concert will be hosted by Sandra Reemer, (who represented the Netherlands in 1972, 1976 and 1979) and Cornald Maas.
Such is the popularity of the event that tickets are already sold out. Eurovision.tv will have a team there to cover the event.

13th April: London, United Kingdom

The London Preview Party is now in its seventh year, and this time is moving to a new, larger, venue at the Café De Paris in the heart of London's theatre district.
So far the following acts from the 2014 contest will be performing: Armenia, Austria, FYR Macedonia, Latvia, Malta, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Spain and Switzerland.
Special guests will be Anne Marie David who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1973 for Luxembourg with the song Tu Te Reconnaitras, and was third in the 1979 competition for France, At the London event she will also perform Wonderful Dream the English version of her winning song for the British fans, as well as signing copies of the book "Songs For Europe - The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest - Volume Two - The 1970s". Also appearing is Scott Fitzgerald who represented the United Kingdom in 1988 with the song Go, coming a very close second by just one point behind Switzerland.
The party will be hosted by Nicki French (who represented the United Kingdom in 2000) and Paddy O'Connell.
Tickets are still available for the London Preview Party. Eurovision.tv will have a team there to cover the event.

Watch Anne Marie David

Did You Know?

• Preview videos of the entries first appeared in time for the 1971 edition of Europe's Favourite TV Show. Prior to this it was rare for viewers to see any entries outside their own country.
• Strict rules were enforced regarding the previews. For many years all participating countries were obliged to screen the previews on their national television channels. They weren't allowed to broadcast them in one programme, and had to be shown in at least two separate programmes.
• There were also restrictions on the earliest and latest dates they could be broadcast. In that first year of previews in 1971, the previews of Ireland and Malta were only shown in black and white, as colour television wasn't established in those countries yet. In fact the very first colour broadcast in Ireland was the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest, which was staged in Dublin.
• Nowadays broadcasters aren't obliged to broadcast the preview videos on their networks, but with the changing technology, fans have various ways of watching the preview videos, including watching them all here on Eurovision.tv!

Do You Know?

Do you know of any other preview parties taking place across Europe which feature artists from this year's contest appearing? Let us know at Eurovision.tv.

How do you like to watch the previews of this year's entries?

Official #JoinUs song launched, penned by Emmelie

Emmelie brought the victory to Denmark in 2013.

 

 

Copenhagen, Denmark - The official #JoinUs song that will be performed in the Final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, has been released.

Emmelie de Forest, the ruling champion of the Eurovision Song Contest, is the artist behind the song Rainmaker.
"It is about a tribe joining together to call upon the rainmaker to make their land blossom again. But on a more general level the rainmaker can be anything or anyone – it is about coming together and helping each other out," Emmelie explains.
You can get the song already now!
The song will be performed during the Final on the 10th of May in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Living her dream

But she’s not only been busy with this, but has been enjoying success after her victory last year.
"I’ve been performing my music around Europe, released my debut album and written a lot of new songs – to be honest, I’m living my dream!" Emmelie adds.
Her winning song Only Teardrops won the hearts of Europe last May and went on to become a number one hit in 12 countries in Europe. During the last year, Emmelie has been performing all over Europe, amongst others in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, The Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Malta, Albania, Belarus and Ukraine.
Her victory in Malmö brought the Danish broadcaster, DR, the right to host the contest in Denmark. A challenge they took up and thus the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest will take place on the 6th, 8th and 10th of May in Copenhagen.

Firelight to represent Malta

Photo (c) TVM

Ta'Qali, Malta - Firelight has been selected as the Maltese entrant in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, and will carry the hopes of the small island nation with the song Coming Home. They saw off the challenge of 13 other songs in tonight's livel final broadcast from the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre in Ta'Qali.

The show was presented by two former Maltese entrants, Ira Losco who finished in second place for the country in the 2002 edition, and last year's participant Gianluca. They were joined by the experienced presenter Moira Delia.

Tonight's Participants

1. Love Tricity sung by Christabelle Borg. Composed by Magnus Kaxe and Gerard James Borg.
2. Some Kind Of Wonderful sung by Wayne William. Composed by Wayne William Micallef.
3. Brand New Day sung by Davinia Pace. Composed by Elton Zarb and Muxu (Matthew Mercieca).
4. City Lady sung by Ryan Paul Abela. Composed by Paul Abela, Ryan Paul Abela and Joe Julian Farrugia.
5. Love Will Take Me Home sung by Franklin Calleja. Composed by Glen Vella, Beatrice Eriksson, Marcus Frenell and Michael James Down.
6. One Last Ride sung by Daniel Testa. Composed by Stephen Rudden and Lawrence Peter Bridge. (Third Place)
7. Let The Sunshine In sung by Sophie Debattista. Composed by Sophie Debattista, Lou Mullen, Adam Pakard and Alexander Dew.
8. Oblivion sung by Chris Grech. Composed by Philip Vella, Chris Grech and Gerard James Borg.
9. Until We Meet Again sung by Deborah C. Composed by Elton Zarb and Muxu (Matthew Mercieca).
10. Hypnotica sung by Jessika. Composed by Philip Vella and Gerard James Borg.
11. Take Me sung by Pamela. Composed by Boris Cezek.
12. Coming Home sung by Firelight. Composed by Richard Micallef.
13. Because I Have You sung by Amber. Composed by Paul Giordimaina and Fleur Balzan.
14. Pin The Middle sung by DeBee. Composed by Peter Paul Galea and Debbie Stivala.(Second Place)

Special guests in tonight's final were the current Eurovision Song Contest title holder, Emmelie de Forest who performed her new song Rainmaker and the Swiss entrant for this year, Sebalter with his song Hunter Of Stars. Plus the Maltese winner of the Junior Eurovision song Contest 2013, Gaia Gauchi performed in front of her own audience. Local guests performing included Winter moods and comic duo Gorg u Pawlu.
The running order of the final was mainly producer led, however two positions were drawn at the press conference following the semi-final. The opening song and the final song in the line-up

The Judging

The winning song was determined by the votes of six judges and televoting made the votes of a seventh judge. The judges in the final were different judges to those that judged the semi-final. The televoters favoured the song Hypnotica.

About Firelight

Firelight is a Maltese country/ folk/ pop band. The band consists of Michelle Mifsud (vocals, piano, percussion), Richard Edward Micallef (vocals, acoustic guitar, Appalachian mountain dulcimer, percussion), Tony Polidano (vocals, upright bass, electric bass, acoustic bass, percussion ), Matthew Ellul (acoustic guitar, electric guitar) and Leslie Decesare (drums, percussion, harmonica).
Firelight were formed in June 2013 and are still in the process of recording their first album which is set to be released in February 2014. All the songs of the album are a collective effort of the band inspirations and ideas which represent the band itself.
The style of music is somewhat new and the aim of the band is to produce a fresh sound to the music scene both locally and internationally. The start of Firelight’s journey will began at the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2014 with the song entitled Coming Home but surely does not end there. After the festival in February there are plans which will be set in motion that include promoting the new album via online marketing, getting the songs played on local and foreign radio and tv stations, releasing the music video’s and touring in Malta and Europe.
The sky is the limit and the hope is to have the bands’ music recognized and enjoyed throughout the world. So far, the feedback for the release of Coming Home has been great so with nothing but determination and drive Firelight look forward to the future and thank everyone upfront for any support they receive along the way.
Malta has been drawn to perform in the first half of the Second Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 to be held on the 8th of May in Copenhagen.
 

What do you think of the Maltese choice? Tell us below!

Emmelie to sing #JoinUs song with finalists

Emmelie de Forest on stage in Malmö.

 

Copenhagen, Denmark - Emmelie de Forest has self-penned a theme song for the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, which she will perform with the 26 finalists on stage in Copenhagen.

This year all the finalists of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest will be joined in song, when they take to the stage with last year’s winner Emmelie de Forest to sing her self-penned number Rainmaker on the 10th of May.
”From the beginning I had a vision of all the artists coming together on stage for a sing-along during the final”, explains Head of Show Jan Lagermand Lundme.

Premier at Malta’s National Final

Emmelie de Forest has written Rainmaker together with composers Jakob Schack Glæsner and Fredrik Sonefors. She and Glæsner are also a couple.
”A few months ago we asked Emmelie to write the official #JoinUs song, and we are very grateful that she accepted”, says Jan Lagermand Lundme.
The song will be officially released on the 24th February as a follow-up single to Emmelie’s current hit, Hunter & Prey. She will present it live at Malta’s National Final on the 8th of February.

Sing-along before decision time

On Saturday the 10th of May, Emmelie and the 26 participants who have made it to the final will sing the song together just as the voting is nearing its finish and the show culminates.
”All the finalists will come in and sing-a-long to the chorus at the end”, explains Jan Lagermand Lundme. ”I hope the viewers will sit back with a feeling that it is a fantastic way to come together, just before we get down to the nitty-gritty: finding the winner of the 2014 Eurovision Song contest”.
Watch the interview with Emmelie de Forest and listen to a preview of the song here:

 

Not the first Eurovision sing-along

Bringing all the artists back on stage to perform together is a rarity in the world of the Eurovision Song Contest, but by no means unique.
In Jerusalem in 1999 after Charlotte Nilsson had performed the reprise of her winning song Take Me To Your Heaven, all the artists were invited up on stage to sing the 1979 winning song for Israel Halleluja together, in dedication to all those in Kosovo during the conflict that year.

2013 The year of Emmelie de Forest 

 

Emmelie de Forest from Denmark won the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden in May this year. Let's look back at her best moments

Emmelie de Forest named "European of the Year"

 

 

Copenhagen, Denmark - For the first time, a winner of the Eurovision Song Contest has been named "European of the Year" by the Danish European Movement. This prestigious honour befell none other than 2013 winner, Emmelie de Forest.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Chancellor Angela Merkel, José Manuel Barosso and... Emmelie de Forest.
At first glance, you would not necessarily think that the winner of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest, Denmark’s Emmelie de Forest, would fit into the above sentence, but she does!
Now, just like these three powerful politicians, Emmelie can now boast being ”European of the Year”.

European of the Year

2001 – Uffe Østergaard, 2002 – Holger K. Nielsen, 2003 – Anders Fogh Rasmussen, 2004 – Dorte Schmidt-Brown, 2005 – Mikhail Marnich, 2006 – Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, 2007 – Joschka Fischer, 2008 – Mariann Fischer Boel, 2009 – José Manuel Barroso, 2010 – Chancellor Angela Merkel, 2011 – Prince Henrik, 2012 – Günter Grass

Emmelie brings Europe together

The title was awarded to the singer by the Danish European Movement, who has handed out the price for the best part of ten years to those Europeans that have contributed the most to European development and cooperation across Europe.
”This year we think it was important to send a signal that the EU is not just politics but also culture and music. That’s where the Eurovision Song Contest is fantastic! It brings Europeans together and Emmelie’s victory shows that little Denmark can also both bring together and contribute in another aspect aside from politically”, says deputy leader of the Danish European Movement, Jens Bo Andersen.
He is also the EU boss at Dansk Metal and believes that Emmelie de Forest’s ability to get all of Europe to love one song is on a par with good EU-politics.

The Danish European Movement

The Danish European Movement is a bipartisan, national society that works for a closer cooperation between European states.
The society has approximately 1,500 members and originates from the Europa Movement.
Another core area is human rights and diversity.

The first Eurovision recipient ever

It is the first time in the prize’s history that it has been awarded to a winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, and for Emmelie de Forest it is a huge honour.
”I am so happy, proud and honoured. Some formidable people have previously won the prize so it means a lot to me. The Eurovision Song Contest embraces all of Europe and even though it is a competition, you can see that it gathers Europeans for a party”, says the singer.
As such, she agrees with Jens Bo Anders and is happy that the Danish European Movement now also places focus on music and culture.

Touring in March

Emmelie de Forest has, in addition to her victory at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest, also been awarded the fan club’s ”Mylle Prize” this year. ”European of the Year” is therefore the third title the singer can boast about in 2013.
However, in addition to winning prizes, the singer has a lot to look forward to. She has travelled all over Europe since May, released an album and is currently writing another.
”As it looks now, the whole of March will be spent touring around Denmark. It’s going to be fantastic and I have already started rehearsing with the band! During the winter I am going to the USA to write new songs, which I hope I can release next summer and that I can preview in the spring”, reveals Emmelie.

Do you agree that Eurovision brings Europeans together?

Countdown: Top Searches of 2013

 

World Wide Web - As another year draws to an end, the internet search engine Google has published lists of the Top Ten subjects that users entered into their searches, and the Eurovision Song Contest, as well as various performers feature in a number of categories both globally and nationally.

A global hit with our clicks

Around the world the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 was number seven amongst the Top Ten Events that we searched for, with the Boston Marathon not surprisingly being top of the category.

Reaching the top in the Netherlands, Russia and Ukraine

Google also published Top Ten lists from various countries, and the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 featured in either the lists of Top Ten Events or Top Ten Tv Programmes, whilst in the Netherlands it made Number One under the list of Festivals and Concerts, with the Junior Songfestival reaching number five in the same category.
In Russia the Eurovision Song Contest occupied the number one slot under the Developments category, which reflects the subjects that saw the largest increase in volume since the previous period. It was also the third most searched subject in the country.
In Ukraine the contest was listed as the number one Event that was searched for, but also featured at number two in the Top Television Programmes category.

Just missing out on the top slot

In Spain, Switzerland and the aforementioned Ukraine the Eurovision Song Contest was the second most searched for item under Television Programmes whilst in Lithuania it took the same position under Events, and it was also the sixth most searched for topic under all searches within the country.

Popular at number three

The contest occupied the number three slot in a large number of countries, in Denmark and Ireland it was third under Television Programmes, whilst in Estonia, France, Finland and United Kingdom it took the same position under Events.

In the Top Ten

Elsewhere, the Eurovision Song Contest was number six in Romania under the Top Events section, and in Austria and Norway it was number seven in same category. In Latvia it ranked at the eighth most searched for subject in the entire country.

National Finals

It wasn't just the actual Eurovision Song Contest that made the Top Ten in various countries, some national finals throughout Europe also featured highly.
Melodifestivalen was in at number one in Sweden under Television Programmes, though surprisingly the actual Eurovision Song Contest failed to feature.
Melodi Grand Prix in Denmark was their number one searched for Television Programme, also proving to be a more popular search than the actual contest. at number three.
Eesti Laul in Estonia was the fifth most searched Event in the country, just one place behind the main contest.
The Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix was the ninth most searched for Event, just two places behind the contest in the same list.

Artists past and present

Several artist from the contest also proved to be popular names to search, with the winner of this year's contest, Emmelie de Forest being the number one name on the Top Musicians list in Denmark, as well as taking the number four position in the Top People list in her home country.
This year's host nation, Sweden, featured a number of performers in their Top Artists category, with the runner up in this year's Melodifestivalen taking the top spot. Even more surprsingly is that the United Kingdom's representative, Bonnie Tyler was the third mos searched for artist in Sweden, ahead of their own entrant Robin Stjernberg at number six. The late Monica Zetterlund ,who represented Sweden in 1963, also made the Top Artists list at number nine.
Two former Israeli entrants featured in a couple of categories in their country. Shlomo Artzi who represented the country in 1975 was the tenth most searched for Celebrity in Israel, whilst their entrant in 2002, Sarit Hadad, was the third most searched for Israeli Women.
In Hungary, Byealex was the third in their Top People list, and the Dutch entrant Anouk occupied the same position in the same category in the Netherlands. In Russia, their entrant, Dina Garipova was number five in their Top People list.
In Belgium, Roberto Bellarosa was the tenth most searched for Top Belgian, whilst Margaret Berger was the tenth most searched for artist within Norway.
Finally, the late Silvi Vrait, who sadly passed away this year, and was Estonia's entrant in their first appearance in final of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994, was the tenth most searched for person on Google within Estonia.
Other internet search engines are of course available, and no doubt the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, and the participating artists will prove to be popular subjects to search for, and bring you here to the pages of Eurovision.tv!

Which artist from the contest did you search for in 2013?

Emmelie de Forest (Denmark 2013) performing at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2013

 

 

 

Emmelie de Forest won the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest for Denmark with the song "Only Teardrops". On the first of December, she performed her song at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv, Ukraine.