5. Albania - Suus - Rona Nishliu

5 - 146 pts / 2 - 146 pts in semi 1

Rona Nishliu won the 50th Festivali I Këngës with the song Suus.
The song is the Eurovision entry for the contest in Baku and Rona scored the best result for Albania ever. The first entry in 2004 ended 7th.

The song was written by Florent Boshnjaku and Rona Nishliu herself.
Rona Nishliu is from Kosovo and is the first Kosovan singer to win the FIK.
Suus is Latin for It Is.

A new version of Suus has been recorded in Los Angeles in Captol records and Oceanway studios. The song was performed in Albanian at the contest.
Now listen to the new version here at the official Youtube channel.

A 1 track promo cd is issued, A DVD (top picture) has video clip, audio's (see below), photo's and bio's.

English Jazz Version
A new version of Suus can now be heard through this Youtube or Rona's Facebook.
The English version has a different arrangement from the original Albanian version.

Versions:
Suus - Albanian Eurovision version ♫
Suus - English Jazz version
Suus - Karaoke (Eurovision version)
- All three as audio's on promo DVD
The longer original Albanian version as performed in the FIK has not been available in studio version.

2005
Rona Nishliu appeared in the FIK of 2005 with the song Flakaresh performed with Vesa Luma and Teuta Kurti. It reached the final but ended outside the top 3. (results remian undisclosed). In 2004 Rona ended top 5 in Albanian Idol.

links and sources
FIK website by RTSH
Rona's Facebook.
Special thanks to ElonaMalosmani  at RTSH
Thanks to Dhurata.com for the Torte Flamuri Shqiptar.

Baku Collection Frontpage

50 x Festivali I Këngës
In good tradition Albania picked their Eurovision entry in December through the Festivali I Këngës, in short: FIK.

Gëzuar Ditëlindjen Festivali I Këngës

Even though the country entered Eurovision for the first time in 2004, the FIK celebrates its 50th edition this year.

To celebrate this event there were four nights of FIK this year.

On 26 and 27 December there will be two semi finals with 14 songs each. Eight will go through the final.

On the 28th there wasa special night celebrating the festivals history

Albania has entered Eurovision eight times. Best place was 7th in their debut year 2004 with Anjezá Shahini's The Image Of You. Albania was in the Eurovision final five times.



Read all about Albania's recent Eurovision entries:
2011 - Aurela Gaçe
2010 - Juliana Pasha
2009 - Kejsi Tola

6. Estonia - Kuula - Ott Lepland

6 - 120 pts / 4 - 100 in semi 2

Ott Lepland won the Estonian national final with the song Kuula (Listen).
The song is written by Ott Lepland himself with lyrics by Aapo Ilves.

The original longer version of Kuula was first released on Leplands second full album Laulan Ma Sind (I will sing for you) which was released in november 2011. (Crunch industries 447310749)

Kuula was released a s a digital single on Januari 25 (available internationally through Amazon, iTunes)
The song has already been in several Estonian charts for a while.

You can watch the live performance here at ERR/ETV.

English, Spanish and Russian version of Kuula have been released. They are included on a cdsingle (Crunch industry) and digital EP release.
All versions are available at amazon and itunes.

2016: Maailm Mu Ees
An acoustic live album by Ott Lepland titled Maailm Mu Ees (The world before me) was released in November 2016. It includes a live version of Kuula. Out on CD and digital, Crunch Industries (Thanks Marek!)

versions:
Kuula - Eurovision edit ♫
Hear Me - English version
Escucha - Spanish version
Slushaĭ / Слушай - Russian version
- all on digital EP and cdsingle

Kuula - Album version
- on the CD Laulan Ma Sind and digital single
Kuula - Preselection version
- has been available at the ETV website
Kuula - karaoke
- Eurovision.tv download shop
Kuula - acoustic live 2016
- on CD Maailm Mu Ees
The Eurovision version is an edit of the album version. The preselection version is an alternate recording.

2012: Öö Mu Kannul Käib
Ott Lepland has just released his new album (december 2012). It includes the Eurovision version of Kuula. The album is titled Öö Mu Kannul Käib and has 12 tracks in total. It also includes new single Kodu.
Two of the songs on the album are written by Külli Lepland, Ott's Mom, ain't that sweet....
(CD out on Crunch Industries in Estonia)
Update: A Special edition of the new album comes with a DVD featuring a concert recorded for Estonian TV. It has 15 tracks and of course includes Kuula.

In 2005 / 2006 Ott already appeared on several CDs with childrens music but she shot to fame in Estonia by winning talent show Eesti Otsib Superstaari (Estonia searches for a superstar).

One remarkable performance in the Superstar shows is the top 3 performance of Rändajad, the Estonian 2009 entry. He performed it with Sandra Nurmsalu, singer of the original performers Urban Symphony.

ETV / ERR has uploaded the songs for the 2012 Eesti Laul here at their website.

Baku Collection Frontpage

Dutch coverversion
A Dutch version is recorded by Henny Thijssen. The song is titled Hoe Lang (How long) and is out on TwentieRecords (digital) The januari 2013 release is available from Dutch digital sources like Megamedia,  legaldownload and also iTunes.
Watch the video at Henny Thijssens Youtube.
In March 2013 the song enters the Dutch top 100 at 86.
Henny Thijssen Website

links and sources

ETV Eurovision pages (in Estonian)
Ott Lepland social media links
Special thanks to Mikhel at ETV and to Marek.

Find out everything about Estonia's recent entries:

2011 - Getter Jaani

2010 - Malcolm Lincoln

2009 - Urban Symphony

7. Turkey - Love Me Back - Can Bonomo

7 - 112 pts / 5 - 80 in semi 1

TRT, the Turkish national broadcaster announded Can Bonomo to represent the country at the Baku contest.
The song was revealed later and is titled Love Me Back.
Can Bonomo wrote the song himself

You can listen to the song at Can's website.
Watch the official video here.

Can Bonomo's debut album Meczup was released in 2011. It features music ranging from pop and alternative rock to folk inspired songs and even a bit of jazz.
The album is available now through most digital sources.

An early promo cdsingle (in plastic case) is. It has the original and karaoke versions.
Update: The promo for Baku has the same versions plus video, photos and biographies. It comes in a gatefold pop up sleeve which folds into a lovely boat.

Versions:
Love You Back - Original ♫
Love You Back - karaoke
- both on promo

Baku Collection Frontpage

links and sources
Can Bonomo Website
Can Bonomo MySpace
TRT News (in Turkish)
Can Bonomo at BeaRecords

Find out all about Turkey's recent entries:

2011 - Yüksek Sadakat

2010 - maNga

2009 - Hadise

8. Germany - Standing Still - Roman Lob

8 - 110 pts / not in semi

The long series of Unser Star Für Baku shows came to an end with the selection of the 2012 Eurovision entry, Standing Still by Roman Lob.
Standing Still is written by Jamie Cullum, Steve Robson and Wayne Hector.
Watch the official video at USFB.

A cdsingle is to be released on Februari 21 on Universal. It features all three final songs by Roman.
The songs are alsoare available at the regular digital sources like musicload.de, iTunes and Amazon. (Universal)
Roman Lob also performed Alone and Conflicted.

versions:

Standing Still - Eurovision edit ♫

- on the official Baku 2012 CD

Standing Still - Original version

- on cdsingle and Roman Lob album

Update: Roman Lob has finished recording his debut album Changes which will be in the shops on April 13.
The 13 track CD will include Romans three songs from the Unser Song Für Baku final.
A new website is launched here

Charts:
Standing Still enters the German charts at #3 and also spends a week in the charts of Austria and Switzerland.
Germany top 100: 3, 23, 26, 28, 34, 45, 38, 40, 19, 27, 36, 38, 39, 39, 11, 35, 49, 56, 64, 74, 81, 86
Austria top 75: 51, -, re-entry: 56, - re: 40
Switzerland top 75: 53, - re: 51, -
Ireland top 100: 67, -

Roman Lob's Alone enters at # 42, Conflicted at 51.
Ornella's version of Standing Still (see below) enters the top 100 in Germany at #77. Her final song Quietly enters at #24 and the third song Alone at #69. All songs exept Romans winner spent just one week on the German top 100

Two singers, Roman Lob and Ornella De Santis, have survived the talent shows and each sang three songs. One song  unique to each singer, they both sing the other two songs each in differtent arrangements.
Both artists sang Standing Still but only Roman Lob took the song to the ultimate two-song final.

It's the same procedure that got Lena Meyer Landruth her Satellite and Germany their 2nd Eurovision victory in 2010.

Baku Collection Frontpage

Coverversion... sort of
As Ornella De Santis also performed and recorded the winning song Standing Still, the first coverversion of 2012 is a fact.
Ornella's version is also available as a download through the same sources. I don't know yet if there will be a cdsingle of Ornella's songs.
Ornella's final songs was Alone and her third song was Quietly.

links and sources

NDR Eurovision site
USFB pages
Roman Lob website
Roman Lob at BeaRecords

Germany's recent Eurovision entries
2011 - Lena
2010 - Lena Meyer Landrut
2009 - Alex Swings, Oscar Sings

9. Italy - L'Amore È Femmina (Out Of Love) - Nina Zilli

Digital release image

9 - 101 pts / not in semi

Italy's long awaited return to Eurovision last year got a follow up in Baku.
Nina Zilli (Maria Chiara Fraschetta) represented the country on its 2nd Eurovision this century.

San Remo song Per Sempre written by Roberto Casalina and Nina Zilli was to be the Eurovision song for Italy, but in a surprise move L'Amore E Femmina was announced as the ESC entry.

L'Amore E Femmina is the title track of Nina Zilli's latest album (see below). The song is written by Nina Zilli, Christian Rabb, Kristoffer Sjokvist, Frida Molander and Charlie Mason.

For Eurovision a biligual version in English and Italian is recorded. Listen and watch here.

versions:
L'Amore È Femmina (Out Of Love) - English/Italian Eurovision version ♫
- promo cds
L'Amore È Femmina - Original Italian version
- on CD L'Amore È Femmina


A 1 track promo is issued with the Eurovision version. It is printed on a black disc and comes in a clear plastic sleeve with a gold authenticity sticker.












Frontpage



Sanremo
With Per Sempre Nina reached the final of the A category at the 2012 Sanremo contest, but she didn't make it to the final three.
You can watch the official video of Per Sempre here at Universals Youtube channel.

L'Amore E Femmila  and Per Sempre can be found on Nina Zilli's third CD L'Amore È Femmina which is out since Februari 15 on Universal Italy.

Charts:
Sanremo song Per Sempre enters the Italian singles top 10 at #5.
Total run: 5, 5, 10

In 2010 Nina Zilli participated in the junior section of the Sanremo contest with L’Uomo Che Amava Le Donne which can be found on her second album Sempre Lontano. She won the critics Mia Martini award and the press award in the Nuova Generazione section.
All the songs from her debut mini-album Nina Zilli (2009) are also included on the second album.

Sanremo 2012

Last year the Eurovision entry was the winner from the giovani section now called SanremoSocial.

The Sanremo junior selection in 2012 is won by Alessandro Casillo with the song E'Vero (Che Si Sai), but he isn't eligible to go to Eurovision because he's too young.

On the final night of the Sanremo 2012 contest the Eurovision entry for Baku was announced by Azerbaijans winners Ell and Nikki.

The 'big' 2012 Sanremo contest was won by Emma with Non E' l'Inferno.

Other contestants familiar to Eurovision fans were Matia Bazar (Eurovision 1979) Loredana Berté (Mia Martini's sister) and Italian legend Lucio Dalla.

Sanremo Compilations
There are two Sanremo 2012 CDs this year. (So far) only the 10 track CD San Remo 2012 (Universal Strategic) has the Nina Zilli song (and it's also the only one with the winner by Emma and the Matia Bazar song.)
The 16 track album Super San Remo 2012 (Columbia) does not include the Zilli track.

You can listen to the eight SanremoSocial songs through Sanremosocial's facebook.

links and sources

Nina Zilli website
RAI SanRemo pages

Last year Italy returned after a 14 year absence with Madness Of Love by Raphael Gualazzi. Read all about his song, cds, promos and versions here at the Düsseldorf Collection.

10. Spain - Quédate Conmigo - Pastora Soler

10 - 97 pts / not in semi

Pastora Soler (Pilar Sánchez Luque) was chosen represent Spain in the 2012 contest with the song Quédate Conmigo (Stay with me).
TVE chose the Sevillan singer internally, but the entry was selected in a preselection show.

The song is written by Thomas G:son, Tony Sánchez-Ohlsson and Erik Bernholm.

You can still listen to all for songs here at RTVE or at Pastora's YouTube channel.

The song was selected in a NF with thee songs. One of the three was selected in an internet voting with two songs.
The songs straight to the Spanish final were:

Quédate Conmigo

Tu Vida Es Tu Vida *

The two song for the web pre-selection were:

Ahora O Nunca (to the final)

Me Despido De Ti *

* These songs can already be found on Pastorás latest album in different versions (see below).

Eurovision Especial EP: All four songs for the NF are now available in their Eurovision versions at iTunes Spain.
A 1-track promo of Quédate Conmigo is issued by Warner Music Spain.

Stay With Me
July 24 sees the release of the long awaited English version of Quédate Conmigo titled Stay With Me.
The track will be released through the main digital platforms. You can watch an introduction video here at Pastora's Youtube channel.

Versions:
Quédate Conmigo - Eurovision version ♫
Quédate Conmigo - First version
Quédate Conmigo - karaoke
- karaoke on Eurovision tv download shop
Stay With Me - English version
- digital release

A new edition of the Una Mujer Como Yo CD is released on March 27. It includes the original 12 tracks plus Eurovision entry Quédate Conmigo, Ahora O Nunca and a new remix of Tu Vida Es Tu Vida.

Charts:
Quédate Conmigo enters the Spanish singles top 50 at #39.
Total run: 39, 17, 21, 13, 19, 12, 18, 21, 26, 27, 25, 20, 6, 6, 13, 19, 27, 26, 31, 29, 25, 20, 29, -, 41, 48

Baku Collection Frontpage

Since 1994 Pastora Soler released ten albums and a compilation CD.

Her most recent release is Una Mujer Como Yo (A woman like me) which was released October 2011.

The album reached # 3 on the Spanish album charts
Her copla / flameco flavoured earlier work has made way for a more pop-ballad style over the years.

The Songsmiths:
Thomas G:son (Thomas Gustafsson) is a prolific Eurovision songwriter. He (co-) wrote many songs for prelections in Sweden, Norway and Spain And also some for Romania, Finland, Denmark, Latvia, Poland and Belgium.
His Eurovision entries are:
Sweden 2001 - Listen To Your Heartbeat - Friends
- written with Henrik Sethsson, 5th place
Sweden 2006 - Invincible - Carola
- written with Carola Häggkvist, Henrik Wickström and Bobby Ljunggren, 5th place
Spain 2007 - I Love You Mi Vida - D'Nash
- written with Andreas Rickstrand, Tony Sanchez-Ohlsson and Rebeca, 20th place.
Norway 2007 - Ven A Bailar Conmigo - Guri Schanke
- 18th in semi
Denmark 2010 - In A Moment Like This - Chanée and N'Evergreen
- written with Henrik Sethsson and Erik Bernholm, 4th place.
Spain 2012 - Quédate Conmigo - Pastora Soler
- Wiritten with Tony Sánchez-Ohlsson and Erik Bernholm, 10th place
Sweden 2012 - Euphoria - Loreen
- written with Peter Boström, winner of Eurovision 2012
Tony Sánchez-Ohlsson has (co) written many songs for the Spanish selections including the above mentioned I Love You Mi Vida (2007)
Erik Bernholm co-write the Danish entry In A Moment Like This and Something In Your Eyes for Jenny Silver (Melodifestivalen 2011)

World Wide Coverversion
A wonderful coverversion of Quédate Conmigo is made by singers from all over the world. (well mostly Eurovision countries although some are from beyond Eurovision land. (Canada, South Africa) There are some pre-selection singers there you may recognise.  Check out more details and the stunning video here.

links and sources:
Pastora Soler website
Pastora Soler at Warner Music Spain with discography.
TVE Eurovision pages
The Baku Collection frontpage

Find out more about the recent Eurovision songs from Spain:

2011 - Lucia Peréz

2010 - Daniel Diges

2009 - Soraya

Frontpage

12. Romania - Zaleilah - Mandinga

12 - 71 pts / 3 - 120 in semi 1

Mandinga won the Romanian national final with the song Zaleilah. The song is written by Costi Ioniţă (producer) with lyrics by Elena Ionescu (lead singer) and Omar Secada Dihigo (band member). The song is sung in a mix of Spanish and English.

Listen to the song here at Mandinga's website.
Several versions of the song are available at the iTunes (US!) and possibly other digital stores.
The final Eurovision version / video is here at the tube.

You can now do the the Zaleilah dance. Check out this video to see how easy it is.


The cdsingle (top picture) has five versions of Zaleilah.
Zaleilah - Eurovision version

Zaleilah - Radio edit

Zaleilah - Extended

Zaleilah - Quentin remix

Zaleilah - Short radio version
plus info and video's (including the official clip)
(Cat Music 101 2766 2)
It's available at BeaRecords

There are two slightly different editions of the cdsingle. The difference is in the inner sleeve. One reads a few lines, label number and Exclusiv pentru Romania’, the other one reads Exclusive for Netherlands. I don't know yet if there's a difference in the disc too.

A French promo has 8 versions of Zaleilah.
Zaleilah - Radio edit
Zaleilah - Eurovision version
Zaleilah - Soundfactory radio mix
Zaleilah - Peet Syntax and Alexie Devillo radio edit
Zaleilah - Extended
Zaleilah - Quentin remix
Zaleilah - Soundfactory club mix
Zaleilah - Peet Syntax and Alexie Devillo club mix


Plus these (instrumental)  remixes have been released through your favorite digital sources:
Zaleilah - Soundfactory dub mix
Zaleilah - Soundfactory club mix instrumental

Versions
The song was first premiered in September 2011. Several versions have popped up since then:

Zaleilah - Eurovision version ♫
- Baku 2012 CD, cds

Zaleilah - Short Radio version

- iTunes release, cds

Zaleilah - Quentin remix

- iTunes release, ITZ soundcloud, cds

Zaleilah - Radio version / Radio edit

- as featured on Catmusic Youtube, cds

Zaleilah - NF version

- as uploaded by TVR

Zaleilah - Extended version
- iTunes release, cds
Zaleilah - Acoustic

- as featured on Catmusic Youtube
Zaleilah - karaoke version
- Eurovision.tv download shop

Zaleilah - Soundfactory radio mix
Zaleilah - Soundfactory club mix
Zaleilah - Peet Syntax and Alexie Devillo radio edit
Zaleilah - Peet Syntax and Alexie Devillo club mix
- on French promo cds
Zaleilah - Soundfactory dub mix
Zaleilah - Soundfactory club mix instrumental
- Soundfactory instrumentals are digital releases, promo's exist
Zaleilah - Bachata remix
- on CD Club De Mandinga (commercial edition only)

Zaleilah - Eurovision Negativ (instrumental)

- on digital "single" with 14 versions

Charts:
Sweden top 60: 48, 54, -
Austria top 75: 55, -
Germany top 100: 92, -

Club De Mandinga CD out on 22-05

The first edition of the Club De Mandinga CD is released in cooperation with magazine Libertatea on May 22 The CD is sold with the magazine in Romanian stores at a special price. (RON 9,99 = about € 2,25).
The album includes the radio version and Quentin remix of Zaleilah. See below for full tracklist.
No details on any further release yet.

Update:The 2nd edition of the Club The Mandinga CD has a slightly different tracklist and a new version of Zaleilah, the Bachata remix. (see below for full tracklist). This edition is the one in the shops. (Cat Music 101 2771-2)
You can listen to the Bachata remix at the Catmusic Soundcloud

10 Years Mandinga
On May 31, just a week after Eurovision, Mandinga will celebrate their 10th anniversary. A special live concert in the Club De Mandinga tour will celebrate 10 years of live music and original compositions. They will also release the CD Club De Mandinga which wil include Zaleilah.
More about the concert here (in Romanian)

Mandinga, also monikered Orchestra De Salsa Mandinga or Club De Mandinga started out as a latin jazz band with five members in 2002 and grew to a 10 piece salsa orchestra by 2006. Currently the band has seven core-members.
One former member we all know is Balkan Girl Elena Georghe who left the band in 2006 for a solo career.

Mandinga have released four albums: .... De Corazon (2003), Soarele Meu* (2005), Gozalo (2006) and Donde (2008). Their new album, Club De Mandinga is expected in May.
* Title track Soarele Meu was a national final entry for Romania in 2005 (4th place) with Elene Georghe as lead singer.

Romania selected the Baku 2012 entry through a national final on March 10.

15 songs were selected for the national final.

You can still listen to the songs here at TVR.

Coverversions
2013 Dutch singer Wesley Klein has released a Dutch version of Zaleilah titled Samen Dansen (Everyday Everybody) (translates as Dancing Together) Released on June 28.
It's the first track on a 3-track cdsingle (Berk music 6017541)
Wesley Klein website, the cds is available at SingleCDNL

A straightforward copy of Zaleilah is recorded by Kalia Zia. It's available in three versions through most digital sources but doesn't add anything to the original versions.

Baku Collection Frontpage

Tracklist Club De Mandinga CD, first edition with magazine

1.  Colours (03:11)

2.  Tu me das (03:43)
3.  Love (03:12)

4.  Party All Night Long (03:19)
5.  Sufletul zambea (03:10)
6.  Te quiero (03:20)
7.  Europarty (03:34)
8.  Zaleilah (radio edit) (03:38)
9.  Gimme Some More (03:00)
10.  Dame Dame (03:30)
11.  Dame Calor (03:27)
12.  Zaleilah (Quentin remix) (06:15)

Tracklist Club De Mandinga CD, 2nd edition, commercial release

1.  Colours

2.  Tu me das

3.  Love

4.  Party all night long

5.  Sufletul zambea

6.  Te quiero

7.  Europarty

8.  Zaleilah (radio edit)

9.  Gimme some more

10.  Dame dame

11.  Papi chulo

12.  Dame calor

13.  Zaleilah (Quentin Remix)

14.  Kikiribu Mandinga

15.  Love is for free (Salsa Remix)

16.  Zaleilah (Bachata Remix)

links and sources

TVR Eurovision pages
Mandinga website
Thanks to STHLM MIX for the remix tip.
Thanks to Tom.

Romania's recent entries
2011 - Hotel FM
2010 - Paula Seling and Ovi
2009 - Elena Georghe

11. Moldova - Lăutar - Pasha Parfeny

11 - 81 pts / 5 - 100 pts in semi 1

O Melodie Pentru Europa winner Pasha Parfeny represented Moldova with the song Lăutar (fiddler, musician). The song is written by Pavel Parfeny (=Pasha) and Alex Brașoveanu. The song is in English.

You can listen to the song here at TRM

Versions:
Lăutar - Eurovision version ♫
Lăutar - Alex Calancea version
- both on promo cds
Lăutar - Original
- Original as available on the TRM website
Lăutar - Karaoke
- Eurovision.tv download shop

Update: The promo cd has two versions of Lăutar, seven other tracks.

1. Lăutar
2. Lăutar - Alex Calancea version
3. Dorule (2011 Moldovan final)
4. No crime
5. You should like (2010 Moldovan final)
6. Be yourself
7. In your eyes (Sunstroke Project ft. Pasha Parfeny)
8. Summer (Sunstroke Project ft. Pasha Parfeny)
9. Tu nu vezi cerul

Also has bio's, video and photos.

Fourth time lucky

Lăutar is the fourth effort for Parfeny in the Moldovan selection.
In 2007 he didn´t make it past the national semi´s as Pavel Parfeny with Steaua Mea (My star).
In 2010 You Should Like did much better, he ended 2nd in the final. In 2011 he performed Dorule and ended third.

Pasha Parfeny is a former singer of the Sunstroke Project but had already left the band when they entered Eurovision in 2010.
Pascha Parfeny / Parfeni a.k.a Паша Парфений performs and records in Romanian, Russian and English.
His most recent hit (2011) Vishni Krishni (Выше Крыши) is released on Sense Music.

Baku Collection Frontpage

For composer Alex (Alexandru) Braşoveanu Lăutar is the second Eurovision entry. He wrote the music for Fight, the 2007 Moldovan ESC entry sung by Natalia Barbu (10th place)

O Melodie Pentru Europa

TRM uploaded the songs sent in for the 2012 selection of Moldova.

21 songs were selected for the national final, you can still listen to the finalists here.

You can still listen to all 85 submitted songs here.

Among the 85 entrants there were some previous Moldovan Eurovision singers: Olia Tira and the Sunstroke Project (2010), Nelly Ciobanu (2009) and Geta Burlacu (2007).

Nelly Ciobanu and Geta Burlacu made it to the final, but the Nelly Ciobanu song was withdrawn.

Eurovision songwriting legends Ralph Siegel and John O'Flyn (Bernd Meinunger) wrote Save A Little Sunshine for Irina Tarasiuc şi MC Gootsa which also made it to the final. All other songwriters are either Moldovan or Romanian.

links and sources:

TRM Eurovision pages

The Baku Collection headlines

Pascha Parfeny Reverbnation

Find out more about Moldova's recent Eurovision stars.

2011 - Zdob Si Zdub

2010 - Olia Tira and Sunstroke Project

2009 - Nelly Ciobanu

13. Macedonia - Crno i Belo - Kaliopi

13 - 71 pts / 09 - 53 pts in semi 2

MKRTV decided on Kaliopi (Bukle, Калиопи Букле) to represent Macedonia (f.y.r.) in the Baku contest.
The song for Baku is Crno i Belo (Black and white) which is written by Romeo Grill and Kaliopi herself.

You can download Crno I Belo and the English version Black And White
A promo has been issued with the original and English versions. (MRT promo Kaliopi)

A Russian version of Kaliopi's Eurovision song is now available for download at Kaliopi's website. It's titled Chernyĭ I Belyĭ (Черный И Белый)

A remix of Crno I Belo has been released too. It has been available at MMM.mk but is no longer.

versions:
Crno i Belo - Original version ♫
Black And White - English version
- both on promo cds and Kaliopi's website
Chernyĭ I Belyĭ /Черный И Белый - Russian version

- at Kaliopi's website

Crno i Belo - Remix
- all are available to download at MMM


Baku Collection Frontpage


Kaliopi is not new to Eurovision, but we have not seen her on the Eurovision stage yet.
In 1996 she was selected to be the first singer for Macedonia in Eurovision with Samo Ti, but she didn't make it to the final *

Kaliopi, one of Macedonia's biggest stars, recorded 11 albums since she started in 1986 with her band Kaliopi and has had over 30 hit songs.
The Skopje Fest (Скопје Фест), responsible for delivering most Macedonian entries, will still go ahead, but has been seperated from the choice for  Eurovision.



1996 SAMO TI / САМО ТИ
Kaliopi was also known as Kaliopi Grill when she won the 1996 Skopje festival. (she was married to composer Romeo Grill at the time).
Two studio recordings of the never to be Eurovision entry are known, but no single was released at the time.
The original version of Samo Ti is a version with an orchestra, the second and most known version is one with a smaller combo (known as the Piano Intro version)
This second version was released on a now hard to find fanclub CD 5 Aus 96 with some rare 1996 entries (Weber verlag WV ESC 0000103). This year the same version of  Samo Ti was re-released on a compilation CD Skopje 2011 with all past Skopje winners and the songs of 2011 (see here for more details). Samo Ti has never been released on any Kaliopi album.

Skopje fest and latest album

Kaliopi's first flirtation with Eurovision was in 1987 when the band finished 10th in the national final of Yugoslavia in 1987 with the song Emanuel.
In 1996 she won Skopje (solo) with Samo Ti.

In 1998 Kaliopi entered the Skopje fest with Ne Zaboravaj (Don't forget) and ended 9th.
In 2006 she finished 6th with Silna.

In 2009 she participated with Rum Dum Dum, a duet with Naum Petreski. The song became the runner up to the winners Next Time,  just one point short.

Kaliopi's most recent album is Poraka (Порака, Message) from 2010, which she released in a Macedonian version out on Kaliopi Music Productions and a Serbian version Poruka, out on City records.

A Best Of album was released in 2007.

links and sources:
MKRTV
Eurovision Collectors Guide
Kaliopi website (in Macedonian and English)
Skopje 2011 at Bearecords
National Finals Homepage
Yu4You sells some Kaliopi CDs
Kaliopi at BeaRecords

 * In 1996 an internal qualifying round was held with all songs (except the host nation) to bring the field down to a managable number. Macedonia was one of the seven countries that didn't make it to the Oslo final along with Russia, Israel, Denmark, Hungary, Germany and Romania.

Macedonia's other recent Eurovision entries:
2011 - Vlatko Ilievski
2010 - Gjoko Taneski + Billy Sver
2009 - Next Time

14. Lithuania - Love Is Blind - Donny Montell

14 - 70 pts / 3 - 104 pts in semi 2

Donny Montell (Donatas Montvydas) won the Lithuanian multi week selection process to select the entry for Eurovision 2012.
The song is Love Is Blind, written by Donatas Montvydas, Brandon Stone and Jodie Rose.

Watch the live NF performance here at Eurodiena.

You can download all official versions except French at the site of Donny's management Atlikejai.com

Debut Album
Fou D'Amour is the French version of Love Is Blind. It can be found on Donny's Debut album Donny Montell / Donatas Montvydas.
The album has several versions of the Eurovision entry, all marked * in the list below. The CD is out now and includes the same tracks as the digital release. There will be no cdsingle.
The CD is in the shops in Lithuania from May 10 and already available at BeaRecords.
The album also includes Let Me from the 2010 Lithuanian final an Running Fast which was disqualified in the race for the 2010 ticket.
The album also includes new single Norim Dar and its English version High Treble Bass.
The album is released by M.P.3 records, see full tracklist below

versions:
Love Is Blind - Radio version* ♫

Nenuleisk Akių - Lithuanian radio version *
Love Is Blind - karaoke version * (is actually fully instrumental)
Love Is Blind - New West club remix *
Nenuleisk Akių - New West club remix
Nam Lyubovʹ Dana / Нам любовь дана - Russian version *
Fou D'Amour - French version *

Dabrundi Chemtan / დაბრუნდი ჩემთან - Georgian version by composer Brandon Stone.

It's not the first year that Donny attempted to get to Eurovision.
In 2009 he had two songs in the race: Remember Last Time (From The Distance) and Dainų Daina, a duet with Rosita Čivilytė which got stuck in the semifinel.
2010 song Running Fast won the second semi-final was disqualified because the song was released too early according to EBU/ESC rules.
In 2011 he had two songs in the Lithuanian final. Let Me ended 5th and Best Friends, a duet with Sasha Son, ended 10th.

Composer Brandon Stone has written several preselection songs for Eurovision selections including one for his birth country Georgia (Call Me by Sofia Nizharadze) . He almost made it in 2010 when he won the first Ukrainian NF with I Love You performed by Vasiliy Lazarovich. (What happened?)
Love Is Blind is the first song for Stone to make it to the Eurovision stage.
Brandon Stone recorded a demo version in Georgian titled Dabrundi Chemtan (დაბრუნდი ჩემთან, Come Back To Me).

links and sources:

Delfi Eurovizija LRT

Atlikejai management

Baku Collection Frontpage

Lithuania's recent entries

2011 - Evelina Sashenko

2010 - Inculto
2009 - Sasha Son

Tracklist CD Donny Montell / Donatas Montvydas

01 Listen 2 Your Heart

02 Let Me **

03 Running Fast **

04 There’s Nothing I Can’t Do

05 Get Down the Rock

06 High Treble Bass

07 Yes or No

08 Let Me Love You Twice

09 Love Is Blind

10 Mano vasara (Bonus Track)

11 Leisk mylėt (Bonus Track)

12 Norim dar (Bonus Track)

13 Nenuleisk akių (Bonus Track)

14 Leisk mylėt stipriau (Bonus Track)

15 Dar ne vėlu (žvaigždžių himnas) (Bonus Track)

16 Нам любовь дана (Special Eurovision)

17 Fou d’amour (Special Eurovision)

18 Love Is Blind (New West Club Remix)

19 Love Is Blind (Karaoke Version)
** = earlier pre-selection songs