Germany - Ghost - Jamie-Lee Kriewitz

CD single

26 - 11 pts / not in semi

Jamie-Lee Kriewitz is the winner of the German selection Unser Lied Für Stockholm. She will represent Germany with the song Ghost written by Thomas Burchia, Anna Leyne and Conrad Hensel.

Ghost has already been released as a digital single including three versions but an earlier release subtitled "from the Voice of Germany" was out in December.

A CDsingle is released on March 9  and includes two versions:

Ghost (From The Voice of Germany)
Ghost - Acoustic version

(TVOG/Sony 0602547 854391)

Ghost can also be found on the CD  The Voice Of Germany - Die Single Collection Staffel 5. and 2CD Bravo Hits 92 (Sony Music)

A shorter (3 minute) edit has been released through subscriber site Promo Only.

Three version have been released as a digital EP: Acoustic, Elėnne remix and Marcapasos remix.
This one and the album come under the moniker Jamie-Lee (without Kriewitz)

Berlin
On April 29 Jamie-Lee will release her album Berlin. It includes Ghost and nine other tracks. (Full tracklist below). It's out on The Voice Of Germany label (through Polydor Universal)

Remixes DRI

Versions

Ghost - Eurovision version
- Stockholm 2CD
Ghost - single version (a.k.a From The Voice Of Germany)
- digital release and CDsingle, CD Berlin

Ghost - Acoustic version
- digital release, cdsingle

Ghost - Elėnne remix

- 1st digital single has single version, acoustic and Elėnne remix
Ghost - Marcapasos remix
- digital release, Remix EP has Acoustic,  Elėnne and Marcapasos remixes
Ghost - radio edit
- Pool promo only digital issue

Ghost - karaoke

- on the official karaoke album (digital release)

2nd DRI

Charts
Ghost already had a chart run (topping at No. 11) in December *and Januari.
German top 100: 59*, 11, 52, 81, -,  re:65, 12, 39, 47, 46, 52, 58, 61, 79, 100, 77, 78, 23, 59, 90
Switzerland top 75: 26*, -
Austria top 75: 65*, -

Links and sources

Jamie-Lee Kriewitz FB
Jamie-Lee Kriewitz at BeaRecords
ARD Eurovision pages

Album Berlin, Pic from Jamie Lee's Facebook

Tracklist album Berlin

1. Ghost

2. Lions heart

3. Mine

4. Berlin

5. Home

6. Wild one

7. The hanging tree

8. Visions

9. Remember the rain

10. Last dance

1st Digital release image.

Don't forget these German Eurovision gems

2015 - Ann Sophie

2014 - Elaiza
2013 - Cascada
2012 - Roman Lob
2011 - Lena II
2010 - Lena Meyer Landruth
2009 - Alex Sings, Oscar Swings

Azerbaijan - Miracle - Samra Rahimli

Digital release image

17 - 117 pts / 6 - 185 in semi 1

The Land Of Fire is represented in Stockholm by Samra Rahimli (Səmra Rəhimli) and her song Miracle.
The song is written by Amir Aly, Jakke Erixson and Henrik Wikstrom.

You can watch and listen here

The song has been released through most digital stores. (CAP-sounds).
A pack of five remixes (see versions below) has been released (CAP sounds digital release)
Some remixes are uploaded to Samra's Youtube. (see Versions).

At least two promo's have been released. A 1-track and a five track.

Wikstrom is the co-writer of 33 Melodifestivalen entries including one winner, Invincible by Carola (2006). Amir Aly has 10 MF entries to his name.
Out of nine entries for Azerbaijan, seven have been written by Swedish songwriting teams.

5-track promo

Versions
Miracle - ESC version
- Stockholm 2CD
Miracle - karaoke

- Official karaoke album (digital)
Miracle - Tomas N'evergreen and Graddus remix
Miracle - Kamil's Moombah remix
- remixes through Samra's Youtube
Miracle - Thomas Godel remix
Miracle - MAnGoo remix
Miracle - Promostella Club remix
- all five remixes: digital release

Links and sources
Samra Rahimli FB (new link)
Ictimai Eurovision pages

Remixes DRI

Former Azerbaijan entries
2015 - Elnur Hüseynov
2014 - Dilara Kazimova
2013 - Farid Mammadov
2012 - Sabina Babayeva
2011 - Ell and Nikki
2010 - Safura
2009 - Aysel and Arash
2008 - Samir and Elnur

Finland - Sing It Away - Sandhja

Digital release image

15 - 51 pts in semi 1

Finland's ticket to Stockholm went to Sandhja, who won the multi week preselection process Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) 2016 with her song Sing It Away.

The song is written by Sandhja, Milos Rosas, Heikki Korhonen, Petri Matara and Markus Savijoki.

Sing It Away was released as a digital single on Januari 13 through Sony Music Finland.
It can also be found on the UMK 2016 album (see below)
A promo cdsingle is issued.

Sandhja releases her new album Freedom Venture on April 29. It includes Sing It Away, new single Love Me High and eight other songs. (Columbia, picture and tracklist at the end of this post).

Remix version DRI

Versions
Sing It Away
- digital single, Stockholm 2CD, promo
Sing It Away - karaoke
- on official karaoke album (digital release)
Sing It Away - Alex Mattson remix
- digital release May 20 2016

Sandhja (Sandhja Kuivalainen) released her first single Hold Me in 2013 and it became a minor radio hit.
It was followed by the album Gold in 2014 and two further singles Gold and My Bass.

UMK 2016
All 18 songs from the Finnish selection have been released on the album UMK - Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2016 (through The Fried Music label). No CD will be released.

Links and sources
Sandhja website and FB
YLE's UMK 2016 pages
Sandhja's video at UMK's Youtube

Album Freedom Venture DRI

Tracklist Freedom Venture

1. My Bass
2. Sing It Away
3. Heaven’s Gates
4. Don’t Come Back for More
5. The Chase
6. Misery
7. Seven Billion Hearts
8. Calling of the Night
9. Haunted
10. Love Me High

Sing It Away is Finlands 50th Eurovision entry. The country has one memorable victory to its name, 2006 shock entry Hard Rock Hallelujah by Lordi.

The Finnish entries of the past few years.
2015 - Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät
2014 - Softengine
2013 - Krista Siegfried
2012 - Pernilla Karlsson
2011 - Paradise Oskar
2010 - Kuunkuiskaajat
2009 - Waldo's People

Macedonia - Dona - Kaliopi

Promo cds

11 - 88 pts in semi 2

MKRTV decided on Kaliopi (Kaliopi Bukle, Калиопи Букле) to represent Macedonia (F.Y.R.) in the 2016 contest.

The song, Dona (Дона) is written by Romeo Grill with lyrics by Kaliopi. It was presented on March 7.
Watch and listen here.

Dona has been released as a digital single.
A 1-track promo is issued.

Eurovision fans all know and love Kaliopi for her fab entry Crno i Belo (Black and white) from 2012, which finished 13th in the Baku final.

Versions
Dona - Original version
- Stockholm 2CD, promo
Dona - karaoke (instrumental)

- official karaoke album (digital release)

Picture from Kaliopi's Facebook

Kaliopi's Eurovision history starts in 1987, she almost made it in 1996 and you can read all about her previous entries and releases here at the Baku Collection.

Kaliopi's most recent album is Melem from 2013, but she has released several singles in 2015: Mojot Dom, Pozeli and most recently Jutro.

Links and sources

Kaliopi website and FB

Kaliopi at the Baku Collection 

Kaliopi's 2012 cdsingle Crno i Belo

Macedonia's recent Eurovision songs
2015 - Daniel Kajmakoski
2014 - Tijana Dapčević
2013 - Esma and Lozano
2012 - Kaliopi
2011 - Vlatko Ilievski
2010 - Gjoko Taneski and Billy Zver
2009 - Next Time

Romania - Moment Of Silence - Ovidiu Anton (OUT)

Digital release image

Excluded entry, was planned in semi 2

Romania is excluded from the 2016 contest following a dispute with the EBU about money.
This means Moment Of Silence (The irony) by Ovidiu Anton will not be participating in the 2nd semi.
Eurovision history is riddled with withdrawn entries, mostly replaced by other songs, but it's only the first time a country is kicked out of the competition after the starting order was revealed.

Rock singer Ovidiu Anton was to represent Romania this year with his self-penned song Moments Of Silence.
Moment Of Silence was released as a digital single on March 30 through the usual sources.
An early 1-track promo cdr was issued.
Both the single version and karaoke version have been released on the Stockholm 2016 compilations.

Watch and listen here at TVRs Youtube.

Ovidiu Anton has appeared on the Romanian Eurovision final (Selecţia Naţionala) a few times. The first time was in 2010 with his band Pasager.
2010 - Running Out Of Time - Pasager (13th)
2012 - I Walk Alone (5th)
2015 - Still Alive (3rd)

Picture from Ovidiu Antons Facebook

Links and sources
Ovidiu Anton FB
Ovidiu's page at TVR
TVR Eurovision pages

Check out Romania's recent Eurovision history
2015 - Voltaj
2014 - Paula Seling and Ovi II
2013 - Cezar
2012 - Mandinga
2011 - Hotel FM
2010 - Paula Seling and Ovi
2009 - Elena Georghe

Malta - Walk On Water - Ira Losco

12 - 153 pts / 3 - 209 pts in semi 1

cds promo

Ira Losco, remember her?, the 7th Wonder (see below) chanteuse has taken 14 years to return to the contest.
In 2002 she ended 2nd and she hopes to take it one place year this year with Chameleon, the winning song of the 2016 Malta Eurovision Song Contest.

But someone decided the winner of the Malta Song Contest wasn't good enough and a new song Walk On Water was chosen.
The new song is written by Tim Larsson, Lisa Desmond, Molly Petterson-Hammar and Ira Losco.

Watch and listen here
Molly Petterson-Hammar was in this years Swedish Melodifestivalen where she reached the Second chance round with Hunger.

Walk On Water is released as a digital single on March 30 through the usual sources. (PBS/Universal)
On April 8 a 2-track digital release has Walk On Water and another song Haunted By Love (Warner Music Sweden).

A promo cdsingle is issued and features four tracks.
1. Walk On Water
2. Haunted By Love
3. The Person I Am
4. Walk On Water (Instrumental)
It's available here at BeaRecords right now
(Jagged House/Warner Music Sweden)

Digital release image

Versions
Walk On Water
- Stockholm 2cd, promo
Walk On Water - Karaoke
- on official karaoke collection (digital release)
Walk On Water - Instrumental
- on promo cds

Chameleon
Ira wrote the Chameleon with Talkback (Howard Keith Debono, Peter Borg and Matthew James Borg)
She had another song in the Maltese selection this year, but That's Why I Love You was eliminated in the first round.



In total 10 Ira Losco songs have graced the Maltese Eurovision Song Contests.
2000 - Shine (6th)
2000 - Falling In Love (7th)
2001 - Spellbound (2nd)
2001 - Don't Give Up (4th)
2001 - Deep Inside My Heart (9th)
2001 - We'll Ride The Wind (11th)
2002 - 7th Wonder (1st)
2002 - One Step Away (3rd)
2016 - Chameleon (1st)
2016 - That's Why I Love You (semi)
2016 - Walk On Water - Eurovision entry

Picture from TVM news

Links and sources

Thanks to Nigel
TVM Eurovision pages, song change news at TVM
Ira Losco FB
Ira Losco at BeaRecords
Watch and listen to Chameleon (live)
Eurovision Collectors Guide 1956-2005

The entries Malta gave us in recent years:
2015 - Amber
2014 - Firelight
2013 - Gianluca Bezzina
2012 - Kurt Calleja
2011 - Glen Vella
2010 - Thea Garrett
2009 - Chiara III

Ira Losco's 1st Eurovision entry, 7th Wonder was the best placing for the island nation to that date. It was equalled by Chiara's Angel in 2005.

The promo and later cdsingle include the radio version, club mix and instrumental versions of 7th Wonder plus National Final song One Step Away.

An earlier version of 7th Wonder was released on the CD album Malta Song For Europe (with all NF entries) and the Ira Losco album Butterfly.

The picture on the right is a 3" inch cut cdrom with the single version and videoclip of the Eurovision entry.

Glorious days they were, I found the above promo, even before the contest took place, at a record fair bargain bin. How times have changed. 

United Kingdom - You're Not Alone - Joe and Jake

2nd DRI, Joe on the left and Jake on the right

24 - 62 pts / not in semi

The BBC surprised us by staging a real national contest this year, it was hidden away on BBC4, but never mind. Joe and Jake won the thing with their song You're Not Alone, written by Justin J Benson, Schwartz and S. Kanes.

The digital single was released on March 11.
A one track promo cdsingle was also issued. (Record company promo for  radio stations)
Cahill remixes have been recorded and are released (digital)
The (longer) Cahill Club remix has also been released on the DJ CD DMC Dance mixes 158.

Joe Woolford and Jake Shakeshaft both participated in The Voice UK 2015.

DMC CD has Cahill Club remix

Versions
You're Not Alone
- digital release
You're Not Alone - Cahill Club remix
- DMC DJ CD (pic left)
You're Not Alone - Cahill remix radio edit
- digital DJ release
You're Not Alone - karaoke (= instrumental)

- official karaoke album (digital release)

Remixes DRI

Charts
U.K. top 100: 81


Links and sources
Joe and Jake FB,
Joe Woolford FB,
Jake Shakeshaft Website and FB

First Digital release image

The U.K. entries from the past few years
2015 - Electro Velvet
2014 - Molly
2013 - Bonnie Tyler
2012 - Engelbert Humperdinck
2011 - Blue
2010 - Josh Dubovie
2009 - Jade Ewen

Iceland - Hear Them Calling - Greta Salóme

promo cds

14 - 51 pts in semi 1

Greta Salóme is the winner of this years Söngvakeppnin final with the song Hear Them Calling, the English version of Raddirnar.

All songs were performed in Icelandic during the heats, but in the final the singers performed their song in the language as they would in Stockholm (if they won). 

This resulted in a final with five songs in English and one in Icelandic in the final.

Hear Them Calling is written by Greta Salóme herself. She also wrote the song Á Ný, performed by Elisábeth Ormslev, the only Icelandic language song in the final.

It's the second time Greta Salóme (Greta Salóme Stefánsdóttir) is representing Iceland. In 2012 she performed Never Forget with Jónsi which ended 20th in the final in Baku.

2nd DRI

Hear Them Calling is released as a digital single track (for example here), the Icelandic version can be found on the album below.

The twelve competing Söngvakeppnin songs have been released on CD (Icelandic versions), but this year there are no karaoke versions included.

A digital six-track release has all the finalists in their final versions, see tracklists and details below.
A digital single has the English version and karaoke versions (released March 8 through Hands Up Music)

First promo has the Eurovision version and karaoke

Digital Release Image

Versions

Hear Them Calling - Eurovision version
- video, Stockholm 2CD, promo
Hear Them Calling - Second English version
- digital single release
Hear Them Calling - First English version

- digital release Söngvakeppnin 2016 Úrslitalögin - The Finalists

Raddirnar - Icelandic
- CD Söngvakeppnin 2016

Raddirnar - Icelandic karaoke
- CD Söngvakeppnin 2016

Hear Them Calling - Karaoke version (ESC version)
- on official karaoke album (digital release)
Hear Them Calling - Karaoke version (First english version)
- digital release
Raddirnar - Icelandic remix by Dusk
- various website incl. Greta's own. Not released commercially yet.

Söngvakeppnin í 30 ár

Iceland is celebrating 30 years of Eurovision this year.
A special edition of the yearly Söngvakeppni CD has been released.
It includes all the original Icelandic versions of the  entries of this years selection Söngvakeppnin Sjónvarpsins 2016 on the CD plus two DVDs with six episodes of "Árið Er".

The six shows feature the highlights of Icelands Eurovision selections.
More details (trackslist) below.
Then there's a 4-DVD box (pic right).

Full details here at discogs  
Icelandicmusic has three albums of audio tracks with live versions from 1986 to 2003.,

Links and sources
Special thanks to Jens
Greta Salomé FB
Árið Er FB has links to the shows for viewing.
Listen to the songs at RÚV's Söngvakeppni pages

Greta & Jónsi 2012 promo

Despite Iceland celebrating 30 years of Eurovision, Hear Them Calling is the country's 29th entry.
Check out mor about Icelands recent entries
2015 - Maria Olafs
2014 - Pollapönk
2013 - Eyþór Ingi
2012 - Greta Salomé and Jónsi
2011 - Sjonni's Friends
2010 - Hera Björk
2009 - Yohanna

Tracklist Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2016.
1. Alda Dís Arnardóttir - Augnablik

2. Elísabet Ormslev - Á ný

3. Hljómsveitin Eva- Ég sé þig

4. Pálmi Gunnarsson - Ég leiði þig heim

5. Ingólfur Þórarinsson - Fátækur námsmaður

6. Erna Hrönn Ólafsdóttir og Hjörtur Traustason - Hugur minn er

7. Sigga Eyrún - Kreisí

8. Karlotta Sigurðardóttir - Óstöðvandi

9. Erna Mist og Magnús Thorlacius - Ótöluð orð

10. Helgi Valur Ásgeirsson - Óvær

11. Greta Salome Stefánsdóttir - Raddirnar

12. Þórdís Birna Borgarsdóttir og Guðmundur Snorri Sigurðarson - Spring yfir heiminn

2 DVD… Árið er.. Söngvakeppnin í 30 ár í tali, tónum og myndum. (30 years of Songcontest in words, sounds and images.)
1.  1986 - 1988
2.  1989 - 1992
3.  1993 - 1998
4.  1999 - 2005
5.  2006 - 2009
6.  2010 - 2015

Úrslitalögin - The Finalists

A digital release has the six finalists with five songs in English:

1. Greta Salome Stefánsdóttir - Hear Them Calling
2. Erna Hrönn og Hjörtur Traustason - I Promised You Then
3. Karlotta Sigurðardóttir - Eye Of The Storm
4. Þórdís Birna Borgarsdóttir og Guðmundur Snorri Sigurðarson - Ready To Break Free

5. Elísabet Ormslev - Á ný
6. Alda Dís - Now

Lithuania - I’ve Been Waiting for This Night - Donny Montell

Digital release image

9 - 200 pts / 4 - 222 pts in semi 2

Donny Montell won the many many many week Lithuanian selection with the song I’ve Been Waiting for This Night.

We already met Donny Montell a.k.a. Donatas Montvydas when he ended 14th in the Baku contest in 2012 with Love Is Blind.

I’ve Been Waiting for This Night is available through some digital sources (incl Spotify) in three versions (see below).
The song is also on his new album #BLCK. CD out now in Lithuania.

Donny Montell is the first Lithuanian singer to represent Lithuania for a second time.
He's not the only 2012 singer to revisit the contest. He'll be hanging out with old mates Kaliopi (Macedonia) and Greta Salóme (Iceland).

Read more about Donny Montell and his early Lithuanian selection adventures in the 2012 post Love Is Blind.


Versions
I’ve Been Waiting for This Night - radio edit
I’ve Been Waiting for This Night - Trap remix
I’ve Been Waiting for This Night - Club remix
- all version on digital single and CD album #BLCK
I’ve Been Waiting for This Night - karaoke

- on the official karaoke album (digital release)

Album #BLCK

Links and sources
Donny Montell FB
LRT Eurovision pages

Find out more about these Lithuanian Eurovision stars
2015 - Monika Linkytė and Vaidas Baumila
2014 - Vilija Matačiūnaitė
2013 - Andrijus Pojavis
2012 - Donny Montell
2011 - Evelyna Sashenko
2010 - Inculto
2009 - Sasha Son(g)