Bulgaria - If Love Was A Crime - Poli Genova

Promo cd single

4 - 307 pts / 5 - 220 pts in semi 2

2011 Eurovision singer Poli Genova (Поли Генова) returned to the contest to represent Bulgaria for the second time.

Poli's song, If Love Was A Crime was presented on March 21.
It is sung mostly in English with a few words of Bulgarian thrown in for good measure. (О, Дай Ми Любовта!, (Oh, give me love)
If Love Was A Crime is written by Borislav Milanov, Sebastian Arman, Joachim Bo Persson and Poli Genova.

You can download the song at Poli's website. The song was also released as a digital single on March 30 through the usual sources.
This commercially released version is the same as the one on the Stockholm 2CD. See below for explanation.

Picture from BNT press release

"Chipmunks"
There are two released versions of the song.
The first version uses high pitched backing vocal samples (effects, FX)(a.k.a. by the fans as the chipmunks), this one is on the Stockholm 2CD.
The second one, which was on Poli's website, adds flute to the pitched vocals (but the chipmunks are still there at the start), here are no chipmunks 2:18. This one is also on the promo cdsingle.
No chipmunks were heard at the contest, all the vocal samples were replaced with flute parts. And of course there were the celebrated backing vocalists appearing at the end of the performance.
A nice (unintended?) statement against the ridiculous practice of hiding the backing singers which seems to be the trend now.

A promo cdsingle is issued, it has the flute/FX version and Flute/FX karaoke.

Watch and listen here

With Na Inat (На Инат) Poli Genova ended 12th in the second semi in Düsseldorf.
In 2015 she hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Digital release image

Versions
If Love Was A Crime - original version (FX)
- videoclip, digital release, Stockholm 2CD
If Love Was A Crime - alternate version (Flute+FX)
- site download (not available anymore), promo
If Love Was A Crime - Karaoke (FX)
- Official karaoke album (digital)
If Love Was A Crime - alternate Karaoke (Flute+FX)
- site download, downloadable here at Poli Genova's website, promo
The final Eurovision version differs from both released versions, only the flute parts were used (not the vocal FX).
This version remains unreleased.

Charts
Bulgaria top 40: 36, 22, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 8, 13, 18, 24, 34, 40, -
Sweden top 100: 47
France top 200: 129
Austria top 75: 72

Poli Genova (a.k.a. as Polly Genova) has appeared in several Bulgarian national finals.
2005 - 9th with Otkriy Me Sega (group Melody)
2006 - 4th with Love That You Can't See (Melody Traffic)
2009 - 2nd with One Lifetime Is Not Enough. (as a solo singer)

2011 - 1st with Na Inat, 12^th in the second semi in Düsseldorf (48 points).

Coverversion
Greek singer Demy (Dimitra Papadea, Δήμητρα Παπαδέα) recorded a coverversion titled Isovia Mazi (Ισόβια μαζί, Life together).
The track uses one of the backing tracks from the original singer (The Flute+FX version). The Bulgarian words "O dai mi ljubovta" are used in this version. The rest of the song is in Greek.
Isovia Mazi is out through the usual digital sources. (Panik records)

2011 Na Inat Digital Release Image

Links and sources
Thanks to Milena at BNT and Thanks to Frank.
Poli Genova FB and website (offline)
BNT Eurovision pages

Bulgaria's recent entries
No participation in 2014 and 2015
2013 - Elitsa Todorova and Stoyan Yankoulov
2012 - Sofi Marinova
2011 - Poli Genova
2010 - Miro
2009 - Krassimir Avramov

Cyprus - Alter Ego - Minus One

Picture from Minus One's Facebook

21 - 96 pts / 8 - 164 pts in semi 1

Rockband Minus One are the chosen ones to get Cyprus to a place in the final in the 2016 contest. (and they succeeded)
The song, Alter Ego, was presented on Februari 22 and is written by the band themselves with Thomas G: Son.
The song has been released as a digital single.
Watch the video here

The promo single has 1 track plus the video clip of Alter Ego. (KMZ Music Cyprus)

Minus One are Francois Micheletto (vocals), Harrys Pari (guitar), Constantinos Amerikanos (guitar, vocals), Antonis Loizides (bass) and Christopher Ioannides a.k.a. Chris J. (drums)

cd single (promo)

Versions
Alter Ego - Eurovision version
- Stockholm 2CD, digital single, promo single
Alter Ego - Karaoke
- on the official karaoke album (digital release)

Digital Release Image

Links and sources
Special thanks to Minus One for the cd!
Minus One website and FB
Thomas G:Son at Loreen's page (The Baku Collection)

Remember these entries from Cyprus?
2015 - John Karayiannis
2014 - No participation
2013 - Despina Olympiou
2012 - Ivi Adamou
2011 - Christos Mylordos
2010 - Jon Lilygreen and the Islanders
2009 - Christine Metaxa

Slovenia - Blue And Red - ManuElla

Digital release image, the right one

14 - 57 pts in semi 2

ManuElla won her Stockholm ticket by winning the Slovenian selection EMA with her song Blue And Red written by Marjan Hvala, Manuella Brečko and Leon Oblak

ManuElla (Manuella Brečko) already tried to get to Eurovision before. In 2011 she participated in Misija Evrovizija, a talent show style multi week happening. She ended fourth, and only the top three performed a Eurovision candidate song.

Blue And Red is released as a digital single on March 30 through the usual sources. The first digital release image mentions the title Utopian Land, which is of course the Greek entry, but that was soon corrected.
There is a new version for Eurovision. Watch and listen here.
The single release is the new version.

You can download a ManuElla App (Apple and Android) through Manuella's Facebook.
It features music, videos, photos, competitions and all kinds of other interactivities.

promo cds

The promo cdsingle has the Eurovision version and a sing-along version.

ManuElla graduated as a music producer at university. She released her first single Il Futuro in 2013.

The wrong Digital release image!

Versions
Blue And Red - ESC version
- video, promo cds, digital release, App
Blue And Red - original version
- digital release
Blue And Red - Sing along version
- on promo cds, ManuElla App, official karaoke album (digital release)

Links and sources
Thanks to Jean-François and to Fabio.
Special thanks to Klemen and ManuElla for the promo.
ManuElla website and FB
RTVSLO has a clip of the live performance
RTVSLO EMA pages

Picture from ManuElla's Facebook

Find out more about these Eurovision entries for Slovenia
2015 - Maraaya
2014 - Tinkara Kovač
2013 - Hannah Mancini
2012 - Eva Boto
2011 - Maja Keuc
2010 - Roka Žlindere and Kalamari
2009 - Quartissimo ft. Martina

Moldova - Falling Stars - Lidia Isac

Digital release image

17 - 33 pts in semi 1

Lidia Isac is the winner of the Moldovan national final with her song Falling Stars.
Falling Stars is written by Gabriel Alares, Sebastian Lestapier, Ellen Berg and Leonid Gutkin.

Falling Stars is released as a digital single also including the karaoke version.
The original version as presented in the preselection is in a higher key than the final version. It also has a different intro.


A promo cd was issued with six tracks
1. Falling Stars (ESC version)
2. I Can't Breathe
3. You Believed In Me
4. Magia
5. Mainile Sus
6. Falling Stars (Kamaji Remix)
The remix by Kamaji can be also heard and downloaded (free) at Kamaji's Soundcloud.

Promo cds sleeve

Versions
Falling Stars - Final version
- Stockholm 2CD
Falling Stars - Original version
- videoclip (here)
Falling Stars - Kamaji Remix
- free download, promo cds
Falling Stars - Karaoke version
- on the official karaoke album (digital release)
A French version Pluie D'Etoiles (with lyrics by Francis Soghomonian) has been performed in an acoustic version but it hasn't been commercially released.

Lidia tried to get to Eurovision before, including a few tries as one half of the duo Glam Girls. (The other half being Alexandra Duc).
2015 I Can't Breathe - Lidia Isac
- (shared 13th (last) in final)
2015 Magia - Glam Girls
- (shared 13th (last) in final)
2014 You Believed In Me - Glam Girls
- (9th in semi, not to final)
2013 Celebrate - Cristina V. and Glam Girls
- (12th in final (of 14))

Picture from Lidia Isac's Facebook

Links and sources
Thanks to Frank, Thanks to Nigel for the cds picture.
Lidia Isac FB

Remember these entries from Moldova?
2015 - Eduard Romanyuta
2014 - Cristina Scarlat
2013 - Aliona Moon
2012 - Pasha Parfeny
2011 - Zdob Si Zdub
2010 - Sunstroke Project ft. Olia Tira
2009 - Nelly Ciobanu

Spain - Say Yay! - Barei

Promo cds

22 - 77 pts / not in semi

Spain is represented in Stockholm by Barei (Bárbara Reyzábal González-Aller) who won the Spanish final Obejetivo Eurovision with the song Say Yay!
Barei wrote the song with Rubén Villanueva and Víctor Púa.

The song was released in Januari through digital sources.
A new version was recorded and has also been released (digital).

You can also have a listen at Barei's website.

A 1 track promo is issued. (Universal)

Throw The Dice
Barei's 2015 album Throw The Dice will be re-released with some extra tracks. It will include Say Yay! and also Who Plays The Drums, the other song Barei sent in for the Eurovision selection.

Remixes DRI

Remixes
Six remixes were released on June 3. Digital release through all you favorite digital stores and streamers. See versions for details.

Versions
Say Yay! - Eurovision version
- digital release
Say Yay! - first single version
- digital release
Say Yay! - Gelab remix
Say Yay! - AtellaGali remix
Say Yay! - Allan Ramirez remix
Say Yay! - Tremmme remix
Say Yay! - Julian The Angel remix
Say Yay! - Tom Siher remix
- all remixes: digital release
Say Yay! - karaoke

- on the official karaoke album (digital release)

2nd digital release image 1st version

Charts
Say Yay! enters the Spanish charts at Number 6!
Spain top 50: 6, 7, 40, 47, -, 3*, 32, 31, 29, 41, -, 25, 4, 26, 44, 39, 46, -
*re-entry after the release of the new version a month after the old one left the charts.
Sweden top 100: 63, -
France top 200: 184, -

Links and sources
Barei website & FB

New version DRI

Say Yay! to these Spanish entries
2015 - Edurne
2014 - Ruth Lorenzo
2013 - ESDM
2012 - Pastora Soler
2011 - Lucia Péres
2010 - Daniel Diges
2009 - Soraya

First digital release image

Throw The  Dice album re-issue DRI

Czech Republic - I Stand - Gabriela Gunčíková

25 - 41 pts / 9 - 161 pts in semi 1

The 5th Czech entry to grace the Eurovision Song Contest is I Stand by Gabriela Gunčíková.
The song is written by Aidan O'Connor, Sara Biglert and Christian Schneider

I Stand was released as a digital single on March 12. The release also includes the instrumental version. (WEBS music)
A promo cds in 7.5 inch press folder is issued.

Promo cds folder

Listen here

Digital release image

Versions
I Stand - single version
- digital single, Stockholm 2CD
I Stand - karaoke
-  also on official karaoke album (digital release) The digital release single has it marked as instrumental (but it has b-vox).

Links and sources
Gabriela Gunčíková FB
CT Eurovision pages



Gabriela's I Stand is the fifth entry for the Czech Republic and the first to make it to the final.
Find out more about some other Czech entries:
2015 - Marta Jandová and Václav Noid Bárta
2011 - Gipsy.cz