Ukraine - 1944 - Jamala

CONGRATULATIONS JAMALA !

Winner of the 61st Eurovision Song Contest

1- 534 pts / 2 - 287 pts in semi 2

CD EP

Ukraine took a year off because of other pressing matters but they're back with a vengeance.
1944, the winner of the national final, is a song by Jamala (Джамала) reportedly about the deportation of the Crimean Tatars by Stalin. (Check the history book on the shelf people)
It's sung in English and Crimean Tatar (Qırımtatarca).
The song is written by Jamala and Art Antonian.

The song was performed live in May 2015 (in the Crimean Tatar language) as Our Crimea (Бизим Къырым). This was not outside the current EBU rules for early disclosure of the songs.

1944 has been released as a single through several digital outlets.
For a few weeks 1944 and the 1944 EP were deleted from all digital stores, including the possibility to buy it as a seperate track from the Stockholm 2CD. But the single track is now back on under a different licence (Enjoy records / Comp music)

1944 EP
A five track EP including 1944 was released on May 7. Also out on CD. (Enjoy records).
It also features four previously released songs.
You can listen to all tracks here at Jamala's Soundcloud.
See full tracklist below.

1944 - The Album
A 12-track album is released (Universal). It features nine songs in English and three in Ukrainian. All tracks except 1944 come from earlier Jamala releases, see full details and tracklist below.
The album has been released through most digital sources, no CD release has appeared.
In 2017 the digital album was re-released with the Symphonic version of 1944 as a bonus track.

10 - The Album
In 2019 another compilation including 1944 was released.
The album celebrates Jamala´s 10 years on stage.
This time it´s also available on white vinyl LP. Available at Jamala´s Facebook shop
The digital version has 22 tracks, the LP just 10.
I have a very uncomfortable question for you Jamala, Why is Smile not on this LP ?

1944 - 2017 version

Charts
Sweden top 100: 46
France top 200: 49
Switzerland top 75: 73
Austria top 75: 54
Spain top 50: 32

1944/2017
In the first semifinal of the 2017 Kyiv contest Jamala performed a new version of 1944. This version with symphonic orchestra has been released as a digital single now.
Remixes by Roy Malakian were released in November 2017. (Soundcloud has one of them)


Smile
Jamala, (Susana Jamaladinova, Сусана Джамаладінова) came to the Eurovision worlds attention with Smile, the ill fated preselection song from 2011 that wasn't to be.

After dissatisfaction with the validity of the results with Mika Newton as the winner, a rematch final was planned between the top three songs of 2011, but the other contestants Jamala and Zlata Ognevich withdrew, leaving Mika Newton with the Eurovision ticket. But you probably knew all that.

2010 single It's Me Jamala (DRI)

But on a personal note, with Smile and the videoclips of Jamala covering songs of one of my all time music heroes Yma Sumac, the Ukraïnian singer stole my heart and I've been a devoted fanboy ever since.

She released a host of singles like the wonderful You're Made Of Love, the crazy It's Me Jamala, All These Simple Things and more recently Zaplutalas (Заплуталась) and Innye (Иные). Most accompanied by amazing videos.

She has released three full albums

- For Every Heart (2011)

- All Or Nothing (2013)

- Podykh (Подих) a.k.a. Dykhaniye (Дыхание) (2015)

(The CD has the first title, but the digital version I bought is titled Дыхание, what's with that Jamala?)
In 2012 a live CD/DVD was released: For Every Heart: Live at Arena Concert Plaza, the DVD also includes video clips of her first five singles.

single digital release image

Jamala also contributed songs to several soundtracks. For the 2014 movie The Guide, in which Jamala portrays jazz singer Olga, the love interest of the main characters father, she recorded You're My Thrill, made famous by Billie Holiday.

She recorded songs in Ukrainian, English, Russian and Crimean Tatar.
On the 2011 album For Every Heart there's Pengereden (From the window) and on All Or Nothing you can find Unutmasan (Don't forget), both recorded in the Crimean Tatar language.
In 2011 I wrote a blogpost about For Every Heart, read it here at Eurocovers.

1944 digital EP

Versions

1944 - single version

- digital release, Stockholm 2CD, 1944 EP and album

1944 - Symphonic version

- digital release

1944 - Roy Malakian full vocal remix

1944 - Roy Malakian radio vocal remix

- remixes digital release 2017

1944 - karaoke version

- on the official karaoke album (digital release)

Tracklist 1944 EP
1. 1944
2. Watch Over Me ***
3. Hate Love **
4. I'm Like A Bird *
5. Thank You ***

Tracklist 1944 Album

1. 1944

2. I`m Like A Bird *

3. Hate Love **

4. Watch Over Me ** *

5. Perfect Man ***                           

6. My Lover ***

7. Drifting Apart [feat. The Erised] **

8. You've Got Me ****

9. Thank you ***

10. With My Eyes (Очима, in Ukrainian) **

11. Way To Home (Шлях додому, in Ukrainian) **

12. Breath (Подих, in Ukrainian) **

* From CD All Or Nothing (2013)

** From new album Podykh (Подих) a.k.a. Dykhaniye (Дыхание) (2015)

*** From the Thank You EP (2014)

**** English version of Чому Cаме Tебе from new album Podykh (Подих) a.k.a. Dykhaniye (Дыхание) (2015)   

1

Smile DRI

Links and sources
Jamala website,  FB and VK
Listen at Jamala's Youtube, Soundcloud
Jamala at Eurocovers - The One That Got Away


Check out these Ukrainian Eurovision gems
No participation in 2015
2014 - Mariya Yaremchuck
2013 - Zlata Ognevich
2012 - Gaitana
2011 - Mika Newton

2010 - Alyosha

2009 - Svetlana Loboda

Australia - Sound Of Silence - Dami Im

cdsingle sleeve (signed)

2 - 511 pts / 1 - 330 pts in semi 2

SBS, Australia's Eurovision broadcaster announced Dami Im as the representative in Stockholm.
The song is titled Sound Of Silence, written by Anthony Egizii and David Musumeci of DNA Songs.

Watch and listen here

Two versions of the song were released digitally.
A cdsingle was released on April 1 in Australia (Sony Music Australia  88985317652)

Two remixes by 7th Heaven were released on May 20 (digital, Sony)
(See versions below)

2019 live EP

January 2019 saw the release of a 6-track live EP by Dami Im. The Live Sessions was first released digitally but saw a CD release on April 19. It includes Sound Of Silence and five other tracks.
(Sony Music Australia 19075936852)

Tracks:
1. Dreamer
2. I Hear A Song
3. Like A Cello
4. Super Love
5. Sound Of Silence
6. Amazing Grace
Available at Sanity, who sell worldwide. The got signed copies.

Who's Dami Im?
Dami Im was born in South Korea as 임다미 and moved to Australia when she was nine years old.
Dami is an accomplished pianist (she started at the age of five) and singing followed at the age of 14.
Dami's rise to fame started with winning X-factor in 2013 and following it up with a Number 1 single (Alive) and album (Dami Im).
Before that she released the Album Dream in Korea (2010).

Digital release image

The album Dami Im (2013) includes her No 1. single Alive and a number of cover songs she performed in X-Factor. (like U2's One, Purple Rain, Bridge Over Troubled Water (!) and ..... And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going from the musical Dreamgirls)
Alive also charted in South Korea and Singapore.

The 2014 album Heartbeats featured all new songs written for (and with) Dami Im. It includes the hits Super Love, Gladiator and Living Dangerously.
Dami Im has scored nine top 50 hits in Australia.

Carpenters
Dami Im has released a new album on the way, but it's logical that Sound Of Silence isn't included as it's an album with coverversions of songs made famous by legendary American pop duo The Carpenters.
Classic Carpenters was released on April 22 and includes classics like Yesterday Once More, We've Only Just Begun, There's A Kind Of Hush and (They Long To Be) Close To You. (Sony Music Australia).
And for you youngsters out there: The Carpenters were American brother and sister duo Karen and Richard Carpenter who scored many hits (and hitalbums) in the 70's. 12 top 10 hits in the U.S, many of them classics now. Karen Carpenter is no longer with us. Go and do your Wiki's and Youtubes.
Find out a bit more here at Eurocovers, includes track by track details and a little review.
Classic Carpenters enters the Australian album charts at #3.

Remixes DRI

Versions

Sound Of Silence - short edit
Sound Of Silence - single version/radio edit
- both on cdsingle, digital releases
Sound Of Silence - karaoke

- Official karaoke album (digital)

Sound Of Silence - 7th Heaven radio edit

Sound Of Silence - 7th Heaven club mix
- 7th Heaven remixes digital release

Sound Of Silence (10th anniversary) with Electric Fields

- digital single 11-3-2026
Sound Of Silence - Glamstarr radio edit
Sound Of Silence - Glamstarr club mix
Sound Of Silence - Glamstarr instrumental

- DJ Brett Austins Glamstarr remixes have not been released officially yet but can be heard if you browse the Tube. According to Austins Facebook They were approved for release on May 15.

7th Heaven are U.K. remixers Jon Dixon and Andy Wetson. Next to helping out superstars like David Bowie, Agnetha Fältskog, Katy Perry, Kylie Minogue and Ariana Grande they have remixed several Eurovision entries in the past years: Heroes, Euphoria, Unbreakable, Je Ne sais Quoi  and withdrawn entry We Don't Wanna Put In. 
They also gave this years entries of Nicky Byrne and Justs a makeover.

Short version DRI

Charts
Sound Of Silence initially enters the Australian charts at number 68 but leaves after just one week, after the contest it re-enters at No. 5.
Australia top 100 (ARIA): 68, -, 5, 25, 32, 32, 31, 29, 49, 77, 84, 84, -
Sweden top 100: 17, 35, 51, 99, -
Even though the chart history doen't seem impressive, Sound Of Silence was awarded  Gold status in Sweden on July 4.
Netherlands top 100: 100, -
France top 200: 69, -
Germany top 100: 57, -
Switzerland top 75: 55, -
Austria top 75: 39, -
Spain top 50: 37,

Links and sources
Dami Im Website and  FB
SBS (Australian TV) Eurovision pages
Dami Im at BeaRecords
Thanks to Alexandre, DJ Alan T, STHLM mix (see comments) and Grant.

Australia's Eurovision History is relatively short, find out more:
2015 - Guy Sebasian

Poland - Color Of Your Life - Michał Szpak

Digital release image

8 - 229 pts / 6 - 151 pts in semi 2

Poland is represented in Stockholm by Michał Szpak and his song Color Of Your Life.
The song is written by Kamil Varen and Andy Palmer.

Color Of Your Life can be found on last years Szpak CD Byle Być Sobą. (Sony Music  88985303292)
The album version has also been released as a digital single. A Eurovision edit can be found on the Stockholm 2CD.

A 5-track promo cd was issued for Stockholm with the Eurovision song and four other tracks from the album Byle Być Sobą.

1. Color Of Your Life

2. Jesteś Bohaterem

3. Tic Tac Clock

4. Bo Życie Takie Jest

5. What A Shame

3-track promo

There's also a three track promo issued by Sony
1. Color Of Your Life (album version)
2. Rosanna
3. Real Hero
The extra tracks are also from Szpak's album Byle Być Sobą.

In 2018 (September 7) Szpak released a new album Dreamer.
The Special edition of this release includes live bonus tracks  including Color Of Your Life.
(Sony Music 19075877792)

Versions
Color Of Your Life - ESC version
- Stockholm 2CD
Color Of Your Life - album version
- CD Byle Być Sobą, digital single

Dreamer 2018 Special edition

Color Of Your Life - Karaoke (Instrumental)
- Official karaoke album (digital)
Color Of Your Life - Concert version (2018)
- CD Dreamer, Special edition

Charts:
France top 200: 156
Austria top 75: 66

Links and sources
Thanks to Frederick
Michał Szpak website and FB
Listen at Michał Szpak's Vevo

Album Byle Być Sobą

Polish entries from a few years gone by
2015 - Monika Kuszyńska
2014 - Donatan Cleo
No participation in 2012 and 2013
2011 - Magdalena Túl
2010 - Marcin Mrozinski
2009 - Lidia Kopania

Bosnia-Herzegovina - Ljubav Je - Deen and Dalal with Ana Rucner and Jala

Digital release image EP

11 - 104 pts in semi 1

After a three-year absence Bosnia-Herzegovina decided to return to the Eurovision stage with Deen and Dalal with Ana Rucner playing cello and Jala doing a bit of rapping.

The song Ljubav Je (Love it) was presented on Februari 19 and can be downloaded at the BHRT (see links and sources below).
The song is written by Dalal Midhat-Talakić en Almir Ajanović.

A 4 track EP (digital) is out on April 3* which also includes the English version Love Is All plus an instrumental version and karaoke of the original version. (Tempo Production).
The release features a new verion with some added backing vocals and a slightly different arrangement.
Listen to the English version here at Tempo productions Youtube
* It seems to be postponed.
The original version is on the Official Stockholm 2CD

A single track Ljubav Je was released as a digital single on March 30 through the usual sources.

(see versions below)
A promo cdsingle includes the Eurovision version, English version and instrumental.

Remix EP DRI

2017 EP
A digital Ep featuring 7 versions is released in 2017.

1. Ljubav je
2. Love Is All
3. Ljubav je (instrumental)
4. Ljubav je (Clubmix)
5. Ljubav je (Dubmix)
6. Ljubav je (Radiomix)
7. Ljubav je (Singback)

Track 1 is the ESC version, the singback is of the Radio mix

It's on Spotify under Various Artists so you'll have to browse with the title or use the spotify link below.

Thanks to Marek for spotting. (see comments)

Single track DRI

Bunny loving Deen (Fuad Backović-Deen) is still deeply carved in most Eurovision fans's memory for his dancetastic 2004 entry In The Disco. (8th place in Istanbul, 7th in the semi).
Dalal (Dalal Midhat-Talakić) once was a member of R'n'B Duo Erato and Deen and her have been friends for 20 years.
Ana Rucner is an acclaimed classical cellist from Croatia and Jala (Jala Brat) is a popular rapper from Sarajevo.

Versions

Ljubav Je - ESC version

Love Is All - English

Ljubav Je / Love Is All - Instrumental

Ljubav Je - karaoke

- Official karaoke album (digital)

- all above on digital EP, all except karaoke on promo cds

Ljubav Je - Original

- Stockholm 2CD
Ljubav je - Clubmix
Ljubav je - Dubmix
Ljubav je - Radiomix
Ljubav je - Singback
- the mixes are digital streaming releases
---

---

Links and sources
Thanks to Marek
Deen website and FB
Dalal FB
Download the song here at BHRT
Ana Rucner website, FB, Soundcloud
Jala FB
The entry is released by Tempo productions
Eurovision Collectors Guide 1956-2005.
Deen at Bearecords

Check out these Bosnia-Herzegovina entries
2012 - Maya Sar
2011 - Dino Merlin
2010 - Vukašin Brajić
2009 - Regina

Deens 2004 In The Disco cdrom

So I dug up the old Deen's 2004 promo and it still works!. Technology has changed a lot since 2004 and nothing comes close to HD or even LD, but still a great item in anyone's Eurovision collection.

Deen's 2004 entry In The Disco was recorded twice. The first version was available at the BiHTV website, a new version was recorded for Eurovision and that one ended up on the (widely distributed) promo cdrom above.

In The Disco was written by Vesna Pisarović who represented Croatia in 2002 with Everything I Want (Sasvim Sigurna) ending 11th.

The disc features a TV show highlighting the Bosnia-Herzegovina entries from 1964 (for Yugoslavia) to 2004. Also included are the In The Disco video, lyrics and biographies.

Austria - Loin d'Ici - Zoë

Promo artwork

13 - 151 pts / 7 - 170 pts in semi 1

Last years host country is represented in Stockholm by Zoë and her French language song Loin d'Ici (Far from here).
Loin d'Ici is written by Zoë Straub and Christof Straub. Christof is Zoë's paps, who himself is very successful as a member of Austrian folk duo Papermoon.

The song was first released October 2015 on Zoë's album Debut. The Eurovision version was released as a digital single on Februari 5. All releases through Global Rockstar.
Debut entered the Austrian album charts at its highest peak: No. 5. (Tracklist is below).

Zoë (Zoë Straub) entered last years Austrian selection with the song Quel Filou (What a cheat) which can also be found on the album Debut. Back then her song (out of six) didn't make the final two. The song spent one week on the Austrian charts.
Follow up single Mon Cœur A Trop Aimé spent 16 weeks on the top 75, reaching No. 12.

Debut Deluxe
Zoë's album Debut gets a re-release on April 29 as Debut Deluxe. It includes the ESC version of Loin d'Ici as well as the acoustic version and a remix (see versions below) plus some extra tracks (Full tracklist at the end of this post).
The original album version of Loin d'Ici is not on the new Deluxe edition
The CD will be released in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. (Global Rockstar / Sony Music 0889853261925)
Digital release will be worldwide.

Digital release image

Versions
Loin d'Ici - ESC version
- digital release, CD Debut Deluxe, Promo cds, Stockholm 2CD
Loin d'Ici - Album version
- CD Debut, promo cds
Loin d'Ici - Acoustic
- CD Debut Deluxe, French digital single release, U.K. promo
Loin d'Ici - Stone Van Brooken remix
- CD Debut Deluxe 
Loin d'Ici - radio edit
- French digital single release

Loin d'Ici - Karaoke 
- Official karaoke collection digital release, promo cds
No other language versions will be recorded.

France DRI

The promo cds has the ESC version, karaoke and album version.
It comes in two different editions, one in card sleeve, the later one in jewel case (cd single case) with fold over and booklet.

A digital single was released in France on September 16. It features the radio edit, previously only released as video, the acoustic version and album track Devinez.

Follow up single Danse Avec Moi was issued as a promo in the U.K., this cd-r features the acoustic version of Loin d'ici.

jewel case cd inlay

Charts
Zoë's Loin d'Ici enters the Austrian charts at number 14, peaking at 13 after the contest.
Austria top 75: 14, 33, 39, 64, 53, 74, 68, 68, -, 70, -, 68, 33, 13, 50, -
Sweden top 100: 66, -
France top 200: 99, -
In the 2014 post about Conchita you can find a list with all chart results of Austrian Eurovision songs from 1965 to 2016.

Links and sources
Special thanks to Christof at Global Rockstar and to Pablo for the message.
Plus special thanks to ÖRF for the prize:)
Zoë FB
Zoë at Global Rockstar (new link) listen to Loin d'Ici and some other songs at the video page
Wer singt für Österreich pages at ÖRF
Listen at Spotify
The Youtube video also has digital shopping links

Austria's recent Eurovision gems
2015 - The Makemakes
2014 - Conchita Wurst
2013 - Natália Kelly
2012 - Trackshittaz
2011 - Nadine Beiler
No participation from 2008 to 2010 for Austria

Tracklist Debut Deluxe

1.         Loin D'ici - ESC Version (3:00 min)

2.         Devinez

3.         Danse avec moi

4.         Rien ne va plus

5.         Quel filou

6.         Adieu

7.         Mon ange

8.         Mon cœur a trop aimé

9.         Je t'aime

10.       Je m'en fous

11.       Rends-moi mon cœur

12.       Pourquoi alors je pleure?

13.       Loin d'ici - Acoustic version (4 :21)

14.       Devinez - Balduin Remix 

15.       Loin D'ici - Stone Van Brooken Remix (3:11)

16.       Royals
17.       Your Eyes 

Album "Debut"

Tracklist Debut (2015)

1.         Je m'en fous

2.         Devinez

3.         Danse avec moi

4.         Rien ne va plus

5.         Quel filou

6.         Adieu

7.         Mon ange

8.         Mon cœur a trop aimé

9.         Je t'aime

10.       Rends-moi mon cœur

11.       Pourquoi alors je pleure?

12.       Loin d'ici (album version)

Croatia - Lighthouse - Nina Kraljić

23 - 73 pts / 10 - 133 pts in semi 1

cdsingle 

Croatia returns to Eurovision with Nina Kraljić.
Nina is the winner of the first season of The Voice - Najljepši glas Hrvatske (2015).
The song chosen for Stockholm is Lighthouse written by Andreas Grass and Nikola Paryla

Listen here at Nina's Youtube

The digital single has been released through Universal.
A cdsingle was released and is available in some shops in Croatia. (like here)
It has the Eurovision version and the karaoke.
(Universal Music 6025479 37551)

Versions
Lighthouse - Original version
- Stockholm 2CD, digital release
Lighthouse - karaoke version
- on the official karaoke album (digital release)

Album Samo
Nina Kraljić releases her album Samo on September 30. It includes Lighthouse and 11 other tracks.
Out on Universal Music Croatia.

Digital release image

Links and sources
Nina Kraljić FB and Website
HRT press release

More Croatia Eurovision history
No participation in 2014 and 2015
2013 - Klapa S Mora
2012 - Nina Badrić
2011 - Daria Kinzer
2010 - Feminnem
2009 - Igor Cukrov

artwork unknown if used for cd

Russia - You Are The Only One - Sergey Lazarev

Digital Release Image

3 - 491 pts / 1 - 194 pts in semi 1

Russian superstar Sergey Lazarev (Серге́й Лазарев) represented his country in the Stockholm contest.
The song, You Are The Only One was revealed on March 5.
The song is written by Philippe Kirkorov, Dimitris Kontopoulos, John Ballard and Ralph Charlie Fahel.


You Are The Only One has been released as a digital single. A karaoke version has also been released.

On May 17 the single was released again, same version, but now under Lazarev's own label.

The promo cds has the Eurovision version and instrumental.
A promo USB stick is also issued. It turns out some (or all) are having some faults in audio and video, so prepare to be miffed when you spend a fortune on the promo USB at the bay.

Пусть Весь Мир Подождёт
A Russian version was released on July 29 (digital release through Sony music).
It's titled Пусть Весь Мир Подождёт (Pust' Ves' Mir Podozhdot, Let the world wait)
Helena Paparizou
A duet version with Eurovision winner Helena Paparizou (Greece 2005) was released as a digital single in August 2016. It followed an appearance at the MAD TV music awards (Minos records)

DRI Russian version

Helena Paparizou

A duet version with Eurovision winner Helena Paparizou (Greece 2005) was released as a digital single in August 2016. It followed an appearance at the MAD TV music awards (Minos records).
The digital single is a studio version.

Versions
You Are The Only One - Eurovision version
- Stockholm 2CD, promo cds*

New DRI May 17

You Are The Only One - introduction version
- video only see below

Pust' Ves' Mir Podozhdot / Пусть Весь Мир Подождёт - Russian

- digital release, 2018 2CD V EpitseNtre (В ЭпицеNтре) (Sony),

You Are The Only One - karaoke
- digital release, Official karaoke album (digital)

You Are The Only One - Instrumental
- promo cds
You Are The Only One - with Helena Paparizou
- digital single

At the contest the song was shortened a little, as the ESC CD version is 3:07 .
The earliest (as far as I know) presentation version has some extra sounds at the beginning (before the bell) and at the end it's not cut off as abrupt as the Stockholm 2CD edit.. 
*The version on the promo cds starts with eight seconds of silence, same for the instrumental version.

Singer, actor, dancer Lazarev started his musical career in the kids group Neposedi (Непоседы). The group (with ever changing members) included at the time Yulia and Lena of t.A.T.u. and Vlad Topalov (Владислав Топалов) with whom Lazarev formed the successful duo Smash! (СМЭШ!!) which lasted from 2000 to 2006.

CD Sergey Lazarev The Best, Russian edition.

In 2004 Lazarev entered the Russian National Final with the song Flyer (4th place).
In October 2015 Lazarev released a compilation album Sergey Lazarev The Best which includes Flyer (as The Flyer) only on the English edition.
The Russian edition has songs in Russian, the English edition has songs in English. Both are Russian releases, but I don't know if the Russian edition has been issued on CD.

Coverversion
Swedish Metallers Psyckadeli have created a fab and loud coverversion of You Are The Only One.
Check it out and read more about it Here At Eurocovers

Charts
Sweden top 100: 34, 68
France top 200: 53
Austria top 75: 40
Spain top 50: 49

Links and sources
Thanks to Nigel

Check out these Russian Eurovision stars:
2010 - Peter Nalitch

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