We’ve been here in the Press Centre for a few days now, with the first rough rehearsals coming across our screen. Before the Semifinals next week, Samantha takes a quick look at some of the facts and figures on who we’ll all see on stage this year and how they got there!
Who’ll be performing?
- Solo Males (8): Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Montenegro, Norway, Switzerland
- Solo Females (15): Albania, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, (FYR) Macedonia, Moldova, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom
- “Gender Illusionist” (1): Austria
- Duets (4): Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia
- Groups/Collaborations (9) : Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Malta
How were the songs chosen?
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Internal Selections (11): Armenia, Austria, Georgia, Italy, (FYR) Macedonia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, San Marino, United Kingdom
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National Final Winners (24): Albania, Belarus, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine
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Internal Artist Selection, Public Song Choice (1): Israel
- Public Artist Selection, Internal Song Choice (1): Azerbaijan
Songs changed/modified from original winner/announcement/release?:
- Albania: Albanian language version, “Zemërimi i nje natë“, was translated into the English-language “One Night’s Anger”.
- Belarus: Lyric changed from “Google Maps” to “all the maps” in order to comply with EBU regulations.
- Denmark: Lyric changed from “f*cking cliché” to “another cliché” in order to comply with EBU regulations.
- Iceland: The Icelandic “Enga fordóma” was translated into the all-English “No Prejudice”.
- Malta: Various lyrics and arrangement changed.
- Poland: The all-Polish “My Słowianie” has been revamped and turned into a bilingual version, called “My Słowianie – We Are Slavic” or “Slavic Girls”
- Ukraine: Various lyrics and arrangement changed.
What language will the songs be performed in?
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English (28): Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, (FYR) Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom
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No English (3): Italy, Montenegro, Portugal
- Bilingual (4): Israel, Poland, Slovenia, Spain
- Primarily in one language with a few phrases in another (2): France (primarily in French, with phrases in English and Spanish), Latvia (primarily in English, with a few phrases in Latvian)
- Out of the 28 songs that are being performed entirely in English, 6 have alternate versions in other languages: Albania, Azerbaijan, Iceland, (FYR) Macedonia (in both Macedonian and Serbian), Russia, San Marino
How many are returning to Eurovision?
- (FYR) Macedonia: Tamara Todevska (backing vocals) (2008)
- Montenegro: Martina Majerle (backing vocals) (2009 as lead, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012 as backing)
- Romania: Paula Seling and Ovi (2010)
- Russia: Masha and Nastya Tolmachevy (JESC 2006)
- San Marino: Valentina Monetta (2012, 2013)
How many had previously performed in a National Final (not counting their 2014 victory)?
- Albania: 4 times (FiK 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012)
- Austria: 1 time (2012)
- Azerbaijan: 2 times (2008 as a member of Unformal, 2010 as a member of Milk and Kisses)
- Belarus: 1 time (2009)
- Estonia: 2 times (2002, 2003)
- Hungary: 2 times (2012, 2013)
- Ireland: 1 time (2013)
- Italy: 2 times (San Remo 2011, 2012)
- Latvia: 1 time (2008, as Jöran & Axlina)
- Lithuania: 1 time (2005)
- (FYR) Macedonia: 1 time (2006)
- Malta: The Mics – 3 times (2003, 2004, 2005), Richard Edwards – 5 times (2010, 2011, 2012, and two entries in 2013), Wayne Micallef/Wayne William – 4 times (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014)
- Moldova: 2 times (2011, 2013)
- Romania: 2010 (as a duo), 2009 (Ovi solo)
- Slovenia: 3 times (1997, 1999, 2001)
- Sweden: 6 times (2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011)
- Ukraine: 1 time (2013)
How many had taken part in vocal talent shows (not including National Finals)?
- Austria – “Starmania” (2007, 2nd place, as Tom Neuwirth), “Die große Chance” (2011, 6th place, as Conchita Wurst)
- Azerbaijan – “The Voice of Ukraine” (currently participating)
- Belgium – “Star Academy” and “The Voice Belgique” (2013, made it to Battle Rounds)
- Denmark – “The X-Factor” (2008, 4th place)
- Hungary – “Megasztár” (2011, 4th place)
- Israel – “Kokhav Nolad” (2009, 3rd place)
- Italy – “Popstars” (2003, winner) “Amici di Maria De Filippi” (2009, winner)
- Lithuania – “Kelias į žvaigždes” (2005, 2nd place)
- Malta (Richard Edwards) – “The X-Factor” (UK, made to jury house)
- Poland (Cleo) – “The X-Factor” (2011)
- San Marino – “Popstars” (2001)
- Spain – “The X-Factor (UK, 2008, 5th place)
- Ukraine – “The Voice of Ukraine” (2012, 4th place)
Who are the youngest artists this year?
- Finland: Eero Keskinen (bass) – 18, Tuomo Alarinta (drums) – 18, Ossi Mäkelä – (guitars, synth) – 17.
- Greece: RiskyKidd – 19
- Russia: Masha & Nastya Tomlachevy – 17
Who wasn’t born in the country they’ll be representing?
- Estonia – Tanja was born in Kaliningrad, Russia.
- Germany – Lead singer Elżbieta Steinmetz was born in Ukraine.
- Greece – RiskyKidd was born in London.
- Hungary – András Kállay-Saunders was born in New York.
- Latvia – Lead singer Jöran Steinhauer is from Bochum, Germany.
I wouldn’t count the Russian twins as returning artists – JESC is not ESC, after all.
But I love such lists and stats, so thanks a lot for that!
Everything you wanted to know statistically about ESC2014 but where afraid to ask!
Nice job…