Saturday, April 29, 2017

Netherlands - Lights and Shadows - Og3ne

Image from Og3ene's Facebook
11 - 150 pts /4 - 200 pts in semi 2
The Netherlands broadcaster AVROTROS selected O'g3ne to represent the country in Kyiv.
The group are three sisters, Lisa, Amy and Shelly Vol. They dropped the ' and are now OG3NE.

The groups participation was announced on October 29, the song for Eurovision is titled Lights And Shadows.
The song is written by Rick Vol (the girls' dad) and Rory de Kievit.
The song was presented on March 3, the official video is here at Eurovision.tv.
The song is also out as a digital single.
A promo cds has been issued by Pias/BMG.

We Got This II
On April 28 the girls have re-issued their No. 1 album We Got This, now including Lights And Shadows and their 2014 hit Magic and the Emeli Sandé cover Clown. (Pias / BMG 4050538279320)
See full tracklist below.
Also included is an acoustic version of Lights And Shadows.

Lisa, Amy and Shelley participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam (2007). They ended 11th with Adem In, Adem Uit (Breathe in, breathe out).
In 2014 they won the 5th season of The Voice Of Holland, the first (and only) group to do so.
They have been making quite a name for themselves with TV performances showcasing their impressive vocal harmonies.
Their interpretation of Emeli Sandé's Clown is particularly acclaimed, even receiving a praising tweet from the singer herself.

The arguably difficult bandname O'g3ne (pron. O-gene) stands for the bloodtype of the girls mom (O) and the genes they share. and the 3, well, there's three of them.


Lisa, Amy and Shelley Junior Eurovision cds
The trio released two Dutch language albums as Lisa, Amy and Shelley and in 2016 released the album We Got This as O'g3ne. It entered the Dutch album charts at No. 1.

Versions
Lights and shadows - ESC/single version
- CD We got this (Special edition), Kyiv 2CD
Lights and shadows - Acoustic
- CD We got this (Special edition)
Lights and shadows - karaoke (=instrumental)
- digital release (official karaoke album)


Charts:
Lights And Shadows enjoyed one week on the charts after release and re-entered in Eurovision week.
Dutch top 100: 53, -, 63, 14, 60

Links and sources
O'g3ne: Website, Facebook
AVROTROS Eurovision pages (in Dutch)
More Dutch entries: 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

CD We Got This - Special edition
We Got This - Special Edition
1. Lights and Shadows
2. Loved You First
3. Cross Faded
4. Outta My Head
5. All Over Again
6. Wait a Minute
7. Satellite
8. What You Do
9. Hold Me Tight
10. Take the Money and Run
11. Lights and Shadows (Acoustic Version)
12. Clown
13. Magic







Slovenia - On My Way - Omar Naber

17 - 36 pts in semi 1
The Slovenian entry for Kyiv is On My Way by Omar Naber.
Picture from Omar nabers website
EMA version DRI
12 years after his entry Stop (also in a Kyiv contest!) Naber won the Slovenian selection EMA on the 24th of Februari.
On My Way is written by Omar Naber and Žiga Pirnat.
On My Way (ESC version) was released as a digital single along with its karaoke version first. (which is actually instrumental)
A Slovenian version Tam Nekje (Somewhere) has been recorded. You can see a "live" performance here at RTV SLO. Official (digital) release of Tam Nekje was on June 12, but it had already been available (free and legal) at here at Veseljak.si.
The original EMA version was released on June 12 (digital).

A promo cdsingle has the Eurovision version and instrumental.

Digital release image
Versions
On my way - Eurovision version
- digital release
On my way - EMA version
- digital release
Tam nekje - Slovenian version (ESC arrangement)
- free download
On my way - karaoke (= instrumental)
- digital release




Afrikaans coverversion DRI
Coverversion
A coverversion in Afrikaans was released by Frikkie Van Biljon. His version is titled Elke Tree (Every step) and can be found in your favorite digital stores and streamers. Frikkie's Facebook.


Omar's EMA's
2005 Stop (Winner, 12th in ESC semi) see below
2009 I still carry on (2nd)
2011 Bistvo skrito je očem* (undisclosed, outside top 2)
2014 I won't give up (undisclosed, outside top 2)
* translates loosely as The essence is hidden from sight


Karaoke DRI
Links and sources
Omar Naber: Website,  Facebook
RTV SLO Eurovision pages
Omar Naber at BeaRecords
Eurovision Collectors Guide 1956-2005
Slovenia's older entries are here: 20162015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009




Slovenian version DRI


2005: Stop
With Omar Naber returning to the contest, here’s a look back at his 2005 song Stop and its releases and versions.
The first time Omar Naber set foot on the Eurovision stage the contest was also held in Kyiv, Ukraine.
There was only one semi final back then, as the top 10 of the previous year had already secured a place in the final.
Omar got to the 12th place with 69 points and missed out on the final.

Stop was released on cdsingle and a promo cdsingle both with rom content (videoclip, multimedia)
More versions of Stop have been released on various albums, here’s the list.
Both issues of the Stop cdsingle are available at BeaRecords. (here).


Serbian issue of CD Omar (2006)
Stop - ESC version in Slovenian
- on cdsingle   (NIKA records NR CDS P 0179 with rom-content)
On my own - English, ESC arrangement
- on same NIKA cdsingle
Stop - instrumental, ESC arrangement
- on same NIKA cdsingle
Stop - original version as in EMA
- on EMA preselection CD (RTVSCD 005) and CD Omar
On my own - original English, EMA arrangement
- on CD Omar (NIKA NRCD P 0098)
Stop - Serbian version, ESC arrangement
- on Serbian issue CD Omar  (2006, Automatik records ATM 2502006-2)

Preselection songs I Still Carry On, Bistvo Skrito Je Očem and I Won't Give Up can all be found on the 2014 album Na Glavo (NIKA Records 5825578).
The English version of Na Glavo is titled No Helmet and features I Still Carry On. Good Things Come To Those Who Wait (English version of Bistvo..) and I Won't Give Up.
Na Glavo is released on CD but of No Helmet I've only seen digital releases. Both are on Spotify.

Greece - This Is Love - Demy

Digital release image
19 - 77 pts /10 - 115 pts in semi 1
ERT selected Demy (Dimitra Papadea, Δήμητρα Παπαδέα) to represent Greece in the Kyiv Eurovision Song Contest.

Her winning song, This Is Love was selected on March 6. It is written by Dimitris Kontopoulos (see below), Romy Papadea and John Ballard.
Demy performed (all) three songs in the national final.

This Is Love (first released version) is released as a digital single.
At most digital outlets it has been replaced with the new version.

For the Eurovision version the song has had a bit of a makeover including some lyric changes.
Here's the first official video
And here's the new version
(Panikrecords Youtube)

Before the Greek NF an earlier version of the song escaped to the www. This version was removed from Youtube.

Promo box
Οσο ζώ
A greek version was released on April 30. Oso Zo (Οσο ζώ, As long as I live) has been released as a digital single track. (Panik records)
A ballad version (in English) was released on April 28. (digital).

Demy : The Album
On April 18 an album was released. It's titled Demy and includes This Is Love and her other preselection songs Angels and When The Morning Comes Around.
The album is released on CD and through digital stores. It's Demy's third album after #1 (2012) and Rodino Oneiro (Ρόδινο Όνειρο, Pink Dream, 2014)
(Panik Records 5200390300345, Full tracklist below)

The Demy album is also used for promotion in Kyiv, it comes in a card box/sleeve with an extra disc (DVDrom) including wave files of the ESC version and karaoke, bio, pictures and the videoclip in DVD quality.

In 2016 she released a (digital) single Isovia Mazi (Ισόβια Μαζί, Life together) which is a Greek coverversion of Poli Genova's If Love Was A Crime (Bulgarian entry 2016).

Greek version DRI
Versions
This Is Love - ESC version
- digital release, Kyiv 2CD
This Is Love - First official version
- digital release
Oso zo (Οσο ζώ) - Greek version
- digital release
This Is Love - Pre NF version (leaked version)
-  audiovideo only
This Is Love - ballad version
- digital release
This Is Love - ESC version karaoke 
- digital release, also named instrumental (but it has b-vox)




2016 single Isovia Mazi, DRI
Links and sources
Thanks to Frank, to Krzysztof and to Nigel
Demy: Website,  Facebook
Isovia Mazi (If love was a crime) videoclip
ERT Eurovision Facebook
Find out more about these Greek entries: 20162015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009


Dimitris Kontopoulos’ Eurovision entries
For the 2017 entry Demy worked with composer Dimitris Kontopoulos (see below) and choreographer/director Fokas Evaggelinos.
Dimitris Kontopoulos has written several succesfull Eurovision entries for Greece and other countries. and Evaggelinos was involved in even more. He choreographed Greece's winner from 2005 and went on to be the creative director for the 2006 Athens contest.
Kontopoulos’ Eurovision entries:
2007: Koldun - Work Your Magic - Koldun (Belarus, 7th)
2008: Ani Lorak - Shady Lady (Ukraine, 2nd)
2009: Sakis Rouvas - This Is Our Night (Greece, 7th)
2013: Farid Mammadov - Hold Me (Azerbaijan, 2nd)
2014: Tolmachevy Sisters - Shine (Russia, 7th)
2016: Sergey Lazarev - You Are the Only One (Russia, 3rd)

Album Demy DRI
Tracklist CD Demy
2. When Then Morning Comes Around
3. Angels
4. Fallin (Playmen feat. Demy)
5. Nothing Better (Playmen feat. Demy)
6. The Sun (Demy & Alex Leon feat. Epsilon)
7. Chasing the Stars (Emil Lonam Remix)
8. Where Is the Love (Angel Stoxx feat. Demy)
9. Some Hearts Are Meant to Fall
10. One Love
11. You Fooled Me
12. That Feeling

Malta - Breathlessly - Claudia Faniello

Digital release image
16 - 55 pts in semi 2
Malta is celebrated their 30th Eurovision with
Claudia Faniello who won the Malta Eurovision Song Contest.
The ballad Breathlessly is written by Maltese Eurovision veterans Philip Vella and Gerard James Borg with Philip's son Sean Vella.
Listen here to the original version.

A new version was made for Eurovision. Here's the official video.
The song has been released as a digital single along with a karaoke version. (Cap-sounds).

A cdsingle has been made including four versions of Breathlessly:
- Official version
- Radio version
- Promostella club remix
- Electro club remix
(CAP sounds  Cap 2017035), also available as digital EP

Italian versions DRI
Perdersi
Claudia released two mixes of an Italian version of Breathlessly. It's titled Perdersi (To get lost) and is available through your favorite digital outlets.

Claudia Faniello has been participating in the Maltese selection since 2006 and now finally won the right to represent her country in Eurovision.

This years Malta Eurovision Song Contest selection had 16 songs and you can listen here.
The final was held on Februari 18, there were no semi's this year.



Versions
cdsingle
Breathlessly - Eurovision version (official version)
- Kyiv 2CD
Breathlessly - Radio version
Breathlessly - Promostella club remix
Breathlessly - Electro club remix
- digital releases, cdsingle
Perdersi - Italian version
Perdersi - Italian version radio mix
- Italian versions both digital releases
Breathlessly - Original version
- video
Breathlessly - karaoke
- digital release

Picture from Caludia's Facebook
Claudia's Contests:
Claudia's first shot to fame was winning the 2006 Independence Day Festival (Konkors Kanzunetta Indipendenza) with the song Ma Nafx (Don't know). This prestigious festival featuring songs in Maltese only, has been won by a few other Eurovision singers: Miriam Christine, Claudette Pace, Ira Losco, Mike Spiteri and Bro Fabrizio*.
Claudia Faniello released one album, Convincingly Better (2010) and several (digital) singles
*Eurovision fans know that Claudia's brother Fabrizio entered Eurovision twice. (2001 and 2006)



Claudia has entered the Maltese selection for 8 years in a row with two second places as the best results.
She took a break from 2014 to 2016 and came back in 2017 with a winner.
2013 single When it's time (DRI)
2006 High alert (12th)
2007 L-imħabba għamja  (Love is blind, 7th)
2008 Caravaggio (2nd)
2008 Sunrise (3rd)
2009 Blue sonata (4th)
2009 Midas touch (semi)
2010 Samsara (8th)
2011 Movie in my mind (9th)
2012 Pure (2nd)
2013 When it’s time (7th)
2017 Breathlessly (1st)

The Songwriters
Philip Vella and Gerard James Borg are two of the most prolific Pop songwriters in Malta.
They wrote many many songs for the Maltese (and also other country’s) finals and made it to Eurovision five times.
Desire - Claudette Pace (8th  in 2000)
7th Wonder - Ira Losco (2nd  in 2002)
On Again… Off Again - Julie and Ludwig (12th 2004)
Vertigo - Olivia Lewis (2007, semi)
Vodka - Morena (2008, semi)
Borg (pron: Bordj) also co-wrote the lyrics of the 2014 Russian entry. He's also a successful novelist.
Vella is also an accomplished writer of music for (TV) events, commercials and computer games.

Links and sources
Thanks to Krzysztof
Claudia Faniello: Facebook
TVM Eurovision pages, Songs
Malta's recent Eurovision stars: 20162015 - 2014 - 2013 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Let's Get Physical 2017

Here's an extra page collecting the details on the physical releases available to the public.

Singles
Italy has a limited edition vinyl 7"inch single of the Sanremo winner. A cdsingle box (limited edition with T-Shirt) is also out now.
Germany's cdsingle is out since Februari 24.
Australia's cdsingle is out since March 17.
Austria's cdsingle is available through ORF and includes an exclusive remix.
Malta has a cdsingle with four versions out now
Spain has a cdsingle on April 28
Estonia has a vinyl 12"inch out, wow!
Portugals winner cdsingle is officially released on June 16.
Details on promo only singles can be found in each country's section.


Pic from ESCportugal.pt
Compilations (National Finals etc)
The Official Album 2CD with all entries is expected on April 28, quite late compared to previous years. (digital on April 21st)
A special limited edition boxset will also be available for the first time. The box features the 2CD but also four coloured vinyl LP's.
The release is quite late though, June 23.
23 June is also the date for the official DVD and (it's back) Blu Ray release. More details at the Eurovision.tv shop

Hungary's 30 A Dal songs have been released on a double CD
Italy's Sanremo 2017 2CD is out now
Sweden's Melodifestivalen 2CD is out since Februari 26
Portugal: The Festival da Canção 2017 CD was released on April 7.
No CD releases from Denmark and Iceland this year.

Artists albums on CD/LP
Latvia's Triana Park finally release their new album in 2018
Italy Francesco Gabbani has his album Magellano out on April 28.
Belarus' Naviband has their CD album available at their concerts and online.
Germany's Levina has her album out on April 28
France: Alma's debut album Ma Peau Aime will be out on May 5.
Netherlands: A special edition of the girls' album We Got This will include Lights And Shadows. (April 28)
Estonia: Laura's Greatest Hits album includes two versions of Verona and all her solo Eesti Laul efforts.
Ukraine: O.Torvald re-release their CD #нашілюдивсюди , now including Time.
Greece: Demy has an album out now.

For promo's and digital releases check the seperate country's posts.

Spain - Do It For Your Lover - Manel Navarro

Digital single version 2.
26 - 5 pts, not in semi 
Manel Navarro is the winner of Spains preselection Objetivo Eurovision.
His song Do It For Your Lover is written by Navarro himself and was already been released as a digital single on January 13.

Two versions of the song were released early on.
The first one, released in Januari is completely in English (listen here).
The second one, released in Februari is in Spanish with English refrain (listen here).
The Spanish/English one is the one performed at the Spanish final and the Eurovision final.

An acoustic version (Spanish/English) was released as a digital track on April 7.
On the digital release image his name is spellt M4N3L N4V4RR0, outdoing OG3NE by 12.
A remix has also been released (listen here at Manel's Vevo)

EP digital release image
M4N3L N4V4RR0 EP
A digital EP and cd single (out on April 28) has 7 tracks including five versions of DIFYL, previous single Candle and new song If I Go.
1. Do it for your lover
2. Candle
3. If I go
4. Do it for your lover - ESC version
5. Do it for your lover - Acoustic
6. Do it for your lover - Urban remix
7. Do it for your lover - Live studio session
(Sony Music Spain 88985442412-1). The CD is available in the shops op El Cortes Ingles and Fnac (and online, but Spain only).
Other Eurovision fans can shop at Bearecords.

There's also a promo cd in cardsleeve, this has 1 track: the Eurovision version.

cdsingle, picture from Manel Navarro's twitter
Manel Navarro Quesada won the talent show Catalunya Teen Star in 2014 and signed with Sony.
Do It For Your Lover is his third single after Brand New Day (2014) and Candle (2016). 

First version digital single
Versions:
Do it for your lover - Spanish/English (Kyiv 2CD)
- The Kiyv CD version is slightly different
Do it for your lover - Spanish/English (ESC version)
- not sure if the 1-track promo has the same as the one on the Kyiv 2CD or the one on the CDEP
Do it for your lover - Acoustic
Do it for your lover - Urban remix ft. Danny Romero
Do it for your lover - English original
Do it for your lover - Live studio session
Do it for your lover - Karaoke Eurovision version (= instrumental)
- all digital releases








Acoustic version DRI
Charts
In the contest week Manle re-enters the Spanish charts at #1, The EP
enters at #1 in the Physical sales chart.
Spanish top 50: 41, -, 8, 23, -
Spanish Physical top 20: 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 4, 6, 4, 7, 2, 10, 7, 17, -, 18, -, 16, -

Links and sources:
Thanks to Nigel.
Manel Navarro: Facebook
RTVE Eurovision pages and Eurovision Facebook
You can still listen to the 6 finalists of Objetivo Eurovision here.
Spains recent efforts: 20162015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Israel - I feel alive - Imri

Digital release image
23 - 39 pts /3 - 207 pts in semi 2
Imri Ziv (אימרי זיו) represented Israel in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest.

Sad news reached us that it's likely to be the last entry for Israel for some, as the national broadcaster IBA has been dismantled by the gouvernment.
Israel participated since 1973 and gave us many memorable entries including three winners with A Ba Ni Bi (1978), Halleluja (1979) and Diva (1998).
I hope, no, I'm sure, there will be a solution any time soon which will see Israel return to where it belongs, to the contest, cause we're family.
Thanks for all the great years.

The singer for Kyiv was be selected through the talent show The Next Star (HaKokhav HaBa, הכוכב הבא). (a.k.a. Rising Star)
The song I Feel Alive is written by Dolev Ram and Penn Hazut.
The official presentation was on March 13, the song is already here at Eurovision.tv.

I Feel Alive has been released on digital platforms. (Tedy music, later re-issued by Universal)
A 1-track promo cds has been issued and another (commercial?) edition has also been spotted. (see comments). The new edition has a sticker on the case and a different disc, pictures below.
A remix was revealed on April 20. (Listen at Imri's Vevo). It has been spotted on promo cds but has been confirmed as a fake / counterfeit disc.


Remix DRI
Versions
I feel alive - ESC/single version
- Kyiv 2CD
I feel alive - karaoke
- digital releases
I feel alive - Official remix by DJ PM and Tomer Maizner
- digital release


2nd digital release image
Links and sources
Thanks to Krzysztof and to Nigel.
Imri Ziv: Facebook
Rising Star Website (in Hebrew)
Israel's recent Eurovision entries are here: 20162015 2014 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009







1st issue disc
2nd issue disc

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Lithuania - Rain Of Revolution - Fusedmarc

Digital release image
17 - 42 pts in semi 2
Rain Of Revolution by Fusedmarc (it's a duo) is the Lithuanian entry for Kyiv.

The video of the live performance is here
The studio version was released digitally on March 29.

Fusedmarc currently are Cilia (Viktorija Ivanovskaja) and Vakx (Denisas Zujevas). They are an audiovisual electronic music 'project' formed in 2004 (as a trio with Stasys Žakas)
So far they have released one album/EP, Contraction from 2012.
The duo wrote Rain Of Revolution themselves with Michail Levin of alternative rockband Linchette Marcel.

Rain Of Revolution  has been released digitally, along with the karaoke version.


No physical single or promo was released but there was a pencil.

Versions
Rain of revolution - Eurovision version
- Kyiv 2CD
Rain of revolution - karaoke
- digital releases

51 songs were competing for the Lithuanian Eurovision ticket. Lithuania never disappoints when it comes to preselections. After four first rounds there were some semi's (I've lost count) and a final on March 11.
Image from Fusedmarcs facebook
Vilija Matačiūnaitė and Sasha Song tried to get to Eurovision for a second time.
Aminata (Of Latvia 2015 fame) also had a song in the competition. her I'm Like A Wolf was performed by Lithuanian preselection superstar that (still) never made it Aistė Pilvelytė and ended second.

Links and sources
Fusedmarc: Facebook
Listen to Contraction (at your own peril) at bandcamp
LRT Eurovision pages
Lithuania's recent Eurovision history: 20162015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Belarus - Historyja majho žyccia - NaviBand

New digital release image
17 - 83 pts /9 - 110 pts in semi 2
Naviband (a.k.a NAVI) from Minsk represented Belarus in Kyiv with their song Historyja Majho Žyccia (Гісторыя майго жыцця, Story of my life).
NAVI are Artem Lukyanenko and Ksenia Zhuk. (Артём Лукьяненко i Ксения Жук)
They wrote the song themselves.
It's the first time a song sung in the Belorussian language is entered for Eurovision.

The original version of the song was released on the album Illuminacija (see below).

A new edit is recorded for Eurovision, Listen here at Navibands Youtube.
The new version has been released as a digital single along with its karaoke version.
The new version has the subtitle Story Of My Life but you can rest assured, it's still in Belorussian.

A remix was released on March 28 and is available through your favorite digital outlet.
A live version recorded in 2017 was digitally released in 2022 (see versions below)

A promo cd in booklet is issued. It includes the Eurovision, instrumental and remix versions.

Watch the videoclip here

Illiuminacija
Naviband have also released their second album Illiuminacija (Иллюминация, Illumination) which includes their Eurovision entry.
You can listen to 7 (of the 8) tracks of the album at the duo's Soundcloud.
The band have also shared the instrumental version of the Eurovision entry.
A CD version of the album is available at the bands concerts and also here at Symbal.by.
I bought my copy at Symbal, it was delivered in a week and it's a bargain (€ 10 incl. postage).

Pic from Navibands Soundcloud
Navi already entered the Belorussian selection in 2016 when they ended 4th with Heta Zyamly (Гэта зямля, This land)

Versions
Historyja majho žyccia/Story of my life - Final version
digital release, Kyiv 2CD
Historyja majho žyccia/Story of my life - Final v. karaoke
- digital release
Historyja majho žyccia - Album version
- on album Illiuminacija
Historyja majho žyccia/Story of my life - Vitalio official remix
- digital release
Historyja majho žyccia - instrumental (of album version)
- Shared through Navibands facebook
Historyja majho žyccia (live at Laima Rendez-vous 2017
- digital, released in 2022.

album Illiuminacija
Links and sources
Thanks to Nigel!
Naviband: FacebookVKontakte, Soundcloud, Youtube
BT(TVR) Eurovision page, Youtube channel, ESC Facebook
More Belarus Eurovision entries are here: 20162015 - 20142013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009
You can still watch the 13 entrants of the 2017 National Final in this Youtube playlist.

Georgia - Keep the faith - Tamara Gachechiladze

11 - 99 pts in semi 1
Tamara (Tako) Gachechiladze (თაკო გაჩეჩილაძე) is the winner of the Georgian national final.
Her song is titled Keep The Faith and it was written by Tamara herself (at first).
Listen to the original studio version here at Soundcloud.
Promo
A second version was recorded for Eurovision with a little help of Anri Jokhadze of I'm A Joker fame (Georgia's song in 2012).
Jokhadze is now listed as the composer (also on the promo), so I don't know what happened there...

Digital release image
The ESC version was released to Spotify on March 29 and through digital stores on April 8.
She decided to use her name Tamara instead of Tako (the name she won the NF with).

A promo dvd-r is in gatefold sleeve is issued. It features the video in 4k picture quality.
(So no audio, it won't play in your CD player)

Tamara Gachechiladze is one of the 3 G as in Stephane & 3G, the band that won the 2009 Georgian final with their We Don't Wanna Put In. You know the story, they didn't go. (All about that here)

Georgia's National Final had 25 artists lined up, and not one of them named Sopho!. 25 songs in one night, jus' sayin' ! You can listen to the songs here at Eurovision Georgia.

Karaoke DRI
Versions
Keep the faith - Eurovision version
- digital release, Kyiv 2CD
Keep the faith - original
- soundcloud
Keep the faith - Eurovision karaoke
- digital release

Links and sources
Thanks to Şenol and to Nigel
Tamara's Facebook
Eurovision Georgia pages
The NF songs at soundcloud
Georgia's entries: 20162015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

Armenia - Fly With Me - Artsvik

Digital release image
18 - 79 pts /7- 152 pts in semi 1
Singer Artsvik (Artsvik Harutiunian,  Արծվիկ Հարությունյան) won the multi-episode casting show Depi Evratesil (to Eurovision) to secure the Armenian ticket to the Kyiv contest. 

The song, Fly With Me is written by  Lilit Navasardyan (a.k.a. Li'lith) and Levon Navasardyan who also wrote last years entry LoveWave.

Fly With Me was revealed on March 18.
The official video is here.

The song was released (with a karaoke version) on March 29.
A 1-track promo cds in card sleeve is issued.

Versions
Fly with me - ESC / single version
- Kyiv 2CD
Fly with me - karaoke
- digital releases

Links and sources
Thanks to Nigel!
Artsvik: Facebook, Website
Depi Evratesil Facebook
ARMTV Eurovision pages
More Armenia in Eurovision 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2011 - 2010 -
2009

Germany - Perfect Life - Levina

cdsingle
25 - 6 pts, not in semi 
The German ticket to Kyiv was won by Levina (Isabella Lueen). Her song Perfect Life won the German selection Unser Song 2017.
Perfect Life is written by Lindsey Ray, Lindy Robbins and Dave Bassett.

A videoclip was released on Februari 16. (Watch at Youtube)

A new mix / edit was released on the Eurovision 2CD and used at the contest.

Physical release
A Cdsingle with the original version is out since Februari 24.
It comes with a hand signed autograph card
(Unser Song Records/ Sony, 88985 19422 2)
the disc also includes her version of the other pre-selection song Wildfire.

A remix has also been released (on March 10). The Madizin Mix can be found at all your regular digital stores and is also included on Levina's album Unexpected.

Levina released her first single Rules in 2010 and her EP Bedroom Records in 2015.
She also did some vocals for club tracks like Fly by Patrick Hofmann and Mach Dich Bereit and Sex On The Beach by Hot Bananas.

Unexpected
Levina has released her album Unexpected on April 28. It includes Perfect Life (ESC version), Wildfire and the Madizin remix of Perfect Life. (Unser Song / Sony)
The original tracklist was a bit of clever fun, but the new tracklist is the real one, see at the end of this post.

Remix DRI
Versions
Perfect life - Eurovision version
- digital release, Kyiv 2CD, CD Unexpected
Perfect life - original
- cdsingle
Perfect life - karaoke (= instrumental of ESC version)
- digital release (official karaoke album)
Perfect life - Instrumental
- digital release
Perfect life - Madizin mix
- digital release, CD Unexpected

Charts
Germany Top 100: 28, - re: 88

First digital release image
5 X Perfect Life.
Five singers performed in the German final and all of them have recorded and released the same two songs, Wildfire and Perfect Life.
Not all artists performed both songs in the three round race, but they all released their versions.
So we already have four coverversions of this years German entry. Sort of.
Instrumental versions of all tracks have also been made available.
The singers are Axel Feige, Yosefin, Helene Nissen and Felicia Lu.







Coverversion
A coverversion in Afrikaans was released by South African singer Karin Bekker.
Find out more here at Eurocovers.

Links and sources
Levina: Website,  Facebook
ARD's Unser Song pages
Thanks to Alexandre
German entries from recent years: 20162015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

Coverversion
German acoustic rock singer Meg Pfeiffer recorded an acoustic version of both Perfect Life and Wildfire for her digital EP Perfect Life (ESC Convention & Acoustic-Edition) which also includes a cover of the Italian entry.

Unexpected Tracklist
1. The current
2. Echo
3. Perfect Life (ESC Version)
4. Nothing more beautiful
5. Wildfire
6. Ordinary people
7. Love me all the time
8. Run on you
9. Stop right there
10. Courage to say goodbye
11. One in a million
12. Nothing at all
13. Perfect Life (Madizin Mix)

The provisional tracklist looked like this.
1. That Is
2. What You Call A
3. Perfect Life (ESC Version)
4. I Run Through The
5. Wildfire
6. I've Been Walking Asleep
7. Dreaming Awake
8. Finding I Bend but I Don't Break
9. I'm Almost a Sinner
10. Nearly a Saint
11. I'm Not Afraid of Making Mistakes
12. That's What You Call
13. Perfect Life (Madizin Mix)