Sunday, May 21, 2017

The Kyiv Bonus Entertainment

DRI Vidlik EP by Onuka
Openings and intervals are an integral part of the Eurovision experience, but most of the time I notice them only when rewatching the events as on the night it’s the time for pooring drinks, totting up votes and topping up the peanut bowls.

These are this years interval acts that have their music released for the public. All are for sale through the digital stores, although not in all territories. And you can Spotify them. I've even made a playlist so you don't have to, scroll to end of this post.

Semi 1 was opened by Monatik (Монатік) who performed his song Spinning. The track was released on May 9 through your favorite digital stores.
The track was originally released in its original version Кружит (Kruzhit, Circles) in 2016 on the album звучит (Zvuchit, Sounds). The album was also released on CD.

Jamala and DakhaBrakha, from Jamala's facebook
Jamala
Jamala gave us a new version of 1944 in the interval of Semi 1. This Symphonic version was released as a digital track. The other song she performed, Заманили (Zamanyly, Lured , seduced),  is a digital single from 2016.
The track was originally released by Jamala with DakhaBrakha (ДахаБраха). DakhaBrakha are a world music quartet from Kyiv.
I think it was quite rude not to credit DakhaBrakha on the night, as it’s their joint version you hear at the interval.
Anyway, it was the best Jamala performance of the contest and the song has been released in two versions (digital).
Jamala’s third song was I Believe In U, which was performed in the Final Interval. This was released as a digital single on May 14.

Ruslana
Ruslana, the winner of the 2004 contest, also appeared in the Final. She performed her new song It’s Magical.
The song has been released on May 14 in its English and Ukrainian (Я Люблю) versions.
In Kyiv Ruslana performed a bi-lingual version

Pic stolen from Instarix
Onuka
By far my favorite bonus act was Onuka. They performed a medley of songs with the National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments of Ukraine.
The songs included Other and Vidlik (the one with the words in the background) both to be found on the 2016 EP Vidlik. The Vidlik EP was released digitally but also as a white vinyl 12”inch.
First part Misto / Around Me and last part Untitled (where we begin) can be be found (as seperate tracks) on their 2014 album Onuka, which is well worth checking out too.
I hadn't heard of Onuka before the contest, but I'll be checking them out if there's new work. They're all I wanted Fusedmarc to be (and I really tried...)
Vidlik could benefit from a stunning remix though, as the original studio version may be a bit too hardcore for the dancefloor.

Verka Serduchka
There was no escaping Verka Serduchka and her Mamma, and rightfully so. But business is business and the digital compilation The Best Of Verka Serduchka was released to coincide with the contest.
This digital collection includes a 2015 mix of the 2007 entry Dancing Lasha Tumbai. It’s very similar to some of the old versions but with a few new sounds here and there.




Thursday, May 11, 2017

Denmark - Where I Am - Anja Nissen

Digital release image
20 - 77 pts /10 - 101 pts in semi 2
Anja Nissen won the Danish Melodi Grand Prix 2017 and she took her song Where I Am to the final in Kyiv.
Where I Am is written by Anja Nissen herself, Angel Tupai and Michael D'Arcy.
The song has been released on the digital album Melodi Grand Prix 2017.
It's also out as a digital single. (ABC/Universal)

7th Heaven have remixed the song, the remix is available through the CD Pool DJ service only.
But you can have a listen here.

A 6-track EP including Where I Am is released on may 5.

Where I Am (MGP performance Youtube)

Anja Nissen is an Australian singer from Danish parentage, so it's no surprise she entered the Australian edition of The Voice (3rd series, 2014).
She won the whole thing with a little help from coach Will.I.Am.
Nissen is no stranger to talent shows and contests, at 12 years old she entered Australia Got talent and made it to the semi finals.

EP DRI
Anja has released one album so far, the self titled record included songs performed on The Voice and some other coverversions.
In 2016 Anja Nissen ended 2nd in the Danish MGP with the Emmelie De Forrest penned Never Alone.

DMGP
10 songs competed for the ticket to Ukraine.
You can listen to the songs here at DR or here at DR's Youtube.
The songs have been released through iTunes, no info on a CD release.

Versions
Where I am - DMGP/ESC version
- digital release, Kyiv 2CD
Where I am - karaoke
- digital release (official karaoke album)
Where I am - 7th Heaven remix(es)
- CD POOL DJ Pack May 2017 (digital release, subscribers only)




Links and sources
Anja Nissen: Website, Facebook
DR DMGP pages
More about Denmarks recent entries: 20162015 - 2014 - 2013 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

Australia - Don't Come Easy - Isaiah

cd single
9 - 173 pts /6 - 160 pts in semi 1
Isaiah Firebrace represented Australia with the song Don't Come Easy.
The song is written by David Musumeci and Anthony Egizii (DNA songs) who also wrote last years entry for Dami Im.
Firebrace is the winner of X-Factor Australia 2016.
His most recent single It's Gotta Be You was a reasonable hit in the charts of Australia, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands.

A 1 track cdsingle is released on March 17 (see comments)
(Sony Music Australia  88985429332).
It's now available at Bearecords. (here).

The Eurovision song has been released as a digital single worldwide (Sony)
The karaoke version released with the single track (digital) is instrumental whereas the karaoke on the official karaoke album has backing vocals. (see comments)

Watch and listen here at SBS.

7th Heaven Remix DRI
7th Heaven have remixed the song and the remix has been released digitally. You can listen at Isaiah's Vevo/Youtube

Versions
Don't come easy - single/esc version
- cdsingle, Kyiv 2CD
Don't come easy - karaoke
- digital release (official karaoke album)
Don't come easy - karaoke (= instrumental)
- digital release (single)
Don't come easy - 7th heaven remix
-  digital release

Afrikaans cover DRI
Charts
Australia top 100: 69
Sweden top 100: 50, 98

Coverversion
South African singer Hanco recorded an Afrikaans version Dis Nie Maklik Nie (It's not easy). Released on February 9 2018, out now through mosts digital sources.
Hanco Facebook


Debut album Isaiah
Links and sources
Thanks to Alexandre, to Krzysztof and to Paul
Isaiah at Bearecords
Isaiah: WebsiteFacebook
Australia's Eurovision Historette: 2016 - 2015
Eurovision baby Australia impressed with its first steps, will they take it one step further in Kyiv?

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

The 2017 Musthave: The KYIV ESCZine


The Handbook For Kyiv
Like every year, OGAE have published their yearly guide to the Eurovision Song Contest.
If you just get one Eurovision publication this year, this is the one worth getting.

The 160-page, A5 size handbook is wonderful guide to all the artists and songs of this years contest.
It has background stories of all the participating artists and the National Selections that were held this year. All is illustrated with pictures of the artists. 
The foreword is by Jon Ola Sand.

Special thanks to Ivor Lyttle.

ESC-zine website
The 160 page booklet is also available here through BeaRecords.

Contact your local OGAE club: List of OGAE NationalFan Clubs.

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Serbia - In Too Deep - Tijana Bogićević

Picture from RTS press message
11 - 98 pts in semi 2
Serbia celebrated 10 years of Eurovision in Kyiv with Tijana Bogićević (Тијана Богићевић).
Tijana's song In Too Deep is written bij Borislav Milanov, Bo Persson, Johan Alkenas and Lisa Ann-Mari Linder.

The official video is here at Eurovision.tv's Youtube

You can download the song and the instrumental and karaoke versions here at OGAE Serbia. They are available as mp3 and as wave files.
A Serbian version titled Tvoja is also uploaded. It has a different (ballad) arragement.
All downloads are free and legal, thank you RTS and OGAE Serbia!

All released versions can now be found at your favorite digital stores

For Kyiv promotion a USB stick was issued.

Versions
In too deep - ESC/single version
- website download, digital release, Kyiv 2CD
In too deep - Instrumental
- has been available on website
In too deep - karaoke
- digital release (official karaoke album)
Tvoja / Твоја - Serbian ballad version
- digital release
all at OGAE Serbia (downloads)

Digital release image
Tijana recorded a version of In Too Deep with American singer Sing Sing (Marc Robertson).
I don't know if it ever will be released but you can watch a video here.

Tijana Bogićević (Тијана Богићевић) tried to get to Eurovision in 2009, but she got stuck in the semi-final of Beovizija, the Serbian selection for Eurovision.
She was a backing vocalist for Nina, the Serbian singer in Düsseldorf (2011)

Links and sources: 
Tijana Bogićević: Facebook
RTS Eurovision pages
The recent entries of Serbia are here: 20162015 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

Monday, May 1, 2017

Montenegro - Space - Slavko Kalezić

16 - 56 pts in semi 1
RTCG chose Slavko Kalezić as the singer for Montenegro in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. The song, written by Momčila Zekovića and Adis Eminić, is titled Space.
The song was revealed on March 10 and released as a digital single on March 18

Official video here at Eurovision.tv
promo cds
RTCG have issued a promo cd-rom with Space plus the karaoke and instrumental versions and the videoclip. (see versions below for details).
The disc also includes the video.

A remix by Marko Drežnjak is on soundcloud for a free download (click ...more and choose download). It's a wave file (so it's huge) but I guess you can convert that yourself to mp3.

Slavko's first shot at fame was when he participatated in X-Factor Adria. He was chosen by coach Željko Joksimović but failed to reach the final stages of the show. 
(The competition was eventually won by Daniel Kajmakoski)
He has released several singles and the album San O Vječnosti (2014)

Digital release image
Versions
Space - Eurovision / single version
Space - karaoke (= instrumental)
Space - Winter instrumental
- all on promo cds
Space - karaoke (with backing vocals)
- digital release (with the single)
Space - remix by Marko Drežnjak
- soundcloud
The official karaoke album has the instrumental version (not the karaoke with b-vox)
The Winter instrumental is a slow version with piano.

Picture taken from Slavko's Facebook

Album  San O Vječnosti
Links and sources
‎Thanks to Krzysztof 
Slavko Kalezić Facebook
RTCG
Montenegro in Eurovision 20162015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2009