Estonia - What Love Is - Uku Suviste

Uku Suviste is the winner of Eesti Laul 2020. His song What Love Is is written by Uku himself with Sharon Vaughn.
Uku has a ticket to the next Eesti Laul selection, more about that here at Rotterdam 2021.

The song was released as a digital single on December 3.
A karaoke version was released on March 3.
Here's the official video

Uku performed a version in Estonian on daytime TV show  Ringvaade.
Here's the video with interview, The Estonian version starts at 7:58. Well worth recording and releasing....

Songwriter Sharon Vaughn also co-wrote this years Greek entry and the Russian entry from last year.
She also has her name on Waterline by Jedward.
She's an American born songwriter, now residing in Sweden who has been active since the early 70's.
Many of the Country music greats have songs by her in their discography but also popstars like Boyzone, September, Delta Goodrem, Alcazar and many more.

Estonia's Eesti Laul final was on February 29 with two semi's on 13 and 15 February.
You can listen to all the songs (24) on the Eurolaul pages (scroll a bit, player on the right)
Among the contestants was Laura who we know from Suntribe (2005) and Verona with Koit Toome. (2017).

Versions
What Love Is - original single version
What Love Is - karaoke
- digital releases
- karaoke also on the official karaoke album (digital)

Links and sources
ERR Eurolaul pages, 2021
Uku Suviste Website, FB

Greece - Superg!rl - Stefania

Digital release image from Stefania's Facebook

Stefania Liberakakis (Στεφανία Λυμπερακάκη) was chosen to sing for Greece in Rotterdam.
Her song, Superg!rl, is written by Dimitris Kontopoulis, Arcade and Sharon Vaughn.
(Arcade are Pavlos Manolis, Anastasios Rammos, Diverno and Gabriel Russell)
She will represent Greece in the next Eurovision Song Contest with the song Last Dance.

Remix

The song was released on March 1. Here's the official video.
The so called Eurovision Remix was released on May 18. Here's a video.

Stefania was a member of the group Kisses who sang Kisses And Dancin' at the 2016 Junior Eurovision Song Contest representing the Netherlands and finishing 8th.

Songwriters
Songwriter Dimitris Kontopoulos wrote 12 Eurovision entries including this year's Moldovan entry.
You can find the full list in the Moldova 2020 section.
Sharon Vaughn also wrote a few, details are at the Estonia 2020 section (she co-wrote that one too)

Versions
Superg!rl
- Official 2CD
Superg!rl - Eurovision remix
- digital release
Superg!rl - karaoke
- digital releases, karaoke first at Apple only 

- karaoke also on the official karaoke album (digital)

Links and sources

Picture from Stefania's Facebook

Stefania FB (Dutch), Website, 2021
Thanks to Krzysztof

Poland - Empires - Alicja Szemplińska

Empires by Alicja Szemplińska was the Polish entry for 2020. Alicja just got her breath back after winning The Voice Poland in November.
Empires is written by Patryk Kumór, Dominic Buczkowski-Wojtaszek, Laurell Barker and Frazer Mac.
Here's a live performance and the official video.

The song was released as a digital single on February 23, the day of the National Final.
The official video was revealed on March 10.
The video version is different from the single version with a completely different ending, just like performed in the Polish NF. (see comments, Thanks Krzysztof)

It's the single version that ended up on the official 2CD, but the karaoke album has the NF/Videoclip arrangement.

Szansa Na Sukces
Poland selected their entry through Szansa Na Sukces, a multi week contest weeding out the lesser vocalists through the medium of coverversions.
Three singers remained and they performed Eurovision winners and potential 2020 Eurovision entries.

The three songs were:

Albert Černý z Lake Malawi - Lucy

Alicja Szemplińska - Empires
Kasia Dereń - Count on me (The Polish version is titled Ufaj mi)
The winning song is the only one that was not released before the final.

Versions
Empires - single version
- on the official 2CD
Empires - karaoke (of the video version)

- on the official karaoke album (digital)

Empires - video version
- video

A Ukrainian (cover) version of Empires by Vasya Boykova was released on April 24.

Alicja's single Prawie My from The Voice of Poland

Links and sources
Alicja Szemplińska FB

Norway - Attention - Ulrikke Brandstorp

Digital release image

Attention by Ulrikke Brandstorp is the winner of anniversary Melodi Grand Prix and was the entry intended for the Rotterdam contest.
The song is written by Christian Ingebrigtsen, Kjetil Mørland and Ulrikke Brandstorp.
The digital single was released on January 31.
An Acoustic live performance version was released as a digital single on February 7.
The Klaas remix was released on May 15 (digital, along with the original again)

Ulrikke will not be returning to the 2021 MGP, but some other well known Eurovision stars are! Find out more here at Rotterdam 2021.

Watch and listen: MGP winner performance, Acoustic performance

Remix May 15

Versions
Attention - single version
- Official 2CD
Attention - Acoustic live performance
- digital release
Attention - Klaas Remix
- digital release
Attention - karaoke

- on the official karaoke album (digital)

Charts
Norway VG Lista top 40: 7, 3, 10, 13, 22, 31, 37, -

Acoustic single DRI

Norway is celebrating. 60 years ago Nora Brockstedt was the first to sing for the country in the Eurovision Song Contest in London. Her uplifting Norwegian classic Voi Voi ended 4th.
For the joyous occasion this years preselection Melodi Grand Prix had five pre-rounds with a final on February 15.
Five songs by invited artists were already selected for the final and each pre-round delivered another finalist
All participating songs were released before each round (Plus 1 sure finalist)
You can listen to the songs at the NRK MGP pages or if you search for MGP 2020 on Spotify you'll find a playlist with the same songs. (or see below player)

Didrik Solli-Tangen was one of the artists straight to the final. He entered for Norway in 2010. This time he took his brother Emil with him.

From Eurocovers

Links and sources
NRK MGP pages, 2021
Ulrikke FB, Website (new)

France - The Best In Me - Tom Leeb

Tom Leeb was to represent France in the Rotterdam Eurovision Song Contest.
His song The Best In Me is sung in French and English.

The song is composed by Peter Boström en Tomas G:son with lyrics by Tom Leeb, Amir Haddad, John Lundvik and Léa Ivanne.

The new version image April 3

Album re-issue May 15, digital

iTunes/Applemusic New Zealand released the song on the right date, but forgot about the planned reveal and the time difference, oh well....

A new version titled Mon Alliée (The best in me) was recorded for the contest, this one was released on April 3.
On May 15 Leeb's album Recollection was re-released with a new version of The Best In Me (fully in English) and the ESC version included. No physical release though....

His style can be describes as Singer-Songwriter with a hint of Americana.
Tom Leeb is a comedian, actor and singer who has released two albums to date.
- Tom Leeb (mini album from 2018)
- Recollection (September 2019)
So far all his released songs have been in English. Both albums have been released on CD as well as digital.

Tom Leeb will not be returning to the 2021 contest. There's a new 12 song preselection for France. More about that here.

Versions
Mon Alliée (The best in me) - Eurovision version
- official 2CD
The Best In Me - single version
- first digital release
The Best In Me - album version in English
- digital album Recollection (re-issue)
Mon Alliée (The best in me) - karaoke
- on the official karaoke album (digital)

Charts
Ifop French top 200: 37, 188, -

Links and sources
Tom Leeb Website, FB

France 2021

Belgium - Release Me - Hooverphonic

Digital Release Image

Belgium was the first country to announce their artist for the Rotterdam contest. It's Hooverphonic, the critically acclaimed band that was founded in 1995.
Currently the band is Alex Callier, Raymond Geerts (both original members) and singer Luka Cruysberghs.

The song Release Me was revealed and released on February 17.
Here's the official video

Hooverphonic will enter the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest with a new song and a different singer.

Remixes
Three remixes of Release Me were released on May 15 (digital)
- Shades of green dark matter mix
- Shades of green dark radio edit
- Shades of green Triphop mix

Remixes March 15

Release Me is written by Alex Callier and Luca Chiaravalli.
Alec Callier was one of the writers of the 2018 Belgian entry A Matter Of Time by Sennek which unfortunately didn't make it to the final.
Luca Chiaravalli already worked with Hooverphonic since 2010 .
We also know him as co-writer for Occidentali's Karma (Italy 2017)
He wrote and produced for many Italian stars including Eurovision alumni Il Volo, Emma Marone and Anna Oxa.

Versions
Release me - single version
- official 2CD
Release me - karaoke (= instrumental)
- on the official karaoke album (digital)
Release me - Shades of green dark matter mix
Release me - Shades of green dark radio edit
Release me - Shades of green Triphop mix
- digital releases


Charts
Belgium Flemish Charts: 28, 21, 31, 27, 45, 40, -

Who's yer 'phonic?
Hooverphonic started out in the Trip Hop era but later on their orchestral arrangements created a more film-score sound. They also dabbled in some psychedelica and retro-pop.
But really, they're hard to put a label on, which is good of course.
The scored 35 top 100 hits in Belgium and a few made it to other charts (5 in Italy!).
Mad About You (2000) is probably their most known song from the early era.
In 2015 they scored a #3 hit with Badaboum. Sadly not a cover of the Minouche Barelli classic but it features Émilie Satt of Madame Monsieur fame.

2018 CD Looking for Stars

They have release almost 20 albums, the latest being Looking For Stars with current singer Luka, which is their 14th top 10 album in the Belgian charts.
Looking For Stars is released on CD, LP and cassette. It includes the top 20 hits Romantic and Uptight and their latest single Horrible Person.
If you want a brief history of the first 20 years you can check out the 2018 compilation album Hooverphonic Top 40 (2CD) or 2016 collection The Best Of Hooverphonic (2CD/3LP)


Links and sources
Hooverphonic Website, FB, 2021

Serbia - Hasta La Vista - Hurricane

New single version March 6

Trio Hurricane are the winners of Beovizija 2020 and would have represented Serbia with the song Hasta La Vista.

The song is written by Nemanja Antonić, Kosana Stojić and Sanja Vučić.

Hurricane will be back for the 2021 contest with their own Beovizija selection. 

Here's their 2021 page.

Hasta La Vista was released as a digital single on February 7 but withdrawn in some digital stores.
The original song can still be found on the digital Beovizija 2020 album, only on Spotify though. (Thanks Daniel!)

A second version was made and can be heard in the official video (also see comments).
A third version was released as a digital single on March 6. Thanks Frank!
Here's the official video with 2nd version.
The English version was revealed on May 5. Here's the video, also released through the usual digital stores and streamers.

Live Music Week

A (digital) live album recorded at the Belgrade Music Festival (august 2021) was released on Januari 18, 2022. It features Hasta La Vista in a medley with Avantura.

The album also includes a live version of Loco Loco the song that made it to Rotterdam in 2021.

1st Digital release image

Hurricane are Sanja Vučić, Ivana Nikolić en Ksenija Knežević.
The girls got together in 2017 and have released some successful songs since then.
Their Favorito clocked over 45.000.000 youtube views.
The perform and record in Serbian and English.
We know Sanja Vučić from the 2016 contest when she finished 18th in the final with Goodbye (Shelter).
Ksenija Knežević also has a little Eurovision experience, she was a backing vocalist for her dad, Knez, who finished 13th for Montenegro in 2015.



Versions
Hasta La Vista - new single version version
, digital release
Hasta La Vista - new version (2nd version)
- videoclip
Hasta La Vista - original
- spotify only Beovizija digital album
Hasta La Vista - English version (original version mix)
- video, 
Hasta La Vista - English version (single version mix)
- digital release
Hasta La Vista - karaoke (single version mix)
- on the official karaoke album (digital)

Hasta La Vista / Avantura (live)

- Digital album Music Week Live (2022)

Beovizija 2020
Serbia had 24 songs lined up for you to listen to.
The contest was held on three consecutive days.
The first semi  on February 28, the 2nd a day later. The final  on March 1.
Hurricane won with the maximum points from both juries and televote.
The album with all songs can be found on Spotify (only).

Semi final 1 songs / Semi final 2 songs
You can finds all song clips and the full shows here at RTS-Planeta

Links and sources
RTS Eurovision pages, FB
Hurricane  Website, FB, 2021

Cyprus - Running - Sandro Nicolas

digital single March 7

Sandro Nicolas was chosen as the singer for Cyprus in the 2020 contest.
His song titled Running is written by Alfie Arcuri, Sebastian Rickards, Octavian Rasinariu, Teo DK and Sandro himself.
The song was released on March 7.
Here's the video

Sandro will noit be returning for the 2021, wanna find out who is?

An acoustic version was released on April 13.
It doesn't show up easy on Spotify (there's loads of Sandro's it seems) but if you search for Sandro Running Acoustic you'll find it.
I guess they thought the first DRI (Digital Release Image) was a bit boring so there's a new one now (Thanks Krzysztof)

2nd DRI of the acoustic version

Sandro Nicolas (Σάντρο Νικόλα, real name Alessandro Rütten) was a contestant in Das Supertalent (Germany got talent, 2015), The Voice Of Germany (2018) and in Russian international talent show New Wave (representing the U.S.!).
He has so far released one (digital) single, In My Blood, a coverversion of the massive Shawn Mendes hit  which Sandro performed in his The Voice auditions.

1st Acoustic version image

Versions
Running - single version
- Official 2CD
Running - acoustic
- digital releases
Running - karaoke

- on the official karaoke album (digital)

Links and sources
Sandro Nicolas Instagram

Cyprus 2021
Thanks to Rick!

Malta - All Of My Love - Destiny Chukunyere

Malta was to be represented in Rotterdam by Destiny Chukunyere.
She won the X-Factor Malta 19/20 and secured her ticket to Eurovision.
The song All Of My Love was presented on March 9.

X-Factor picture taken from Destiny's Facebook

The song is written by Bernarda Brunovic, Borislav Milanov, Sebastian Arman, Dag Lundberg, Joacim Persson and Cesar Sampson.

Here's the official video
The song was finally released on April 28.
It also lists B-OK (=Boris Milanov) as performer. B-OK also features on the German entry of this year.

Destiny will be back for Rotterdam 2021 and she has her own new page at the 2021 Collection.

Of course Destiny is no stranger, she won the 2015 Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Sofia, Bulgaria with Not My Soul.
She also was a backing vocalist for the Maltese 2019 entry Chameleon by Michela Pace.

Versions
All Of My Love
- Official 2CD
All Of My Love - karaoke

- on the official karaoke album (digital)

Links and sources
Destiny's FB (new link/account), 2021
X-Factor Malta FB
Thanks Krzysztof!

Netherlands - Grow - Jeangu Macrooy

Artwork for the single, Photo by Anton Corbijn, taken from pre-order

Jeangu Macrooy is representing the Netherlands in the next Eurovision Song Contest. Confirmed!
The song for 2020 was Grow is written by Macrooy himself. It was presented on March 4.
It was released on the same day through the usual digital stores and streamers.

Two live recordings were released through the digital sources on May 1.
Here's the official video

Jeangu will be back for the 2021 contest with a new song.

Macrooy's style is described as Nu Soul but has elements of Jazz and Pop.
His 2017 single High On You was a #1 hit in Suriname (his birth country)

Live versions release image

Jeangu Macrooy released two handful of singles and four albums so far:
- Brave enough (2016 mini album, digital only)
- High on you (2017, LP and CD)
- Horizon (2019, LP and CD)
- Live (2019, digital only)

Versions
Grow - single version
- Official 2CD
Grow - Live acoustic at Concertgebouw Amsterdam
Grow - Live with band at Ahoy Amsterdam
- digital releases
Grow - karaoke

- on the official karaoke album (digital)

Charts
Dutch top 100: 48, 77, 88, 99, -
Dutch top 40: 30, 29, 40, -

2019 album Horizon

Links and sources:
Jeangu Macrooy Website, FB, 2021

Israel - Feker Libi - Eden Alene

Single digital release image

Israel chose Eden Alene (עדן אלנה‎) who won her Eurovision ticket by winning the Rising Star contest.
Eden's Eurovision 2020 song was Feker Libi (My love) written by Doron Medalie and Idan Raichel.
The song is performed in English with parts in Amharic, Hebrew and Arabic.

ፍቅር ልቤ (Amharic) אהוב ליבי (Hebrew) حبيب قلبي (Arabic)

Here's a performance video

Eden Alene will represent Israel in the next Eurovision Song Contest. She has her own preselection show, more about that here at Rotterdam 2021.

The digital EP with four songes was released on February 27. A single version was released seperately on March 3.  This version is slightly different from the original (most noticable at 1:24, one has a flute, the other has not, thanks Rick!)
However it seems that Spotify has replaced the original EP version with the new version (in the EP release), not sure about any of the other digital sources

A remix by Yinon Yahel and Mor Avrahami was released on April 29.

Composer's Corona version

Composer version
Idan Raichel has released his own version of the song tying in with the current Corona virus.
The song is out now (since March 29) and the full title is Feker Libi (Corona Quarantine)

The song selection took place on March 3. There were four songs in the competition.
You can still listen to the four songs here or find them here or Spotify (Thanks Rick!)

Eden Alene won the 2017/2018 edition of X-factor Israel and released a few digital singles including a coverversion of Brotherhood Of Man's Save Your Kisses For Me, the 1976 Eurovision winner. (Listen to that here)

השיר הבא לארוויזיון

Versions
Feker Libi - Eurovision version
- official 2CD
Feker Libi - first version
- first digital EP release
Feker Libi - Yinon Yahel and Mor Avrahami remix
- digital release
Feker Libi (Corona Quarantine) - composer version
Feker Libi (Hevi Levi remix) - composer version remix
- Idan Raichel (עידן רייכל) digital release
Feker Libi - karaoke

- on the official karaoke album (digital)

Links and sources
Eden Alene FB, 2021