The Interval Act - Madcon - Glow

You've all seen the fab flash mob / living room dancing interval production of this years contest.

The song they were all dancing to was by Glow by Madcon, who also appeared themselves.

Like the big hits of this year (Tom !, Jessy !!, Lena !!!) Glow is storming the charts in Europe.

A 2 track cdsingle is released in Germany on Columbia (77492129).
It features the radio edit and extended version of Glow.

update: Glow is also included on the new Madcon CD Contraband, out 01-11-10 (Cosmos/Bonnier Amigo)
The Norwegian duo had a huge hit in 2009 with their cover of the Four Seasons hit Beggin' and released three albums.

You can see the clip of the interval at Madcons Norwegian homepage.
The Glow track is out on cdsingle in Germany (and...?) on all your digital outlets now.

11 Russia - Lost And Forgotten - Peter Nalitch

11 - 90 pts /  7 - 74 pts in semi 1

Peter Nalitch (Петр Налич) and Friends won the Russian preselection with the song Lost And Forgotten.
You can now download the song at the Peter Nalitch website.
The Eurovision version is on the official CD ♫

An unplugged version can now be heard at Peter Nalitch website  The unplugged version is still at YouTube here.
A promo cds has Lost And Forgotten and 6 other songs. You can download all tracks at Peter Nalitch homepage (under music)

PAY AS YOU GO
update: You can now listen to the tracks of Nalitch new album Jolly Baburi (Vesyoliye Baburi / Весёлые Бабури) at this page of the Peter Nalitch Website.
There's an option to download the full album (under ЦЕΛИКОМ) and if you like it, then click the ААТЬ АЕНЕГ link (bottom left) to pay for the album.
You can decide the amount yourself and can pay with either Rubels, Euro's or Dollars. (Through creditcard or Paypal)

The Jolly Barburi album has 20 tracks including Lost and Forgotten.

It should be out on CD in Russia now. It don't know if it hit the shops already, but it's also available at Peter Nalitch gigs.

You can catch Peter Nalitch in Germany and Austria later this summer:
July 31 - in Lorach (Germany) at the Stimmen Festival
August 1 - in Krems and der Donau (Austria) at the Glatt und Verkehrt festival


Peter Nalitch homepage
Peter Nalitch MySpace
Lyrics of Lost And Forgotten at Peter Nalitch forum.
Russia in Eurovision 2009

12 France - Allez Ola Olé - Jessy Matador

12 - 82 pts / not in semi
Frances Eurovision song Allez Ola Olé by Jessy Marador is a clever tie-in with the 2010 South Africa Football World Cup, but it contrary to previous announcements is not the official French world cup theme.
The song is written by Hugues Ducamin and Jacques Ballue.
The version performed at Eurovision has a different arrangement which is not on any of the recordings below.

A cdsingle is released on Wagram on the 25th of May. (Wagram 3219255)
The cdsingle includes two versions of the song and the videoclip.
Allez Ola Olé - radio edit ♫
Allez Ola Olé - radio edit electro

cdsingle

5-track promo image

Elektro Soukouss
Matadors new album Elektro Soukouss is out June 14 on Wagram music (B111935020).

Other remixes have been recorded and distributed to djs on a 5-track promo by Music Media Consulting, no other release details.
Allez Ola Olé - Kework and Cocozza Rmx
Allez Ola Olé - Afro Mix
Allez Ola Olé - Techno Mix

Digital release image remix 2014

2014
A new remix by Bodybangers was released in 2014. It was released digitally but 1-track promos have turned up as well. (Wagram Music)
The original radio edit and the Bodybangers remix can also be found on Matadors 2014 hits album 100% show. It was released on 24-11 through Wagram Music.

Versions
Allez Ola Olé - radio edit ♫
Allez Ola Olé - radio edit electro
- both on cds
Allez Ola Olé - Kework and Cocozza Rmx
Allez Ola Olé - Afro Mix
Allez Ola Olé - Techno Mix
- all above on Music Media Consulting promo
Allez Ola Olé - Bodybangers remix 2014
- digital release and CD 100% Show

Charts
France top 100: 11, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 11, 12, 12, 13, 14, 15, 15, 18, 21, 23, 28, 31, 32, 29, 33, 40, 52, -
Norway top 20: 18, 5, -
Belgium FL top 50: 17, 5, 7, 8, 6, 6, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 16, 17, 23, 32, 44, -
Belgium WA top 40: 13, 24, 31, -, 33, 30, 23, 23, 26, 28, 27, -, 34, 42, -
Finland top 20: 7, 9, -
Sweden top 60: 54, 34, 51, -
Ireland top 50: 39, -
U.K. top 100: 81, -
Denmark top 40: 30, -
Germany top 100: 17, 21, 19, 20, 21, 25, 27, 30, ?, ? 60, 75, 86, -
Switzerland top 75: 69, 59, 61, 63, 65, 71, 71, -
Austria top 75: 65, 68, -
French chart history is patchy and not well documented, but Allez Ola Olé is the first ever #1 for a Eurovision entry in France since the (current) official sales charts were introduced in 1984.

Watch the official video at the Wagram Youtube channel.

Paris born Jessy Matadors parents are from the Democratic Republic Of Congo. He scored two hits in the French top 20. Décalé Qwada (with his band La Sélésao, 2008) and Mini Kawoulé (2009). Both songs can be found on Jessy Matadors debut album Afrikan New Style.

Jessy Matador MySpace

France in 2009

Allez Allo Amai

Belgian MNM radio DJ Sofie van Moll has adopted and adapted the Jessy Matador hit for her morning radio show. The song is used to wake up kids at summer camps (or something).

You can download her version at the MNM website (search for Sofie van Moll)

source: Eurosong be, MNM 

A cheap cover of Allez Ola Olé by the aptly titled DJ Team can be found on the CD Hit Dance Club vol. 38. (Stick Music)

13 Serbia - Ovo Je Balkan - Milan Stanković

13 - 72 pts / 5 - 79 pts in semi 1
Serbia have chosen: Milan Stanković will perform Ovo Je Balkan (This is the Balkans) in Oslo. Read more about the songwriter Goran Bregović below.
Ово је Балкан - Милан Станковић

Several versions will be recorded, the Spanish version Balcañeros is already on YouTube

Listen and Watch the three final songs here at RTS.

Advance promos are 1 track cdsingle, home made style in a printed sleeve (pictured) with the original Serbian version.
The Oslo promo cdsingle has 4 versions
Ovo Je Balkan - Serbian ♫
Balcañeros - Spanish
Ovo Je Balkan - Karaoke
Ovo Je Balkan - Instrumental

Remixes have been issued on a cd-r given away at the contest. So far they haven't been officially released.
Ovo Je Balkan - Club mix
Balcañeros - Club mix
RTS have asked Goran Bregović to write the Serbian entry for Oslo.

Update 2012: Gypsy Kings Balkaneros

Composer Goran Bregović has finally released his new album Champagne For Gypsies on which he works with several artists including the Gypsy Kings.

One of the tracks is Balkañeros, a 'cover' of the Spanish version of Ovo Je Balkan.
The album is out on September 27 and an accompanying tour takes Bregović to The Netherlands, Germany and France in October and to Italy, Russia and Lithuania in December.

A taster clip of the Gypsy Kings-Bregović Balkañeros meeting is here.
The album and track were already announced in October 2011 on the Warner Music Youtube channel. They featured the audio in full (but I missed it back then)


The Composer
Goran Bregović has released many albums starting in the 70's with his bands Beštije, Kodeksi, Jutro and Beijelo Dugme. He delivered songs for soundtracks

He has worked with international artists like Iggy Pop, Scott Walker, Césaria Évora, Sezen Akzu (Turkey), Kayah (Poland), Eurovision singer Ofra Haza (Israel), George Dalaras (Greece) and many others. His main orchestra is the Weddings And Funerals Orchestra which can rage from 10 to 40 musicians.

Just last year a Best Of CD Welcome to Goran Bregović was released on which you can find many highlights from his career, including songs with some of other the above artists.

Eurovision met Goran Bregović in 2008 at the Belgrade contest where he performed in the interval of the final.

RTS Eurovision pages (new link)
Goran Bregović home
Serbia in 2009

14 Israel - Milim - Harel Skaat

14 - 71 pts / 8 - 71 pts in semi 2

IBA (Israeli TV) have selected Harel Skaat (הראל סקעת) to to be their representative in Oslo. The song Milim (Words) is chosen in the four-song national final (K'dam).
Ther winning song is written by Tomer Hadadi and Noam Horev.
You can listen to the selection songs including Milim at Harel's Youtube channel and here at Ynet.

A new is recorded for Eurovision, it has some new vocals and added orchestra. You can hear this in the official video at Harels Youtube channel.

A 4 track CD with all K'dam (Israels preselection) tracks is available since 15-03. It's on the Aroma label and will be available through Aroma shops only. (Aroma NMC 0330545-2)

The Oslo promo cds features five versions of Milim:
Milim - Eurovision edit
Words - English
Il Restera Ses Mots - French
Milim - Mash and Droub remix (radio )
Milim - Instrumental

Mash & Droub
The Mash and Droub remix on the promo cds is a short radio version (3:08). A longer remix (5:31) can be found on the Mash & Droub collection CD Do Re Mix.
You can listen to both remixes here at Pathiphon.

The official CD features a version of Milim similar to the first version but with some more backing vocals, and the piano intro appears to be cut by a second or two. It's just the first two piano plonks that are cut of, and quite nastily. I don't know if it's intentional or careless, but I can imagine the CD buying public would have appreciated the full version.
tracks on the cd:
Away - לאן - Le'an
Closer- להתקרב - Lehitkarev
Towards You - אליך - Elayich
Words - מילים - Milim

- versions -
Milim - Eurovision version
Words - English
Il Restera Ses Mots - French*
Milim - Mash and Droub remix (radio 3:08)
Milim - Mash and Droub remix (5:31
Milim - Instrumental
Milim - Original version on K'dam cdsingle
Milim - Version on ♫
Milim - Demo version (has only been on the net)
* The lyrics to the French version are written by Eurovision winner Anne Marie David.

Special thanks to Lior.

Harel Skaat Homepage
Harel Skaat Youtube Channel
Harel Skaat MySpace
Israel in 2009

15 Spain - Algo Pequeñito - Daniel Diges

15 - 68 pts / not in semi
Daniel Diges won the national final in Spain with Algo Pequeñito (Something tiny).

Until now Diges is most known for his parts in High School Musical (as Troy) and Mamma Mia! (Sky).
Algo Pequeñito is written by Jesús Cañadilla, Luis Miguel de la Varga, Alberto Collado and Daniel Diges himself.
A new version is recorded, you can listen to it here at TVE.

The new version and a special swing-jazz version of Algo Pequeñito are released on Danniel Diges' new CD Daniel Diges out on Warner Music Spain.
The album features songs written by Diges but also Spanish coverversions of Angels (Robbie Williams), Everything (Michael Bublé) and Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel).
The album reached #6 on the Spanish album charts

A one track promo cdsingle with the Eurovision version is issued.

cd single promo

Algo Pequeñito in the Spanish charts.
34, 22, 16, 17, 19, 19, 5, 9, 21, 27, 33, 39, 39, 31, 36, -
(the new Spanish top 50 combining digital and physical releases)

- versions -
Algo Pequeñito - Eurovision version ♫
Algo Pequeñito - Swing Jazz version
Algo Pequeñito - original version

Daniel Diges Homepage
TVE has a page with all national final performances and other interesting goings on from the national final.
Listen and vote. Spains 313 songs for the national selection are here at TVE.
Spain in 2009

16 Albania - It's All About You - Juliana Pasha

16 - 62 pts / 6 - 76 pts in semi 1
Juliana Pasha won the 48th Festival i Këngës with the song Nuk Mundum Pa Ty (lit: Can't Without You) and will represent Albania in Oslo.
It's All About You is the title of the English version first performed on a TV show. The song is performed in a revamped version in English at the contest.
Nuk Mundem Pa Ty is written by Ardit Gjebrea and Pirro Çako.

Pictured top right is the promo DVD with the videoclip of It's All About You.
There's also a promo cds with the new version and a backing track versions. Both discs were joined in one sleeve for Oslo promotion.

Before Nuk Mundum Pa Ty Juliana participated 7 times in the RTSH song Festival.
The Albanian contest first aired in 1966 and has been the Eurovision supplier since 2004.
At the 4 day Festival bonanza the song was also performed by Juliana Pasha with Soni Malaj on the special duets evening. (Youtube).

You can read more about the Albanian festivals sometimes even gruesome history at its Wiki.

- versions -
It's All About You - English Eurovision version ♫ & promo cds
Nuk Mundem Pa Ty - original albanian version
It's All About You - First English version
It's All About You - backing track promo cds
It's All About You - Instrumental (source unknown)
You can get two versions at Juliana's Facebook.

Special thanks to RTSH

RTSH - Official National Final Website
Tubes of the Albanian entry
Albania in 2009

17 Bosnia Hercegovina - Thunder And Lightning - Vukašin Brajić

17 - 51 pts / 8 - 59 pts in semi 1

BHRT have selected Munja I Grom (Lightning and thunder) by Vukašin Brajić for the 2010 Eurovision. The song is written by Edin-Dino Šaran. The song is likely to be sung in English at the contest.

You can download the song in Bosnian and in English here.
A new English version is recorded for Eurovision.

updateYou can download the new Eurovision version in good quality here at BHRT. Fans will be pleased to know some thunder has actually been included in the intro (lightning to be imagined by yourself)

A cdsingle with the two original versions is issued. It contains the original Bosnian and English versions.
The promo cd/dvd includes all versions:
Thunder and Lightning - Eurovision Version
Thunder and Lightning - Radio Edit
Munja I Grom - Radio Edit
Munja I Grom - Instrumental
Thunder and Lightning  -Karaoke
plus videos in English and Bosnian, photos and documentaries

Vukašin Brajić website
Bosnia Hercegovina in 2009
The cdsingle is now available at BeaRecords

18 Portugal - Há Dias Assim - Filipa Azevedo

18 - 43 pts  / 4 - 89 pts in semi 1
Há Dias Assim by Filipa Azevedo won the national final in Portugal. The song is written by Augusto Madureira. A new version has been recorded for Eurovision.
A website is launched for Filipa Azevedo. It's here and you can listen to the first English and Portuguese Eurovision versions under multimedia/music.

RTP have issued a promo cdsingle with the Eurovision version and Instrumental version (which is actually a karaoke version).

- versions -
Há Dias Assim - Eurovision version ♫
Há Dias Assim - original version
It's one of those days - English version
Há Dias Assim - Instrumental (is actually karaoke)

The Azevedo family have their own blog here.
http://www.filipazevedo.com/
You can find the Azevedo's on basically every social network, blogging thingy and face-encyclopedia imaginable, but I'm sure you can find those yourself.
Listen to the Portuguese selection songs at RTP's Eurovision pages, with the finalists here.
Portugal in 2009

19 Iceland - Je Ne Sais Quoi - Hera Björk

19 - 41 pts / 3 - 123 pts in semi 1
Iceland have chosen Hera Björk and her song Je Ne Sais Quoi for the Oslo contest. Je Ne Sais Quoi is written by Örlygur Smári (a.k.a. Öggi) and Hera Björk herself.

Hera Björk Returns

A new version is recorded, see video at the official site. The digital release of the new version is available at Tónlist.

More versions are availble now from Tónlist. It's a French version, a ballad version (Candle light versions) and a karaoke version.

All versions except the original are on a promo cdsingle issued by Hands Up Music.

update Hera Björk has just released her third album, titled Je Ne Sais Quoi. It features the Eurovision entry in three versions. (see below).

It also includes Someday, 2009 single My Heart and next radio single Knock On Wood. Knock On Wood is a cover of the 1966 hEddie Floyd hit, but in in Hera's case it's more a tribute to Amii Stewarts disco smash from 1979. You can listen to excerpts from the album at Tónlist. They sell the digital version, the CD is on preorder at BeaRecords.

A club mix is now available at the Tónlist digital music store and will be available on iTunes later.

Charts:
Belgium FL top 50: 27
Finland top 20: 17
Sweden top 60: 49
Switzerland top 75: 64

Club mixes (October)

A september 2010 digital release features five remixes of Je Ne Sais Quoi. (Neoteric records)
1. 7th Heaven Club

2. Soulshaker Club
3. Soulshaker Dub
4. Soulshaker Edit
5. 7th Heaven Edit
The five track release is available at itunes, amazon and other local digital stores.
Thanks to Tom K. for the tip.

- versions -
Je Ne Sais Quoi - Eurovision version ♫, CD
Je Ne Sais Quoi - Original version - On the CD Söngvakeppni 2010.
Je Ne Sais Quoi - French version - digital, CD
Je Ne Sais Quoi - Candle light version - digital, CD
Je Ne Sais Quoi - Karaoke - digital
Je Ne Sais Quoi - Club mix - digital
plus the remixes mentioned above.

Special thanks to RÚV.

Hera Björk Þórhallsdóttir is not a newcomer to the Eurovision game. She entered the Icelandic preselection in 2007 (with Mig Dreymdi) and in 2009 she ended 2nd in the Danish final with Someday. She was a backing singer for the Icelandic entries of 2008 (Eurobandið) and 2009 (Yohanna)
Composer Öggi previously co-wrote the Icelandic entries of 2000 (Einar & Telma) and 2008.

Hera Björk released two earlier albums: Christmas album Ilmur Af Jólum in 2000 and Hera Björk in 2006. The 2006 album features an Icelandic coverversion of Alvedansen, the Norwegian 2006 entry.

In 2008 and 2009 Hera Björk was a part of Frostrósir.

Finnish coverversion
CatCat, Finnish Eurovision stars of 1994, have recorded Je Ne Sais Quoi in Finnish.
Their version is titled Vapaus (Freedom).
The track will be on the CD celebrationg the 20 year career of the sisters, to be released early 2012.
Update 2012: The Catcat version has finally been released. It can be found on the CatCat greatest hits album 20 Vuotta - Juhlalevi (Poptori records SNAPCD 928), The album also includes CatCats own Eurovision entry Bye Bye Baby from 1994, original version and 2009 remix.

All 15 songs from the Icelandic final are available on the album Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2010 (Sena records).

The CD is out now and available in the Icelandic shops and at BeaRecords. (Sena SCD 446)
The digital release is available at Tónlist.

Hera Björk: Facebook, Instagram
Örlygur Smári MySpace
RÚV's Söngvakeppni 2010 pages with soundclips of the tracks for the national final.
Iceland in 2009

20 Norway - My Heart Is Yours - Didrik Solli-Tangen

20 - 35 pts / not in semi
My Heart Is Yours by Didrik Solli-Tangen was chosen as the home entry for Eurovsion 2010.

The track is released on digital outlets. The promo DVD issued by NRK features the natinal final video, an interview in English and an EPK with mp3, lyrics, bio's and photos.

The release of the limited edition cdsingle including a remix of My Heart Is Yours has been cancelled.
But you can get the remix mp3 if you join the Didriks mailing list. Just go to this page at Didriks website and you will get a download link after joining.
7H Club and radio remix are also available from iTunes.
Didrik Solli Tangen website.

- versions -
My Heart Is Yours - Eurovision version
My Heart Is Yours - 7H Radio Remix
My Heart Is Yours - 7H Club remix

Charts

My Heart Is Yours In the Norwegian charts (VG lista top 20) : 12, 3, 2*, 2, 5, 11, -, 8, -

* In the 3rd and 4th week on the charts Didrik is kept of the #1 spot by Yes Man by Bjørn Johan Muri, #4 in the national final.
Didrik re-enters the top 20 at #8 after Eurovision week for just one week.

Special thanks to Anja Nylund Hagen, Eivind Grøstad at NRK

November 1st sees the release of Didriks solo album Guilty Pleasures.
The 11 track album includes My Heart Is Yours , follow up single Best Kept Secret and also a cover of John Mayers Daughters.
The album is out in Norway on Universal.
Also available at BeaRecords

The CD with all tracks from the Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix, including the winner, is out now and available in the Norwegian stores, Scandinavian webshops and BeaRecords.
(Universal Music 00602527279428)

Composers

My Heart Is Yours is written by Hanne Sørvaag and Fredrik Kempe.

Fredrik Kempe wrote the Swedish entries of 2008 (Hero - Charlotte Perreli) and 2009 (La Voix - Malena Ernman).

He entered the Swedish Melodifestivalen several times as a singer and composer.

Hanne Sørvaag co-wrote the German 2008 entry Disappear for No Angels.

Cover Me
2011 Composer Hanne Sorvaag released an album titled Cover Me with songs she originally wrote for other artists. It includes her version of My Heart Is Yours and also of 2008 German entry Disappear.

Coverversion
My Heart Is Yours is covered by South African singer Vaughan Gardiner (in English). It is released on a various artists CD Liefde Is Groot which is available through Kalahari records.
The album also includes the English coverversion of In A Moment Like This by Jay and Lianie May. (more details here)

NRK's Melodi Grand Prix 2010 pages with soundclips.

Norway in 2009

21 Cyprus - Jon Lilygreen & The Islanders - Life Looks Better In Spring

21 - 27 pts / 10 - 67 pts in semi 2

Cyprus have selected Jon Lilygreen and The Islanders for Oslo. Their song Life Looks Better In Spring won the national selection. The song is written by Nasos Lambrianides and Melis Konstantinou.
You can listen to the song here at CyBC.

Cyprus TV / Gold Disc have issued the song on a one track promo cdsingle (new version).
A remix can be found at The Islanders Youtube channel. In the remix clip you can see the band acting goofy true YouTube style.

The composers found Jon Lilygreen through the internet! Producer Jon Gregory recommended Jon's demo and the composers were so impressed by his talent that they invited him to sing their Eurovision entry. Jon Lilygreen is a singer songwriter from Wales. He will be joined by the Islanders who are:
Jon Gregory, producer and drummer from Scotland who runs a recording studio in South Wales with his wife Sylvia. Norwegian TV viewers may know Jon Gregory and Sylvia from the soundtrack to the award winning series Der Ingen Skulle Tru At Nokon Kunne Bu.
Sylvia Strand from Norway plays the piano in the Islanders. Her classical career saw her touring with Jose Carreras, Bryn Terfel and Katherine Jenkins, which is a long way from her early job as a singing waitress on a Viking ship in Oslo.
Katherine Squire (vocals) is a classical singer.
Sean Watts (vocals) has been performing in musical shows since he was 13.
Charalambos Kallonas from Cyprus is a multi instrumentalist but will take take of the bass in The Islanders

- versions -
Life Looks Better In Spring - Eurovision version - promo cds ♫
Life Looks Better In Spring - first version
Life Looks Better In Spring - remix (Youtube)

Special thanks to Christina Andreou at CyBC


CyBC's Eurovision page has the official new video.
You can connect with Jon & The Islanders at their Facebook group.
LifeInSpring.com
John Lilygreen MySpace
Cyprus in 2009

22 Moldova - Run Away - Olia Tira & Sunstroke Project

22 - 27 pts / 10 - 52 pts in semi 1
Olia Tira and Sunstroke Project won the Moldovan national final with Run Away, written by Anton Ragoza and Alina Galitcaia (Galitskay).

You can listen at Sunstroke Projects Youtube channel

The promo CD (picture above)  includes 4 versions of Run Away plus 8 other songs including two pre-selection songs (marked * below).
- Full tracklist -
Run Away ♫
Run Away - Alex Calancea Relax version
Run Away - Alex Calancea Rock version
Run Away - PM Attitude remix
In Your Eyes - Sunstroke Project
Rain - Sunstroke Project
Goodbye - Olia Tira
Love Is In The Air - Olia Tira and DJ Tom Boxer
Believe - Sunstroke Project *
Sax You Up - Sunstroke Project
Nany - Olia Tira
Always Will Be  - Olia Tira *
+ mp3's of the four Run Away versions, the video of Run Away, photo's and info docs.

An earlier version of Run Away has been available on several websites but is not included on the promo CD. The CD radio version can also be found on a Swedish Various Artists promo (pic right). 

Charts
Sweden top 60: 47, 31, -
Norway top 20: 7, 13, 20, -

Run Away - Remix Contest
I missed it, but in March a Run Away remix competition was organized by Top DJ.md.
You can listen to several of the featured remixes at the website and also download the songs.
The competition is over, but you can still download the remix pack.
Several remixes can be found on the net (Youtube, Soundcloud) but they don't seem to be officially released

The road to Oslo
Olia Tira has been trying several times in the Moldovan selection and three times she reached the final.
2009: Unicul Meu (4th in final)
2008: Always Will Be * (joint winner, but Geta Burlacu got the ticket to Belgrade)
2006: Iubirea Mea (8th)

Sunstroke Project had another song in the 2010 competition, Believe *, but it didn't make it to the semi's. In 2009 they finished in 3rd place with No Crime.

- versions -
Run away - Eurovision version ♫ - on above CD
Run Away - Alex Calancea Relax version - on above CD
Run Away - Alex Calancea Rock version - on above CD
Run Away - PM Attitude remix - on above CD
Run Away - First version a.k.a. TV version - digital release

Olia Tira Facebook
Sunstroke Project Facebook
TRM.
Sunstroke Project in 2017
Moldova in 2009

2010 The Oslo Collection is brought to you by The Eurovision Collectors Guide. Please feel free to use any of the information gathered here, however, a link to The Oslo Collection would be appreciated.

23 Ireland - It's For You - Niamh Kavanagh

23 - 25 pts / 9 - 67 pts in semi 2

Ireland have chosen It's For You by one time Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh to represent the country at the Oslo Eurovision Song Contest.

Niamh Kavanagh won Eurovision in 1993 with In Your Eyes, the 2nd of three Irish winners in a row and the 5th Irish Eurovision winner.

It's For You is written by Niall Mooney, Mårten Eriksson, Jonas Gladnikoff and Lina Eriksson.

Gladnikoff co-wrote last years Irish entry Et Cetera.

The song is available through most local itunes. If you want to listen first, check out Naimh's MySpace.

It's For You enters the Irish charts at # 39, but falls out the week after.
The week of the physical release in Ireland, It's For You re-enters at 24.
Irish top 50: 39, -, 24, 20, 8, 44, -

A cdsingle on the Lionheart label is released in Sweden, including just one track. (Lionheart/Universal LHICDS -0160)

A cdsingle is released in Ireland, like the Swedish issue it has only one track.
The Swedish cds comes in a cardsleeve, the Irish one in a plastic case. (Universal Ireland).
The promo for Oslo is a 1 track cdsingle in folder.

Club Remix update
A Club remix and a club instrumental (singback) were released digitally. Available through various digital outlets. (Universal)

Coverversion

It's For You is another track that is picked up by a South African singer. 'Singende' Jasmyn has recorded the song in Afrikaans with a small part in Zulu for her new album Jy Wens Jy Kon Sê (You wish you could say).
The song is titled Dit Is Vir Jou.

The album is out now and internationally available through Kalahari.
You can listen to the songs of the album at Jasmyns Reverbnation.
Jasmyn Website.

In Your Eyes

The 1993 winner In Your Eyes written by Jimmy Walsh was the fastest selling single in Ireland. That record was broken in 1994 by Riverdance by Bill Whelan, the interval of the 1994 Eurovision.

In Your Eyes spent 5 weeks at #1 in the Irish charts, Riverdance 18.

In Your Eyes was the 2nd of three Irish winners in a row, sandwiched between Why Me? (Linda Martin) and Rock'n'Roll Kids (Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan).

Niamh re-recorded In Your Eyes in 2001 which appeared on the cdsingle Wonderdrug (Oldshore records).

In Your Eyes was released as 7"inch vinyl and cdsingle by Arista BMG.

Read about the Irish 2010 selection at RTÉ.

Niamhs MySpace

Niamh Kavanagh discography / website

Niamh Kavanagh at BeaRecords.2010 available now!
Ireland in 2009

24 Belarus - Butterflies - 3 + 2

24 - 18 pts / 9 - 59 pts in semi 1

Butterflies by 3 + 2 written by Maxim Fadeev and Malka Chaplin is the 2010 Eurovision entry for Belarus
Belarus had changed their song from the previous choice Far Away (also by 3 + 2).
You can download the song here at BTRC.
Fadeev is already known for co-writing Song #1 for Serebro (3rd in 2007 for Russia)

3 + 2 = 6.
The group were joined on stage by Swedish singer / producer / pianist Robert Wells. You may know Wells from his 2003 Melodifestivalen entry My Love with Sofia Källgren.
Три плюс два or Группа 3+2

The promo CD of the Belarussian entry includes 8 tracks
Butterflies - Eurovision version (english) ♫
What Are You Up For
More and More
Far Away (first chosen entry, see below)
Butterflies - remix
Butterflies - karaoke version
Far Away - Belorussian version - Anyoly (Aнëлы)
Far Away - Russian version - Angely (Aнгелы)

A different promo CD in booklet has three tracks + video
Butterflies
Butterflies - remix
Butterflies - karaoke

3 + 2 Website and info
A new website for 3+2 is now launched. (Russian, English).
On the audio page you can download Butterflies, Far Away (see below) and other songs.
You can find biographies of all seperate members here at TVRBy

The song BTRC had originally selected to represent Belarus in the 2010 contest, Far Away is written by Leonid Shirin and Yuri Vashuk.

Before thát selection Broadcaster ONT was to choose the Eurovision song, but after failing to get a EBU membership the selection of a Eurovision entry was back in the BTRC. ONT had already started a preselection.

- versions of the first chosen entry -
Far Away - English (eurovision) version
Angely (Aнгелы) - Russian version
Anyoly (Aнëлы) - Belorussian version
Far Away - Original demo

You can still download the new version of Far Away here at BTRC
News at BTRC
3+2 Website
Belarus in 2009

25 United Kingdom - That Sounds Good To Me - Josh Dubovie

25 - 10 pts / not in semi
The British Eurovision song for 2010 is produced by Pete Waterman. He wrote the British entry with Mike Stock.
The song performed in Oslo by Josh Dubovie is That Sounds Good To Me.

The first recorded version was aired on Swedish radio first and is included on the official 2010 Oslo Eurovision album ♫, but a new version is recorded for Oslo and the digital single release.
There is no studio recording of the first national final performance version.

The digital release is out now and features 4 tracks
That Sounds Good To Me - Eurovision version
That Sounds Good To Me - The Thin Red Men Radio Edit
That Sounds Good To Me - The Thin Red Club Mix
That Sounds Good To Me - Instrumental
So far only on iTunes. (picture from iTunes)
You can already have a listen to the remix at the Thin Red Men Myspace and YouTube

A promo only cdsingle (SAW DJCD2) has the Radio edit (Eurovision version) and instrumental version.
Update: A limited number is now available at BeaRecords.

For the first time since 1957 there is no commercial physical single release of the U.K. entry. The digital only release failed to chart in the U.K. top 100. This is the first time since 1964* (see below)
This is all bad news of course and another nail in the coffin of the Eurovision record collector.
The Hit Factory Forum has a bit of a poll on the physical release debacle, go vote!

Pete Waterman produced 100's of hits in the 80's and 90's, many with Stock, Aitken, Waterman. Hits for Kylie Minogue, Eurovision singer Sonia, Dead Or Alive, Jason Donovan, Mel and Kim (utterly fantastic) , Rick Astley, Divine and the Reynold Girls (I'd rather jack than Fleetwood Mac, classic!) shaped pop in the 80's.

ALMIGHTY COVERVERSION
A digital release features a coverversion by Nathalie Browne in seven different mixes. (Almighty Records, available from Amazon, Playcom and other sources). One version, the Almighty Hands In The Air Mix is also released on the Almighty album We Love Stock Aitken Waterman.
This 2CD features up to date club versions of SAW hits like Never Gonna Give You Up, This Time I Know It's For Real, I Should Be So Lucky, Showing Out and Love In The First Degree. The Almighty's have shamelessly overlooked  I'd Rather Jack though, tsk!
The Almighty label also gave us club coverversions of last years entry It's My Time.

Josh Dubovie MySpace
Read all about Josh and the other British contestants at the BBC Eurovision pages.

United Kingdom in 2009
* I Love The Little Things by Matt Monro from 1964 failed to chart as a single but the EP Songs For Europe reached #16 in the EP charts. The 1957 entry All by Patricia Bredin was never released, so that didn't chart either.
All other entries charted in the top 100, although some others have come close to the abyss: Live Report (Why Do I Always Get It Wrong) reached #73 in 1989, Rikki's Only The Light got to #96 in 1987 and Ryder (1986, Runner In The Night) just barely made the top 100 at #98.


Cyprus 1984
U.K. 2010 will not be the first Eurovision entry with a Waterman touch. In 1984 he produced Anna Mari-Elena by Andy Paul, the entry for Cyprus written by Andy Paul, Peter Ware, Matt Aitken & Mike Stock. The song ended 15th in the contest but a single was released in several countries.
Stock Aitken Waterman also produced several hits for Sonia, but they were not involved with her 1993 Eurovision entry Better The Devil You Know. (Which is not the same song as Kylies....)
The U.K. 2006 entry Teenage Life (Daz Sampson) was released on Watermans EB-UL label.

United Kingdom in 2009

OGAE Handbook For Oslo

Handbook For Oslo

Eurosong News (OGAE) have, like every year, issued a handbook for the contest. In this wonderfully executed book you'll find background info on the 2010 Eurovision artists plus details on all the national selections of 2010.

It's a 124 page booklet in full colour and a highly recommended guide for the Oslo contest, if you're in Oslo or at home on the couch. More info on how to order at Eurosong News or you can buy your copy at BeaRecords.

Special thanks to Ivor Lyttle

t.b.f. 5

under construction

Remember Moscow 2009?

The Moscow Collection features all the details on the Eurovision releases of 2009. It works same as The Oslo Collection, but just a different contest.

The Moscow Collection also includes links to documents with all details The Istanbul, Kyiv, Athens, Helsinki and Belgrade collections (in this post).

For details and history on the contest from 1956 to 2005 the 9th edition Eurovision Collectors Guide booklet is still available. (info)

The Oslo Collection, The Moscow Collection and all docs are all made by The Eurovision Collectors Guide.

Finland - Työlki Ellää - Kuunkuiskaajat

11 - 49 pts in semi 1Finland picked duo Kuunkuiskaajat (Moonwhispers) for the Oslo contest. The folk song Työlki Ellää is  available on the duo's CD Kuunkuiskaajat (Magnum Music).

Työlki Ellää is influenced both by old Finnish runo song and gypsy music. Susan Aho even claims some Roma blood. Part of the song is performed in Karelian dialect, which is spoken in Eastern Finland. The tongue-in-cheek title translates as “You can also make a living by working” (but it's business that makes you rich).

Kuunkuiskaajat are Susan Aho and Johanna Virtanen, both members of acclaimed folk band Värttinä. Työlki Ellää is written by Timo Kiiskinen, a recording artist himself. His latest CD Chet is a collection of Chet Baker songs recorded in Finnish.

A promo cdsingle features both the Eurovision and album versions of the song. (Magnum Music MGM 205)
The version named remix on the album is actually the Eurovision version that also appears on the official Oslo 2CD.

- versions -
Työlki Ellää - remix on cds, CD Kuunkuiskaajat and the Laulukilpailu CD (below) = ESC version
Työlki Ellää - album version on cds, CD Kuunkuiskaajat
Työlki Ellää - Discoremix (available through log in code on promo cds and see below)

update 2012: The Discoremix has now been released on CD. It is included on the Various Artists album Kaikkien Aikojen Bileet (Magnum Music MGM 250). The CD also includes new(er) versions of the Finnish entries of 1987 (Sata Salamaa) and 1994 (Bye Bye Baby).

The CD Kuunkuiskuiskaajat is available in the Finnish shops.

Both the cds and the album are now at BeaRecords.

More on Susan Aho and Johanna Virtanen:

Susan Aho, vocals and accordion
Susan (36) started playing accordion at the age of 13. She has obtained a Master of Music degree at the Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department. Susan played accordion already on Värttinä’s “Vihma” album (released in 1998) before moving to vocals. Susan is not only a professional musician, but also a puppeteer. Currently she works at the internationally renowned puppet theatre Sampo.

Johanna Virtanen, vocals
Johanna (33) started her musical studies at the Central Ostrobothnian Conservatory in Kokkola. She continued studying folk music and singing at the Sibelius Academy and her plan is to obtain a Master of Music degree in the near future. Johanna is a professional vocal teacher and is specialized in childbirth singing. In addition she plays harmonium, kantele and 2-row accordion. She joined Värttinä in 2001.

As members of Värttinä, Susan and Johanna have toured extensively in Europe and all over the world, in more than 30 countries in total. One of the group’s most notable projects in recent years was composing music for The Lord Of The Rings theatrical adaptation, based on the book by J. R. R. Tolkien. The musical, premiered in Toronto, Canada in 2006, moved to London in May 2007 and was closed after more than one year run.

- from the official bio, many thanks to Miia Linnusmaa & Magnum music.

Kuunkuiskajat homepage has a video of the song.
Kuunkuiskajat MySpace

Coverversion
Anna-Liisa Räsänen recorded a coverversion of Työlki Ellää for her album Ikivihreitä (2010, Light Team records)

The CD with all preselection songs Eurovision Laulukilpailu

2010 (Universal 2730391) is out now and available through BeaRecords.
-
Listen to the 15 songs of this years Finnish selection here at YLE (Finnish TV)

Finland in 2009