The weekend in review: Three new acts for Tel Aviv!
11 February 2019 at 14:44 CETNew acts for Tel Aviv
Three countries picked their participants for the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest, bringing the total number of selected acts to eighteen.
Australia decided
Kate Miller-Heidke was crowned the winner of the first-ever national televised selection show Eurovision - Australia Decides. She will thus represent Australia at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in May.
Kate's first reaction: “I’m totally overwhelmed! This has been a peak experience already, and I’m dying with excitement at what’s to come. Thanks to everyone who voted, and to all the other artists who provided such a brilliant, eclectic and stiff competition. I’ve had a ball, and I’m so grateful and thrilled that I get to represent Australia at Eurovision in 2019.” Read more..
Kate Miller-Heidke will sing Zero Gravity in the second half of the first Semi-Final on the 14th of May.
Italy concluded its Sanremo Festival
After a week full of music, Italy crowned the winner of their prestigious Sanremo song festival. After the votes were counted, Soldi was announced as the winning song and Mahmood has accepted the invitation to represented Italy at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. Read more..
As Italy is one of the pre-qualified 'Big Five' nations, Mahmood will perform Soldi in the Grand Final on the 18th of May.
Montenegro's vizija for Tel Aviv
After topping the fan polls for several days, the group D-Moll managed to capture the hearts of the Montenegrin public as well. Moments ago, they won the national selection Montevizija 2019 and will thus represent Montenegro at this year's Eurovision Song Contest with the song Heaven (LISTEN). Read more..
D-Moll will be on stage in the first half of the first Semi-Final on the 14th of May.
National final qualifiers
Hungary
After three heats, A Dal is in semi-final territory. Nine artists performed in tonight's show, but only 4 acts were able to qualify for the final. The jury consisted of Both Miklós, Mező Misi, Vincze Lilla and Nagy Feró. The acts that still have a shot at winning Hungary's ticket to Tel Aviv, are:
- Acoustic Planet – Nyári zápor (LISTEN)
- Petruska - Help Me Out of Here (LISTEN)
- The Middletonz - Roses (LISTEN)
- Vavra Bence - Szótlanság (LISTEN)
Next week, A Dal returns for the second semi-final.
Iceland
Iceland's national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, Söngvakeppnin, kicked off this weekend with the first semi-final, live from Háskólabíó in Reykjavik. The first live show featured five songs from which a combination of public votes and an expert judging panel voted two songs through to the final: Hatari with Hatrið Mun Sigra and Hera Björk with Eitt Andartak. Kristina Skoubo Bærendsen, Þórdís Imsland and Daníel Óliver got eliminated. The contest’s selection commission reserves the right to give one of them a wildcard for the final on the 2nd of March. Learn more about Söngvakeppnin 2019 here.
Lithuania
The national selection Eurovizijos Atranka saw 12 acts perform their entries, with just four continuing to the final on the 23rd of February. These artists are still in the running towards becoming the Lithuanian representative at the 64th Eurovision Song Contest:
- Henry&Tommy Modric – Neverpart (WATCH)
- Jurgis Brūzga – CTRL ALT DELETE (WATCH)
- Justina Budaitė-Junà – Strength of A Woman (WATCH)
- Monika Marija – Light On (WATCH)
Eurovizijos Atranka continues on the 16th of February with the second semi-final.
Romania
Six of the twelve artists that participated in tonight's second semi-final, were able to qualify for next week's final. The six lucky contenders that are still in the running for the ticket to Tel Aviv are:
- Aldo Blaga – Your Journey (LISTEN)
- Ester Peony – On a Sunday (LISTEN)
- Laura Bretan – Dear Father (LISTEN)
- Letiția Moisescu & Sensibil Balkan – D A I N A (LISTEN)
- Linda Teodosiu – Renegades (LISTEN)
- Olivier Kaye – Right Now (LISTEN)
Romania's national final of Selecția Națională takes place in Bucharest on Sunday, the 17th of February.
Sweden
The second semi-final of Melodifestivalen, the Swedish national selection for 2019 Eurovision Song Contest, has taken place in Malmö. Two of the show's seven participants proceed to the final and two to the second-chance round, Andra Chansen.
The full televoting results put Malou Prydz with I Do Me and Hanna Ferm & Liamoo with Hold You directly in the final, while Andreas Johnson and Vlad Reiser have been given a second chance. In one week, the third semi-final will take place in Leksand, with a further seven acts competing for two more spots in the final in Stockholm on the 9th of March.
Ukraine
The Ukrainian national selection Vidbir featured a guest performance by 2018 Eurovision Song Contest participant MELOVIN and was judged by Jamala (winner of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest), Andriy Danylko and Yevhen Filatov. From the eight acts performing, three qualified for the final on the 23rd of February and thus are still in the running for a ticket to Tel Aviv:
Vidbir returns next Saturday with the second semi-final.
Check out our calendar for upcoming broadcast dates of national selections for the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest.
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