New acts from Belarus, Croatia, Estonia, Iceland, Moldova & Serbia

02 March 2020 at 17:00 CET
Beovizija 2020 winner Hurricane Gordan Jović
With the looming 9 March deadline for artist and song submissions, Europe went into overdrive to select their entries for Rotterdam over the weekend. Belarus, Estonia, Croatia, Iceland, Moldova and Serbia chose their acts in televised national finals, Romania chose its song in a televised national final and Greece premiered their participating track. Portugal and Sweden picked more qualifiers for their final on Saturday 7 March, as well.

Over the course of 3 nights, VAL won the national selection in Belarus, Croatia's Dora was won by Damir Kedžo and Uku Suviste was crowned the winner of Estonia's Eesti Laul. In Iceland, Daði & Gagnamagnið won the Söngvakeppnin trophy, Molodova picked Natalia Gordienko and Hurricane won Serbia's national selection Beovizija.

Hatari hand Songvakeppnin 2020 prize to Daði RUV

There were also 2 song announcements: Greek broadcaster ERT presented Stefania's song SUPERG!RL and the accompanying music video, and Romania's TVR broadcast the national final in which Roxen's Alcohol You was voted the winning song.

From national selection to Eurovision artist

Belarus: VAL - Da Vidna

During their national final in Minsk, Belarus decided that VAL, with the song Da Vidna, will represent them at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam. VAL will perform in the first half of the first Semi-Final on 12 May.

VAL is a duo consisting of couple Valerie Gribusova and Vlad Pashkevich. They experiment with genres such as house, R&B, pop and hip-hop, combined with vogue and fashion. Since the launch of their first single Кто ты есть (Who Are You), the couple has been pushing the boundaries of their music and performance.

READ MORE: Belarus will be represented by VAL with 'Da Vidna'

Croatia: Damir Kedžo - Divlji Vjetre

Leaving behind 15 other contestants, Damir Kedžo won Croatia's national final 'Dora 2020'.

Damir will sing the song Divlji Vjetre in the second half of the first Semi-Final in Rotterdam on 12 May.

READ MORE: Damir Kedžo wins Croatia's ticket to Rotterdam

Estonia: Uku Suviste - What Love Is

After Eesti Laul’s exciting final, it's Uku Suviste who will fly to Rotterdam to represent Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020.

Uku Suviste is 37 years old and has participated in countless music festivals across the country. He is no stranger to the Estonian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, either; Uku competed in the national selection in 2017 with the song Supernatural and finished second in Eesti Laul in 2019 with the song Pretty Little Liar.

READ MORE: Uku Suviste wins Estonia’s national selection 'Eesti Laul'

Iceland: Daði & Gagnamagnið - Think About Things

This is the second time Daði has participated in Söngvakeppnin; he came in second place with the song Is This Love in 2017.

READ MORE: Iceland chooses Daði & Gagnamagnið!

Moldova: Natalia Gordienko - Prison

Moldova will fly Natalia Gordienko to Rotterdam in May, as the singer won the Moldovan national selection O Melodie Pentru Europa. Natalia will perform her song Prison in the second Semi-Final on 14 May.

Since 2005, Natalia has been the lead singer of the band Millennium. In that same year, they placed third at the Moldovan national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. One year later, Natalia participated again. Together with Arsenium, she sang the song Loca and they placed 20th.

READ MORE: It’s Natalia Gordienko for Moldova

Serbia: Hurricane - Hasta La Vista

Hurricane will fly the Serbian flag after winning Beovizija 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia. The all-girl band will sing the song Hasta La Vista in Rotterdam.

Sanja Vucic, Ksenija Knezevic and Ivana Nikolić are Hurricane, a band formed in 2017. The girls have unique styles and personalities, and perfect harmonies that have their songs being aired on radio stations around the globe.

WATCH MORE: Hurricane to represent Serbia in Rotterdam

Greece & Romania present their songs

Greece: Stefania - SUPERG!RL

ERT describe SUPERG!RL as a contemporary up-tempo pop song with ethnic elements. Stefania will perform her entry in the first half of the second Semi-Final on 14 May.

READ MORE: Here's Stefania's music video for 'SUPERG!RL'

Romania: Roxen - Alcohol You

Romania aired Selecția Națională 2020, the national selection show to choose Roxen's participating song for Rotterdam. Her song Alcohol You won both the jury and the viewers top votes, totalling 10 points. The runner up was Storm with 6 points.

READ MORE: Romania: 'Alcohol You' is the song for Roxen

Portugal & Sweden pick more finalists

Portugal: Festival da Canção

The second and last semi-final of Portugal's national selection, Festival da Canção 2020 finished in Lisbon. All finalists have now been chosen, and the last 4 to join are Jimmy P, Tomás Luzia, Kady and Elisa Rodrigues.

READ MORE: 4 more acts complete the final for Portugal

Sweden: Melodifestivalen second chance

In the 'Andra Chansen' round, the 8 eligible songs that placed 3rd and 4th in the previous semi-finals had a second chance to fight for the last available places in the final on Saturday 7 March.

Qualifiers from Andra Chansen in Sweden SVT

The 4 remaining spots went to Anis Don Demina, Paul Rey, Felix Sandman and Mendez feat. Alvaro Estrella.

READ MORE: All finalists chosen for national selection Melodifestivalen

What's your favourite new entry for Rotterdam? Let us know in the comments!