Belgium - Gustaph - Because Of You

7 - 182 pts / 8 - 90 pts in semi 2

Belgium is represented by Gustaph with his song Because Of You.
Gustaph (Stef Caers) won the 7 song Belgian final organised by the Flemish Broadcaster VRT.

digital single

Because Of You written by Gustaph and Jaouad Alloul was released on January 13. His other song in the race was The Nail, released on the same day.

The song contains a famous sample: Yeah, Woo, which has been used in many hip hop and house tracks over the years. Bobby Bird says Yeah and James Brown says Woo. From the 1972 classic Think (About it) by Lyn Collins. (I didn't realise until Gustaph's karaoke appeared)

Fun fact: Gustaph ended 8th in his semi but in the final he beat all that were above him. His 7th place was the highest finish for a semi 2 entry.

The final top 3 were the top 3 of semi 1 but in a slightly different order.

Physical releases

The Gustaph Shop has a vinyl single, cdsingle, hat and bundle for sale.

Bothe the 7"inch and the cdsingle have the Eurovision version and a DJ edit. The cdsingle also has a karaoke with backing vocals, different from the instrumental from the official karaoke album. (see comments, thanks Earl). 

Out now.

Go here and shop!, Thank you Alexandre!

Catalogue numbers: 

Vinyl: N.E.W.S. 5411045

cdsingle: N.E.W.S. 5411045CDS

On May 19 a remix by Captain E. was released. The Captain E's Gluten - Free Dub mix is a dub mix, in the sense that there is no full vocal line but some vocal samples and effects. But you can party to it like it's 1993. or 1988 even. 

A vocal mix/edit of this was released on June 16.

Initially the 7 artists from the Belgian selection each had two songs and selected one in the week ahead of the final. The artists  showcased both their songs on TV to their competition and listened to some advice but in the end chose the final songs themselves.

Among the artists was duo the Starlings with Tom Dice, known from Me And My Guitar, 6th in the 2010 Oslo Song Contest. 

13 out of the 14 songs have been released as digital tracks.

Gustaph provided (off stage) backing vocals for the Belgian entries of 2018 and 2021.

He had his first hit Gonna Lose You (as Steffen) in Belgium in 2000 and sang (and wrote) with Hercules & Love Affair for six years, most notably on their album Omnion (2017)

His babysitter used to play him ABBA songs and that's when it all started. (proof at Gustaph's FB).

Versions:

Because Of You - single version

- digital 13-1

Because Of You - DJ edit

- Vinyl single / cdsingle 

Because Of You - Captain E Gluten-free dub

- digital 19-5

Because Of You - Captain E Gluten-free vocal mix

- digital 16-6

Because Of You - karaoke (with backing vocals)

- cdsingle

Because Of You - karaoke (= instrumental except the sample)

- On the official karaoke album (digital), vinyl single, cdsingle

Charts:

Belgium top 50 (Flemish): 3, 8, 9, 6, 20, 14, 21, 17, 6, 11, 14, 20, 8, 11, 4, 8, 6, 2, 2, 5, 6, 13, 16, 14, 27, 32, 34, 35, 46, 44, 47, - (2-31)

Belgium top 50 (Wallonian), only charting after ESC: 34, -, 46, -, 43, 49, -

Because Of You reached platinum status in Belgium on June 9.

Swedish top 100 (Topplistan) 82, -

U.K. top 100 (OCC): 63, -

Links and sources:

Stef Gustaph FB, Shop

The Belgian pre-selection 2023 at ESC History

Lithuania - Monika Linkytė - Stay

11 - 127 pts / 4 - 110 pts in semi 2

Stay by Monika Linkytė is the winner of Pabandom Iš Naujo! 2023 and is the entry for Lithuania in Liverpool.

The song is written by Monika Linkytė and Krists Indrišonoks.

digital release image

Stay was released as a digital single on February 14 (Creative Industries).

A new version, Stay (Čiūto Tūto!) with alternate choir, was released on March 2 (Čiūto Tūto can be loosely translated as I'm Sorry or I Repent even, in a chant kind of way).

This is the version for Eurovision.

Monika releases a mini album/ EP on May 11 titled Healing.

A creamy white vinyl 12"inch is issued (and a digital version).

The Eurovision version of Stay (Čiūto Tūto) is included.

(Creative industries) You can order now at Monika's shop

UPDATE: There are two versions of the vinyl. One has the tracks spread accross both sides, the other is one sided.

Tracklist vinyl

Side One

1 Spells (Intro)

2 Stay (Čiūto Tūto) +

3 Home

4 Sometimes Love Give You Up - with Chris Noah

Side two

5 Oda (Demo)

6 Song to myself +

It comes with a luxurious booklet with lyrics and photos from Monika's trip to Nepal.

(Creative Industries, no numbers)

+ The digital version is split into 8 tracks but it has the same content as the 12"inch.

Eurovision fans already know Monika Linkytė from the 2015 Lithuanian entry This Time, a duet with Vaidas Baumila. They finished 18th in the final in Vienna.

Before that Linkytė entered every Lithuanian selection from 2010 to 2015 but this year was the first time since This Time.

2010 Give Away (6th)

2011 Days Go By (4th)

2012 Happy (3rd)

2013 Baby Boy (won the heat but withdrew)

2014 Breakaway (4th)

2015 Flying / Skęstu  Monika performed this (self co-written) song in an early heat but in a later stage it was sung my Mia Pilibaitytė.

2015 This Time (1st, then 18th in Eurovision)

In the Lithuanian 2015 preselection This Time was performed three times by different singers, Mia, Monika Linkytė and Vaidas Baumila. It was later decided internally that it was going to be a duet. Poor Mia.

This Time was co-written by Monika Liubinaitė better known as Monika Liu of Sentimentai fame.

Versions:

Stay (Čiūto Tūto)

- digital 2-3, 12" EP Healing

Stay - original

- digital 14-2

Stay - karaoke

- On the official karaoke album (digital)

Links and sources:

Monika Linkytė: FB, Insta

Pabandom Iš Naujo! 2023 at ESC History

Remember The Roop x2, Donny Montell x2 and of cource Monika's first entry.

2015 cdsingle

Archive: From the days when we still had these lovely CDsingles with all these wonderful versions in languages. I miss that.

Norway - Alessandra - Queen Of Kings

5 - 268 pts / 6 - 102 pts in semi 1

Alessandra won the final of the Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix with the song Queen Of Kings written by Written by Linda Dale, Henning Olerud, Stanley Ferdinandez and Alessandra Mele herself.

The song was released as a digital single on January 9 (Starlab/Universal).

With 2:28 on the clock, Queen Of Kings appears to be the shortest song in this year's contest. But the video version (with an intro in Italian) is longer than the single version so we'll have to see what is performed in Liverpool.

Update: She performed the version with the (prerecorded) intro, so far only released as videoclip.

The Da Tweekaz x Tungevaag remix was released on April 6. (see versions below for more details)

An acoustic version is released on April 13.

An Italian version is released on April 21, this does have the Italian intro that is also in the video version.

On May 19 the Billen Ted remix was released.

A digital set of versions was released on June 1st as Queen Of Kings (Complete). 

It includes all the versions marked # in the versions list. Still no Eurovision version though. So it's not really complete. See comments, thanks Krzysztof)

AVOID: A cdsingle (they even call it promo) with remixes available on e-bay is not official and has low audio quality mostly unofficial versions.

It appears to come from the same source as the similar counterfeits of Sweden, U.K. and Israel.

Rock cover

When I heard Queen Of The Kings I thought it would make a great symphonic rock tune. Lo and behold, I got my wish. A coverversion in that style was released by Pagefire (digital 11-5).

2020 singer Ulrikke finished second in this year's MGP.

All songs from the 2023 MGP have been released as digital singles.

Versions:

remix image

Queen Of Kings - Video version (also see comments)

- Youtube, not released as audio. 

Queen Of Kings - single version (2:28) #

- digital 9-1

Queen Of Kings - Da Tweekaz x Tungevaag remix (2:25) #

- digital 6-4

Queen Of Kings - extended mix (4:00)

Queen Of Kings - Da Tweekaz x Tungevaag extended (2:53)

- both extended versions available through DJ services (digtracks, Beatport)

Queen Of Kings - Acoustic #

- digital 13-4

Queen Of Kings - Italian version #

- digital 21-3

Queen Of Kings - Billen Ted remix #

- digital 19-5, also exists as instrumental (see comments)

Queen Of Kings - Gabry Ponte remix #

- digital 1-6

Queen Of Kings - Redfield remix #

- digital 1-6

Queen Of Kings - Instrumental #

- digital 1-6

Queen Of Kings - karaoke

- on the official karaoke album (digital)

Queen Of Kings - sped up #

- digital 1-6

Remixes by Stormby have also popped up, but so far they're not officially released.

Charts:

Norway VG Lista top 40: 15, 11, 1, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 8, 8, 12, 25, 26, 22, 14, 5, 7, 13, 16, 19, 24, 25, 33, 39,

Sweden topplistan top 100: 52, 35, 39, 68, 78, 55, 47, 60, 79, 94, -, re: 69, 7, 10, 17, 23, 46, 51, 85, 59, 76, 81, 87, 87, 90, 94, 95

Finland top 20/50* (IFPI): 20, -, 20, /* 26, 40, 43, - re: 19, 4, 3, 7, 13, 13, 19, 15, 21, 29, 34, 44, 45, 50, -

*IFPI is publishing the Finnish top 50 from week 13

Netherlands top 100: 72, 12, 24, 56, 79, -

Ireland top 100 (IRMA): 18, 30, 60, -

Italy top 100 (FIMI): 33, 81, -

Germany top 100: 19, 32, 88, -

U.K. top 100 (OCC): 10, 23, 56, 88, -

Switzerland top 100 (Hitparade.ch): 5, 16, 36, 52, 92, -

Belgium (Ultratop Flemish): 21, 31, 26, 20, 34, -

France top 200 (SNEP): 152, -

Austria top 75: 8, 13, 30, 44, 69, -

Spain top 100: 59, -

Portugal top 200: 70, 144, -

The Oslo Collection

Links and sources:

Alessandra FB, Insta
MGP at ESC History
NRK MGP pages
Remember KEiiNO, Tix, Alexander Rybak and we still don't know what Mørland did.