Israel - Noa Kirel - Unicorn

3 - 362 pts / 3 - 127 pts in semi 1

One of the earliest announcements for Liverpool was Noa Kirel (נועה קירל) who went on to sing for Israel.

Her song Unicorn was revealed on March 8, here's the video. 

A remix was released on March 20 and another one on May 12 (see versions below)

The song is written by Doron Medalie, May Sfadia, Yinon Yahel and Noa Kirel herself.

Unicorn is sung in English with two lines in Hebrew added for good measure.

Hope Version

On November 19 a ballad version of the song: Unicorn, the HOPE version was released as a digital track.

AVOID: A cdsingle including unofficial remixes is spotted but I'm pretty sure it's not official.

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 Norway.

digital single image, remixed

Israel first met her when she appeared in a Toddlers & Tiaras style show Pushers about parent “supporting” their kids to make it big. And she did, via kids TV, make up commercials and a live theatre she signed a record deal and ended up causing a commotion at the EMA awards.

Noa has been releasing songs since she was 14. Since 2017 several of her songs, in Hebrew as well as English,  have charted in various Israeli charts.

Her 15 minutes of international fame started when she wore an outfit at the EMA awards (2022) with Kanye's (or Ye, or Yesus or whatever his name is nowadays) face all over it to make a statement against his antisemitism. Not everyone got it so she had some explaining to do. Let's hope she can make it past those 15 minutes with her Eurovision adventure.

Songwriters

Doron Medalie is a seasoned Eurovision composer. He wrote or co-wrote the Israeli entries of 2015, 2016, 2018 winner Toy and 2020 never happened entry Feker Libi.

Yinon Yahel co-wrote the 2015 entry Golden Boy (with Medalie).

Noa Kirel's single is Gone.

Tel Aviv is a special place for the Dutchies

Versions:

Unicorn - single version

- digital 8-3

Unicorn - Sagi Kariv & Itay Galo remix

- digital 20-3

Unicorn - Rotem Mansano remix

- digital 12-5

Unicorn - Hope version

- digital 19-10

Unicorn - karaoke (= instrumental, just some vocal effects)

- On the official karaoke album

Oddly Deezer has a version which appears to be taken from the video off Eurovision.tv, including the heartbeats at the start.

Sagi Kariv also provided remixes for Hovi Star and Netta.

Charts:

Swedish top 100 (Topplistan): 27, 68

Ireland top 100 (IRMA): 37

Finland top 50 (IFPI): 10, 25

Netherlands top 100: 74

U.K. top 100 (OCC): 45

Norway top 40 (VG Lista): 30

Switzerland top 100 (Hitprade.ch): 46

Austria top 75: 43

Links and sources:
Noa Kirel Website, FB, Insta, Shop

Estonia - Alika - Bridges

8 - 168 pts / 10 - 74 pts in semi 2

Bridges by Alika (Alika Milova) is the winner of Eesti Laul 2023 and is the entry for Estonia in Liverpool.

The digital single of Bridges was released on December 2, 2022.

Alika wrote Bridges with Wouter Hardy and Nina Sampermans.

digital single image

Songwriters

We know Wouter Hardy from co-writing the 2019 Eurovision winner Arcade by Duncan Laurence.

Nina Sampermans a.k.a. Ravvel wrote Would You (Belgium 2012) 

Hardy and Sampermans both co-wrote the Swiss 2021 entry Tout L'Univers for Gjon's Tears which ended 3rd in the Rotterdam final.

Versions:
Bridges - single version

- digital 2-12-2022
Bridiges - karaoke
- On the official karaoke album (digital)

ALIKA LP/CD

Alika's debut album simply titled Alika is out on November 24.

It includes Bridges and recent singles like You, C'est La Vie and the latest Õde ütles. 

LP (red vinyl) and CD versions are available here through Alika's Website.

(CD currently sold out, Thanks Torsten)

Links and sources:
Alika Website, FB, Insta

Eesti Laul at ESC History

Eesti Laul FB

All Eesti Laul 2023 songs are here (player on the right) 
Remember Stefan, Koit ja Laura, Elina & Stig and Ott, how could we forget him...

Croatia - Let 3 - Mama ŠČ!

13 - 123 pts / 8 - 76 pts in semi 1

Croatia's "modern rock band" Let 3 sang for their country Liverpool with the song Mama ŠČ! (Mama No!).

Let 3 members Damir Martinović and  Zoran Prodanović wrote the song themselves, it was released on January 20 as a digital single.

cdsingle artwork

A remix by Beni Ducent (a.k.a Marin Gospić) was released on March 1.

Another remix by Denis Goldin was released on March 31. It's called extended but it's still only 3 minutes.

see versions for more details.

A  cdsingle has been issued with 7 versions of Mama ŠČ! . 

Dallas' Shop sells it now here. Thanks Immo.

The versions included are

- original

- Beni Ducent remix (3:42)

- Denis Goldin remix (2:11)

- Sasha Welles SHCH Moron mix

- Element 33 Nona Dub

- Acapella by Klapa Luka

- karaoke

(Dallas Records Dallas 971)

The karaoke is different from the one on the official karaoke album (has more vocals).

See versions below

In July another remix was released, The Čemer Trap Remix (digital, July 7)

On September 30 a collection of 9 versions was released including a new one subtitled Pt. 2. All versions are marked @ in the versions list below

(digital Dallas records)

digital single image

The song's lyrics are riddled with references to Putin. For example the tractor mentioned was a birthday gift from Lukachenko. Boris Johnson referred to Putin as a Crocodile.

And no points for guessing who the psychopath is.

Let 3 are Damir Martinović, Zoran Prodanović, Ivan Bojčić, Dražen Baljak and Matej Zec but since their inception in the mid 80's they have shed another 15 members or so.

They are not without controversy, they are obsessed with porn, sexual acts and genitalia even naming their albums after them. You'll have to find out for yourself as I don't want a Rated R certification for this blog. 

The 2006 line-up of Let3 featured in the video of Severina's Eurovision entry Moja Štikla, but they were not on stage with her. In 2024 Severina helped Let3 out with the performance of their DORA entry Babaroga.

Another fun fact. Let3's 1997 CD Nečuveno (unheard of) had nothing on it, no music or anything else. It's art.

That one is not available through digital sources.

Goldin remix

Versions:

# = on cdsingle  @ = 30 september EP

Mama ŠČ! - single version # @

- digital 20-1

Mama ŠČ! - Beni Ducent remix (5:19) 

- digital March 1, Spotify etc @

Mama ŠČ! - Beni Ducent remix (3:42) #

- on Deezer and here on Dallas Records Youtube

Mama ŠČ! - Denis Goldin remix extended (3:03) 

- digital 31-3, Spotify etc @

Mama ŠČ! - Denis Goldin remix (2:11) #

- also on Dallas Records Youtube (thanks Krzysztof)

Mama ŠČ! - Sasha Welles SHCH Moron mix #

- also on Dallas Records Youtube, digital 26-1 @

Mama ŠČ! - Element 33 Nona Dub #

- digital 10-5 @

Mama ŠČ! - Acapella by Klapa Luka # @

Mama ŠČ! - karaoke (with more vocals than the one below) #

Mama ŠČ! - Marino Finessa club remix @

- digital 26-5 

Mama ŠČ!  - Čemer Trap Remix

- digital - 7-7 @

Mama ŠČ! - Pt. 2

- digital 30-9 on @

Mama ŠČ! - karaoke (with less vocals than on cds)

- On the official karaoke album (digital)

Ducent remix

Links and sources:
Let 3 FB, Insta, Shop

DORA at ESC History

Remember Mia's Guilty Pleasure, Damir Kedžo (who didn't get to go) and Nina Kraljić.

DORA 2023

It appears there is no CD this year but Croatia Records share these image so you can make your own.

The album is released through your favorite digital outlets