Australia - Voyager - Promise

9 - 151 pts / 1 - 190 pts in semi 2

Last year's Australia Decides runner up Voyager sang for Australia in Liverpool. Their song Promise was internally selected and revealed (and released) on February 21.

In Liverpool Voyager won the 2nd Semi final.

The House remix was released on April 22. (digital)

The Electric Strings version was released on May 19. It's an instrumental with strings, electric even.

On June 30 another remix by musician/producer Neurotech (a.k.a. NeuroWulf) was released. 

See versions below for all the mixes.

Vinyl singles (black and transparent magenta) (were pre-orderable from 17-3) are out now (from 28-4). Limited to 300 each.

The sleeves have the same number SOM698EP but the sticker on the outer platsic sleeve reads:

Transparent Magenta: Season Of Mist SOM 698EPCP

Black vinyl: Season Of Mist SOM 398EP2

Both singles include Dreamer on the b-side. That was their 2022 Australia Decides entry that finished second behind Sheldon Riley

Test pressing vinyls were also made, 10 copies according to Season Of Mist.

On April 21 Voyager released a (loud) cover version of the Cyprus entry by fellow Australian Andrew Lambrou.

Fearless In Love

On July 14 Voyager release theri new album Fearless In Love.

!!! There are several editions on vinyl but initially only the CD version includes Promise. it seems an odd decision but here's what Voyager let's us know:

"PLEASE NOTE - Due to the song not existing at the time of production, ‘Promise’ does not feature on this first run of vinyl, making the limited edition "Promise/Dreamer" vinyl the perfect companion to this item".

The album also includes the follow up singles Prince Of Fire and Ultraviolet. Full tracklist at the end of this page.

Shop here at Season Of Mist.

Update: The vinyl album has been re-issued in Europe in a limited edition in October. This edition on black vinyl does include Promise and is available here

Eurovision Departure

In 2022 Voyager ended second place in Australia Decides behind Sheldon Riley. Their song Dreamer was released as a digital single and also as a remix. 

It will also be on the Promise vinyl single editions.

In 2020 they sent in Runaway from their 2019 album Colours In The Sun but that didn't make it to Australia's final 10.

The band formed in 1999 but only singer Daniel (Danny) Estrin is one of the founding members. Voyager are now Estrin (vocals, Keytar), Simone Dow (Guitars), Scott Kay (Guitars), Ashley Doodkorte (Drums) and Alex Canion (Bass).

pre-release image

Make you own remix
Check out the Promise Producer Pack, 41 tracks separating all the recording tracks of Promise at Bandcamp.
If you're an accomplished (or less so) knob twiddler you can make your own remix and send it to the Voyagers. (More details here at Facebook)

Versions:
Promise - single version
- digital 21-2, forthcoming 7"inch vinyls
Promise - instrumental (no backing vocals)
- digital 23-3
Promise - House remix

- digital 22-4

Promise - Electric string version (instrumental)

- digital 19-5

Promise - Neurotech remix

- digital 30-6

Promise - karaoke
- On the official karaoke album (digital)
Promise Producer Pack
- digital at bandcamp

Charts:

Finland top 50 (IFPI): 47

U.K. top 100 (OCC): 79

Links and sources:
Voyager: Website, FB, Insta,  Shop

Australia's Eurovision history is short, Remember Dami Im, Guy Sebastian or Montaigne? And I'm sure you remember this:

Fearless In Love tracklist - CD/Digital and European re-issue LP
1 - The Best Intentions
2 - Prince of Fire
3 - Ultraviolet (featuring Sean Harmanis)
4 - Dreamer
5 - The Lamenting
6 - Submarine
7 - Promise (not on the vinyl editions)
8 - Twisted
9 - Daydream
10 - Listen
11 - Gren (Fearless in Love)

 

Ukraine - TVORCHI - Heart Of Steel

6 - 243 pts, not in semi

The first entry to be revealed for Liverpool was Heart Of Steel by TVORCHI.
The duo secured their ticket to Liverpool by winning the Ukrainian Vidbir final on December 17 (2022).

TVORCHI are Andrii Hutsuliak and Jimoh Augustus Kehinde and they, like all other hip artists, write their bandname in capitals.

The duo have been working together since 2017 and tried for Eurovision in 2020 with Bonfire, ending 4th in Vidbir. (and there was no Eurovision anyway)

new version image

Heart Of Steel written by the duo themselves, was released as a digital single on December 9.

An revamped version has a part in Ukrainian and added violins. It was released as a digital single on March 9.

A remix was released on April 22. (see comments)

2024

For the Ukrainian National selection for 2024 (Vidbir) a new version with orchestra was recorded.

It was released as a digital track on 4-2-2024

Once upon a time in Kyiv

Versions

Heart Of Steel - ESC version

- digital 9-3

Heart Of Steel - single version

- digital single 9-12-2022

Heart Of Steel - remix

- digital 22-4

Heart Of Steel - karaoke (of ESC version)

- digital 9-3, also on the official karaoke album (digital)

Heart Of Steel - sped up version

- digital 2-6

Heart Of Steel - Orchestral version

- digital 4-2, 2024

Charts:

Swedish top 100 (Topplistan): 65

Finland top 50 (IFPI): 37

U.K. top 100 (OCC): 95

Links and sources:

TVORCHI: FB, Insta

Vidbir 2023 at ESC History

Remember: Stefania, Shum, 1944

Latvia - Sudden Lights - Aijā

digital single image

11 - 34 pts in semi 1

Sudden Lights have won the 2023 edition of the Latvian Supernova contest with their self penned song Aijā. (more or less translates as rockabye).

The digital single was released on January 27.

A remix by Makree was released on March 3.

The [Ex] Da Bass remix was released on March 15.

The Leon Somov remix was released on March 31.

The MarkMate remix was released on April 7.

The acoustic version was released on April 28

Two live versions are released on the digital album Zaļais teātris (Live) out December 18. This album also includes 2018 Supernova entry Just Fine.

A different Live LP version with less tracks and only one Aijā is available here

Sudden Lights are Andrejs Reinis Zitmanis, Mārtiņš Matīss Zemītis, Kārlis Matīss Zitmanis and Kārlis Vārtiņš. The band formed in 2012 and have released three albums so far.
They already tried in Supernova 2018 with Just Fine and ended 2nd.

[Ex] Da Bass mix

Versions:

Aijā - single version

- digital 27-1

Aijā - Makree remix

- digital 3-3

Aijā - [Ex] Da Bass remix

- digital 15-3

Aijā - Leon Somov remix

- digital 31-3

Aijā - MarkMate remix

- digital 7-4

Aijā - Acoustic

- digital 28-4

Aijā (live)

Aijā (live acoustic)

- both live versions on digital album Zaļais teātris (Live) 18-12

- One version on the LP version (probably the regular live version)

Aijā - karaoke

- On the official karaoke album (digital)

A slightly different mix was used in the Supernova preview video (see comments)

A few links about the mixers:
[Ex] Da Bass also remixed the Latvian entries by Aminata, Justs, Triana Park and LauraRizotto 
Makree also remixed Aminata and Justs 
Leon Somov also remixed Run With The Lions (Lithuania 2019).

Links and sources:
Sudden Lights Website, FB, Shop

Supernova at ESC History
Supernova website and history (in Latvian)

Remember Aminata, Justs Sirmais and personal favorite Triana Park.

Cyprus - Andrew Lambrou - Break A Broken Heart

12 - 126 pts / 7 - 94 pts in semi 2

Andrew's Australian adventure 2022

Andrew Lambrou (Άντριου Λάμπρου) will represent Cyprus in Liverpool

His song, Break A Broken Heart, was released on March 2.

The song is written by Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Jimmy Jansson, Thomas Stengaard and Marcus Winther-John.

The sped-up version was released on April 21.

A live version was released on the digital album Panik Concert 2023 (Various artists, October 22). Duetting with Klavdia (Κλαυδία Παπαδοπούλου)

Fellow country mates Voyager released a coverversion of Break A Broken Heart on April 21.

Lambrou participated in the Australian selection for Eurovision 2022 with the song Electrify and finished 7th.

Break A Broken Heart is his fifth single.

The writers: 

For Thomas Stengaard it's his 2nd entry for Cyprus after the fab El Diablo (2021) and his 7th Eurovision entry overall, including a winner. 

Thörnfeld co-wrote Tusse's Voices (Sweden 2021), the aforementioned El Diablo and Adrenalina (San Marino 2021) plus many Swedish Melodifestivalen songs.

Jimmy Jansson co-wrote 33 Melodifestivalen songs but no Eurovision entry, but that could change....

Marcus Winther-John co-wrote the very last entry for Andorra.

Jansson & Thörnfeld are also co-responisble for this year's Swedish entry.

Versions:

Break A Broken Heart - single version

- digital 2-3

Break A Broken Heart - karaoke

- On the official karaoke album (digital)

Break A Broken Heart - sped up

- digital 21-4

Break A Broken Heart (live) - With Klavdia

- digital album Panik Concert 2023 (22-10)

Charts

Finland top 50 (IFPI): 42, -

U.K. top 100 (OCC): 92, -

Links and sources:

Andrew Lambrou FB, Insta

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