Buckle up, and get ready… the next week will be the busiest week of the national selection calendar! There are no less than EIGHT shows on the 18th, making it this year’s definitive Super Saturday! Make sure you clear your schedule for that date as you won’t want to miss any of the action.
But there’s still plenty going on outside of Saturday too. Let us at escYOUnited guide you through the next seven days in Eurovision land…
?? Monday 13th February – Israel – HaKokhav HaBa Final
The week gets off to a flying start with Israel’s artist selection brightening up our gloomy Monday evening. The final of HaKokhav HaBa will choose the Middle Eastern nation’s representative for the third year in a row, and with two finals on the trot, Israel will be hoping for another winning choice.
The candidates for Israel are;
- Julieta
- Beatbox Element
- Diana Golbi
- Imri Ziv
One of these lucky artists will be chosen to go to Kiev and hope to do the country proud. Find out which one on Monday night!
?? Friday 17th February – Slovenia – EMA 2017 Semi-Final 1
Slovenia kick off their annual EMA selection on Friday 17th, with the first of two semi-finals this weekend. Slovenia will be hoping to return to the final of Eurovision having failed to make the cut in Stockholm.
The participants in the first semi-final are;
- KiNG FOO – Wild Ride
- Nika Zorjan – Fse
- Tosca Beat – Free World
- Lea Sirk – Freedom
- Sell Out – Ni panike
- Zala Đurić Ribič – Lalalatino
- Alya – Halo
- Omar Naber – On My Way
Two songs will qualify through televote, with a further two through the jury. The songs that make it through will then compete in February 24th’s final show.
?? Saturday 18th February – Estonia – Eesti Laul Semi-Final 2
Eesti Laul continues this weekend with the second semi-final, and we imagine all eyes will be on one artist in particular; one of Estonia’s biggest stars Kerli takes part in this semi-final with “Spirit Animal”.
The participants;
- Rasmus Rändvee – This Love
- Angeelia – We Ride With Our Flow
- Daniel Levi – All I Need
- Antsud – Vihm
- Koit Toome & Laura – Verona
- Kerli – Spirit Animal
- Close To Infinity ft. Ian Karell – Sounds Like Home
- Liis Lemsalu – Keep Running
- Alvistar Funk Association – Make Love, Not War
- Almost Natural – Electric
As you can see there are also other familiar names in this semi-final! Five of the songs will make it through to the grand final in Saku Suurhall on March 4th.
?? Saturday 18th February – Hungary – A Dal 2017 Final
- Gigi Radics – See It Through
- Joci Pápai – Origo
- Gina Kanisza – Fall Like Rain
- Soulwave – Kalandor
- Gabi Tóth & Freddie Shuman ft. Begi Lotfi – Hosszú idők
- Leander Kills – Élet
- Zävodi + Olivér Berkes – #háttérzaj
- Kállay Saunders Band – Seventeen
The winner will fly to Kiev as Hungary’s representatives for Eurovision – a big prize at stake for all involved!
?? Saturday 18th February – Lithuania – Eurovizijos Atranka 2017 Show 7
Lithuania’s monster Eurovizijos Atranka selection rumbles on this Saturday with the quarter-final stage of the competition beginning.
- E.G.O. – My Story
- Edgaras Lubys – Could It Be?
- Ieva Zasimauskaitė – You Saved Me
- Gytis Ivanauskas – Get Frighten
- Paula – Let U Go
- Gražvydas – Paint The Sky Blue
- Fusedmarc – Rain of Revolution
- Gabrielius Vagelis – Feel Myself Free
?? Saturday 18th February – Malta – MESC 2017
Malta have scaled down their efforts for Eurovision in recent years, with one show in 2017, but a large field of 16 songs will compete to represent the island nation in Kiev. The participants for Saturday’s final are;
- Klinsmann Coleiro – Laserlight
- Raquela Dalli Gonzi – Ray of Light
- Deborah C & Josef – Tonight
- Kevin Borg – Follow
- Jade Vella – Seconds Away
- Crosswalk – So Simple
- Franklin Calleja – Follow Me
- Rhiannon – Fearless
- Miriana Conte – Don’t Look Down
- Shauna Vassallo – Crazy Games
- Janice Mangion – Kewkba
- Cherton Caruana – Fighting To Survive
- Maxine Pace – Bombshell
- Richard Edwards – You
- Brooke Borg – Unstoppable
- Claudia Faniello – Breathlessly
Richard Edwards previously represented Malta in 2014 as part of the band Firelight. Claudia Faniello will be making her ninth appearance in the contest – will this finally pay off for her?
?? Saturday 18th February – Poland – Krajowe Eliminacje 2017
While making it into the Eurovision final three years in a row, Poland has managed to reinvent themselves as a strong contender in Eurovision, and will be hoping to improve on Michał Szpak’s eight place in Stockholm. Ten candidates fight for the Polish ticket on Saturday;
- Martin Fitch – Fight For Us
- Kasia Moś – Flashlight
- Carmell – Faces
- Agata Nizińska – Reason
- Rafał Brzozowski – Sky Over Europe
- Isabell Otrębusy-Larsson – Voiceless
- Margaret Uściłowska – Only Human
- Aneta Sablik – Ulalala
- Paulla – I Want To Be There With You
- Olaf Bresse – You Look Good
Martin Fitch is the new stage name of Marcin Mrozinski who sang for Poland in Oslo seven years ago. Can he make a second appearance in Kiev?
?? Saturday 18th February – Slovenia – EMA 2017 Semi-Final 2
The second semi-final takes place on Saturday following the first. 8 acts will hope to make it through;
- Clemens – Tok ti sede
- Raiven – Zažarim
- Kataya & Duncan Kamakana – Are You There
- BQL – Heart of Gold
- Ina Shai – Colour Me
- United Pandaz & Arsello ft. Alex Volasko – Heart To Heart
- Tim Kores Kori – Open Fire
- Nuška Drašček – Flower In The Snow
Keep an eye out for the rather unique United Pandaz!
?? Saturday 18th February – Sweden – Melodifestivalen 2017 Semi-Final 3
This week’s semi-final in Sweden may be devoid of bigger hitters but there are still a few names to watch out for;
- Robin Bengtsson – I Can’t Go On
- Krista Siegfrids – Snurra min jord
- Anton Hagman – Kiss You Goodbye
- Jasmine Kara – Gravity
- Owe Thörnqvist – Boogieman Blues
- Bella & Filippa – Crucified
- FO&O – Gotta Thing About You
FO&O were previously better known as The Fooo Conspiracy. Krista Siegfrids is a Fennoswede who represented her native Finland in 2013 and also hosted Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu last month. Can either of them make it to the final?
?? Saturday 18th February – Ukraine – Vidbir 2017 Semi-Final 3
Ukraine continues its search for a home talent on Saturday with the last of three semi-finals. The participating acts are;
- Payushchie Trusy – Singing Pants
- O.Torvald – Time
- Anastasia Prudius – Flow
- Vitaly Kozlovsky – Be Your Light
- Kadnay – Freedom In My Mind
- Melovin – Wonder
- Green Grey – Future Is On
- Vivienne Mort – Iniy
?? Sunday 19th February – Latvia – Supernova Semi-Final
After the two heats, Latvia now has its eight semi-finalists. Only four of these acts can make it through to the Supernova final at the end of February – but you can bet we’ll have some more Riga Beaver fun to break up the tension along the way.
- Miks Dukurs – Spiritual Priest
- Lauris Valters – Magic Years
- Franco Franco – Up
- Linda Leen – Who Is In Charge
- Santa Daņeļeviča – Your Breath
- My Radiant You – All I Know
- The Ludvig – I’m In Love With You
- Triana Park – Line
?? Sunday 19th February – Portugal – Festival da Canção 2017 Semi-Final
Portugal return from their Swedish hiatus with the familiarity of Festival da Canção 2017. Sunday’s first semi-final sees eight acts taking place, with a strong Portugueseclanguage lineup. The eoght acts are;
- Márcia – Agora
- Golden Slumbers – Para perto
- Fernando Daniel – Poema a dois
- Deolinda Kinzimba – O que eu vi nos meus sonhos
- Rui Drumond – O teu melhor
- Lisa Garden – Without You
- Salvador Sobral – Amar pelos dois
- Viva La Diva – Nova glória
