Printable version of thread

Posted by: gooddelta 11th August 2013, 02:41 PM

Welcome to the 3rd installment of FSR Rontvia's national thread. All future news and info will be kept in here, whilst the first post shall contain our results history which is currently as follows;

I - Delta Goodrem - Believe Again - 17th (Rontvia chart peak - #1) - FLOP
II - Natasha Bedingfield - Stumble - 18th (Rontvia chart peak - #3) - FLOP
III - Andreas Johnson - Glorious - 8th (Rontvia chart peak - N/A) - HIT
IV - Sara Bareilles - Love Song - 1st - WINNER #1 (Rontvia chart peak - #1) - HIT
V - Sibel - Make Believe - 8th (Rontvia chart peak - #5) - HIT
VI - Untouched - Smack Me - 5th (Rontvia chart peak - #17) - HIT
VII - Maria & Mira - Mine All Mine - 3rd (Rontvia chart peak - #3) - HIT
VIII - Thermostatic - Driving - 19th (Rontvia chart peak - #7) - FLOP
IX - Sanna Nielsen - Nobody Without You - 4th (Rontvia chart peak - #2) - HIT
X - Mira Craig - Headhunted - DNQ #1 (Rontvia chart peak - #1) - FLOP
XI - Pixie - Boys & Girls - 3rd (Rontvia chart peak - #3) - HIT
XII - Vincent - Miss Blue - DNQ #2 (Rontvia chart peak - #4) - FLOP
XIII - The Sound Of Arrows - M.A.G.I.C. - 2nd (Rontvia chart peak - #1) - HIT
XIV - Uh Huh Her - Not A Love Song - 1st - WINNER #2 (Rontvia chart peak - #2) - HIT
XV - Emiliana Torrini - Jungle Drum - 6th (Rontvia chart peak - #6) - HIT
XVI - Blänk feat Young Ivy - I'm Going For Your Brother - 10th (Rontvia chart peak - #3) - HIT
XVII - Beautiful Small Machines - Robots In Love - 1st - WINNER #3 (Rontvia chart peak - #1) - HIT
XVIII - Example - Watch The Sun Come Up (Neon Cloud Edit) - 25th (Rontvia chart peak - #3) - FLOP
XIX - Hafdis Huld - Kongulo - 14th (Rontvia chart peak - #1) - HIT
XX - Anna Abreu - Music Everywhere - 2nd (Rontvia chart peak - #1) - HIT
XXI - Fabio Lendrum - Don't Wait For Me - 8th (Rontvia chart peak - #2) - HIT
XXII - Caroline Jönsson - By My Side - 5th (Rontvia chart peak - #2) - HIT
XXIII - Shackles - Breaking The Silence - 10th (Rontvia chart peak - #1) - HIT
XXIV - Staygold feat Spank Rock, Lady Tigra and Damien Adore - Backseat - 10th (Rontvia chart peak - #1) - HIT
XXV - Caro Emerald - A Night Like This - 12th (Rontvia chart peak - #2) - HIT
XXVI - Sheelah - Psycho - 1st - WINNER #4 (Rontvia chart peak - #1) - HIT
XXVII - Lena Meyer-Landrut & Ellie Goulding - Not Following - 5th - (Rontvia chart peak - #3) - HIT
XXVIII - Markoolio & Linda Bengtzing - Värsta Schlagern - 20th (Rontvia chart peak - #6) - HIT
XXIX - Zowie - Broken Machine - 2nd (Rontvia chart peak #2) - HIT
XXX - Her Majesty & The Wolves - Stars In Their Eyes - 7th (Rontvia chart peak - #6) - HIT
XXXI - Sheelah - The Last Time - 1st (Rontvia chart peak - #1) - HIT
XXXII - Lykke Li - Sadness Is A Blessing - 1st (Rontvia chart peak - #2) - HIT
XXXIII - Brittany McDonald - Strawberry Shake - 12th (Rontvia chart peak - #3) - HIT
XXXIV - Eric Amarillo - Om Sanningen Ska Fram - 6th (Rontvia chart peak - #1) - HIT
XXXV - Chart Music - All My Life - 1st (Rontvia chart peak - #2) - HIT
XXXVI - Ria - Over You - 9th (Rontvia chart peak - #2) - HIT
XXXVII - Katie Cole - Sunrise - 10th (Rontvia chart peak - #1) - HIT
XXXVIII - Lise Karlsnes - Red Hot - 2nd (Rontvia chart peak - #1) - HIT
IXL - Elsiane - Vaporous - 7th (Rontvia chart peak #2) - HIT
XL - Adaline - Whiter/Straighter - 18th (Rontvia chart peak #3) - FLOP
XLI - Prance Faris - Flares - 3rd (Rontvia chart peak #1) - HIT
XLII - Gossling - Wild Love - 14th (Rontvia chart peak #4) - HIT
XLIII - Rae Morris - Don't Go - 14th (Rontvia chart peak #1) - HIT
XLIV - Mr Little Jeans - Runaway - 8th (Rontvia chart peak #2) - HIT
XLV - Haloo Helsinki! - Maailman Toisella Puolen - 8th (Rontvia chart peak #2) - HIT
XLVI - ATB feat Ramona Nerra - Never Give Up - 27th (Rontvia chart peak #1) - FLOP
XLVII - Jenny Langlo - Million Dollar Signs - 24th (Rontvia chart peak #3) - FLOP
XLVIII - Frida Amundsen - Rush - 27th (Rontvia chart peak #3) - FLOP
XLIX - Still Corners - Fireflies - 12th (Rontvia chart peak #3) - HIT
L - Delta Goodrem - Hunters And The Wolves - 2nd (Rontvia chart peak #1) - HIT
LI - Nádine - I Will Be Strong - 24th (Rontvia chart peak #1) - FLOP
LII - Verona - Fallin' In Love - 16th (Rontvia chart peak #3) - FLOP
LIII - Michael Woods - Platinum Chains (Rontvian Club Edit) - 4th (Rontvia chart peak #1) - HIT
LIV - Rivaz - Colors - 3rd (Rontvia chart peak #1) - HIT
LV - Sanne Salomonsen - Du & Jeg - DNQ (Rontvia chart peak #3) - FLOP
LVI - Mark Lower - Bad Boys Cry - DNQ (Rontvia chart peak #2) - FLOP
LVII - DJ Kent feat The Arrows - Spin My World - DNQ (Rontvia chart peak #1) - FLOP
LVIII - Tensnake feat Fiora - 58 BPM - 30th (Rontvia chart peak #3) - FLOP
LIX - Hozier - Take Me To Church - 11th (Rontvia chart peak #1) - HIT
LX - RL Grime - Because Of U - 3rd (Rontvia chart peak #2) - HIT
LXI - Public Service Broadcasting - Spitfire - 15th (Rontvia chart peak #3) - HIT
LXII - Helene Fischer - Atemlos Durch Die Nacht - 12th (Rontvia chart peak #1) - HIT
LXIII - Sweet California - This Is The Life - 8th (Rontvia chart peak #4) - HIT
LXIV - RAM feat Susana - RAMelia (Tribute To Amelia) - 1st (Rontvia chart peak #1) - HIT
LXV - Andreas Bourani - Auf Uns - 13th (Rontvia chart peak #1) - HIT
LXVI - Safari - I Need You - DNQ (Rontvia chart peak #1) - FLOP
LXVII - Sheppard - A Grade Playa - DNQ (Rontvia chart peak #1) - FLOP
LXVIII - Goldfish - Moonwalk Away (Moonlanding Mix) - 4th (Rontvia chart peak #3) - HIT
LXIX - Minx feat Hannah Joy - Hold On - 14th (Rontvia chart peak #2) - HIT
LXX - Walk The Moon - Shut Up and Dance - 4th (Rontvia chart peak #1) - HIT
LXXI - Ulf Nilsson - Little By Little (Lulleaux and George Whyman Remix) - 3rd (Rontvia chart peak #2) - HIT
LXXII - Kadebostany - Castle In The Snow - DNQ (Rontvia chart peak #3) - FLOP
LXXIII - Halleluwah - Dior - DNQ (Rontvia chart peak #2) - FLOP
LXXIV - Andy Duguid feat Jaren - 7even - 15th (Rontvia chart peak #2) - HIT
LXXV - Timo Odv feat Sarah Jackson - Save Me - 24th (Rontvia chart peak #3) - FLOP
LXXVI - Paper Route - You And I - DNQ (Rontvia chart peak #3) - FLOP
LXXVII - Wrabel - I Want You - 38th (Rontvia chart peak #2) - FLOP
LXXVIII - Ryan Hemsworth feat Tomggg - Cream Soda - DNQ (Rontvia chart peak #2) - FLOP
LXXIX - The Rua - Fight For What's Right - 37th (Rontvia chart peak #1) - FLOP
LXXX - One More Time - Highland - 10th (Rontvia chart peak #2) - HIT
LXXXI - Pegboard Nerds - Emoji - 14th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
LXXXII - Pixie Paris - Es Rappelt Im Karton - 16th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
LXXXIII - RØMANS feat Rejjie Snow - Prisoner - 29th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #4) - FLOP
LXXXIV - KOLAJ - The Touch - 5th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
LXXXV - Real Lies - North Circular - 34th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
LXXXVI - Olivia - I'm Not Your Lady - 7th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
LXXXVII - Ortiga - Ilumbarada - 5th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
LXXXVIII - Theia - Roam - 37th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
LXXXIX - Alyss - T S I E R - 9th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #2) - HIT
XC - Natalia Nykiel - Error - 14th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
XCI - Daithí - Mary Keanes Introduction - DNQ (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
XCII - Black Motion feat Nokwazi - Imali - DNQ (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
XCIII - Tina Guo - Super Mario Bros. - 12th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #3) - HIT
XCIV - Huntza - Aldapan Gora - 26th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #2) - FLOP
XCV - Emma Bale - Worth It - 26th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #2) - FLOP
XCVI - Yaşar Gaga - Şahane Bir Şey Yaşamak - 9th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
XCVII - Kosmonova - Danse Avec Moi! - 4th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #2) - HIT
XCVIII - Dacia - Muistot - DNQ (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #2) - FLOP
XCIX - Tom Fall - Kaamos - 6th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
C - Delta Goodrem - Take Me Home - 17th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #2) - HIT
CI - E^ST - Life Goes On - 29th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CII - Fever High feat Jeff Goldblum - Good Advice - 35th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CIII - Freya Ridings - Lost Without You (Live At St Pancras Old Church) - 2nd (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CIV - Bart & Baker feat. The Billy Bros Orchestra - We Are What We Are (Wolfgang Lohr Remix) - 15th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CV - Millie Turner - The Shadow - 6th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CVI - Dolcenera - Un Altro Giorno Sulla Terra - DNQ (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CVII - Goodluck feat Boris Smith - Be Yourself - 21st (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CVIII - Yusuf Can Kurt & Emircan Hattat feat La Dee Eda - Dream - DNQ (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CIX - Tautumeitas - Sadziedami - DNQ (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CX - Tic Tac Toe - Warum (Out Of Space Mix) - 24th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CXI - Lichtblick - Feuerregen - 37th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CXII - Wim Mertens - Close Cover - 8th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #2) - HIT
CXIII - DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ - All The Beautiful Things U Do - 15th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CXIV - Friends feat Jean-Pierre Barda – Pacmahara – DNQ (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CXV - Swim Deep - To Feel Good - 14th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CXVI - Spacetrain - Salsa Me - 36th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CXVII - IDER - Swim - 26th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CXVIII - Lily Moore - Over You - 18th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CXIX - Wolfgang Wee - In My Arms - DNQ (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CXX - Spinifex Gum & Marliya Choir - Sisters - 13th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CXXI - Midnight Kids feat Annika Wells - Run It - 3rd (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CXXII - Tol & Tol - Eleni - 27th - (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #3) - FLOP
CXXIII - Way Out West - Mindcircus - 18th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CXIV - SACHI feat Naïka - Enchanté - 20th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CXXV - Hayley Ross - Come Back (N-Joi Remix) - 6th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CXXVI - Loods - Gummi - 19th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #2) - HIT
CXXVII - Ndlovu Youth Choir - We Will Rise - 32nd (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #3) - FLOP
CXXVIII - Mason - Alive - DNQ (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CXXIX - Pomplamoose feat dodie - Monster - DNQ (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CXXX - Capulets - Stranger Love - 3rd (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CXXXI - Thomas Lemmer & Christoph Sebastian Pabst - Gebirgsbachtürkis - 27th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CXXXII - Alba August - Lights - 9th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CXXXIII - Hello Saferide - Anna - DNQ (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #2) - FLOP
CXXXIV - ishi vu - This is your Life - 3rd (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CXXXV - Self Esteem - I Do This All The Time - 10th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CXXXVI - thisisNAMASTE - I Like Your Face - 34th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CXXXVII - Cora - Amsterdam - 35th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CXXXVIII - DJ Muscleboy feat Yohanna - Spending My Time - 20th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #2) - HIT
CXXXIX - Sally Shapiro - Forget About You - 24th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CXL - Alex M.O.R.P.H. feat Sylvia Tosun - An Angel's Love - 11th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CXLI - Jadudah - Love You (When You're a Mess) - 17th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CXLII - Paul Seul - BDF (Summer 21 Happy Mix) - DNQ (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CXLIII - Krisu - The Ocean Sings to Me in Turquoise Waves - 27th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #2) - FLOP
CXLIV - Holy Molly - Shot A Friend - 2nd (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CXLV - Naked Flames - 247 365 - 27th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CXLVI - Hudson Mohawke - Bicstan - 4th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CXLVII - AR/CO - Call Me By My Name - 13th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CXLVIII - Shaun Baker - Frontline - DNQ (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #2) - FLOP
CXLIX - Jessica Winter - Choreograph - 2nd (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CL - Cassie Raptor feat Rebeka Warrior - O.B.I.C - 10th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CLI - Of Wild - Haddaway - 18th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CLII - Dzivia - Voryva - 2nd (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CLIII - Billx & Otyken - My Wing (Rave Music Edit) - 2nd (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #2) - HIT
CLIV - Powerwolf - Sainted By The Storm - 11th - (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CLV - Zaho de Sagazan - Tristesse - 4th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #2) - HIT
CLVI - FIZZ - High In Brighton - 36th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CLVII - WIIGZ - French Tips - DNQ (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #3) - FLOP
CLVIII - Kali Mutsa - Hayako Hayako - 6th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CLIX - The Rhythm Method - Please Don't Die - 30th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CLX - The Kiffness - Sometimes I'm Alone (Lonely Cat) - 9th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CLXI - Prima Queen - Butter Knife - 25th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CLXII - Valtos & Elephant Sessions - 1990 - 32nd (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - FLOP
CLXIII - Die Arkitekt feat Lena Platonos - Mirkhel - 7th (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - HIT
CLXIV - Sophie Straat & Metropole Orkest - Gebroken Spiegels - TBC (Rontvia Spotify chart peak #1) - TBC

Posted by: gooddelta 11th August 2013, 02:42 PM

Just realised the last thread had hit 50 pages, so here's 3.0, and the most recent posts from the last one;

Posted by: Silas 11th August 2013, 03:19 PM

Yay! Welcome to the 3.0 club Rich!!

Posted by: ღKΛTH 11th August 2013, 03:19 PM

Loving that blog post BTW. 'Spin My World' does sound like it could crossover internationally indeed, I'm yet to get Kent's album but I saw it was top 5 in the albums chart so I'm obviously missing out! I'm guessing my entry this month hasn't quite caught on in Rontvia, 'Closer' is MILES better than 'Sun in My Pocket'.

Posted by: Harve 11th August 2013, 03:42 PM

You set yourself high standards - you were in the top third of the entries that month!

Posted by: gooddelta 11th August 2013, 03:47 PM

Finally



Thanks Kath! It wouldn't sound out of place on Disclosure's album, so I don't see why it couldn't catch on here! There's nothing as commercial as Spin My World, and there are a lot of chillout type songs on it, but it's an enjoyable background listen with a few real highlights for potential future singles. I hadn't listened to your entry when writing that post this morning, I've literally just finished listening to them properly!



I guess, and it was technically joint 15th, which was a hit, but officially not. Nowadays I consider getting to the final to be a hit of sorts considering how competitive it is in BJSC now, maybe I should just say top half of all of the entries is a hit? Out of 51 entries, coming top 25 in the final perhaps!?

Posted by: Bré 11th August 2013, 05:38 PM

I'm technically in the 3.0 club as well but just because I had a country name change and then later was too lazy to bump my Persephonia thread and started a new one instead

Posted by: Silas 11th August 2013, 05:45 PM

Abandoning threads half way through doesn't count!

We're the only two to have hit 50pages twice.

Posted by: Bré 11th August 2013, 07:00 PM

I don't think I'm even close to 50 pages with all 3 of my threads combined lol.

I'll be up there with you guys soon!!!

Posted by: P∆VEL 12th August 2013, 08:47 AM

Well everybody else is not whore enough to have 80% of their own posts in their respective national threads.

Posted by: gooddelta 18th August 2013, 08:38 PM

Spin My World is the third DNQ in a row for FSR Rontvia

Ricardo Delta has been rendered speechless at FSR Rontvia's third DNQ and huge failure in a row with Spin My World by DJ Kent feat The Arrows. The song, which has spent two weeks atop the Rontvian national charts thus far, continues a dramatic downfall in Rontvia's BJSC fortunes. 'It's a great shame. It's a beautiful song and the piano melody and lovely vocals have captured the hearts of our public but clearly it hasn't translated at all across The Buzzjack World. We're not sure where to go next, the nation is in mourning but we've got nothing else to lose now so who knows!'.

Posted by: Silas 18th August 2013, 08:40 PM

Seems like FSR Rontvia is having a Ashton moment in the 20's.

Posted by: gooddelta 18th August 2013, 08:44 PM

I thought about that the other day! Didn't you have 4 in a row? Most of them were SO undeserved, Nat Bass especially

Posted by: Silas 18th August 2013, 08:50 PM

Yeah! Understood the first two in a way but Nat and Kriistina were so undeserved

Posted by: ღKΛTH 18th August 2013, 08:56 PM

So undeserved Rich. I am absolutely HUGE on the song right now and so is the whole of South Africa the song is EVERYWHERE and smashing on iTunes.
It's got so much more BJSC appeal than my own entry which is why I'm especially shocked, it has to be a case of #WrongSemi. I just fail to comprehend how it can DNQ. So gutted.

Posted by: *Tim 18th August 2013, 08:57 PM

Rontvia... the new Holland?

Posted by: gooddelta 18th August 2013, 09:08 PM

Turn The Lights On is such a gem, I still play it a lot!



The bizarre thing is, when I posted about it on my blog it caused a MAJOR reaction, loads of my friends and other readers of the blog got in touch via FB/e-mail to say that they loved the track! I get that it's probably a grower though and perhaps not right for the contest but that piano melody is SO good, it's even inspired me to learn to play the song on the piano myself (which I mastered this afternoon! ). BJSC is, after all, a cross section of 50 people with differing music tastes and what appeals to us isn't necessarily refelected elsewhere so I'm not TOO bothered by it. Look at how hard Ray Foxx flopped in BJSC last month and he smashes into the UK top 15 this week! Garage and house has never done well in BJSC so it's not a surprise whatsoever, just a disappointment!



I should send something from Anouk's album next month

Posted by: Mạrt!n 18th August 2013, 09:21 PM

You seem to have lost your mojo, I did find DJ Kent borderline (ish), you should try sending Mira again

Posted by: gooddelta 18th August 2013, 09:31 PM

I think I'll pass! I just haven't really found anything with BJSC hit potential recently!

Posted by: gooddelta 30th August 2013, 08:56 AM

Still Corners' Fireflies now has an official video:



Ooh, listening to this again always reminds me why I fell in love with it in the first place and sent it, so gorgeous Strange that it didn't make the top ten, sounds like an easy BJSC top five looking back! Definitely one I should have used in Unknown Pleasures instead I reckon.

Posted by: P∆VEL 30th August 2013, 10:07 AM

It's like karma getting back at you for all those near-misses and bottom 5's in the final in XL's

Posted by: gooddelta 30th August 2013, 11:49 AM

Evidently. FSR Rontvia just weren't C O O L enough to send a song like this, a hipster country would have taken it into the top five.

Posted by: gooddelta 7th September 2013, 04:54 PM

German producer Tensnake slows down the tempo for Rontvia's 58th entry

Following three consecutive DNQ's, the RTVN have turned to German producer Tensnake for FSR Rontvia's 58th BJSC entry, coincidentally titled 58BPM. Botanikka sent Tensnake's song Mainline a few months ago, although after Ricardo Delta had finished 3rd with it in Unknown Pleasures at the start of the year, so there is some sideways recycling going on here. However, the song is completely different to the 90s throwback Mainline. 58 BPM, which features vocals by Fiora, is an atmospheric slow jam, set at 58 Beats Per Minute, reminiscent of Jessie Ware, Cyril Hahn and other chillout artists. FSR Rontvia hope that the song, already a major top five domestic hit will finally return the nation to the BJSC final!

Posted by: Silas 7th September 2013, 05:00 PM

I get the horrible feeling that this is going to be your 'Turn The Lights On'

Posted by: gooddelta 7th September 2013, 05:25 PM

I hope not but I'm prepared for anything, 2013 is a write off for us anyway now!

However I'm in love with this track (so much so that I even blogged about it last week!) so I'm keeping the faith!

Posted by: gooddelta 20th September 2013, 09:37 PM

Spin My World gets an official video/radio edit!



Can I just send this again? But obviously without the DNQ bit because this is one of the best songs of the year!

Posted by: Silas 21st September 2013, 02:40 PM

So glad that this wasn't your very own Turn The Lights On and is doing what it should have done!

Posted by: gooddelta 21st September 2013, 04:46 PM

Thanks I'm so pleased to be back in the final although I'm anticipating a bottom ten finish! The only way is up however, so watch out next month

Posted by: *Tim 21st September 2013, 04:49 PM

Coming bottom ten in a contest this strong is no bad thing!
You'll most likely be joined by me so you'll have great company

Posted by: gooddelta 21st September 2013, 04:50 PM

Well I'm hoping your entry will finish in the top half, fab song

Posted by: gooddelta 5th October 2013, 06:28 PM

Luck of the Irish? Hozier steps up for BJSC 59



Having suffered three consecutive DNQ's and a 30th place finish in BJSC 58 with Tensnake's luscious 58 BPM, FSR Rontvia have decided to take a completely different approach this month. Following a year of near back to back dance track's, Dubliner Hozier's Take Me To Church is a haunting blues/gospel/indie hybrid with an instant, addictive melody and an incredibly controversial video that looks at Russia's views on homosexuality in a very graphic way. Ricardo Delta said 'this really is a very different type of entry for us, it's rare that we send a purely male vocal track and this one is very hard hitting with a serious message. The melody is really something special and Hozier's vocals are raw and powerful'. The track debuted at No.4 in the Rontvian charts last week and is set to climb into the top three this week.
Hear the song and watch the powerful video below:

Posted by: gooddelta 20th October 2013, 09:42 PM

Hozier finishes 11th, first Rontvian hit since the instrumental dance duo earlier in the year

After three consecutive DNQ's and 30th place in the final last month, FSR Rontvia experienced something of a mini return to form with our first ever 11th place, having been lucky to finish 10th on a number of occasions before! Hozier's song Take Me To Church, which climbed to No.1 in FSR Rontvia this week, scored 111 points in 11th place, behind a very solid top ten and way in front of the rest of the pack in 12th and below. Ricardo Delta said 'this result restores some credibility to the nation, we've had a pretty appalling year aside from Colors and Platinum Chains finishing inside the top five, and it's nice to get a hit again. Hopefully we can continue this form in the 60th contest'. Trifoski won the contest, held in Ramrynia.

Posted by: gooddelta 26th October 2013, 09:04 AM

Hozier hit #2 in Ireland, #1 on iTunes

Take Me To Church by Hozier, FSR Rontvia's entry to the 59th BJSC, has gone to #1 on iTunes in Ireland, resulting in a climb to No.2 officially. This is thought to be its first step to impending world domination in 2014. Watch this space...

Posted by: gooddelta 3rd November 2013, 11:22 PM

Because Of U by trapstep artist RL Grime for Rontvia XL!

Rounding off a very dancy year for FSR Rontvia, with monster smashes from Michael Woods and Rivaz, and embarrassing failures from Mark Lower and DJ Kent, Rontvia's final entry of the year is Because Of U by American producer RL Grime. The trap/dubstep hybrid track is another variation of the dance genre from the nation, following house, bassline and trance entries during the year. Ricardo Delta said 'the majority of Rontvia's biggest selling singles during 2013 have been dance hits so the fact that we are sending another big dance anthem reflects that. Hozier did very respectably for us last month with a very different type of song and we remain sure that Take Me To Church will be a future worldwide hit on some scale. However, Because Of U has a great, very instant hook with some fantastic production that builds and builds in different ways throughout the track. We're really excited to send it!'

Posted by: Queenderella 3rd November 2013, 11:40 PM

such audacity to send an artist previously sent by THE HOST NATION merely 2 contests ago

Posted by: gooddelta 3rd November 2013, 11:49 PM

He only remixed that track, and it wasn't exactly a smash by Trifoski's usual standards!

(plus I didn't notice until a couple of days after I'd confirmed )

Posted by: *Bré 3rd November 2013, 11:58 PM

Trifoski don't have a 'usual standard'. They either win, DNQ, or come around low top 20.

Posted by: gooddelta 18th November 2013, 11:35 PM

RL Grime smashes with a top three finish!

Trap song Because Of U by American producer RL Grime has finished in third place in Trifoski, with a stunning five 12 pointers! It rounds off a mixed year very nicely for the nation in a period that's seen two third places and a 4th place, a couple of other mid-table hits and three consecutive DNQ's during the summer, Rontvia's first in five years! Ricardo Delta said 'we're pretty surprised at the reaction to Because Of U, in a good way. We thought it might edge us back into the top ten but never envisaged another top three finish! We've sent a lot of dance music this year and even though DJ Kent and Mark Lower DNQ'd for us, on the other end of the spectrum, Michael Woods, Rivaz and RL Grime provided our biggest successes! We're pretty pleased with 13th for the year all things considered. We may not be one of the top nations anymore but we can still pull a top three out of the bag every now and then!'. Eledan's Cut Copy won the contest with a song that FSR Rontvia awarded the full 12 points to. Because Of U is Rontvia's 17th top three finish. This total includes seven winners and five second and third placers.

Posted by: gooddelta 24th December 2013, 11:21 PM

So Colors now has a (questionable) vocal mix!

Posted by: ✖ leww ✖ 24th December 2013, 11:25 PM

oh forgot to link that! yeah, it's awful

Posted by: gooddelta 24th December 2013, 11:34 PM

I sort of like it but it's a pretty tacky vocal that sounds like an eJay sample circa 1999. Would have probably sounded better with a male vocal, or better yet, left as it was!

Posted by: gooddelta 1st February 2014, 12:20 AM

Spitfire finishes 15th with 93 points!

In the opening contest of 2014, and with a record shattering number of entries, Public Service Broadcasting did FSR Rontvia proud with the unusual Spitfire, which finished in 15th place with 93 points. The experimental track which fuses indie music with war radio samples scored votes from a wide range of nations. Spitfire peaked at No.3 in the Rontvian charts. Ricardo Delta said: ''It's nice to get a good result when mixing it up a bit genre wise. We're pleased with the result and already have a number of entries in contention for the next contest". The contest, held in Eledan, was won by Daehun.

Posted by: SevenSeize 1st February 2014, 12:30 AM

liked Spitfire alot! glad it did well as it was a somewhat risky choice (since it seems most of PSB's fanbase don't take part in BJSC)

Posted by: gooddelta 1st February 2014, 12:34 AM

Thanks! I guess I'm trying to diversify my entries a bit recently. Yeah I figured that only about 2 or 3 max of their fans were here so it was relatively safe to send.

Posted by: gooddelta 16th February 2014, 08:31 PM

FSR Rontvia finally send a German language song!

After very nearly sending Stadt by Cassandra Steen and Adel Tawil in 2009, FSR Rontvia have finally got around to sending a German language song to BJSC. Atemlos Durch Die Nacht by Helene Fischer is an anthemic slice of schlager and the poppiest entry that the nation has sent for many years, after months of more alternative offerings. The singer, a big star in Germany, has already hit #2 in FSR Rontvia with the song, stalling behind Shakira and Rihanna and Katy B. Ricardo Delta said: "It's Eurovision season and we're in full on pop mode, so we had to send a big schlager song this month, no matter how unfashionable it might be. We're hoping that it gets a good reception."

Posted by: Silas 16th February 2014, 09:20 PM

*.* FSR RONTVIA RETURNS TO SCHLAGER


!!!


This has exceptional past precedence. Douze Points ahoy.

Posted by: *Bré 16th February 2014, 09:21 PM

Posted by: gooddelta 16th February 2014, 09:25 PM

I thought you'd be pleased

And Bray, as if I'd leave!

Posted by: *Bré 16th February 2014, 09:43 PM

I think you missed the joke.

Posted by: gooddelta 16th February 2014, 10:05 PM

Ah yes! The age old 'FSR Ashvia points swap' joke!

Posted by: gooddelta 12th March 2014, 08:31 AM

Icons!

Posted by: RuPavel 12th March 2014, 08:47 AM

Who be that?

Or are you hinting you're sending something very mediocre yet AGAIN oops

Posted by: gooddelta 12th March 2014, 10:29 AM

The Arrows!

Been there, done that, flopped.

Posted by: gooddelta 22nd March 2014, 03:57 PM

Spanish girlband get their Avicii Britney on for 63!

Rontvia's first ever entry by a Spanish contestant will be girlband Sweet California with the country-pop-dance hybrid This Is The Life. Ricardo Delta tells us more...

"This sound has been absolutely massive in FSR Rontvia over the past year. Avicii's Wake Me Up and Pitbull and Ke$ha's Timber were both huge No.1's and Britney Spears even went top ten with a bonus album track with this sound, Now That I Found You. This Is The Life basically sounds like all of these songs put together and we unasahmedly love it and really hope that it will win some fans across The Buzzjack World! The girls are very excited to be representing us with what is our poppiest entry in over a year! We've dabbled in some different genres recently with Hozier, RL Grime and Public Service Broadcasting but FSR Rontvia is primarily a pop and dance led nation."

The song is set to enter the Rontvian charts this weekend! Here the song and watch the video below:

Posted by: Conderella≥ 29th March 2014, 06:05 AM

Former BJSC winners and Rontvian entrants, American group Uh Huh Her released their *insert correct number*th album a few days ago.

A total of 6 people cared.

Posted by: gooddelta 29th March 2014, 08:18 AM

Already downloaded it on iTunes 2 days ago, keep up Pav!

Posted by: *Tim 1st April 2014, 11:07 AM

This may just be your best entry since I entered! It's on the same level as Platinum Chains for me

Posted by: gooddelta 1st April 2014, 11:14 AM

Glad it has its fans. Nice to hear Tim

I knew it would be a polarising entry but most of my entries seem to be these days as I always send songs that appeal to very specific niches, be it big cheesy pop, German schlager, trap or indie, and that's just the past four contests

Posted by: Conderella≥ 1st April 2014, 11:18 AM

Ew.

All I can say is ew.

Anna Abreu was better and you know how I feel about Anna Ab(omination)reu.

Posted by: gooddelta 1st April 2014, 11:24 AM

I was really expecting a 12 from Eledan this month. Disappointed

Posted by: gooddelta 3rd April 2014, 03:43 PM

Another (great) Sweet California song just leaked called Hell To The No, what a trashtastic title *.* These girls have a lot of potential for me to make great pop music, will definitely keep an eye on their future output.

You can hear it here: http://www.josepvinaixa.com/blog/sweet-california-break-of-day-official-album-tracklist/

It also has the album details, out in two weeks

Posted by: JSG 3rd April 2014, 04:40 PM

Good Luck tonight. Sweet California is a Tune!

Posted by: gooddelta 3rd April 2014, 05:27 PM

Glad you like it James! Good luck to you too!

Posted by: gooddelta 15th April 2014, 07:59 AM

Sweet California make it another 8th place finish

For the SIXTH time in the history of the contest, FSR Rontvia has finished in 8th place, marking its 38th top ten finish. Spanish girl group Sweet California's This Is The Life scored 109 points. Ricardo Delta, head of RTVN said: "We're chuffed with this result. The song attracted a lot of mixed reactions due to its low production values but we're pleased to see that a great melody can still get you far in this contest. It's been a big top five hit in FSR Rontvia, even in competitive Eurovision season, and it seems to be taking off in some other countries too which we're happy to see. It's been nice to return to our pop roots for a couple of months and we hope to continue this hit rate, finishing top half in the final for five contests in a row is extremely hard to do these days and we're proud to have achieved this!" Eledan won the contest, hosted by FARC and Aeroche, with RuPaul's Sissy That Walk.

Posted by: *BraBaric 15th April 2014, 04:08 PM

Budtar would NEVER have gotten away with this.

Posted by: gooddelta 15th April 2014, 04:13 PM

Any country who can get Best Friend's Brother into the final could have easily got away with this.

Posted by: *BraBaric 15th April 2014, 04:16 PM

I mean if they sent it now ~ XXXV was a different time. (A time when Sweet California would have probably won, eww)

Posted by: Sibariclas 15th April 2014, 08:58 PM

XXXV was a better time, I miss the Scandipop revival of the late 20's/early 30's.

Posted by: gooddelta 15th April 2014, 09:05 PM

If people are voting for me on country name alone then how do you explain the three consecutive DNQ's last year?

Posted by: *BraBaric 15th April 2014, 09:33 PM

Wizards.

Posted by: C▲nderella 15th April 2014, 09:59 PM

You're not relevant anymore~~

Posted by: gooddelta 15th April 2014, 10:33 PM

4th for the year to date.

Posted by: C▲nderella 16th April 2014, 06:05 AM

Had any wins since the Paleozolic era?

Posted by: gooddelta 16th April 2014, 07:38 AM

Technically, but I lost out on a tie

Posted by: gooddelta 19th April 2014, 06:55 PM

Not sure where to post this but I didn't want to spam the lounge so I'll pop it in here just in case anybody is interested in voting. My friend and I have launched a contest called UK Calling 2014. Basically it's 10 British songs competing against each other, the winner of which will go towards a future competition with the winning songs from other countries (the selection processes of which are run by other people from those countries).

It's a varied selection of songs of different genres, I was responsible for songs 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, some of which will come as no surprise! My friend picked the other five! Hoping to get a few BJ voters involved so if you have time to listen to 10 songs please do, it's got quite an interesting voting system too, you have 10 points to distribute across the 10 songs, in any way you wish, so you can give more to your favourites! I'm running it through my blog as it seemed like an obvious place to do so. Here's the link, it's open until the end of May so no rush!

http://poplovedance.blogspot.co.uk/p/uk-calling-2014-comeback.html

Posted by: gooddelta 29th April 2014, 07:21 PM

Dutch DJ's tribute to his wife represents FSR Rontvia for BJSC 64

Having sent possibly the tackiest song the contest has seen since Budtar were around last month with Sweet California's 8th placed This Is The Life, FSR Rontvia have as always changed tack completely and this month are sending RAMelia (Tribute To Amelia) by Dutch DJ RAM and singer Susana. The song is a beautiful and emotional ballad for the first minute and a half that then turns into a stunning trance anthem with heartfelt vocals throughout. It is a prime example of how warm the trance genre can be, and akin to the sorts of songs that were topping the Rontvian charts regularly between 1999-2002. The track has been championed by dance legend Armin Van Buuren who has included it on his A State Of Trance 2014 compilation.

The song, which has already hit the top three in the Rontvian charts in the busy Eurovision season, is a touching tribute to RAM's wife Amelia who died last year after a battle with cancer. Ricardo Delta, head of the RTVN, said: "RAMelia really is an absolutely stunning track. I don't think anything we say can explain the beauty of the song more than the music itself."

Posted by: Sibariclas 29th April 2014, 10:49 PM

Kinda wish it stayed a ballad the entire way through (Candlelight Remix must be on the horizon) as the ballad is stunning!


Talking of Candlelight remixes, it is very DJ Sammy.

Posted by: ▲ROBOT 29th April 2014, 11:30 PM

INTERESTING as I was very close to sending Empire Of Hearts from that compilation, delving into my potentials from previous contests. Haven't heard this but have high hopes for another Rontvia banger <3

Posted by: gooddelta 30th April 2014, 04:00 PM

It is by far the most interesting part of the song (although I love the pure trance feel of the second half too). I checked out the extended mix to see if the ballad part was any longer but it wasn't, in fact the radio edit makes far more of an impact.



Empire Of Hearts I think that would have done really well, it was top ten in my chart a few weeks ago, as was Phoenix by Eximinds. So much good stuff on that compilation.

Posted by: Thermo‽ 2nd May 2014, 04:38 PM

Beautiful song. I'm fully behind this one

Posted by: KebabHaus 2nd May 2014, 08:18 PM

Genuinely had to check thrice that i had the right song a minute into this, because it was nothing like the banger i thought it'd be but then my god that last minute grabbed me by surprise. LOVE when a song does that! Wanted it to carry on like that for longer, but I fully get the hype behind this one don't worry~

Posted by: gooddelta 3rd May 2014, 09:57 AM

It's a very unusual song structure isn't it! Especially for people coming to listen for the first time having only heard the dance section of it in the recap.

Posted by: { bré } 3rd May 2014, 12:12 PM

My opinion on the ballad section of this may have been influenced by the fact I knew it was leading into the trance section. I think in isolation it wouldn't sound too good but if you know it's building up to such a fabulous climax it's so much better.

Posted by: gooddelta 7th May 2014, 10:35 PM

I wish I'd been here



Odd how a ballad at a trance festival can provide so much atmosphere! I guess because everybody knew what was coming next.

Posted by: gooddelta 19th May 2014, 06:28 AM

FSR Rontvia bag record 8th win

FSR Rontvia have broken their own record by becoming the first country to win BJSC eight times. Although the odds suggested a landslide victory, in the end FARC ran them rather close. The final score of 282 means that it joins Sheelah's two entries as Rontvia's biggest scorers and indeed BJSC's highest scorers of all time! Ricardo Delta said: 'We're overwhelmed at the moment, it's been three years since we won and last year in particular we were starting to look like we'd finally lost the plot. So to come back this year with two top 15's followed by a top 10 and then a record breaking win is astonishing. We're so glad that people seemed to connect with the beauty and power of RAMelia'. The song is a former No.1 in FSR Rontvia and currently sits at No.3 in the national charts. Rontvia will announce its plans for BJSC 65 before the end of the week.

Posted by: gooddelta 21st May 2014, 09:49 PM

Ricardo Delta announced as host of BJSC 65

Legendary head of RTVN and occasional Rontvian votes spokesperson, the top hat loving Ricardo Delta has been unveiled as the host of BJSC 65. Maria and Mira, who finished 3rd with Mine All Mine in BJSCVII, will provide green room coverage in a 'Loose Lingerie' chatty style and Rontvian and Eurovision star Sanna Nielsen, who finished 4th in BJSC XI with Nobody Without You, will be on the red carpet welcoming the acts. The venue will be the Emerald Arena in capital city Constarvan.

Ricardo Delta said: "We looked long and hard into who should host the 65th contest after three years in the wilderness and in the end the RTVN decided that they would like me to do it. I'm honoured and hope to present the votes and of course reveal the winner in a professional and seamless style. We have some exciting interval acts lined up. We're hoping for a record number of confirmations and with a free pass to the final we're going to really think hard about what to send to the contest ourselves. The trio of DNQ's last summer gave us a much needed kick up the backside and we've had wall-to-wall hits ever since."

Ricardo Delta



Maria and Mira



Sanna Nielsen

Posted by: gooddelta 1st June 2014, 08:14 PM

Second German entry of the year for BJSC 65

BJSC 65 host nation has revealed that it's going to follow RAM and Susana's smashing win with...naturally, a complete change of tack. Andreas Bourani, a 30 year old power pop singer from Augsburg, will represent the nation with his recent German #1 smash Auf Uns! Ricardo Delta, head of RTVN and host of BJSC 65, said: "Auf Uns is a vibrant mix of Agnes strings, Coldplay stadium pop and fine German talent, we're pleased to have Andreas on board. We were thrilled with how well Helene Fischer's Atemlos Durch Die Nacht performed for us earlier in the year and hope that Andreas can do himself, and Rontvia proud."

Auf Uns stormed up from No.20 to No.1 in the latest Rontvian charts, with his album Hey debuting at No.9 in a busy week. Looking across The Buzzjack World the song has also topped the charts in Eledan. It is thought that many Eledanese people first heard the song while listening to the Rontvian charts online.

Posted by: Conderella 1st June 2014, 08:24 PM

You should also add that Auf Uns topped the charts in Eledan faster than in Rontvia. Oops~

Posted by: gooddelta 1st June 2014, 08:28 PM

It was always set for a huge climb, songs generally don't enter the Rontvian chart at #1 unless they're by Delta or called Euphoria~

(although if it had been '#21' last week instead of #20 it technically would have been a new entry at #1 this week )

Posted by: Silas 1st June 2014, 09:18 PM

This is expect to smash into the top10 on the AshChart when it's released next week!

Posted by: gooddelta 1st June 2014, 09:36 PM

Brill! Glad you approve

Posted by: Conderella 2nd June 2014, 06:12 AM

you be Romania to his Moldova

Posted by: gooddelta 15th June 2014, 10:12 PM

RTVN celebrate successful contest and a 7th hit!

The RTVN have called BJSC 65 'a roaring success' despite a few minor hiccups and controversies along the way. The contest was hosted by Ricardo Delta with help from Sanna Nielsen and Maria and Mira and viewing figures in FSR Rontvia hit a record high of 97.4 million. With many pundits expecting Andreas Bourani's Auf Uns to become the nation's first flop since the horror trio of consecutive DNQ's last summer, the song in fact finished 13th with an impressive 109 points.

Ricardo Delta said: "We're pleased with how the contest went, our favourite songs finished in 2nd and 3rd place but we can't deny N DNTN their win, they've fallen short on so many occasions and it was their time. We're ecstatic with our 13th place as it means we've finished in every position in the top 20 now, an incredible achievement. We've been here since day one back in 2007, along with Ashton and Kylienips and are pleased to have been able to vote for both of them this month! It's the first time we've hosted since 2011 and I was honoured to be asked to do it, it really has been the pinnacle of my career with the RTVN."

After 7 hits in a row, the longest sequence of success since the glorious 2009-2011 period of 21 hits in a row, the nation will have pressure to find an 8th next month, but will no doubt adapt by moving on to a different sound, a new niche and another audience, to keep things as fresh as ever.

Posted by: gooddelta 8th July 2014, 07:31 PM

Safari's I Need You for Rontvia 66

FSR Rontvia's 66th BJSC entry will be I Need You by Norwegian soul/gospel act Safari. Ricardo Delta, head of the RTVN and host of last month's contest, said: "We believe in changing things up every month to keep things fresh and we're definitely trying something new this month. I Need You is a timeless, anthemic ballad with a rousing gospel choir, a beautiful melody, sumptuous strings and a powerful middle eight."

"Clocking in at over five minutes and from a genre completely unsuited to BJSC, it's fair to say that this is another risk for the nation, but we have to take them, we've got nothing left to prove. The song has been No.1 in FSR Rontvia for three weeks already so it was an obvious choice of entry, nothing else has come close in our affections over the past month and glory hunters we are not."

Posted by: gooddelta 15th July 2014, 03:10 PM

Germany have adopted Auf Uns as the track to mark their World Cup victory! It's gone back to No.1 on iTunes and there's a cover by 'Soccer Champions' also in the top 15

Their secondary adopted anthem is Helene Fischer's Atemlos Durch Die Nacht which is top ten again...(and has been officially since last December)

Rontvia had the double insight to support the world champions!

Posted by: { bré } 15th July 2014, 03:13 PM

I have suddenly lost a large amount of respect for Germany.

By the way can we pull up 'most ill-informed entry of the year' to right now as I feel you deserve it ~ (although that said you have some serious competition from at least 3 other songs in this contest naming no names)

(and anyway what with you being Rontvia you'll probably still qualify lolz)

just here spreading the negativity don't mind me

Posted by: gooddelta 15th July 2014, 04:38 PM

I have my reasons. Trying to set a record for most different genres used in the contest

I'm very informed about now badly it was always going to do, it was either that or send something I didn't care about.

Posted by: Noahspike 15th July 2014, 04:43 PM

I read this thinking it was some fabricated Rontvian press release thing at first, but wow - real life!

I really liked 'Auf Uns' so I'm glad it's getting such attention.

Posted by: Silas 15th July 2014, 07:49 PM

On point as always this month Rich

Posted by: gooddelta 15th July 2014, 10:44 PM

Posted by: gooddelta 16th July 2014, 07:16 PM

Go on Helene!

Posted by: gooddelta 16th July 2014, 07:38 PM

Safari DNQ's!

News just in - Safari's former Rontvian chart topper I Need You has failed to qualify for the final of BJSC 66, finishing 18th in the semi and missing the final by only a few points. The flop follows seven consecutive hits for the nation, an almost unprecednted run of success. Ricardo Delta said: "When Jesus say yes, everybody can say no!"

Asked about why on earth the nation decided to send such an unusual entry, Mr Delta said "Well it was No.1 in our chart...we always send the song that's highest in our chart because the nation likes to send something that we can always fully support. Sometimes it works - like with Ramelia - sometimes it fails spectacularly and that was one of these occasions, it's not like the dramatic and completely bizarre failure of Spin My World last summer. Onwards and upwards!"

Posted by: Conderella 16th July 2014, 07:38 PM

oops

Posted by: { bré } 16th July 2014, 07:38 PM

'Almost unprecedented' save for the pretty huge precedent of you having like 40+ Qs in a row before?

Posted by: gooddelta 16th July 2014, 07:39 PM

Qualifiers aren't the same thing as hits

Posted by: gooddelta 16th July 2014, 07:41 PM

OMG!

Posted by: Silas 16th July 2014, 08:23 PM

gutted.

Posted by: gooddelta 16th July 2014, 08:35 PM

Glad you liked it Phil, it did far better than I expected tbh! Shame you DNQ'd too, I rather liked that song. At least FSR Ashvia go down together this month!

Posted by: gooddelta 19th July 2014, 09:07 AM

Here's my first ever attempt at Garage Band! I picked an iconic Rontvian entry to play around with!

Posted by: gooddelta 8th August 2014, 11:26 PM

I've just witnessed Varsta Schlagern live. Iconic *.*

Posted by: gooddelta 9th August 2014, 02:34 AM

Sheppard for BJSC 67

Australian band Sheppard have been confirmed as FSR Rontvia's entrant for BJSC 67, hosted by Jayrusalem, Bellamia and Aeroche, with the song A Grade Playa. Quite sonically far away from Geronimo, the song features lead vocals by female singer Amy Sheppard and packs a powerful pop punch with a glorious key change and sublime harmonies.

Ricardo Delta said: "Sheppard are without a doubt the best thing in pop right now. A Grade Playa is the huge album highlight and is sitting at No.1 in the Rontvian charts, which is where it triumphantly debuted three weeks ago alongside the album! We wish them the best of luck and hope they can take us back to the final in the biggest contest ever!"

Posted by: gooddelta 21st August 2014, 10:30 AM

Sheppard notch up seventh Rontvian DNQ

Sheppard's A Grade Playa, which has spent five weeks at the top of the Rontvian charts so far, finished 16th in Semi 2 of BJSC 67 and narrowly missed qualifying for the final, FSR Rontvia's seventh DNQ, second in a row and fifth in just over a year. No further comment or reaction could be obtained but the RTVN provided this live video of the band performing the song in Constarvan last night.

Posted by: Silas 23rd August 2014, 09:12 PM

OMG!!!! How epic was it???

Posted by: gooddelta 23rd August 2014, 09:32 PM

11/10 scale epic, such an amazing slice of schlager

Posted by: gooddelta 25th August 2014, 11:49 AM

A spot of retail therapy. Go to Westfield and bag yourself a BJSC flop

Posted by: gooddelta 7th September 2014, 08:16 PM

Goldfish swim into 68

South African dance duo Goldfish will be hoping not to replicate the failure of you know what by you know who as the act attempt to bring FSR Rontvia back to the final after DNQ's for Safari and (more tragically) Sheppard.

Ricardo Delta said: "Moonwalk Away (Moonlanding Mix) is a rather lush track incorporating a number of recognisable vocal samples and a sweet, almost tribal, vocal topline. A more subtle entry than usual, it makes up for not having a killer chorus by packing in stunning strings and generally just being an incredibly warm track."

The song has been at No.3 in FSR Rontvia for the past two weeks, behind the aforementioned A Grade Playa and another Sheppard song, Geronimo.

Posted by: Kath ♡ 7th September 2014, 08:21 PM

J'adore this MUST smash, I'm just worried that the song's main demographic is semi 2 tho

Posted by: gooddelta 7th September 2014, 08:26 PM

Keeping it all crossed! Here's hoping Goldfish can swim to a respectable finish, it's a beautiful song.

Posted by: ✖ cucumberella ✖ 11th September 2014, 06:11 PM

okay rich not only do i think this is gonna do good things, but i now actually really love this!! tough contest though but hoping there is points in the pipeline for you come that final

Posted by: { bré } 11th September 2014, 06:19 PM

I am starting to see what Leww means about this being a contender, it kind of reminds me of 'Moan'. I think it'd definitely be a low scoring winner were it to win but this contest doesn't really have an obvious big smash in it so a low scoring winner could happen... still think others are more likely but this could be at least top 10.

(this comment is of course not in any way influenced by my knowledge of the votes so far, it's just my thoughts after listening through semi 1 in full / voting)

Posted by: Kath ♡ 11th September 2014, 06:22 PM

Spin My World >>>>>>

tho

Posted by: gooddelta 11th September 2014, 06:45 PM

Posted by: gooddelta 15th September 2014, 08:28 PM

Posted by: ✖ ketalina ✖ 16th September 2014, 04:58 AM

<33333!

i am STILL very much thinking this is the winner, and it seems i'm not alone this time *checks predicta thread*

Posted by: Swagerella 16th September 2014, 05:11 AM

mr.kitty feat. goldfish~

Posted by: gooddelta 16th September 2014, 08:32 AM

that's my november entry sorted~

Posted by: gooddelta 17th September 2014, 10:10 PM

A little clip from last night! Still sends shivers down my spine.

Posted by: gooddelta 23rd September 2014, 09:26 PM

Goldfish finish 4th!

In an incredibly mixed year results-wise for FSR Rontvia which has seen a win, a top ten, a few mid-table finishes and two DNQ's, South African dance act Goldfish boldly went where no South African act has ever gone before for Rontvia: into the top 20. And not just the top 20, it was a smashing 4th place finish for the Rontvian top three hit Moonwalk Away (Moonlanding Mix), following in the footsteps of Sanna Nielsen and Michael Woods by finishing 4th. Both have incidentally gone on to far greater success in winning Melodifestivalen/coming top three in Eurovision and now winning BJSC so there's hope yet for Goldfish that poor brave DJ Kent and The Arrows will never have.

Ricardo Delta said: "Granted the song had a few amazing predictions but others thought it would finish nowhere near the top ten, so we were happy to prove doubters wrong. RontBet had it pegged for 4th in the end, which it obviously got. It's amazing to have a third top ten hit this year, we've had a much better time than the disaster of 2013 and hope to be back again in the final next month, we have two contenders for the next contest so it will be interesting to see which one the Rontvian public pick. We're also very pleased to see Jamvale, our 12 pointer and dear former Rontvian entrant Michael Woods, take the contest home. In Your Arms has gone top 10 in the nation this week."

Posted by: ✖ ketalina ✖ 24th September 2014, 07:02 AM

i'm sad that my one man hype train couldnt be fulfilled completely for you but so thrilled this did well <3 thanks for the shining light in what is a pretty awful top 10 save a few

Posted by: BUYCHEEKTOCHEEK 24th September 2014, 08:23 AM

YAY for waving the South African flag high during Kathaldazia ha ikonec blackout era

Posted by: gooddelta 24th September 2014, 08:27 AM

No worries Leww, I didn't even expect it to qualify initially so I'm more than ecstatic at my result, thanks for the support throughout!



Happy to do my duty!

Posted by: BUYCHEEKTOCHEEK 24th September 2014, 08:30 AM

The first South African top 5 entry since our ikonec 'Wind It' if I recall correctly

Posted by: gooddelta 24th September 2014, 08:40 AM

I think Tirren got a much lesser Jody song into the top five in 2011

Posted by: { bré } 24th September 2014, 12:26 PM

This song definitely wasn't on my winner contender radar until Leww's odds but with hindsight it is a little bit winnerish, really has a bit of a 'Moan' vibe to it. Didn't quite get points from me (though it was very close so watch out for it to hit the top 2 in my personal chart when it's a big UK hit in a year ~~~) but I'd have preferred this to win over any of the top 3.

Posted by: gooddelta 24th September 2014, 12:51 PM

The thought of Radio 1 picking up a South African track!

Posted by: { bré } 24th September 2014, 12:54 PM

'Enter The Ninja'?

Posted by: gooddelta 2nd October 2014, 07:47 PM

Minx for 69!

Australian female DJ Minx and Triple J Unearthed find Hannah Joy have teamed up for FSR Rontvia's 69th BJSC entry, Hold On. A stunning slice of melodic progressive house, Hannah's solo version, essentially an indie song, was released last year and Minx has recently sprinkled her own magic onto it, turning it into a Calvin Harris meets Reflekt-esque production. Ricardo Delta said: "We just love this song here in FSR Rontvia, it's already reached the national top three and we hope it can find some fans in this Jamvale-hosted extravaganza! Minx and Hannah are both real talents, Minx is sort of like a cross between an unbearded Conchita and Judith from Alice Deejay, what a beauty!"

Listen to Hold On below:

Posted by: gooddelta 4th October 2014, 09:19 AM

Official video:

Posted by: gooddelta 13th October 2014, 04:20 PM

Rae Morris is giving away the new album version of Don't Go to everyone on her mailing list at the moment. Beefier production than the original, doesn't sound any better or worse for it.

Posted by: gooddelta 19th October 2014, 10:15 PM

Minx and Hannah claim another smash!

Continuing FSR Rontvia's hit or bust theme, Australian's Minx and Hannah Joy exceeded expectations by scoring over 100 points and finishing 14th with Hold On in BJSC 69, held in Jamvale. Ricardo Delta said: "We thought we were going to end up a good ten or so places lower. We're really pleased at this result and another hit in a relatively solid year for the nation, certainly a recovery from the mess that was 2013 at least." The song has peaked at No.2 in the Rontvian charts. Blonde's I Loved You has peaked at No.12, the only other BJSC 69 entry to do so, and has won the contest in emphatic style, with the full 12 from the Rontvian voters, the second consecutive month that we've given full marks to the winner.

Posted by: ✖ ketalina ✖ 19th October 2014, 10:28 PM

congrats hun, felt rly bad i couldnt honour the alliance with points this month altho u were close!!! just keep doin what ur doin x

Posted by: gooddelta 19th October 2014, 10:31 PM

Alliance only lasted a month oops

Posted by: gooddelta 19th October 2014, 10:33 PM

As an aside, how ODD that I've managed to bag 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th placed finishes in the last 12 months. Narrowly grabbing those smashes time and time again!

Posted by: ✖ ketalina ✖ 19th October 2014, 11:15 PM

i think our alliance has gone beyond points for a long time now because we always had a mutual respect, and also how much we run the game (HA)

Posted by: gooddelta 2nd November 2014, 11:12 AM

Walk The Moon for BJSC 70!

US indie rock act Walk The Moon will represent FSR Rontvia in BJSC 70 with the song Shut Up and Dance. The song, which is far more poptastic than their usual output, is a swirling concotion of guitars, synths and power pop. Ricardo Delta said: "We've weaved in and out of various genres this year so it seems fitting to end the year with something altogether different. This is a radio earworm of the highest order and has climbed to No.1 in the Rontvian charts this week, after five weeks in the top ten. The video is perhaps one of our favourite's of the year too, channeling the best of 80s pop culture and a dash of Scott Pilgrim vs The World!'.

Posted by: { bré } 2nd November 2014, 02:29 PM

Well you're ending the year on a high with this, your 2nd best entry of the year after RAM! I've only really liked 3/10 of your entries this year though oop (I'm sure vice versa is true as well though).

Posted by: gooddelta 2nd November 2014, 11:20 PM

Glad you like! Yeah, I guess our musical paths don't cross all too often but you do impress me with the odd gem every few months (I tend to point you highly when I do so iirc) so I'm glad we're not completely incompatible in BJSC terms!

Posted by: ScoobyDoo 2nd November 2014, 11:24 PM

Finally a Rontiva song this year that I'm fully on board with

Posted by: gooddelta 2nd November 2014, 11:25 PM

*.*

It's a shame the likes of Ojnoj and Juranabaijan are sitting this contest out, I feel like they'd be on board.

Posted by: gooddelta 17th November 2014, 11:35 PM

Rontvia round off the year with fourth everything

Walk The Moon's Shut Up and Dance has somewhat surprisingly bagged a top five finish in BJSC 70, finishing in 4th place despite mid-table odds and predictions throughout the contest. It marks the second time in three months that FSR Rontvia has recycled an act who had previously only ever DNQ'd in BJSC and taken them to a 4th place finish in the final. To continue with the 4th theme, it is Rontvia's 4th 4th place finish and leaves us (I think) in 4th place in the end of year chart.

Ricardo Delta said: "It's an astonishing result to top off a fantastic year, we finished 4th in 2012's end of year chart and then dropped to 17th last year, which was a disaster. It's great to be back on form despite two DNQ's. And with a win this year being just one of our eight entries that have finished top half in the final, we're pretty overwhelmed right now. Shut Up and Dance was a former Rontvian #1 and it's great to see the song go down so well across The BuzzJack World, who knows...it could be the next Hozier!'

It marks the end of a varied year for FSR Rontvia:

Public Service Broadcasting - Indie/alternative (15th)
Helene Fischer - Schlager (12th)
Sweet California - Trashy dance/pop (8th)
RAM & Susana - Trance (1st)
Andreas Bourani - Power pop (13th)
Safari - Gospel (DNQ)
Sheppard - Pop (DNQ)
Goldfish - Deep house (4th)
Minx - Progressive house (14th)
Walk The Moon - Indie/alt-pop (4th)

Thank you all for your support!

Posted by: { bré } 17th November 2014, 11:50 PM

Apologies I couldn't find room for this in my votes and apologies in advance when it inevitably charts high in my personal chart when it becomes a UK hit. It was one of my many commiserations, good to see it doing so well for you. I'd be mad at you overtaking me YTD but about 3 other people did as well so I won't single you out, my heavy reliance on 2 big hits just finally caught up to me! I did still finish the year in the top 10 which I'm more than happy with

Fitting that your 3 good entries of the year were the 3 most successful. You should try to appeal to Persephonia more often clearly.

Posted by: gooddelta 18th November 2014, 12:04 AM

No worries, I'm pleased you liked it and stunned that it did so well.

I will make appealing to Persephonia a priority next year! 2015 somehow marking the ninth calendar year I have been part of BJSC...

Posted by: . nesu 18th November 2014, 06:13 AM

varied year? it sounded like your most BEIGE BLAH year despite us giving you our first 12 points ever for Andreas.

- hi
- hi. oh i'm sorry i thought i was calling rontvia but it appears to be bellamia
- no it's rontvia
-

soz (not rly~)


Helene Fischer - Schlager (12th)
Sweet California - Trashy dance/pop (8th)
Sheppard - Pop (DNQ)
Goldfish - Deep house (4th)
Minx - Progressive house (14th)
Walk The Moon - Indie/alt-pop (4th)

don't even remember how these go

Posted by: . nesu 18th November 2014, 06:19 AM

NINE

holy crap. we are old as f***

there's really no going back. bjsc till the world ends

Posted by: gooddelta 18th November 2014, 07:38 AM

Safari making that gospel impact

I suppose it's easy to forget songs you don't listen to more than once or twice. I can only remember maybe three of your 2014 entries from memory too.

Posted by: ✖ ketalina ✖ 18th November 2014, 07:46 AM

congratulations on ur sterling year!! always have your back even if not musically because you dare to be different and it works, and hoping the alliance can shine into the new year as we continue to sleigh the others DOWNE <3

Posted by: gooddelta 18th November 2014, 08:09 AM

Likewise Leww! Another year on top for Slayroche *.*

Posted by: gooddelta 27th December 2014, 05:46 PM

Helene Fischer singing Atemlos Durch Die Nacht in as many different genres as possible in the space of three minutes. Love love love.

Posted by: Silas 2nd January 2015, 01:27 PM

When I was in Germany last month I picked up 'Best of Helene Fischer' in a pharmacy (of all places)!!

Posted by: gooddelta 2nd January 2015, 01:37 PM

Brilliant! I wish I had while I was there, I only bought the CD single.

She seems to have returned to No.1 on iTunes Germany with Atemlos in the last couple of days! Must have been a new year anthem or something

Posted by: Silas 2nd January 2015, 01:50 PM

It looks like it's from 2010 so doesn't have Atemlos Durch Die Nacht on it

Probably my second favourite Rontvian entry of the year behind Sweet California.

Posted by: gooddelta 2nd January 2015, 08:31 PM

Indeed not, that's on her current album Farbenspiel (perhaps the most corny album I've heard in years and I'm amazed that Germany lap this stuff up, pretty sure it was the biggest selling album of 2014 there!).

I've become pretty amazed at the support that This Is The Life has whipped up!

Posted by: gooddelta 4th January 2015, 10:37 PM

Hozier goes top ten in the UK, RAMelia makes TBO final

In a bumper day for FSR Rontvia, Hozier's Take Me To Church has FINALLY crept into the UK top ten, a mere 15 months after I first predicted that it would probably be quite a big hit at some point. Humble pie all round as many countries who snubbed it at the time, causing it to miss a top ten finish in the final at the time, are now lapping it up. The track is still largely hated in some nations though, including Hendinia and Danaelanda.

Elsewhere, RAM's quite epic trance ballad-cum-anthem RAMelia (Tribute To Amelia), FSR Rontvia's first win in nearly three years last May, has reached the final of The Best Of, our first representation for two years after none of our entries made it through last year. Walk The Moon and Sweet California also came close, the latter massively outperforming expectations. To vote for RAMelia, send 12 points for the song as part of your votes to Silas, the host of TBO final.

Posted by: Silas 4th January 2015, 10:41 PM

Ashton apologies for missing the vote and not giving Sweet California a vote. Although I probably would have given the 12 to Lipstick so This Is The Life still wouldn't have made it

Posted by: gooddelta 4th January 2015, 10:43 PM

Aww no worries, I'm pleased it's become a favourite of yours anyway!

Lipstick is one of my favourites too, a track I considered sending myself that month actually. Still obsessed with Auf Uns though (and love the fact that I sent the two biggest selling German language tracks of 2014 to BJSC) so not terribly upset that I didn't.

Posted by: Silas 4th January 2015, 10:54 PM

Lipstick is so perfectly trashy it wouldn't look out of place amongst I Don't See Ya/Underwear/Warpath in Ashton's entry history.

Auf Uns

I have actually been to a fair few of the locations in that video. The place right at the start where he's standing in front of that odd looking solar system thing is in Alexanderplatz where there is a massive Christmas Market. Same for the next location he's singing in, Potsdamerplatz.

Posted by: gooddelta 4th January 2015, 10:57 PM

Or Smack Me/This Is The Life *.* Good to see some crossover between trashy tastes still happening.

I love the Auf Uns video, the only place I've been to in Germany is Munich but I'd love to explore so much more of it.

Posted by: Silas 4th January 2015, 11:05 PM

Good to see some of the old FSR Ashdenia still exists!


I've been to Berlin and Koblenz since I was born and that's it. Shameful for someone who was born minutes from Mönchengladbach and less than an hour from the massive urban sprawl that is Dusseldorf/Köln/Bonn.

Posted by: gooddelta 4th January 2015, 11:10 PM

Yes! Hoping for some majorly trashy and amazing Ashton entries this year! Hendinia will no doubt serve up many <3

I really must go to Berlin, I hope there's some sort of print convention there soon so I don't have to pay for it

Posted by: Silas 4th January 2015, 11:18 PM

I think it's about time I revisited the era of Molly Sanden. I have a few things that are classic Ashton I could whip up.

Berlin is amazing. Well worth paying for a visit.

Posted by: gooddelta 12th January 2015, 10:00 AM

Ulf Nilsson steps up for BJSC 71



After THREE (count 'em) years, FSR Rontvia is finally sending a Swede to BJSC again. Ulf Nilsson won The Voice Sweden in 2012 and now steps forward with the song Little By Little for the 71st contest, to be held in Republic of Adonia. The original version is a rock ballad but Rontvia has decided to send the Lulleaux & George Whyman Remix which transforms the song into a gorgeous piano house track. The balearic mood is ramped up three minutes in when steel pans make their presence felt *.*

Ricardo Delta said: "We always used to be known for sending Swedish acts so it's lovely to kick off 2015 with our first in ages. Ulf is a real talent and this remix is absolutely gorgeous, we're hoping it will resonate with the public. The song has already climbed to No.2 in the Rontvian charts."

Posted by: gooddelta 25th January 2015, 12:12 PM

Ulf comes top three!

FSR Rontvia got the year off to a fine start with a top three finish in the Republic of Adonia for Ulf Nilsson's tropical house beauty Little By Little. Despite initial middling to poor odds, the hype built up as the contest went on and the song ultimately finished just behind Ramrynia in 2nd place and some distance behind Altyr, who have won for the second time in three contests. This is FSR Rontvia's first top three hit since RAM's RAMelia won the contest last May and improves on our 4th place last month for Walk The Moon's Shut Up and Dance. The song is currently spending its fourth week in the Rontvian top five.

Ricardo Delta said: "This really is a great start to the year, we thought it might have some decent appeal because who doesn't love steel pans? Though top five seemed a stretch too far so top three is fantastic, well done Ulf!'

Posted by: ► ▲ N 27th January 2015, 05:31 PM

sending a former Danaelandan UP entrant though *_* amazing song! fully deserved moi huit points

Posted by: gooddelta 8th February 2015, 03:04 PM

Kadebostany celebrate winter with a moody pop anthem for 72

Swiss pop band Kadebostany have become the latest act to represent FSR Rontvia in BJSC, with the atmospheric pop song Castle In The Snow. The quirky band have been seen in BJSC once before, when the dear departed Batidas entered the song Walking With A Ghost more than two years ago.

Ricardo Delta said: "This entry has a dark edge to it but it's still pop through and through. As I am visiting Switzerland later this month we felt it was apt to send a Swiss act to the contest for the first time. The song had already spent a few weeks in the Rontvian top ten last month but has re-entered at No.3 this week, just behind the unstoppable Ellie Goulding and Tove Styrke."

Posted by: مدهش* 8th February 2015, 04:33 PM

I think this is going to do really well...

Posted by: Addy K!ng 9th February 2015, 06:36 AM

This needs to win!!!

Posted by: gooddelta 16th February 2015, 08:44 PM

A DNQ for Kadebostany!

Despite a small amount of hype and relatively strong odds across the board, Castle In The Snow by Kadebostany has tonight become FSR Rontvia's 8th DNQ, floundering in 22nd place in its semi with 40 points. Ricardo Delta said: "We were nowhere near qualifying. It's a shame but we're currently eating humble pie and accepting that PersepBet were correct this month. We'll hopefully return with something stronger next month and wish good luck to all the finalists."

Posted by: ¡brébycakes! 16th February 2015, 08:50 PM

Sorryyyy, I jinxed you didn't I This song is perfectly decent and all and I definitely thought it would QUALIFY but I was a little perplexed at it having such good odds. You'll be back on top next month I'm sure!

Posted by: gooddelta 16th February 2015, 08:56 PM

Oops. It's the sort of song that would have probably done better about 4 or 5 years ago but I'm not altogether surprised that it didn't live up to the hype. I do love it don't get me wrong but it wasn't my first choice of entry as everyone knows My own fault for being caught out by the veto system! Luckily I have a lot of potentials already for next month, having paid more attention to new music in the past few weeks!

Posted by: gooddelta 22nd February 2015, 11:24 PM

Trending worldwide last night...

Posted by: gooddelta 5th March 2015, 10:18 AM

Posted by: J▼hnkm 5th March 2015, 11:36 AM

Love me some of THAT genre, hopefully it'll have you back to smashes too

(though not too smashy a smash so I can hang on at the top for as long as possible)

Posted by: #bitchimasock 5th March 2015, 11:37 AM

OH i didn't get what u were trying to do there! i also do, FSR and aeroche becoming a point swap force these days

Posted by: Conderella 5th March 2015, 11:44 AM

Bitch Im Tripping (feat. Ricardo Delta & Paul McCartney)

Posted by: gooddelta 5th March 2015, 01:05 PM

It's quite an unusual entry for us, i guess I sent Vaporous many moons ago but that was much more haunting, this is much happier.

Posted by: ¡bré! 5th March 2015, 04:04 PM

Ooh I am v up for this ~

Posted by: gooddelta 9th March 2015, 11:19 PM

Icelandic duo Halleluwah present 73rd Rontvian entry!



Icelandic pop duo Halleluwah will represent FSR Rontvia with the quirky hip-hop, trip hop and electro inspired beauty Dior. Ricardo Delta said: "BJSC is getting bigger and it's getting harder to stand out, so we can't just turn up with something generic and hope for the best, we need to make an impression. Kadebostany completely failed to do so and delivered us with our most resounding flop in a long time but we're hoping that the majestic stunner Dior will return us to the final. It's been a while since we looked to Iceland for an entry and we are very happy to return to such a wonderful nation for inspiration."

Dior has so far peaked at No.2 in the Rontvian charts, held off by Melodifestivalen entries and the juggernaut that is Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding. It's currently at No.3, on its fourth week in the top ten. Listen to Dior below:

Posted by: gooddelta 16th March 2015, 10:01 PM

THIRD. FROM. LAST

A sad day in FSR Rontvia as Dior finishes 30th out of 32 entries, the worst ever performance for a Rontvian entry and the second DNQ in a row. The RTVN are in emergency crisis talks to discuss where to go next. The song climbs back to No.2 on its fourth consecutive week in the Rontvian top three.

Posted by: gooddelta 5th April 2015, 09:46 PM

7even for 7eventy 4our

FSR Rontvia's 74th BJSC entry will be 7even by German-Scottish DJ Andy Duguid, which features vocals by Canadian singer Jaren. The song and video are both based on the story of young cancer victim Olivia Downie. The gorgeous tribute begins as a haunting yet stunning ballad before building into a thundering trance beauty.

Ricardo Delta said: "There still really isn't anywhere near enough trance in this contest, and if it's our job to ensure that this genre is represented every now and then then so be it. This song is another example of how trance music can convey such strong power and emotion through music."

7even debuted at #4 in this week's Rontvian charts.

Posted by: ¡bré! 8th April 2015, 09:49 PM

Did you stumble across this in the same way as 'RAMelia' incidentally? Some pretty obvious parallels between the two This is WONDERFUL though and should get you firmly back at the top end of the leaderboard I should think!

Posted by: gooddelta 8th April 2015, 10:46 PM

Sort of, both were sourced via Armin Van Buuren's various (glorious) A State Of Trance compilations <3 And yes, I can see the comparison, I guess that was more pure trance and this is slightly punchier once it gets going.

I'm glad you like it!

Posted by: Noahspike 11th April 2015, 05:12 PM

Had a listen of Semi 2 last night and this really got me. Such a stunner . Hope (and think) it'll do well for you!

Posted by: gooddelta 11th April 2015, 06:13 PM

Yay, glad you approve it really is quite a beauty imo.

Posted by: ✖ ketalina ✖ 18th April 2015, 12:44 PM

i honestly cannot tell you how much i love this. best entry of yours EVER and believe me that is high praise

love how quintessential Rontvia it is as well.

Posted by: gooddelta 20th April 2015, 10:45 AM

Lewwwww *.* So nice to read comments like this <3

Posted by: gooddelta 22nd April 2015, 11:27 AM

15th place for 7even

7even has finished in 15th place in the 74th Buzzjack Song Contest, the final of which was held in Daehun last night. The song, which has been at No.2 in FSR Rontvia for the past fortnight, scored over 200 points but despite very good odds, including a few predictions to even win, it ended up sinking close to the middle of the pack by the end of the evening, despite an iconic 18 from Aeroche and lots of other fantastic scores which were much appreciated. It marks a return to 'hit' status for FSR Rontvia after two consecutive DNQ's, which we hope to maintain next month.

Ricardo Delta said: "Achieving a hit is becoming harder to achieve with 68 countries competing in this month's contest so it's very nice to do so well, and it was clearly very marmite with mostly high scores or nothing at all. We will need to find something slightly more universal to finish in the top ten. We were very happy with Unovia's third place as Courtney Barnett's album has been No.1 in FSR Rontvia recently and she currently has two songs in our top ten simultaneously. Well done to Persephonia too for winning, although it unfortunately didn't quite reach our votes."

FSR Rontvia received one point from Ashton and gave back nul in return. Our famous points alliance will resume in YBO.

Posted by: ¡bré! 22nd April 2015, 11:52 AM

15th out of 68 is by no means a bad result but I did think and hope it would do a bit better - thank you for introducing me to this song anyway, an absolutely stunning song/video (and a huge grower, went from 1 point in the semi to 13 in the final from me ), definitely up there with your best entries to date.

Posted by: gooddelta 22nd April 2015, 02:40 PM

True. To be fair I expected about that when I sent it (it MAY have even been 15th in my opening odds). Even so, I only ever expected low top ten at best for it so I'm happy enough. More to the point I'm glad that a few people have found something they love in it, it's always nice to receive comments like some of those this entry has received <3

Posted by: ✖ ketalina ✖ 22nd April 2015, 08:21 PM

i expected you to win and you should've won. PHENOMENAL 12/10 song.

Posted by: Silas 3rd May 2015, 03:01 PM

That 18 swap in YBO *.* FSR ASHVIA back with POWAH!

Posted by: gooddelta 3rd May 2015, 09:37 PM

YESSSS! *.* Nat Bass deserved every one of those points for that gorgeous song <3

I'm hoping to send something more Ashton friendly this month!

Posted by: Silas 3rd May 2015, 09:49 PM

Hopefully my entry will be a little more pro-FSR this month too!

Mira deserved every single one of those 18 points. Only Smack Me would have deserved them more.

Posted by: gooddelta 6th May 2015, 09:26 PM

South African house for our 75th anniversary

75 contests in to our rich BJSC history and FSR Rontvia have decided to return to the brilliant South Africa to source an entry - the excellent deep house gem Save Me by Timo Odv feat Sarah Jackson. We've had rather mixed fortunes so far this year with two DNQ's, a 3rd place and a 15th place and are hoping for something on the latter scale this time around.

Ricardo Delta said: "The song is so fresh that it hasn't even made its debut in the Rontvian charts yet. Timo and Sarah are two superb South African talents and we're really hoping that the melodic banger Save Me appeals to some of the other 70 nations in the contest this time around. We've had mixed success so far with SA entrants - Nadine's I Will Be Strong somehow made the final but flopped once it got there, DJ Kent's Spin My World was an epic failure - but despite this resides in the Rontvian all time top 40 - and Goldfish's Moonwalk Away smashed its way to 4th place for us late last year. This is a sonic mashup of the latter two with a hint of Minx's Hold On thrown in, so will hopefully appeal to Rontvian followers of a certain ilk."

Posted by: gooddelta 7th May 2015, 09:30 AM

The Arrows have split up </3

Pam said she will still perform Spin My World on tour though <3

Posted by: gooddelta 22nd May 2015, 09:49 PM

Timo bags 24th place for FSR Rontvia

Timo Odv and Sarah Jackson secured a respectable mid-table final placing for FSR Rontvia with the huge South African smash house hit Save Me. The song scored 169 points, including three 18's from Kathaldazia, #00724E and Tinnmark!

Ricardo Delta said: "We were very pleased to make it into the final this month as there were some really surprising DNQ's, so to avoid the bottom 15 is also a good achievement, and only 9 places lower than our highly tipped entry from last month. We're really ecstatic for Kylienips finally winning too, and can't wait to send a gem to a country that joined us and Ashton in the first edition back in 2007."

Save Me has peaked at #3 in FSR Rontvia, no 2015 Rontvian entry has yet topped the charts, due to the domination of Heroes and Love Me Like You Do, which have racked up 15 weeks on top between them. However, our former entry Shut Up & Dance by Walk The Moon returned to the top of the chart two weeks ago for a second stint at No.1, six months after it came 4th in the contest.

Posted by: Mart!n 23rd May 2015, 08:58 AM

We need to support ProJ now for that long awaited win thanks for supporting Meg Myers. Meg is really chuffed to bits at winning, Kylie will probably be announcing the details of the forthcoming BJSC76 later next month due to BJfest happening. Phew!!!!

Posted by: gooddelta 28th June 2015, 06:24 PM

Paper Route for 76

FSR Rontvia have opted for an alt-rock song this month by Nashville-based group Paper Route with the song You And I.

Ricardo Delta said: "You And I is an anthemic stomper which we hope people will like, it's got a really melodic chorus which we hope will stick in people's heads. We also love the electro production flushes. This song is ready made for the radio and it's already blowing up in FSR Rontvia where it debuted at #3 this week."



Meanwhile, our entry to the 70th contest, Shut Up And Dance by Walk The Moon, has climbed to #4 in the UK this week. It also moved back to #4 on its 16th week inside the Rontvian top five, the longest stay in the top five since Loreen's Euphoria three years ago

Posted by: gooddelta 29th June 2015, 01:14 PM

http://en.musicplayon.com/play?v=993892

YASSSSSSSSSSS

Only just realised how much she looks like Stephanie McIntosh when she played Sky Mangel in Neighbours *.*

Posted by: gooddelta 5th August 2015, 10:15 AM

Wrabel for 77!

US singer-songwriter Wrabel is FSR Rontvia's representative for the 77th Buzzjack Song Contest with the soulful pop groove I Want You. Wrabel has previously seen mainstream success as the vocalist on Afrojack's single Ten Feet Tall, which hit the UK top 20 last year. Ricardo Delta said: "I Want You has a great piano riff sort of similar to Sigma's Nobody To Love, meshed with an infectious summery chorus and Wrabel's irresistible falsetto vocals. We love it here in FSR Rontvia where it's already been in the top three for three weeks." FSR Rontvia DNQ'd last month with Paper Route's You & I.

Posted by: Mack 6th August 2015, 05:02 PM

This is definitely good in my opinion. Reminds me of Sam Smith for some reason.

Posted by: gooddelta 6th August 2015, 05:24 PM

Thank you Mack <3 I can see that comparison in parts of the song certainly, the bridge in particular.

Posted by: Mack 21st August 2015, 07:21 PM

1 point from us in the final.

It was a good entry from you, FSR Rontvia.

We look forward to seeing you in the next contest.

Posted by: gooddelta 8th September 2015, 03:44 PM

Ryan Hemsworth serves ha cream soda for 78

FSR Rontvia's 78th BJSC entry is the instrumental electronic track Cream Soda by Canadian producer Ryan Hemsworth (a former Eledan BJSC entrant) and Japanese artist Tomggg. Ricardo Delta said: "Cream Soda is an 8-bit wonder which does what it says on the tin - it's as sweet and satisfying as drinking a cream soda, helped in no small part by the fact that it sounds like a cute anime soundtrack crossed with the theme to Super Mario Land on the Gameboy. It's a very different entry for FSR Rontvia but adorably infectious so we hope it catches the ear of the Buzzjack World and restores some credibility after a rather underwhelming and uninspired year, which has been reflected in our results."

Cream Soda peaked at No.2 in the Rontvian charts around a year ago and has recently re-entered the top ten after a performance of the track on 'The Rontvia Factor' by Rivaz feat Prance Faris vs. Michael Woods.

Posted by: gooddelta 18th September 2015, 10:41 AM

Cream Soda: DNQ

BUT

The sensational return is nearly upon us...

Posted by: Silas 23rd September 2015, 08:42 PM

!!!

I can't wait to right the wrong and give Untouched the full 12

Posted by: gooddelta 9th October 2015, 10:02 PM

The Rua on the MOR charm offensive for Rontvia 79

English (Irish heritage) sibling trio The Rua have stepped up to represent FSR Rontvia in BJSC 79 with Fight For What's Right. The song, which follows a DNQ for Ryan Hemsworth's Cream Soda in BJSC 78, is described as 'classic Rontvia' by various media outlets. The track debuted at No.1 in FSR Rontvia and has so far spent three weeks in pole position, while parent album Essence also debuted at No.1. It's the first Rontvian entry to top the domestic chart this year.

Ricardo Delta said: "The Rua are a really exciting band with shades of The Corrs, Delta Goodrem, Lucie Silvas and Fleetwood Mac - obviously this means that they were always going to go down a storm in FSR Rontvia. A violin player, a pianist and a ginger lead singer, what on earth is not to love? Let's hope the Buzzjack world agree!'

Posted by: Rob S 9th October 2015, 10:04 PM

this song has grown on me a lot in the past week, so fingers crossed Rich that this does qualify for you

Posted by: gooddelta 9th October 2015, 10:06 PM

Thank you Rob, fingers crossed!

Posted by: gooddelta 24th October 2015, 11:24 PM

The Rua finish 6th from last...

The Rua have continued FSR Rontvia's tragic 2015 form (DNQ-DNQ-15th-24th-DNQ-38th-DNQ-37th) by finishing sixth from bottom in BJSC 79, held in Mulgracia.

Ricardo Delta said: "We've taken our run of bad results on the chin because we've agreed that our entries have been of a lower standard this year than usual, for the most part, however this is a result we're quite sad about because Fight For What's Right is easily in the top 10 sellers of the year in FSR Rontvia so far and recently spent three weeks at No.1."

"On the plus side, our 18 pointer came 2nd and we also pointed the winner highly. In fact, Circles, our 18th pointer, has climbed to #2 in the Rontvian chart this week - a really fantastic result for a song discovered through the contest."

One Rontvian citizen, who did not wish to be named, added: "The RTVN have really lost the plot in 2015 after seven years of decent results for the most part. They don't seem to be able to find songs that connect with the BuzzJack World on a major level anymore and it's embarrassing. They need to take some drastic action to turn things around."

Posted by: gooddelta 13th November 2015, 10:30 AM

FSR Rontvia tries One More Time

After a miserable year results-wise, FSR Rontvia has changed tack and just gone with something bloody incredible that will probably flop - but hey, no change there so it might as well be with something iconic! Swedish band One More Time had a major European hit (well...No.1 in Belgium and No.2 in Sweden) in 1992 with Highland. A sonic mashup of ABBA (one of the band members is Benny's son), the Bee Gees' You Win Again and a 'Best of Scotland' compilation, the tune has gone on to become a major hit in FSR Rontvia, recently peaking at No.2, 23 years after its release. The song is also an excuse for somebody to FINALLY wheel out the ICON that is Nanne Grönvall! One More Time also represented Sweden in Eurovision 1996 after winning Melodifestivalen. The gorgeous Den Vilda finished 3rd at Eurovision.



Ricardo Delta said: "Traditionally we've tended to stick with recently released songs but it's now time to start thinking outside the box. We just couldn't resist that bagpipe solo, and the chance to finallly introduce the fantastic Nanne to BJSC. We hope people fall in love with the instant chorus and thundering production."

Posted by: gooddelta 29th November 2015, 11:48 PM

One More Time 10th!

After a miserable year, FSR Rontvia have finished 10th with One More Time's Highland in Aeroche! This marks our second (and final) top ten hit of the year and a long overdue hit.

Ricardo Delta said: "We never really expected this song to resonate so well, especially after the initial Dubtrack response, which was not exactly positive, but we concede that many of the songs fans may not use the service. Highland has been a large hit in FSR Rontvia and we're so grateful for all of the points and to be back in the top ten, which nobody predicted, least of all us!"

Posted by: Jade 30th November 2015, 01:56 AM

Ahh well done Rich! While I rewarded 'Fight For What's Right' in a small way, I'm so glad I could get behind another FSR Rontvia entry in a bigger way like I did with '7even'.

Top 10 is a fab result *.* Really good song, quite Abba-esque as has been pointed out.

Posted by: gooddelta 30th November 2015, 10:07 AM

Thanks Jade, and for the support, it's much appreciated

Posted by: Silas 23rd December 2015, 05:35 PM

I actually bought Highland. It's just stuck with me so much.... so much so I'd probably give it 18 now

Posted by: gooddelta 23rd December 2015, 11:42 PM

Ooh, good to hear! It's a legendary schlager classic, glad you like <3

Can't believe it was Nanne's first outing to BJSC too!

Posted by: gooddelta 20th January 2016, 08:44 PM

Pegboard Nerds serve a dubstep epic for 81!

Danish/Norwegian dubstep duo Pegboard Nerds, a chart force in FSR Rontvia around four years ago with the gorgeous Ingen Anden Drøm, have returned with the spectacular Emoji, a heartbreaking tribute to internet culture that has brought the genre racing back to my affections.

Ricardo Delta said: "Emoji caught our attention immediately due to a simple, but lovely melody and then we caught the video, which in some ways is thematically similar to last month's BJSC winner, but with real actors and scenarios I'm sure we can all relate to."

The Rontvian charts ceased publication at the end of 2015, at which point Emoji had peaked at No.5. It would currently be roaring ahead at No.1 if the charts were still recorded, having sold 134,298 copies over the past week, 50,000 more than EFF's Stimme.

Posted by: gooddelta 15th February 2016, 09:37 PM

Pixie Paris for 82!

Seven and a half years after we sent Pixie Lott to BJSC with the future UK #1 Boys & Girls, it's time for another Pixie. German male/female duo Pixie Paris released Es Rappelt Im Karton two years ago but it's only recently started gaining attention in Germany after appearing on an advert for sex toys!

Ricardo Delta said: "Pixie Paris are sort of like The Ting Tings and this track has similarities to We No Speak Americano in places, so of course we were going to fall in love with this duo and song in FSR Rontvia. We love the 'ton ton ton ton ton' hook and the way that they make the German language sound sultry by putting a French lilt onto it. The song is already a big hit here, having already sold 210,000 copies in two weeks, putting it comfortably at the the top of the live sales rankings. We will be in Germany later this week so hope to hear the song on TV!"

Video:



Advert:

Posted by: gooddelta 12th April 2016, 09:22 PM

Going Rome to free a Prisoner

UK singer-songwriter Sam Romans, aka RØMANS, will represent FSR Rontvia in the 83rd edition of BJSC, to be held in Ethanola. The pop, rap and UK garage inspired track, Prisoner, opens and closes with raps by Dublin-based Rejjie Snow, and features some fantastic bright vocals throughout from Sam. RØMANS featured on Naughty Boy's flop single Home and has also written for Mary J. Blige, Birdy, Disclosure, Gorgon City, Kwabs, Clean Bandit and Olly Murs.

Ricardo Delta said: "RØMANS is a real emerging UK talent, a fantastic songwriter and highly underrated as a singer. This track really struck us on first listen as something that should really be all over the radio worldwide by now. Sam's stellar vocals contrast wonderfully with Rejjie's darker raps, that suggest the prisoner is longing for freedom at the end of the track. We also really adore the closing percussion on this track, which has gone straight into the top five on both Spotify and iTunes in FSR Rontvia. We would love this song to be well received after rare consecutive top 20 finishes with Emoji and Es Rappelt Im Karton."

Posted by: Silas 12th April 2016, 10:20 PM

Sorry Rich but for me this is nowhere near as good as Uh Huh.

Posted by: gooddelta 12th April 2016, 10:36 PM

Don't think I've even heard that but will seek it out.

Posted by: Silas 12th April 2016, 10:40 PM

I entered it to 76 and came 38th

Posted by: gooddelta 12th April 2016, 10:47 PM

Yes sorry I had a brainfart and was thinking about something else. I did like that track and still do looking back. It's more poppy but I think I'm more taken by the garage influence of Prisoner as I'm really into that sound at the moment, I wanted to send something of that ilk and this has been in my head all week since I first heard it while in Chester last week think this is the first time I've recycled an Ashton artist!

Posted by: Mack 17th April 2016, 10:47 AM

A very good track with terrific vocals, all the best with this.

Posted by: gooddelta 17th April 2016, 10:50 AM

Thanks a lot Mack, really glad you're liking it

Posted by: gooddelta 17th April 2016, 11:55 AM

This has a video now too (perfect for Dubtrack listening sessions ;p though I prefer the longer version on Soundcloud so I'll stick to that in the main voting thread)

Posted by: gooddelta 18th May 2016, 10:53 PM

KOLAJ hoping to touch the final with BJSC 84 entry

LA-based duo KOLAJ describe their sound as Ëuphorock, and their BJSC 84 entry for FSR Rontvia, The Touch, is certainly euphoric, though not particularly rocky. The track starts off quite lush with a laidback folky soundscape before a summery dance beat and infectious drop kick in, enrobing an irresistible chorus.

Ricardo Delta said: "The Touch is rather beautiful and layered with lovely vocals. We knew that we had to ask KOLAJ to represent us this month after hearing the track only once. The song is currently #3 on the Rontvian Spotify chart, just behind Poli Genova's If Love Was A Crime and Delta Goodrem's Dear Life. It's also been Shazam'd more than 50,000 times in the Constarvan branch of H&M, where it currently plays roughly once an hour."

Posted by: Bré 23rd May 2016, 01:57 PM

Fun fact: Cal, the featured artist on St. Burbia's current entry, appears to be a pseudonym of former FSR Rontvia artist Frida Amundsen!

Posted by: gooddelta 23rd May 2016, 02:13 PM

Ooh, how about that! If it was our very own Cal featuring that would have been even better *.*

Posted by: gooddelta 1st June 2016, 02:04 PM

KOLAJ score surprise top five

KOLAJ have returned FSR Rontvia to the top five for the first time since Ulf Nilsson's Little By Little finished third in the first contest of 2015. The Touch took home a brilliant 274 points from 36 countries, receiving the third most votes in the contest, despite quite middling odds and a reaction on Dubtrack that placed it just within the top 20.

Ricardo Delta said: “It's incredible, it's been a long time since we've had a dark horse but this one snuck into the top five with four songs that were rather more expected to be there. KOLAJ are elated to notch up another top five hit for FSR Rontvia and are incredibly grateful for all the votes.”

The Touch has been top five in the Rontvian Spotify and iTunes charts since late April and is nearing the year to date top ten. It is also at the top of the 'Summer Hits' playlists on all good streaming services.

Posted by: gooddelta 13th June 2016, 08:33 PM

Real Lies ride the North Circular for 85

FSR Rontvia's 85th entry to the BuzzJack Song Contest is an ode to London's North Circular area, and the communities within it. Musically it's a cross between The Streets, Example, Pet Shop Boys and New Order, and the piano bassline evokes early 90s dance heaven.

Ricardo Delta said: "North Circular is gorgeous, it brings feelings of nostalgia and warmth even if you've never heard it before, particularly if you're familiar with the areas of London the lyrics focus on."

North Circular has debuted at #1 on both the Rontvian Spotify and iTunes chart, knocking off Delta Goodrem's Dear Life on both charts. KOLAJ's The Touch, which finished fifth in BJSC 84, remains top three in both listings.

Posted by: Bré 19th June 2016, 08:52 PM

I really like this! My fave from you since '7even' easily, reminds me a lot of 'Blinded By The Lights' (which is a v good thing). Think your own odds for it are probably overselling it a bit but I'm v much here for this being a hit please. I think I thought the same thing about KOLAJ after all and look how that turned out

Posted by: gooddelta 19th June 2016, 08:59 PM

*.* Always here for some Bré appreciation! Yeah it definitely has a Streets vibe to it, which I love. Haha yes, I'm not sure what compelled me to give those odds for it, as really I'm just hoping it qualifies right now after a couple of DNQ predictions!

Posted by: gooddelta 12th July 2016, 08:34 AM

Olivia for 86!

FSR Rontvia have selected Swedish singer/songwriter and vocal powerhouse Olivia Thorn to represent us in the 86th edition of BJSC, held in Beaverdonia and Ashton. The sassy number has a fantastic chorus, brassy pop production that sounds like Fleur East, Louisa Johnson, Agnes and early Christina Aguilera whirring through a pop blender and the brilliant Velvet-esque lyric 'gotta play your cards right when you're dealing with the queen'.

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN said: "Olivia is a self-assured independent woman who knows what she wants. I'm Not Your Lady is classic Rontvian pop, a killer chorus, an even better middle eight, thumping power pop production and stunning vocals. We're proud to have her as our representative, particularly in a semi-final held in Ashton, the spiritual home of Scandipop."

I'm Not Your Lady is at #2 in both the Rontvian iTunes and Spotify charts, only behind Enough by Delta Goodrem & Gizzle on both metrics. It's in heavy rotation on every radio station in the country, receiving 5,940 plays last week and a further 600 plays of the video across the RTVN.

Posted by: Silas 12th July 2016, 09:24 AM

I am LOVING this. A proper old school FSR banger. Very fitting that it ended up in the Ashtonise semi final! I expect there will be a fair few Rontvian flags in the crowd.

Posted by: gooddelta 12th July 2016, 09:27 AM

Yess, it's a very fitting semi and host country indeed FSR Ashvia for the final please.

Posted by: Silas 12th July 2016, 10:59 AM

Hopefully but getting country through ain't easy!!

I've rediscovered the utter joy that is Sweet California. Think today might have to be a big of an FSR Ashvia day musically *.*

Posted by: gooddelta 12th July 2016, 11:52 AM

True, it's a strong song though! Fingers crossed.

This Is The Life They've become properly huge in Spanish speaking countries now since I sent that, think their recent album has been #1 in Spain for months and they're crossing over to South America now.

Posted by: Mart!n 13th July 2016, 10:43 AM

I must admit your track has grown on me still listening to the last 15 tracks I've chosen, need to ditch a few now. Semi 2 is a killer, I can see myself struggling now or lose out by a few points.

Posted by: gooddelta 13th July 2016, 10:45 AM

It's a strong semi isn't it, quite varied overall which always makes it difficult to vote. Hard to tell who will DNQ as there don't seem to be any completely obvious DNQs to my ears.

Posted by: gooddelta 6th August 2016, 10:21 PM

Not posting potentials as I only really had the one song in contention, but I'll be sending my first Chilean act *.*

Posted by: gooddelta 7th August 2016, 07:39 PM

Ortiga bring a global flavour to 86!

Germany-based Chilean world music band Ortiga will represent FSR Rontvia in the 87th contest in Pupok and Yehesi with Ilumbarada. The Enigma-esque track has already gone to #2 in the Rontvian Spotify chart and #1 on iTunes.

Ricardo Delta said: 'Ilumbarada is something completely different from FSR Rontvia. We may be on a qualification roll but we refuse to play it safe, we absolutely adore this very special track with its magical melody, euphoric chorus and uplifting key change and we hope other countries enjoy this track.'

Posted by: Bré 18th August 2016, 12:52 AM

This song is just absolutely magical Didn't think you'd ever top Mr Little Jeans but I think this has just pipped it. It's like Enigma crossed with 'Baba Yetu' <3

Where did you come across this? It appears to be an album track from 2000, quite an obscure choice (but thank you so much for picking it up out of the archives)!

Posted by: gooddelta 18th August 2016, 09:11 AM

<3 Wow, incredibly kind words, I'm really glad you're a fan!

I found it on a German compilation called Bravo Hits 32 last month, it really stood out on first listen to me, mainly because I thought 'wow, this was a hit somewhere?'. Turns out I think they were successful album sellers in Germany so Ilumbarada was more of a token inclusion to represent that. Usually I'd think twice about sending something so old but world music is a pretty timeless genre, it could have been released yesterday or in 1990.

Posted by: Jade 23rd August 2016, 01:25 PM

So thrilled that this gave you a second top 5 this year (and a third top 10! You're on fire in 2016~) - this song really was so standout and one I knew I'd love within about 10 seconds. Glad I could give you top marks for the first time!

(Also came to say that 'The Touch' just came on shuffle on my BJSC 2016 Finalists Spotify playlist and it has just clicked with me! *.*)

Posted by: gooddelta 23rd August 2016, 01:29 PM

Thank you so much for the 18, still getting my head around three top tens in four contests <3 The early Brade hype really lifted my belief with Ilumbarada because after opening with a couple of DNQ predictions I thought it was all over!

Ooh fantastic The Touch does sound so much better when the sun is shining I find.

Posted by: gooddelta 6th September 2016, 12:40 PM

Theia's Roam to represent FSR Rontvia in Cor Lupus

After a shock top five last month with Ortiga's world music anthem Ilumbarada, FSR Rontvia have decided to go more straightforward this time around by just sending a thoroughly excellent pop song. Rising New Zealander Theia has been tipped in her home country for big things and is hopefully soon set to break out internationally. The track has already topped both the Spotify and iTunes charts in FSR Rontvia.

RTVN's Ricardo Delta said: "It was instant love when we first heard Roam by Theia, the track has the contemporary pop production of the likes of Dua Lipa and Justin Bieber but the quirky attitude and style seen in fellow New Zealanders making a mark right now such as Lorde and Broods. The chorus stuck in our head after the first listen and the 'everywhere I roam is home' post-chorus hook is pretty irresistible. We hope the BuzzJack world enjoy this track and emerging talent as much as we do!"

Posted by: gooddelta 7th October 2016, 04:18 PM

This shit is real

Brighton-based singer-songwriter Alyss has been drafted in to represent FSR Rontvia in Jadakissina and Persephonia's jointly hosted 89th edition of the BuzzJack Song Contest. She is hoping to do better than Theia, who snuck into the final last month and then narrowly avoided the bottom five with Roam.

T S I E R (which stands for This Shit Isn’t Even Real, which you may guess from the chorus) has already gone as high as No.2 in the Rontvian streaming, sales and airplay charts. The RTVN’s Ricardo Delta said: “We were really struck by the infectious production in this song, and the melody is a huge earworm too, it’s really quite a hypnotic track with great lyrics. I’m from Brighton too before I moved to FSR Rontvia so it’s great to support a local talent."

Alyss, whose other singles released so far are said to encapsulate the spirit of artists such as Disclosure and Jessie Ware, added: “I’d been studying shaman teachings around that time and there was one principle that I couldn’t get out my head: dreams are real and reality is a dream. Both are equally as real as they are hallucination. The more I dissected the concept, the more it tripped me out. In a good way. It’s mad how such simple words have completely changed how I view existence. I guess making T S I E R was like an audible screenshot of that perspective shift.”

Posted by: Bré 7th October 2016, 05:04 PM

Oh after seeing this post (i.e. remembering what the title stands for) I realise I have actually heard this already as well! Can't think where, think it was just a random song I found while searching for potentials (or maybe it was in PJSC or something). This is continuing your run of good entries lately anyway!

Posted by: gooddelta 7th October 2016, 05:26 PM

Ooh nice glad you like! I heard it through the Spotify Release Radar, have noticed it on a couple of blogs since though too.

Posted by: Cucumberella 8th October 2016, 09:16 PM

another good one from rontvia this yr! i applaud how different it is for u

Posted by: gooddelta 8th October 2016, 09:26 PM

Thanks Leww, glad you're liking it!

Posted by: gooddelta 19th October 2016, 08:10 AM

Alyss scores fourth Rontvian top ten hit of 2016!

T S I E R by Brighton singer-songwriter Alyss finished in 9th place in Jadakissina last night, giving FSR Rontvia a fourth top ten hit in 2016, following fifth places with The Touch by KOLAJ and Ilumbarada by Ortiga and 7th place with I'm Not Your Lady by Olivia.

The RTVN's Ricardo Delta said: "This is pretty astonishing stuff, we're regarded as a legacy country now as one of the old guard, having taken place in every contest since the first alongside Ashton and Kylienips. To score four top ten hits in the same year in what is now an incredibly competitive and consistently high quality environment is incredible and we're so pleased and grateful for all the support. We were looking at low top 20 as the final results rolled in but some last minute high scores from Republic Of Adonia and Skall - thank you for the 18! - propelled us unexpectedly into the top ten. Thanks to Jadakissina for a fabulous show and congratulations to #00274E on a highly unexpected win with a 90s dance track."

Posted by: gooddelta 31st October 2016, 02:32 PM

A Polish language pop jam to round off the year

For our final entry of what's been a surprisingly successful 2016, FSR Rontvia have turned to Poland for the first time ever and Natalia Nykiel. House influenced pop jam Error is, despite the title, a fully Polish language track and was a No.1 hit for the singer in her home country earlier this year. The song has been top 10 in the Rontvian Spotify, iTunes and airplay charts for the past three months and the decision to send it was influenced by a recent trip by the entry selection committee to Rontvia's finest Polish restaurant, Polskvia.

Ricardo Delta, head of the RTVN, said: "Error is something we've been sitting on since the late summer but we always knew we had to send it and end the year on a high with our third foreign language track of the year. The song has stellar, contemporary production, but not of the type heard on most 2016 hits but of the type we wish most pop stars were going for right now, it's a four to the floor house-inspired pop anthem. And Natalia is a star, so charismatic and individual and she has a fantastic voice. We hope other countries like Error as much as we do."

Posted by: Addy Boo! 31st October 2016, 03:09 PM

this is amazing Rich

Oh and that restaurant name could easily join BJSC lol...Polskvia FTW.

Posted by: gooddelta 31st October 2016, 03:19 PM

Yay Addy <3 Seriously though, Polish food is gorgeous. It's relatively simple but so good.

Posted by: gooddelta 15th January 2017, 06:14 PM

Nonagenarian represents Rontvia for the 91st contest...

For the first contest of 2017, FSR Rontvia have turned to Irish producer Daithí and his single Mary Keanes Introduction (the grammar mistake is the artist's own!). The track is a house track with a twist. Mary Keane is Daithí's grandmother and in this track she reminisces over her life growing up in Ireland. A really unique idea, the dance track itself is bouncy and jolly but it's lifted hugely by the utterly charming spoken word samples from Mary.

Ricardo Delta said: "We first heard Mary Keanes Introduction last September and it's been high in the affections of the Rontvian public ever since, finishing at #5 in the recently revealed 2016 End of Year chart, outpacing every single entry we sent to BJSC during 2016. We've been waiting for the right moment to send this and we feel that the time is right, as Mary is 91 and this is the 91st contest. We believe she may well be the oldest vocalist to have ever graced the BJSC stage and we hope the other Buzzjack nations take Mary's story to heart, it really is a beautiful nostalgic tale that really makes you smile. Daithí is a super talented young producer and we're pleased that he finally has the chance to represent us. The video is really stunning too, what a gorgeous country."



And for more from the fantastic Mary:

Posted by: Cucumberella 15th January 2017, 06:19 PM

this is GREAT.

Posted by: gooddelta 15th January 2017, 06:21 PM

Glad you like!

Posted by: Rob S~ 22nd January 2017, 06:48 PM

already said to you on Facebook but I'm gutted your streak has ended with this song Rich I'd have pointed it quite high if it was in the same semi. Damn!

Posted by: gooddelta 22nd January 2017, 07:03 PM

Oops, never mind, it might have been 'wrong semi effect' but I think it's more likely it just didn't click with most really! Glad you liked it though Rob!

I'm still happy to have it as part of my entry canon, such a gorgeous song/story for me and one of my favourite songs of the past few years <3 I do have songs like this (that usually finish in my EOY top three/five) that nobody else really 'gets', like Spin My World and A Grade Playa I think we can file this next to those!

Posted by: Bré 23rd January 2017, 12:23 AM

This really isn't in the same category as DJ Kent and Sheppard though, it's actually a good song I get this entry being a bit divisive with the unorthodox vocals but I am a bit shocked it didn't find enough big fans to get through as it was a massive standout in the semi, perhaps would have boded better in semi 2 as you said in the thread! An early favourite (for me at least) for Rejects I guess. </3

Posted by: gooddelta 23rd January 2017, 09:16 AM

I guess risks don't always pay off in BJSC and the old Irish dear just didn't touch enough hearts. But, yes, now I have some early representation in the Rejects!

Tbh it was only 25th I guess so it's not like it only just missed out either, it was quite far adrift.

But I hope to get some Persephonian votes from elsewhere before the year is out!

Posted by: gooddelta 12th February 2017, 07:55 PM

It's afro house time!

Despite last month's DNQ - the first in over a year - FSR Rontvia have decided to continue in the same vein regardless with another dance track of the sort not typically seen in BJSC. South African afro house duo Black Motion have teamed up with the effervescent Nokwazi on the brilliant Imali. A hit back at home for the collaborative, the six-plus minute party track Imali is sung entirely in Zulu. South Africa has proved to be a mixed bag in terms of success for FSR Rontvia, with DJ Kent's Spin My World DNQ'ing, Nadine's I Will Be Strong and Timo Odv's Save Me both finishing 24th and Goldfish's Moonwalk Away bagging 4th place.

The RTVN's Ricardo Delta said: "Afro house is really taking over the airwaves at our sister network Rontvia FM recently. When we heard Imali we just couldn't stop dancing, it's such an infectious and fun track and the string interludes that punctuate the track a couple of times are to die for. Nokwazi is a real diva with soul, her vocals are irresistible and we're delighted to have our first track sung in Zulu representing us."

Imali has been at #1 on FSR Rontvia's Spotify chart for three weeks and has just climbed to #1 on the YTD chart.

Posted by: Bré 16th February 2017, 11:42 PM

I absolutely adoreee the vocals on this (the song as a full package took a couple of listens to click properly but I am really liking it now - 2017 already shaping up to be my favourite FSR Rontvia year ever?), shame African dance songs (bar 'Shosholoza') seem to be perennially underrated in the contest with the likes of 'Daniel', 'Desmond's Empire' and 'Mashisa' all falling short of the final, I hope this can buck that trend somehow. Failing that I have an African house track that I'm intent on sending quite soon

Posted by: gooddelta 16th February 2017, 11:54 PM

It's definitely a grower! The vocals sold it to me first but there are some lovely production layers and flourishes that kept me coming back for more! Glad you're liking it, and liking more of my entries in general recently! Yeah it's rather subtle I suppose so I'm not sure what to expect, borderline I would imagine. I look forward to hearing that possible entry of yours as and when it appears!

Posted by: gooddelta 13th March 2017, 10:07 AM

It's-a-him, Mario

For BJSC 93, held in South Danaelanda, FSR Rontvia is following up two DNQs (with very different style house tracks) with something completely different. Chinese cellist Tina Guo's Super Mario Bros. is taken from her excellent new album Game On, an inspired collection of her versions of some of the most iconic video game soundtracks of all time.

This track is a medley of three scores from Nintendo's famous Mario series - namely levels 1-1 and 1-2 from the original NES game, the latter performed in a hard rock style, and the Whomp's Fortress stage from Super Mario 64.

Ricardo Delta said: "We've always flirted with the idea of sending a video game soundtrack to BJSC, as gaming is such a popular pastime in FSR Rontvia. Up to now we'd never quite found the right track that screamed 'we must send this'. But that all changed when we listened to Tina Guo's album recently. She has agreed to represent us with her wonderful take on some of the most memorable songs from the Super Mario Bros. soundtrack and the song is already a top three hit in FSR Rontvia! We have absolutely no idea how this will go down but we are excited to try something new following a couple of DNQs!"

Posted by: Melobrama 15th March 2017, 12:48 AM

This is so good once again, a really inspired and unique choice of entry!! I love the music in the Super Mario series and this is a brilliant and creative rendition (did not see the metal-flavoured 1-2 theme coming but it worked so well).

Posted by: gooddelta 15th March 2017, 10:51 AM

Yassss at your continued 2017 stanning <3 Hopefully this one translates into a Q, but we'll see.

Yes I came across her album on iTunes randomly and couldn't resist sending something from it. The Mario music means the most to me so I had to go with that, she's very talented, the whole album is really excellent. Indeed, it would have been a great rendition anyway but the metal breakdown was what pushed me over the edge to 'must attempt to send this to BJSC'!

Posted by: gooddelta 9th April 2017, 08:45 AM

Basque turbo-folk band Huntza ready for 94

Following a fantastic 12th place last month with Tina Guo's classical crossover take on a medley of songs from the Super Mario Bros. series, for BJSC 94 - to be held in Ultraviolenceland, Unovia and Hushkanukia - we are returning to sending a vocal entry. But we couldn't step right back to something so normal so soon after Mary Keane, Imali and Mario, so we've sent an energetic turbo-folk/ska hybrid sung in the exotic Basque language, spoken by only around 700,000 people in the world, in parts of northern Spain and southwestern France. Hailing from the Spanish side - Bilbao to be precise - Aldapan Gora is the crown jewel in Huntza's eclectic discography.

The RTVN's Ricardo Delta said: "The moment we heard that amazing intro we just knew that it had to be our next BJSC entry, especially when it soon gave way to a rocky bassline, brilliant violins and an irreistible accordian. The Basque language is so unique and sounds like a cross of Spanish and some ancient language spoken in the Balkans. The chorus is instant and infectious, the music is frantic and joyful and the video is stunning too, with amazing scenery. We couldn't be more excited about this entry, we really hope it resonates with some people, or at least brings a smile to their face!"

Aldapan Gora is currently at No.2 in the Rontvian Spotify chart and at #1 in the national airplay chart.

Posted by: King Rollo 9th April 2017, 08:53 AM

A good energetic song to get me awake.

Posted by: gooddelta 9th April 2017, 08:57 AM

Yes, it's definitely not boring! Welcome to the contest!

Posted by: Rob S ~ 10th April 2017, 03:13 PM

This is quite nice, certainly like how you switch it up every month. Reminds me of one of Seyetana's songs from last year which is a good thing as I think it stands out positively. I love this type of hippie folk music though, cheery & gives good vibes

Posted by: Bré 🐱 14th April 2017, 02:01 AM

You're really gunning for most obscure/eclectic nation of 2017 aren't you This is another good entry, not quite stanning it as much as the previous 3 but still very much appreciating the diversity, probably the first Basque language song I've ever heard.

Posted by: gooddelta 14th April 2017, 08:33 AM

Glad you like it Rob!



Unintentionally, yes I guess now I've inadvertently sent four slightly leftfield entries in a row there's some pressure to extend it to the end of the year. Not sure I'll manage to keep that up, I guess one day I'll have to just send something more normal again!

Obviously not expecting them all to appeal to the same people but nevertheless I'm glad you're liking it to some extent! I hadn't heard of a Basque language song before this either, it came up on a Youtube recommendation while I was watching videos about the Basque language. I found it intriguing that this language even exists, it's so different to any other!

Posted by: gooddelta 5th May 2017, 10:39 PM

Emma Bale brings pop back to FSR Rontvia

Belgian singer Emma Bale will represent FSR Rontvia in the 95th contest with Worth It, following Huntza's respectable 26th place finish with Basque jam Aldapan Gora last month.

Worth It, which has already reached #2 in the Rontvian Spotify and iTunes charts, and #1 on airplay, marks a return to English language pop after many months of experimentation and slightly off the wall entries.

The RTVN's Ricardo Delta said: "When we first heard Worth It we were instantly taken by Emma's voice and charm and the song itself is what we imagine Emmelie De Forest would be putting out if she borrowed the producers from the danicer tracks on Delta's Wings Of The Wild album, it's uptempo yet ethereal at the same time and has a fantastic chorus to boot - we simply love it!"

Posted by: gooddelta 2nd July 2017, 09:59 PM

It's Gaga for 96! Yaşar that is...

For the first time ever Rontvia are going Turkish for BJSC 96 with the track Şahane Bir Şey Yaşamak by Yaşar Gaga and Sezen Aksu, hoping to improve on the consecutive 26th place finishes of the past two months. The RTVN's Ricardo Delta tells all:

"We first heard this while browsing through the New Music Friday Turkey playlist on Spotify and we were so bowled over by it that we had to call Yaşar immediately - it really is our song of the summer already. It's great to be able to send Turkish talent to BJSC, something we have never done before and we're excited to send another foreign language track and to see how it is received. The track is a magical dance anthem with copious amounts of sax and Safri Duo-esque drums with a bit of tropical house influence for good measure - it is 2017 after all! And that chorus melody just can't be denied."

Şahane Bir Şey Yaşamak has climbed to #1 on the Rontvian Spotify, sales and airplay charts this week, toppling the Jonas Blue remix of Jasmine Thompson's Old Friends on all three metrics.

Posted by: Bré 5th July 2017, 03:52 AM

Well I can confirm the Persephonia FSR love-in is continuing for another month *.* The melody kind of reminds me of 'Glad You Came' by The Wanted haha. But this is an absolute jam anyway, kind of reminds me of 'Shosholoza' (has a bit of an African-y feel despite being Turkish), I can see this one doing really well for you!

Posted by: gooddelta 5th July 2017, 07:25 AM

I see what you mean, it has one of those naggingly familiar melodies that seems to sound like about five other songs!

Glad you approve, good to have your support again!

Posted by: LUKΞ 5th July 2017, 09:04 AM

Turkish version of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dWeeUIZFgA? I knew the melody reminded me of something, it was a huge radio hit over here five years ago!
It's growing on me!

Posted by: gooddelta 5th July 2017, 09:37 AM

Ha, wow, yes it would appear to be a straight Turkish cover of that! Never heard of that before now!

Posted by: Addy K!ng 5th July 2017, 09:58 AM

Also Marc Anthony Vivir Mi Vida has the same chorus

Posted by: gooddelta 5th July 2017, 10:16 AM

Apparently this song gets around

Posted by: Addy K!ng 5th July 2017, 09:25 PM

I am in Istanbul airport currently...I found Yasar GaGa CD lol

Posted by: gooddelta 5th July 2017, 09:32 PM

I actually love his new album, there's a few more brilliant tracks on there - especially Adina Da Derler Sex <3

Posted by: gooddelta 31st July 2017, 08:36 AM

Dance with Kosmonova for 97?

After achieving our first top 10 of the year last month with Yaşar Gaga's rather epic Şahane Bir Şey Yaşamak, FSR Rontvia have dug deep into the box labelled 'Eurodance classics that were never released or properly pushed in the UK' for BJSC 97 and found German DJ Kosmonova's 2000 single Danse Avec Moi!, which was a big hit in various European countries at the time.

The RTVN's Ricardo Delta said: "This is one of those Eurodance songs that for some mistifying reason never saw the light of day in the UK - granted the (few) lyrics are in French but that didn't stop Encore Une Fois by Sash! being huge!. File this one next to Daddy DJ, Gigi D'agostino and DJ Encore as great lost hits.

"Luckily it was a major smash in FSR Rontvia and still gets regular rotation on all of our national radio stations to this day. It is a majestic example of a genre that the Rontvian public hold dearly close to their hearts as the first we were ever truly obsessed with - a glorious piano melody plays in between a pulsating Eurotrance beat that harks back to the great days of the aforementioned Sash! as well as ATB and DJ Quicksilver. We're quite sure this would have been a sizeable UK hit if given a chance and we hope that it can find some love amongst the Buzzjack World 17 years later - at the very least we wanted to share an all-time favourite with everyone as the 100th anniversary of BJSC quickly approaches."

Posted by: danG 31st July 2017, 09:50 AM

yay for more early 00s eurodance being entered tho, not heard this song before either but I'm sure I'll enjoy it.

Posted by: gooddelta 31st July 2017, 10:09 AM

Quite right, the list goes on!

Btw, you may be interested to know that Kosmonova also released a version of trance classic Ayla:

Posted by: Capybréra 3rd August 2017, 12:05 AM

Casually here for yet another month in the FSR 2017 fanclub All the retro eurodance entries in this semi are brilliant, this one is very Sash! indeed as you point out! There must be crates of lost eurodance gems from the 90s / early 00s as there seem to be new ones in BJSC every month or two haha.

Posted by: gooddelta 3rd August 2017, 08:00 AM

Oooh this is good news! I'm glad to see you continuing your appreciation of my entries, especially as it's quite a world away from some of the other stuff I've sent this year.

Oh for sure, there was so much brilliant stuff of this ilk around from the mid 90s through to about 2002, a good place to source them is old European compilations of the time, like Germany's Bravo Hits. The 1999/2000 albums especially were packed with these sort of gems.

Posted by: gooddelta 28th August 2017, 10:11 PM

Dacia finally get their turn as we rocket towards the 100th contest!

*FLASHBACK*

Back in 2009 Dacia's Muistot was hotly tipped to be our entry to the 19th contest. The honour eventually went to Hafdis Huld's Kongulo but we said eight years ago that the Finnish dance troupe may be back in the future and now in 2017 Muistot, a major top three smash in Dacia's home nation in 2007, is finally representing FSR Rontvia.

Ricardo Delta said: "Muistot was a huge hit in the Rontvian charts in 2008 and then an even bigger success in 2009 when it was hotly tipped to represent FSR Rontvia in BJSC XIX, but never got its chance to shine. Now we're on the run up to the landmark 100th contest and 10 unbroken years of participation, we have been going through the vaults to find our nation's best loved tracks that fell through the cracks previously. Kosmonova did surprisingly well for us last month, coming 4th with the brilliant Danse Avec Moi! and now we have turned to Dacia.

"Muistot has been on regular rotation on all of our national radio stations for nine years and we're delighted that this Finnish language Eurodance/trance banger finally gets its chance to be heard by a wider audience. This is our second Finnish language entry, after Maailman Toisella Puolen by Haloo Helsinki! in 2012, and we're excited to be presenting our third foreign language entry on the trot, albeit Danse Avec Moi! had few words! The production is thumping and the chorus is explosive and, as we mentioned in 2009, it even has a key change! We wish the very best of luck to Dacia in Quintessa, and hope some of the other 71 countries enjoy Muistot as much as we have for all these years."

Muistot has re-entered the Rontvian Spotify charts at #3 this week upon the news of Dacia's participation, slotting in behind P!nk's What About Us (ain't no ageism amongst Rontvian streamers) and Dua Lipa's New Rules.

Posted by: gooddelta 24th September 2017, 11:03 AM

The Kaamos before the storm

With anticipation at fever pitch for BJSC 100 next month FSR Rontvia are marking the celebrations early with a storming new trance entry, Kaamos by Finnish producer Tom Fall. The second Finnish act in as many months, the RTVN are hopeful it will outpeak the dreadful performance of Rontvian airplay classic Muistot by Dacia which flatlined last month near the bottom of the semis.

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN said: “We were disappointed last month, Muistot is an all-time classic here and it was a shame to see it fail so spectacularly. We’d been sitting on it for a decade without sending it, ultimately probably for good reason.

“But Kaamos is a different beast, a pulsating trance instrumental with a lovely subtle piano crescendo into an energetic track that gives everything it’s got. We first heard it on Armin Van Buuren’s famous A State of Trance compilation and it was this year’s easy standout for us - a true classic in every sense of the word, it’s like the love child of Anjunabeach by Above & Beyond and the best of Mauro Picotto. For us the melody and chord progression was too glorious not to send - the song has been at Number One in the Rontvian sales, streaming and airplay charts for two weeks, seeing off even new singles by The Corrs and Steps this week!”

Posted by: gooddelta 25th October 2017, 09:59 PM

BJSC 100: The return of Delta

For the landmark 100th contest, as well as FSR Rontvia's 100th participation, the nation's favourite artist has returned. The RTVN contacted Delta Goodrem around two months ago and the Aussie legend agreed to represent the nation for the third time in total, following her ill-fated first entry, a live version of Believe Again which finished 17th in the very first contest, and her BJSC 50 entry Hunters and the Wolves, which finished 2nd, though with the same number of points as the winner of that contest. Also representing Greenland and Ashton in the main contests as well as FSR Rontvia and Unovia in various spin-offs, Delta is prolific but has not been seen in the main contest for five years.

The song chosen for Delta's third Rontvian entry is Take Me Home, the b-side to her 2007 Aussie and Rontvian No.1 hit In This Life. Ricardo Delta, head of the RTVN said: "Take Me Home is a phenomenal track and was utterly wasted as a b-side, especially considering that era's album, Delta, was rather full of filler. A soaring ballad with subtle electro and dance production flourishes, the second verse onwards has always reminded us of William Orbit's work with Madonna and All Saints at the turn of the century. As a b-side, it's not an especially well known track - Delta has never performed it on tour and it's only available on Spotify in Australia, but luckily 80% of Rontvian natives imported the In This Life CD single at the time of release so know and love it. And it's been an airplay staple for the last decade, coming out at around the same time as the iconic Believe Again."

Take Me Home follows Tom Fall's Kaamos, which impressively finshed 6th in BJSC 99. The track has returned to the Rontvian top five following the news of the participation, up to #3 on Spotify and #2 in the airplay chart at the time of writing.

A 3-disc 60 track compilation album, 'The Very Best of FSR Rontvia', will be released on Friday to commemorate the 100th anniversary, featuring our 60 greatest entries, as decided by a public vote.

Posted by: 5 Silas Frøkner 25th October 2017, 11:14 PM

Been inspired to have a bit of a Delta evening on YouTube *.*

Posted by: gooddelta 25th October 2017, 11:23 PM

I did that Saturday, I had a real struggle picking which song to go for, so many 11/10s even amongst the b-sides and rarities, let alone on the albums

I rewatched the Believe Again tour too, mainly to see Predictable Dreams <3 (which I reluctantly discounted on the grounds of both Predictable and Sweet Dreams being pretty/incredibly well known).

Posted by: 5 Silas Frøkner 25th October 2017, 11:27 PM

Predictable Dreams going to have to dig out that tour DVD now!! What a stormer of a performance that was.

I was hoping she's tour in the UK this time, at least a date, because I'm still absolutely stanning for the album

Posted by: gooddelta 22nd January 2018, 01:47 PM

Another Aussie to kick off a new century

Following Delta Goodrem's Take Me Home, which performed respectably with a 17th place finish in BJSC 100, FSR Rontvia has returned to Australia for our first entry of this new century. We proudly introduce 19-year-old New South Wales resident E^ST with Life Goes On.

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN said: "Life Goes On is one of those songs that hit us hard on the first listen, so much so that it has been lodged at No.1 on the Spotify and airplay charts in FSR Rontvia since mid-December, when we first heard the track. The song has a pulsating piano-house style intro before easing effortlessly into E^ST's gorgeous unaffected vocals, it's quite clear to hear that she is an Aussie, we love anybody from down under that sings with their authentic twang in tact, like Missy Higgins and Courtney Barnett. Her falsetto is also beautiful, and really dreamy when matched with the glorious four-on-the floor electro-pop soundscape.

"The lyrics are also really thought provoking, focusing on a lost, fleeting love that could have been something more, and one that ultimately made a significant impact on E^ST even if it might not have seemed it would turn out that way at the time. This is a real tears on the dancefloor anthem."

Posted by: gooddelta 18th February 2018, 10:18 PM

An entry of jurassic proportion for 102

Back in Ashton after their much deserved and long awaited second win, FSR Rontvia is ecstatic to be participating this month and has had a slight change-up in style for the 102nd contest, albeit still with another pop-influenced entry.

US female duo Fever High's Good Advice features a spoken word middle eight recorded especially for the track by no less a Hollywood legend than Jeff Goldblum, who the girls called on to tell them about some of the advice he'd been given by people over the years.

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN explains: "When we first heard this track we thought it sounded good, and it stood out as something different, but over the next few days it became apparent we should send this to BJSC. That chorus hook was once heard never forgotten and was going around in our heads for days after just the one listen.

"Fever High are great and remind us a little of early Bananarama, with the same chanty and collaborative vocal style that they delivered on most of their hits, as well as production that's not a million miles away from It Ain't What You Do It's The Way That You Do It. The fact that the legendary actor Jeff Goldblum delivers the middle eight just seals the deal, it works surprisngly well."

Good Advice spends its second week atop the Rontvian Spotify chart today, ahead of a new entry at No.2, Party Voice by Jessica Andersson.

Posted by: Jade 18th February 2018, 10:24 PM

The 'Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)' of our generation? *.* seriously though I'm very interested to hear what this will be like, as I never expected him to venture into the world of music

Posted by: gooddelta 18th February 2018, 10:29 PM

Ha, I never thought of that. *.*

Apparently he recorded eight minutes of dialogue and they picked out 30 seconds of 'highlights' for the middle eight. It sounds like such a random idea but it adds nicely to the track! Kudos to him for doing it too.

Posted by: Riser 24th February 2018, 05:11 AM

Such a great duo! I hope you've also heard 'Tantalized' and 'All Work'!

Posted by: gooddelta 24th February 2018, 08:09 AM

I have! Also great tracks, their album is soooo good, I could have mined it for BJSC entries, they are such a modern day Bananarama <3 (oops at Good Advice coming to DNQ though but I’m so obsessed with it right now *.*).

Posted by: gooddelta 19th March 2018, 01:27 PM

Freya rides into view for 103

Upcoming London-based singer-songwriter Freya Ridings has been selected to represent FSR Rontvia in the 103rd edition of BJSC, held this month in Tinnmark. The 23-year-old's early signature song Lost Without You has been streamed nearly eight million times on Spotify, but it is the Live At St Pancras Old Church version that Freya will be performing in Tinnmark.

The RTVN's Ricardo Delta explains: "We first heard this song on a Spotify playlist and then it popped up again in the background of Neighbours recently, which still gets major ratings in FSR Rontvia. The public loved it and immediately begged us to send it to the contest. While the original is a spellbinding piano ballad, Freya has agreed to perform the live version for us in BJSC 103 because it elevates the magic to another level with her emotive, gorgeous vocals reminiscent of Hannah Reid from London Grammar, complemented beautifully by her flawless piano playing and an absolutely stunning string section that doesn't feature on the studio version. Lost Without You is the second live track FSR Rontvia has ever sent to the contest, the first came in the very first contest when we sent the live at Australian Idol version of Believe Again by Delta Goodrem. We wish Freya the best of luck and hope this track can find some love from any piano ballad fans in the contest."

Lost Without You is No.1 on the Spotify chart in FSR Rontvia for the second week, ahead of Kylie Minogue's Stop Me From Falling, Everyday by Mendez, For You by Mariette and We Got Love by Jessica Mauboy.

Contest version



Alternative live version from Hackney Round Chapel (minus strings)

Posted by: Dexton 21st March 2018, 02:34 PM

This is giving me Florence Welsh vibes on first listen, but with a bit more soul x.x

Posted by: jafetsigfinns 21st March 2018, 07:14 PM

Just listened to this for the first time (I'm in the other semi) and I just have to say wow. I'm honestly close to tears after listening to this. So raw and emotional. THAT VOICE. Jeez. Feels like a huge star in the making here. If this doesn't qualify I'll throw a fit.

Posted by: Klumzee 21st March 2018, 07:38 PM

mixed feelings about this! Love the voice naturally as I'm a big fan of Florence and London Grammar but her diction is awful! It's gonna take a few listens to understand what the song is about but on the surface it's lovely!

Posted by: gooddelta 21st March 2018, 08:17 PM

Can definitely see that!



Glad to hear you like it, it had the same effect on me when I first heard it, though I heard the studio version first but this live version particularly got me <3 am off to see her live in May and cannot wait, really hoping she has a great career ahead of her.



Ha, yes I sort of get that. I wonder if it’s to do with the live acoustics, the studio version possibly sounds slightly clearer (but omits the lovely strings </3 hopefully a new studio version with those is forthcoming at some point.

Posted by: Cucumberella 21st March 2018, 08:33 PM

this is lovely! hoping it's more of a contender than my odds suggest but you never know with live recordings

Posted by: jafetsigfinns 21st March 2018, 08:59 PM

I'm calling it. This is a strong winning contender.

Posted by: Bré 26th March 2018, 01:51 AM

So here for this being a big hit, like I said on plug it honestly doesn't even sound like a live recording (until the applause at the end)! This would fit in perfectly on a London Grammar album, beautiful stuff.

Posted by: gooddelta 2nd April 2018, 05:39 PM

Rontvian spirits high as Freya finishes 2nd!

For the first time since RAMelia (Song For Amelia) by RAM and Susana stormed to victory almost four years ago, FSR Rontvia mounted a very strong challenge for the win, ultimately scoring as many points as eventual winner New Lexico but losing out on a tiebreak due to receiving points from fewer countries. While a ninth win was not to be, the RTVN's Ricardo Delta said spirits were still very high today in the nation as it secured its sixth silver medal position to date.

"When we confirmed Lost Without You we thought it would perhaps make the final and end up somewhere towards the middle or bottom. Last time we sent a proper piano ballad was Don't Go by Rae Morris and that finished 14th - Rae would later go onto bigger and better things and we hope Freya's career takes off in the same way. Our other dabblings in MOR, meanwhile, often tend to finish a lot further down.

"We were obviously pleasantly surprised by the Plug reaction and then the odds and predictas, which pretty much universally had us in the top five. While a win seemed a little far-fetched for a live piano ballad - only Adele has ever managed this in BJSC and tracks like this tend to appeal hugely or not at all to most people - it did seem like the stars were aligned for our first top five result since Kosmonova's Danse Avec Moi! came 4th last summer.

"As the results unfolded, the Rontvian public were on the edge of their seats. New Lexico was leading almost from the off and never relinquished its position but it did look as if we could sneak past right at the end. It wasn't to be - we tied on points and three more countries voted for their entry - we gave it 13 points, it's a fantastic track and a rightful winner, and we are elated for New Lexico to finally score their first victory.

"But far from being disappointed, we were in fact ecstatic - while we've had some good results since RAMelia, including a handful of top five finishes, we never really felt like we had a true contender in our hands and, after winning seven times in the first 35 contests, it was pretty clear that we lost our way somewhat as 2012 took hold. RAMelia seemed like a late career anomaly and we honestly never thought we'd manage to deliver another winning contender again. Of course, those with long memories will note that we've been here before - Delta Goodrem's Hunters and the Wolves lost out on a tie-break in the 50th contest to Numayania. We at least now can notch up another record - a perhaps more unwanted one than many that we hold - of losing the most tie-breaks for victory!

"But it's hopefully onwards and upwards, the public feel buoyant about the fact we can still compete with the new guard and the modern day big hitters and we thank Freya for that - it was fantastic to still be in the running as the last vote was announced. We would like to thank everybody who voted for Lost Without You, with a special shout out to Harmonica, Ashton, Bhangra and Mosquetania who all gave it 18 points! Hopefully one day the contest will get another chance to return to FSR Rontvia, we always adore hosting it."

Lost Without You remains at No.1 in the Rontvian Spotify chart for a fourth consecutive week, with the highest stream tally of the year, and Freya has just released a new live album - Live At Omera on Spotify and iTunes this week. Two tracks from the album - Castles and Love Is Fire - have debuted inside the Rontvian Spotify top 20 and the album has debuted at No.1, knocking off Freya's previous live album, Live At St Pancras Church, from which the BJSC version of Lost Without You was taken.

Posted by: cantthinkofaname 2nd April 2018, 06:34 PM

I hope Mosquetania giving 18 points to their neighbours to the south doesn't get filed under diaspora because we REALLY love this song!

Posted by: 5 Silas Frøkner 2nd April 2018, 08:37 PM

Second time FSR should have been the tie break winner. The stings on this absolutely kill me


My 18 will be tagged as bloc voting, but idc coz it's a stunning song sung beautifully.

Posted by: gooddelta 15th April 2018, 09:45 PM

French duo serve electro swing fun for 104th contest

After Freya Ridings was pipped to the post by the smallest of margins in the last contest, FSR Rontvia have quickly regrouped ready for the 104th contest in New Lexico and selected We Are What We Are (Wolfgang Lohr Remix) by French electro swing DJ duo Bart & Baker and The Billy Bros Orchestra. The first time we have ever dabbled in this genre, the track has already been a huge domestic hit, replacing Freya Ridings at No.1 in the Rontvian Spotify chart last week and staying on top for a second week in the chart announced today.

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN said: "Electro swing is not a genre that Rontvia is known for sending by any means but the second we heard this track we fell in love instantly. A great example of its genre, its like Doop meets will.i.am's Bang Bang. It's obviously a completely different ball game to Lost Without You, which was one of the most beautiful tracks we'd ever sent and we are still so proud of its success. This time we're bringing something more fun to the contest and we hope that it finds some fans in the first semi final."

Posted by: Bré 15th April 2018, 09:59 PM

I read this as 'Bart Baker' (as in the absurdist YouTuber / parody song maker) when I saw the semis and thought SURELY not.

Posted by: gooddelta 3rd May 2018, 06:52 PM

The RTVN delegation are at Union Chapel in Islington tonight seeing Freya Ridings live <3 quite a huge crowd here actually, didn’t know anyone had heard of her! Rontvian tie-break loser impact *.*

Posted by: gooddelta 17th May 2018, 01:04 PM

Millie Turner comes out of the shadows for 105

17-year-old Millie Turner from Hackney, East London will represent FSR Rontvia in the 105th Buzzjack Song Contest, which is being held in Niceland. The Shadow debuted at No.1 in FSR Rontvia last week with huge sales after it went viral and picked up millions of Spotify streams.

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN said: “The Shadow is a breathtaking pop song. We knew this was something special from the moment we heard it and we just had to send it. The pulsating bassline transports you to another place but Millie’s charming vocal style soon brings you right back, especially the fabulous spoken second verse. It's a very classy and catchy production.”

Taking part in the second semi-final, The Shadow follows We Are What We Are by Bart & Baker, which exceeded expectations by finishing in 15th place in BJSC 104.

Posted by: ¡ʎpp∀ 17th May 2018, 01:07 PM

Classic Rontvia

Posted by: UltraReputation 17th May 2018, 02:11 PM

Omg I LOVE The Shadow, yasss at you sending this Rich 😍😍

Posted by: Cody💧Slayberry 17th May 2018, 08:15 PM

Love this!

Posted by: Bré 18th May 2018, 10:35 PM

This is a really great pop song, heard it a few months back via PopJustice and still sounding fab now. Another crack at the contest returning to Rontvia methinks...

Posted by: gooddelta 21st May 2018, 04:18 PM

<3



Yassss <3 I didn't realise it had been in PJSC, I heard the track via a Spotify recommendation only a couple of weeks back and it was instant love. Lead to a rare reconfirmation for me in fact, it takes a lot for me to change my mind once I've confirmed but I felt this was worth it.

Posted by: gooddelta 10th July 2018, 08:43 AM

A Mediterranean summer scorcher for 106

Italian legend Dolcenera will represent FSR Rontvia at the 106th BJSC, held in Land of DW, with Un Altro Giorno Sulla Terra. The nation’s first ever Italian language entry, it has been at No.1 in FSR Rontvia for five of the last six weeks, breaking temporarily in the middle to give Girlfriend by Christine and the Queens a week in control.

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN said: “I first heard Un Altro Giorno Sulla Terra while out shopping in the local village Fulgatore at the end of May when holidaying in Sicily.

“It won me over immediately, especially when the sun-drenched middle eight instrumental dance break storms in, sounding like a summer carnival in Brazil – which is where the video to the track was filmed.

“I added the track to the nation’s biggest radio and Spotify playlists and it took off immediately. The legendary Dolcenera, who has both served as a coach on The Voice of Italy and participated in the nation’s famous Sanremo festival on multiple occasions, said she would be delighted to represent FSR Rontvia.”

The unrivalled song of the summer in FSR Rontvia, Un Altro Giorno Sulla Terra currently sits at No.3 in the nation’s year-to-date chart.

Posted by: gooddelta 11th August 2018, 08:57 PM

Be Yourself, urges South African dance act

Following a disappointing DNQ last month with Dolcenera's marvellous summer anthem - still top 10 in the Rontvian charts after 12 weeks - the nation is hoping for slightly better things this month with our entry to BJSC 107 in Fljótavík, Be Yourself by Goodluck feat Boris Smith.

A renowned South African dance act who have scored numerous huge hits in their home country, Goodluck follow in the footsteps of compatriots DJ Kent, Goldfish, Timo Odv and Black Motion, fellow South African dance acts that have all represented FSR Rontvia in BJSC over the last five years.

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN said: "Be Yourself is a motivational and uplifting anthem that we fell for on first listen, it's an emphatic and catchy little house track with a feel-good message and a memorable video with the potential to go viral - a great reminder that people should throw caution to the wind and do what they want with their lives.

"Singer Juliet Harding has a really distinct voice that wraps itself beautifully around a pulsating, melodic bassline and it's no surprise that the song has been one of the biggest hits of the summer in FSR Rontvia. We hope it resonates with everyone else too and, regardless, we will continue to push the brilliant dance music that comes out of South Africa but so rarely gets the opportunity to be heard by a wider international audience."

The original mix featuring on Goodluck's 2016 album The Nature Within, Be Yourself was given a single remix and released in March this year in South Africa before recently being picked up by Armada Music and released internationally, with a series of new edits available.

The South African radio mix, which doubles up as the international extended mix, is being sent to the contest by FSR Rontvia and the track is currently spending a third week at No.1 in the nation's Spotify chart, on its seventh week in the top 10.

Posted by: gooddelta 12th September 2018, 08:23 AM

A dream entry for 108

For our maiden, long-awaited voyage to Summericia, FSR Rontvia has returned to Turkey, for only the second time after Şahane Bir Şey Yaşamak finished top 10 for Yaşar Gaga last summer.

Unlike that entry, however, Dream by Yusuf Can Kurt & Emircan Hattat feat La Dee Eda is performed entirely in English.

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN explains the choice: "When we first heard Dream we immediately fell in love with it. It's a contemporary piano house style track with a sprinkling of Turkish heritage thanks to the traditional instrumentation involved, which is based on a sample from Sezen Aksu’s 1988 single Seni Istiyorum.

“Dream climbed to No.1 in FSR Rontvia this week, becoming our unprecedented eighth entry in a row to top the domestic charts, a run of form that has never been seen before. This shows that, despite a relatively mixed bag of results this year, the Rontvian public is getting behind the nation’s choices more than ever.

“We are still hoping for that elusive ninth win at some point after Freya Ridings came so close earlier this year but she is proving herself in the UK charts currently with Lost Without You and we really couldn’t be happier for her.”

Posted by: gooddelta 14th October 2018, 11:12 AM

World music from Latvia for 109

2018 has been a topsy-turvy year that has seen us come 2nd - massive congratulations to Freya Ridings on going top 10 in the UK with the stunning Lost Without You - and 6th, but has also seen us DNQ twice, including last month with the fantastic Dream.

Throwing caution to the wind, for the ninth contest of the year we head to Cor Lupus with some world music. Female six-piece Tautumeitas mark the first time we have ever turned to Latvia for an entry.

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN said: "Sadziedami is a stirring piece of ethno-pop that builds and builds to an uplifting crescendo and a wonderful drum outro that any Eastern European nation would be proud to climax their Eurovision entry with. Tautumeitas have a really unique style and voices that we love and they are great representatives for FSR Rontvia. We'd love to see the girls in the final and hope the entry finds some fans, we absolutely adore it."

Sadziedami has been No.1 in FSR Rontvia for two weeks so far and is the ninth entry in a row to top the domestic charts.

Posted by: gooddelta 20th November 2018, 01:30 PM

German classic for Aeroche CX

FSR Rontvia will this month be represented in Aeroche by German female pop-rap group Tic Tac Toe, with their 1997 single Warum? (Why?) which reached No.1 at the time in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The track centres on Melanie, a close friend of the group's members, who had developed a drug addiction and died as a result of an overdose.

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN said: "While the German language may not on the face of it seem the most emotive in the world, this track proves otherwise. The lyrics and the desperation and anguish in the delivery of the vocals from Tic Tac Toe really resonate and you can feel the pain that the group's members are going through.

"Musically, while the original is an 'of its time' 90s R&B production, we have decided to send the Out of Space drum and bass style remix, which was also popular at the time and performed live on many occasions by the group. Its production holds up better today and we love the piano melody bubbling away in the background and coming into full flow towards the end of the track. Warum? has racked up tens of millions of Spotify streams in FSR Rontvia and is one of the biggest selling hits in the country in recent times."

Posted by: Addy K!ng 20th November 2018, 04:56 PM

Brings me back to my teenage years...I love love Warum?, probably their second best for me after Verpiss' Dich.

Hopefully it slays!!!

Posted by: gooddelta 20th November 2018, 05:16 PM

I need to check out more of their material! This track stopped me in my tracks when I first heard it, even with my basic grasp of the German language.

Posted by: Bré 21st November 2018, 11:44 PM

Firmly back on the FSR train again this month hope this can return you to success!

Posted by: gooddelta 22nd November 2018, 03:23 PM

Woot, glad you like! I have everything crossed, but it's lovely to see some people taking to Warum? either way <3

Posted by: gooddelta 21st January 2019, 01:46 PM

Melodic German schlager kicks off 2019

After Tic Tac Toe's 1997 uber-hit Warum finished 24th for FSR Rontvia in the final contest of 2018, the nation has remained with the great nation for the first contest of 2019, and will be represented by Lichtblick with the song Feuerregen.

Taken from the female quartet's eponymous debut album, Feuerregen (rain of fire) harks back to the great schlager sound of Helene Fischer, who represented FSR Rontvia with the classic Atemlos Durch Die Nacht nearly five years ago.

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN said: "Lichtblick's entire album went into immediate rotation on all major Rontvian radio stations earlier this month. Feuerregen immediately found favour with the public, smashing quickly into the upper reaches of the Spotify chart and rising to No.1 in its second week. The tribal intro, which is like a cross between any mid 00s Eurovision classic and the I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! theme tune, soon leads into the glorious schlager verses and a punchy bridge which gives way into a euphoric chorus and some post-chorus disco strings that could have come straight from Kylie's Light Years album. This is German pop music at its very finest, and we really hope that others love it as much as we do."

Posted by: Good Old Days 21st January 2019, 01:49 PM

Possibly it's your first BJSC song, which I like.

Posted by: gooddelta 21st January 2019, 01:50 PM

Have you heard the album? It's very good, great modern girlband schlager.

Posted by: Good Old Days 25th January 2019, 03:23 PM

Not, but now I went deep into schlager music, so of course it will be interesting to listen their album.

Posted by: gooddelta 25th January 2019, 04:35 PM

The lead single (also called Lichtblick) is a cover of Daylight In Your Eyes by No Angels, if you liked that? In more of a schlager/dance-pop style though.

Posted by: Good Old Days 30th January 2019, 08:53 AM

I prefer their version over No Angels.

Posted by: gooddelta 25th February 2019, 07:59 AM

An instrumental beauty for 112

Following our first ever last place in the final last month for Lichtblick, FSR Rontvia has gone down a very different route this time and will be represented by Belgian composer Wim Mertens in the 112th BuzzJack Song Contest. The instrumental piece, Close Cover, was first released back in 1983, making it the oldest entry FSR Rontvia has ever sent.

Ricardo Delta explains the choice: “We have always adored Close Cover, which is a beautiful, melancholy piece of music with a timeless melody. The track was sampled by Belgian dance act Minimalistix back in 2002 and hit the UK top 15 in trance form.

“That version toppped the Rontvian charts for two weeks at the time and now, nearly 20 years later, the original is making its presence felt over the national airwaves, topping the airplay chart this week. We’ve always felt that this piece deserves to be wider known and we hope it resonates with other nations in the way it did for us.”

Posted by: Iz~ 25th February 2019, 08:15 AM

Subtle melancholy instrumentals (especially piano) are always something I'm pleased to see more of, thank you for sending this!

Posted by: T'Snerk 3rd March 2019, 08:09 PM

Was surprised when to recognize the entry from the Minimalistix track, although I suspected it from the title!

There are quite a few relaxing instrumental songs sampled in early 00s trance songs, one famous one is 'Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence' by Ryuichi Sakamoto. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF9_9MZyQGo

Anyway, 'Close Cover' is a very nice melody in its own right though and I am glad it has qualified.

Posted by: gooddelta 10th March 2019, 09:26 PM

Glad you like it!



Yes, Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence is lovely too. Heart Of Asia was another #1 in my personal chart back in the day, like Close Cover.

Posted by: gooddelta 1st April 2019, 12:21 PM

DJ Sabrina brings a witchy lo-fi house jam for Rontvia 113

Following a rather unexpected but hugely welcome top ten finish in 112 for Close Cover by Wim Mertens, FSR Rontvia has gone down a completely different route for this month's contest in Aeroche. All The Beautiful Things U Do is the standout track from the wonderfully named DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ's latest album Makin' Magick. At exactly eight minutes long, the track is comfortably the longest track the nation has ever sent, edging past the likes of Believe Again and Imali, which both came in at around the six minute mark.

Ricardo Delta explains the choice: "We were immediately won over by London-based DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ's aesthetic and sound. Sabrina The Teenage Witch was recently voted the Rontvian public's favourite sitcom of all-time, which is no mean feat considering the huge competition from the likes of Friends and Birds of a Feather. Like much of DJ Sabrina's music, All The Beautiful Things U Do is a nostalgic and enchanting lo-fi house jam featuring spoken word samples and with 80s and 90s influences brought right up to date with modern production flourishes. The glorious sax interspersed with the gorgeous piano and the way the track constantly builds and layers has made it one of our early spring anthems. It has already topped the Rontvian Spotify and airplay charts for the past three weeks, seeing off no less a figure than Lina Hedlund. We really hope it finds some fans."

Posted by: Bré 6th April 2019, 08:38 PM

Is there a reason you didn't send in the music video for this? I feel like the retro Sabrina clips fit the vibe of the song quite nicely! I hope it doesn't turn out that was a totally different version of the song lol (I did do a skim listen to check and they sounded the same to me )

This is really great though, a perfect mixture of chill and banger (also quite amazed it took you this long to send a song of this kind of length!)

Posted by: gooddelta 6th April 2019, 09:45 PM

I didn’t even realise one existed! Must watch that asap.

Glad to have your support again! I think longer tracks can often struggle to hold my attention all the way through unless they change it up a lot throughout (like Dan’s entry this month, which feels far shorter than its 11 minutes!). But All The Beautiful Things U Do subtly introduces enough new sounds, layers and samples throughout to keep it fresh and interesting with every listen for me <3

Posted by: gooddelta 2nd May 2019, 02:54 PM

Friends and an army of lovers for Eurovision month

FSR Rontvia has turned to Sweden – and Israel, in honour of our Eurovision host this month – for our 114th entry, as we venture to North Danaelanda this time around.

Friends were a mixed pop band active around the turn of the century who participated three times in a row in Melodifestivalen, finishing 2nd, 1st and 8th respectively in 2000, 2001 and 2002. The 2001 win took the band to Eurovision, where they finished fifth with the ABBA-esque Listen To Your Heartbeat.

Pacmahara was released in the same year and is probably one of the most overlooked Scandipop songs of that era. Featuring Swedish and Israeli singer Jean-Pierre Barda, a member of the iconic band Army of Lovers, the track is a hi-NRG disco floorfiller with shades of Alcazar, BWO and, of course, Army of Lovers themselves.

The RTVN’s Ricardo Delta said: “Pacmahara is early 00s Scandipop of the highest order. Sounding like a lost Eurovision entry from the era, we almost wish it had been sent to the contest in 2001 in place of Friends’ actual entry, the great but generic Listen To Your Heartbeat.

“We think Pacmahara is better than that. It grabs you with its Alcazar-esque verses but then the Army of Lovers influences really shine through in the chorus, and particularly in the fabulous spoken middle-eight from one of Sweden’s pop icons, Jean-Pierre Barda. We hope other nations will appreciate hearing about the five-foot-seven lady, irresistible and bronzed, as much as we do here in FSR Rontvia.”

After three months on the chart, Pacmahara has climbed to a new peak of No.1 on Rontvian Spotify this week, replacing Piu Forte by Dolcenera.

Posted by: gooddelta 9th June 2019, 09:58 PM

90s inspired Brummie melancholy for 115

Following our first DNQ of the year last month, FSR Rontvia have switched things up once again and are now moving onto our fifth genre of the year. Following German schlager, an 80s piano instrumental, lo-fi house and Scandipop we now head to the streets of Birmingham for an alternative song that harks back to the roots of the rave era of the early 90s. Swim Deep have achieved some minor commercial success both in the UK, with a top 75 album in 2015, and in FSR Rontvia, where their single Namaste made our national top ten in the same year.

Ricardo Delta explains the choice: "To Feel Good interprets Everybody's Free (To Feel Good) by Rozalla, a seminal dance classic, but rather than just being a basic retread it really takes the track into a different dimension, with a gospel choir delivering its hook as a hauntingly uplifting chorus that beautifully juxtaposes with the working class melancholy of the unemployed but aspirational protagonist that we hear from in the verses. The echoy Britpop post-chorus and the piano that bounces underneath the verses both make the track sound like it has come from another era, whilst also feeling incredibly fresh. We fell in love with this song on first listen and we had to send it."

To Feel Good debuted at No.1 in both the Rontvian Spotify and airplay charts two weeks ago, knocking off Zero Gravity by Kate Miller-Heidke, and has remained there since.

Posted by: Suedehead2 10th June 2019, 02:09 PM

This song was on my list of possibles for the month. I came across Swim Deep several years ago when I saw them supporting Two Door Cinema Club - the other support band were Bastille, just before they released Pompeii. I'm due to see Swim Deep again in Brighton in the autumn.

Posted by: gooddelta 10th June 2019, 03:05 PM

I just saw your comment in the other thread, it's good to see some Rontvia/Suedeonia crossover!

They seem like a pretty great band who deserve more commercial success - certainly Namaste and To Feel Good deserve the sort of success that Bastille achieve on a regular basis!

Posted by: Bré 13th June 2019, 12:03 AM

This sounds like a slightly more 'soulful' version of Real Lies, liking it a lot! Definitely shouldn't have sat on this one Suedey ;o

Posted by: Suedehead2 14th June 2019, 11:54 AM

Maybe it will be delayed Karma. My only winner was a song someone else had considered.

Posted by: gooddelta 22nd July 2019, 12:39 PM

Sizzling salsa from space for scorching summer contest

After a successful top 15 finish for Swim Deep's To Feel Good in the previous contest, FSR Rontvia delivers its latest summer fave for the 116th edition of BJSC, held this month in Aesthetica. Hailing from sunny...Switzerland, Spacetrain are a production duo consisting of composers and multi-instrumentalists Dave Macloed and Dean Montenegro and their new single Salsa Me is described as "a mix of pop and Latin [that] is complemented by rousing, sexy salsa elements and the sensual, spirited voice of the singer Börni Höhn".

The press release continues: "The hit single stands out clearly from the flood of Latino hits and is hotter than chili and hotter than a fiery summer night. Who does not want a passionate summer love? The song takes you to the sun, to the beach, promises eternal love and lets the nights dance through."

Ricardo Delta of the RTVN adds: "We've dabbled in a lot of different genres recently but we have never sent a salsa track before. However, this is a real earworm that combines many of our favourite elements including a catchy chorus and our favourite chord change in music, both in the intro and the middle-eight - the latter of which is followed by a scorching salsa piano breakdown. The handclap percussion throughout almost has a Diwali Riddim feel to it, taking us right back to many of those irresistible smashes from 2003. The track has been No.1 in FSR Rontvia for the last couple of weeks and, like the other infamous 'S**** Me' that we sent back in 2008, we hope it wins some fans in this hot summer sun."

Posted by: gooddelta 23rd August 2019, 01:16 PM

IDER Swim in for BJSC 117

Following a bizarre result last month that saw Spacetrain's Salsa Me win its semi-final and then finish bottom three in the final, FSR Rontvia has regrouped and English electronic pop duo IDER have been chosen to represent the nation in the 117th edition of BJSC. Formed in London, Lily Somerville and Megan Markwick have just released their debut album Emotional Education, and Swim was selected by the Rontvian public in a national final that consisted of every song from their album. The track got 43% of the vote, with Saddest Generation second on 24%.

Ricardo Delta of the RTVN said: "Swim is a gorgeous slice of melancholy summer pop, with the slow tempo and lovely chords of the verses giving way to a tropical breakdown and then a beautifully sung middle-eight. We really think IDER are ones to watch, their album is fantastic and this very necessary track about mental health and coping with their experiences of the music industry was the Rontvian public's instant highlight in the national final."

Swim has been at No.1 in the Rontvian charts for the last two weeks, ahead of the new singles by two other former entrants - Amaremare by Dolcenera and Kiss My Fat Ass by Sheppard.

Posted by: gooddelta 20th September 2019, 01:25 PM

A timeless heartbreak anthem for BJSC 118

Following a respectable 26th place finish for Swim by IDER, FSR Rontvia has lined up another rising British star for the 118th contest, being held this month in Bellamia and Jadakissnia. Lily Moore is a new talent from London but raised in the Brighton area, and is the daughter of late Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore. The 21-year-old, who has supported the likes of George Ezra and James Bay on tour and recently performed her new single In-Between with Maverick Sabre on Sunday Brunch, has a mature and soulful voice that is almost a cross between Amy Winehouse and Duffy. Her summer single Over You, about the emotional hardship of navigating her way through a break-up while still liking her ex, could easily pass for a timeless classic ballad. The video for the track was filmed at various locations across London, even including her weekly shop in Tesco.

Ricardo Delta of the RTVN said: "We saw Lily live last week at her More Moore concert in London. The support act was Millie Turner, who performed her 6th place Rontvian classic The Shadow, but Lily was the star of the show. Her voice is like caramel, she has fantastic charisma, her melodies are instantly anthemic and her lyrics are incredibly relatable. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to send Over You, which debuted at No.1 in FSR Rontvia following the show. Watch out for Lily, we believe she's going to be propping up the tastemaker lists for 2020 in a few months time, she definitely deserves to be huge."

Posted by: Addy K!ng 20th September 2019, 01:54 PM

this is cute

to me she sounds more like in between Amy and Adele.

Posted by: gooddelta 20th September 2019, 02:33 PM

True, maybe more live she had a Duffy vibe. I read somewhere that one of her early influences was Duffy's Warwick Avenue. I guess she'd have been 10 at the time, which is scary to me as it feels like...not long ago at all!

Posted by: gooddelta 19th October 2019, 10:14 PM

A gang of wolves for Halloween month

Following a fantastic top 20 finish for Lily Moore last month, for the 119th contest - which will be hosted by Lotunia - FSR Rontvia has returned to the world of Norwegian dance to source In My Arms, the new single by Oslo-based producer Wolfgang Wee.

Ricardo Delta takes up the story: "In My Arms is a house cover of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acMy12XMXlU. While the group smashed with songs like Jump (For My Love), I'm So Excited and Automatic, Back In My Arms criminally did nothing at all.

"We hope this is rectified in BJSC, and that this update of the track finds its audience. It's the sort of huge melody that could have only come from the 80s, but the modern production really helps it to sparkle. The chorus is a real hairbrush diva moment and the slightly darker sound of the middle eight is also deliciously retro."

In My Arms climbed to No.1 in FSR Rontvia this week, replacing Vincent by Sarah Connor, which finally ascended to the top two weeks ago after spending more than three months yo-yoing around the top ten.

Posted by: gooddelta 20th November 2019, 09:38 PM

Aussie choir round off the decade

After one of our worst ever results last month after fading into the background in the semis, FSR Rontvia are (hopefully) bouncing back with something unique and very different for the final contest of the decade, which is being held in Unovia. Spinifex Gum is a musical collaboration between The Cat Empire’s Felix Riebl and Ollie McGill, and Marliya Choir, an all-female, all-Indigenous group from Cairns that sing in English, Yindjibarndi and Kala Lagaw Ya. Sisters is the title track of their new album, and Ricardo Delta of the RTVN explains why it was picked as the nation's 120th entry:

"When we first heard Sisters it was a real 'wow' moment. While the last choral single to top the charts in FSR Rontvia was back in 2011 (Wherever You Are by Military Wives), it's a genre that has always been popular here. But Sisters is really something else. While it has the traditional, and almost Christmassy, feel of a lot of choral music, the minimal but contemporary production, the catchy chorus and the beautiful harmonies really stand out."

Sisters debuted at No.1 in FSR Rontvia last week, replacing Over The Hump by The Kelly Family, while album tracks Dream Baby Dream, Together, Living In A Dream, Out Where You Are and Sunshine also entered the Rontvian singles chart simultaneously.

Posted by: Bré 20th November 2019, 09:44 PM

'Sisters' apparently a popular song title for collaborations with indigenous vocal groups following my entry from A Tribe Called Red & Northern Voice last year...!

Posted by: gooddelta 23rd November 2019, 09:16 PM

Oh yes! Guess the solidarity is understandably strong amongst these types of groups!

Posted by: gooddelta 21st January 2020, 02:25 PM

Midnight Kids' nostalgic power pop sound kicks off new decade

For the first contest of the 2020s, taking place in Scherzland, FSR Rontvia have gone for some power electronic pop from the US in the form of Run It by Midnight Kids featuring Annika Wells. Production duo Midnight Kids have been on our radar for some years now, with their remix of No One Has To Know by Goldfish finishing in our 2018 end of year top 10, albeit we didn't send that as we'd already finished top five with Goldfish's Moonwalk Away in 2014.

Ricardo Delta of the RTVN explains why the time is now right for their participation: "Midnight Kids are an incredibly talented act who have had some traction with their fantastic remixes - just last week they put out an incredible reworking of Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen's Good Time - but when we first heard Run It we realised that they're also now starting to strike gold with their original material. The huge anthemic chorus and nostalgic lyrics instantly evoke big 80s power pop vibes but the production is very much bang up to date, albeit with a sprinkling of late 00s style influence thrown in for good measure. It's very much ready for streaming playlists and the radio and we hope to see them make a global commercial breakthrough soon."

Run It is currently No.1 in the Rontvian charts for a third week, moving back up a place to recommence its run after Delta Goodrem's Let It Rain knocked it off for a week. The Fizz complete the top three with new entry The World We Left Behind.

Posted by: Cucumberella 23rd January 2020, 10:26 PM

i haven't heard semi two yet but i think this could be the winner rich...

Posted by: dandy* 23rd January 2020, 10:31 PM

Definitely! First time I’ve heard something that shouts winner at me in ages.

Posted by: danuary 23rd January 2020, 10:41 PM

sounds great and I think it could give us another Rontvii win. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTHNvL97q9c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IyQnkAxOlk is also really good (there's 2 versions of it!)

Posted by: gooddelta 23rd January 2020, 11:33 PM

Wow that would certainly be a turn up for the books *.* such a strong contest for potential winners so who knows but it’s great to have what seems like a competitive entry at least!

Thanks for the links Dan, will check those tracks out. Some of their remixes are fantastic.

Posted by: dandy* 24th January 2020, 10:23 PM

Tbh I’m totally here for a Rontvian victory, it’s been a while!

Posted by: gooddelta 25th February 2020, 11:18 AM

A Greek language Dutch classic for 122

After a huge amount of hype and numerous winner predictions, Run It by Midnight Kids ultimately fell slightly short last month but returned FSR Rontvia to the top three for the first time since Freya Ridings' subsequent huge UK smash hit Lost Without You came 2nd after scoring the same number of points as the winner but losing in a tie-break nearly two years ago.

Realising that we could not top that with another modern track this month, we have changed paths again for the 122nd contest, which is being held in Aeroche, and sent an old Rontvian favourite, Eleni by Tol & Tol.

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN explains the choice: "Eleni is a song that has been on our radar for some time, musically it's cut from the same cloth as the likes of Ilumbarada or some Enigma material. It's a timeless sounding world music piece with Greek lyrics that was a No.1 hit in duo Tol & Tol's native Netherlands in the opening weeks of 1990. European success for the track followed, but sadly not in the UK where it fizzled out at No.73 in April that year. We wanted to reactivate this beautiful track for a new audience 30 years later and we hope it can stand out and win some fans".

Eleni has previously peaked at No.3 in the Rontvian charts and has re-entered the top five this month where it joins current Hendinian BJSC entry Goliath by Smith & Thell, Dua Lipa's Physical, Special-K's Quest To Impress and Dotter's Bulletproof.

Posted by: gooddelta 28th March 2020, 10:39 PM

A trip to the Mindcircus of 2002 for BJSC 123

For our long-awaited return to Hendina, where we have seen success in the past, FSR Rontvia have gone for another oldie, but have fast-forwarded 13 years on from Eleni through to 2002, and the UK No.39 hit Mindcircus by English electronic duo Way Out West. Featuring vocals by Tricia Lee Kelshall, the track was co-written by Imogen Heap and has become a classic in some circles, although still feels widely unknown on a mainstream level.

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN explains the choice: "We wanted to send a nostalgic, melancholy piece this month, and very little tugs at our heartstrings as much as the beautiful Mindcircus. A swirling trip-hop and drum & bass influenced track with some wonderful breakdowns and one of the loveliest piano intros and melodies, the track nevertheless never veers off its electronic course, and the equally wonderful Gabriel & Dresden remix, which we love just as much, has contributed to the hit being an enduring classic in FSR Rontvia.

"Last week it even reached No.1 for the first time, where it remains this week, after previously peaking at No.3. Now was very much the right time to send this beauty and we hope it can stir the emotions and bring some light to the Buzzjack world."

Posted by: Dobbo 3rd April 2020, 11:24 AM

This is my fave of yours in a good while I would say. Very calming & peaceful to listen to.

Posted by: gooddelta 6th May 2020, 11:30 AM

Enchantéd by BJSC 124

New Zealand-based electronic duo SACHI have teamed up with singer Naïka, who grew up between Guadeloupe, Vanuatu, Kenya and Paris, for Enchanté, which has been selected to represent FSR Rontvia at BJSC 124, being held in United States Of Jack following their long-awaited debut win last month.

The song was released in March and immediately caught the ear of the RTVN, as Ricardo Delta explains: "We've been encouraged by our results so far this year, with a top three result for Run It, while our trips down memory lane with Eleni and Mindcircus were also generally well received. We were keen to send something more on the pulse this month though, and when Enchanté dropped into our lap we snapped it up.

"The sassy song, which takes cues from French house, four-to-the-floor disco and pop-tinged electronic, is an empowering song with an addictive bilingual hook and a confident spirit that translates universally. It has been No.1 in FSR Rontvia for the past couple of weeks and we hope it will go down well in the contest."

Posted by: gooddelta 10th June 2020, 11:34 AM

90s ravers N-Joi remix Brighton singer Hayley Ross for 125

FSR Rontvia has sourced local talent for our 125th BJSC entry, and will be sending Brighton singer-songwriter Hayley Ross to Jupiterdonia this month. Originally a soulful pop song from Hayley's debut album The Weight Of Hope, the remix package for Come Back includes a retool by 90s rave outfit N-Joi, who hit the UK top ten with Anthem in 1991. It is this mix, which has already had airplay on BBC 6 Music and BBC Introducing, that will be representing FSR Rontvia.

Following the mid-May release of the remix package, the song smashed into the Rontvian charts and has since climbed to No.1, fending off stiff competition including Delta Goodrem's Keep Climbing, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande's Rain On Me and Daði Freyr's Think About Things.

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN explains the entry choice: "Hayley has been on our radar for a little while, and we always thought Come Back was a pleasant song elevated by Hayley's sumptuous, soulful voice. But the N-Joi remix takes the track into another dimension altogether, bringing a rave and big-beat feel to the production and an added urgency to the lyrics. The huge post-chorus electronic breakdowns take us right back to the glorious sound of 90s dance."

Posted by: ✖ leww ✖ 10th June 2020, 11:56 AM

OOH this is so intriguing!! what a find. really liking this!

Posted by: gooddelta 3rd August 2020, 02:42 PM

Loods brings the house sound of the summer to BJSC

London-based Australian producer Elliot Struck, aka Loods', new single Gummi has been chosen as FSR Rontvia's entrant for the 126th edition of BJSC, held this month in Altyr Muunilinst. The uplifting instrumental house track has been one of the biggest hits of the summer in FSR Rontvia and currently sits at No.2 in the nation's chart, only behind fellow Aussie Delta Goodrem's anthemic Paralyzed.

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN outlines the reason the track was chosen: "Every year when the summer heats up we love to send a big dance anthem or two and we've had some fantastic instrumentals represent us before - Flares by Prance Faris, Colors by Rivaz, and Platinum Chains by Michael Woods, to name a few.

"When we first heard Gummi by Loods we were mentally whisked away to the nightclubs and Balearic bars that the coronavirus pandemic has stopped us going to for now. While the track will one day sound amazing on the dancefloor, the reaction on Rontvian radio and Spotify suggests that the nation's ravers are currently enjoying it hugely in other settings. The track is fresh and contemporary, with a killer house riff employed throughout, but also with more than a hint of 90s influence to it, and we're very excited to be sending it."

Posted by: ✖ leww ✖ 3rd August 2020, 04:14 PM

this is great. another good one from rontvia this year!

Posted by: gooddelta 3rd August 2020, 04:55 PM

Thanks Leww! Very much appreciating the recent support <3

Posted by: Dobbo 14th August 2020, 03:35 PM

This is a huge standout this contest and certainly would have got my top marks if I was in the other Semi.

Posted by: gooddelta 14th August 2020, 04:24 PM

Thanks, really glad to hear you're a fan!

Posted by: Bré 14th August 2020, 04:46 PM

I liked this one a lot too, FSR Rontvia have a pretty good record with instrumental dance entries!

Posted by: gooddelta 31st August 2020, 06:20 PM

South African youth choir lift spirits for BJSC 127

Hailing from Moutse, Limpopo in South Africa, the Ndlovu Youth Choir will represent FSR Rontvia in the 127th edition of BJSC in Aeroche with their uplifting new single We Will Rise.

The choir, which features members ranging in age from 14 to 28, reached the final of America's Got Talent last year, with spirited covers of songs including Toto's Africa and Kygo & Whitney Houston's Higher Love. They quickly released an album of covers, which reached the top ten in FSR Rontvia upon release, but their first original single has been an even bigger hit, as Ricardo Delta explains:

"We quite often send acts from the musically brilliant and underappreciated nation of South Africa, but the Ndlovu Youth Choir are perhaps already quite well known to some audiences, especially Americans. However, their first original single, We Will Rise, deserves more attention - we were so impressed with it the first time we heard it.

"It has a contemporary tropical house style production in the verses but the choir's vocals, harmonies and chants in the bridge, chorus and middle eight make this track anything but formulaic. The chorus is a monster, and so uplifting, and the song has been all over the airwaves this summer in FSR Rontvia, climbing to a new peak of No.3 in the national charts this week on its 7th week in the top ten."

Posted by: gooddelta 30th September 2020, 01:55 PM

Mason comes Alive for 128th contest

Dutch dance producer Mason's Alive has been confirmed as FSR Rontvia's entry to BJSC 128, taking place in République d'Áskorza and Terra Avium this month. The song, which has been battling it out with What The Future Holds by Steps to top the Rontvian charts over the last few weeks, is the third major Rontvian hit for Mason.

Way back in late 2006 his electro instrumental track Exceeder made it to No.3 and then the vocal version Perfect (Exceeder) peaked at No.1 a few months later, as well as being a huge top three hit in the UK. He also previously achieved contest success for Pupok in BJSC 98, when Fashion Killa (Papapapa) finished 2nd. But Alive is a sonic shift from that track, as Ricardo Delta explains.

"Alive caught our ear immediately due to the grand cinematic Agnes meets Disney style string intro. This gives way to completely different sounding but lovely laidback verses and then an energetic pop/dance earworm of a chorus. Things slow right down again towards the end of the track as the beat drops out and there is a more subdued Zero 7 style chillout to close. It's a compelling listen that doesn't stay in one lane, and we hope it can win some fans."

Posted by: gooddelta 29th October 2020, 06:11 PM

A metre apart...we blankly stare



After a DNQ last month for Mason's Alive, we're going with our heart and sending our most played song of the year to FARC 129. Monster originally appeared on English singer-songwriter and Youtuber Dodie Clark's 2019 EP Human, which reached No.5 in the UK. A very popular track among her fans, it got the video treatment and became a live favourite. She later teamed up with American husband-and-wife duo Pomplamoose to overhaul the track with them and a full live band, and it is this version that we are sending.

Ricardo Delta takes up the story: "The original version of Monster was already a major hit in FSR Rontvia in early 2019, but the Pomplamoose version, which was released on Spotify earlier this year, amped everythng up with beautiful vocals, lush harmonies and brilliant musicianship and turned a 9/10 song into a perfect 10/10. This version of Monster has been by far the most played song of 2020 here, but we were waiting until more than 18 months had passed since dodie's UK top five album to send it.

"A few hours after we confirmed it dodie revealed that her first proper album is due out in March next year, and the local Rontvian stations have already started heavily spinning its lead single Cool Girl. But for now, Monster is thematically relevant due to Halloween and social distancing (albeit in the sense of a rocky relationship). Monster is sonically a little bit like something from Natasha Bedingfield's Unwritten album, especially the middle-eight, and definitely not the sort of thing that screams big BJSC hit in 2020, but we just had to share it regardless of how it's destined to do, it's absolutely wonderful in every way and we hope it can win over some hearts and find a route to the final."

Monster is currently in the Rontvian top five once again, this version having first reached the top five back in March and climbing to No.1 in the summer, a year and a half after the original EP version was a Rontvian top five smash.



Original version

Posted by: Thom Kerewolf 29th October 2020, 09:03 PM

Maybe I’m just old-school, but to me this is the first entry since I’ve come back that really sounds like a classic FSR Rontvia entry Really hope you make it through the semi this time!

Posted by: gooddelta 29th October 2020, 09:07 PM

Thanks Thom! True, it's essentially the sound I was peddling back in 2008 I'm glad someone is still making pop like this.

Posted by: gooddelta 3rd December 2020, 10:10 AM

Xenomania band Capulets rounds off mixed Rontvian year

Finishing off a mixed 2020 which has seen us score two big top tens, a handful of top 20s and two DNQs on the trot in the last two contests (very sadly in the case of Monster, which yesterday topped the nation's Spotify Wrapped chart), British trio Capulets are hoping to return FSR Rontvia to the final with the spellbinding Stranger Love. Produced by the iconic Xenomania and comprising former BJSC favourite Florrie (on instrumentation and backing vocals), Toby Scott and lead singer Sarah Thompson, the band have been steadily releasing quality singles for over a year but only recently came to the attention of the RTVN.

Ricardo Delta explains: "We gather Stranger Love came out over a year ago, and it had been on our long backdated list of 'new' music we had yet to check out. Safe to say we were blown away when we finally got around to playing Stranger Love, Sarah's voice has a hint of soulful singers like Adele and Rebecca Ferguson and like them she can certainly belt it out - showing restraint in the subdued but beautifully shimmering verses and glistening bridge but delivering a powerful performance on the epic chorus. We are so thrilled to have a Xenomania produced entry too, we have been fans of their work for decades and they are currently responsible for two of FSR Rontvia's current top five in the charts - Stranger Love and To The Beat Of My Heart by Steps. We can't wait to hear more from Capulets - they released a new single Tribe a couple of weeks ago and it's also fantastic so they are definitely ones to watch."

Posted by: SnowQween 3rd December 2020, 10:15 AM

I have been strangely LUKEWARM on Capulets before but this one is better. Still not on the par of past Florrie BJSC entries of course.

Posted by: gooddelta 3rd December 2020, 10:25 AM

It's funny, I'd never even heard of them until a couple of months ago, not sure how I'd missed them. I was thinking that this backing track screams Altyr *.* It is a surprise that Florrie isn't on lead vocals, although if she had been that would have probably increased the veto points!

Posted by: SnowQween 3rd December 2020, 11:09 AM

To be fair to dear old Florrie, she was always entirely superfluous to the quality of her own music so I'm not sure she would have added anything on lead VOX.

Posted by: Michael Bubré 3rd December 2020, 05:01 PM

You'd probably have got away with it considering this is the first I have been aware Florrie has anything to do with this despite doing veto research on it

This song was also a winner on PopJustice a while back!

Posted by: gooddelta 3rd December 2020, 10:34 PM

I figured it would probably be ok anyway as her solo entries were quite a long time ago now.

Ooh, that’s interesting to hear. I didn’t realise that although I noticed that the original version of Dodie’s Monster was sent there a while back and actually did reasonably well so I imagine the crossover with results isn’t huge with BJSC.

Posted by: Michael Bubré 23rd December 2020, 12:08 AM

This is unrelated to your current entry but just noting that I'm really liking this new song from DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ, every bit as much as the one you sent to BJSC!

Posted by: gooddelta 23rd December 2020, 12:12 AM

Oh DJ Sabrina is wonderful, one of my favourite acts I’ve sent in the last few years. She released a new album a few weeks back and it’s insanely good, like The Avalanches at their very best.

It’s quite a ride at three hours long but I couldn’t recommend it enough, I love how random the samples she uses are, I spotted a few old niche favourites of mine being used!

Posted by: gooddelta 23rd December 2020, 12:12 AM

Delete

Posted by: gooddelta 10th January 2021, 01:37 PM

Ambient beauty kicks off 2021

We unexpectedly rounded off 2020 the way it began, finishing on the podium in third place courtesy of Stranger Love by Capulets. So naturally we start the year with a complete change of direction, and head back over to Germany and the chilled stunner Gebirgsbachtürkis by Thomas Lemmer & Christoph Sebastian Pabst.

Ricardo Delta explains the choice: "2021 has began just as chaotic as the whole of 2020 ended up being. Therefore Rontvians have turned to a lot of calming, chillout music of late to help them unwind and relax. Gebirgsbachtürkis, which translates as 'mountain stream turquoise', has been the biggest beneficiary of this trend, soaring straight to No.1 this week in FSR Rontvia with the track dominating the airwaves.

"A deep house production with neo-classical influences, driving analogue synthesizer sequences and a touching vocal melody, the beautiful track is in some ways inspired by current host Land of DW's winner last month, which FSR Rontvia awarded its full 18 points to. This piece is much more laidback, ambient and downtempo than Wetlands, however, but like that song it employs a rejuvenating piano topline and also has a music video with a stunning landscape. The haunting opening strings in the song almost remind us of the wonderful Massive Attack, we're proud to be able to share this entry and we hope it finds some fans."

Posted by: gooddelta 14th February 2021, 09:32 PM

Alba August lights up BJSC 132

Following 27th place last month for ambient stunner Gebirgsbachtürkis by Thomas Lemmer & Christoph Sebastian Pabst, Danish-Swedish singer Alba August has been chosen as the 132nd Rontvian BJSC entry and will represent the nation in Danæviia this month with the epic pop song Lights. Alba is an actress as well as a singer and has starred in Danish language Netflix series The Rain. Her new single, Lights was released in January and was immediately pounced on by the RTVN, who immediately added it to the a-list of the RTVN1 radio and music television playlists.

Ricardo Delta explains the choice: "As Eurovision season begins we often end up in more of a pop mood than at other times of the year, and Lights we feel sounds like a potential Eurovision winner - indeed, we were surprised it wasn't snapped up by Melodifestivalen or Dansk Melodi Grand Prix as it could have been a real force in the contest. Lights is a classic Rontvian entry packed with the type of lyrical light and shade, melodic drama, thundering drums and sweeping strings that Scandipop does best.

"Alba is a real talent, she co-wrote Lights herself and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmG9pb1WRtM, belting the huge chorus out with impressive power. The song instantly debuted at No.1 in FSR Rontvia three weeks ago and has remained there since - we have everything crossed for this one!"

Posted by: awardinary 14th February 2021, 11:09 PM

Greetings FSR Rontvia!

I’m not too familiar with your music tastes or your former entries, but I will take notice this time around, not just because we are in the same Semi Final, but also because I want to make new discoveries! Ok so I have your song playing as I type this message and it’s definitely giving me vibes of London Grammar mixed with Florence + The Machine, to use two popular names in music. This could be a real grower actually. I don’t always seek out this type of music, but when it’s done right it can be a joy to listen to, and this has potential to do well I think! I listened right to the end.

Wishing your prosperous nation an enjoyable 132nd contest. Sending love from Zanmatony!

Posted by: gooddelta 15th February 2021, 09:25 AM

Greetings Zanmatony! And thanks for the message, it's great to see you back in the competition.

Yes true, this entry definitely has some Florence-esque tones to it, especially in the chorus.

Wishing you all the best on your return too, hope you have a great contest!

Posted by: Qween 15th February 2021, 11:25 AM

She has a gorgeous tone to her voice, like a mix of Lana and Florence. I don't think I've heard a bad song called Lights yet.

Posted by: gooddelta 15th February 2021, 11:41 AM

I was thinking the same r.e. Lights as a title earlier on! Agreed, she's very much in Lana territory in the verses and Florence in the chorus. I'm quite surprised this one slipped under the blog radar, even Scandipop hasn't featured it

Posted by: Qween 15th February 2021, 11:52 AM

Scandidpop have been quite weird of late with what they do/don't feature! Either way, it sounds like Rontvia are onto something good.

Posted by: gooddelta 13th March 2021, 09:18 AM

Could have supported us when we retire...

Following a brilliant 9th place finish last month for Lights by Alba August, FSR Rontvia is staying in Scandinavia for 133 in Altyr but is this time dipping into the vaults. Hello Saferide are a Swedish indie-pop band fronted by Annika Norlin and Anna was released in 2008 as part of the band's top three album (in Sweden) More Modern Short Stories from Hello Saferide. While Anna also charted inside the top 50 in Sweden, it has left behind a legacy longer than its chart peak would suggest.

Ricardo Delta takes up the entry choice: "Anna is one of those songs that has always been on our radar for BJSC, and one that we have frequently come back to since its release now 13 years ago. As we get older the lyrics seem to make more and more sense, the charming and fanciful tale about a longed-for daughter taking a rather heartbreaking twist at the end. Lyrically it's probably one of our favourite songs we've ever sent but the song is also gorgeous musically, an indie-pop strummer with a fantastic guitar breakdown in the middle while Annika's beautiful voice carries the fun and then stark emotion of the track. The video will also charm and break you in equal measure.

"Following mass national media coverage about the long overdue selection of Anna as our entry, the song re-entered the Rontvian Spotify chart at No.2 this week, just behind the unexpected No.1, Behöver inte dig idag by Melodifestivalen finalist and newcomer Clara Klingenström. It is probably no coincidence that Clara leading us down into a wonderful Swedish indie-pop rabbit hole has led to us entering a classic song from the genre to BJSC..."

Posted by: gooddelta 13th April 2021, 09:19 PM

Right here...right now

Following a DNQ last month when an old favourite sadly got a rather tumbleweed reaction, we have come straight back to 2021 for BJSC 134 in Mosquetania but have stayed with Sweden, with Stockholm-based artist and producer ishi vu's new single This is your Life. Taken from his debut album La Luz, which is released at the end of the month and is already top of the pre-orders chart in FSR Rontvia, the track is a near-six minute hypnotic electro tune with pop influences.

The WithGuitars blog described the track as "charting a course between electronic experimentation and the dark echoes of 1980s post-rock" and "a vivid and poignant distillation of club culture into something familiar, temporarily distant, but fresh".

Its release follows ishi vu's recent https://toastpress.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4e1e2dbf318b66a015b7b5f9f&id=d3043386f6&e=c65bf0a161 and the track has already received airplay from Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 6 Music.

The RTVN's Ricardo Delta said: "The very first time we heard This is your Life, we were so impressed. The initial 'right here, right now' sample is of course instantly familiar due to its use in the Fatboy Slim classic and the song's almost oriental melody over a building electronic beat with plenty of synths, cute vocal samples and drum breaks also reminded us of one of our other favourite artists from the last few years, DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ. The track has been at No.1 in FSR Rontvia for the last three weeks and despite being drawn in what looks like another highly competitive semi, we are very excited about this entry!"

Posted by: Harve 19th April 2021, 05:31 PM

omg!!!

This does indeed remind me of Sabrina the Teenage DJ which happens to be my favourite entry of yours in the last few years.

Posted by: Bré 19th April 2021, 05:38 PM

I'm loving this one as well - FSR going in the underground dance bag seems to be quite a winning formula between this and Sabrina <3

Posted by: Doctor Blind 22nd April 2021, 04:47 PM

Fully backing you for the win on this Rich - even tho it will make me regret even more leaving it on my potentials list !

Maybe it is payback for The Naked & Famous in 2010.

Posted by: gooddelta 22nd April 2021, 04:55 PM

The hyyyype <3 thank you all for the love.

DJ Sabrina missed the top ten, for all the love it had at the time and has continued to have since (she has released so many other bangers since then too ), so I’m not sure whether to expect much more from this but obviously I’m glad it’s connected with so many people - or in Doctor Blind’s case already had a big fan. I absolutely adore these sample heavy lo-fi style electronic songs, they sound so contemporary but nostalgic at the same time.

Posted by: jakewild 25th April 2021, 12:54 PM

this is magical rich, what a discovery. SUBLIME

Posted by: gooddelta 26th April 2021, 11:24 AM

Glad to have you on board Jake <3

Posted by: awardinary 26th April 2021, 11:52 AM

Hey FSR Rontvia, sorry I didn’t send my usual greeting to you this contest but once again I’m very pleased to see you in a final and I was glad to be able to award you something for a good job done! Sorry I can’t be represented with you this time round, but maybe next time!

Posted by: ✖ leww ✖ 28th April 2021, 09:36 AM

Rich this is great! Your dance finds are always *chefs kiss*

Posted by: gooddelta 28th April 2021, 10:12 AM

Thanks for the comment Wardy, hope to see you back in the final next time!



Thanks Leww

Posted by: gooddelta 11th May 2021, 09:50 AM

A Self Esteem boost for 135

Following a fantastic and quite unexpected bronze medal finish in the last contest for ishi vu's wonderful This Is Your Life, FSR Rontvia has done another genre flip back to soul/indie/pop/poetry (??) and called on Sheffield artist Rebecca Lucy Taylor (formerly of Slow Club), who goes under the moniker Self Esteem, for BJSC 135 in FARC (semis hosted by Aeroche). Her new single I Do This All The Time stood out immediately on first listen and went straight in at No.1 in the Rontvian Spotify and airplay charts.

Ricardo Delta from the RTVN takes up the story: "'Wow' was the overriding emotion we felt when we first heard I Do This All The Time. May/June often leaves us in quite a reflective mood, with my own birthday and the Eurovision Song Contest regularly leading us down memory lane and feeling quite nostalgic during the early summer months. This can be seen in a few of our entries from this time of year over the last few - namely North Circular by Real Lies and To Feel Good by Swim Deep.

"I Do This All The Time is cut from a similar cloth as the latter, but with a touch of Baz Luhrman's Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) as Self Esteem delivers spoken verse monologues to both herself and anybody else that might need the support with some rather biting honesty - "it's like when I go to your birthday drinks to congratulate you on being the age I already thought you were - or not, I dunno, it's a miracle I've rembered at all" and the very Suncreen-esque second verse which includes the brilliant lyric "prioritise pleasure, don't send those long paragraph texts, stop it - don't'".

"All of this is surrounded by the beautiful, euphoric and uplifting sung chorus, and this is before the spellbinding strings kick in for the stunning final minute as Rebecca looks positively to the future after proclaiming "it was really rather miserable trying to love you".

Fans should also check out Self Esteem's brilliant 2019 album Compliments Please, which is decidedly more poppy than this track but equally as brilliant.

Posted by: Qween 11th May 2021, 01:03 PM

I came across this earlier in the week and knew someone would send it - it's not usually my sort of thing but it's definitely distinctive (in a good way!) and I quite like it.

Posted by: gooddelta 11th May 2021, 02:04 PM

Yes I did wonder if somebody else might try for it, hence my quick confirmation.

It's certainly an interesting song, which whether people enjoy it or not (and I hope they do!) is bound to stand out at least. The juxtaposition of the sarcastic spoken verses in that heavy Yorkshire twang with the uplifting and melodic chorus was unexpected on first listen but as a package for me it really works.

Posted by: gooddelta 10th July 2021, 04:40 PM

Scottish singer serves up Rontvian summer pop fun

Natasha Marie Stewart, also known as thisisNAMASTE, has been chosen to represent FSR Rontvia at the 136th BJSC, held in Seyetana this month. Raised in Lanark, a small town between Glasgow and Edinburgh, the singer-songwriter's new single I Like Your Face was released last month and wasted little time in hitting No.1 in both the Rontvian Spotify and airplay charts.

Natasha said of the track: “I wrote this song about the awkward stage at the very start of dating someone, where you overthink every text message, every phone call. What should I say, what shouldn’t I say, do they like me? etc. If we were all more, blunt and just said, I like your face, do you like mine? Then we’d cut out a lot of that awkward phase and get just to the point of knowing where we stand.”

Ricardo Delta of the RTVN said the selection committee was captivated by the charming simplicity of the song: "We've been down the indie and electronic route for the majority of our entries in 2021 so far but summer is always a great time for fun, catchy pop, and I Like Your Face ticks those boxes, with crisp production, a big melodic chorus and a great post-chorus; it could easily have been a single for the likes of Kylie Minogue or Rita Ora, or appeared in Melodifestivalen. We just really liked the track - it doesn't pretend to be anything it's not, it's just a solid and infectious summer pop song that deserves more attention, as does Natasha herself, she's a really promising talent."

Posted by: gooddelta 15th August 2021, 07:54 PM

German 80s airplay classic becomes 137th Rontvian entry

German married female duo Cora, consisting of Cornelia von dem Bottlenberg and Swetlana von dem Bottlenberg (née Minkow), have been chosen to represent FSR Rontvia in the 137th contest in Cumulonimbia, with Amsterdam.

The Neue Deutsche Welle (German new wave) meets schlager track dates back to 1984, making it the oldest entry the nation has ever sent. While an English language translated version also exists, the RTVN felt that the original German language version, a legendary airplay classic in the country that was produced by the legendary Frank Farian (Boney M, Milli Vanilli, No Mercy, La Bouche), sounded better and felt more authentic.

Amsterdam becomes the sixth German language entry sent by FSR Rontvia, following Atemlos Durch Die Nacht, Auf Uns, Es Rappelt Im Karton, Warum and Feuerregen.

The RTVN's Ricardo Delta said: "Amsterdam is a glorious old German smash that has been re-recorded multiple times since its original release, including a schlager rework by Cora in 2008 alongside Axel Fischer. But it is the original that still resonates and dominates the airwaves in both Germany and FSR Rontvia. The song has peaked at No.1 here, the oldest song to ever reach the top.

"It's quintessentially 1984, from the Every Breath You Take meets Titanium style intro to the rousing melody and production that echoes Moonlight Shadow in parts and - of course - the schlager air guitar breakdown. The big 80s chorus and Cora's lovely harmonies all combine to make this a perfect German love letter to the Dutch capital."

Posted by: gooddelta 23rd September 2021, 01:27 PM

Icelandic duo's techno Roxette cover revs up for BJSC 138

After two months in the bottom ten FSR Rontvia has sent something a little more uptempo to BJSC 138 in St Burbia, a techno cover of Roxette's 1991 single Spending My Time by Icelandic television personality, radio show host, fitness coach, motivational speaker, DJ and singer DJ Muscleboy and 2009 Eurovision 'Is It True' runner-up Jóhanna Guðrún Jónsdóttir, AKA Yohanna, who last appeared in BJSC for Bhangra way back in the 18th contest with I Miss You.

Ricardo Delta explained the entry choice: "The original Spending My Time is a classic track with a huge chorus, albeit one of Roxette's lesser known singles in FSR Rontvia, where they had a number of major hits in the 80s and 90s. When we heard that Eurovision darling Yohanna had lent her voice to a thumping techno cover of this song we had to hear it, and we weren't disappointed. Her legendary warm vocals elevate the verses and gorgeous middle eight while DJ Muscleboy's 'Put A Cascada Style Donk And The Kitchen Sink On It' production lifts it to another dimension still. We're hoping our first Icelandic entry since Hafdis Huld in 2009 and first techno entry ever will be well received."

Spending My Time has so far spent seven weeks in the official Rontvian Spotify top five, peaking at No.2 last month behind Cora's Amsterdam - our BJSC 137 entry - and currently at No.3 behind ABBA's Don't Shut Me Down and I Still Have Faith In You.

Posted by: gooddelta 20th October 2021, 10:37 AM

Sally Shapiro's autumnal ballad brings Sweden back for 139

After 14 years in the contest FSR Rontvia have finally got around to sending an artist we've long admired to Jadakissnia - Sally Shapiro. An Italo disco/synthpop duo consisting of the Swedish vocalist of the same name and fellow Swede Johan Agebjörn on the production, Sally Shapiro were active for a decade between 2006 and 2016 and have recently reformed, with their fourth album, Sad Cities, due for release next year. The pair have been sent to BJSC twice before, another lifetime ago, for Utopia and Numayania, while there is also an existing Rontvian link to them with our winner in BJSC 35, All My Life by Chart Music. The track https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnIrAx-GW3s, using the same backing track but Sally's vocals instead of those of the demo (?) singer from Chart Music. Be Without You treads a similar sonic path to All My Life.

Ricardo Delta of the RTVN said: "This is an old-skool style Rontvian entry in sound. The moment we heard those opening bars followed by the gorgeous chord progression we immediately knew we had to send this. It's an electropop/Italo disco sad banger - the production is icy Scandi but with a warm heart that would melt the ice. And then well over a minute and a half into the track Sally's ethereal vocals come in and float over the top, with the heartbreaking lyrics making it into a real tear-jerker."

Forget About You debuted at No.1 in FSR Rontvia last week, shifting fellow Swedes ABBA off the top with Don't Shut Me Down.

Posted by: gooddelta 16th November 2021, 09:14 PM

Vocal trance returns for 140

The last time FSR Rontvia won BJSC, back in May 2014, it was Dutch producer RAM who smashed the competition with the heartbreaking vocal trance song RAMelia (Tribute To Amelia), a tribute to his late wife. Our last trance entry was Tom Fall's instrumental Kaamos just over four years ago, which came 6th, but since then trance has become decidedly less of a force in the contest, and was recently discussed as being over after a string of flops for the genre. However, despite this we have decided regardless to field our first trance song in years, An Angel's Love by Alex M.O.R.P.H. feat. Sylvia Tosun, a classic from 2011.

Talking to Egg London about the track a few years ago, former Danæviian representative Alex said: "The story behind the tune was that I set up the strings and melody, but there was no beat and percussion. I was at the Miami Winter Music Conference where I was invited to play at a pool party at the house of Tom Lord-Alge. He is a guy that does the mixdowns for all the big pop and rock stars. He has won three Grammys and had platinum records hung up on the wall in his house. When the guests went home some of us were sitting in his living room and I played the unfinished track to him. Vocalist Sylvia Tosun was in the room and she started doing doing ad libs to it. Everyone thought it sounded so good, so then Sylvia came back to me a few weeks later with some insane vocals and that's how 'An Angel's Love' first started. It was released in 2011 but it still works now on the dance floor and people still go mad for it!"

Ricardo Delta further explains the choice of the entry for this month's contest in Bøtanikkä, which follows the 24th place finish for Sally Shapiro's Scandi ballad Forget About You last month: "An Angel's Love is sonically cut from the same cloth as RAMelia, although it actually came first, and was one of the big vocal trance classics of the early 2010s. German Alex and American Sylvia really did produce something rather angelic that tugs at the heartstrings with the emotive, soaring vocals juxtaposing the thundering yet simultaneously warm and nostalgic production. We absolutely adore it and really hope it doesn't flop as hard as all the contest's other recent trance."

An Angel's Love is currently No.1 in the Rontvian charts, ahead of a number of ABBA songs.

Posted by: gooddelta 29th November 2021, 06:39 PM

Save trance campaign takes off in FSR Rontvia

The famous Rontvian artist Delta Paints'em has been commissioned to make a new print billboard and social media campaign in the final hours of voting for the current Buzzjack Song Contest, with the aim to #savetrance, and keep the heavenly Rontvian chart topper An Angel's Love from a bottom ten placing. Her exclusive work can be seen everywhere now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh4aPnI_g4I

Posted by: gooddelta 20th December 2021, 11:50 PM

The Kelly Family finally get their chance at Christmas

FSR Rontvia's fourth most listened to act ever according to Spotify stats, legendary family group The Kelly Family finally get their chance to shine in BJSC in the fourth Christmas spin-off, with new single Christmas In Our Hearts.

Ricardo Delta explains the choice: "We absolutely adore the Kellys. A huge family of many siblings, they were born all over the place, with roots in Ireland, Spain, the US, Germany and many more countries. The group were particularly huge in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as The Netherlands, in the 1990s with chart topping singles including https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUpmd4nm7YM and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1viSfRzI8to. The iconic 1994 album Over The Hump put them on the road to superstardom and crowds went absolutely mad for them. In the UK they only charted one single - An Angel, which made No.69 in 1995, but it hit the top five in Ireland.

"After years in the wilderness, including a Eurovision attempt for Germany in 2002 with https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlVOgneiCx0, they returned in 2017 and went straight back to No.1 in Germany with their comeback album We Got Love. The band and their individual members have racked up countless hits in FSR Rontvia over the years - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOLMBx6-LeY, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaO2q12vNMs and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQswVPKJ4qs being the biggest, and Patricia Kelly the most successful solo artist in FSR Rontvia with hits including One More Year and Medicine. Their legacy remains strong with now departed members among Germany's biggest stars - Maite Kelly a huge schlager star and former lead singer heartthrob Michael Patrick Kelly an acclaimed singer-songwriter who co-wrote the current Lost Frequencies hit Where Are You Now.

"It was long overdue, but finally, FSR Rontvia are represented by one of our favourite ever acts - cheesy yes, but they are oh so wonderful."

Christmas In Our Hearts is currently top five in the Rontvian Christmas week chart.

Posted by: gooddelta 19th January 2022, 12:03 AM

Norwegian rockers Jadudah for 141

FSR Rontvia has kicked off 2022 in uncharacteristically heavy style with Norweigan rock band Jadudah's single Love You (When You're A Mess). The anthemic song hit No.1 in the Rontvian charts in December and has now been on top for five weeks in total.

According to the band's website, Jadudah's musical style can be described as "a mix of dirty rock with mood-filled pop elements, accompanied by a dark and mysterious atmosphere. Featuring touches of rough guitar-riffs and electronic elements, topped with a powerful female voice".

Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice for the contest in Lookylion and Mosquetania: "Rock entries from FSR Rontvia are few and far between but the runaway chart success so far for Love You (When You're A Mess) speaks for itself and proves that it has hit the Rontvian public in a huge way, and now we want to share it with everyone.

"The brooding verses bubble away with a moody determination but the song lifts into an epic chorus and great riff that we cannot get out of our heads. The middle eight slows things back down but builds right back up into an incredible full throttle final minute, where everything goes hard - certainly the hardest FSR Rontvia has gone sonically for some time. We hope people enjoy it!"

Posted by: Roba. 19th January 2022, 12:56 AM

This is sounding so good especially that chorus. Shame I'm not in your semi but I think you should be fine with this as there's a lot of rock nations there who might be fans. A rare sight also to see you go full on rock too I must say.

Posted by: gooddelta 19th January 2022, 11:07 PM

Glad you're liking it Rob, yeah I'd agree that the chorus in particular does pack quite a punch. Nice to see lots of other rock entries in the semi too, fingers crossed it will find some support!

Posted by: gooddelta 23rd February 2022, 01:35 PM

French hardcore for 142

After coming 17th last month with Jadudah's rocker Love You (When You're A Mess), FSR Rontvia are maintaining a hard edge in the hopes of bagging a third consecutive top 20 finish. Based in the French capital, Paris, DJ and producer Paul Seul - co-founder of the Casual Gabberz collective - will represent the nation with BDF (Summer 21 Happy Mix), whose listed genres include Happy Hardcore and techno. A mostly instrumental track, it includes a brief French spoken word interlude in between the otherwise thumping energy of the track. BDF (Summer 21 Happy Mix) hit No.1 in FSR Rontvia earlier this month.

Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice: "On our long-awaited return to Aeroche, we couldn't help but be inspired by their wonderful winner last month, our overplay of Parmi Les Mortels led us down a rabbit hole of similar artists, songs and genres. While many were very good, this is the one that really caught our ear and that we've had on repeat since. We're not sure if there is a Winter 22 Sad Mix, or any other version of the song in fact - we haven't been able to find one if so - but we're happy to stick with this absolutely banging version which has an entrancing melody and furious production but slows down in all the right places. Bring back Clubland Xtreme Hardcore so this choon can take its rightful place as Disc 1, Track 1 and fulfil its Nokia back of the (Parisian) bus destiny."

Posted by: Dobbo. 25th February 2022, 11:28 AM

Appears we were both down that same rabbit hole this month then as I've just found out that Paul Seul is one half of my entered act this month Ascendant Vierge!

Posted by: gooddelta 25th February 2022, 11:44 AM

Omg! Paul getting that double entry into the same contest by stealth.

I did think when listening to yours - which is very good btw - that it sounded somewhat sonically cut from the same cloth, it's no wonder!

Posted by: gooddelta 24th March 2022, 11:29 PM

Topping the 10 minute mark for the first time...

FSR Rontvia has decided to follow a DNQ last month with a 10 minute chillstep track that has been drawn into Semi 1 over in Altyr Muunilinst, and is this month's longest entry! We're very excited to introduce Swedish producer Krisu to the contest with The Ocean Sings to Me in Turquoise Waves. Formerly known as Killigrew, Krisu first started composing piano music in 2009 when he was 17. In 2012 he tried his hands at electronic music and fell in love with chillstep and melodic bass music.

We first came across the track a couple of months ago and it has been in the Rontvian Spotify top ten for eight weeks straight, no mean feat in the busy Eurovision national final season!

Ricardo Delta explains the choice: "The easy option to get back into the final might have been to send a big pop song but instead we've opted for the longest track we've ever submitted to the contest, at two minutes longer than DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ's All The Beautiful Things U Do.

"We don't always find that songs this long capture our attention for the full length but we don't have that issue with The Ocean Sings to Me in Turquoise Waves, which lives up to its name by progressing in aural waves - it starts off calmly with lovely strings before the bass and piano kicks in. Along the way there's ATB-esque pitch bending, new age vocals and RL Grime style drops, which really start to hit hard at the 4:48 mark. So there are definitely hallmarks of past Rontvian artists and entries here while being something new for us. The track is a beauty and we hope it can find some fans in the poptastic Semi 1."

Posted by: Dobbo. 29th March 2022, 01:54 PM

On first listen I thought this dragged a bit too much but on revisiting it's got a very nice flow to it with the different sections. Certainly it stands out in the semi and I'd like to see it qualify.

Posted by: gooddelta 29th March 2022, 02:13 PM

Thanks for the support (once again!) Dobbo, I did consider editing it down funnily enough but then figured the song has been produced to be heard like this, with the different sections reflecting the 'waves' so I didn't want to tamper with it. Que sera sera.

Posted by: Brer 30th March 2022, 08:03 PM

Have just given this a second listen and it's all coming together for me a lot better after knowing what to expect from it! I liked all of the individual parts of it but the first listen was a slightly confusing one because of the rather unorthodox song structure (it sounds more like a 'minimix' of a few tracks from wildly varying genres than it does a singular song). Of course I wasn't in your semi anyway so I couldn't have done anything to affect it, pleased that it's qualified despite the predictions!

I guess I hadn't really considered that the genre variation fits the 'wave' aesthetic.

Posted by: gooddelta 30th March 2022, 08:30 PM

It's certainly a grower, so I'm glad it's made its way into the final! Even on my first listen I was simply only intrigued enough to listen again but the more I've got to know it, the more I love it and all of its build up and slowdown.

Many of his songs are a lot shorter (3-5 minutes), in fact he's just released a lovely little 3 minute song this week called The Forest Piano. So I can only figure there was a specific reason for him making this one so long, which I'm assuming is quite literally the waves of the ocean singing in different parts as they go in and out. I could have jumped to the wrong conclusion though

Posted by: gooddelta 28th April 2022, 03:13 PM

...From the longest to the shortest...

After our longest ever entry, the 10+ minute Krisu track, finished 27th last month, we have immediately followed it up with our shortest ever entry, and our annual toe dip into pure pop, with Romanian singer Holy Molly's 2:10 track Shot A Friend. The song is three seconds shorter than Emiliana Torrini's Jungle Drum, which we sent way back in 2009 to the 15th contest.

Back in 2015, Holy Molly represented Yehesi with the track Molly, her only previous BJSC appearance. Seven years later her career has gone from strength to strength and Shot A Friend has ended up being a huge airplay and viral TikTok hit across Eastern Europe, seeing particular success in Poland, where it charted at No.2. Molly has also recently collaborated with French-Italian duo Shanguy, who are fresh from representing Cor Lupus last month.

Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice: "Shot A Friend is an incredibly catchy, current pop song, and one that you could easily imagine hearing on a Spotify Hot Hits playlist or the chart show. Wearing its Ava Max and Bebe Rexha influences on its sleeve, the track about a relationship risking a friendship is simple but a real earworm that won us over immediately and has huge replay value, particularly as it only clocks in at just over two minutes. That's more than enough time to fit in two verses, plenty of chances to hear the melodic chorus and a nice little middle eight that temporarily slows things down before the climax."

Shot A Friend has spent six weeks in the Rontvian top five, scoring two weeks at No.1 in between runs for Cornelia Jakobs' Hold Me Closer and Sam Ryder's SPACE MAN.



Edit: This is indeed NOT the same Holy Molly as Yehesi sent, but is an artist being sent to the contest for the first time - thank you Bré!

Posted by: Brer 28th April 2022, 06:49 PM

That Yehesi entry was a different artist - it was a song called 'Holy Molly' by Olga Seryabkina from SEREBRO (she released it under the name Holy Molly at the time but it's now on Spotify under the name 'MOLLY', then she later showed up in BJSC again both under that name and under her real name).

I was a little confused by this and wondered if she had changed her name back to Holy Molly which would be the third time she's changed her artist name but yeah it's just a coincidence.

Posted by: gooddelta 28th April 2022, 08:05 PM

Ha! Whoops! In that case we welcome our first time BJSC entrant with no DNQ history.

I wondered why the songs sounded so different.

Posted by: Roba. 28th April 2022, 08:09 PM

Wishing you luck Rich on that. Not heard it yet but I enjoyed her feature on the Lizot track 'Back To Her' which was a generic bop!

Posted by: Addy! 28th April 2022, 08:29 PM

Back To Her is amazing actually, it's like Meduza but poppier...considered myself sending it many times!!!

I listened to this as well the other day since it was one of the few names I recognized it and I liked it a lot...I think it can easily be a hit!!!

Posted by: gooddelta 28th April 2022, 08:37 PM

Thanks Rob. It really is, I must have a dig around more of her stuff, and try and get the right artist this time



Yeah Rob mentioned Back To Her to me earlier today and I liked it a lot too when I listened - Becky Hill would be happy to have it in her catalogue.

Here's hoping she can break out of the Romanian and Polish markets at some point

Posted by: gooddelta 28th May 2022, 09:54 AM

Didn't even break a sweat!



Last month Romanian singer Holy Molly somewhat unexpectedly grabbed us our biggest hit in four years since Freya Ridings' Lost Without You finished in the same place and went on to become a huge UK hit, and Molly's endeavours earned FSR Rontvia our first AQ in eight years, when Andreas Bourani's Auf Uns was the home entry to follow our last winner, RAMelia (Tribute To Amelia) by Ram and Susana.

In the spirit of not wanting to throw away a potential AQ on something conventional, we are presenting 247 365 by Naked Flames, http://poplovedance.blogspot.com/2022/01/tunes-im-currently-loving-2022-volume-1.html and is currently in our YTD top five. A rahter unusual production, this lo-fi electronic song is listed under the genres house, techno, and ambient. Naked Flames was born in 1999 and hails from Bristol, and clearly spent a lot of his youth playing computer games - this very 90s-esque track taking its only vocal sample, 'didn't even break a sweat!', from Game Boy Advance game Sonic Battle.

Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice: "We very nearly confirmed this in January but went rock instead with Jadudah, but it remained at the top of our potentials as it has continued to be a huge airplay and streaming hit in FSR Rontvia, and with an AQ possibly on the horizon and a 50/50 chance that this wouldn't have to potentially fall into the 'wrong semi', we decided it was now or never for this frantic beast of a track. 247 365 has an unconventional structure - with the longest fade in we can remember on a record and a very sudden ending - while the lo-fi production was a deliberate choice and to us evokes hazy memories of spending time in arcades and playing racing games and platformers. The music swirls around and then takes off like something off the F-Zero soundtrack - it's fast, it's hyper, and we really hope it finds some love here."

The video for 247 365 is unavailable as a standlone piece but makes up the first 5:18 of this Album Visualizer on YouTube - do watch it if you like the track, it adds to the vibes:



The original single is here:

Posted by: gooddelta 18th July 2022, 04:46 PM

Electronic sounds from Scotland for the hot summer

Despite some ...underwhelming results for our electronic entries of late, we are heading straight back to the genre that has brought us so much life and joy recently and are sending to Jupiterdonia a Scottish artist who has only ever appeared once before in BJSC, with a DNQ - Chimes for Isconia way back in LXVII. Also part of the duo TNGHT, Bicstan is the first solo single for a little while from Ross Matthew Birchard AKA Hudson Mohawke, who has collaborated with Kanye, Drake, Future and Danny L Harle among others, and - in our opinion - it BANGS.

Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice: "Techno and electronic music have done really well in BJSC of late, but not necessarily for FSR Rontvia, with the genre providing a DNQ for us earlier this year in Paul Seul's epic BDF, plus numerous 27th places. But Bicstan has been tearing up the charts here and in fact climbed to No.1 this week as one of our big summer smashes and we had to share it. A blistering comeback single from the Glasgow producer, taken from his forthcoming album Cry Sugar, which is out on 12th August, Bicstan builds and thumps throughout with a frantic rave breakdown and an infectious repeated cutesy vocal sample 'You know I can't help it. Can't even help myself sometimes'. We really adore this one."

Posted by: gooddelta 21st August 2022, 09:34 AM

Empire of the summer



AR/CO, aka Mali-Koa and Leo Stannard, have been chosen to represent FSR Rontvia in BJSC 147, with their current Rontvian No.1 smash hit Call Me By Your Name. A world away from the zany electronic entries that have dominated our year so far (and culminated in a fantastic 4th place finish for Hudson Mohawke's Bicstan last month), Call Me By Your Name is a radio dance/pop song that evokes Empire of the Sun and MGMT.

The duo have already featured on recent collaborations with Franky Wah and Don Diablo, but this dreamy soundscape is their official debut single. While they are based in London, https://musictalkers.com/latest-news/8412-ar-co-share-their-debut-single-%E2%80%98call-me-by-my-name%E2%80%99 Mali-Koa was born in Australia to a family of Maori heritage while British artist Leo Stannard has Trinidadian roots from his grandfather’s side of the family.

Ricardo Delta explains the choice: "What a long, hot summer we've had! It will inevitably wind down in the next few weeks and what better way to soundtrack that than with a hazy late summer laidback dance/psychedelic pop song that takes us back to the late 00s sonically, although without feeling dated as the sound of Empire of the Sun and MGMT was so rooted in the 1970s anyway. The verses are really dreamy while the chorus is just instantly feel-good, we instantly fell in love with this one."

Posted by: Addy! 21st August 2022, 09:37 AM

Hudson Mohawke Bicstan music video is released and gives a song a new life…that was a great choice Richard!!!

Looking forward to hear AR/CO as they’ve been on my potential list for a while (in featured song) so fingers crossed it goes well for you!!!

Posted by: gooddelta 21st August 2022, 09:42 AM

Oh I saw that Addy, it's pretty mad so suits the song! Shame it wasn't complete for last month, although I was very pleased with and surprised by 4th place!

His album is fantastic too, I bought it on CD as I loved it so much.

Hope you enjoy Call Me By My Name, it's pretty chilled but sounds great in the sun. Their collabs so far are all really good too!

Posted by: gooddelta 27th September 2022, 06:49 PM

Lost 2011 banger on the frontline for BJSC 148

AR/CO finished a very respectable 13th last month with the wistful end of summer sound of Call Me By Your Name, but onto autumn we move and we're heading back to 2011 with the retro (yes, 11 years is now retro) power dance sound of Frontline by Shaun Baker, an English DJ and producer based in Germany. The track had a UK release on All Around The World offshoot label 3Beat, which was behind hits for Agnes, Alexandra Stan, Edward Maya and Cheryl among others.

Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice: "We never heard Frontline back in 2011, only coming across it recently, so it must have been woefully underpromoted. It's a powerful dance-pop song with production and vocals reminiscent of hits by Ian Carey and Rogue Traders; that late 00s/early 10s production style is starting to feel a little nostalgic all of a sudden after years of tropical house and Corry/Guetta/Sigala style samey beats. We love the electro intro leading to the sultry vocals of the verse and the triumphantly powerful chorus and post-chorus. The intensity never lets up.

"With promotion, this could well have been a hit at the time, but we're more than happy to belatedly introuduce it to the world. Also watch out for the 'couple fight and make up' video too, complete with a very relevant trashing of his prized VCR player!"

The next Rontvian chart is due to be published at the weekend, and Frontline is likely to debut in the top two based on early sales, streams and airplay.

Posted by: gooddelta 25th October 2022, 10:17 AM

Real love can't be choreographed

Following a spectacular DNQ last month, one of our lowest ever finishes with retro entry Frontline, we are back in 2022 territory for the penultimate contest of the year in Lookylion and Altyr. And after many months of dance entries, we move to art pop with London singer Jessica Winter's new single Choreograph becoming our 149th entry.

Unlike Frontline, which peaked at No.2 in FSR Rontvia, Choreograph has started from a better position, having spent four weeks at No.1 so far and becoming one of the biggest domestic hits of the year.

Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice: "From the school of Marina and the Kates (Bush and Miller-Heidke), comes the wonderful world of Jessica Winter. The quirky Choreograph has already been championed by Billie Eilish in a recent video and we love it too. The song starts as a subdued electronic pop track but builds and builds with a huge chorus, operatic vocals, a pulsating second verse and a thumping middle eight, and just when you think it's about to explode it mellows out for an unexpected ending. We also love the Singin' In The Rain inspired video!"

Posted by: gooddelta 2nd December 2022, 03:43 PM

2022 going out with a bang

It has been a relatively successful year for FSR Rontvia as we're tracking for a top 15 EOY finish, helped by two silver medallists (courtesy of Holy Molly and Jessica Winter) but hindered by two DNQs (courtesy of Paul Seul and Shaun Baker). With a 50/50 chance of getting an AQ again, we decided to go for something with a bit of bite so as to not fade into the background in the final (or, indeed, in the semi if it had fallen that way).

According to Discogs: "Cassie Raptor is an artist with many talents who has been a member of the queer community in Paris and the collectives Conspiration and Barbi(e)turix for quite some time now. Her work, as well as DJ, VJ or illustrator, reflects a vast diversity of inspiration and geometric forms, motifs, drawings, queer representations and female bodies. She immerses every club night in a boundless hypnotizing atmosphere."

Filed under the genres Techno, Hard Trance, Hard Techno, Neo Trance, Acid and Hardcore, O.B.I.C features the talents of fellow French DJ and producer Rebeka Warrior, and bangs. quite. hard. The track has been in the Rontvian top three for the last eight consecutive weeks, and is quickly climbing the domestic YTD chart.

Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice: "When we first heard O.B.I.C it blew our minds. The bassline absolutely thumps in a way that makes Giant Swan's 55 Year Old Daughter, a huge hit here earlier this year, seem almost tame in comparison. The French vocal samples add to the intrigue and atmosphere to create what we found to be an immensely captivating soundscape."

O.B.I.C is an auto qualifer to the final of the landmark 150th contest, which is being held in Oslol.

Posted by: gooddelta 16th January 2023, 09:34 PM

Finnish ode to 90s icon kicks off 2023

FSR Rontvia rounded off a relatively successful year in 2022 with our fourth top 10 in December, O.B.I.C by Cassie Raptor and Rebeka Warrior. The track also finished 10th in the Rontvian end of year chart, behind four other BJSC entries - our other three top tens, and the underappreciated 247 365 by Naked Flames.

Onto 2023, and we kick things off with Finnish duo Of Wild and their single Haddaway. The song is not, in fact, a tribute to the legendary 90s star but the pair are dancing all night to his music, presumably to the dulcet tones of What Is Love, as one of them whispers the name of the club classic at the end.

Not much more is known about the self-proclaimed dreamy electropop duo but they explained on Facebook: "Inspired by several 90s hits, this melancholic pop song is about a broken heart and impossible love. Like Haddaway’s old classic, we also wonder what love is?"

Ricardo Delta added: "We immediately fell in love with this one, the chorus is certainly repeated enough to make sure of that. As much as being inspired by Haddaway, we wonder if it might also have been inspired by the production styles of Olive's You're Not Alone and Sonique's It Feels So Good. It certainly has that late 90s vibe more than an early 90s one. We also like the quite tender, more mellow start of the song, and of course the 'what is love?' whisper at the end."

Haddaway has been No.1 in FSR Rontvia for two weeks, the first chart topper of the year.

Posted by: gooddelta 19th February 2023, 11:59 PM

Sleeping field

Hailing from Belarus, Dzivia is a music project created by composer Artur Matveenko. His haunting slavic folk music combines the sounds of a symphony orchestra, ancient instruments, choirs, and singers with dramatically different vocal techniques, leading to a brooding yet calming soundscape. Voryva (Sleeping Field) has been chosen to represent FSR Rontvia in the 152nd contest, hosted by Sovarasma and Summericia, and follows our 18th place last month with Haddaway by Of Wild. Voryva is about an old hermit who lives his life out in an awry hut. He's weak and feeble and his skinny shivering hands hold a wooden crook which keeps him upright... Matveenko fully explains the rest of the story here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/dzivia-voryva-31840194

And Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice: "We first heard the mysterious, atmospheric Voryva late last year and it snuck into our end of year chart at No.54 based on just a few weeks of airplay and streams. The track - our first by an artist from Belarus - has since climbed into the top three in the national chart and become firmly lodged there, despite its epic run time of over eight minutes. But we feel it makes good use of every one of those minutes, gradually building from a calm opening to the choral refrain and crashing drums, to a more mellow close as the story comes to an end - we're very proud to send it to this incredible month for the contest with so many new and returning nations."

Posted by: Roba. 20th February 2023, 12:13 AM

<3

Posted by: gooddelta 20th March 2023, 02:21 PM

The whole world is a rave

FSR Rontvia incredibly managed our third 2nd place in under a year last month, thanks to Dzivia's magical Voryva. As luck would have it, we managed to secure a third AQ as a runner-up too, which is lucky because like with Naked Flames' 247 365 and Cassie Raptor and Rebeka Warrior's O.B.I.C, we deliberately picked a song that would hopefully stand out as an AQ in the final, should it need to. So we are thrilled to be represented this month by Siberian indigenous music group Otyken, which mixes elements of modern pop with local folk music, incorporating traditional instruments, lyrics, and languages. Their song My Wing has been picked up by French rave music producer and DJ Billx and transformed into something entirely different.

Ricardo Delta explains: "When we first heard My Wing we were really impressed with how the musical styles of Billx and Otyken merged to create an enthralling, thrilling, bouncy and fun track that retains the charm and heritage of the original while turning it into a club anthem in the vein of Go_A or Elitsa & Stoyan."

My Wing (Rave Music Edit) went straight into the Rontvian charts at No.2 earlier this month, behind Loreen's Tattoo, and will represent FSR Rontvia in the BJSC final, being held this month in Terra Avium, following their long-awaited maiden victory last month.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 23rd April 2023, 06:53 PM

I just learned today that this sample is taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Days_(film) - which was set in 1999 (the year that Right Here, Right Now went to #2... behind yes, you've guessed it - Westlife. : (

Posted by: Calvin Maxwell 23rd April 2023, 07:06 PM

ANGELA BASSETT DID THE THING

Posted by: gooddelta 24th April 2023, 10:17 AM

I also learnt this yesterday! I saw the clip on Twitter and my mind was blown.

What an inspired choice of sample, both by Fatboy Slim and ishi vu!

Posted by: Yobnedor 24th April 2023, 10:43 AM

THIS

Posted by: gooddelta 24th April 2023, 11:22 AM

154: It's time for FSR Metalvia

It has taken 154 contests, but to this month's contest in Yobnedorica we are finally getting around to sending a metal entry to the contest in the form of blistering anthem Sainted By The Storm by German power metal band Powerwolf. Formed in 2003, the group are still a huge deal in metal circles, and indeed in their native Germany, where their latest album Interludium - featuring this single - peaked at No.3 last week.

Ricardo Delta explains the choice: "Amazingly, we finished 2nd in the last two contests - and have now managed four silver medals in the last year, which we are extremely grateful for, so the pressure was on to find another stand out song that could work as an AQ - although in the end we didn't get one this time, as well as bringing something different to our own entry canon again. We heard about the new Powerwolf album when browsing the release schedules a few weeks ago and had a listen. This group are extremely good at melody, and Sainted By The Storm felt like the biggest anthem on the album to us, although we also loved No Prayer At Midnight and Wolves Of War.

"Rontvian tastes have evolved over the years and are starting to encompass more guitars, so it's only fair that a year after our previous heaviest entry - from Jadudah - that we now go full hog with a power metal act and this incredible song, which went straight into the Rontvian chart at No.1, not an easy feat considering the current competition from Eurovision tracks and Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding. Sainted By The Storm is a symphonic pirate metal track with verses that sound like Lordi and a chorus that is like a cross between Sabaton and Alestorm - we hope people like it!"

Posted by: gooddelta 29th May 2023, 07:53 AM

French artpop for 155

Our metal gamble paid off handsomely last month, rewarding us with an 11th place for Powerwolf and our sixth top 20 hit in a row for the first time since 2014, this consistency enough to put FSR Rontvia on top of the YTD leaderboard for 2023 so far. We would like to thank every single nation for every single point we have been given. We've lurched from one genre to another this year so truly would have never expected to be anywhere near the top.

Onto BJSC 155, and we have a French electropop offering in the form of Tristesse by rising star Zaho de Sagazan, from Saint-Nazaire, daughter of artist and painter Olivier de Sagazan. A diverting song and production, with a captivating music video that portrays a confident performer with bags of star quality and charisma, Zaho says she is influenced by genres ranging from synthwave to krautrock.

Ricardo Delta explains more: "We were truly mesmerised by Zaho when we first came across her. Tristesse has shades of Christine and the Queens and even Stromae, but is more in the classic French chanson style than either of those two ever have been, which makes this track a blend of old and new sounds. As this is a Kath hosted contest, we were keen to have something with a bit of a dancy bite and the second half of the track delivers this, as it builds and then twists into an industrial outro. Tristesse has gone straight into the top five on the Rontvian Spotify charts, with its exact official chart position to be revealed in the coming days, as it battles Kylie and Loreen for supremacy. We wish Zaho luck in getting to the final!"

Posted by: gooddelta 17th July 2023, 06:07 PM

Wanna get high in Brighton?

Last month, Tristesse came 4th for us, extending our consecutive run of top 20 hits to a mindblowing seven. Rather than staying down the arty route, however, we have decided to go all the way back to our roots with a song about our hometown - Brighton!

FIZZ (no relation to the ex Bucks Fizz members’ band The Fizz) consists of dodie, who criminally DNQ’d for us in 2020 with our favourite song of the year, Monster, plus Irish singer-songwriter Orla Gartland, and their musical friends Greta Isaac and Martin Luke Brown.

Ricardo Delta explains the choice: “When we heard that one of FSR Rontvia’s biggest stars, dodie, was forming a band we were intrigued, particularly with the great Orla Gartland also among its members. And we definitely were not disappointed when we heard the immediately catchy and fun High In Brighton. With a nod to my hometown (now a city!) and a wacky colourful video, its jolly indie pop sound takes us back to the fun of the 00s with bands like Alphabeat. Plus, just like on her solo albums, there’s a clarinet solo from dodie in the second verse - we are in love!”

High In Brighton is currently No.1 in FSR Rontvia, knocking Peggy Gou down to No.3, while their newly released album track Hell Of A Ride sits just behind at No.2! The band will release their debut album, The Secret To Life, in September, and is touring in September and October.

Posted by: Brer 17th July 2023, 06:50 PM

This entry is the avengers of BJSC flops, Orla Gartland and Greta Isaac have both had previous DNQs too (though Greta had another entry that qualified and merely flopped in the final). Guess we'll see if they are more than the sum of their parts with the collaboration, this was double confirmed so there is some demand for it!

Posted by: uhsting 17th July 2023, 06:57 PM

oh my a banger!

Posted by: gooddelta 17th July 2023, 07:23 PM

I was thinking that...I did have to think twice (or more) before submitting a DNQ supergroup! But I just love dodie too damn much not to give her another try.

Posted by: gooddelta 22nd August 2023, 02:03 PM

Aussie pop duo WIIGZ offer some French Tips for 157

FSR Rontvia's impressive run of hits came to an abrupt halt last month where, after seven consecutive top 20 hits, rising band FIZZ could only manage 36th with their debut single High In Brighton. On we march, and our 157th entry comes from Brisbane duo WIIGZ. The act consists of Hannah Brydon and Zoë Hilditch, who both have backgrounds in film and photography and incorporate a multi-platform approach to their creative direction. French Tips is their first single in a while, and was released earlier this month, with the song on track to debut inside the top three in the next release of the Rontvian charts.

Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice: "For us, summer means POP. Last month, FIZZ gave it their all but we haven't abandoned the capital leters, and WIIGZ are primed and ready for the competition. French Tips is a contemporary and sassy pop/house crossover with plenty of 90s production flourishes and tongue in cheek lyrics. Musically it's like the lovechild of Jessie Ware, Rebecca & Fiona, Ultraflex and Confidence Man and the video is a riot - we absolutely fell for it on first listen and were in the mood to share some uplifting and fun summer disco-tinged pop to enjoy by the pool."

French Tips is hoping to come through a quite indie/alt heavy Semi 2 - let joy consume you and dial 0800 1572 WII63 to vote.

Posted by: Harve 26th August 2023, 09:38 PM

Rated your track about 2 minutes through and then the last 40 seconds had me change my mind a LOT

Posted by: gooddelta 26th August 2023, 09:50 PM

Oh yeah, the track definitely goes into fifth gear in the last bit I could do with an extended mix, based around that section...

Posted by: gooddelta 28th August 2023, 09:55 AM

DNQ for WIIGZ!

FSR Rontvia has scrambled together a professional jury to vote in the final of BJSC 157 with the televote, as is always the case with a DNQ, cancelled after the failure of French Tips by WIIGZ to qualify, ending our run of consecutive qualifiers on this occasion at eight.

Ricardo Delta commented: "A complete pop/dance/disco banger that we fall more in love with each time we hear it here at the RTVN, we're gutted at the DNQ. It may have been the wrong semi effect - for sure it was a very alt-leaning selection although ironically many of our 50 points came from a lot of those voters and we didn't get many from the pop voters. So maybe it was just not the right song this time and was doomed either way. A pop song without pop support was never going to do much.

"But it is what it is - nobody can qualify every time and we will cherish this song as a worthy entrant in the Rontvian canon. We really hope that some of the nations from Semi 1 do check this out as it's a great track that we wanted a lot of people in that semi to hear. Onwards and upwards and despite now going 93 contests without a win, we believe again - 'I believe the impossible, is possible to overcome'."

French Tips finished 21st in Semi 2, just missing a place in the final by a whisker.



The track will debut inside the Rontvian top three when the next chart is announced, based on tracking data.

Posted by: gooddelta 19th September 2023, 05:20 PM

Hayako Hayako for 158!



Following a dream run of seven top 20 finishes, Rontvian dreams came crashing down two months ago when FIZZ deflated in the final with High In Brighton, while last month WIIGZ could not quite claw their way into the final with their French Tips. But we regroup and move away from pop and now find ourselves in Santiago, Chile where actress and singer Celine Raymond AKA Kali Mutsa has been selected to represent the nation in the 158th contest in Cadelicia with Hayako Hayako, which is very much not Japanese as the title may sound, but is in Spanish. Our last - and only other - visit to Chile produced the top five hit Ilumbarada by Ortiga in 2016, and this entry shows another side to the nation.

Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice: "'Wow' was the word we expressed both when we heard Hayako Hayako for the first time, and then again when we saw the video, featuring the artistic choreography from awesome dancer Rinu Ogundej. This track is a blistering anthem that starts with a punch, layering atmospheric vocals, thundering drums and synths, and only builds from there, with a spooky organ section midway through giving early Halloween vibes in September. The song has been described as 'electronic mix with folk music from various parts of the world and different eras' but make up your own mind - in FSR Rontvia we have been enchanted by Kali and we hope you are too."

Hayako Hayako currently sits at No.1 in the Rontvian chart, seeing off last month's BJSC runner-up from Fljótavík's Headache, which became the first non-Rontvian entry to top our chart in a few years.

Posted by: Roba. 24th October 2023, 10:06 PM

Love how this has a WWF/WWE video accompanying it *. and quite apt to have those two particular characters in it too, to go along with the deep vibe of your track Rich!

Interesting track though which sounds like something I'm sure I've heard somewhere before (turns out it only just came out tho lol)

Posted by: gooddelta 24th October 2023, 10:48 PM

The Rhythm Method finally represent FSR Rontvia

After nearly representing us in 2016 with Party Politics and then 2019 with Sex And The Suburbs, London duo The Rhythm Method finally have their turn to represent FSR Rontvia in the 159th contest - being held in Skall - with the emotional beauty Please Don't Die. Made up of Joey Bradbury and Rowan Martin, the duo's talky songs are usually light-hearted and comedic, typically featuring a spoken rap/vocal from Joey and instrumentation from Rowan. As the title suggets, Please Don't Die is a darker affair than their usual output and is a sideways look at a difficult topic.

The band explained the song: "Musically, Please Don't Die is a reflection of the wide and sombre expanses we encountered travelling through Britain. A dark song beautified by an incredible vocal performance from Aoife Power."

Ricardo Delta also commented: "This song is a more emotional listen than our entries usually are but we were adamant that this was an important story we felt compelled to share as the lyrics to this song have really helped us process some difficult emotions and feelings recently regarding the circle of life and personal experiences we have been through. It handles the subject sensitively and with hope, and is absolutely beautifully made. We were particularly taken by the way the guitars evoke the jangly indie of the 80s, the chorus - wonderfully delivered by Irish band whenyoung's lead singer Aoife Power [the band previously represented Suedeonia] - is very 90s, with shades of The Cranberries and even Melanie C's Northern Star album, and the rap/spoken verses and storytelling is clearly inspired by the 00s, particularly The Streets. It's a very touching and nostalgic track, which we have instantly taken to our hearts, and we had to share it."

Produced by The Coral's Bill Ryder-Jones and also featuring a trumpet section from Max Bloom, Please Don't Die is currently No.1 in FSR Rontvia and racing up the year to date chart as one of our clear favourite entries we've sent this year.

Posted by: gooddelta 24th October 2023, 10:56 PM

Thanks Rob.

Crikey yeah, must admit I don't know a lot about WWF/WWE so wasn't sure if they were classic wrestlers or something. Interesting choice of video though.

Yeah, I think the way it pulls influences from so many sources makes it kind of sound very familiar despite it being a new song that doesn't sample or cover anything. It's got a very 90s radio sound to it for sure.

Posted by: gooddelta 20th November 2023, 10:27 AM

Lonely Cat purrs 2023 away

After toying with the idea of sending a cat jam from South African dance maestro The Kiffness for a few years, including Numnum Cat in 2021 plus Aurora by David Scott - an alias of The Kiffness performing a non cat song under his real name - in the same year - we are finally seeing out 2023 by sending one of his latest miaowsterpieces to POPHub. Sometimes I'm Alone (Lonely Cat) was released this summer and has gone viral on certain parts of the internet, if you look in the right areas, with lots of TikTok videos, nearly 10m YouTube views and 2.7m Spotify streams. Kind of higher profile - and more novelty - than usual for a Rontvian entry but still not something that anywhere near enough people seem to know about.

Ricardo Delta explains our 160th entry: "This one hit us right in the feels. The poor cat, George Rufus, is having an existential crisis thinking about his life - 'sometimes I'm alone, sometimes I'm not, sometimes I'm alone, hello?' and the wonderful The Kiffness has done what he does best with his irresistible cat jams and sampled George, pitched him up and made a full song about the lonely cat's daily woes, wondering when his humans will come back for him and top up his food. It's kind of pop, kind of dance, kind of an indie ballad, and there is even marching sax. It's a very cute tearjerker and that cat chorus hasn't left our head since we first heard it. We can't think of any way we'd rather say goodbye to 2023."

Sometimes I'm Alone (Lonely Cat) has overtaken fellow sad song with a sax, and our previous entry, Please Don't Die by The Rhythm Method, at the top of the Rontvian charts.



Live!

Posted by: ✖ leww ✖ 20th November 2023, 08:30 PM

Posted by: Dobbo 30th November 2023, 04:14 PM

OMW I thought this was a joke entry for the first 10 seconds but it's actually an oddly addictive song, nice find!

Posted by: gooddelta 2nd December 2023, 11:39 PM

Better late than never.

This ICONIC song by Helene Fischer, one of the biggest selling songs of all time in Germany, has finally gone to No.1 there thanks to a 10-year anniversary remix with rapper Shirin David (sent by Pupok before).



The original is one of the all-time schlager greats now.

Posted by: gooddelta 2nd December 2023, 11:41 PM

Aww thanks. Yes it definitely sounds like that at the outset but there's a captivating depth to the lyrics, and also impressive musicianship from The Kiffness.

Posted by: gooddelta 14th January 2024, 09:39 PM

Prima Queen continue emotional Rontvian winter

Following The Rhythm Method's Please Don't Die and The Kiffness' Sometimes I'm Alone (Lonely Cat), our latest tearjerker is the breathtaking Butter Knife by female indie-pop duo Prima Queen. Produced by The Big Moon, Butter Knife was originally released in late 2022, when it was premiered on BBC Radio 6 by Steve Lamacq. Prima Queen - Louise Macphail from Bristol and Kristin McFadden from Chicago - stated at the time: "Butter Knife is a reflection on losing a loved one slowly to Alzheimer’s. When they pass away the loss is confusing because not only are you grieving the person you knew before the illness, but also the person they became.”

Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice: "Over the years we have both given our 18 points on numerous occasions to spoken word heavy entries - most recently Maruja, Headache and Nabihah Iqbal, and of course sent them regularly ourselves - Public Service Broadcasting, Real Lies, Daithi, Swim Deep, Self Esteem, The Rhythm Method, and now Prima Queen. When we first heard Butter Knife we knew we had to send it - a tender sung chorus, affecting spoken word verses that tell the story, beautiful strings and instrumentation throughout, and a fuller sung outro as the tale reaches its climax. We think this is a stunning piece and we hope people like it.

Butter Knife (with a video which appears to have partly been filmed in Brighton <3) has followed Please Don't Die and Sometimes I'm Alone (Lonely Cat) to the top of the Rontvian charts, where it currently spends a second week at No.1.



Glastonbury 2023 performance:

Posted by: gooddelta 22nd February 2024, 02:50 PM

162 = 1990

After three rather emotional songs in a row, it's time to lift the tempo back up as we slowly edge into spring, and for our 162nd entry we welcome a Celtic dance collaboration between two bands - Elephant Sessions, a folk group from the Highlands of Scotland, and Valtos, a trad/electronic duo from Skye, with the largely instrumental track (apart from a tiny spoken word sample), 1990.

Ricardo Delta explains the entry choice: "It's been a bit of a sad winter here in FSR Rontvia, but things are brightening up and we wanted to send something more uplifting as we head up to Scotland for this wonderful piece from Elephant Sessions and Valtos. Opening with beautiful orchestral strings, it doesn't take long before the song adds a Swamp Thing-esque fiddle to proceedings and then things really get going as percussion moves it firmly onto the dancefloor. The elements all come together nicely, and there is even a little Eurodance breakdown two thirds of the way through that evokes the much-loved club banger sound of 2011. Rontvian's are keen fans of dance music and more traditional sounds, so this is a marriage made in heaven for us and we hope others enjoy it too."

1990 is currently riding high in the top five of the Rontvian charts, where it has been for the last month, peaking at No.1 earlier this month.

Posted by: gooddelta 24th March 2024, 01:40 PM

It's a Mirkhel

For BJSC 163, held once again in Sovarasma, we are going to Greece for I believe the first time, courtesy of Die Arkitekt, a producer who combines electronic and classical influences to create eclectic techno sounds. He is joined by 72-year-old pioneering Greek legend Lena Platonos, a pianist and composer of electronic music, so please show some love to our oldest credited entrant (while also recalling then 90-year-old Mary Keane, who was not officially credited on Mary Keanes Introduction, song title aside).

Ricardo Delta explains the choice: "Mirkhel is the new single from Die Arkitekt and is taken from the album The Death of Postmodernism, released on 19 April. This is a quite spellbinding piece that truly unravels its magic the more you hear it. While the opening couple of minutes set the scene, with atmospheric chants set to a techno beat, after this it gets really interesting as the classical elements come through along with a vocal from the legendary Lena Platonos, one of the electronic music scene's original female pioneers. We're extremely proud to have Mirkhel representing FSR Rontvia this month."

Mirkhel is currently top three in the Rontvian charts, with the full chart for March set to be revealed next week.

Posted by: gooddelta 21st April 2024, 03:06 PM

Broken Mirrors

BJSC 163 saw FSR Rontvia claim our first top ten entry of the year, with Mirkhel finishing in 7th place. However, it was not the first song we confirmed for the contest last month - that was Gebroken Spiegels (Broken Mirrors) by Sophie Straat & Metropole Orkest. We decided to switch away from that at the time as it felt like a huge risk, but then something happened, as Ricardo Delta explains:

"TikTokvia has exploded in the last few months with hype about Gebroken Spiegels, which originally hit No.1 in FSR Rontvia way back in January but has not left the top ten since and, in fact, climbed back to No.1 for another stint earlier this month - and also climbed to No.1 in our current year to date chart. The public had spoken, they wanted Gebroken Spiegels at BJSC for FSR Rontvia. The RTVN sat down and decided that, while an entry longer than 13 minutes was uncharted territory for the nation - our previous longest was just over 10 minutes - we would give it a wildcard into our national final for BJSC 164. We don't usually hold a public vote, but we wanted the public to have a say because BJSC 164 marks exactly 100 contests since we last won, with RAMelia (Tribue To Amelia), exactly 10 years ago.

"Gebroken Spiegels won comfortably against four other competitors, with 91% of the vote, and Dutch singer Sophie has agreed to represent us with this magical but also hard hitting song that twists and turns from one genre to the next - but it's better to listen to it yourself than listen to my explanation of it to understand why the Rontvian public has become so captivated by this song over the last three months."

A protest singer from Amsterdam, Sophie Straat collaborated with the talented orchestra Metropole Orkest on this song, which was released in January and is her first new music since her debut album Smartlap Is Niet Dood in early 2023. The song is inspired by the 1984 feminist Dutch film of the same name made by Marleen Gorris about sex workers. It is also about the downward spiral that humanity finds itself in, driven - in her own words - by xenophobia and stupidity.

Sophie said: “The song tells a story of different lives. While writing we noticed that you could also interpret it as the life of one person. It starts with birth and ends with a new family and the people they encounter. But we also play with the idea that you can have an innocent child who might grow up to be a fascist.”

The full version of the song is here:



And a shorter live version is here:



The song is split into six parts, and the translated English lyrics are below:

[Part I]

[Verse 1]
I stroke your head, you're so sweet
You're still so small and everything is still going well
With your big eyes you look at the world
I look at you and nothing is complicated anymore

[Verse 2]
What will life give you? And what do you give back?
Even if it is only for a moment, you are sweet and innocent.
What will you become? Do you have a dream?
That's not on the agenda yet, but the appeal doesn't fall far from the tree

[Outro]
I hope it turns out okay, but I'm so afraid it won't
We are all the same, we all have sadness

[Part II]

[Verse 1]
With the brothers on holiday in Amsterdam
Looking for trouble, looking for fun
Married with two kids at home in Liverpool
But drinking, snorting, fighting is your goal tonight

[Chorus]
You're stupid!
I hate your pink drunk face
You're stupid!
Acting normal doesn't occur to you
You're stupid!
I'm ashamed of my own people.
You're stupid!
So stupid, so f***ing stupid!

[Verse 2]
With the brothers to the red light district, everything is for sale
Let me see, lift your skirt
Your hair back and your collar high
Burned skin, steroids, but you can't get it up
You're stupid!

[Bridge]
(You're stupid!) With your bachelor party
(You're stupid!) Always been a clown
(You're stupid!) You're acting like an animal
(You're stupid! You're stupid!)
(You're stupid! ) When does today happen?
(You're stupid!) Things are going to go wrong, sooner or later
(You're stupid!) Who's the next candidate?
(You're stupid!) Who's the next candidate?

[Chorus]
You're stupid!
I hate your pink drunk face
You're stupid!
Acting normal doesn't occur to you
You're stupid!
I'm ashamed of my own people.
You're stupid!
So stupid, so f*cking stupid!

[Part III]

[Verse]
Murdered for being herself
She walked alone on the street
No one harmed them
She was a victim of trans violence and hate

[Chorus]
I want to say it will be okay, but I actually don't think so
I'm afraid of the future, because I only see sadness
Everyone is furious, but no one sees it
And the government, as always, does nothing at all

[Instrumental Break]
[Chorus]
I want to say it's going to be okay, but I actually don't think so
I'm afraid of the future, because all I see is sadness
They say barking dogs don't bite, but I don't believe that
And the quiet ones are screwed and there's no one there who sees it

[Outro]
You are stupid!
You're stupid!

[Part IV]

[Verse 1]
She would like to give thanks once
And wait for another
With tears in her eyes
She says: "Thank you for your time"
She stands empty-handed
And knows that nothing will change
She just wants stupid be
In her ignorance

[Chorus]
For a little while, just a little longer
Then she must give in.
Wait a minute, wait just a minute.
Not for the rest of her life, right?
It seems like ages
That she still has to endure this
Always giving
And everyone looking at her

[Verse 2]
She would love to refuse
to say that it would not suit
Can't she argue just once?
"No, I won't"
Powerless in her decency
Can she just do this?
“What if I pass gracefully?”
Surely not for the rest of her life?

[Chorus]
Just for a little while, just a little longer
Then she has to give in.
Wait a minute, wait just a minute.
Not for the rest of her life, right?
It seems like ages
That she still has to endure this
Always giving
And everyone looking at her

[Outro]
Always someone waiting for you
In the endless night
Always someone waiting for you

[Part V]

[Verse 1]
Tradition, you know better you don't have
the VOC mentality and of course Black Pete
Furious, but no one sees it
Maybe shout even louder, because they don't hear you

[Verse 2]
Afraid of communism, also of Islam
Afraid of new times, you can't handle it anyway
A gut feeling, angry and powerless
No one understands what you mean, indignant and angry

[Part VI]

[Verse 1]
What a beautiful day
We are having such a good time in our homeland
What a beautiful day
How well things are going in the Netherlands

[Verse 2]
The grass seemed even greener on this side
But there's so much, way too much going on
And only when it turns
It turns out to be the silence that precedes the storm
The silence that precedes the storm

[Outro]
They are furious, but no one sees it
Maybe shout even louder, because they don't hear you
They are furious, but no one sees it
Maybe shout even louder, because they don't hear you
They are furious, but no one sees it
Maybe even louder shout, because they don't hear you
They're furious, but no one sees
Maybe shout even louder, because they don't hear you
They're furious, but no one sees
Maybe shout even louder, because they don't hear you
They're furious, but no one sees.
Maybe shout even louder, because they don't hear you