1992: Evridiki - Teriazoume (Cyprus)

 

 

"Teriazoume" ("We Hit It Off") was the Cypriot entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1992, performed in Greek by Evridiki.

 

The song is a love ballad, with Evridiki telling her lover that they each want the same thing.

 

Evridiki Theokleous, known professionally as simply Evridiki, is a Cypriot rock, pop, and electro pop singer. She is best known in Europe for representing her home country, Cyprus, in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992, 1994 and 2007.

 

Born in Limassol, Cyprus, Evridiki Theokleous was raised in the island's capital, Nicosia. While still at school, she studied music at the National Conservatory of Cyprus. When she finished school, she went to Le Studio des Variétés in Paris, France where she studied music, theatre, and dancing. Afterwards she went to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, U.S. where she supplemented her musical studies with courses of harmony and instrumentation.

 

In 1989, she moved to Athens, Greece, to work with several artists, sing in compilations, and in 1991, release her first personal album Gia Proti Fora. In 1993 Evridiki released her highly acclaimed album "Missise Me" (Hate Me), making her one of the most successful singers in Greece. Missise Me is supposed to be Evridiki's favorite album among her fans. In 1994, while wanting to try out something new, she started working on her next album Fthinoporo Gynaikas (Woman's Autumn). Inspired by the idea of her growing older as the time passes, the album was a mixture of pop and Greek folklore music.

 

In 2002, Evridiki made a turn in her career. After her divorce she cooperated no more with her ex-husband and turned from pop music to rock/alternative. In her 2002 album Live Ki Allios she performed well known rock songs revealing another side of hers. In 2002, she also performed on stage as "Taptim" in the musical The King and I, produced by Mimi Denisi with very positive acceptance by public and critics.

 

After having a (studio) music break for almost three years, Evridiki released the album Oso Fevgo Gyrizo (2003), in which she wrote two songs. This record would be a turning point in Evridiki's career by characterizing a new era for her. Since then she has been recognized as the most successful Greek female rock singer. She released another critically acclaimed record Sto Idio Vagoni (2005).

Edited December 29, 201212 yr by AlexRange

 

1993: Inga - Þa Veistu Svarið (Iceland)

 

 

Þa Veistu Svarið ("Then You'll Know The Answer") was the Icelandic entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1993, performed in Icelandic by Ingibjorg Stefansdottir.

 

The song is a dramatic ballad, with Inga telling an apparently erstwhile lover that if he comes to her, "then you will know the answer". She seems prepared to wait quite some time for this to occur.

 

At the close of voting, it had received 42 points, placing 13th in a field of 25.

 

Now she is well-known in Iceland as opera singer and actress.

Edited December 29, 201212 yr by AlexRange

 

1994 : Petra Frey - Fur den Frieden der Welt (Austria)

 

 

"Für den Frieden der Welt" (For the peace of the world) was the Austrian representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 1994, performed in German by Petra Frey.

The song is a ballad, in which Frey explains that she is singing in the hope of bringing peace to the world.

 

Petra Frey is an Austrian singer, born in Wattens. She has released twelve studio albums and five compilation albums.

 

Frey released her debut album, Bloß Träume im Kopf in 1993. Petra represented Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 with the song "Für den Frieden der Welt" (For the peace of the world), which came 17th in the international final. She also came second in the Austrian national final in 2003 with the song This Night Should Never End. In 2007, after a few years break, Petra returned to the schlager scene with her new album Göttlich weiblich, her first on the DA Records label. Petra attempted to represent Austria at Eurovision again in 2011, with Send A Little Smile, but she failed to qualify from the Internet semi final stage. Her Twelfth studio album Einfach Frey was released in April 2011, and she continues to have success in the schlager market to this day.

 

 

1995 : Stone & Stone - Verliebt in Dich (Germany)

 

 

"Verliebt in Dich" (In Love with You) was the German entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1995, performed in German by Stone & Stone.

 

At the close of voting, it had received 1 point, placing 23rd (last) in a field of 23, being spared from the dreaded nul points by Malta, which voted second to last among the field of competing countries.

 

The song is written as a religiously themed ballad, with the singer expressing her love and devotion to God, and explaining that this faith serves to comfort her in troubled times. Stone & Stone also recorded an English language version of the song, bearing the title "(Oh Lord) I Realized It's You".

 

Stone & Stone are a German music duo made up of the husband and wife team Glen J. Penniston and Tatjana Cheyenne Penniston. Glen arrived in Germany in the 1970s and started a career as a drummer, he met Cheyenne in 1979 and in 1985 they married. They formed their musical duo in 1993 and released their first single called I Wish You Were Here was placed 31 in the German charts for 16 weeks, they released their studio album the following year entitled Miracles.

 

1996 : Gina G - Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit (United Kingdom)

 

 

"Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" is a song written by British songwriters Simon Tauber and Steve Rodway, and performed by Australian singer Gina G. Released as a single on 25 March 1996, it reached number one in the United Kingdom on 19 May 1996.

 

The song was the United Kingdom's entry in the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest. Although the song only finished in eighth place in the contest it was successful in Europe. The song was also successful in the United States, a rarity for Eurovision entries, peaking at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, #13 on the Rhythmic Top 40, #5 on the Mainstream Top 40, #25 on the Adult Top 40 and #11 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart. As of 2012 it is still the most successful Eurovision entry ever in the US charts.

 

As of 2012 the song was still the last UK Eurovision entry to reach number one in the country's singles chart.

 

The song was later nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 1998.

 

Gina G was a DJ in Melbourne and a singer in the Australian dance music group, Bass Culture. A track she co-wrote with the group, "Love the Life", was a Top 20 hit in Australia in 1992.

 

By 1995 she moved to UK, where she entered the A Song for Europe competition, which she won, thereby becoming the UK's entry in the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest, with the song "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit".

 

Gina G released "I Belong to You" later in 1996, which was also a top-10 hit in the UK. The following year, she scored a succession of UK hits with "Fresh!", "Ti Amo", "Gimme Some Love", and "Everytime I Fall", all of which were included on her debut album Fresh!, whose cover art featured her whole body covered in chocolate. The 1997 single, "Fresh!", sold more than a million copies world-wide. "Gimme Some Love" was also a hit in the US, reaching #46 on the Billboard Hot 100, #18 on both the Hot Dance Music/Club Play and Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales charts, and #22 on the Top 40 Mainstream chart.

 

Following this, she disappeared from the music industry for several years. A long lawsuit against a former manager took all her energy, and despite the fact that a lot of new music was recorded for a second album, she was prevented from releasing the material.

 

In early 2005, Gina G attempted to represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest, she finished fifth out of five entries on the pre-selection program with her song "Flashback". In August, she released her second album, Get Up & Dance to good reviews. However the album was only available through her website, with the majority of first orders being personally signed by G.

 

 

1997 : Maarja-Liis Ilus - Keelatud Maa (Estonia)

 

 

"Keelatud maa" ("Forbidden Land") was the Estonian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997, performed in Estonian by Maarja.

 

The song is sung from the perspective of a woman whose lover is putting barriers in her way when it comes to their relationship. She compares this to being in a "forbidden land", but tells him that it won't remain so forever.

 

Maarja-Liis Ilus' music career started at the age of 4, when she debuted in the musical film "Õnneseen" ("Lucky Fellow"). She also performed with the Estonian Television children's choir and 1996 saw the release of her self-titled debut album Maarja.

 

In 1996, Maarja became a true household name of Estonia for representing Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 with the song "Kaelakee hääl" (in a duet with Ivo Linna) which would go onto finish 5th at the contest, held in Oslo that year. The exposure from competing in Eurovision would ultimately make Geffen Records notice the young Ilus, signing her for her first international album release. Her Eurovision entry was recorded half in English and half in Greek and she performed it as a duet, along with Greek singer Yiorgos Doukas. She also visited Greece for promotion and made a guest appearance in the Greek version of Disney Club.

 

Meanwhile, Ilus entered the Eurolaul again in 1997, winning with the solo "Keelatud maa" which eventually finished 8th in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997. The result helped to further solidify her popularity in Estonia, making her second album First In Line an instant success there when released on August 25, 1998. The album, which was Ilus' first effort entirely in English, was also released internationally. Ilus would not achieve the same success when she tried to break through into the American mainstream, though, with the album essentially failing to make any impact on the Billboard charts. Ilus would also release the mostly Estonian language album Kaua veel later on in 1998, with the album winning her the Estonian Female Singer of the Year award.

 

Ilus' next album would be City Life in 2001. Following the release of City Life, she entered the Melodifestivalen of 2003 in Sweden with the song "He Is Always On My Mind", although she would be eliminated at the semi-final stage. The release of the song as a single (and release of a modified version of City Life, with the song as the first track) achieved no notable commercial success. Ilus would enter Eurolaul for the third time in 2004, performing the self-written "Homme", which would ultimately finish in 4th place. The same year she worked on smooth jazz projects, working with the club jazz band Hinkus and performing vocals on Tõnu Raadik's Flow of Dreams album.

 

In early 2006, Ilus publicly stated that she was unhappy that former Vanilla Ninja bassist and lead vocalist Maarja Kivi, another Estonian singer who has achieved international success, was also using the performing name of Maarja for her debut solo single. The two using the same name has confused some into believing that Kivi and Ilus are the same person. Late 2008 saw the release of her new studio album "Homme" with the title song included and only a year later she released a Christmas album for the Estonian market.

 

 

1998 : Melanie Cohl - Dis Oui (Belgium)

 

 

"Dis oui" ("Say Yes") was the Belgian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, written by Philippe Swan and performed in French by Melanie Cohl. The song was composed Belgian singer-songwriter Philippe Swan.

 

The song is sung from the perspective of a woman pleading with a man to give up his previous relationship and love her instead. She paints various images of the bliss that they can have as a result.

 

An English version is rumoured to have been recorded but never released.

 

 

1999 : Marlayne - One Good Reason (Netherlands)

 

 

"One Good Reason" was the Dutch entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999, performed in English by Marlayne.

 

The song is a moderately up-tempo number, with Marlayne telling her lover that they can overcome whatever obstacles life places in their path by remaining strong in their relationship. She sings that if he can give her "one good reason" to stay together, she can give him two.

 

Significantly, this was the first occasion on which no Dutch language version of a Dutch Eurovision entry was recorded.

 

Marlayne (Marleen van den Broek) had mainly worked as a backing vocalist for singers such as René Froger when, in 1999, her song "One Good Reason" was chosen by a very comprehensive margin from ten competitors as the Dutch representative in the 44th Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 29 May in Jerusalem.

 

Marlayne released her first, and to date only, album, Meant to Be, in 2001. In 2003 she became a presenter of news and current events programme Hart van Nederland on channel SBS 6. She has gone on to present several other entertainment shows, notably De Nieuwe Uri Geller, the Dutch version of The Successor.

 

 

2000 :

 

 

 

 

Edited March 1, 20169 yr by Electric Top 10

 

2001 : Michelle - Wer Liebe Lebt (Germany)

 

 

"Wer Liebe lebt" ("Who Lives Love") was the German entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2001, performed in German and English by Michelle.

 

The song is a ballad, with Michelle exhorting her listeners to "live love" in order to be immortal and truly live life. Michelle also recorded the song with lyrics entirely in English, entitled "To Live for Love".

 

Michelle is the stage name of German singer Tanja Shitawey (nee Hewer). She is one of the most popular singers of Germany during the last decade. Michelle has been singing in local amateur bands since age 14. Through a friend who was working at a state broadcast company, she got the chance to perform on German TV in 1993. The popular German singer Kristina Bach recognized Michelle's talent. A little bit later, the songwriter Jean Frankfurter wrote and produced the song Und heut' nacht will ich tanzen ("And Tonight I Wanna Dance") for her. Michelle's first single became a great success. Michelle got the chance to perform at ZDF-Hitparade, one of Germany's most popular music shows of the time. Her performance made her popular throughout the country.

 

Afterwards she participated in several German pop music festivals, for example the preliminary competitions for the Eurovision Song Contest or the traditional "Deutsches Schlagerfestival". She won the latter in 1997 with her single Wie Flammen im Wind ("As flames in the wind"). The album with the same name gained her her first TOP 10 success in Germany. The following years marked the heyday of her career, gaining her two more TOP 10 albums, golden records and the chance to represent Germany in 2001's Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen.

 

In 2003 she decided to take a break to cure out some major health problems, both physical and psychical. Her 2005 comeback album Leben ("Life") was another success, reaching TOP 3 in Germany and was awarded another golden record. Afterwards she started a modelling career and released My Passion, a cover album of disco classics. After a breakdown on stage on 30 January 2007 she had to cancel her 2007 tour of Germany due to health problems. In March 2007, Tanja Shitawey decided to put the "project" Michelle to an end.

 

In October 2009 she released a new album called Goodbye Michelle and played several concerts and TV shows, explaining she wanted "to give her fans a real farewell". She stated, however, that this was definitely her final album under the name Michelle. The new single from her album Goodbye Michelle will be Nur noch dieses Lied. It's the second single after the song Goodbye Michelle. The third single will be Gefallener Engel in May 2010. In November 2010 she releases her new album "Der beste Moment". In March 2012 she is going to reliese her new album "L'amour" including her new song "Große Liebe"..

 

 

 

2002 : Jessica Garlick - Come Back (United Kingdom)

 

 

"Come Back" is a single released by Welsh pop singer Jessica Garlick which was the UK entry for 2002 Eurovision Song Contest.

 

The song was written by Martyn Baylay then an airline pilot from Birmingham who prior to "Come Back" had made seven unsuccessful attempts to place a composition in the UK national preselection round for Eurovision aka A Song For Europe. Baylay would recall: "I had always tried to deliberately write a song for the Contest, I would try anything to get in, I studied form so to speak and tried to create the perfect contest song. None of this was successful, so when I thought I don't care about formula any more, I sent in 'Come Back' and it won [A Song For Europe 2002]." The demo of "Come Back" submitted to the BBC to consider for A Song For Europe featured vocalist Bernie Nolan.

 

After "Come Back" had been selected as one of the eight Song For Europe 2002 finalists, the BBC's Eurovision executive producer Kevin Bishop contacted the station's Music & Media Partnership managing director Rick Blaskey who'd recall Bishop advising him that "Come Back" "was written by a pilot from Birmingham who doesn't know anyone in the business and needs some help". Blaskey considered "Come Back" "my favourite song in the competition, so the next day I met the writer and contacted [ Atomic Kitten producers] Bill Padley and Jeremy Godfrey. They said exactly what I said, that this was a potential winner". Blaskey had the idea of having a Pop Idol contestant perform the song and on learning that Jessica Garlick had stated a longtime ambition to compete at Eurovision she was recruited: Garlick would recall: It... all happened so quickly, I got the phone call on Monday [January 21 2002] and recorded the song on Wednesday." "Come Back" was announced as the UK entrant for Eurovision 2002 following the March 3 television broadcast of A Song For Europe 2002 on March 3 2002, Garlick's performance of the song having solicited 68000 televotes - 40000 more than second place.

 

"Come Back" debuted at the #13 on the UK chart dated for May 25 2002: its strong showing on the May 25 night of competition for Eurovision 2002 failed to buoy the popularity of the track which dropped out of the Top 30 over the next three weeks, overall spending a total of six weeks in the Top 75.

 

Jessica Julie Anne Garlick is a Welsh pop singer. Garlick made her first steps into showbusiness when she was 16. At that age she won the Welsh final of the TV talent show Star For A Night. The same year she also featured in Michael Barrymore's My Kind of Music. She was the highest placed British entrant at the Eurovision Song Contest of the 2000s, coming joint third in the 2002 contest.

 

In 2001, she was among the last ten contestants on the ITV talent show Pop Idol. The BBC later invited her to sing "Come Back", one of the competing songs in A Song for Europe, the British selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2002. Later in 2002 Garlick was involved in a campaign to help children stop smoking.

 

It was announced in early 2009 that Garlick would be making a return to music. After a few years with her family, Garlick felt that the time was right for a return to her career in music. The début single from her album, Hard Not to Fall, was released on 11 May 2009, one day before the first Eurovision Song Contest semi-final. The single was only available to purchase from iTunes. She recorded a music video which was posted on her official website.

Edited December 31, 201212 yr by AlexRange

 

2003 : Birgitta Haukdal - Open Your Heart (Iceland)

 

 

"Open Your Heart" was the Icelandic entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003, performed in English by Birgitta.

 

It is a dramatic ballad, set off by guitar chords. Birgitta sings to her lover, asking him to "open his heart, show her the pain" and that this will "show me who you are". She also reminds him that "I'm not gonna run away" when he tells him what he has to. In other words, she will offer him whatever support is required.

 

A version of the song in Icelandic "Segðu Mer Allt" ("Tell Me Everything") was also recorded. This version uses a slightly different production and is 14 seconds longer than the Eurovision version. The press information pack which was distributed to reporters featured performable lyrics in French, German and Spanish, however these were not recorded by Birgitta mainly because she can not speak them.

 

Birgitta Haukdal Brynjarsdottir, also known by her mononym Birgitta, is an Icelandic singer. She rose to domestic media prominence as the lead singer of pop band Irafar.

 

For most of her life she has lived in the northern part of Iceland. In November 1999, Birgitta replaced the then lead vocalist of the pop group Írafár. They released their first single "Hvar er eg?" ("Where am I?") in the summer of 2000, followed by two more singles in 2001. The band signed a recording contract with Iceland's biggest record company, Skífan in 2002, releasing their first album "Allt sem eg se" ("All I see") in early November. It is Iceland's fastest selling pop album of the last 25 years, reaching platinum - which is not common in Iceland.

 

She competed in the Icelandic pre-qualifying for the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, with the song "Mynd Af Þer" or "Picture of you" and, in a duo with Magni Asgeirsson, reached the finals of the Icelandic qualifying for Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with the song, "Nuna veit eg" but did not win.

 

 

 

 

2004 : Julia Savicheva - Believe Me (Russia)

 

 

"Believe Me" was the Russian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, performed in English by Julia Savicheva. Composed by Maxim Fadeev and with lyrics by Brenda Loring.

 

Yulia was born on 14 February 1987, into a family of musicians in the city of Kurgan on the edge of Siberia east of the Ural Mountains. Frequent visitors to her parents included several Russian song writers and music producers. Yulia's father, being an avid piano player, would compose songs for Yulia to sing. This was the beginning of Yulia's career as a star. Her first experience on stage was at the age of four, with the group Agatha Christie. Her dancing there earned her a standing ovation. After this, she began participating in a dance group where, despite her age, she performed as a soloist. A year later, when she was six, the group (in which her father also worked) was invited to work in Moscow. There, she participated in several musical events in the recreation center at MAI. Meanwhile, her mother got a job at the recreation center as manager of the children's department.

 

All of Yulia's free time was spent with musicians in the recreation center or in the theater. Her first major appearance was a lead role in the recreation center's New Year's performance, which was her first paid performance and for which Yulia had to learn ballroom dancing. At the same time, she was also studying in school and participating in the dance group Zhuravushka. Her creative potential led to an invitation from L. Azadanova, offering Yulia a place in her dance group, which she took up. It was then that Yulia began to sing as well as dance. Later, in 2001, the producer Poleiko invited her to play the lead role in the New Year's performance at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, which she did with such success that she was chosen to play the lead in the next year's performance as well.

 

In March 2003, Star Factory started its 2nd season. The producer of the project, Maxim Fadeev, had already crossed Yulia's path once before when she had worked as back-vocalist on Russian artist Linda's album, Vorona (Crow) in 1996. Although Yulia participated in the contest, she was eliminated in the semi-finals. Despite this, however, her songs went on to become hits, including "Korabli" (Ships), "Vysoko" (High) and "Prosti za lyubov'" (Sorry for Loving You); and Yulia later came back to host the show.

 

In March 2004, Yulia participated in another contest, World's Best, and in May she won 11th place at the Eurovision contest with her song, "Believe Me". Her first album was finally released in 2005 with the title Vysoko. About half the material on the album was co-written with former musicians from the band Total.

 

In August 2005, Yulia wrote the song, "Esli v serdtse zhivyot lyubov" (If Love Lives in Your Heart), which became the theme for the TV series Don't Be Born Beautiful on STS. The song went on to become yet another hit, and she released an album of the same name in November. The album included the title track as well as live versions of songs from her first album. In June, 2006, she released Magnit, on which Anastasia Maksimova wrote the majority of the songs. This, too, was very successful. In September 2007, she had concerts in Japan (Tokyo and Osaka). In February 2008, she released an album titled Origami. Her latest single "Goodbye, Lyubov'" announces a new album which is yet to be finalised.

 

And adding up to all that she was in the musical "That Kind of Music". Acting as the daughter of a Ballet dancer who owns a big studio, but since they are about to loose it "Yulia Savicheva" and her friends try to help by making a musical of their own to earn money and this is done with help from the soccer team.

 

 

 

2005 : Suntribe - Let's Get Loud (Estonia)

 

 

"Let's Get Loud" was the Estonian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005, performed in English by Suntribe. The author of the music and lyrics was Sven Lohmus.

 

As Estonia had not qualified for the final in their previous appearance, the song was performed in the semi-final.

 

Suntribe was put on by the composer Sven Lohmus just for the occasion, the follow-up single months after the Eurovision failed short to enter the charts. The band consisted of Mari-Leen Kaselaan, Janika Vilipo, Rebecca Kontus, Laura Poldvere and Daana Ots.

 

 

2006 : Silvia Night - Congratulations (Iceland)

 

 

Congratulations (often known by its Icelandic title of Til hamingju Ísland, which translates to English as "Congratulations Iceland") was the Icelandic entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, performed in English by Silvia Night.

 

Composed by Þorvaldur Bjarni Þorvaldsson and with lyrics written by the fictional character singing it, the song generated considerable controversy at the Contest. The lyrics are essentially in praise of the wisdom of the Icelandic voters in selecting Silvía to represent them in the first place. She sings, for example, "So congratulations, I have arrived/I'm Silvia Night and I'm shining so bright/Eurovision nation, your dream's coming true/You've been waiting and waiting for me to save you", thus contending that the other entries of that year are things to be saved from. Silvía's song, on the other hand, is described as being "hot, okay, really not too gay". The Icelandic original continued this theme further, with one line running "Congratulations Iceland, that I was born here". Silvía also sings "Let's meet next year in Iceland", a reference to the Contest tradition of hosting rights going to the previous year's winner.

 

The controversy came, however, with the line "The vote is in, I'll f***ing win", a contravention of the Contest's policy on expletives (although a previous French entry had contained an obscenity in French, this was the first occasion on which an English-language one was to be heard). Contest executive supervisor Svante Stockselius formally informed the Icelandic delegation that the lyrics as written were in violation of the rules, however Silvía claimed at her press conferences that she would "f***ing say what I f***ing want". Interestingly, one set of lyrics published online featured the line "they say I win", prior to the formal objection being lodged.

 

Over the course of the rehearsals, Silvía continued to perform the lyrics as originally written. Her second dress rehearsal also featured abuse of the floor manager, whom she called a "f***ing re****". According to the BBC commentator at the semi-final, this last remark was misheard by some as "f***ing Greek", a slight on Athens, where the Contest was being held. Thus, when the song was eventually performed in the semi-final, it was greeted with jeers from much of the audience. In the event, the lyrics were changed to "The vote is in, I'll freaking win", however the official CD of the Contest entries had already been pressed with the original lyrics.

 

Commentary both before and after Sylvía's performance stressed the fact that she was a television character, rather than a real person. Her entire appearance, therefore, was in fact something of a joke at the expense of the Contest - something Silvía herself picked up on when arguing at a press conference that people intending to enter the Contest as a joke should not do so.

Edited December 31, 201212 yr by AlexRange

 

2007 : Scooch - Flying The Flag (For You) (United Kingdom)

 

 

"Flying the Flag (For You)" is a song performed by British pop/bubblegum dance group Scooch, comprising performers Natalie Powers, Caroline Barnes, David Ducasse and Russ Spencer.

 

Scooch had reformed in hope of performing at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, and the song was specifically written for the Contest; Eurovision rules state that the song must be an original composition and released no more than seven months before the contest. Russ, as the captain, opens and closes the song with captain's announcements. Natalie and Caroline sing the vocals of the song, as David offers passengers confectioneries. The lyrics are heavily based on actual experiences of flying. The song contains a liberal amount of sexual innuendo, the most overt being "...and blow into the mouthpiece" and "Would you like something to suck on for landing, sir?" (the latter was omitted or changed for some tea-time television performances). The camp style was both praised and criticised - The Guardian noted that the song was, in terms of Eurovision, outdated and similar to Buck's Fizz's winning entry in 1981, while Tim Moore called the song "a fine song in Eurovision tradition".

 

The original music video was their final performance on Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up; Scooch recorded a new version once their contract with Warner Bros. had been signed. Following the lyrics, the second video starts with the quartet in the front of the aeroplane, with Spencer as the captain. The video continues with all of the members as stewards walking up and down the plane, with a cameo appearance from Sister Mary McArthur, who was invited to take part after the band saw her lip sync video. Later in the video each member of the band is seen dancing in front of the flags of selected countries that are all participating in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, in addition to the flag of the European Union.

 

The official single version was available from 30 April 2007 and was released as a physical CD single in the following week, on 7 May 2007. The song debuted in the UK Top 40 at #5.

 

Auditions for an "all-singing, all-dancing pop group" were held between autumn 1997, and spring 1998 in front of the noted songwriters and producers Mike Stock and Matt Aitken and future manager, Steve Crosby. Heidi Range auditioned for the group but was declined after it was revealed she was only 14 years old. The final foursome was formed in October 1998. For the first few months the group were kept low-key and spent time discussing what their preferences and opinions were. In 1999 they were signed to Accolade, the pop imprint of EMI-Parlophone, and the group set about creating their image and sound. The group's name comes from a term used to ask someone to move up or along a bench or sofa. Scooch won a contest on BBC One's Saturday morning show Live & Kicking in 1999. They competed against a boy band to have their single released. Even though the bands were already formed, this contest was unique as it pre-dates the format of the first music talent reality show to air in the United Kingdom, ITV1's program Pop stars in 2000, from which the band Hear’Say was created.

 

Their debut single "When My Baby" charted within the Top 40. This prompted a tour supporting the Irish girl band B*Witched, and promoted their second and biggest single "More Than I Needed to Know". It entered the UK Singles Chart at number 5, and went on to see a global release (including Japan where it hit the top of the record chart). A promotional support tour for boy band Five provided the group with the foundation for their third single "The Best Is Yet To Come" which charted at number 12 in the UK. The group recorded their debut album "Welcome To The Planet Pop" which was released to Top 20 success in Japan. "More Than I Needed To Know" reached number one in Japan, and due to its popularity there, it was featured in the video game DDRMAX2: Dance Dance Revolution 7thMIX. Scooch performed at every Arena in the UK and spent a year as Ambassadors for the Children's Health Authority.

 

Scooch's fourth and, until they reformed, final single came in the form of the flamenco-inspired "For Sure" which made number 15 in the UK. It was followed by the UK version of their album entitled "Four Sure" which peaked just outside the UK Top 40 which considering the relative success of their singles, was a disappointing position. Due to this position the band were dropped by their record label and privately split. Prior to this, 'Music To My Heart' was announced as the next single release as a double a side with an unrecorded dance track but both were ultimately unreleased. The group briefly reformed in January 2004 to perform at G-A-Y's Gone But Not Forgotten night in front of a crowd of excited fans. The success of this prompted the band to do a tour of several gay venues and events around the UK.

 

Since 2007 Scooch have continued to tour the UK & Europe, from 2011 performing their new "Scooch do Glee" show. Whilst not performing in the band David continues his role as principal of the very successful Performers Stage School in the North East, Natalie is a proud full time mum, Caroline works in musical theatre as a performer and choreographer and Russ is a presenter and singer currently starring in the new touring musical The Heat Is On!

 

In October 2011 it was announced that Scooch will be performing as a support act to "The Mission" who are playing a 25th Anniversary concert at London's Brixton Academy. Scooch will be in the lineup alongside goth legends "Fields of the Nephilim" and their inclusion has caused controversy among both sets of fans.

Edited December 31, 201212 yr by AlexRange

 

2008: Gisela - Casanova (Andorra)

 

 

"Casanova" is a song by Spanish singer Gisela. It was chosen to represent Andorra in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. It is sung in English, although it features one line in Catalan. It was written by Jordi Cubino, famous in the 1980s as one of Spain's top singers David Lyme.

 

Although it failed to make it to the final, it still managed success on the music charts reaching #2 in Spain. It was also chosen as a favourite by the British commentator Caroline Flack.

 

Gisela is a Spanish pop singer. She was born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and became famous after placing eighth in the first edition of Operacion Triunfo. Before the start of Operacion Triunfo, she was a student at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, studying journalism.

 

Her first album was Parte De Mi. It came out in Spain in 2002, selling 260,000 copies in a few weeks. Este Amor Es Tuyo, won the Vina del Mar International Song Festival contest in 2003 and also she won the award for best voice in the same edition. That year she also sang at the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 in Tallinn with her friend Rosa Lopez. Her second album in 2003, "Mas Allaa" has five singles, including Mas Alla, the number 1 Sola and Amor Divino. Also in 2003, her version of Irene Cara's "What a Feeling" was included in an advert in the United Kingdom.

 

Her third album, Ni te lo imaginas, came out in 2006, under a new record label (Filmax, rather than Vale Music). There were four singles off the album, the first and the third becoming Gisela's most successful so far in her career. The first was Turu-Turu, a pop ballad reaching Number 1 in Spain on its second week. Filmax released a Special Edition version of the album, including two new songs, the first called Mi mundo eres tu and the second, Vivire en tus suenos.

 

She dubbed the original soundtracks of the Disney movies Peter Pan (2002), Beauty and the Beast (2003), Enchanted (2007), The Hairy tooth fairy 1 and 2 (2006 and 2008), Copito de Nieve (2011) and Serie B (2012), in Castilian Spanish.

Edited December 31, 201212 yr by AlexRange

 

2009 : Susanne Georgi - La Teva Decisio (Get A Life) (Andorra)

 

 

La teva decisio (Get a Life)" (Your decision (Get a Life)) is a song sung by Susanne Georgi and was the Andorran entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. The song is performed in both Catalan and English. The song was composed by Rune Braager, Marcus Winther-John, Lene Dissing, Susanne and Pernille Georgi, with lyrics by Josep Roca Vila.

 

Susanne Jonah-Lynn Georgi, commonly known as Susanne Georgi, is a Danish singer who lives and works in Andorra.

 

Georgi started her career along with her sister in the duo Me & My, the group had a couple of hits around Europe. They also participated in the Danish pre-selection for Eurovision Song Contest 2007 together, in the end landing a 6th place in the national final. She has stated on her official MySpace that she is currently recording her fourth album. Susanne arrived in Andorra in 1995 and has since lived there, she can speak fluent Catalan.

 

 

 

2010 : Lena Meyer-Landrut - Satellite (Germany)

 

 

"Satellite" is a song written by American Julie Frost and Dane John Gordon. It is best known as Germany's winning entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, performed by German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut. Meyer-Landrut's version was chosen via televoting during the national Eurovision pre-selection show Unser Star für Oslo (Our Star for Oslo) on 12 March 2010. It was made available for digital download the following day, becoming Germany's fastest selling digital release ever. It debuted at number one in the German singles chart and has since been certified double platinum. On 29 May 2010, it won the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, scoring 246 points. Following its Eurovision victory, "Satellite" went on to be a commercial success across Europe, topping the single charts in six countries and receiving a number of Gold and Platinum certifications.

 

Frost told HitQuarters that the songs is about "unconditional love". The lyrics describe the thoughts of a woman in love ("I got it bad for you"), who is frustrated at being ignored ("I went everywhere for you/ I even did my hair for you/ I bought new underwear they're blue/ And I wore it just the other day.") and compares herself to a lonely traveller ("Like a satellite I'm in orbit all the way around you/ And I would fall out into the night/ Can't go a minute without your love."), but on the other hand seems to draw a kind of masochistic pleasure from her pain. Gordon has said it is a "bubbly" song, "pretty easy and sweet with cheerful lyrics" and "three chords". Frost, the song's lyricist, explained, "It deals with all the crazy hidden things a girl does and feels when she is in love. A man can make her feel everything at once, joyful but also tormented and helpless."

 

 

2011 : Twiins - I'm Still Alive (Slovakia)

 

 

"I'm Still Alive" is a song written by songwriter/producer Bryan Todd for Slovak sister duo TWiiNS. They will represent Slovakia on the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf. The song was premiered on the 2011 Slovakian Miss Universe competition. It's the first Slovakian entry not to be performed in Slovak.

 

TWiiNS is a Slovak twin pop duo consisting of sisters Daniela Jancichova and Veronika Nizlova.

 

Shortly after completing primary school in 2000, the pop sensations were scouted by a major Slovakian record label that went on to offer them a recording deal. The TWiiNS formed a joint venture and released four albums for which they were awarded three Golden and two Platinum record. The girls went on to host their own TV show “Hitbox” for four years on TV Markiza. In the meantime they also made their acting debut playing leading roles as Tereza in the musical “Rebelove” showcased in Prague’s Broadway Theatre and in Bratislava as well.

 

After taking some time off from recording, the TWiiNS returned to the studio in April 2008 where they teamed up with noted American producer Jimmy Douglass. Jimmy Douglass is well known for his work with Timbaland, Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake, and many more. As a result, Daniela and Veronika recorded their song “I Don’t Know” and filmed its video in beautiful Miami the following month. Musically influenced by related pop acts such as Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, and more, the group decided to team up with additional notable music industry players to continue with their goals in breaking as a worldwide artist.