A very risky but standout entry, hopefully that's rewarded with a top half finish!

Thank you, that would be amazing!

I'm here to start the FSR Rontvia fanclub with @Jade as our president

Sabrina's witchy return for Halloween

Way back in BJSC 113 we sent one of our all-time favourite entries, the lo-fi, sample laden piano house of All The Beautiful Things U Do by then new artist DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ. The song hit No.1 in FSR Rontvia and ended up in our top 10 of 2019, finishing 15th in the contest. Then two years later, Trifoski recycled DJ Sabrina and finished 2nd with the brilliant Try Not To Be Afraid, which also appeared in our top 10 of 2021, comfortably our favourite 'foreign' BJSC entry of that year.

Fast forward four years and in the meantime DJ Sabrina has continued releasing fantastic (and very long) albums and other projects, while also co-writing hits for major artists, including Happiness by The 1975. Despite this, she is still waiting for a major commercial breakthrough of her own, with just over 20,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and only one song over a million streams.

DJ Sabrina has also done lots of remixes for other artists and this is where we find her now, as she returns home to FSR Rontvia as a witchy Halloween treat alongside Salem Saberhagen the cat and GIVE LOVE, the mysterious alias of Simon Kempner, who appears to be British and like DJ Sabrina is another dance producer come sampling genius, but I cannot find out any other info about him.

The song is called In Your Mind and it has been No.1 in FSR Rontvia for the past month. It has been fortunate enough to get an AQ and pass straight to the final in Nelionöir after Turkish rock entry Korku by ARGO unexpectedly finished 2nd for us in BJSC 177.

Ricardo Delta said: "We wanted something suitable for Halloween but we used up our spooky quota last month with Korku, with its dark sound and artwork. So we've moved away from rock for a bit and brought back an old friend, DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ, who turned this track from GIVE LOVE, the more ambient original version of which features on his new album The Broken House Project, into a joyful and uplifting dance banger that has become another Rontvian No.1 hit. We very rarely recycle artists (not even as remixers) but the song has little over 4,000 streams and 100 views on YouTube and we feel it deserves a wider audience."

Over to Estonia for penultimate 2025 entry

After a solid but mixed year for results (but all finalists...so far) FSR Rontvia has confirmed our first ever Estonian entrant (and song in the Estonian language) in the form of Luukered by SADU. According to the band, SADU was "born from the desire to create music that highlights courage, strength, vulnerability and tenderness, as well as themes that resonate and provoke thought". The group is led by Sandra Sillamaa (vocals, whistles, jaw harp, bagpipes) and Sofia-Liis Liiv (vocals, violin), with music brought to life in collaboration with producer Fredi. It blends musical elements from folk, pop, and world music. Luukered was released in June and is taken from the group's debt album PROBLEEMID PARADIISIS. It is about betrayal, trust, and things we usually keep quiet.

Ricardo Delta explained the entry choice: "We were on the lookout for something unique and ear catching with the hallmarks of a Rontvian entry and landed on this wonderful folk inspired piece by talented Estonian band SADU. Estonian is a really beautiful language, very soft and easy on the ear and we have enjoyed getting to know more about it through this actually quite biting tale of betrayal, which has very hooky verses and chorus, beautiful instrumentation and even a clubby electro instrumental middle eight. We're addicted to it here in FSR Rontvia where it has already topped the charts, and we hope you like it too."

Luukered's lyrics:

Miks see tüli majja toodi
See pole minu mehe moodi
Tema pole iial kõrvalt pannud
Alati vaid truudust vandund

Mina ikka pikalt unistasin
Teda üle teiste eelistasin
Lootsin ükskord sõrmus sõrmes
Nüüd käin ringi kurbus põues

Mõtsin teda saab usaldada
Tal’ aga meeldib tuuseldada
Rääkis aina ilusaid asju
Samal ajal läks aga teise kaissu

Vahi aga vahi tal luukered kapis
Mina ei hakka koristama
Kui nüüd tuleb välja talle meeldib
Ämbreid mööda kolistada

Kes selle supi kokku keetis
Õhtu võõras voodis veetis
See pole kindlalt minu peiu
See on talle täitsa võõras neiu

Nüüd aga kuulen linna peal
Neid olla nähtud siin ja seal
Väidab see oli kogemata
Oleks võind olla olemata

Anud, et võtaks tagasi
Kui tema voodis selgeks magasid
Mul pole küll sul rohkem anda
Võta see sitt nüüd enda kanda

Vahi aga vahi sul luukеred kapis
Mina ei hakka koristama
Kui nüüd tuleb välja sullе meeldib
Ämbreid mööda kolistada

Oi kuis mul ei meeldi
Seda lugu vesta
Sinu masti mehe
Musta pesu pesta

Teadku parem kõik nüüd
Millega oli tegu
Tia kas naerda-nutta
Aga see on elu

Varem oleks võinud
Ennast süüdistada
Enda hella südant
Katki küünistada

Kaotusi on kaks nüüd
Taevas jõudu anna
Kuna teele jäi sul
Mu parim sõbranna

With the English translation according to Google, although consult MattoTranslate (@matto) for accuracy:

Why was this quarrel brought into the house

This is not like my husband

He has never put it aside

He has always sworn loyalty

I always dreamed of him

I preferred him over others

I once hoped for a ring on my finger

Now I walk around in sadness

I thought I could trust him

But he likes to flirt

He always said nice things

At the same time, he went to someone else's hug

Watch out, watch out, he has skeletons in the closet

I won't start cleaning

If it comes out now, he likes

Rumbling buckets

Who cooked this soup

He spent the evening in a strange bed

This is definitely not my fiancé

This is a completely strange girl for him

Now I hear in the city

They have been seen here and there

He claims it was by accident

It could have been without being

Watch out, watch out, you have skeletons in the closet

I won't start cleaning

If it comes out now, you like

Rumbling buckets to rattle

Oh, how I don't like

Telling this story

Your suit man

Washing dirty laundry

I'd better know everything now

What was it about

Tia, whether to laugh or cry

But that's life

Earlier, I could have

Blamed myself

My tender heart

Clawed to break

There are two losses now

Heaven give me strength

Because you got in the way

My best friend

Ha! MattoTranslate arrives. 😁 There are a few small mistakes in that but I think the gist is there for the most part. I was amused at 'he likes rumbling buckets', I'm actually not sure what they mean by 'talle meeldib ämbreid mööda kolistada'. It's kind of like, 'he likes rattling bucket after bucket' lol, it must be a figure of speech that I don't really know oops.

This is such a fun song and it's cool to have an Estonian-language song in the contest (do we know if there have ever been any others? I've been wondering for a while 🤔 I mean I wouldn't be surprised). Stay tuned for the next contest for another one. 😉

Must admit that I looked at some of Google Translate's take (particularly 'rumbling buckets' and thought 'what?' and assumed it was an Estonian turn of phrase!).

Off the top of my head I'm not too sure if there have been any Estonian language entries, as Kerli's entries were all in English. No doubt Brer will know the answer. I look forward to hearing yours next time around!

Also the live performance is SO good, sharing as the final minute in particular is magic.

I can't immediately think of any other Estonian language entries! (I don't have all the stats on that, maybe one day x)

Wow maybe there really haven't been any - and then you get them two contests in a row! (Unless I change my mind xo)

Street parties to mark SADU's win and official Best Of compilation released

After a wait of 11 and a half years, FSR Rontvia has returned to the top of the scoreboard with Estonian folk/pop act SADU's Luukered. The group arrived to a hero's welcome in the capital of Constarvan after performing free concerts in Greenfroze, Skall and Republique d'Askorza, to thank their audiences for the generous gold medals awarded on Sunday.

Ricardo Delta of the RTVN said: "We won eight of our first 64 contests - one in every eight entered - and then waited 115 contests for our ninth victory, but it's an amazing feeling to clamber to the top again after six second place entries in the interim and we're proud to have been successfully represented by the first ever Estonian lanuage entry in BJSC. The song has climbed to No.1 in FSR Rontvia this week, ahead of Black Box Recorder's These Are The Things, which sits at No.2 after winning Bop Idol, a popular music contest in another galaxy. We are ecstatic to have the chance to host the landmark 180th contest and will kick off proceedings properly tomorrow."

In the meantime, an official compilation has been released locally and internationally to highlight 100 of FSR Rontvia's greatest hits. Picking the biggest, most memorable, and favourite moments from the 179 songs we have sent was not an easy task, but the four disc compilation is available on deluxe CD and vinyl, while it is also available to stream on Spotify. All of our 29 top three hits are present and correct, including the nine winners and 11 silver medallists.

Disc 1 (pop bloc FSR) kicks off with our double winner Sheelah and our first ever winner, Love Song by Sara Bareilles, before moving on to second place smashes from Delta Goodrem, Jessica Winter, Holy Molly and Anna Abreu, before lots of our other favourite pop and schlager entries follow.

Disc 2 (world music/spoken word/rock bloc FSR) opens with current winner SADU and stirring top five pieces from Ortiga, Dzivia and Billx & Otyken before taking in some of our other foreign language hits (and favourite misses) and then moving on to two songs that would later become mega global hits, by Hozier and Walk The Moon, a section of our favourite spoken word entries, and our rock and metal highlights before finishing with the 13 minute Dutch orchestral/ballad/rock epic by Sophie Straat that topped the end of year charts in FSR Rontvia last year.

Disc 3 (dance/electronic bloc FSR) starts with our biggest dance entry, the winner RAMelia by trance legend RAM, followed by top five smashes from Prance Faris, Rivaz, Kosmonova and Michael Woods before moving on to the harder electronic sounds of Cassie Raptor, Hudson Mohawke, iushi vu and DJ Sabrina, South African house from DJ Kent & The Arrows, GoldFish and The Kiffness and then various other curios, favourites, Example's first hit (also sent several months before release) and other trance selections.

Finally, Disc 4 mops up entries from when we temporarily dabbled in various other blocs, like the shimmering electro or Scandipop of winners Beautiful Small Machines, Chart Music and Lykke Li, the beautiful M.A.G.I.C. from The Sound of Arrows, and another early winner from US duo Uh Huh Her. Other big hits are covered on this disc from the likes of Midnight Kids, Pixie Lott (again, sent a year before it hit the UK charts), and of course Sheelah's first winner Psycho. The album rounds off with some of our mellower entries and ballads including the future star Freya Ridings (whose Lost Without You we sent in this live version included) and of course, rounding off with the eternal hope of our first ever entry, taking you back to the start with Delta Goodrem's Believe Again.

Several top ten hits have been excluded to make way for mid-table favourites, niche gems, and domestic smash hit DNQs from the likes of DJ Kent & The Arrows, Pomplamoose & dodie, Dolcenera, Mira Craig, Sheppard and Daithí, all of which are some of our absolute favourite entries we have sent despite their failures in the contest. A few of the versions on Spotify are not the versions we sent (Example, GoldFish, DJ Kent & The Arrows, Pixie Lott, The Sound of Arrows and Michael Woods, while Chart Music - essentially an early demo version for Sally Shapiro - has been replaced by their version), while a few others are not available in any form.

The full tracklist and playlist is below, and we thank each and every one of you who has ever even given us a single point in any contest for listening, and for supporting FSR Rontvia for 19 years. Join us for BJSC 180, let's end 2025 on a high.

The Greatest Hits of FSR Rontvia

Disc 1

1. Sheelah – The Last Time (1st)

2. Sara Bareilles – Love Song (1st)

3. Delta Goodrem – Hunters And The Wolves (2nd)

4. Jessica Winter - Choreograph (2nd)

5. Holy Molly – Shot A Friend (2nd)

6. Anna Abreu – Music Everywhere (2nd)

7. Untouched – Smack Me (5th)

8. Maria Hauukas Storeng & Mira Craig – Mine All Mine (3rd)

9. Lise Karlsnes – Red Hot (2nd)

10. Zowie – Broken Machine (2nd)

11. KOLAJ – The Touch (5th)

12. Capulets – Stranger Love (3rd)

13. Millie Turner – The Shadow (6th)

14. Alba August - Lights (9th)

15. Olivia – I’m Not Your Lady (7th)

16. Sanna Nielsen – Nobody Without You (4th)

17. Caroline Jonsson – By My Side (5th)

18. One More Time - Highland (10th)

19. Helene Fischer – Atemlos Durch Die Nacht (12th)

20. Cora - Amsterdam (35th)

21. Haloo Helsinki! – Maailman Toisella Puolen (8th)

22. Andreas Bourani – Auf Uns (13th)

23. Jude York - Monaco (5th)

24. FIZZ – High In Brighton (36th)

25. Sheppard – A Grade Playa (DNQ)

Disc 2

1. SADU – Luukered (1st)

2. Dzivia - Voryva (2nd)

3. Ortiga – Ilumbarada (5th)

4. Billx & Otyken – My Wing (Rave Music Edit) (2nd)

5. Yaşar Gaga & Sezen Aksu – Şahane Bir Şey Yaşamak (9th)

6. Die Arkitekt & Lena Platonos – Mirkhel (7th)

7. Kali Mutsa – Hayako Hayako (6th)

8. Zaho de Sagazan – Tristesse (4th)

9. Spinifex Gum & Marliya Choir – Sisters (13th)

10. Dolcenera – Un Altro Giorno Sulla Terra (DNQ)

11. Pixie Paris – Es Rappelt Im Karton (16th)

12. Tina Guo – Super Mario Bros. (12th)

13. Walk The Moon – Shut Up and Dance (4th)

14. Hozier – Take Me To Church (11th)

15. Self Esteem – I Do This All The Time (10th)

16. Swim Deep – To Feel Good (14th)

17. Real Lies – North Circular (34th)

18. God Colony & Roy – Loss Is Not Infinite (24th)

19. Public Service Broadcasting – Spitfire (15th)

20. She Past Away – ínziva (8th)

21. ARGO – Korku (2nd)

22. Jadudah – Love You (When You’re A Mess) (17th)

23. Beast In Black – Power Of The Beast (10th)

24. Powerwolf – Sainted By The Storm (11th)

25. Sophie Straat & Metropole Orkest – Gebroken Spiegels (24th)

Disc 3

1. RAM feat. Susana – RAMelia (Tribute To Amelia) (1st)

2. Prance Faris – Flares (3rd)

3. Rivaz – Colors (3rd)

4. Kosmonova – Danse Avec Moi! (4th)

5. Tom Fall – Kaamos (6th)

6. Eric Amarillo – Om Sanningen Ska Fram (6th)

7. Michael Woods – Platinum Chains (4th)

8. RL Grime – Because Of U (3rd)

9. Cassie Raptor & Rebeka Warrior – O.B.I.C (10th)

10. Hudson Mohawke – Bicstan (4th)

11. Ishi vu – This Is Your Life (3rd)

12. DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ – All The Beautiful Things U Do (15th)

13. DJ Kent feat. The Arrows – Spin My World (DNQ)

14. Goldfish – Moonwalk Away (Moonlanding Mix) (4th)

15. The Kiffness – Sometimes I’m Alone (Lonely Cat) (9th)

16. Ulf Nilsson – Little By Litte (Lulleaux & George Whyman Remix) (3rd)

17. Bart & Baker and Billy Bros Orchestra – We Are What We Are (15th)

18. Daithí – Mary Keanes Introduction (DNQ)

19. Valtos & Elephant Sessions - 1990 (32nd)

20. ALYSS – T S I E R (9th)

21. Hayley Ross – Come Back (N-Joi Remix) (6th)

22. Example – Watch The Sun Come Up (25th)

23. Way Out West - Mindcircus (18th)

24. Andy Duguid & Jaren – 7even (15th)

25. Alex M.O.R.P.H. & Sylvia Tosun – An Angel’s Love (11th)

Disc 4

1. Beautiful Small Machines – Robots In Love (1st)

2. The Sound of Arrows – M.A.G.I.C. (2nd)

3. Chart Music – All My Life (1st)

4. Lykke Li – Sadness Is A Blessing (1st)

5. Uh Huh Her – Not A Love Song (1st)

6. Blänk Feat. Young Ivy – I’m Going For Your Brother (10th)

7. Staygold feat. Spank Rock, Lady Tigra and Damien Adore - Backseat (10th)

8. Midnight Kids feat. Annika Wells – Run It (3rd)

9. PUNCHBAG – f*** It (19th)

10. Sheelah – Psycho (1st)

11. Markoolio & Linda Bengtzing – Värsta Schlagern (20th)

12. Pixie Lott – Boys & Girls (Demo) (3rd)

13. Mira Craig – Headhunted (DNQ)

14. Emiliana Torrini – Jungle Drum (6th)

15. Caro Emerald – A Night Like This (12th)

16. Mr Little Jeans – Runaway (8th)

17. Sally Shapiro – Forget About You (24th)

18. Still Corners - Fireflies (12th)

19. Elsiane – Vaporous (7th)

20. Wim Mertens – Close Cover (8th)

21. The Rua – Fight For What’s Right (37th)

22. Pomplamoose feat. Dodie – Monster (DNQ)

23. Rae Morris – Don’t Go (14th)

24. Freya Ridings – Lost Without You (Live At St Pancras Old Church) (2nd)

25. Delta Goodrem – Believe Again (17th)

Playlist saved! What a collection of songs over all these years. There’ll be so many I loved at the time I haven’t listened to in so long!

Disc 4

That’s my area of Rontvia love in particular. It was from my first contest so maybe that’s where the bias comes from but M.A.G.I.C is one of my favourite BJSC discoveries.

But, Run It, Psycho, I’m Going For Your Brother, Jungle Drum, A Night Like This ❤️

7 minutes ago, RobBot said:

Disc 4

That’s my area of Rontvia love in particular. It was from my first contest so maybe that’s where the bias comes from but M.A.G.I.C is one of my favourite BJSC discoveries.

But, Run It, Psycho, I’m Going For Your Brother, Jungle Drum, A Night Like This ❤️

The first half of that disc is a lot of our 2009-2011 peak stuff, apart from Run It, which felt a bit like an old school entry despite being a new song at the time, hence being sequenced here. Sad that the version of M.A.G.I.C. I sent isn't on Spotify anymore as I loved the intro so much. Looking at the labelling of the video it was a demo, they should have stuck with it for the official release!

Would love to see a Hendinia similar playlist, or really any nation! I love flicking back through all of the old entries especially on long journeys.

I'm glad you included 'Mary Keanes Introduction' despite being a DNQ, what a fantastic entry! I don't remember how it failed to Q, must've been a super unlucky draw.

Was ready to riot but glad to see Smack Me proudly very high on the playlist.

Some incredible smashes on there, I owe an insane debt of gratitude to you for some of these wonderful songs I’d never have otherwise been able to love and cherish the way I do.

And there can be no better way to finish than we queen Delta herself. If you’ve lost your faith in love, don’t worry, deltas here to help you believe again

13 minutes ago, FrankLuck said:

I'm glad you included 'Mary Keanes Introduction' despite being a DNQ, what a fantastic entry! I don't remember how it failed to Q, must've been a super unlucky draw.

I think it might have been because it later came 3rd in the Rejects competition where most voters there came from the other semi it was in at the time.

Nobody avoids the wrong semi draw forever and I think this was my biggest example of that.

Still patiently awaiting the day 'Ilumbarada' shows up on streaming services (probably never happening).

Disc 2 is the most stacked one there for my taste obvz! Even Zaho De Sagazan being the absolute unicorn of a pretty stereotypical French chanson that I somehow love. Disc 3 has lots of good stuff too (that run of HudMo / ishi vu / DJ Sabrina *.*) and the other two discs also have their moments.

12 minutes ago, Silas said:

Was ready to riot but glad to see Smack Me proudly very high on the playlist.

Some incredible smashes on there, I owe an insane debt of gratitude to you for some of these wonderful songs I’d never have otherwise been able to love and cherish the way I do.

And there can be no better way to finish than we queen Delta herself. If you’ve lost your faith in love, don’t worry, deltas here to help you believe again

Yes, in the loose lingerie section next to Anna and Maria/Mira 🤣 it’s a very important entry for me, I wish it was available to stream!

That’s lovely to hear and quite clearly right back at you. Many of yours are high on various playlists of mine.

Yes there was no place else for Delta than the end, to leave a final message of hope, belief and optimism and, of course, going right back to the start.

2 minutes ago, Brer said:

Still patiently awaiting the day 'Ilumbarada' shows up on streaming services (probably never happening).

Disc 2 is the most stacked one there for my taste obvz! Even Zaho De Sagazan being the absolute unicorn of a pretty stereotypical French chanson that I somehow love. Disc 3 has lots of good stuff too (that run of HudMo / ishi vu / DJ Sabrina *.*) and the other two discs also have their moments.

Yes it pains me that it’s absent - one of the early examples of a style and influence I send a lot more these days.

I’m lucky I even heard of it, I can thank it being a minor top 40 hit in Germany and it being included on one of their Bravo Hits albums.

Haha yes, I thought that and had no idea where else to put Zaho! By grouping them by style I figured there should be a nice block of songs somewhere for all to enjoy - hopefully!