Georgia - For You (Sheni Gulistvis) - Ethno Jazz Band Iriao

Digital Release Image, and then there were five

18 - 24 pts in semi 2

Georgia selected the Ethno-Jazz outfit Iriao (ირიაო) to represent the country in Portugal.
Their song For You a.k.a. Sheni Gulistvis (შენი გულისთვის) was the last entry to be revealed and it leaked before the official reveal.

The song is written by Davit Malazonia and Irina Sanikidze. It's the first Eurovision entry fully in the Georgian language.
Watch and listen here at Eurovision.tv

The digital single was released on March 28 and is titled For You, but it still is the song fully in the Georgian language.
The band go by the full name Ethno Jazz band Iriao.
On the digital release image it seems there are five members left for Eurovision (of the seven).

A promo DVD-r is issued. It (only) features the videoclip of For You.

Versions
For You - Eurovision version
- digital release
For You - karaoke (= instrumental)
- digital on the official karaoke album

The Full band: Pic from GBP press

Links and sources:
Iriao: Facebook, Soundcloud
Eurovision Georgia pages
Georgia on your mind? : 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

San Marino - Who We Are - Jessika feat. Jenifer Brening

Digital Release Image

17 - 28 pts in semi 2

Valentina wasn't available this year so for the first time in history the Italy-locked country San Marino organized a complicated national selection titled 1in360.
The final, held in Bratislava, Slovakia! was won by Jessika ft. Jenifer Brening. They performed their song Who We Are in the Lisbon contest. Listen here at 1in360's Youtube.

A first version was available as a video on Eurovision.tv but for the digital release (and Eurovision?) a new version was made.
The digital single was released on March 30, along with a karaoke version.

The original version of Who We Are was presented (live) with Irol as the rapper. He was the only Sammarinese artists in the competition but decided against competing in the final.
Irol's raps were in Italian whereas Jenifer does her thing in English.

#whoweare Run on Lisbon

#whoweare is a song by Jessika feat. Jenifer Brening that serves both as San Marino's Eurovision 2018 entry and as the theme song for Jessika's fund-raising drive to raise awareness for online bullying.

Jessika and Jenifer will take part in running events across Europe. The runs will culminate in a “#whoweare Run on Lisbon” on May 5, 2018.  Any and all money raised will be donated to the Diana Award, an anti-bullying charity founded in the memory of the Princess of Wales.

The run will see them on April 7 in London (Queen Elisabeth Olympic Park) and in Madrid on April 22 (The Weekend- Rock'n'Roll Marathon Series)
Read more about their anti-bullying campaign here.

Versions
Who We Are - single version (Eurovision version)
- digital release
Who We Are - karaoke
- digital release
Who We Are - instrumental
Who We Are - Latin house remix
- all above on promo cds
Who We Are - first studio version
- video only

Who Are They?
Jessika Muscat is a Maltese singer who has participated in the Maltese selection many times (see below).
Jenifer Brening, who does the rapping bits on Who We Are, is from Germany. She was a contestant in Deutschland sucht den Superstar in 2014.

Jessika's Malta Song Contest efforts:

2009 Smoke Screen (semi)

2010 Fake (semi)

2011 Down Down Down (15^th in final)

2012 Dance Romance (semi)

2013 Ultraviolet (8^th)

2014 Hypnotica (8^th)

2015 Fandango (8^th)

2016 The Flame (7^th)

Links and sources
Jessika: Facebook
Jenifer Brening: Website, Facebook
Announcements and some info ar SMTV
1in360: Website, Facebook
Recent Sammarinese Eurovision gems :2017 -  2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011

Estonia - La Forza - Elina Nechayeva

promo cds

8 - 245 pts, 5 - 201 in semi 1

Classical singer Elina Nechayeva (Elina Netšajeva) represented Estonia in Lisbon with the song La Forza. The song is sung in Italian and was written by Mihkel Mattisen, Timo Vendt, Ksenia Kuchukova and Elina Nechayeva herself.

You can listen to the studio version here at ETV.
The song has been released as a digital single on January 22.
Remixes were released on March 12.

A promo cdsingle is issued including all four versions listed below.

Estonia picked the Lisbon Eurovision entry through the three-round selection Eurolaul 2018.
You can listen to all the songs here at ETV's Eurovision pages.
The final was on March 3.

Mihkel Mattisen co-wrote the 2013 entry for Estonia Et Uus Saaks Alguse by Birgit. Timo Vendt co-wrote the 2014 entry Amazing for Tanya.

Digital Release Image

Versions
La Forza
La Forza - Dance remix
La Forza - Extended Dance Remix
- digital releases
La Forza - Instrumental
- Elina Nechayeva youtube channel, digital on the official karaoke album
- all versions on promo cds

Charts
France top 200 (Ifop): 115

Pic from Elina's Facebook

Links and sources:
Elina Nechayeva: Facebook, Instagram
ETV Eurovision pages
Estonian Eurovision treasure: 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

Portugal - O Jardim - Cláudia Pascoal feat. Isaura

Digital Release Image

26 - 39 pts, not in semi

Perseverance pays off: Salvador Sobral brought the Eurovision Trophy to Portugal after over 50 years of trying.
The host country selected their home entry in the Festival da Canção 2018. It's O Jardim (the garden) by Cláudia Pascoal, written by Isaura.
Watch and listen to the original live performance here at RTP.

Digital single out since March 9. It has songwriter Isaura listed as featuring. (Sony Music Portugal). Isaura mentioned that a more electronic version was to be recorded for Eurovision but the original ended up on the official album, so I guess that's not happening.

A promo cdsingle includes the original and instrumental versions of O Jardim.

Isaura originally planned to sing O Jardim herself. Her own new album is already finished but has been put on hold until after Eurovision. (But it's out now, it's titled Human and well worth checking out)

Claudia Pascoal is giving it another try in FdC 2023.

promo cds

Versions
O Jardim - single version
- Festival da Canção 2018 CD, Lisbon 2CD, 
O Jardim - karaoke (= instrumental)

- digital on the official karaoke album
- both on promo

Lyrics in English, Spanish, German, Italian and French have been published on Isaura's Facebook
Cláudia's Facebook also has Romanian and Russian.

Charts
Portugal top 100: 25, 53, -, 66, 21, 61
Spain Physical+Digital sales top 50: 32, -

Festival da Canção 2018 CD

Festival da Canção 2018
The host country have selected their home entry through the Festival da Canção 2018.
This year there were 26 songs, 2 semis and a final on March 4.
A CD with 25 of the 26 songs was released on March 23.
The CD includes the studio version of the winning song O Jardim.
Also available through the usual digital sources, see full tracklist below.

Links and sources:

Cláudia Pascoal: Facebook, Instagram
Isaura: Facebook, Instagram
RTP Festival da Canção pages

Portugals road to victory: 2017 - 2014 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

Dias Do Vinyl re-issues
To celebrate the contest finally coming to Portugal Fnac have re-issed five classic Portuguese entries on vinyl in their Dias Do Vinil event.

1974    E depois do adeus - Paulo de Carvalho

1976    Uma flor de verde pinho - Carlos Do Carmo

1978    Dai li dou - Gemini

1982    Bem bom - Doce

1985    Penso em ti, eu sei - Adelaide

You can read all about those here at Eurocovers

Festival da Canção 2018 tracks

1. Bruno Vasconcelos – Austrália
2. Rui David – Sem medo
3. Beatriz Pessoa – Eu te amo
4. Anabela – Pra te dar abrigo
5. Catarina Miranda – Para sorrir eu não preciso de nada
6. Joana Espadinha – Zero a zero
7. Janeiro – (sem título)
8. José Cid – O Som da guitarra é a alma de um povo
9. Joana Barra Vaz – Anda estragar-me os planos
10. Peu Madureira – Só por ela
11. Rita Dias – Com gosto amigo
12. JP Simões – Alvoroço
13. Maria Amaral – A Mesma canção
14. Maria Inês Paris – Bandeira azul
15. Dora Fidalgo – Arco-Íris (Assim cantou Zaratustra)
16. Sequin – All over again
17. David Pessoa – Amor veloz
18. Tamin – Sobre nós
19. Cláudia Pascoal – O Jardim
20. Minnie & Rhayra – Patati patata
21. Rita Ruivo – Anda daí
22. Susana Travassos – Mensageira
23. Lili – O Voo das cegonhas
24. Daniela Onís – Pra lá do rio
25. Peter Serrado – Sunset

The song Canção Do Fim by Diogo Piçarra which was withdrawn after the semi's is not included.

Poland - Light Me Up - Gromee ft. Lukas Meijer

Digital release image

14 - 81 pts in semi 2

Poland participated in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest with Light Me Up by Gromee ft. Lukas Meijer.
The original version of Light Me Up was released as a digital single on February 15. It was written by Andrzej Gromala, Lukas Meijer, Mahan Moin and Christian Rabb.

The song was selected on March 3 in the Krajowych Eliminacji Eurowizji 2018.
The list of participating songs is here, most have been released as digital singles.

Light Me Up can be found on the Gromee CD Chapter One out on March 16. (Sony Music, see tracklist below)

A promo CDsingle is made, it features the radio version, extended version and ESC instrumental. It was sent to radio stations and used in Lisbon. It won't be available in the shops.

Gromee (Andrzej Gromala) is a Polish DJ / Producer from Krakow who has been releasing dance single since 2011.
Most of his hits feature different singers. His biggest hit was Spirit from 2016 with vocals by Mahan Moin.
Other top hits include Runaway (with Mahan Moin), Fearless (with May-Britt Scheffer) and
Without You from 2017 which was the first song he recorded with Swedish singer Lukas Meijer.
All Gromee's hits can be found on the CD Chapter One (see below)
Lukas Meijer is the singer of the rock band No Sleep For Lucy who have just released their own new album Until The End.

Versions
Light Me Up - Eurovision version (3:00)
- on the official Lisbon album 
Light Me Up - original version (3:38)
- digital single, CD Chapter One
Light Me Up - video version (3:24)
- promo
Light Me Up - Extended (4:42)
- promo
Light Me Up - Instrumental ESC version

- promo
Light Me Up - karaoke

- digital on the official karaoke album

Links and sources:
Thanks to Ada at Sony Music Poland for the updates, Thanks to Frederick.
Gromee: Website, Facebook, Instagram
Lukas Meijer: Facebook (new link)
TVP Eurovision pages, Facebook
Remember these Polish entries?: 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

Gromee already has it! (pic from Gromee twitter)

Tracklist Chapter One
1. Fearless feat. May-Britt Scheffer

2. Lingo feat. Mahan Moin

3. Follow You feat. Wurld

4. Light Me Up feat. Lukas Meijer

5. Spirit feat. Mahan Moin

6. Who Do You Love feat. Wurld

7. Without You feat. Lukas Meijer

8. Gravity feat. Andreas Moe

9. Runaway feat. Mahan Moin

10. All Night 2017 feat. Wurld

11. Hurricane feat. Terri B!

12. 2BA

13. Ania Dabrowska - Nieprawda (Gromee Remix)

14. Beata – Upiłam się Tobą (Gromee Remix)
(Sony Music Poland 88875 099662)

Malta - Taboo - Christabelle

Promo cds

13 - 101 pts in semi 2

Christabelle Borg represented Malta in the Lisbon Song Contest.
The song Taboo was written by Johnny Sanchez, Thomas G:Son, Muxu and Christabelle herself.
Listen: Here's the studioversion and the Live one (Youtubes)

A digital single was released on March 14, it features a new version and a karaoke version.
The song was re-released on March 28, apparently the karaoke is gone (for now).
A 1-track promo with the Eurovision version is issued. A USB card with video, info, photos and mp3 was also used for promotion in Lisbon

Malta's National final was on Februari 3. You can listen to all the songs here at TVM.

Christabelle Borg participated in the Malta Eurovsision Song Contest several times:
2014 - Lovetricity (8th)
2015 - Rush (2nd)
2016 - Kingdom (4th)

For Thomas G:Son it's his 14th Eurovision entry. (see end of this post). Muxu (Matthew Mercieca) co-wrote the 2015 Junior Eurovision winner Not My Soul with and for Destiny Chuckunyere.

1st Digital Release Image

Versions
Taboo - Eurovision version
- promo, Lisbon 2CD
Taboo - Karaoke
- digital releases
Taboo - Original version
- has only been on the Maltasong pages (in low sound quality only)

Links and sources
Christabelle Facebook, Instagram
Maltasong pages
More Malta: 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

Thomas G:son (Thomas Gustafsson) is a prolific Eurovision songwriter. He (co-) wrote many songs for prelections in Sweden, Norway and Spain and also some for Romania, Finland, Denmark, Latvia, Poland and Belgium.
Seven of G:son's songs made it to Eurovision and with Euphoria the victory is his:
Sweden 2001 - Listen To Your Heartbeat - Friends
- written with Henrik Sethsson, 5th place
Sweden 2006 - Invincible - Carola
- written with Carola Häggkvist, Henrik Wickström and Bobby Ljunggren, 5th place
Spain 2007 - I Love You Mi Vida - D'Nash

2nd DRI

- written with Andreas Rickstrand, Tony Sanchez-Ohlsson and Rebeca, 20th place.
Norway 2007 - Ven A Bailar Conmigo - Guri Schanke
- 18th in semi
Denmark 2010 - In A Moment Like This - Chanée and N'Evergreen
- written with Henrik Sethsson and Erik Bernholm, 4th place.
Sweden 2012 - Euphoria - Loreen
- written with Peter Boström, winner of Eurovision 2012
Spain 2012 - Quédate Conmigo - Pastora Soler
- Wiritten with Tony Sánchez-Ohlsson and Erik Bernholm, 10th place
Georgia 2013 - Waterfall - Sopho Gelovani & Nodiko Tatishvili
- Written with Eric Bernholm, 15th place
Spain 2015 - Amanecer - Edurne
- Written with Peter Boström and Tony Sánchez-Ohlsson, 21st place
Georgia 2015 - Warrior - Nina Sublatti
- Written with Nina Sublatti, 11th place
Georgia 2016 - Midnight Gold - Young Georgian Lolitaz
- Written with - Kote Kalandadze, 20th place
Cyprus 2016 - Alter Ego - Minus One
- Written with - Minus One, 21st place
Cyprus 2017 - Gravity - Hovig
- He wrote this one all by himself, 21st place

Russia - I Won't Break - Julia Samoylova

Digital Release Image

15 - 65 pts in semi 2

I Won't Break is the Russian entry for the Lisbon contest. After last years political display and withdrawal it was already announced that the ill fated Julia (Yulia) Samoylova  (Юлия Самойлова) would come back to represent Russia in 2018.

I Won't Break is written by Leonid Gutkin, Netta Nimrodi and Arie Burshtein who also wrote last years Samoylova song Flame Is Burning.
The song was released as a digital single on March 16.

No cdsingle or promo cd is issued. A USB card with photos, bio and audio was used for promotion in Lisbon.

Versions
I Won't Break - Eurovision version
- digital release, Lisbon 2CD
I Won't Break - karaoke

- digital on the official karaoke album

Links and sources:
Yulia Samoylova: Website, Facebook, VK, Instagram
Russia's recent entries: 2017 (withdrawn) -  2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

Norway - That's How You Write A Song - Alexander Rybak

Digital Release Image

15 - 144 pts, 1 - 266 pts in semi 2

Former contest winner Alexander Rybak returned to the Eurovision stage. He even won the second semi final but only ended up 15th.
His self-penned entry That's How You Write A Song won the Norway's Melodi Grand Prix 2018 on March 10.
The song was released as a digital single on January 15.
Watch the full video version here.

A remix by D'Dorian (Knut Bjørnar Asphol) was also released.

No physical release or promo is planned.

As most (all) of you will know, Alexander Rybak was the winner of the 2009 contest held in Moscow. His Fairytale broke all the records pointwise and he even got a decent European hit out of it. Fairytale was a No. 1 in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Belgium. It reached the top 10 in The Netherlands, Germany, Switserland, U.K. and Ireland.
It also scored on various charts in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania and Uzbekistan. And it was a No. 67 in Australia!
Rybak recorded several versions of his 2009 song including a Russian one and  a new duet version in English and German in 2017.
You can read all about this Eurovision classic here at the Moscow Collection.

After the Eurovision victory in 2009 Rybak released five albums. He mainly focussed on the home market with his Norwegian language folk albums from 2011 and 2015.

Remix DRI

Versions
That's How You Write A Song - single version
- digital release
That's How You Write A Song - full video version
- video, has a different intro, this one is also uploaded at Eurovision.tv
That's How You Write A Song - D'Dorian remix
- The D'Dorian remix was released (digitally) on March 9. 
That's How You Write A Song - instrumental
- digital release
That's How You Write A Song - karaoke

- digital on the official karaoke album

Charts
Norway VG lista top 40: 28, 36
Sweden top 100: 58
France top 200 (Ifop): 128

Remember this one?

NMGP
A few familiar names were in this year's 10-song line up of the Norwegian Melodi Grand Pris held on March 10. Aleksander Wallmann (singer with JOWST), Stella Mwangi (now in a duo) and of course Alexander Rybak.
You can listen to the songs here at NRK. All songs have also been released for digital purchase.


Links and sources:
Alexander Rybak: Website, Facebook, Instagram
Alexander Rybak at BeaRecords
NRK MGP pages
Norwegian entries From Rybak to Rybak:  2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013
 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

Azerbaijan - X My Heart - Aisel

Digital release image

11 - 94 pts in semi 1

X My Heart by Aisel (Aysel Məmmədova) was chosen to represent Azerbaijan in the Lisbon contest.
The song is written by Dimitris Kontopoulos and Sandra Bjurman.

X My Heart was revealed and released as a digital single on March 4.
A slightly revamped version was revealed on March 13.

No cdsingle or promo cd was issued.
A USB stick was made for Lisbon promotion with audio's (ESC version and karaoke), bio's and photos.

Composers
For Dimitris Kontopoulos X My Heart is the eight Eurovision entry he co-wrote. Others are Belarus 2007 (Work Your Magic), Ukraine 2008 (Shady Lady), Greece 2009, Azerbaijan 2013, Russia 2014, Russia 2016 and Greece 2017.
Sandra Bjurman, honorary citizen of the Land Of Fire, she co-wrote the Azerbaijani entries of 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2017. She also worked on the Ukrainian entry of 2014.

Versions
X my heart - Eurovision version
-  Lisbon 2CD
X my heart - Original single version
- first digital release
X my heart - Eurovision karaoke
X my heart - Eurovision instrumental
- all digital releases

Links and sources:
Thanks to Nigel
Aisel: Facebook, Instagram
ITV Eurovision pages
Azerbaijans complete Eurovision history: 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 - 2008