Saturday, November 18, 2023

The latest at the Lisbon Collection

Welcome to the Lisbon Collection
Like every year we’ll be bringing you all the release info on entries of this years Eurovision stars.

You'll find all official releases (physical and digital), promo info (as much as possible) and the odd coverversion, chart position and important trivia.
Always more to come, the latest updated pages are at the top of this links list.
Thanks to all record companies and delegations who sent info, much appreciated!
Special thanks to Frederick and to Nigel, couldn't have done it without you.


Belarus - Еўрабачанне-2018, Alekseev wins, new version out now, The Forever EP, remix, No bed of roses for Alekseev! CD, 2023 Ukrainian version
Croatia - Stop! Franka's going Crazy/Home, Midnight session and remixes, CD S Tobom out now. 2021 live album
Albania - The first song for Lisbon, new Eurovision version remains in Albanian, promo info update
Switzerland - ZiBBZ siblings win Die ESC 2018 Entscheidungsshow, Revamp versions out now, versions updates. It takes a village to get the cdsingle. Updates cds/promo, Live with Gölä.
Cyprus - Eleni Foureira is on Fire!, Fuego revealed, Spanish version out now. 2nd place in Final. Magazine edition. Remix, Platinum edition CD out now. 2021 Live version
Israel - Netta Barzilai wins HaKokhav HaBa and comes a'cluckin'.  single version, remixes released. Winner Eurovision 2018. #1 in US dance charts but still NO physical release. More remixes out in September. 2020 new remix
Bulgaria -  Equinox got some Bones to pick. Listen now, Listen to the Remix Competition mixes, Enerugi Shindo version
Germany - Michael Schulte's Lied Für Lissabon. Dreamer album info, cdsingle on May 4. Remix download
France - Destination Eurovision for Madame Monsieur, Mercy already a top 10 hit. Vu D'Ici album info, promo English & Spanish versions, remixes, listen, Classical version.
Iceland - Söngvakeppnin's choice is Ari Ólafsson, versions, updates. Not Europe's choice. Remix version.
Let's Get Physical - Quick list of physical releases, now with Book section. Upadtes 2019.
Hungary - A Dal 2CD out now, Let's get loud with AWS, Listen to Summer gone, all versions updated. CD, Live CD/DVD
United Kingdom - Eurovision you decide, songs out! SuRie Storms to Lisbon. New version released, 7th Heaven remixes out now! calm after the Storm: Acoustic version out now, CD album out now
Italy - the 68th Sanremo. CD out on Februari 9. Sanremo Vinili, Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro win the ticket. ESC version, Live album in 2019.
Sweden - Melodifestivalen CD out now, Benjamin Ingrosso to Lisbon. Remixes out now. Identification CD out on 19-10.
Greece - NF axed, Yianna Terzi to Lisbon and back home again. English version released in June. Remix Pack out now!
Czech Republic - Eurovision Song CZ, Mikolas Josef wins the ticket to Lisbon. Explicit issues fixed, new version(s), Spanglish version.
Austria - Cesar Sampson to Lisbon, listen to Nobody But You, updates, 3rd Place and winner of the Jury Final. Home #1 hit, new versions on The EP.
Belgium - A matter of (out of) time for Sennek?. Acoustic version out now.
Slovenia - Lea Sirk wins EMA 2018, Thanks, No! Yes! Final! Great! Music Please! Jazz version!
Australia - Jessica Mauboy returns to Europe, for serious this time. 7th Heaven remix on the way? cdsingle update, Remixes out now.
Denmark - Melodi Grand Prix Songs Out (if you're in Denmark), Rasmussen wins. Acoustic versions out now, Remixes Vol. 1.
Moldova - O melodie pentru Europa won by DoReDos, New version, Russian version. More remixes out now, updates
Lithuania - Ieva Zasimauskaitė wins Eurovizijos Atranka, English and Lithuanian versions released, Jovani remixes out now
Macedonia - Eye Cue Lost and found and Lost again, but a new remix is out now, without the reggae bits!
Norway - Melodi Grand Prix picks a winner: A Fairytale come true? Rybak returns, winner of Semi 1
Ukraine - Нацотбора Євробачення. Youlovin Mélovin?
Serbia - Beovizija songs online, Sanja Ilić & Balkanika win, versions update
Ireland - Ryan O'Shaughnessy to Lisbon  To the Final but not in China.
Netherlands - Outlaw Waylon back after the storm, CD / LP The World Can Wait out now. Create your own Outlaw poster
Armenia - Sevak Khanagyan wins Depi Evratesil, Back to the Motherland with Remix.
Finland - Finland sends Monsters. Again! WWW album info, Remixes out now, Twilight version
Estonia - Eurolaul goes Classic: La Forza to Lisbon, Remixes out now!

Spain - Operación Triunfo revived, Alfred & Amaia to Eurovision, Eurovision Gala CD on February 23. New version of the Cancion and even more OT CDs, cdsingle(s) out now, Your Song in English
Your Boarding pass, the Handbook for Lisbon
Romania - Selecţia Naţională won by Humans!, remixes, promo updates, Goodbye indeed.
Montenegro - Vanja Radovanović wins Montevizija, updates
Georgia - Georgia on your mind?, Ethno Jazz Band Iriao is there For You.
San Marino - First time ever National Final result! Digital release.
Portugal the country - Cláudia Pascoal wins Festival da Canção. FdC CD out now
Poland - Gromee and Lukas win Krajowych Eliminacji Eurowizji 2018, CD Chapter One on March 16. promo info
Malta - MESC 2018 won by Christabelle's Taboo. update
Russia - Yulia Samoylova, allowed in Lisbon, won't break but something broke: Russia run of consecutive finals.
Latvia - Supernova do Brazil, Laura Rizzotto
Azerbaijan - Aisel Cross your heart and hope to ... win! get home safely
Absent Friends - Let's raise a glass...


About the Lisbon Collection:
The Lisbon Collection, a "branch" of the Eurovision Collectors Guide, collects info on all official releases (physical and digital), promo info (as much as possible) and the odd coverversion, chart position and important trivia. 

Digital release info may not apply to all territories, you'll have to do some investigating by yourself there.
All digital release images (DRI's) are taken from iTunes and/or Amazon or sources noted otherwise,
Digital release also includes streaming (like Spotify), but not all releases can be found there.

Please note only links to official / legal downloads are used in the Lisbon Collection.
If there's any content here that belongs to you and you don't want it here, let us know and we'll remove it.
We also have a Facebook page. Here you'll find the occasional bit of release news and even some opinion of yours truly. A visit would be much appreciated or even a Like (if you have one to spare).
If you have anything to add or correct, please leave a comment with as much details (links!) as possible. 
To prevent spam comments are moderated, so it may take some time before your comment shows up.

Due to working hours I won’t always be able to publish the latest news first, but the Lisbon collection will be your Collectors Guide to the 2018 contest and it will be here to stay for future reference.



Belarus - Forever - Alekseev

New version DRI
15 - 65 pts in semi 1

Alekseev is the winner of the Belorussian National Final held on Februari 16.
His song Forever is written by Kyrylo Pavlov and Evhen Matyushenko.

Forever was released as a digital single on January 10.
The Russian version of the song Навсегда was released on November 10 2017.
The January version is labelled 'Eurovision version' but a new version (for Eurovision) was released on March 28.
This is the one on the official Lisbon 2018 album.

The Forever EP
A digital EP was released on April 23. The physical edition of this EP is one of the promotional items for Alekseev used in Lisbon.
It has 4 tracks:
1. Forever (it's the new version, used at the ESC)
2. Drunken Sun (English version of 2015 song Пьяное Солнце)
3. Навсегда (Russian version of Forever, original long version)
4. Forever - Kraynov remix (Anton Kraynov)

The Forever EP DRI


2019 album Моя Звезда
Alekseev's 2019 album Moya zvezda / Моя Звезда includes a second Russian version named the Russian Paino Cover. It's sung in Russian with piano but it's not really a cover though. The album is issued by Sony but has no label numbers.


Ukrainian version
Назавжди 2023
A Ukrainian version  Назавжди Nazavzhdy was released as a digital single in 2023 on November 17.

Ukrainian Nikita Alekseev (Микита Алєксєєв) was a semi finalist in Voice Of Ukraine in 2014 and went on to release one album, one EP  and eight singles. All digital releases only.
His biggest hit in Ukraine and Russia was Пьяное солнце  (Pyanoye solntse, Drunken sun) from 2015.

Versions
Forever - new(est) version (3:00)
- the one performed at the contest
Forever - 'Eurovision' version (3:08)
Навсегда - Russian version (3:45)
Forever - Kraynov remix
- digital releases
Digital release image
Навсегда - Russian piano cover version 
2019 CD Moya zvezda / Моя Звезда (Sony)
Назавжди (Ukrainian)
- digital release 17-11-2023
Forever - karaoke (of newest version)
- digital on the official karaoke album




Russian version digital release image
Links and sources
Alekseev:  Facebook, VKontakte, Instagram
BT (ByTV) Eurovision pages
The youngest entries of Belarus: 20172016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

Thursday, May 18, 2023

Croatia - Crazy - Franka

Digital release image
17 - 63 pts in semi 1

Franka participated in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest for Croatia.
Her song Crazy is written by Branimir Mihaljević with lyrics by Franka (Franka Batelić) herself.
A digital single is released on March 9 along with the instrumental version.
Watch and listen here

An acoustic version subtitled Midnight Session was released on April 25.
Remixes were released on may 4.
See full list of versions below.

No cdsingle or promo cd was issued.
A USB stick with audio's, video, bio's and photos was used for promotion in Lisbon.
A cool item is a small gatefold video card which plays (the video) when opened. Works on battery's.

S Tobom
On December 8 Franka released her album S Tobom. (Karpo Media CD 10181202)
It includes Crazy and the Midnight version of the song.
I've seen the CD available at a few Croatian online stores like Cedeterija and Dancing Bear but I have no experience with buying (internationally) from these sources.
I bought mine through http://karpomedia.com/, after asking Franka's management but it is complex (they send you a bill first) and took two months to arrive.
And there's always digital.
CD S Tobom

Live at Cmc
A live album was released (digital) of a 2021 concert. It includes a live version of Crazy. (Croatia records)



Franka tried to get to Eurovision before. In 2009 she performed Pjesma Za Kraj (The final song) in the Croatian selection Dora and finished 7th.
In 2010 she ended 7th again in Dora with Na Tvojim Rukama (In your arms).
In 2011 she recorded one of the early versions that eventually became Celebrate (by Daria Kinzer). HRT shared this one to the public through soundcloud two years ago. Listen to it here.

Midnight session DRI
Songwriter Branimir Mihaljević co-wrote the 2010 Croatian entry Lako Je Sve by Feminnem.
This one didn't make it to the final ending 13th in the 2nd semi.

Versions
Crazy - single version
- Lisbon 2CD, CD S Tobom
Crazy - instrumental
- digital release, the official karaoke album has the same instrumental
Crazy - Midnight session
- single version and Midnight session on CD S Tobom
Crazy - Blacksoul & Mark De Line Remix
Crazy - Blacksoul & Mark De Line Dub Mix
Crazy - Blacksoul & Mark Instrumental mix
Crazy - Blacksoul & Mark De Line Radio Mix
- Remixes are digital releases (Karpo Media)
Crazy - live 2021
- digital album Live at Cmc (Croatia records)


Picture from Franka's Facebook
Remixes DRI
Links and sources:
Franka: Website,  Facebook, Instagram
Eurosong.hr
Croatia's songs from the past few years: 2017 -  2016 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

Friday, February 17, 2023

Albania - Mall - Eugent Bushpepa

Digital release image
11 - 184 pts, 8 - 162 pts in semi 1

Mall by Eugent Bushpepa is the winner of the 56th Festivali i Këngës, the Albanian music contest that also serves as the selection for Eurovision.

Mall (Desire) is a song in Albanian.
The song remained in Albanian for the contest and a new version was revealed on March 16.
Watch and listen here. It was released as a digital single on April 6.

The Eurovision version was produced by Jim Lowe, known for his work with the Stereophonics and Dandy Warhols.
In Lisbon Eugent Bushpepa is joined by Greta Radovani and Erinda Agolli on backing vocals
and instrumentalists Denis Hima, Besnik Nikolli and Gerti Himado.

A Live Night
On June 25 Eugent Bushpepa released a digital EP A Live Night with Mall as the first track Live at A Live Night TAR (don't know what the TAR stands for though)
It's a live recording but no audience is heard. 

RTSH uploaded videoclips with studio recordings of all FiK songs prior to the Festivali.
Here's the Mall original. (Youtube)

Versions
Mall - Eurovision version
- digital release, promo
Mall - Eurovision karaoke
- digital release on the official karaoke album, promo
Mall - Original version
- RTSH website, promo
Mall - Eurovision instrumental
- promo
Mall - Live at A Live Night Tar
- digital EP A Live Night (2022)

Promo info
RTSH have published details on the promo set Eugent will be talking with him to Lisbon.
Photo taken from RTSH 
The CD includes the original Festivali i Këngës version, the Eurovision version and instrumental and karaoke of the Eurovision version. It has the same four tracks twice.
The DVD features info, lyrics, photos and videos.
The English title Yearning is used but there is no English version.

Links and sources:
Thanks to Nigel, Thanks to Rick
Eugent Bushpepa: Facebook, Instagram
RTSH: FiK pages, Mall original clip
Albania's recent Eurovision history: 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 2011 2010 - 2009
Festivali i Këngës at Wikipedia


The old Festivali's
* The Festivali I Këngës (FiK) has been used as the selection for the Eurovision Song Contest ever since Albania entered with Anjeza Shahini's The Image Of You in 2004. But the Festivali i Këngës already started in 1962 and is of course an acclaimed music festival in its own right.
Check your Wiki's and see the end of this post for some FiK history.
In 2016 RTSH released most old Festival i Këngës entries through digital shops (Amazon ,iTunes) and Spotify.
I made a spotify playlist (below) with all the Albanian Festivali I Këngës winners up to 2015  (so you don't have to). It starts in 1962.
The 1967 winner is missing and some songs are in versions by the second (non winning) singer. (up to 1984 most songs were performed twice by different singers).
It's a magnificent trip through Albania's amazing and sometimes grim Festival history. 
A special thanks to Thomas!


-------
note: I know Spotify can be a bit crappy. Sometimes it plays the playlist in a mixed order, or mixes it with other songs, don't blame me, I did my best.
I just think Spotify can be a handy tool to preview some music and do some vault-digging.

And in the end it's buying music that supports your artists (or in this case, RTSH), not streaming.