Israel - Toy - Netta Barzilai

Congratulations Netta!                      ברכות לישראל
and Jubilations to Israel who clocked up their 4th victory in Eurovision history.
And mazzeltov to the songwriters Doron Medalie and Stav Beger who told us many moons ago that they thought that had a potential winner on their hands. How nice it is to be right!
Now get working on that cdsingle, 12"inch with remixes and a full Netta album for us millions to enjoy.

1 - 529 pts / 1 - 283 pts in semi 1

Digital Release Image

Netta Barzilai (נטע ברזילי) represented Israel in Lisbon and lead the country to victory.
She won the televote in the final and aso won her semi-final.

Israel selected their singer for Eurovision through reality show / singing competition HaKokhav HaBa (The Next Star, הַכּוֹכָב הַבָּא). The song is titled Toy and was officially revealed on March 11.
(even though it leaked two days before that).

Toy is written by Doron Medalie and Stav Beger. Doron Medalie also wrote the Israeli entry Golden Boy from 2015.

Watch the Toy videoclip here at Eurovision.tv
Two versions have been released as digital singles, the original single version at most sources and the video version.
It's the single version that ended up on the official Lisbon album but the video version was performed at the contest.

No physical release or promo has been released (Bad Netta!).
The picture discs and Russian CD's offered at e-bay are counterfeit, unofficial, without permission, illegal etc. Don't buy them.

Remix DRI

A remix by Sagi Kariv is now uploaded to Netta's Youtube and released digitally.
An extended remix is at Sagi Kariv's Soundcloud.
Not all digital sources have all released versions, you'll have to do some searching for yourself.
The Chen Leiba remix was released on March 3 along with its instrumental.

The Riddler remixes were released on September 15. Digital only.

Netta Barzilai considers herself a Looping Artist which more or less means she performs while synthesing her own sounds in her songs to be used as soon as they happen. It's like what JOWST did last year but our Netta takes it to the next extreme. Can't wait to see how it will work at Eurovision.

2020

A digital EP with a new remic, the #NotYourToyRemix (mixed by Stav Berger) was released through S Curve, Netta's US label. The EP also has the Toy we know and the single version  of Cuckoo.

Chen Leiba Remix DRI

Versions
Toy - music video version
- video at Eurovision.tv, digital release
Toy - single version
- digital release, the official Lisbon album
Toy - Sagi Kariv remix
- video, digital release
Toy - Sagi Kariv Extended remix
- Sagi Kariv Soundcloud, digital release
Toy - Chen Leiba remix
Toy - Chen Leiba remix instrumental
- Chen Leiba mixes are digital releases
Toy - Riddler Dub remix
Toy - Riddler Festival remix
Toy - Riddler Future Vocal remix
Toy - Riddler Future instrumental remix
- Riddler remixes  are digital release
Toy - #NotYourToyRemix 2020

- 2020 remix digital release (S curve)

Toy - karaoke (= instrumental of the single version)
- digital on the official karaoke album

Riddler remixes DRI

Charts
Belgium (Flanders) top 50: 29, 35, -
Sweden top 100: 5, 10, 34, 55, -
Netherlands top 100: 60, 72, -
Ireland top 100 (IRMA): 63, -
U.K. top 100: 49, -
German top 100: 19, 53, -
Norway VG lista 40: 19, -
France top 200 (Ifop): 16, 74, -
Switzerland top 100: 34, -
Austria top 75: 15, 44, -
Spain Physical+Digital sales top 50: 4, 37, 47, -
Spain top 100: 16, 25, 65, 82, -
Finland top 20 (Ifpi): 10, -
Suisse Romande top 20: 14, -
US Billboard Dance Songs top 50: 35, 26, 19, 16, 11, 6, 3, 2, 1, 7, 12, 13, 38
+ TOY - Karaoke version !
Spain Physical+Digital sales top 50: 39, -

Pic sampled from Netta's Facebook

Links and sources:
Thanks to Frederick and to Nigel.
Netta Barzilai: Facebook, Instagram
The Next Star at Mako.co.il
More Eurovision gems from Israel: 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

Bulgaria - Bones - Equinox

14 - 166 pts, 7 - 177 pts in semi 1

Bulgaria participated  in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest with the band Equinox. The song and artist were revealed on March 12.
The song is titled Bones.
Watch and listen here

Bones plus its karaoke and instrumental were released as a digital single on March 12.
A promo cds is issued. It has the Eurovision version, instrumental and karaoke.

The song is written by Borislav Milanov, Trey Campbell, Joacim Bo Persson and Dag Lundberg.

Campbell is a member of Equinox, Milanov and Persson were also behind the 2017 entry Beautiful Mess.

Equinox are Zhana Bergendorff, Vlado Mihailov, Georgi Simeonov, Johnny Manuel and Trey Campbell.

Remix Contest / Remixes
The Point Blank Music School and Symphonix International organized a remix contest for the Bulgarian entry.
A pack of remix stems was released to help you create your remix.
Entries were uploaded by the mixers to Soundcloud, if you'll do this search you'll find most of them.
The top three will be released through Symphonix international.
Four mixes (by Three DJs) have been released digitally, so I guess they won the competition. (DJ Burlak, DJ Kuaga and DJ Dagge)

A version of Bones by Enerugi Shindo feat. Equinox was released on September 7 (2018)
Available through the usual digital sources.

Enerugi Shindo version

Versions
Bones - Studio version
Bones - Karaoke
Bones - Instrumental
- digital releases, all on promo cds

Bones - DJ Burlak remix radio
Bones - DJ Burlak extended remix
Bones - DJ Kuoga remix
Bones - Dagge Dance remix
- digital releases
Bones - Enerugi Shindo feat. Equinox

Charts
Bulgarian top 40: 37, 38, 30, 16, 28, 39, -

Links and sources:
Equinox: Facebook
BNT Bulgaria: Eurovision website, Facebook, Instagram
Bulgaria's entries to check out: 2017 -  2016 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

United Kingdom - Storm - SuRie

Digital release image

24 - 48 pts, not in semi

SuRie won the BBC's Eurovision You Decide with her song Storm, written by Nicole Blair, Gil Lewis & Sean Hargreaves.

The six songs competing in the U.K. selection were revealed on January 24 and can all be heard here at the BBC's Eurovision pages.

A new version of storm was recorded for Eurovision. It has been released as a digital single, along with an instrumental, on March 7.
Watch and listen here.

7th Heaven have made two remixes of Storm. Both the Radio edit and the Club mix are available through the usual digital sources. (Released on April 9, MMP Ltd).

An acoustic version was released on April 23 (digital, MMP ltd).

[ˈdʌz(ə)n] artwork by Anna Ståhl, pic from SuRie's Facebook

A counterfeit, fake, illegal cdsingle has been spotted, don't buy it. No official physical release or promo was made.

SuRie (Susanna Marie Cork) released her full debut album Something Beginning With... in 2016 (CD and digital).
This album includes a song (also) titled Storm but it's a different one from the Eurovision entry.
Before that she released a 5 track EP SuRie.
In 2017 she released a single Lover, You Should've Come Over.

More SuRie at Eurocovers

[ˈdʌz(ə)n]

In 2019 SuRie release her new album  [ˈdʌz(ə)n] (Dozen) featuring 12 tracks, coverversions of selected songs for every month of the year. As a bonus track on the limited CD release (only) an exclusive version of Storm is added.
At this moment the CD version is still available at https://surie.bigcartel.com/
Streaming and downloading links are all here.
It really is a beautiful album, go get it!

Acoustic version DRI

Versions
Storm - single version
Storm - instrumental (= karaoke)
- both digital releases
Storm - original
- has been on BBC sites
Storm - 7th Heaven Club mix
Storm - 7th Heaven Radio edit
- digital releases
Storm - acoustic
- digital release
Storm - exclusive CD version
- on CD  [ˈdʌz(ə)n]
A Video edit of the 7th Heaven remix can be found here (video only)

In 2020 SuRie recorded a coverversion of Silent Storm, the 2014 entry by Carl Espen (Norway)
Find out all about that here.

Charts
U.K. top 100: 50, -
France top 200 (Ifop/Snep): 103, -

Pic from SuRie's facebook

Links and sources:
SuRie: Website, Facebook, Instagram
BBC Eurovision pages, Facebook
The U.K. have their moments here: 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

You'll find details on all Eurovision remixes made by 7th Heaven here. They got their own page now (at The Tel Aviv Collection)

Bring Back Eurovision To The U.K..

Germany - You Let Me Walk Alone - Michael Schulte

cdsingle insert

4 - 340 pts, not in semi

Michael Schulte won the German selection Unser Lied Für Lissabon. His song, You Let Me Walk Alone is written by Thomas Stengaard, Nisse Ingwersen, Nina Müller and Michael Schulte himself.

You Let Me Walk Alone was first released as a digital single.
A cdsingle was released on May 4. It includes the Eurovision version and the acoustic version of You Let Me Walk Alone.(VUM 7771492)

On May 4 the album Dreamer: The Best Of Michael Schulte was released on LP, CD and digital. See below for tracklist.
The LP is a limited edition double LP on green vinyl.
(Very Us records/Edel).

For promotion in Lisbon a USB bracelet with audio, photos, bio and photos was made.

A remix by M3-O & Topflyte was released through Soundcloud. Also on M3-O CDr album Year One. (pic right)
The CDr has been available at TIOS (sold out now) but the free Soundcloud download is still available.

The German national final decided the entry  Germany in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest. Six artists were lined up and battled it out on Februari 22.

Who's Michael Schulte?
Michael Schulte started out as a Youtube singer performing cover songs. He clocked over 50 million views since then and it was just a matter of time for him to be discovered. It was Rea Garvey (of Raemonn of Supergirl fame) who did just that. Together they wrote Carry Me Home which became Michael's first hit (#8 in the German charts).
His debut album Wide Awake was followed by some intensive touring and after that he released his second album The Arising.
In Februari 2018 he won the German selection with all the maximum scores with You Let Me Walk Alone.

Michael's Youtube channel is here.

Versions
You Let Me Walk Alone
- cdsingle, CD Dreamer
You Let Me Walk Alone - Acoustic
- cdsingle, CD Dreamer
You Let Me Walk Alone - M3-O & Topflyte remix
- free download at Soundcloud, needs a Soundcloud account
You Let Me Walk Alone - Instrumental (actually karaoke)
- digital release, also on the official karaoke album


Charts
German top 100: 27, -, re: 3, 17, 34, 44, 48, 79, 97, -
Sweden top 100: 32, 38, 73, -
Netherlands top 100: 83, -
France top 200 (Ifop): 105, -
Switzerland top 100: 27, -
Austria top 75: 23, 45, -
Spain Physical+Digital sales top 50: 18, -
Spain top 100: 74, -
In September the song charts on the Dutch top 40
Netherlands top 40: 35, 33, 25, 19, 20, 25, 38

Links and sources
Special thanks to Stella at Very Us.
Michael Schulte: Facebook, Instagram, Youtube channel
Unser Lied für Lissabon pages, Facebook
Germany's other Lieder: 2017 -  2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

The album Dreamer DRI

Dreamer tracklist

1. You Let Me Walk Alone

2. Rock and Scissors

3. End of My Days

4. Thoughts

5. The Deep

6. Rusted Blood

7. The Maze

8. Dear Doubt

9. Flicker

10. You Said You'd Grow Old with Me

11. Falling Apart

12. Silence

13. Take It All Away

14. Take Me as I Am

15. Mountain Spring

16. Heard You Crying

17. You Let Me Walk Alone (Acoustic)

18. You Said You'd Grow Old with Me (Acoustic)

19. You'll Be Okay (Acoustic)

20. Holding Back the Fire (Acoustic)

France - Mercy - Madame Monsieur

The 3rd "Lisbon" promo cds

13 - 173 pts, not in semi

Madame Monsieur won Destination Eurovision, the French selection for Lisbon with their self penned song Mercy.
Madame Monsieur are Émilie Satt and Jean-Karl Lucas. They released their album, Tandem in 2016, which is well worth checking out.
Their new album Vue D'ici, released on April 20, includes the Eurovision entry in its full original version.
The album is out on CD and through digital stores. A promo issue in a larger (6 inch) pop-up card sleeve is also issued.

Mercy was released as a digital single (Play Two).
In the week before the French final Mercy already entered the French charts at #8.

A 1-track promo with the full version has been made.
The Eurovision edit was revealed on March 13.

Digital Release Image

The 2nd promo has 6 versions of Mercy, . All tracks have also been released as a digital EP. You can listen to all versions at the MM Youtube channel.
This promo was distributed before the contest to radio and other contacts.
1. Mercy - original
2. Mercy - Eurovision version
3. Mercy - English version
4. Mercy - Spanish version
5. Mercy - French remix a.k.a. Remix Electro (French)
6. Mercy - English remix a.k.a. Remix Electro (English)
The English and Spanish version are full (3:58) versions.

A 3rd promo has the same  6 tracks but a slightly different sleeve. This is the one used in Lisbon

Classical version
Madame Monsieur join sisters Camille and Julie Berthollet on their version of Mercy.
The classical musicians (violin and cello) released their version on the CD Entre 2 in November 2018 and a reissued deluxe edition in 2019. (Warner Classical )
It's pretty beautiful. You can watch a video of a live performance here at Dailymotion.





France selected their 2018 entry through a three night preselection.
The final was on January 27. All 18 songs competing have been released (digital)
Find out more here at the Destination Eurovision pages.

Mercy digital EP image

Versions:
Mercy - Eurovision version
- 2nd promo
Mercy - single version (3:58)
- both promos
Mercy - English version
Mercy - Spanish version
Mercy - Remix Electro (French)
Mercy - Remix Electro (English)
- all on 2nd promo
Mercy - Camille & Julie Berthollet with Madame Monsieur
- CD Entre 2 (Camille & Julie Berthollet)
Mercy - Eurovision karaoke (= instrumental)
- digital release
All versions have (also) been released digitally.

Charts
IFOP France top 200: 8, 3, 17, 26, 30, 26, 26, 23, 30, 30, 42, 51, 40, 14, 17, 10, 2, 19, 30, 46, 85, 105, 89, 106, 149, 176, -
Suisse Romande top 20: 16, -, re 8, -
Belgium (Wallonia) top 50) 37, 47, 44, 42, 33, 27, 10, 19, 32, -
Sweden top 100: 90, -

Links and sources:
Madame Monsieur: Facebook, Instagram
France 2 Eurovision pages
French Eurovision history: 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

Forthcoming album Vu D'Ici

Vu D'Ici tracklist
1. Comme une reine
2. Mercy

3. Tourner la page

4. Ne me laisse pas

5. Au-delà

6. Ça vaut la peine

7. Quand la nuit nous sépare

8. Qui sait

9. La voyageuse

10. 22.11.2013

11. Des baisers

12. Pour ceux qu'on aime

13. Défends-moi

14. Partir
Défends-moi and previous single Partir also appear on the 2016 album Tandem. Défends-moi is a rap-free re-recording but Partir is the original.

(Low Wood / Play Two records 0190295651268, distr. Warner)

Iceland - Our Choice - Ari Ólafsson

Picture from digital presskit

19 - 15 pts in semi 1

Ari Ólafsson represented Iceland in Lisbon with his song Our Choice.
The song is written by Þórunn Erna Clausen.
Here's the video of the English version, the Icelandic one (Heim) is here.

Four versions of Our Choice (see below) were released on the digital Söngvakeppnin album(s). The Eurovision version can of course be found on the official All Aboard! 2CD with all this years Eurovision entries.
Update Our Choice was released as a  seperate digital single remix. The release date seems to be May 8 2018, but we missed that at the time. It doesn't mention the song as being a remix at your digital stores and streamers.
But the Youtube version on the composers channel confirms it is made by StopWaitGo, (They also remixed the 2015 Icelandic entry)
(Thanks Rick!)
All promotional material is digital, there is no physical release.

Remix version DRI

Who's Ari?
Ari Olafsson's road to stardom began when he played the title role in the musical Oliver (by the National Theatre Of Iceland) when he was 11 years old.
"Our" Selma Björnsdottir (ESC 1999 and 2005) was the one to discover Ari and he's been busy ever since.
In 2015 he participated in The Voice Iceland and in 2017 he was a backing singer at the Icelandic Eurovision selection Söngvakeppnin.
After Eurovision Ari will continue his musical studies at the London Royal Academy Of Music.

Þórunn Erna Clausen
In 2011 songwriter Þórunn (Thorunn) Erna Clausen wrote the lyrics to Coming Home / Aftur Heim, the song to be performed by her husband Sjonni Brink in the Söngvakeppnin of that year.
You know the sad story: Sjonni died just before the national contest and a group of his friends performed the song and went on to the Eurovision final.
She wrote at least eight Söngvakeppnin from 2011 on.
Þórunn will be on stage with Ari as pianist an backing vocalist. She will also direct the staging.
The CD and cdsingle of Sjonni Brink and Sjonni's Friends are still available here at BeaRecords.

Söngvakeppnin 2018
Iceland's Eurovision entry was selected in the Söngvakeppnin 2018 final on March 3.
12 songs were competing. All have been recorded in Icelandic and 11 of them also in English. You can listen to all songs here at RÚV's Eurovision pages.
All songs have been released through digital sources.
The releases include Icelandic versions, English versions, Icelandic karaokes and English karaokes.

Digital album image

Versions
Our Choice - English version
- also on the official Lisbon 2CD
Our Choice - remix version (by StopWaitGo)
Heim - Icelandic version
Our Choice - karaoke
Heim - Icelandic karaoke
- all digital releases


Links and sources:

Thanks to Davíð Lúther at Ari's HQ. Thanks to Frederick.

Ari Ólafsson: Facebook, Instagram
RÚV Eurovision pages
Icelands recent Eurovision tunes: 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

Let's Get Physical

The first cdsingle of 2018

Here's a quick checklist of this year's physical releases (CD's, vinyl) available in the shops.
For promo and digital info please check each country's individual post.

Singles
it's very quiet still, on the cdsingle front but we have a limited edition vinyl: Italy.
Spain's cdsingle is out on March 23. Two of the pre-selection songs were also released as cdsingles.
Australia's cdsingle is expected on May 11. (better late than never)
Germany has a cdsingle planned for May 4.
Switzerland ZiBBZ sell their cdsingle in combination with their CD album It Takes A Village.


National Final Albums
Spain - All Spanish pre-songs are available on a special edition Operacion Triunfo 2CD
Also limited edition CDs of both Alfred and Amaia are released.
Sweden - Melodifestivalen 2018 is out on 2CD
Hungary - A Dal 2018 out on 2CD
Italy - Sanremo 2018 all songs on a 2CD
Portugal: 25 of the 26 Festival da Canção Cançãos are out on one CD



This Years Artists Albums

SuRie's Dozen

Poland - Gromee's album Chapter One is out now (March 16)
France - MM's album Vu d'Ici is out on April 20.
Netherlands - Waylons new CD has Outlaw On 'It. (April 13) CD and LP.
Italy - Both Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro have new albums in the shops (both on CD and LP).
Ermal Meta also released a live CDset with two versions of the Eurovision tune.
Germany - Dreamer: The Best Of Michael Schulte is out on May 3, CD and 2LP
Finland - Saara Aalto's CD Wild Wild Wonderland is out on April 27.
United Kingdom - SuRie released her album Dozen in 2019, the CD includes an exclusive new version of Storm.
Croatia - Franka's CD S Tobom has two verions of Crazy
Cyprus - A re-issue of Eleni's album Vasilissa includes three versions of Fuego including the Spanish one.
Sweden - Benjamin Ingrosso has released his CD Identification, also on limited edition vinyl.
Hungary - AWS released a CD Fekete részem including two versions of Viszlát Nyár. A live CD/DVD Madách also includes the Eurovision song.
Lea Sirk (Slovenia) released her album 2018 in 2018

Gromee seems happy with his CD

The Official Album and stuff
The 2CD with all 43 entries of 2018 was released on April 20.
The karaoke versions are available too, but only digital.
I guess the extravagant vinyl 4LP box of 2017 was a difficult seller, as there will be no similar release this year.
However, if you've got too much money, there's all kinds of other Lisbon 2018 stuff, t-shirts, sweaters, coasters, balloons, fridge magnets, still no condoms though, oh well....
The new Eurovision Board Game is not tied to this contest especially and will last a bit longer, so that may be a nice souvenir.
The DVD release is on June 23. It has three discs and will include unseen behind the scenes material (Universal)
The official site has a shop here.


Books
The Essential Lisbon Handbook is out now, read all about it here.

Dos Abba a Salvador Sobral
If you're in Portugal you can check the bookstores for a new book on Eurovision. It's in Portuguese though, but if that doesn't trouble you...
Eurovisão: Dos Abba a Salvador Sobral by Nuno Galopim tells the 63 year old Eurovision story from a Portuguese perspective. If you're not in Portugal you can buy it at Fnac.

Author Nuno Galopim was the Portuguese commentator for the Kyiv contest and is now a creative consultant for the 2018 contest.

The book is available from May 4. (ISBN 9789896268541)

Portugal 12 Pts.
Another book from Portugal is Portugal 12 Pts by João Carlos Callixto and Jorge Mangorrinha. Inspired by the 2017 victory, this is a trip through Eurovision history with a focus on the Portuguese entries. The book is in Portuguese. (ISBN 9789727806423) and is avialable at Fnac from April 30 on.

Hungary - Viszlát Nyár - AWS

Digital Release Image Original version

21 - 93 pts, 10 - 111 in semi 2

AWS, metal band, represented Hungary in Lisbon.
Their song Viszlát Nyár (Goodbye summer) won the 2018 edition of A Dal.
AWS have been around since 2006 and have released three albums and a few EP's.

Viszlát Nyár was already released as a digital single on the 21st of October 2017.
An English version titled Summer Gone was revealed on April 19 (videoclip at AWS Youtube)
English was released to the digital stores on May 10 along with the acoustic version (in Hungarian)

A promo cds includes five versions, see versions below.
A USB stick with photos, mp3's, info and videos was also made for promotion.

A (dubstep-ish) remake / remix by Cloud9+ ft. AWS was released as a digital single on October 18.

Albums
AWS released their album Fekete Részem a few weeks after the contest. (CD: Edge Records EDGECD 282). This includes Viszlát Nyár in the original and acoustic versions.

A live album featuring an acoustic concert from September 27 was released on a CD/DVD set. This includes a live acoustic version of the Eurovision song (Edge Records EDGECDVD 288)

A Dal
Hungary continued their successful A Dal preselections to find a Eurovision entry for Lisbon.
30 songs, 3 heats, 2 semi finals and a final on 24 februari.
The 2CD with all 30 songs is out since February 2. (see picture below for tracklist. (MTVA 1271)

Versions
Viszlát Nyár - Eurovision version
- A Dal 2CD
Viszlát Nyár - original single version
- CD Fekete Részem
Viszlát Nyár - Eurovision karaoke
- all above digital releases
Viszlát Nyár - Acoustic version
- CD Fekete Részem
Viszlát Nyár - English version a.k.a. Summer Gone
- video
- all above on promo cds, all digital releases
Viszlát Nyár - Cloud9+ ft AWS
- digital release 18-10-18
Viszlát Nyár - Live acoustic
- CD/DVD Madách

Links and sources:
Thanks to Thomas.
AWS: Facebook, Instagram
A Dal Website,  Facebook
More about Hungary's entries here: 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2009
AWS at BeaRecords

Italy - Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente - Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro

Eurovision version DRI

5 - 308 pts, not in semi

Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro won the 68th Sanremo festival with their song Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente. The song is written by Ermal Meta, Fabrizio Moro and Andrea Febo.

With the Sanremo victory the wond the right to go to Lisbon and they took the ticket.

The Sanremo winner was released as a limited edition vinyl single on Februari 28. See below for all vinyl releases of this years Sanremo entries. A second batch of the vinyl was expected in April, but it seems there's nothing yet.....

The Eurovision version (edit) was released as a digital single on March 30. A 1-track promo cds with the ESC version was made.

Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente can also be found on Ermal Meta's new album Non Abbiamo Armi (out now on Mescal records on CD and LP) and on Fabrizio Moro's new "best of" album Parole Rumori E Anni. (RCA CD and 2LP). The latter also includes Moro's Sanremo songs of 2007, 2008 and 2017 as well as his own version of the Noemi song Sono Solo Parole from from Sanremo 2012. (see Chi sono... below).

The live album

Non abbiamo armi - Il concerto
A live verion will be released in Januari 2019 on a CD/DVD box set Non abbiamo armi - Il concerto
More details later....

Versions
Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente - Eurovision version
- digital release, promo cds, Lisbon 2CD
Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente - single version
- various albums, vinyl single
Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente - instrumental version
- b-side vinyl single
Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente - Eurovision karaoke

- digital on the official karaoke album

Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente - Live
- forthcoming CD/DVD Non Abbiamo Armi - Il concerto

Digital release image

Chi sono...
Fabrizio Moro has released 11 albums since 1996. His first Sanremo was in 2000 with the song Un Giorno Senza Fine (13th in the newcomers section).
In 2007 he still had to go through the newcomers section (now named Sezione giovani) and ended at #1 with the song Pensa, which became a #1 hit in the Italian charts.
In 2008 he finished 3rd in the Big section with Eppure Mi Hai Cambiato La Vita. In 2010 his Non è Una Canzone didn't make it to the final 10 and 2017 he ended 7th with Portami Via.

Moro also participated in Sanremo as a songwriter. He wrote Sono Solo Parole for Noemi in 2012 (3rd place) and Finalmente Piove for Valerio Scanu in 2016 (13th place).

Ermal Meta first competed solo at Sanremo in the 2016 newcomers section Nuove proposte) with the song Odio Le Favole placing 3rd. But his earliest Sanremo appearance was with the band La Fame Di Camilla. With their song Buio E Luce they entered the newcomers section (Nuovo generazione) but didn't proceed to the final four.

In 2017 he ended 3rd in the big artsist Sanremo with Vietato Morire.

The Sanremo 2CD

The Italian Sanremo festival took place from February 6 to February 10.

Some familiar names were in the contest: Riccardo Fogli (Eurovision 1983), Luca Barbarossa (1988), Decibel with Enrico Ruggeri (1993) and Nina Zilli (2012)

The 2CD with all Sanremo 2018 songs incl. all songs from the new artists section (Nuove proposte) was released on Februari 9. (RCA)

Sanremo Vinili
Last year the Sanremo contest produced six vinyl 7" inch singles for the collectors. (Including the winner by Francesco Gabbani) (list here)
It must have been a success as this year there are many vinyl Sanremo singles on the calender. Will the winner be among them?
Most are limited editions on coloured vinyl. All release dates between Februari 9 and Februari 28.

Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro - Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente (Columbia)
Red Canzian - Ognuna Ha Il Suo Racconto (BMG)
Mudimbi - Il Mago (Warner)
Diodato e Roy Paci - Adesso (Carosello records)
Renzo Rubino - Custodire (Warner)
Noemi - Non Smettere Mai Di Cercarmi (Red Sap)
Roby Facchinetti & Roccardo Fogli - Il Segreto Del Tempo (RCA)
Decibel - Lettera Dal Duca (RCA)
Ornella Vanoni - Imparare Ad Amarsi (RCA)
Mario Biondi - Rivederti (Columbia)
Ron - Almeno Pensami (RCA)
Annalisa - Il Mondo Prima Di Te (Warner)
Enzo Avitabile - Il Corraggio Di Ogni Giorno (RCA)

And then there's another interesting vinilo out now, the 1958 Italian classic entry Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu get a limited edition 60th anniversary re-issue. Read more about that here at Eurocovers.

Website Altro Spettacolo has a list and lots of info on all Sanremo artists new albums. Find it here.

Charts
Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente climbs the Italian charts to #2, pipped to the post by Sanremo's #2 Una Vita In Vacanza by Lo Stato Sociale. Non Mi Fatto gained platinum status in Italy.
Italy top 20: 19, 2, 2, 7, 11, 15, 20, -
Switzerland top 100: 16, 65, -
France top 200 (Ifop): 134
Spain Physical+Digital sales top 50: 33

Links and sources
Ermal Meta: Facebook, Page at Mescal records, Instagram
Fabrizio Moro: Website, Facebook, Instagram
RAI Sanremo pages.
Altro Spettacolo
Italy's entries since they came back from a very long break: 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011

Sweden - Dance You Off - Benjamin Ingrosso

Digital Release Image

7 - 274 pts, 2 - 254 pts in semi 2

Benjamin Ingrosso won the 17th edition of the "modern" Melodifestivalen.
His song Dance You Off is the Swedish entry for the Lisbon contest.
Dance You Off is written by Benjamin Ingrosso, MAG, Louis Schoorl and K Nita.
The song was released as a digital single on February 24 and can also be found on the Melodifestivalen 2CD (see below).

The Litek Remix was released on May 4. (digital release).
The Galavant mix was released on May 11
The extended version (also on the promo) is released on May 18 in the digital stores.

A promo cd has the Eurovision version and the extended version.

Identification
Dance You Off is also out on the Benjamin Ingrosso album Identification. CD out on October 19.
The digital version was released on September 28.
There's also a vinyl LP but that appears to be promo only.

Dance You Off was Ingrosso's second MF entry. In 2017 his Good Lovin' ended 5th in the final.

Benjamin is only 20 but he's been a singer and recording artist for over half his life. In 2006 he won Lilla Melodifestivalen (kids MF) with Hey Sofia and in 2007 he had a No. 2 hit with Jag Är En Astronaut, a coverversion of Ricky Wildes (Kim's bro) 1972 single I Am An Astronaut.
He starred in several musicals but decided to focus on his solo work in 2014.

MF entry Good Lovin' was a No. 10 hit in Sweden and he scored two minor hits after that.
Benjamin Ingrosso is a prolific songwriter and he wrote most his singles himself.  (and a few for other artists as well).
An album is in the making and is planned for release later this year.
See below for his singles discography.

Of course we have to mention the family ties here because we, the Eurovision fans, love that kind of trivia. Benjamin's mom is Pernilla Wahlgren who entered the Swedish Melodifestival five times, but never made it to the Eurovision stage.
Her Piccadilly Circus (MF 1985) became a Swedish classic. Pernilla currently has a real life TV show Wahlgrens Värld (Wahgrens world) where Benjamin drops by from time to time.
Dad is Emilio Ingrosso, songwriter and dancer. Sebastian Ingrosso (of Axwell Λ Ingrosso) is his cousin and Charlotte Perrelli néé Nilsson is (or rather was I guess) his aunty.

Remix DRI

Versions
Dance You Off - Eurovision/MF version
- Melodifestivalen 2CD, digital single
Dance You Off - extended
- promo cds, digital release
Dance You Off - Litek remix
- digital release
Dance You Off - Galavant remix
- digital release
Dance You Off - karaoke
- digital on the official karaoke album
The official videoclip has a longer intro.

Charts:
Swedish top 100: 17, 7, 2, 3, 7, 10, 16, 19, 47, 50, 44, 11, 32, 50, 65, 79
France top 200 (Ifop): 78, -
Spain Physical+Digital sales top 50: 7, -
Spain top 100: 69, -

Melodifestivalen 
You know the recipe by now, four heats and a second chance round all in different cities culminating in a final on in Stockholm. 28 songs in all.
The Melodifestivalen 2018 2CD with all songs was released on February 25.

The official Melodifestivalen album has been the #1 selling album of the year in Sweden every year since 2007 but the 2016 edition got stuck at #3 and it got even worse in 2017 when it ended at #7. 
In 2004, 2005 and 2006 it was #2, in 2003 it was #4, in 2002 it was #13.

At the end of this page you can find statistics of all the chart activity of MF entries since the 'modern' MF was introduced.

Links and sources:
Thanks to Johanna and Therese at TEN records
Benjamin Ingrosso: Facebook, Instagram, Page at Ten Music Group
SVT Melodifestivalen pages.
Charts at Sverige Topplistan.
Find out more about these Swedish entries: 2017 -  2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

Benjamin Ingrosso Singles Discography

2017 hit Good Lovin' (DRI)

2018 Dance You Off (MF winner, #2 on the Swedish charts)
2017 One More Time (#79 on the Swedish charts)
2017 Do You Think About Me (#87)
2017 Good Lovin' (MF 2017, #10)
2016 Love You Again
2015 Home For Christmas
2015 Crystal Clear
2015 Fall In Love (#56)
All the above are still available at your favorite digitessen and streaming services.
and the early ones...
2007 Jag Är En Astronaut (cdsingle, #2 hit in Sweden)
2006 Hej Sofia


MF In the charts

So Melodifestivalen is big business and it makes Lotta Svenska Kronor, but it's good to see a good part of money going to good production of both the TV shows and the records. And a large part of the often recordbreaking televoting revenue always goes to charity, åååååh....

Below are the chart results of Melodifestivalen and Eurovision hits in the Swedish top 60 since 2002, when the 32 song MF was introduced.
In a sudden change, 2010 saw only a few entries released on cdsingle, and it showed decline in the number of MF hits.
Since a few years downloads are the main factor in  the Swedish charts so several Eurovision hits chart without being released on cdsingle. Some only chart one or two weeks just after the contest.

Melodifestivalen (and Eurovision) in the Swedish charts
2018 top 100: 21 MF hits - 7 top 10 hits - 1 #1 hit - 1 Eurovision hit
2017 top 100: 21 MF hits - 6 top 10 hits - 0 #1 hits - 9 Eurovision hits

2016 top 100: 26 MF hits - 9 top 10 hits - 2 #1 hits - 12 Eurovision hits

* 2016 Digilistan top 60 - 17 MF hits - 9 top 10 hits - 2 #1 hits

2015 top 100: 19 MF hits - 6 top 10 hits - 1 #1 hit - 6 Eurovision hits

* 2015 Digilistan top 60: 22 MF hits - 9 top 10 hits - 1 #1 hit - 14 Eurovision hits

2014: 17 MF hits - 5 top 10 hits - 1 #1 hit - 6 Eurovision hits

* 2014 Digilistan top 60 2014: 22 MF hits - 10 top 10 hits - 2 #1 hits - 18 Eurovision hits

2013: 22 MF hits - 6 top 10 hits - 1 #1 hit - 4 Eurovision hits

2012: 17 MF hits - 7 top 10 hits - 1 #1 hit - 4 Eurovision hits

2011: 18 MF hits - 7 top 10 hits - 1 #1 hit - 2 Eurovision hits

2010: 28 MF hits - 10 top 10 hits - 3 #1 hits - 9 Eurovision hits

2009: 28 MF hits - 12 top 10 hits - 2 # 1 hits - 16 Eurovision hits

A record breaking 15 Eurovision hits in the week after the contest, most on downloads alone

2008: 30 MF hits - 14 top 10 hits - 1 #1 hit - 9 Eurovision hits

2007: 28 MF hits - 10 top 10 hits - 2 #1 hits - 7 Eurovision hits

2006: 23 MF hits -10 top 10 hits - 3 #1 hits - 6 Eurovision hits

2005: 23 MF hits - 9 top 10 hits - 4 #1 hits - 3 Eurovision hits

2004: 22 MF hits - 8 top 10 hits - 1 #1 hit - 3 Eurovision hits

2003 : 17 MF hits - 8 top 10 hits - 3 #1 hits - 2 Eurovision hits

2002 : 13 MF hits - 4 top 10 hits - 1 #1 hit - 3 Eurovision hits

* 2014: The official charts in Sweden have gone a bit crap, with Spotify and other steamers as a much too infuential source. This list is still the 'official chart' but we'll feature the digilistan as well.
The Digilistan is now the main (digital) sales based Swedish chart.
Changes in 2015: The MF has only 28 entries and the official charts have gone up to a top 100.
Changes in 2016: The method for the official Swedish charts has changed again, now it is almost the same as the digilistan.

You can check your Swedish charts weekly at Sverige Topplistan.