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

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. 

Switzerland - Stones - ZiBBZ

3 track cdsingle

13 - 86 pts in semi 1

Sister and brother duo ZiBBZ (siblings, ZiBBZ, get it?...) entered their song Stones for Switzerland in the Lisbon contest.
They wrote the song themselves with Canadian singer/songwriter Laurell Barker.

The original version of Stones was released as a digital single on January 9.
A new version was revealed on March 13.
The new version was released as the Revamp version on March 23 along with its karaoke and instrumental (6003 records). (iTunes)
The version we heard at the contest is the Show Edit from the promo cds. (see below)
The promo also has biographies, videos and photos.

Promo (folder)

ZiBBZ are Corinne Gfeller (Coco) and Stefan Gfeller (Stee). They are currently based in Los Angeles where they recorded their second album It Takes A Village which was released in September 2017.
See full discography below.

Switzerland had six songs to choose from in their ESC 2018 Entscheidungsshow on February 4.
You can listen to all songs here at SRF's Youtube channel.

Promo and cdsingle
The promo used in Lisbon is a cd with added data content. It comes in an A5 folder.
This one has 4 versions of Stones (see versions below).
There's also a cdsingle on sale through the Zibbz website, available with the album It Takes A Village.
This cdsingle has three versions. (6003 Records 7896600318019)

Gölä live version

Swiss rock star Gölä released a live album in Febryary 2019 of his 2018 anniversary concert. ZibbZ were his guest and their Stones made it to the Live 2CD/DVD set 20 Jahre Bühnenjubiläum Hallenstadion 2018 

(Gölä Music 8125-2)

Another guest on the set is Bonnie Tyler but she doesn't perform her Eurovison entry.

Also on your favorite digital sources.

Available through Gölä website

Versions
Stones - Show edit
- promo only, this is the one used at the contest
Stones - Revamp version a.k.a. Radio edit
- on the Lisbon 2CD, cdsingle and promo
Stones - (Revamp) karaoke
- cdsingle and promo
Stones - (Revamp)  instrumental
- cdsingle and promo
Stones - Original single version
- first digital release
- all are also digital releases except the Show edit
Stones - Live with Gölä (2018)

- Gölä CD/DVD 20 Jahre Bühnenjubiläum Hallenstadion 2018

Charts
Switzerland top 100: 62, -

Original Digital Release Image

Links and sources:
Special thanks to Rico at ZiBBZ HQ and to ZiBBZ.
Thanks to Julia at SRF and thanks to Nigel
ZiBBZ: Website, Facebook, Youtube Channel, Instagram
SRF Eurovision pages
More Swiss entries to check out: 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

ZiBBZ discography
albums
2013: Ready? Go! (CD and digital, #14 on the Swiss charts)
2017: It Takes A Village (CD and digital, #11)
CD's are available at the ZiBBZ shop.
singles:
2011: WWW.Ahh
2012: One Shot
2013: Wake Up!
2013: Neonlights
2014: Dynamite Blonde
2014: Undone
2017: Paperplane
2017: Run
2018: Stones
All singles are available through digital sources. 

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.