Interview with Natalia Barbu
Interview with Natalia Barbu in the flight for Helsinki
this video is from escfans.eu
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Moldova have not decided yet about their participation in 2008
from esctoday.com
The Moldovian broadcaster TRM is one of the poorest participating in the Eurovision Song Contest, something which nearly caused the country to pull out of the 2007 edition held in Helsinki.
In the end, however, a compromise was reached stating that Moldova would participate as long as its representative paid the fees connected with the contest themselves.
However, another part of the agreement was that should Moldova enter the Top 10 in Finland, TRM would refund the participants' expenses - something which did indeed happen after Natalia Barbu placed 10th with Fight.
This means that TRM did not actually save any money and since their financial situation has not improved in the meantime the same doubts about their participation in 2008 remain the same as last year. TRM will consider their budget before making a final decision on participation in Belgrade in October of this year.
As Natalia Barbu finished Top 10 in 2007, Moldova is one of the countries prequalified to the 2008 final by right. The next in line for prequalification, should they withdraw, is Bosnia & Herzegovina, who finished 11th.
Moldova has participated three times to date, finishing in the Top 10 on two occasions so far.
Eurovision 2007 Set New Streaming Record
The 2007 Eurovision Song Contest, one of the largest musical events in Europe, set new records this year for both the European Broadcasting Union and Octoshape. Millions of users visited the Eurovision website and the online webcast also saw a major rise in popularity.
If you've ever lived in Europe for any amount of time, you've probably been there during the annual Eurovision Song Contest. To say the least, a lot of people go crazy over this event and some cities even put up large screens to watch it with a crowd. While it's not always the best music, the shows, commentating, and voting are very entertaining.
When I saw it was being streamed online this year, I couldn't help but tune in but the experience was not the same. They didn't have any commentating, nor did you see how countries were voting. That took away some of the entertainment.
In Octoshape's experience, webcasts from high profile events like the ESC are watched like traditional television broadcasts. With an estimated average of 2.5 viewers per stream and more than 400,000 sessions, the ESC 2007 webcast could have reached approximately a quarter million people. In addition the vast majority of users were tuned in for the entire event.
Having successfully streamed in high quality from the ESC 2006, the Junior ESC 2006 and now the ESC 2007, Octoshape has repeatedly proved itself as a viable solution for large scale high quality webcasts.
With more than 24% of the total user hours consumed by users from the US, it's obvious that the event is extending beyond European borders. With no broadcasters airing the event in most countries outside Europe, users were delighted with the TV-quality feed from Octoshape. ESC-TV - the Eurovision Song Contest channel - was available to users worldwide in high quality at 700 Kbits/s.
the article is from tvover.net
Local media claim Despina Olympiou in talks with CyBC
from oikotimes.com
The Cypriot media discuss for days now the potential participant of Cyprus for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest representation. According to the claims, Despina Olympiou is in discussions with CyBC to represent the country in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade.
CyBC has made no official statement on the story and it is not really expected to do so.
Though the name of Despina Olympiou might give an explanation to the previous article on why Michalis Hatzigiannis is not any more gaming with ERT for Greek representation in Belgrade for the 2008 Eurovision edition. Michalis Hatzigiannis and Despina Olympiou are a couple in life and it wouldn't be nice for both of them to represent 'competative' countries in an ESC edition.
YLE to select dancers on August 25
from oikotimes.com
Finland will select its participants for the inaugural Eurovision Dance Contest in a live, televised, show on August 25. The show will run much like ''Tanssii tähtien kanssa'', the Finnish version to 'Strictly Come Dancing', and will be aired on YLE two presented by Eurovision-hostess Jaana Pelkonen, and Simo Frangén.
Eight dancing pairs will take to the stage, all of whom have been approved by the Finnish Dancing Union, with the winner being decided by the public through telephone and SMS voting. A jury will be on-hand in the studio to pass comment on the dancing, outfits, and the performance- but they won't award any points. The participants will be made public on July 5, along with the jury, by broadcaster YLE.
Finland is leaving it late to select, with YLE stating that the winning couple will leave for London on August 29- just four days after the show.
Karolina in a duet with Dmitry Koldun?
After the end of this year Eurovision, some stories has been started that Karolina and Koldun decided to make one song together.
This story has been told by Tatjana Gogovska, head of FYR Macedonian delegation.
Although Karolina hasn't confirmed the story, as we know Karolina, she never says things which are not sure.
So, we still have to wait will this story come true.
Koldun at Muz Awards 2007
source:oikotimes.com
Michalis Hatzigiannis out of the picture for Greece 2008?
Source: Oikotimes.com
Author Fotis Konstantopoulos (Greece)
THE FACT
The new executive manager of ERT Mr. Johnny Kalimeris said recently on Alpha Television that since he took over the Eurovision project by George Chouliaras who left ERT for Alpha TV, and since the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest ended, he started sounding discussions for the preparation of the Greek broadcaster for the 2008 Eurovision participation.
THE OFF THE RECORD INFORMATION
As we all know, for 2007 ERT asked Michalis Hatzigiannis to compose the Greek entry but the project ultimately came to a dead end. Everyone said back then that Michalis would be a great choice to participate as a singer in 2008. The off the record news around the Greek broadcaster say now that the name of Michalis Hatzigiannis cannot be considered for the 2008 Greek participation.
From what we learned, there are already discussions with various artists, nothing has been decided yet but ERT wants to have an organized plan by the mid of the Fall in order to begin the presentation of the Greek Eurovision project from early January as usual. This time though they want to plan a strategy. Why? Because ERT saw the gains of the Eurovision Song Contest and fortunately for the Greek Fans, the broadcaster is after another victory.
Bulgarian music awards on 26th June
from esctoday.com
On 26th June, the Bulgarian music awards will be held for the 9th time. The show is one of the biggest music events in Bulgaria and will not only include the award ceremony but also performances by many national and international stars. Among them - as you might expect - some former Eurovision Song Contest entrants.
Sistem (Romania)will be performing live on stage. In 2005, after winning the semi final, the group finished third in Kyiv with Let me try as backing group for Luminita Anghel.
Mariana Popova was the second Bulgarian singer in the Eurovision Song Contest one year later. Although she is a well-known singer in her country, she did not reach the finalbut only finished 17th in the semis. She will not only perform on stage but she is also nominated for an award.
Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:
Spectators hit
Best debut
Best pop/dance song and album
Best rock / alternative song and album
Best hip-hop / R&B song and album
Best foreigner video
Best artist and best Bulgarian video.
Compact Disk celebrates 25th birthday
The CD celebrated its 25th birthday yesterday 20th June. ABBA’s album The Visitors was the first commercially released Compact Disc; it introduced a new level of sound quality to the general consumer and changed the way music could be heard in the mass market. more...
Read also:
"It is small and round, provides enjoyable, crackle-free, crystal-clear sound, and it set off an acoustic revolution 25 years ago: the first pop CD to be made from Bayer’s high-tech material Makrolon® was ABBA’s album “The Visitors” in 1982. The compact disc produced the songs of the Swedish cult band in a sound quality that was totally new at the time, so that this shiny object totally changed the international music industry. It also changed the way people listened to music – for ever. What is more, it heralded the global conquest of optical data storage." .....full article here
Georgia have announced their participation in the Junior Eurovision
Georgia, have announced their participation in the Junior Eurovision as well.
The entire national selection process will be under the auspice of Georgia's first lady Sandra Roelofs, wife of President Mikheil Saakashvili.
The country's first junior participant will be selected through a nationwide three-stage process.
All applications will be discussed by jury during the first phase. Then the regional casting of participants will be held with the 12 best ones being selected. At the final concert, a performer, who will represent Georgia in Rotterdam, will be selected.
The deadline for the applications is July 10.
sources:esctoday.com; esckaz.com
Cyprus star Konstantinos Hristoforou performs with Bryan Adams
Konstantinos Hristoforou ,that represented Cyprus in 2005 in Kiev, will star in Bryan Adam's live gig in Cyprus at the Tsirio Stadium in Limassol. The date for the concert will be on Friday June 29.
Constantinos will officially kick start the concert, singing two tunes 'She's no fool' and his massive hit "Thes na kanoume shesi"('Θες να κάνουμε σχέση') in English, which was re-written to "What does it take to have you".
Helene Katsambas who shall organise the Cyprus gig said she was 'pleased' to have confirmed the star's appearance.
It is Bryan Adam's debut appearance on the island, where he is expected to perform his greatest hits to date.
The rock n'roll star who had a world-wide hit featuring ‘Everything I Do’ (1991) was used in the Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.
Speaking about his iminent visit to Limassol: “I haven’t been to Cyprus before and I always wanted to see it, I think it’s about time! We’ve been all around the Mediterranean and flown over Cyprus so many times, it’s now time to land down and come play,” he said.
from Tony Neophytou LGR
Cyprus Music Awards
The second ever Cyprus Music Awards had taken place at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia on Tuesday 19 June, in association with the Cyprus College.
The hosts were Zeta Makrypoulia and Themis Georgantas.
Michalis Hatzigiannis was the biggest winner in the Aphrodite awards after scooping the Best Male Singer, Best Album (Fili Kai Exthroi) and Best Single (Ola I Tipota).
The singer had spoken live from Theatro Vrahon in Athens while performing in concert, who was thankful to the Cypriot public for the gracious awards.
The Nicosia born singer who has resided over a near 100,000 album sales in Greece for his latest album Fili kai Exthroi. The album has gone triple platinum.
Cyprus singer Evridiki who was the island's representative in the Eurovision Semi-Final in Helsinki, was picked as Best Female singer.
Comme ci, Comme ca - despite coming 15th in the Eurovision heat, had proven a massive hit with listeners in both Cyprus and Greece.
Limassol born Konstantinos Hristoforou had scooped the Best Song of the Year, for his beautiful ballad Stasou Ena Lepto.
The Cypriot awards was organised by Galaxy productions in association with IFPI.
Helena Paparizou was the introductory opening act, who initiated the proceedings which had to follow.
Evridiki, Dimitris Korgialias, Sarbel and Konstantinos Hristoforou were the other performers.
The show will have a live transmission on Sigma TV at a later date.
The winner's list for the Aphrodite Awards:
Best Newcomer - Tamta
Best Song Of The Year - Konstantinos Hristoforou - Stasou Ena Lepto
Best Female Singer - Evridiki
Best Male Singer - Michalis Hatzigiannis
Best Album - Michalis Hatzigiannis - Fili Kai Exthroi
Best Group - C-REAL
Best Single - Michalis Hatzigiannis - Ola I Tipota
Best Video - Anna Vissi - Everything
Best Cypriot song production (airplay) - Giorgos Papadopoulos.
Best Love Song - Antonis Remos - Signomi.
from London Greek Radio
Eurovision singer to star at fair
Eurovision star Natalie Powers will provide star quality when she opens this year's St Paul's School summer fair in Langleybury.
Natalie is one quarter of Scooch, who sang the British entry at this year's song contest, and she will be on hand to join in the family fun in Langleybury Lane on Saturday.
There will be lots of attractions, with stalls, country dancing and singing from the school choir.
The fair will run from 1pm to 4pm.
Flying the Flag on Senate Square
source:Watford Observer; youtube.com
Lithuanian participants surprised by winner Serbia
4Fun did not manage to make it to the final this year but that will not stop the band from considering participating again, even as soon as 2008. Julija spoke to us about her unique experience in Helsinki, her feelings on the Hartwaal Arena stage and the reasons that might have led to Love or leave coming 21st.
The Lithuanian artist declared that she was surprised and puzzled by this year's winning song, Molitva by Serbian Marija Serifovic. "For example her clothes... Does it mean something? She looked like a man but why?" Julija wondered before telling us who she would have chosen as a winner herself.
Julija, who is a die-hard Eurovision fan, also spoke about her views on the influence of bloc and diaspora voting on the outcome of the contest and the band's plans.
You can read the entire interview here
from esctoday.com
Beogradska Arena - Photos
Svante Stockselius, the supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, visits Belgrade this week to provide Serbian broadcaster RTS with all information regarding the organisation of next year's contest.
Zdob si Zdub all around Europe
The Moldovan ethno-rock music band Zdob Si Zdub (Beat the Drum) has finally released its seventh album, “Ethnomecanica,” and is ready to share its new material with Ukrainian fans.
Zdob Si Zdub, who were the first artists to represent Moldova at the Eurovision Song Contest (in 2005 in Kyiv), is now a frequent guest at various European festivals, yet the musicians are not often seen in the Ukrainian capital.
During their forthcoming concert in Kyiv, the company of six energetic musicians, including vocalist Roman Yagupov, Mihai Gincu on bass guitar, drummer Anatol Pugaci, Victor Dandes on trombone, Valeriu Mazilu on trumpet, and guitarist Igor Buzurniuc, will perform their famous songs, including the Eurovision hit “Boonika Bate Doba” (“Grandma Beats the Drum”), and songs from the new album.
As a part of their concert, the band will perform their famous covers of popular singles by several well-known musicians, such as The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black,” and “Videli Noch” (“Seen the Night”), by the Russian cult rock band Kino.
On the list of the band’s new compositions is also their original cover version of the Roman folk tune “Ciocarlia,” which, performed by Goran Bregovic, became the soundtrack to the movie “Underground,” by the legendary Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica.
Linz Europa Tour 2007-2009
Linz Tour is announging its beginning. This will happenn in Viena (Austria) in June 22, in the frame of the renowned Austrian media company-company1, wich will celebrate its 40th anniversary.
Besides Hubert von Goisern, Zdob si Zdub will perform on the 1 stage
sources:Kyiv Post; Zdob si Zdub.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
