3440 songs entered for Sweden National Final

SVT, the Swedish national broadcaster,has announced that 3440 songs have been entered for the national final Melodifestivalen which serves as the country's selection for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest.

Melodifestivalen is the most watched show on Swedish television every year with approximately 4 million Swedes watching the exciting final which usually takes place in Stockholm's Globen Arena.
Lots of the 32 songs that reached the semi-finals in the previous years have become big hits in the Swedish charts and this year's compilation CD was awarded 6 times platinum.



source:eurovision.tv

The Toppers will represent the Netherlands at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest

Dutch broadcaster NOS officially confirmed that The Toppers will represent the Netherlands at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest.




The Toppers consists of Gerard Joling (48), Gordon (40) and René Froger (47).



A national selection will take place on the 1st of February.
TV viewers will get the opportunity to pick the song that will represent the Netherlands in Moscow.

Songwriters and composer are invited to send in their songs, contributions are welcome until the 23rd of November.



source:eurovision.tv

Bulgaria: 45 songs, nine heats

On Thursday 2nd October, the first heat of "Be a star in Bulgaria" will open the national finals and preselections season for Eurovision Song Contest 2009.

Every month (October, November and December) will have 4 shows. In the first 3, 5 of the participating songs will be presented, and in the 4th one the televoting results will be presented. The top three songs from each month will qualify for the semifinal.

In the semifinal, to be held in January, 18 songs will take part - nine that qualified from the heats, and another nine that will be chosen by a committee. Nine of those songs will be sent to the final by a jury where they will be joined by three wildcards, commissioned by BNT.

read more on esctoday.com

Slovakia back to the Eurovision Song Contest

Slovakian public broadcaster STV announced that it will bring Slovakia back to the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow next year. It will be the first time that the country participates in eleven years.

Slovakia has entered the competition three times in the past, with poor results on each occasion.
They entered for the first time in 1994 with Martin Durinda and Tublatanka singing Nekonečná pieseň, winning just 15 points. In total, they have picked up only 42 points.




source:esctoday.com

Dima Bilan special guest star at Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2008

Dima Bilan, winner of the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest, will be the special guest star at the 6th Junior Eurovision Song Contest on the 22nd November in Lemesos, Cyprus!



He will also meet all this year’s participants of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest to offer them some last-minute advice after Friday night's dress rehearsal. During the live final on the Saturday night, Dima will also perform his winning song Believe on the stage of the Spyros Kyrianou Arena.


source:eurovision.tv