Eurovision 2023 Favourites

The Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest is tonight, so here is the second of my annual posts! I also wrote two "mini countdown" posts this year. Here is the first post, another round-up of my Eurovision posts  (I did the first one back in 2017):

Eurovision Round-up 2: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2023/05/eurovision-round-up-2.html 

I watched some of the 1st semi-final on Tuesday but not all of it, because I find that if it's more interesting if I haven't seen all the acts first. So I tend to watch the semi-final that the UK can vote in and then I catch up on the acts that didn't get through online later. This year it was the 2nd one on Thursday that we could vote in, so I watched all of that.

Here are my favourites from this year's contest. :)

Brunette- Future Lover (Armenia)

I voted for Armenia in the 2nd semi-final. Their entry is Future Lover by Brunette.  She got through and will be competing in the final. 

Brunette's real name is Elen Yeremyan and she's been singing since she was 4. She wrote her 1st song aged 15 and released her debut single Love The Way You Feel in 2018, when she was 18. It was a collaboration with the non-profit organisation Nvak Foundation. Her other singles include Gisher, Smoke break and Bac kapyut achqred. 

In addition to being a solo singer, Brunette is a member of Armenian girl group En Aghjiknery ("ThoseGirlz" in English), who are known for their hit single Mena. She also performs with the live band Project12. 

Future Lover is her latest single and was released on 15th March. It's about the desire for a lover who hasn't arrived yet. The lyrics are mostly English with some Armenian ones as well. I like the way it starts out slow and then builds to a more rousing chorus. 

For more on Brunette visit these links:

Eurovision profile: https://eurovision.tv/participant/brunette-2023

Official YouTube: https://youtube.com/@BrunetteMusic

 

Official Instagram: https://instagram.com/brunette_e_

Want more Armenia in Eurovision? Visit these posts:

Back in 2009 (14 years ago now!), one of my favourite songs was Inga & Anush's Jan Jan. I featured it in my 2013 Eurovision Songs I  Like post: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2013/05/eurovision-songs-i-like.html

Fly With Me by Artsvik was my fave in the 2017 contest: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2017/05/eurovision-faves-and-past-contestant.html

My 2nd favourite song in 2019 (after the Albanian entry; see below) was Srbuk's Walking Out: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2019/05/eurovision-2019-favourites.html

Although 2020's ESC  was cancelled due to the pandemic, the show Eurovision:  Europe Shine A Light was shown instead. One of the entries I liked that year was Chains On Me by Athena Manoukian: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2020/05/eurovision-europe-shine-light.html

Albina & Familja Kelmendi- Duje (Albania)

My second favourite song was Duje by Albania's Albina & Familja Kelmendi. It's a family affair, since the group is made up of lead singer Albina Kelmendi and her family- her mum Albana, dad Bujar, brother Albin and sisters Vesa and Sidorela. They are from Kosovo.

They also got through, so you'll be seeing them in the final. 

Albina reached the final of Series 4 of The Voice of Albania when she was 16 and went on to enter more singing contests. She released her debut album Nana ioke last June. 

Duje is about family love and overcoming life's challenges. It's sung in Albanian. I like the overall vibe of the song, traditional style. (Or it seems like it's traditional to me!) I also like their red scarves, they remind me of a scarf dance my old belly dance group did!

For more on Albina and her family, visit these links:

Eurovision profile: https://eurovision.tv/participant/albina-familja-kelmendi-2023

Albina's official FB page: https://www.facebook.com/albinakelmendiofficial 

Albina's official Instagram: https://instagram.com/kelmendialbina

Her YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@kelmendialbina

Fan of Albania in Eurovision? Check out these posts:

My fave song in 2019 (and the one I voted for in the 3nd semi-final) was Jonida Maliqi's Ktheju tokes: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2019/05/eurovision-2019-favourites.html 

In 2021 I liked Karma by Anhexla Peristeri (scroll to the And here are a few more I liked section): https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2021/05/eurovision-favourites-2021.html

So those were the two I really liked but here a few other notable songs:

Monika Linkyte- Stay (Lithuania): https://youtu.be/g6dUTkgN8K0 

Powerful ballad style song with strong vocals. This got through to the final. It's singer Monica's second time at Eurovision. She first competed back in 2015, singing This Time with Vaidas Baumila.

Voyager- Promise (Australia): https://youtu.be/p1ohtx5Ul6I

 This is an interesting song, kind of a mixture of electro dance/rock! 5-piece band Voyager have made several attempts to represent Australia since they joined Eurovision in 2015 and this year they succeeded! They were chosen for the final too.

TVORCHI- Heart of Steel (Ukraine): https://youtu.be/sZAEBbwDKMY

I think this is a definite contender. Since Ukraine were last year's winners, they have a guaranteed place in the final.  I've linked above to their live performance a d you can also visit my Eurovision Round-up post to see the music video. 

Hope you liked the post! :) Who is your favourite Eurovision act this year? 

The Eurovision Grand Final is tonight at 8pm BST/9pm CEST. In the UK it will be shown on BBC1.

Keep up with all things Eurovision on the official site: https://eurovision.tv/