Storm in Luxembourg: Eva Marija has been accused of plagiarism. Luxembourg’s national broadcaster now drops a bombshell with a surprising statement. Is it truly a case of copying?
Last Saturday, Eva Marija was chosen to represent Luxembourg at the upcoming Eurovision 2026 with her song “Mother Nature”. Shortly after her victory, social media erupted with demands to disqualify the entry, claiming it plagiarized Birdy’s 2016 hit “Keeping Your Head Up”. Senior figures in Luxembourg could not remain indifferent. The national broadcaster RTL today confirmed that the matter is under official review in cooperation with several organizations.
“We Take the Matter Seriously”
In a statement to the Luxembourgish newspaper Luxemburger Wort, the national broadcaster confirmed that the possibility of copyright infringement is indeed being examined. Jeff Spielmann, head of Luxembourg’s Eurovision communications, told the paper:
“We, the Eurovision team, take discussions about possible copyright violations seriously and aim to address them transparently. To that end, we are holding talks with several organizations, including the EBU, the songwriters, the artist, and the music rights organization Sacem. In fact, it is a fact that ‘Mother Nature’ was written last year by the composers alongside the artist during a songwriting camp in Rockhal, and Birdy’s song was in no way used as a template”.
A Long History of Eurovision Copying Claims
Rumors of song copying and copyright breaches have long haunted Eurovision. Over the years, many participating songs have been accused of resembling existing works. The latest case arose just last year, when the Icelandic duo VÆB was rumored to have copied their 2025 Eurovision song “Róa” Allegations claimed it was too similar to “Khatunat HaShana” (in English: “Wedding of the Year”) by Israeli singers Itay Levi and Eyal Golan.
The controversy led to multiple inquiries in Iceland and even a complaint filed by Israeli songwriter Ofir Cohen to the EBU demanding disqualification. Ultimately, the song went on to represent Iceland as planned, finishing 25th in the final.
Soon, we will know whether Luxembourg’s “Mother Nature” truly constitutes serious plagiarism from Birdy’s anthem — and whether its disqualification is possible. Until then, fans await the developments eagerly, and we promise to keep you updated as the story unfolds.
Luxembourg in Eurovision 2026
“Mother Nature” is the title of the song that will be performed by Eva Marija, who will represent Luxembourg at Eurovision 2026, to be held in Vienna, Austria, in the first half of the second semi-final on May 14th. The song was written by Eva together with Thomas Stengaard, who has been responsible for many Eurovision songs, including the winning entry of Eurovision 2013, “Only Teardrops”, Maria Broberg, who was among the writers of Poland’s 2023 entry “Solo” and Moldova’s 2019 entry “Stay”, and Julie Aagaard, who co-wrote the United Kingdom’s 2025 song “What The Hell Just Happened”, Austria’s 2024 entry “We Will Rave”, and Malta’s 2022 song “I Am What I Am”. The song is performed in English.
“Mother Nature” explores an inner journey of growth, healing, and reconnection with self through nature. The singer reflects on her past — the innocence of when “the seed was planted” — recognizing that even good things evolve and end. Amid storms, doubts, and identity questions, she finds stability in nature’s forces: the earth, the roots, the wind, and the cyclic rhythm of life.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Luxembourg’s 40th participation in Eurovision. Luxembourg joined the competition in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won it five times over the years. Luxembourg’s last victory was at Eurovision 1983 with the song “Si la vie est cadeau” performed by singer Corinne Hermès. In 2024, Luxembourg returned to the competition after a 31-year absence.
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Ilay Gaist is a leading Israeli content creator and writer specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He is a well-known commentator with extensive expertise in the contest’s history, rules, and dynamics. His passion for Eurovision drives him to deliver rich, professional, and innovative content to his audience.
Ilay holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and has a multilingual background. He also engages in cultural research, with a particular focus on global culinary traditions and the evolution of local cuisines around the world.
