Ilay Gaist, Author at EuroMix

Kyiv Missile Attack: Alyosha Survives by a Miracle

June 24, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “Everything inside is shattered”: Ukrainian Eurovision star Alyosha revealed the extent of destruction to her Kyiv home after a deadly Russian attack, as she and her family narrowly escaped harm. During a missile attack on Kyiv last night (June 23rd), the apartment of Alyosha, Ukraine’s Eurovision 2010 representative, was severely damaged. The missile did not hit her building directly, but the blast waves tore the steel doors from their frames and caused extensive destruction. Despite the damage - she and her family survived. Her husband, singer Taras Topolia, updated that a nearby building suffered a direct hit - with many casualties reported. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “Everything Inside Is Shattered” – Shock, Destruction, and Reactions from the Music Community Topolia’s post painted a grim picture: “Everything inside is shattered… The blast waves bent the metal and broke the doors from their locks. We are lucky - we are all alive.” The statement sparked a wave of solidarity from artists, including Eurovision 2016 winner Jamala,...

Angelina Mango Vanishes from the Spotlight: What Really Happened?

June 24, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Angelina Mango, Italy’s Eurovision 2024 representative, shares a deeply personal post about her breakdown, pressures, and recovery journey, sparking a storm in Italy and the Eurovision community. Angelina Mango, Italy’s Eurovision 2024 representative and Sanremo Festival winner, has published an especially personal and revealing post that left her fans stunned: “Really? It’s definitely not all roses.” The post, her first after a prolonged silence, has reignited the question of the personal cost that young stars pay for meteoric success and has stirred up a storm in Italy and the Eurovision world. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); When Musical Ambition Turns into a Psychological Burden Mango’s post, published on social media, is not just a complaint - it is a genuine cry for help. It exposes the less glamorous side of the Sanremo and Eurovision worlds: relentless pressure, loss of privacy, endless comparisons, and impossible expectations. At the very peak of her professional success, Mango was forced to cancel all her performances due...

Graz, The City Coping with Tragedy Still Considers Hosting Eurovision 2026

June 24, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Graz remains in the running to host Eurovision 2026, despite a recent tragedy. Five cities still await the announcement on August 8th, 2025. Could the contest become a symbol of hope or an open wound? Despite conflicting reports and media speculation, the city of Graz in Austria has not yet withdrawn its candidacy to host Eurovision 2026. Following the horrific massacre in the city on June 10th, in which 11 people were killed - including nine students - voices have emerged calling for the city to abandon its bid on moral grounds. However, according to local authorities, no official decision has yet been made - and some suggest that Eurovision could actually become a “symbol of hope.” (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Between Public Mourning and Collective Hope The shocking shooting that shook Graz - and sparked a fierce debate in Austria over gun laws - also casts a shadow over the city’s cultural and public...

Between Iran and Israel: Barbara Pravi Reveals the Drama That Changed Her Life

June 24, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “In Iran, singing is a crime”: Barbara Pravi, France’s Eurovision 2021 representative, opens up about her Iranian-Jewish roots, her fears of extremism, and the pivotal drama that shaped her life. Barbara Pravi, France’s Eurovision 2021 representative who captivated Europe with her song “Voilà”, returns to the headlines - this time for a far more profound reason. In a personal interview published as relations between Israel and Iran reach a historic boiling point, Pravi reveals her complex identity: a Polish Jewish grandmother, a Moroccan Jewish grandmother, an Iranian grandfather who fled after the Shah’s fall, and a Serbian grandfather who opposed Tito’s regime. Her music, it turns out, is only part of the story. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); One woman, four worlds: What connects Parisian Judaism to Persian poetry? “I can’t ignore any of this, [...] My roots are who I am.” Says Pravi. While her grandparents’ homelands stand on opposite sides of the Middle Eastern conflict,...

Ed Sheeran Reveals: Eurovision 2025 and the Choice He Almost Made

June 23, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The world's most famous British pop star shares his favorite Eurovision 2025 song, reveals which close friend performed at the last contest, and discusses whether he might ever compete himself. One performance managed to touch one of the biggest pop stars in the world: Ed Sheeran, who, as he does every year, watched the Eurovision Song Contest. Sheeran revealed that his favorite song from Eurovision 2025 was Italy’s entry by Lucio Corsi. The song, which captivated the European audience, also excited Sheeran, who declared in an interview: "I loved it. It was the best song in my opinion." After the Italian performance, Louane - a close friend of Sheeran - took the stage, and he admitted to feeling uncomfortable about the timing. He also revealed whether he is considering competing in Eurovision himself. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Friendship Dilemmas and Musical Taste Sheeran’s choice of Lucio Corsi was not an obvious one. When asked about his preference, he confessed: "I felt...

The Nazi Secret Shaking Europe – What Did ABBA’s Star Conceal All These Years?

June 23, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Behind the career of ABBA’s Eurovision-winning star lies a tragic past rooted in a secret Nazi project, leading all the way to the European Court of Human Rights. Decades after achieving global fame with ABBA and becoming an unforgettable Eurovision icon, the personal and tumultuous story of Anni-Frid Lyngstad has come to light. She was born as a result of a secret Nazi project that fostered a relationship between her Norwegian mother and a German soldier during World War II - making her a target for persecution, isolation, and humiliation in her homeland during her childhood. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Did a Eurovision Star Hide a Nazi Past? Lyngstad is one of thousands of children born under the “Lebensborn” program - a Nazi initiative aimed at creating a “master race” through relationships between SS soldiers and Scandinavian women. Approximately 12,000 children were born in Norway alone as part of this program, and at the end of the war, they...

Iran at Eurovision? The Story of Iranians Who Captured the World’s Biggest Stage

June 22, 2025June 22, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Though Iran itself does not participate in Eurovision, artists of Iranian origin do - and more than you might think! Artists of Iranian origin have managed over the years to reach the stage of the Eurovision Song Contest - not as representatives of Iran, which does not participate in the competition, but under the flags of Western countries. This is a rare but fascinating phenomenon that highlights the power of migration, multicultural identity, and global influences in the world of entertainment. From unforgettable performances to interrupted participations, five prominent figures with Iranian roots have left their mark on Europe’s most watched competition. Among them are singers with international careers, new immigrants, and even one young girl. For some, their Iranian background was only hinted at, while for others, it was a source of pride and a message of cultural integration. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Arash – The Iranian Superstar Who Captivated Azerbaijan The most recognizable...

JoJo Siwa Wanted to Represent Poland – And Now the United Kingdom – at Eurovision!

June 22, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); JoJo Siwa, the American reality and music star, has expressed her desire to represent the United Kingdom at Eurovision 2026 - after her attempt to represent Poland in the contest did not materialize. JoJo Siwa, 22, is a controversial American singer and reality TV star who rose to fame as a child on "Dance Moms" and recently appeared on "Big Brother VIP UK." She remains determined to participate in Eurovision, after revealing last year that she has Polish roots and expressing interest in representing Poland at the Eurovision Song Contest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); No Call from Poland - So Maybe the United Kingdom? It all began when JoJo Siwa shared about a year ago that she was interested in representing Poland at the contest. Her song "Yesterday's Tomorrow's Today" even went viral in the country, but ultimately, the story faded away. The Polish national broadcaster even denied any contact with Siwa. Now, in a new...

JJ, Eurovision 2025 Winner: “The Next Step – A Grammy”

June 22, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); JJ, winner of Eurovision 2025, reveals his dream of winning a Grammy and shares his thoughts on the voting for Israel and the competition’s new voting system in an interview. JJ, representing Austria and winner of Eurovision 2025, is not stopping - already setting himself a new goal: winning a Grammy. He speaks openly about his overwhelming success, reactions from around the world, the surprise from Israel, and his views on the competition’s new voting system. As the one who brought Austria its third Eurovision victory with the song "Wasted Love", JJ became an overnight sensation in the international music industry - and he has no intention of stopping there. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); JJ Reveals His Future Ambitions JJ, also known by his real name Johannes Pietsch, secured Austria’s third Eurovision win in history when he triumphed in the final held in Basel, Switzerland, with the song "Wasted Love". With 436 points - 258...

Sanremo 2026 in Jeopardy? Record Labels Threaten Boycott

June 21, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Sanremo Festival 2026 faces unprecedented tension between Italian record labels and RAI, with threats to halt collaboration with the Italian music industry overshadowing preparations. Sanremo Festival 2026, which also serves as Italy’s Eurovision national selection, is now at the center of a financial storm threatening its very character. Major record labels in Italy have entered tense negotiations with the national broadcaster, RAI, demanding a dramatic increase in reimbursement for participating artists. According to reports, the demands amount to an additional €150,000 per artist. The implications? The next Sanremo Festival could take place without some of the biggest names in Italian music - but that is not the only threat. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Sanremo at a Crossroads: Money or Collapse The current situation raises a broader question: can Sanremo, long regarded as a cultural institution and not just an entertainment show, continue in its current format? Industry insiders warn that without a budget increase, participation is not financially viable. The...