Ofek Jerassi, Author at EuroMix

San Marino: Besa Kokedhima to Compete in National Selection!

November 5, 2024November 10, 2024 by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Surprise: Besa Kokedhima, who represented Albania at Eurovision 2024 but didn't make it to the final, will compete to represent San Marino at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland! San Marino's Eurovision national selection, known for its colorful and multicultural nature, continues to provide surprising candidates to represent the country at Eurovision. After Ronela Hajati, who represented Albania at Eurovision 2022 with "Sekret" and attempted to represent San Marino through their national selection the following year, it's now Besa's turn. The Albanian representative in 2024 is expected to participate in the auditions for San Marino's Una Voce Per San Marino next week. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); After Besa's management team confirmed her participation in San Marino's Eurovision national selection, it can be announced that this year will mark Besa's third attempt in the Eurovision world. Besa's journey began in 2009 when she competed in the Romanian national selection with the song "Nothing Gonna Change" but didn't win. Her second attempt was in...

Spain: Benidorm Fest Participants to be Revealed on November 12th!

November 5, 2024November 10, 2024 by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The list of contestants for the Spanish Eurovision National Finals, Benidorm Fest 2025, will be unveiled on November 12th! The Spanish Eurovision national final, Benidorm Fest, will serve for the fourth time as the national selection process to choose Spain's representative for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Basel, Switzerland. The Spanish national broadcaster, RTVE, had initially planned to hold a press conference to reveal the contestants on Thursday, November 7th. However, it was reported yesterday that the reveal date would be postponed, just three days before the scheduled press conference. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); RTVE did not provide an explanation for the postponement of the press conference. However, it is likely due to the situation in eastern Spain, which is experiencing one of the worst floods in Spanish and European history. Reports indicate over 200 casualties in the Valencia region. Today, RTVE announced that the 16 Benidorm Fest contestants will be revealed on Tuesday, November...

Drama in Greece: Marina Satti Stirs Controversy with A Controversial Statement!

November 5, 2024November 5, 2024 by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Marina Satti, Greece's representative for Eurovision 2024, faces harsh criticism in Greece after comparing her country to Turkey, a nation with which Greece has very cold relations. Marina Satti, Greece's representative for Eurovision 2024, continues her local career in Greece. While garnering awards and appreciation from audiences attending her tour, she's also embroiled in significant scandals and keeps getting into trouble. In June, she clashed with TV host Athinais Nega at a local awards ceremony for speaking against Israel. In September, eggs were thrown at her during a performance. Now, she faces severe criticism after comparing her country to Turkey, a nation that has hostile relations with Greece. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Marina Satti performed in Istanbul, Turkey, in an unprecedented move, given the long-standing hostility between the two countries. Turkey, or more precisely the Ottoman Empire, was an occupying force in Greece, which fought for its independence and liberation. Many Greeks who lived in what is now...

Estonia: First Eight Finalists Revealed for “Eesti Laul”!

November 4, 2024November 4, 2024 by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Estonian national broadcaster ERR has unveiled the identities of eight out of 15 contestants chosen by the committee to compete in the Estonian Eurovision national final 'Eesti Laul 2025'. Among the contenders are Anna Sahlene and ELYSA. Estonian national broadcaster ERR announced today seven contestants who will compete in the final of the Estonian Eurovision national finals "Eesti Laul 2025" during the program "Ringvaade" (in English: "Panorama"). These join an additional contestant announced on the same show last Friday. The finalists are being revealed in two broadcasts, tonight and tomorrow, starting at 18:00 CET. The program was hosted by Grete Lõbu and Marko Reikop. A panel of 34 judges selected 15 songs to participate in the pre-selection. In early January, one additional song chosen by the public through online voting will join these 15 songs. The national final songs will be revealed on December 6th. Notably, for the first time since 2010, there will be no semi-finals, and...

Montenegro: Boban Rajović Withdraws from the Local National Final

November 4, 2024February 9, 2025 by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Montenegrin national broadcaster, RTCG, has unexpectedly announced that renowned singer Boban Rajović has withdrawn from the Eurovision pre-selection contest. In his place, singer Tamara Živković will enter the competition. Montenegro's national broadcaster, RTCG, made the surprising declaration today, revealing the withdrawl of Boban Rajović, a well-known figure in Montenegro's music scene, from the Eurovision pre-selection process "Montesong". The broadcaster simultaneously announced that Tamara Živković would step in to fill the vacancy left by Rajović's withdrawal. The event is scheduled to take place on November 27, 2024. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "I think it's unnecessary to talk about my desire to represent Montenegro at Eurovision, but it simply wasn’t meant to be this year, which doesn’t mean my wish won’t come true in the future," said Rajović. He sent his support to the Montesong finalists, wishing that the song with the most votes from the audience would win. The Montesong organizers announced that the Selection Committee had designated three...

Spain: Benidorm Fest 2025 Participants Reveal Postponed

November 4, 2024November 4, 2024 by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); RTVE has postponed the reveal of the 16 participants in the Spanish Eurovision pre-selection, Benidorm Fest 2025, originally scheduled for Thursday, November 7th. The new date for the announcement remains unknown. Benidorm Fest, Spain's Eurovision national selection event, will serve the country for the fourth time, selecting the Spanish representative for the Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Basel, Switzerland. Sixteen artists will participate in the selection process, with six additional songs chosen for a waiting list in case of withdrawals or disqualifications. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); RTVE has not provided an official reason for the delay, but it's likely related to the severe flooding in eastern Spain, particularly in the Valencia region, where reports indicate over 200 casualties. This natural disaster is considered one of the worst to hit Spain and Europe in recent times. A new date for the participants' reveal has not been set. There's speculation that RTVE might wait until the Junior Eurovision week,...

Austria: 5 Artists Revealed as Potential Eurovision Representatives

November 4, 2024November 4, 2024 by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); After announcing that eight songs remained in Austria's selection process, five names out of the seven contenders to represent the country at Eurovision 2025 in Basel have now been revealed. Austria announced in July that it would choose its representative for Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, through an internal selection, as it has done every year since 2017, after calling for artists to submit songs. Now, after the song submission window has closed and it was announced that the Austrian national broadcaster ORF had only eight songs left in the selection process to represent the country in the competition, five names of artists out of the seven remaining after the screening has been revealed. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Leading Candidates for Eurovision 2025 Although the Austrian national broadcaster (ORF) is keeping the names of the candidates to represent the country secret, several artists have hinted at their candidacy for the Eurovision Song Contest through...

Germany: New Format for Eurovision National Selection Revealed

October 31, 2024October 31, 2024 by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The national selection "Chefsache ESC", a collaboration between German national broadcaster ARD and RTL Deutschland, will be used to choose Germany's representative for Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. The national selection "Chefsache ESC," a collaboration between German national broadcaster ARD and the commercial television station RTL Deutschland, will be used to choose Germany's representative for Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. This announcement comes alongside Germany's confirmation of participation in Eurovision 2025, which was made back in May. Reports have indicated expected changes in the Eurovision selection process due to Germany's unsatisfactory results in the competition. Against this backdrop, German media speculated last November about the future involvement of music producer Stefan Raab in the German delegation for Eurovision 2025. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Chefsache ESC Today, at a press conference held at the Swiss Embassy in Berlin, the collaboration between ARD, RTL, and Raab was revealed as the connecting link for producing the national selection "Chefsache ESC". This new...

Is There Hope for North Macedonia’s Return to Eurovision 2025?

October 30, 2024 by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); While North Macedonia has de-facto confirmed its absence from Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, due to budget constraints, new reports suggest that the final word may not have been spoken yet. A few days ago, we reported that North Macedonia would be absent from Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, as the competition was not included in the North Macedonian broadcaster's budget. However, recent reports indicate that officials at the broadcaster are considering the country's return to Eurovision, possibly as soon as 2025. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Although North Macedonia's national broadcaster, MRT, published its budget specification for 2025 without allocating funds for Eurovision, the broadcaster's program council has convened in response to numerous requests from Macedonian Eurovision fans. The council approved that North Macedonia's participation in the competition is important, and that the broadcaster should make efforts to return to Eurovision. Council President Smiljka Janevska Sarkanjac emphasized the significant meaning of the country's participation in Eurovision, even if it...

Liechtenstein Will Not Participate in Eurovision 2025

October 30, 2024October 30, 2024 by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In a historic move, the majority of Liechtenstein's residents voted to abolish the law regulating public broadcasting in the country, potentially leading to the privatization of Radio Liechtenstein. What will be the implications of this decision on the country's possible participation in Eurovision? For the first time in its history, Liechtenstein's residents chose to transform their public broadcasting landscape. 55.4% of voters supported the initiative by the Democrats for Liechtenstein (DpL) party to repeal the law governing public broadcasting. This decision paves the way for the potential future privatization of Radio Liechtenstein and possible changes in media funding in the country (meaning Radio Liechtenstein would become a private, independent entity instead of government-owned). According to the party's statement, the vote does not give the government a mandate for full privatization but terminates public support for the station from December 31, 2025. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Alexander Batliner, president of the FBP party, expressed...