Contenders 2012

31 Jan 2012

Welcome to Euro Song Countdown 2012’s coverage of the runners & riders for Baku.

We will update the status of competing countries as the results of national contests and decisions of broadcasters come through.

You can find “Contenders 2012” at the top right hand corner of the home page next to the “About”.

The information here has been gathered from a variety of sources and every effort has been to ensure its accuracy.

If there are any errors please get in touch with us at joyeurovision@gmx.com.

SEMI FINAL 1 – May 22nd 2012 (Performance order)

MONTENEGRO SELECTED

Internal selection of “Euro-Neuro” to be sung by Rambo Amadeus in English was announced on 26th January 2012.

ICELAND SELECTED

“Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins” chose “Mundu Eftir Mér” (Remember Me) on11th February 2012.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mepztXfP9_c]

ROMANIA Not selected

Internal selection with song announced on a date to be confirmed. Earlier reports suggested public broadcaster TVR was struggling to pay for its ESC participation.

ALBANIA SELECTED

National selection, Festivali i Këngës (held since 1962, utilised as ESC selection event since 2004), chose “Suus” sung by Rona Nishliu. She’ll be the first Kosovar singer to represent Albania. She was born in Mitrovica, Kosovo.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVvDxR8k5LY]

BELGIUM Not selected

Internal selection by Flemish broadcaster VRT by February 2012.

LATVIA Not selected

National selection, Eirodziesma, will be held on 18th February 2012

SWITZERLAND SELECTED

National selection, Die Grosse Entscheidungs Show, chose “Unbreakable” sung by Sinplus on December 10th 2011. It was the first song selected for 2012 Eurovision Song Contest.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmFLez01aYQ]

FINLAND Not selected

National selection, Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu, will be held on 25th February 2012.

GREECE Not selected

Method of selection to be determined. The Greek public broadcaster, ERT, has stated that their budget for the ESC will be significantly lower than previous years because of the country’s economic crisis.

MOLDOVA Not selected

National selection on 10th March.

CYPRUS SELECTED

National selection, Ένα τραγούδι για την ΄Ηβη/A Song for Ivi, chose “La La Love” sung by Ivi Adamou will represent Cyprus in Baku.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wur-66FdjU0]

AUSTRIA Not selected

National selection, Österreich Rockt den Song Contest, will be held on 24th February 2012.

DENMARK SELECTED

National selection, Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, chose Soluna Samay singing “Should’ve Known Better”.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtoIRQ_Kz3o]

RUSSIA Not selected

National selection on 26th February 2012.

SAN MARINO Not selected

It’s most likely that San Marino will choose its ESC entrant through an internal process by public broadcaster SMRTV.

ISRAEL Not selected

National selection was planned, but because of scheduling problems suffered by public broadcaster IBA, the decision on the song for Baku will be made internally.

IRELAND Not selected

National selection, Eurosong 2012, will be held on 24th February 2012.

HUNGARY SELECTED

A Dal, Hungary’s national song contest, selected Compact Disco singing “Song of our hearts” on 11th February 2012.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTWaeyae9Hg&feature=fvst]

SEMI FINAL 2 – May 24th 2012 (Performance order)

SERBIA Not selected

Željko Joksimović has been given full rein over the Serbian entry for 2012.

Once he has come up with a song for Serbian broadcaster RTS, he’ll present it to the public for the first time in a TV show on Serbian television “in early 2012”.

NETHERLANDS Not selected

National selection, Nationaal Songfestival, will be held on 26th February 2012.

PORTUGAL Not selected

National selection, Festival Da Canção, will be held on 10th March 2012

FYR MACEDONIA SELECTED

Internal selection of “Black And White” to be sung by Kaliopi Bukle was announced on 16th January 2012.

No video available yet !!

BELARUS SELECTED

National selection, Еўрафэст/Eurofest, chose “All My Life” sung by Alyona Lanskaya on 14th February 2012.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-fsf3DOktM]

MALTA SELECTED

National selection chose”This Is The Night” sung by 22 year old Kurt Calleja on 4th February 2012.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih4tBeW-rBI]

UKRAINE Not selected

National selection will be held on 18th February 2012.

ARMENIA Not selected

Internal selection to be announced on 18th March 2012.

BULGARIA Not selected

National selection, Bylgarskata pesen za Evroviziya, will be held on 29th February 2012.

SWEDEN Not selected

National selection, Melodifestivalen, will be held on 10th March 2012.

GEORGIA Not selected

Reported that there will be a national selection by the end of February 2012.

SLOVENIA Not selected

National selection, Evrovizijska Melodija/EMA, will be held on 26th February 2012.

ESTONIA Not selected

National selection, Eesti Laul, will be held on 3rd March 2012.

TURKEY Not stected

Internal selection to be announced during February 2012.

Can Bonomo, a Jewish singer, born in İzmir, Turkey, will perform the song.

SLOVAKIA Not selected

Internal selection amid some confusion !

After reports the Slovak broadcaster RTVS would NOT participate in the 2012 ESC, there came news that Miro Šmajda was selected internally and will prform with his band under the name “my.Ro”.

Stay tuned !!

CROATIA Not selected

National selection, Dora, will be held on 18th February 2012 (tbc).

NORWAY SELECTED

National selection, Melodi Grand Prix, voted to send Tooji to Baku with the song “Stay” on 11th February 2012.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ke-P6Qpxw4]

LITHUANIA Not selected

National selection to be held on a date to be announced.

BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA Not selected

Internal selection.

FINAL – May 26th 2012

Already awarded a place in the ESC Final.

AZERBAIJAN (Host nation) Not selected

National selection, Milli Seçim Turu, will be held on a date to be announced.

FRANCE SELECTED

The Indonesian-born French singer/songwriter Anggun was internally selected by France Televsions to sing “Echo” (You And I). The song was revealed at the MIDEM in Cannes 29th January 2012.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T2ZgdgRW0g&feature=related

GERMANY Not selected

National selection, Unser Star Für Baku, will be held on 16th February 2012.

ITALY Not selected

National selection, Festival della canzone italiana di Sanremo, will be held on 18th February 2012.

SPAIN Not selected

Internal selection to be announce on 20th February 2012.

UNITED KINGDOM Not selected

Internal selection.