The winner in 2022 was the band Kalush which is an Ukrainian rap group formed in 2019. The group consists of founder and rapper Oleh Psiuk, multi-instrumentalist Ihor Didenchuk, and breakdancer MC KylymMen. Didenchuk is also a member of the electro-folk band Go_A, which represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. One of their hits is: “Stefania” (https://youtu.be/UiEGVYOruLk).
History of Eurovision
The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the longest running television shows in the world and celebrated its 66th anniversary this year. The first show aired on 24th May 1956 and since then it has embedded itself in European tradition and is without doubt one of Europe’s most treasured TV shows and a guilty pleasure of many. With six decades of history, well over 1000 songs have been performed on the show by the likes of ABBA, Céline Dion, Cliff Richard and Julio Iglesias. But where did it all begin? It was started by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) following a meeting in Monaco in 1955, when Marcel Bezençon, a Frenchman working for the EBU, came up with the idea of an international song contest based on the Italian Festival di Sanremo. It was initially conceived as a technological experiment in live television in the days before satellite TV, YouTube and Netflix but was such a huge success that it continued to air annually in Europe, as well as Australia, Canada, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Jordan, Korea, New Zealand and the United States in more recent years. It continues to grow every year and if you’re a Eurovision fan then you may have noticed that Australia entered the contest (and performed very well) in the 2015 and 2016 shows, and it is anticipated that other non-EU countries may enter in the future, making it a truly global contest. In the early years of the competition, as only a small number of countries participated, all acts performed on the big night and then a televote was opened, allowing viewers to vote for their favourite act, with the exception of their own country. The winner of the public vote was crowned champion and the prize was the privilege of hosting the contest the following year. However, as the competition has grown with more countries entering acts (43 countries in total), there are now several knock-out rounds and semi-finals leading up to the main event, and currently only 26 acts perform on the night, although all 43 participating countries can vote for their favorite. Another change to the format in recent years has been the use of national juries, who professionally judge the acts, with their votes being added to the public vote. These panels were brought in to try to negate political voting, whereby neighboring countries voted for one another, as this was beginning to ruin the results of the show. In a twist to the 2016 contest, the votes of the national juries were presented first by representatives from each participating country, with the televoting points then being added and announced by the show hosts.
A sample of one country’s singers: Serbia
To give you an idea of the talent levels, I have included the singers from just one country: Serbia. The Serbia’s public broadcaster RTS has revealed the 36 songs competing in ‘Song For Eurovision 22’, alongside the running orders of the semi-finals, and a first look at the new logo! Below are the names of the songs and artists participating in Serbia’s national final but you won’t have to wait very long to hear them… you will be able to listen to all 36 on the RTS Pesma Evrovizije – Zvanični YouTube channel as of 14:00 CET on Tuesday 8 February. The participants will also present their songs on the RTS morning show on a daily basis, starting from Wednesday 9 February.
Song For Eurovision ’22, broadcast dates:
- Thursday 3 March: Song for Eurovision ‘22(Semi-Final 1)
- Friday 4 March: Song for Eurovision ‘22 (Semi-Final 2)
- Saturday 6 March: Song for Eurovision ‘22(Grand Final) ⭐️
Each semi-final will feature 18 songs, with 9 songs qualifying from each for the grand final. In all shows, 50% of the final score will come from televotes and 50% from professional juries.
Semi-Final 1, Running Order:
Thursday 3 March
1. Sanja Bogosavljević from Serbia – Priđi mi (Approach me) (https://youtu.be/0UHDaNtrP0s) ) (RQ 10+)
Music: Ilija Antović
Lyrics: Ilija Antović
2. VIS Limunada – Pesma ljubavi (The Song of Love) (https://youtu.be/VBua89S33HY). A six member group. The melody reminds me of an old time favorite: “Mr. Tambourine Man.”
Music: Miodrag Ninić 6 member group.
Lyrics: Miodrag Ninić
3. Zorja Pajic – Zorja (Pesma za Evroviziju) https://youtu.be/eoTsDAPM39U
Music: Zorja Pajić, Lazar Pajić
Lyrics: Zorja Pajić
4. Bojana Mašković – Dama (Lady). https://youtu.be/RS6EyAcv9Bo
Music: Dušan Krsmanović i Alen Duš
Lyrics: Alen Duš
5. Boris Subotić – Vrati mi (Give Me Back) https://youtu.be/0W67ZsJ7iek
Music: Boris Subotić
Lyrics: Boris Subotić
6. Ivona Pantelić – Znam (I Know) (https://youtu.be/m2wwALbDXS8) RQ 10. Great harmonies!
Music: Ivona Pantelić
Lyrics: Ivona Pantelić
7. Bane Lalić i MVP – Tu gde je ljubav, tu ne postoji mrak (Where There Is Love, These Is No Darkness) https://youtu.be/lej1pX7vsZY
Music: Bane Lalić
Lyrics: Bane Lalić
8. Brie Angellina – Reach. (https://youtu.be/E1Em1er1XIw)
Music: Ognjen Jovanov, Marko Kon, Angellina
Lyrics: Ognjen Jovanov, Marko Kon, Angellina
9. Ana Stanic – Ljubav bez dodira (Love Without a Touch) https://youtu.be/Ny47UhP0hgo
Music: Vojislav Dragović
Lyrics: Ana Stanić
10. Juliya Samoylova – Brzina (Speed) https://youtu.be/bgBwbr_fUxA
Music: Nenad Ćeranić
Lyrics: Nenad Ćeranić
11. Aca Lukas – Oskar (Oscar) piano player. https://youtu.be/kxVk2QqkZGI
Music: Saša Nikolić
Lyrics: Mira Mijatović
12. Konstrakta (Ana Duric) – In Corpore Sano https://youtu.be/3S1jrYq87Zw
Music: Ana Đurić i Milovan Bošković
Lyrics: Ana Đurić
13. Igor Simić – Nisam ja (It Wasnt Me) https://youtu.be/uhf32DwyU5Q
Music: Darko Dimitrov
Lyrics: Vladimir Danilović
14. Mia – Blanko (Blank) https://youtu.be/r-Nw7HbaeWY
Music: Aleksandra Milutinović
Lyrics: Aleksandra Milutinović
15. Jelena Pajić – Pogledi (Looks) https://youtu.be/SmqYH6PE9mQ
Music: Marijo Pajić
Lyrics: Đorđe Miljenović
16. Biber – Dve godine i šes’ dana (Two Years and Six Days) https://youtu.be/mB1C6OcY_SI
Music: Rastko Aksentijević
Lyrics: Momčilo Bajagić Bajaga
17. Marija Mikić – Ljubav me inspiriše (Love Inspires Me) https://youtu.be/486rVm3NbDk
Music: Vuxa
Lyrics: Miladin Bogosavljević
18. Lift – Drama (Drama) https://youtu.be/TJNc6ggop9k
Music: Milan SevdahBABY Stanković, LIFT
Lyrics: Milan SevdahBABY Stanković, LIFT
Semi-Final 2, Running Order:
Friday 4 March
1. Srđan Lazić – Tražim te (Searching For You) https://youtu.be/QXI9Z8A5zTg
Music: Srđan Lazić
Lyrics: Srđan Lazić
2. Julijana Vincan – Istina i laži (Truth and Lies). (https://youtu.be/yxHNGlw5xqQ) A quartet. (RQ 9)
Music: Linda Cristina Persson, Ylva Cristina Persson
Lyrics: Vildana Husibegović
3. Marko Nikolić – Dođi da te volim (Come, So That I Can Love You) https://youtu.be/_r9Q8B-jJ9c
Music: Marko Nikolić
Lyrics: Nada Bučević
4. Zoe Kida – Bejbi (Baby) https://youtu.be/9CLSdmpBggU
Music: Zoe Kida
Lyrics: Zoe Kida
5. Orkestar Aleksandra Sofronijevića – Anđele moj (My Angel) https://youtu.be/yJRppHovWPE
Music: Aleksandar Sofronijević, Nikola Labović, Mirna Kosanin
Lyrics: Mirna Kosanin
6. Goca Tržan – Fitilj (Fuse). https://youtu.be/MShmfjlGWgs (RQ 10)
Music: Dušan Bačić
Lyrics: Dušan Bačić
7. Euterpa – Nedostaješ (Missing) https://youtu.be/q9aKK4jd7V8
Music: Boris Krstajić
Lyrics: Vladimir Danilović
8. Dušan Svilar – Samo ne reci da voliš (Just Dont Say You Love) https://youtu.be/qm7-SulDiXo (RQ 10)
Music: Rastko Aksentijević
Lyrics: Momčilo Bajagić Bajaga
9. Ivana Vladović i Jovana Stanimirović – Prijaće ti (It’ll Be Good For You) https://youtu.be/lJ6igOPuaP4 (RQ 10)
Music: Ivan Ilić i Nikola Bulatović
Lyrics: Ivan Ilić i Nikola Bulatović
10. Gift – Haos (Chaos) https://youtu.be/mV2bmcskgbQ
Music: Gift
Lyrics: Jovan Matić
11. Zejna Murkić – Nema te (You Are Gone) (https://youtu.be/HYGh1OBFhzc). RQ 9. Soft easy listening voice.
Music: Vlado Maraš
Lyrics: Sanja Perić
12. Sara Jo – Muškarčina (Manly Man) https://youtu.be/2ILWULTkm2c (RQ 10)
Music: Slobodan Veljković Coby
Lyrics: Slobodan Veljković Coby
13. Marija Mirković – Požuri, požuri (Hurry, Hurry). https://youtu.be/qL3on8LgdlE (RQ 10)
Music: Marija Mirković
Lyrics: Alka Vuica
14. Rocher Etno Band – Hajde sad nek svak peva (Let Everybody Sing) Far East sound. https://youtu.be/gYjZLongEWI
Music: Miodrag Klisarić
Lyrics: Miodrag Klisarić
15. Vasco – Znaš li (Do You Know). https://youtu.be/vgicabNf1PM
Music: Vasilije Čolan Vasco, Ivan Franović, Marko Kon
Lyrics: Vasilije Čolan, Marko Kon, Anđela Vujović Angellina
16. Tijana Dapčević – Ljubi, ljubi doveka (Kiss, Kiss Forever) (https://youtu.be/RPrNR7xyc8c) RQ 10. Interesting deep, gravelly voice.
17. Gramophonedzie – Počinjem da ludim (I’m Going Mad) https://youtu.be/fRLnUMEIslc
Music: Leontina Pat
Lyrics: Leontina Pat
Arrangement: Nemanja Filipović
Music: Marko Milićević, Milana Popović
Text: Milana Popović, Tamara Milićević
18. Naiva – Skidam (I Take Off) https://youtu.be/g55KQnlajM4 (RQ 10)
Music: Zoran Babović Babonja
Lyrics: Jelena Živanović (Jelena Zana)
The hosts for all three shows are well known to Eurovision fans in Serbia; Dragana Kosjerina and Jovan Radomir will greet us on the main stage, while Kristina Radenković and Stefan Popović will be in the green room.
Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest
Serbia debuted as a newly independent nation in 2007, winning the Contest on its first attempt with the classic Balkan ballad Molitva by Marija Šerifović.
All-Time Greatest Music 