Re: Eurovision 2012: Participants' Profiles
Participant profile: Rambo Amadeus (Montenegro)
Country: Montenegro
Performer: Rambo Amadeus
Song: Euro Neuro
Semi-final: #1; draw: #1
Rambo Amadeus is a true cult figure of the Ex-Yugoslav music scene. The fact that music and humour is never far apart for him is well shown in his 2012 Eurovision entry, Euro Neuro.
Rambo Amadeus, the composer, writer and performer of the Montenegrin entry, is a cult-figure of the Ex-Yugoslav music scene. During his music career he succeeded in remaining clearly distant from the common so called “radio friendly” music, frequently using parody to express his beliefs. The self-called “World Mega Tzar” is famous for his crazy jazz-funk music, interesting texts and unpredictable live performances, spiced with brutal satire, which is sometimes standing on the border of stand-up comedy. The name of Rambo Amadeus is linked with the creation of the term of “turbo folk”, a unique music phenomenon of the Balkan Region, often linked to strange taste, aggressive folk music and mass popularity.
Antonije Pušić (his real name) was born in Herceg Novi, a town on the Bay of Kotor, which is officially included in the list of the thirty most beautiful bays in the world. As a youth, he won a number of recognitions for his achievements in sports sailing. His songs combine satirical lyrics on the nature of common people and silliness of local politics. He uses a mixture of musical styles including jazz and rock (converging towards drum and bass lately), and self-conscious ironic wit. His stage name itself is made from John Rambo and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Known also as a "charming king of jovial pop", his concerts are never mere repetitions of recorded songs, but a mixture of musical improvisation and humor exploiting all aspects of human nature in a crude manner. Some fans compare his style and career path with those of Frank Zappa or Captain Beefheart.
Six years ago he was declared for the first ambassador of UNICEF in Montenegro. Lately he used his creativity and fame the best way he could in order to give his contribution to UNICEF’s initiative to create an environment without violence in schools. He has issued 19 albums, and won numerous prizes for his music work, including the Grand Prix at the film festival in Valencia (Spain) for the music theme in the movie Boomerang and the Golden Rose at the festival of Montreux.
Participant profile: Rambo Amadeus (Montenegro)
Country: Montenegro
Performer: Rambo Amadeus
Song: Euro Neuro
Semi-final: #1; draw: #1
Rambo Amadeus is a true cult figure of the Ex-Yugoslav music scene. The fact that music and humour is never far apart for him is well shown in his 2012 Eurovision entry, Euro Neuro.
Rambo Amadeus, the composer, writer and performer of the Montenegrin entry, is a cult-figure of the Ex-Yugoslav music scene. During his music career he succeeded in remaining clearly distant from the common so called “radio friendly” music, frequently using parody to express his beliefs. The self-called “World Mega Tzar” is famous for his crazy jazz-funk music, interesting texts and unpredictable live performances, spiced with brutal satire, which is sometimes standing on the border of stand-up comedy. The name of Rambo Amadeus is linked with the creation of the term of “turbo folk”, a unique music phenomenon of the Balkan Region, often linked to strange taste, aggressive folk music and mass popularity.
Antonije Pušić (his real name) was born in Herceg Novi, a town on the Bay of Kotor, which is officially included in the list of the thirty most beautiful bays in the world. As a youth, he won a number of recognitions for his achievements in sports sailing. His songs combine satirical lyrics on the nature of common people and silliness of local politics. He uses a mixture of musical styles including jazz and rock (converging towards drum and bass lately), and self-conscious ironic wit. His stage name itself is made from John Rambo and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Known also as a "charming king of jovial pop", his concerts are never mere repetitions of recorded songs, but a mixture of musical improvisation and humor exploiting all aspects of human nature in a crude manner. Some fans compare his style and career path with those of Frank Zappa or Captain Beefheart.
Six years ago he was declared for the first ambassador of UNICEF in Montenegro. Lately he used his creativity and fame the best way he could in order to give his contribution to UNICEF’s initiative to create an environment without violence in schools. He has issued 19 albums, and won numerous prizes for his music work, including the Grand Prix at the film festival in Valencia (Spain) for the music theme in the movie Boomerang and the Golden Rose at the festival of Montreux.
Re: Eurovision 2012: Participants' Profiles
Participant profile: Pastora Soler (Spain)
Country: Spain
Performer: Pastora Soler
Song: Quédate Conmigo (Stay With Me)
Final; draw: #19
Pastora Soler (33) is a well-known Spanish singer, famous for combining diverse musical styles like copla, flamenco and "Canción Española" with pop. She is considered one of the best voices of the Spanish music scene.
Pastora Soler was born in Seville in 1978. She is a precocious artist who started singing songs from her birth land before the age of eight, and has professionally performed for more that eighteen years now.
She has played with dance rhythms, fused music with Arab overtones, rendered homage to the Brazilian samba, dived into songwriting, and made the best melodic music evolve. Her successful tours have taken her to Turkey, Egypt, Latin America and the USA.
With nine studio albums and a greatest hits record on the market, Pastora has gained three platinum certifications and four gold ones. Throughout her career, she has also received important awards. And she has joined forces with such famous artists as Alejandro Sanz, Armando Manzanero, Raphael, Malú or Miguel Poveda to name but a few.
Her 2010 release, a live album that celebrates her 15 years of career as a recording artist, 15 Años, won Best Copla Album at the Spanish Music Awards and was nominated for the 2011 Latin Grammy Award for Best Flamenco Album.
She now embraces with enthusiasm the chance to represent Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku with the modern pop ballad Quedate Conmigo (Stay With Me) written by Antonio Sánchez, Thomas G:son and Erik Bernholm.
Participant profile: Pastora Soler (Spain)
Country: Spain
Performer: Pastora Soler
Song: Quédate Conmigo (Stay With Me)
Final; draw: #19
Pastora Soler (33) is a well-known Spanish singer, famous for combining diverse musical styles like copla, flamenco and "Canción Española" with pop. She is considered one of the best voices of the Spanish music scene.
Pastora Soler was born in Seville in 1978. She is a precocious artist who started singing songs from her birth land before the age of eight, and has professionally performed for more that eighteen years now.
She has played with dance rhythms, fused music with Arab overtones, rendered homage to the Brazilian samba, dived into songwriting, and made the best melodic music evolve. Her successful tours have taken her to Turkey, Egypt, Latin America and the USA.
With nine studio albums and a greatest hits record on the market, Pastora has gained three platinum certifications and four gold ones. Throughout her career, she has also received important awards. And she has joined forces with such famous artists as Alejandro Sanz, Armando Manzanero, Raphael, Malú or Miguel Poveda to name but a few.
Her 2010 release, a live album that celebrates her 15 years of career as a recording artist, 15 Años, won Best Copla Album at the Spanish Music Awards and was nominated for the 2011 Latin Grammy Award for Best Flamenco Album.
She now embraces with enthusiasm the chance to represent Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku with the modern pop ballad Quedate Conmigo (Stay With Me) written by Antonio Sánchez, Thomas G:son and Erik Bernholm.
Re: Eurovision 2012: Participants' Profiles
Participant profile: Buranovskiye Babushki (Russia)
Country: Russia
Performers: Buranovskiye Babushki
Song: Party For Everybody
Semi-Final: #1; draw: #14
Buranovskiye Babushki are a group of "grannies" from Udmurtia, a republic on the shore of the Volga river in Russia. In March, they won the Russian national final against several stars including the former Eurovision winner Dima Bilan, and now they will try to conquer Europe with their unique style.
Buranovskiye Babushki ("Buranovo Grannies") is a folk group from the village of Buranovo in Malopurginsky area in the Udmurt Republic, Russian Federation. The eldest member of the group is 77 years old.
Buranovskiye Babushki became known in 2008, when a television report about them was shown in the news programme of the television channel “Russia”. They have been covering Russian and Western popular songs by Aquarium, Kino, The Beatles, Queen, and Shocking Blue. These covers were sung in Udmurt, citing folk music influences.
Later Buranovskiye Babushki came surprisingly third in the Russian Eurovision qualifying contest in 2010. Afterwards they took part in a large number of television shows and concerts including a special performance at the open air festival “Rock above Volga” with more than 200,000 fans. They performed on the same stage with Jose Carreras and Emir Kusturica, and toured through Estonia and France.
Participant profile: Buranovskiye Babushki (Russia)
Country: Russia
Performers: Buranovskiye Babushki
Song: Party For Everybody
Semi-Final: #1; draw: #14
Buranovskiye Babushki are a group of "grannies" from Udmurtia, a republic on the shore of the Volga river in Russia. In March, they won the Russian national final against several stars including the former Eurovision winner Dima Bilan, and now they will try to conquer Europe with their unique style.
Buranovskiye Babushki ("Buranovo Grannies") is a folk group from the village of Buranovo in Malopurginsky area in the Udmurt Republic, Russian Federation. The eldest member of the group is 77 years old.
Buranovskiye Babushki became known in 2008, when a television report about them was shown in the news programme of the television channel “Russia”. They have been covering Russian and Western popular songs by Aquarium, Kino, The Beatles, Queen, and Shocking Blue. These covers were sung in Udmurt, citing folk music influences.
Later Buranovskiye Babushki came surprisingly third in the Russian Eurovision qualifying contest in 2010. Afterwards they took part in a large number of television shows and concerts including a special performance at the open air festival “Rock above Volga” with more than 200,000 fans. They performed on the same stage with Jose Carreras and Emir Kusturica, and toured through Estonia and France.
Re: Eurovision 2012: Participants' Profiles
Participant profile: Nina Badrić (Croatia)
Country: Croatia
Performer: Nina Badrić
Song: Nebo
Semi-Final: #2; draw: #10
Croatian broadcaster HRT this year decided to internally select one of the nation's top female artists, Nina Badrić in their quest for glory on the Eurovision stage.
Nina Badrić is one of the most successful and most awarded Croatian musicians, whose career has successfully lasted for the past 20 years. Accomplishments, rewards and popularity are following this musician beyond Croatian borders, where she’s been dubbed the best and most favourite pop singer from the former Yugoslavian region year in, year out, by both audiences and music professionals.
In the nineties Nina commenced a solo singing career, heading music charts all over Croatia. She is a multiple winner of the Popularity Oscar, awarded by the professionals and audiences in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. Besides a terrific voice that many compare to those of divas like Angie Stone, Alicia Keys or Mary J. Blige, Nina is characterized by many as one of the most complete musicians today. Her personality, charm, or the so called factor X immediately win people over, and as far as her looks are concerned, many claim that she has been one of the most beautiful Croatian singers for years.
Nina Badrić’s face was recognized as the face of the world campaign for Frederique Constant luxury watches. The campaign with Nina’s trademark face graces billboards all over the world and numerous fashion magazines, such as Vogue, In Style or NY Times. She is known as a person that gladly takes part in many humanitarian activities. Nina Badrić is a singer who has tried her hand with every musical genre, from pop to jazz, leaving her specific mark of recognizable and strong interpretation in each of them. She writes most of her songs, and it is with an original composition that she plans to represent Croatia at the upcoming Eurosong competition.
Participant profile: Nina Badrić (Croatia)
Country: Croatia
Performer: Nina Badrić
Song: Nebo
Semi-Final: #2; draw: #10
Croatian broadcaster HRT this year decided to internally select one of the nation's top female artists, Nina Badrić in their quest for glory on the Eurovision stage.
Nina Badrić is one of the most successful and most awarded Croatian musicians, whose career has successfully lasted for the past 20 years. Accomplishments, rewards and popularity are following this musician beyond Croatian borders, where she’s been dubbed the best and most favourite pop singer from the former Yugoslavian region year in, year out, by both audiences and music professionals.
In the nineties Nina commenced a solo singing career, heading music charts all over Croatia. She is a multiple winner of the Popularity Oscar, awarded by the professionals and audiences in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. Besides a terrific voice that many compare to those of divas like Angie Stone, Alicia Keys or Mary J. Blige, Nina is characterized by many as one of the most complete musicians today. Her personality, charm, or the so called factor X immediately win people over, and as far as her looks are concerned, many claim that she has been one of the most beautiful Croatian singers for years.
Nina Badrić’s face was recognized as the face of the world campaign for Frederique Constant luxury watches. The campaign with Nina’s trademark face graces billboards all over the world and numerous fashion magazines, such as Vogue, In Style or NY Times. She is known as a person that gladly takes part in many humanitarian activities. Nina Badrić is a singer who has tried her hand with every musical genre, from pop to jazz, leaving her specific mark of recognizable and strong interpretation in each of them. She writes most of her songs, and it is with an original composition that she plans to represent Croatia at the upcoming Eurosong competition.
Re: Eurovision 2012: Participants' Profiles
Participant profile: Eva Boto (Slovenia)
Country: Slovenia
Performer: Eva Boto
Song: Verjamem
Semi-Final: #2; draw: #9
Eva Boto is just 16 years old, but managed to ward off competition from 31 other acts to secure her place as Slovenia's entrant in Baku with the powerful Verjamem.
Eva Boto was born on December 1st, 1995. She lives in the small town of Šentjanž pri Dravogradu which lies in the North Eastern part of Slovenia, 120 kilometres from the capital Ljubljana. She is now a second-year student attending the Ravne na Koroškem High School, but she is already thinking about continuing her studies in Graz, Austria, or London where she would like to study soloist singing.
She has been singing since a very early age and practices daily in her specially designed music room at her home. At 10 years of age, Eva entered an international singing competition in Austria and won. Later, she performed several times at the FENS Youth Musical Festival, where she was twice the winner. Eva Boto was only 15, when she applied to audition for the Mission Eurovision contest. The national broadcaster RTVSLO produced this series of programmes, which started on October 2nd, 2011 and ended this February, with only one goal in mind, to choose the singer who would represent Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Convincing renditions of songs from Mariah Carey, Shaina Twain, Irene Cara, Leona Lewis and Darja Švajger made a huge impression on the members of the jury and audiences alike. In the end, Eva Boto won a landslide number of votes with the song Verjamem (I Believe), one of the three she sang on the final night of Mission EMA 2012.
Eva's favourite singer is Beyonce, but she likes 1980s and 1990s music as well. In her spare time, Eva plays guitar, plays with her dog and cat and, as every teenager loves to hang out with her friends. She's no stranger to computers and make-up, either. Eva enjoys cooking, especially baking. She is very emotional and sometimes shy. Her biggest bad habit is laziness. Eva's best friends and supporters in life and in her music career are her mother, father and elder sister Sanja. Eva describes her participation in Baku as her greatest life experience and challenge so far.
Participant profile: Eva Boto (Slovenia)
Country: Slovenia
Performer: Eva Boto
Song: Verjamem
Semi-Final: #2; draw: #9
Eva Boto is just 16 years old, but managed to ward off competition from 31 other acts to secure her place as Slovenia's entrant in Baku with the powerful Verjamem.
Eva Boto was born on December 1st, 1995. She lives in the small town of Šentjanž pri Dravogradu which lies in the North Eastern part of Slovenia, 120 kilometres from the capital Ljubljana. She is now a second-year student attending the Ravne na Koroškem High School, but she is already thinking about continuing her studies in Graz, Austria, or London where she would like to study soloist singing.
She has been singing since a very early age and practices daily in her specially designed music room at her home. At 10 years of age, Eva entered an international singing competition in Austria and won. Later, she performed several times at the FENS Youth Musical Festival, where she was twice the winner. Eva Boto was only 15, when she applied to audition for the Mission Eurovision contest. The national broadcaster RTVSLO produced this series of programmes, which started on October 2nd, 2011 and ended this February, with only one goal in mind, to choose the singer who would represent Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Convincing renditions of songs from Mariah Carey, Shaina Twain, Irene Cara, Leona Lewis and Darja Švajger made a huge impression on the members of the jury and audiences alike. In the end, Eva Boto won a landslide number of votes with the song Verjamem (I Believe), one of the three she sang on the final night of Mission EMA 2012.
Eva's favourite singer is Beyonce, but she likes 1980s and 1990s music as well. In her spare time, Eva plays guitar, plays with her dog and cat and, as every teenager loves to hang out with her friends. She's no stranger to computers and make-up, either. Eva enjoys cooking, especially baking. She is very emotional and sometimes shy. Her biggest bad habit is laziness. Eva's best friends and supporters in life and in her music career are her mother, father and elder sister Sanja. Eva describes her participation in Baku as her greatest life experience and challenge so far.
Re: Eurovision 2012: Participants' Profiles
Participant profile: Jedward (Ireland)
Country: Ireland
Performer: Jedward
Song: Waterline
Semi-Final: #1; draw: #18
Jedward AKA brothers John and Edward Grimes are an Irish singing pop duo who became a huge hit after appearing on the UK’s X-Factor in 2009. Known for their distinctive blonde quiffs and unique performances, the identical twins have succeeded in being one of the most successful acts ever to have taken part in the talent competition.
Following their success on the show Jedward collaborated with 90s hip-hop star Vanilla Ice on their debut single Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby). It was a No.1 hit in the Irish singles charts and No.2 hit in the UK singles charts on downloads alone. The twins then went on to release their debut album Planet Jedward in July 2010 which became the fastest selling record in Ireland in 2010.
Their first solo tour was extended from 28 to 75 dates following phenomenal demand from fans. The twins have also had their own reality show OMG Jedward for Irish television which proved to be a huge hit with viewers and offered an entertaining insight into the world that is Planet Jedward.
Jedward make Irish Eurovision Song Contest history as for the first time Ireland sends the same act two years in a row. Last the year the pop duo came 8th in the contest with Lipstick – Ireland's best result in the contest for 11 years. Lipstick went on to chart in Belgium, Sweden, Germany and Austria, where it peaked at number 3.
Shortly after their success in the Eurovision Song Contest, Jedward returned to Ireland where they performed in front of an audience of 60,000 people at a concert to welcome US President Barack Obama to Ireland.
The past 12 months have been the busiest for the twins yet – they came 3rd in the UK's Celebrity Big Brother; they released their second album, Victory and completed a sell-out tour across Ireland, UK, Germany, Sweden, Estonia, Finland, and Austria.
Jedward were selected to represent Ireland again this year after winning the Irish Eurosong selection competition, topping both the public and jury vote in February. They are performing Waterline. The twins are being mentored this year by Irish Eurovision winner, Linda Martin, who won the contest in 1992 with Why Me.
Waterline was composed by Nick Jarl and Sharon Vaughn. Nick is a songwriter/music producer from Sweden and has written songs for the likes of Westlife, Ironik! As well as songs for numerous Scandinavian acts.
Sharon Vaughn is an American songwriter living in Sweden who has composed hits for artists all over the world including Boyzone, Willie Nelson, The Wanted, Clay Aiken, Jay Smith (Swedish Pop Idol Winner), Stefanie Heinzmann, Aslan, Jedward and many more.
Participant profile: Jedward (Ireland)
Country: Ireland
Performer: Jedward
Song: Waterline
Semi-Final: #1; draw: #18
Jedward AKA brothers John and Edward Grimes are an Irish singing pop duo who became a huge hit after appearing on the UK’s X-Factor in 2009. Known for their distinctive blonde quiffs and unique performances, the identical twins have succeeded in being one of the most successful acts ever to have taken part in the talent competition.
Following their success on the show Jedward collaborated with 90s hip-hop star Vanilla Ice on their debut single Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby). It was a No.1 hit in the Irish singles charts and No.2 hit in the UK singles charts on downloads alone. The twins then went on to release their debut album Planet Jedward in July 2010 which became the fastest selling record in Ireland in 2010.
Their first solo tour was extended from 28 to 75 dates following phenomenal demand from fans. The twins have also had their own reality show OMG Jedward for Irish television which proved to be a huge hit with viewers and offered an entertaining insight into the world that is Planet Jedward.
Jedward make Irish Eurovision Song Contest history as for the first time Ireland sends the same act two years in a row. Last the year the pop duo came 8th in the contest with Lipstick – Ireland's best result in the contest for 11 years. Lipstick went on to chart in Belgium, Sweden, Germany and Austria, where it peaked at number 3.
Shortly after their success in the Eurovision Song Contest, Jedward returned to Ireland where they performed in front of an audience of 60,000 people at a concert to welcome US President Barack Obama to Ireland.
The past 12 months have been the busiest for the twins yet – they came 3rd in the UK's Celebrity Big Brother; they released their second album, Victory and completed a sell-out tour across Ireland, UK, Germany, Sweden, Estonia, Finland, and Austria.
Jedward were selected to represent Ireland again this year after winning the Irish Eurosong selection competition, topping both the public and jury vote in February. They are performing Waterline. The twins are being mentored this year by Irish Eurovision winner, Linda Martin, who won the contest in 1992 with Why Me.
Waterline was composed by Nick Jarl and Sharon Vaughn. Nick is a songwriter/music producer from Sweden and has written songs for the likes of Westlife, Ironik! As well as songs for numerous Scandinavian acts.
Sharon Vaughn is an American songwriter living in Sweden who has composed hits for artists all over the world including Boyzone, Willie Nelson, The Wanted, Clay Aiken, Jay Smith (Swedish Pop Idol Winner), Stefanie Heinzmann, Aslan, Jedward and many more.
Re: Eurovision 2012: Participants' Profiles
Participant profile: Trackshittaz (Austria)
Country: Austria
Performers: Trackshittaz
Song: Woki Mit Deim Popo
Semi-final: #1; draw: #16
Lukas Plöchl and Manuel Hoffelner make up the band Trackshittaz, who will represent Austria in Baku with their very own music style of tractor gangster party rap.
Trackshittaz consists of Lukas Plöchl alias “G-Neila” and Manuel Hoffelner alias “Manix”. Born in the upper Austrian Mühlviertel district, both band members are flagship examples of their unique genre - “tractor gangster party rap”. The duo first became known for their YouTube hit Alloa bam Fraunz, based on the house track Alors On Danse and Lukas Plöchl’s participation in the ORF casting show Helden von Morgen.
After their début Oidaah pumpn muas’s (platinum status), which appeared early in 2011, and their following hit Prolettn feian längaah (gold status), both of which reached no. 1 in the albums chart, their run of success continued in February 2012 with their third album Zruck zu de Ruabm (gold status). Trackshittaz goes back to its roots here, the raps centering on party and village life. They are supported on their travels by their producer Sam Vahdat, who emphasises the authenticity of the duo and sparkles with his wild sounds and heavy beats.
After coming second at the national final of the “Eurovision Song Contest” in 2011, Trackshittaz succeeded this year in the competition for the Austrian ticket to Baku. In May, they will face the next challenge - the First Semi-Final of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. Hopefully, they’ll get not only Austria but all of Europe dancing with their boisterously youthful impetuosity and their song Woki Mit Deim Popo.
Participant profile: Trackshittaz (Austria)
Country: Austria
Performers: Trackshittaz
Song: Woki Mit Deim Popo
Semi-final: #1; draw: #16
Lukas Plöchl and Manuel Hoffelner make up the band Trackshittaz, who will represent Austria in Baku with their very own music style of tractor gangster party rap.
Trackshittaz consists of Lukas Plöchl alias “G-Neila” and Manuel Hoffelner alias “Manix”. Born in the upper Austrian Mühlviertel district, both band members are flagship examples of their unique genre - “tractor gangster party rap”. The duo first became known for their YouTube hit Alloa bam Fraunz, based on the house track Alors On Danse and Lukas Plöchl’s participation in the ORF casting show Helden von Morgen.
After their début Oidaah pumpn muas’s (platinum status), which appeared early in 2011, and their following hit Prolettn feian längaah (gold status), both of which reached no. 1 in the albums chart, their run of success continued in February 2012 with their third album Zruck zu de Ruabm (gold status). Trackshittaz goes back to its roots here, the raps centering on party and village life. They are supported on their travels by their producer Sam Vahdat, who emphasises the authenticity of the duo and sparkles with his wild sounds and heavy beats.
After coming second at the national final of the “Eurovision Song Contest” in 2011, Trackshittaz succeeded this year in the competition for the Austrian ticket to Baku. In May, they will face the next challenge - the First Semi-Final of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. Hopefully, they’ll get not only Austria but all of Europe dancing with their boisterously youthful impetuosity and their song Woki Mit Deim Popo.
Re: Eurovision 2012: Participants' Profiles
Participant profile: Anmary (Latvia)
Country: Latvia
Performers: Anmary
Song: Beautiful Song
Semi-final: #1; draw: #4
She was born in a distant 1980, in the year that Johnny Logan won.... We are of course talking about Anmary, quoting the first line of the 2012 Latvian entry Beautiful Song.
Anmary begins singing her life story during Beautiful Song, it tells the story of a girl who dreams about walking on to the world stage, but allowing herself some humble pride while imagining life as a superstar.
She was born in the rural town of Gulbene. She admits that music has been a part of her world since childhood. Her father would sing lullabies and play the guitar for her, and her mother encouraged her to enrol in music school, where she learned to play the piano. She started her stage career in the televised reality show TheTalent Factory, where she earned the runners up spot.
In the past Anmary has taken part in a variety of musical projects, has performed in the musical West Side Story, and been the lead vocalist for the groups Sunny Sense and Mash Mash. She has demonstrated her vocal skills to listeners elsewhere in Europe too. Dr. Christoph Schönherr, composer and professor at the Hamburg College of Music and Theatre, chose Anmary to sing solo in his work Magnificat, which toured with the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra around Germany, Spain, France and Belgium.
Anmary continued to develop her vocal skills while studying and today works as a vocal coach and singer. Her greatest fan is her two-year-old son Marts Gabriels. A number of Latvian music professionals have acknowledged her vocal mastery, while listeners are drawn to the quality of her voice, her always pleasant demeanour, and the sincerity of her emotional range,which can be heard throughout her performance.
"Music is my oxygen. Singing is a delight, and I get that indescribable feeling of goosebumps before any stage performance. And then this overwhelming sense of satisfaction and pleasure that somebody may be enjoying those same goosebumps while listening to mysongs.” says Anmary.
Participant profile: Anmary (Latvia)
Country: Latvia
Performers: Anmary
Song: Beautiful Song
Semi-final: #1; draw: #4
She was born in a distant 1980, in the year that Johnny Logan won.... We are of course talking about Anmary, quoting the first line of the 2012 Latvian entry Beautiful Song.
Anmary begins singing her life story during Beautiful Song, it tells the story of a girl who dreams about walking on to the world stage, but allowing herself some humble pride while imagining life as a superstar.
She was born in the rural town of Gulbene. She admits that music has been a part of her world since childhood. Her father would sing lullabies and play the guitar for her, and her mother encouraged her to enrol in music school, where she learned to play the piano. She started her stage career in the televised reality show TheTalent Factory, where she earned the runners up spot.
In the past Anmary has taken part in a variety of musical projects, has performed in the musical West Side Story, and been the lead vocalist for the groups Sunny Sense and Mash Mash. She has demonstrated her vocal skills to listeners elsewhere in Europe too. Dr. Christoph Schönherr, composer and professor at the Hamburg College of Music and Theatre, chose Anmary to sing solo in his work Magnificat, which toured with the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra around Germany, Spain, France and Belgium.
Anmary continued to develop her vocal skills while studying and today works as a vocal coach and singer. Her greatest fan is her two-year-old son Marts Gabriels. A number of Latvian music professionals have acknowledged her vocal mastery, while listeners are drawn to the quality of her voice, her always pleasant demeanour, and the sincerity of her emotional range,which can be heard throughout her performance.
"Music is my oxygen. Singing is a delight, and I get that indescribable feeling of goosebumps before any stage performance. And then this overwhelming sense of satisfaction and pleasure that somebody may be enjoying those same goosebumps while listening to mysongs.” says Anmary.
Re: Eurovision 2012: Participants' Profiles
Thank you.
It would be more interesting if people actually ask for some profiles, because I am posting them very randomly so far. 
Great work
Thank you.
It would be more interesting if people actually ask for some profiles, because I am posting them very randomly so far. Re: Eurovision 2012: Participants' Profiles
Participant profile: Željko Joksimović (Serbia)
Country: Serbia
Performer: Željko Joksimović
Song: Nije Ljubav Stvar
Semi-final: #2; draw: #1
He was runner up in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest as a performer, took third and sixth places respectively as a composer in the 2006 and 2008 contests. And as if that wasn't enough experience of Europe's Favourite TV Show, Željko Joksimović also co-hosted the 2008 contest in Belgrade. This year he is back as a performer, aiming to take the title back to Serbia with the self composed Nije Ljubav Stvar.
Željko Joksimović was born on the 20th of April, 1972. in Belgrade, Serbia. At 12 years of age, he won the prestigious First Accordion of Europe award at the music festival in Paris. He attended the University of Musical Arts in Belgrade and is one of rare musicians who knows how to play 14 different instruments.
His professional music career has continuously been on the rise. During the 1990's he achieved consecutive success at the Belgrade Spring festival as a composer. In addition to performing, Željko also composed music for theatre productions.
The defining year in the career of Željko Joksimović was 2004. when he won the national song contest for Serbia and Montenegro with the song Lane Moje. After many years, Serbia and Montenegro got their representative at the prestigious Eurovision Song Contest, where he finished in second place in the Final. The success at the Eurovision Song Contest changed the direction of Željko's career. This is proven by the results that he achieved in the following years.
In December of 2005 Željko's fourth album sold over 500.000 copies. In terms of quality, this album represents a big step forward in his career - during this period Željko also ventured into composing music for films. The Eurovision success repeated once again in 2006, when his composition Lejla for Hari Mata Hari, the representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina won third place.
September of 2007 was marked by the sixth regional Balkan radio festival in which 22 pop stars from the region competed. The Grand Prix was won by Željko for his hit song Devojka. At the most prestigious music festival in Serbia, Beovizija in 2008, he composed the winning song Oro, performed by Jelena Tomašević. It was this song that represented Serbia, the host of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008.
Serbian Broadcasting Corporation and the EBU gave Željko the role of the host of the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest, held in Belgrade along with Jovana Janković. Jelena Tomašević and the song Oro Finished in sixth place in the Final.
Serbian broadcaster RTS revealed the exciting news that Željko Joksimović would once again represent his country on the 57th Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan 2012.
Željko has been given complete control over the Serbian entry. He will both compose and perform the entry, which was presented to the public for the first time in a show on Serbian television in early 2012. This will be Željko's fourth attempt at winning the competition.
Participant profile: Željko Joksimović (Serbia)
Country: Serbia
Performer: Željko Joksimović
Song: Nije Ljubav Stvar
Semi-final: #2; draw: #1
He was runner up in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest as a performer, took third and sixth places respectively as a composer in the 2006 and 2008 contests. And as if that wasn't enough experience of Europe's Favourite TV Show, Željko Joksimović also co-hosted the 2008 contest in Belgrade. This year he is back as a performer, aiming to take the title back to Serbia with the self composed Nije Ljubav Stvar.
Željko Joksimović was born on the 20th of April, 1972. in Belgrade, Serbia. At 12 years of age, he won the prestigious First Accordion of Europe award at the music festival in Paris. He attended the University of Musical Arts in Belgrade and is one of rare musicians who knows how to play 14 different instruments.
His professional music career has continuously been on the rise. During the 1990's he achieved consecutive success at the Belgrade Spring festival as a composer. In addition to performing, Željko also composed music for theatre productions.
The defining year in the career of Željko Joksimović was 2004. when he won the national song contest for Serbia and Montenegro with the song Lane Moje. After many years, Serbia and Montenegro got their representative at the prestigious Eurovision Song Contest, where he finished in second place in the Final. The success at the Eurovision Song Contest changed the direction of Željko's career. This is proven by the results that he achieved in the following years.
In December of 2005 Željko's fourth album sold over 500.000 copies. In terms of quality, this album represents a big step forward in his career - during this period Željko also ventured into composing music for films. The Eurovision success repeated once again in 2006, when his composition Lejla for Hari Mata Hari, the representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina won third place.
September of 2007 was marked by the sixth regional Balkan radio festival in which 22 pop stars from the region competed. The Grand Prix was won by Željko for his hit song Devojka. At the most prestigious music festival in Serbia, Beovizija in 2008, he composed the winning song Oro, performed by Jelena Tomašević. It was this song that represented Serbia, the host of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008.
Serbian Broadcasting Corporation and the EBU gave Željko the role of the host of the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest, held in Belgrade along with Jovana Janković. Jelena Tomašević and the song Oro Finished in sixth place in the Final.
Serbian broadcaster RTS revealed the exciting news that Željko Joksimović would once again represent his country on the 57th Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan 2012.
Željko has been given complete control over the Serbian entry. He will both compose and perform the entry, which was presented to the public for the first time in a show on Serbian television in early 2012. This will be Željko's fourth attempt at winning the competition.
Re: Eurovision 2012: Participants' Profiles
Ok - I'm asking for the profile of Filipa Sousa!
Thank you.
Ok - I'm asking for the profile of Filipa Sousa! Re: Eurovision 2012: Participants' Profiles
OK! Portugal is after Israel (I was already preparing Izabo's profile).
Another thing, I removed Lithuania's and Moldova's participants profiles from the 1st post (it was appearing at the top all the time and it was kinda annoying).
They are here now:
Participant profile: Donny Montell (Lithuania)
Country: Lithuania
Performer: Donny Montell
Song: Love Is Blind
Semi-final: #2; draw: #18
For Donatas Montvydas, or Donny Montell (24), creating, singing and dancing is his passion in life, a way to discharge emotionally. "If there is at least one person in the world (including me), for whom my creative work gives pleasure, then I’d like to be a part of the music.”
Donatas Montvydas was born on October 22, 1987, in Vilnius. The musical path of Donny Montell began in the song contest Dainų dainelė where he became the laureate. Later he studied at Balys Dvarionas music school. “That was the time when I understood that music was going to be a part of my whole life” – states the young singer.
Donny is a successful participant of various TV-shows: his voice mesmerized both the audience and jury at Duets Of The Stars and he won the Lithuanian version of the Dancing With the Stars. He competed at prestigious festivals as well, like Slavianskij Bazar and New Wave. He's also taken part in the national selections for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009 and 2011, when he was close to the victory.
Meanwhile Donatas also found time to participate in the TABAMI project, where he performed songs of Michael Jackson.“It was one of my dreams that came true – to sing Michael Jackson’s songs on the big stage”.
Donatas began 2012 successfully as well. He participated in the national selections for the Eurovision Song Contest, where he became the favourite of both professionals and TV-viewers, and received the right to participate in the the biggest musical event in Europe with the song Love Is Blind.
Participant profile: Pasha Parfeny (Moldova)
Country: Moldova
Performer: Pasha Parfeny
Song: Lăutar
Semi-final: #1; draw: #17
Pasha Parfeny’s real name is Pavel Parfeny. The artist has a big musical experience behind him. He participated in different national and international festivals where he almost always took first place. In his country, he is known as Pasha Parfeny or simply Pasha.
Pasha Parfeny was born on May 30th, 1986 in Moldova. Music has always played an important role in his life. Pasha’s parents who are both musicians have always supported his musical career. Pasha’s mother was a piano teacher at the music school of the city of Orhei. His father was a singer and guitarist.
Pasha Parfeny started his musical career at the age of seven, studying classical piano at the music school. In 2002 he entered Tiraspol Music College where he gained a lot of experience as a vocalist. Later on, in 2006, Pasha Parfeny continued his musical studies at the State Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts where he tried himself as a composer.
Pasha is also known as a former member of the band Sunstroke Project. 2009 the band with Pasha Parfeny as the vocalist participated in the Moldovan Eurovision qualifying contest where they came third with their song No Crime. In late autumn 2010, Pasha's contract expired and he left the band. In 2010, the singer participated in the Moldovan national selection with his song You Should Like and finished second.
Pasha Parfeny is the owner of some musical prizes and awards. Already in 2003, he was awarded Grand Prix at the competition Voices Of Transnistria. In 2007, Pasha Parfeny got the first place in the festivals Duet Of The Year and Silver Lantrei in Bulgaria. In 2009, the artist took part in the International Festival of pop music George Grigoriu where he won another Grand Prize. In the same year, Pasha Parfeny participated in Mamaia Contest in Romania where he got the first place in the creation section with Andrew Tudor’s song You Do Not See The Sky. And last but not least, the singer is a winner of the International Music Festival Slavianski Bazar in Vitebsk in 2009.
OK! Portugal is after Israel (I was already preparing Izabo's profile).
Another thing, I removed Lithuania's and Moldova's participants profiles from the 1st post (it was appearing at the top all the time and it was kinda annoying).
They are here now:
Participant profile: Donny Montell (Lithuania)
Country: Lithuania
Performer: Donny Montell
Song: Love Is Blind
Semi-final: #2; draw: #18
For Donatas Montvydas, or Donny Montell (24), creating, singing and dancing is his passion in life, a way to discharge emotionally. "If there is at least one person in the world (including me), for whom my creative work gives pleasure, then I’d like to be a part of the music.”
Donatas Montvydas was born on October 22, 1987, in Vilnius. The musical path of Donny Montell began in the song contest Dainų dainelė where he became the laureate. Later he studied at Balys Dvarionas music school. “That was the time when I understood that music was going to be a part of my whole life” – states the young singer.
Donny is a successful participant of various TV-shows: his voice mesmerized both the audience and jury at Duets Of The Stars and he won the Lithuanian version of the Dancing With the Stars. He competed at prestigious festivals as well, like Slavianskij Bazar and New Wave. He's also taken part in the national selections for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009 and 2011, when he was close to the victory.
Meanwhile Donatas also found time to participate in the TABAMI project, where he performed songs of Michael Jackson.“It was one of my dreams that came true – to sing Michael Jackson’s songs on the big stage”.
Donatas began 2012 successfully as well. He participated in the national selections for the Eurovision Song Contest, where he became the favourite of both professionals and TV-viewers, and received the right to participate in the the biggest musical event in Europe with the song Love Is Blind.
Participant profile: Pasha Parfeny (Moldova)
Country: Moldova
Performer: Pasha Parfeny
Song: Lăutar
Semi-final: #1; draw: #17
Pasha Parfeny’s real name is Pavel Parfeny. The artist has a big musical experience behind him. He participated in different national and international festivals where he almost always took first place. In his country, he is known as Pasha Parfeny or simply Pasha.
Pasha Parfeny was born on May 30th, 1986 in Moldova. Music has always played an important role in his life. Pasha’s parents who are both musicians have always supported his musical career. Pasha’s mother was a piano teacher at the music school of the city of Orhei. His father was a singer and guitarist.
Pasha Parfeny started his musical career at the age of seven, studying classical piano at the music school. In 2002 he entered Tiraspol Music College where he gained a lot of experience as a vocalist. Later on, in 2006, Pasha Parfeny continued his musical studies at the State Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts where he tried himself as a composer.
Pasha is also known as a former member of the band Sunstroke Project. 2009 the band with Pasha Parfeny as the vocalist participated in the Moldovan Eurovision qualifying contest where they came third with their song No Crime. In late autumn 2010, Pasha's contract expired and he left the band. In 2010, the singer participated in the Moldovan national selection with his song You Should Like and finished second.
Pasha Parfeny is the owner of some musical prizes and awards. Already in 2003, he was awarded Grand Prix at the competition Voices Of Transnistria. In 2007, Pasha Parfeny got the first place in the festivals Duet Of The Year and Silver Lantrei in Bulgaria. In 2009, the artist took part in the International Festival of pop music George Grigoriu where he won another Grand Prize. In the same year, Pasha Parfeny participated in Mamaia Contest in Romania where he got the first place in the creation section with Andrew Tudor’s song You Do Not See The Sky. And last but not least, the singer is a winner of the International Music Festival Slavianski Bazar in Vitebsk in 2009.
Re: Eurovision 2012: Participants' Profiles
Participant profile: Izabo (Israel)
Country: Israel
Performer: Izabo
Song: Time
Semi-final: #1; draw: #10
Israeli broadcaster IBA selected the group Izabo to represent them in the 2012 edition of Europe's Favourite TV Show. The alternative band will perform the Ran Shem-Tov and Shiri Hadar song Time in Baku.
Izabo are best described as a brilliant, action packed combination of Psychadelic Rock, Disco, Punk flavoured with Arabic spices. They secured a spot as one of Israel’s most successful alternative pop bands with the 2003 release of their debut album The Fun Makers.
From there Izabo went on to sign with Sony BMG, and in the same year released “The Morning Hero EP” in the UK and began to take their funky sounds to an international audience. In January of 2005 The Fun Makers was released in the Benelux countries via the label Rough Trade NL, and in 2006 it was released in France via Roymusic/ Discograph. Since 2006, Izabo have been busy touring Europe constantly and showcasing their catchy disco beats at a variety of festivals including Trans Musicales, The Paleo Festival, and Eurosonic.
Their second album Superlight was released in Israel and France in 2008 with Roymusic/ Discograph to rave reviews. In October 2011 Izabo signed with the English Label 100% Records, who signed artists among Gossip, Moby and Placebo. Izabo’s first three Track EP has been released in the United Kingdom this July, with their brand new album due to be released by the end of the year, in the UK, Europe & Israel.
Participant profile: Izabo (Israel)
Country: Israel
Performer: Izabo
Song: Time
Semi-final: #1; draw: #10
Israeli broadcaster IBA selected the group Izabo to represent them in the 2012 edition of Europe's Favourite TV Show. The alternative band will perform the Ran Shem-Tov and Shiri Hadar song Time in Baku.
Izabo are best described as a brilliant, action packed combination of Psychadelic Rock, Disco, Punk flavoured with Arabic spices. They secured a spot as one of Israel’s most successful alternative pop bands with the 2003 release of their debut album The Fun Makers.
From there Izabo went on to sign with Sony BMG, and in the same year released “The Morning Hero EP” in the UK and began to take their funky sounds to an international audience. In January of 2005 The Fun Makers was released in the Benelux countries via the label Rough Trade NL, and in 2006 it was released in France via Roymusic/ Discograph. Since 2006, Izabo have been busy touring Europe constantly and showcasing their catchy disco beats at a variety of festivals including Trans Musicales, The Paleo Festival, and Eurosonic.
Their second album Superlight was released in Israel and France in 2008 with Roymusic/ Discograph to rave reviews. In October 2011 Izabo signed with the English Label 100% Records, who signed artists among Gossip, Moby and Placebo. Izabo’s first three Track EP has been released in the United Kingdom this July, with their brand new album due to be released by the end of the year, in the UK, Europe & Israel.
EurovisionSmile
Veteran
Re: Eurovision 2012: Participants' Profiles
Very nice thread, Miguel, and great work!
Very nice thread, Miguel, and great work!
Re: Eurovision 2012: Participants' Profiles
Requested by: katapult.
Participant profile: Filipa Sousa (Portugal)
Country: Portugal
Performer: Filipa Sousa
Song: Vida Minha
Semi-final: #2; draw: #6
Filipa Sousa (27) experimented with Portugal's traditional musical style, Fado, for fun when she was 16, and hasn't stopped since. Being a Fado singer, she's been invited to sing for the Portuguese communities abroad, and thanks to her victory in the 2012 Festival Da Canção, she will represent Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku.
Filipa Sousa was born on March 2, 1985, in Albufeira. Her musical dreams started early: at the age of 6, she started learning music, and later entered the Conservatory. From the age of 12, she started participating in festivals and karaoke contests, in which she won a few prizes and several amateur Fado competitions in the Algarve.
After Filipa participated in workshops and theatre plays, she became part of the Fado group Al-Mouraria in 2003, and performed in various parts of the country, Spain and Morocco, and in TV shows. In 2007 she managed to get into the casting show Operação Triunfo, in which she remained for seven weeks, getting a very positive reaction.
In April 2008, she won the 1st Big Fado Soirée of the Algarve, in Loulé. In May 2010, she participated in the gala nights Nasci para o Fado (I Was Born For Fado), broadcasted by the RTP, and whose goal was to select artists for the musical Fado: História de um Povo (Fado: The History of a People), by Filipe La Féria. She was selected for the final gala. She did various shows in different styles, from Fado to rock, accompanied by musicians on stage or by instrumental playback.
And now Filipa aims to be the first ever winner of the Eurovision Song Contest for Portugal with Vida Minha written by Carlos Coelho and Andrej Babic.
Requested by: katapult.
Participant profile: Filipa Sousa (Portugal)
Country: Portugal
Performer: Filipa Sousa
Song: Vida Minha
Semi-final: #2; draw: #6
Filipa Sousa (27) experimented with Portugal's traditional musical style, Fado, for fun when she was 16, and hasn't stopped since. Being a Fado singer, she's been invited to sing for the Portuguese communities abroad, and thanks to her victory in the 2012 Festival Da Canção, she will represent Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku.
Filipa Sousa was born on March 2, 1985, in Albufeira. Her musical dreams started early: at the age of 6, she started learning music, and later entered the Conservatory. From the age of 12, she started participating in festivals and karaoke contests, in which she won a few prizes and several amateur Fado competitions in the Algarve.
After Filipa participated in workshops and theatre plays, she became part of the Fado group Al-Mouraria in 2003, and performed in various parts of the country, Spain and Morocco, and in TV shows. In 2007 she managed to get into the casting show Operação Triunfo, in which she remained for seven weeks, getting a very positive reaction.
In April 2008, she won the 1st Big Fado Soirée of the Algarve, in Loulé. In May 2010, she participated in the gala nights Nasci para o Fado (I Was Born For Fado), broadcasted by the RTP, and whose goal was to select artists for the musical Fado: História de um Povo (Fado: The History of a People), by Filipe La Féria. She was selected for the final gala. She did various shows in different styles, from Fado to rock, accompanied by musicians on stage or by instrumental playback.
And now Filipa aims to be the first ever winner of the Eurovision Song Contest for Portugal with Vida Minha written by Carlos Coelho and Andrej Babic.
Re: Eurovision 2012: Participants' Profiles
Ott Lepland
(just because "Kuula" seems to be so highly in danger being killed far too early in the April-Fool's-Big Brother Game :twisted
katapult
Who should be next? xfruit
Ott Lepland
(just because "Kuula" seems to be so highly in danger being killed far too early in the April-Fool's-Big Brother Game :twisted