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2014

Sanna Nielsen

© Pelle T. Nilsson/All Over Press About Quick Facts NameSanna Nielsen Born27 November 1984 Nationality🇸🇪 Swedish National SelectionMelodifestivalen 2014Melodifestivalen 2011Melodifestivalen 2008Melodifestivalen 2007Melodifestivalen 2005Melodifestivalen 2003Melodifestivalen 2001 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongUndo (2014) Biography Sanna Nielsen is a well-known Swedish pop singer and television presenter. Born on November 27, 1984, in the town of Edenryd, Sweden, she has been an active figure in the entertainment industry for more than two decades.  Nielsen’s career started early, with her first album, “Silvertoner,” being released when she was just 11 years old in 1996. The album was well received and set the foundation for a successful career in music. Nielsen’s popularity in Sweden grew steadily, and she became a familiar face in the annual Melodifestivalen, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. She competed in Melodifestivalen seven times between 2001 and 2014. Despite coming close several times, it wasn’t until 2014 that she finally won the competition with the ballad “Undo,” earning her the chance to represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest. Her performance at Eurovision 2014 in Copenhagen was one of the highlights of her career. Nielsen’s powerful delivery of “Undo” captivated the audience and judges alike, and she finished in third place overall, further solidifying her place in the music industry. Besides her successful music career, Nielsen has also made a name for herself as a television presenter. In 2015, she co-hosted the Swedish national selection for Eurovision, Melodifestivalen. From 2016, Sanna Nielsen was the host for ‘Allsång på Skansen’. On June 20, 2022, she announced that 2022 will be her last season as the host of ‘Allsång på Skansen’. On December 24, 2016, Sanna Nielsen was the Christmas host on SVT December 24, 2016. On Christmas Eve 2021, she held a one-hour-long Christmas concert on SVT named Min Sanna jul. Entries Undo Country🇸🇪 Swedish Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsFredrik KempeDavid KreugerHamed ‘K-One’ Pirouzpanah MusicFredrik KempeDavid KreugerHamed ‘K-One’ Pirouzpanah BackingsBritta BergströmThérèse Löf AmbergJessica MarbergerAndrea NorbergJeanette Olsson Results Semi Points: 131Position: 2Running order: 4 Results Finals Points: 218Position: 3Running order: 13 https://youtu.be/5PQJI-3LW-8

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Elaiza

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts MembersElżbieta SteinmetzNatalie PlögerYvonne Grünwald Founded2013 Nationality🇩🇪 German🇺🇦 Ukrainian National SelectionUnser Song Für Dänemark 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongIs It Right? (2014) Biography Elaiza is a German folk-pop band known for their distinctive neo-folk sound, which blends modern pop elements with traditional Eastern European folk. The band was formed in 2013 and originally consisted of three members: Elżbieta Steinmetz, Yvonne Grünwald, and Natalie Plöger. Elżbieta Steinmetz, who goes by the stage name “Ela,” is a singer and songwriter with Polish roots, a factor that heavily influences the band’s sound. Yvonne Grünwald plays the accordion, and Natalie Plöger is the contrabassist. Later on, Steinmetz and Grünwald continued as a duo, with Plöger departing the band. Elaiza’s breakthrough came in 2014 when they won the German national finals for the Eurovision Song Contest. Their song “Is It Right” represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest held in Copenhagen that year. The band’s performance in the international music event significantly increased their profile in Germany and Europe more broadly, leading to a successful debut album, “Gallery,” which was released the same year. Elaiza is recognized for their vibrant and energetic performances, coupled with soulful lyrics and a unique musical style that blends modern pop with traditional influences. The band’s music often explores themes of love, life, and identity, and their work is characterized by Steinmetz’s powerful vocals, Grünwald’s expert accordion work, and a strong folk-pop sound. Elaiza had released two albums, “Gallery” in 2014 and “Restless” in 2016. The 2nd album was followed by a tour through Germany. At the same time, the band released two new singles, “Hurricane” and “Real”. However, before the band went on tour, Yvonne left the band. She was replaced by Laura Zimmermann. The band kept on touring through Germany in 2017. In November of that year they won a German Songwriting Award. In 2018, they did an acoustic tour. They even performed at the German embassy in Kenya and Ethiopia. The acoustic tour continued in 2019. Although the band did not officially split up, they didn’t perform anymore since March 2019. Entries Is It Right? Country🇩🇪 Germany Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsElżbieta SteinmetzAdam Kesselhaut MusicElżbieta SteinmetzFrank Kretschmer Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 39Position: 18Running order: 12 https://youtu.be/BFuGH2Kp9dI

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Conchita Wurst

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameThomas Neuwirth Born06 November 19888 Nationality🇦🇹 Austrian National SelectionInternal selection 2014Österreich rockt den Song Contest 2012 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongRise Like A Phoenix (2014) Biography Conchita Wurst is the stage persona of Austrian singer, recording artist and drag queen Tom Neuwirth. Neuwirth was born in Gmunden in Upper Austria and grew up in Bad Mitterndorf. In 2011 he completed an apprenticeship at the Graz Fashion School.  He took part in the third season of the TV casting show Starmania on Austrian TV in 2006 He finished second behind Nadine Beiler. In 2007 he founded the boy band Jetzt anders !, which broke up in the same year. Since 2011 Neuwirth has appeared as drag queen Conchita Wurst and since 2015 as Conchita, a diva with a full beard. Her fictional biography begins with the birth in the mountains of Colombia and leads through a childhood in Germany to the beginning of the career as a singer in Austria. Neuwirth explains this creation as a reaction and statement against discrimination that he experienced in his youth due to his homosexuality. His appearance as Conchita should also mean that “it is easier for young people – regardless of the reason why they are different from the others”.  Neuwirth was first known in the role of Conchita Wurst in 2011 as a participant in the ORF talent show Die große Chance, in which he finished sixth in the final round. As Conchita Wurst, he also took part in the Austrian preliminary decision for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 (Austria rocks the Song Contest) and in the final with the song “That’s What I Am” came in second place. In 2013 the song “That’s What I Am” could be found on the benefit album “Licht ins Dunkel 2013” and at a concert for the ORF Christmas campaign Licht ins Dunkel. In 2014, Conchita Wurst was internally selected to represent Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Rise like a Phoenix”. Conchita won the contest convincingly. At the end of 2014 Conchita Wurst released the single “Heroes”, followed by “You Are Unstoppable” at the beginning of March 2015.  On May 15, 2015, she released her debut album Conchita, which went platinum just a few days after its release in Austria and also entered the charts in other European countries and Australia. At the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna, Conchita  acted as a host in the Green Room. She was also involved in the opening song “Building Bridges”.  After the joint opening of the 2017 Vienna Festival, an album by Conchita and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra was released in October 2018 with the title “From Vienna With Love”. In June 2018, a reinterpretation of “The Sound of Music” from the film of the same name was released as a single. In September, the second single followed “Für mich soll’s rote Rosen regnen”, a cover version of Hildegard Knef’s song of the same name. In 2019 Tom Neuwirth announced that he would do a new project under the name WURST. When changing his image, he put his male side in the foreground as WURST. He did without wigs and appeared at events in a fetish outfit instead of clothes. The album T.O.M. – Truth Over Magnitude was published in autumn 2019. In the FameMaker program broadcast in September and October 2020, Neuwirth did not appear as the fictional character “Conchita Wurst” for the first time. In 2021 Conchita WURST released the singles “Malibu” and “Bodymorphia”. She also started an online talkshow, OZAA Talk. In July 2022 Conchita released a song in German, “Erstmal Pause”, followed by another English song, “Call me up”.  Entries Rise Like A Phoenix Country🇦🇹 Austria Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsCharlie MasonJoey PatulkaAli ZuckowskiJulian Maas MusicCharlie MasonJoey PatulkaAli ZuckowskiJulian Maas Backings– Results Semi Points: 169Position: 1Running order: 6 Results Finals Points: 290Position: 1Running order: 11 https://youtu.be/xhCC_PN9UlA

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Sergej Ćetković

About Quick Facts NameSergej Ćetković Born08 March 1976 Nationality🇲🇪 Montenegrin National SelectionInternal selection 2014Evropesma/Europjesma 2004 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongMoj Svijet (2014) Biography Sergej Ćetković was born on March 8, 1976, in Titograd, which is now known as Podgorica, in Montenegro. He is a prominent Montenegrin and Serbian pop singer who has made a significant impact on the music industry in the region. Ćetković’s journey in music began with the Montenegrin group Vatrena Srca. He was the group’s keyboardist and also served as a backing vocalist. After the group Amfiteatar disbanded in 1998, Ćetković embarked on a solo career. His first significant performance was at the Suncane Skale festival, where he performed the song “Bila si Ruza”. Two years into his solo career, in December 2000, Ćetković released a CD named “Kristina”. Around the same time, he performed at the Budva festival with the song “Sati, Dani, Godine”. His songs “Zaustavicu Vrijeme”, “Sati, Dani, Godine”, “Grad” and “Probudi me” gained substantial popularity, and he also filmed music videos for these numbers. In December 2002, under the “Goraton” label, Ćetković released “Budi Mi Voda” and twelve new songs. His song “Postojim I Ja”, which he performed at the Budva festival in 2003, won an award for the best arrangement and became a significant hit. In 2004, he released songs “Ljubavi Prokleta” and “Ne Mogu Da Ti Oprostim”. The latter participated in Evropesma/Europjesma, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest in the combined state Serbia and Montenegro. The song reached an 8th place in the final. Ćetković continued his momentum and published his third album, “Kad Ti Zatreba”, with ten new songs in 2005. The song “Pogledi U Tami” from this album was particularly successful. At the Beovizija festival in 2007 and 2008, he won the award for the pop singer of the year. In a notable highlight of his career, Ćetković was selected to represent Montenegro at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Denmark. With “Moj svijet”, he was the first singer to reach the final for Montenegro. The song ended up in 19th place. Branching out from singing, Ćetković composed original music for the popular local series “Istine i Lazi” (Truths and Lies) in 2017. The following year, he teamed up with Jana Šušteršič. who featured in the song “Bar da odes”. The song was followed by “Ako te zaboravim”. He also created and composed the first Serbian animated series “Lola i Mila”, inspired by his adopted daughters. Meanwhile, Sergej was one of the jurors in the talent show Pinkove Zvezdice. On the last day of 2018, Sergej released a new song and video: “Dio života”, followed in March 2019 by “Ljubav”. He teamed up with Who See for the song “Pusti probleme”. In 2020, Sergej released a collection of audio Viber stickers for his 20-year career. Fans could download a sticker and send it to someone, with a part of a Sergej-song on it. In May 2021, a new song, “Kofer”, was released, followed by a new live tour. More than a year later, in December 2022, the single “Na prvi pogled” was released. Entries Moj Svijet Country🇲🇪 Montenegro Year2014 LanguageMontenegrin LyricsSergej ĆetkovićEmina Jahović MusicSergej Ćetković BackingsDragan Brnas-FudoIvana ČabrajaMartina Majerle DancerJovana Stanisavljević Results Semi Points: 63Position: 7Running order: 15 Results Finals Points: 37Position: 19Running order: 8 https://youtu.be/6FJtzRSKHKg

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Aram MP3

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameAram Avetiki Sargsyan Born05 April 1984 Nationality🇦🇲 Armenian National SelectionInternal selection 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongNot Alone (2014) Biography Aram Avetiqi Sargsyan, better known as Aram MP3, is an Armenian singer-songwriter, comedian, showman, and actor. He was born on April 5, 1984, in Yerevan. From his childhood, he has been involved in several choir groups and theatrical performances. Although he always dreamed of a great fame, he chose the profession of a pharmacist, graduating from the Yerevan State Medical University.  During his student years, Aram participated in the shows of the comedy program “UHA”. In 2006, Aram became a member of the comedy club “32 Teeth”, where one of his colleagues, Vahagn Grigoryan, nicknamed him MP3, and he decided to use it as his stage pseudonym. In 2007, Aram became known as the winner of the competition 2 Stars of the Public Television Company. Collaborating with the Shant TV company, he hosted that TV company’s X-Factor, Armenian Superstar, My Name Is, Power of 10, and other projects. Aram was a member of the comedy project Vitamin Club, which was broadcast every week. In the Public Television Company, he hosted the Good Evening program with Garik Papoyan. On December 31, 2013 it was announced that Aram had been chosen by internal selection to represent Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. On March 14, it was announced that Aram would perform the song “Not Alone” at the contest. Hopes were high as the song was in the lead at the bookmakers for a long time. Aram reached the final with his song, and got a 4th place in the overall ranking. Following his Eurovision stint, Aram MP3 made numerous guest appearances on prominent Armenian TV programs, including The Voice and X Factor. He released a new single, “Help,” on February 7, 2015. In 2016, he lent his voice to the character of Adult Simba in the Armenian version of The Lion King, also performing the lead vocals for “Circle of Life”. That same year, Aram began serving as a judge and mentor on the Armenian Eurovision National final, where he guided a team composed of Saro Gevorgyan, LUCY, Lilit Harutyunyan, and Jujo. Unfortunately, all his team members were eventually eliminated, with LUCY securing the 6th position in the competition. In February 2017, Aram collaborated with Iveta Mukuchyan to release a single called “Dashterov.” On May 21, Mukuchyan announced a new traditional project in collaboration with Aram, also titled “Dashterov”. The project’s first song, “El Eghnim,” came out on June 15, and the second song, “Let the wind blow,” followed a week later, on June 22. Later in the month, Aram participated in a humanitarian project to assist Armenian children diagnosed with cancer, alongside several well-known Armenian artists like Mihran Tsarukyan, Erik Karapetyan, and Iveta Mukuchyan. In 2020, Aram teamed up with Arame, Arabo Ispiryan, Mihran Tsarukyan, Mkrtich Arzumanyan and Arsen Safaryan for the song “Heros therq”, which is an ode to the fallen soldiers in the war with Azerbaijan. In 2023 he released a new single “Depi bardzunq”, followed by the song “Shat apres Yerevan”. Entries Not Alone Country🇦🇲 Armenia Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsGarik Papoyan MusicAram Sargsyan Backings– Results Semi Points: 121Position: 4Running order: 1 Results Finals Points: 174Position: 4Running order: 7 https://youtu.be/oj0oOV-2fRQ

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Carl Espen

About Quick Facts NameCarl Espen Thorbjørnsen Born15 July 1982 Nationality🇳🇴 Norway National SelectionNorsk Melodi Grand Prix 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongSilent Storm (2014) Biography Carl Espen (born Carl Espen Thorbjørnsen on 15 July 1982 in Bergen, Norway) is a Norwegian singer and songwriter. Espen was born into a musical family and spent much of his childhood and youth in Bergen, where he discovered his passion for music at an early age. He spent his formative years singing in various local choirs and performing in school concerts. After high school, he joined the Norwegian Armed Forces and served in Kosovo under the United Nations peacekeeping mission. Upon his return from military service, he went to work as a doorman in a local bar, keeping his musical talents mostly to himself. His professional music career began rather unexpectedly. Espen’s cousin, Josefin Winther, a musician herself, wrote a song for him to perform at a family gathering. The song, “Silent Storm,” touched the family so deeply that they encouraged him to enter it into Melodi Grand Prix, Norway’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. Heeding their advice, Espen submitted the song to Melodi Grand Prix 2014 and managed to win the national contest, securing his spot to represent Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. His performance of “Silent Storm”  made a significant impact and he finished in 8th place in the final. After the Eurovision Song Contest, Carl Espen released a second single, “Holding on”. However, the song did not reach the charts. In October 2014, Carl Espen made an acoustic tour throughout Norway. After Eurovision Carl Espen did not build on a big career in music. He decided to go an study in order to become a nurse.   Entries Silent Storm Country🇳🇴 Norway Year2014 Language🇬🇧 English LyricsJosefin Winther MusicJosefin Winther BackingsStian Aarstad (piano)Isa Caroline HolmeslandAne Emilie Vold MickelssonMadeleine OssumSara Ulstrup Results Semi Points: 77Position: 6Running order: 3 Results Finals Points: 88Position: 8Running order: 5 https://youtu.be/BTMli8U17MM

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Pollapönk

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts MembersHeiðar Örn KristjánssonHaraldur Freyr GíslasonGuðni Þórarinn FinnssonArnar Þór Gíslason Founded2006 Nationality🇮🇸 Icelandic National SelectionSöngvakeppnin 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongNo Prejudice (2014) Biography Pollapönk is an Icelandic pop-rock band that has delighted audiences with their unique musical style and captivating performances since their inception in 2006. The band was initially formed by two preschool teachers, Heiðar Örn Kristjánsson and Haraldur Freyr Gíslason, with the aim of creating music that children and adults alike could enjoy. The band’s name, which translates to “Puddle Punk,” exemplifies their quirky and fun-loving character, as well as their appeal to a diverse range of listeners. Their colorful outfits and eccentric performances are hallmarks of their image. The duo soon expanded to a four-piece band with the inclusion of Guðni Finnsson and Arnar Þór Gíslason, further broadening their musical capabilities. They sing in both Icelandic and English, making their music accessible to a global audience. In 2014, Pollapönk represented Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest with the track “No Prejudice.” The song, an upbeat pop-rock number with an encouraging message about breaking down barriers and eradicating prejudice, made it to the final round of the competition. This performance significantly raised the band’s international profile and served as a testament to their talent and dedication. So far, Pollapönk released four albums. Their greatest hits, apart from “Enga fordóma/No prejudice” were “Litli ljótu ljónið” (2008), “Punkabillybræðraband” (2009). Despite their initial focus on children’s music, their broad appeal has transcended these boundaries, captivating listeners of all ages. As of mid-2023, Pollapönk continues to write, record, and perform, bringing their music. In May 2023, Pollapönk released a new version of “Enga fordóma/No prejudice” for Unicef, together with @Tag, a choir of deaf children. Entries No Prejudice Country🇮🇸 Iceland Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsHeiðar Örn KristjánssonHaraldur F. GíslasonJohn Grant MusicHeiðar Örn Kristjánsson BackingsÓttar ProppéSnæbjörn Ragnarsson Results Semi Points: 61Position: 8Running order: 5 Results Finals Points: 58Position: 15Running order: 4 https://youtu.be/U2qAvGsiCmc

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Dilara Kazimova

© Dilara Kazimova About Quick Facts NameDilarə Kazımova Born20 May 1984 Nationality🇦🇿 Azerbaijani National SelectionBöyük Səhnə 2014Land of Fire 2010Land of Fire 2008 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongStart A Fire (2014) Biography Dilarə Kazımova (born May 20, 1984, Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, USSR) is an Azerbaijani singer, actress, songwriter, and composer. Dilarə Kazımova graduated from the Republic Art Gymnasium in 2001. From 2002 to 2006, she attended the Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibeyov, where she studied opera vocals. Dilara Kazımova began her artistic journey as a member of the group Woman. In 2004, she joined the music competition Sing Your Song, where she performed a duet called “Cherry” with the band Unformal. Her collaboration with the band was so successful that she eventually became the lead singer of Unformal. In the finals of Sing Your Song, held at the grand Haydar Aliyev Palace, Dilara and Unformal were celebrated as runners-up. In 2006, she broadened her artistic portfolio, starring alongside renowned actor Fəxrəddin Manafov in the film “Çalış, nəfəs alma”. The film was well-received, earning a prestigious award at the Salento Finibus Terrae international short film festival in Italy. Continuing her journey with Unformal, in 2007, they performed the theme song “Sonsuz Yol” for the film Sirat Körpüsü. Dilara’s first encounter with the Eurovision Song Contest came in 2008 when she participated as part of “Unformal”. They reached the final stage and secured second place. Then, in 2010, Dilara returned to the Eurovision national selection, this time as the lead singer of Milk and Kisses. Once again, they finished in second place. That same year, Dilara won New Wave held in Jurmala, Latvia, and she acted in a joint Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, and Russia production called “Qardaşımdan yaxşısı yox idi”. In the subsequent years, Dilara continued to make waves in the music industry. In 2012, she presented her duet “Doğma Mahnılar” with Orkhan Zeynallı. In 2013, she introduced her single “Мысли”, a melodic piece composed by Emin Kərimiyə with lyrics by Riyad Əliyev. Dilara’s dream to represent Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest came true in 2014. She won the national selection through Böyük Səhnə,  the natiuonal final for the contest, and earned the right to represent her country with the song “Start a Fire”. Dilara reached the final and earned a 22nd place there. She also represented Azerbaijan at the Ukrainian version of the TV show “The Voice” in 2014 and was a guest performer at the solo concert of the group Okean Elzı in Baku. In 2015, she acted in the film “4.1 şəhər motivləri”, also known as “Dmitrov küçəsi 86”. That same year, she performed the folk song “Laçın” on Turkey’s popular television show “Transparent Room” to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre. In 2018, Dilara dedicated her single “613” to the 26th anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre. Later that year, she presented her single “Azərbaycan” at the Genclik Mall. She also performed at Star of Asia in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and collaborated with composer-singer Murad Arif to present the duet “Yalnız Səni Gözlədim”. In 2020, she released her single “Azərbaycanım”. In 2021, Dilara performed a duet with Elshad Xose called “Əsl sevgi”, with lyrics and music by Xose himself. She also introduced a single called “Ünvanımız xoşbəxtlik”, which she composed herself, and later in the year, she presented her singles “Qaralama” and “Olmaram”. In 2022, she teamed up with Ulviyya for the song “Korablik”. In December of that year, Dilara released two solo singles in English: “Running” and “Dream”. followed in 2023 by “Alov” and “Olmaz”.  Entries Start A Fire Country🇦🇿 Azerbaijan Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsStefan ÖrnJohan KronlundAlessandra Günthardt MusicStefan ÖrnJohan KronlundAlessandra Günthardt BackingsJennie JahnsSofia LindströmLena Engman DancersMatleena Laine (trapeze artist) Results Semi Points: 57Position: 9Running order: 8 Results Finals Points: 33Position: 22Running order: 3 https://youtu.be/5mPUMPcFQAY

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Teo

About Quick Facts NameYuriy Alexeyevich Vashchuk Born24 January 1983 Nationality🇧🇾 Belarusian National SelectionBelarusian National Final 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongCheesecake (2014) Biography Yury Vashchuk was born on January 24, 1983, in the village of Khidry. After four years of studying the bayan, he became a laureate of the international competition “Podsnezhniki” (“Praleski”). His first serious competition was the TV project “Zvyozdnoye raskrytie” (“Zornaya Rostan’”). In 2000, he was invited to work with the National Concert Orchestra of Belarus under the direction of Mikhail Finberg. In 2008, he graduated from the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts. He was the host of the program “Vperyod v proshloe” (“Naperad u minulaye”), which aired on the channels “Belarus 3” and “Belarus 24”. From 2011 to 2014, he received several national music awards, including the “Lira” awards: “Discovery of the Year” (2011), “Best Arranger” (2012), “Best Music Author” (for the song “Belarus Velykaya” with Leonid Shirin, 2013), “Best Performer of the Year” (2014), and “Best Song of the Year” (“Cheesecake”, 2014). Based on the results of the National Selection Tour organized by Belteleradiocompany for the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, he received an award from the jury and the “Crystal Heart” statuette for the song “Cheesecake”. On May 8, in the second semi-final, Vashchuk, under the pseudonym TEO, performed in the semifinal, securing Belarus a spot in the final. On May 10, 2014, TEO performed as the 2nd participant in the final and placed 16th.  On 3 December, 2015, Teo gave a huge solo concert in the Minsk Concert Hall in Minsk. In November 2016, Teo teamed up with his wife Olya Rizhikova for the song and video “Nam ochen”. In March 2017 they performed together in the Minsk Concert Hall. They released another song together in January 2018, “Po tonkomu l’du” and the solo song “Begu”. Teo and Olya hosted the 2018 national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. In July of the same year, Teo released another solo single, “Yukhu”. In November 2019, Olya and Teo released a new song, “Blizhe”, followed by “Kto kome nas” in July 2020. In March 2021, “Murashki po koje” came out. Teo and Olya performed at the Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk. They sang “Ty moy kosmos”. In October 2022 the video of the song came out. Entries Cheesecake Country🇧🇾 Belarus Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsDmitry Novik MusicYuriy Vashchuk BackingsYuriy SeleznyovArtyom AkhpashDenis Lis DancersAlexander ZalesskiyAndrey Martynov Results Semi Points: 87Position: 5Running order: 10 Results Finals Points: 43Position: 16Running order: 2 https://youtu.be/tImGMW-4eHY

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Mariya Yaremchuk

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameMariya Yaremchuk Born02 March 1993 Nationality🇺🇦 Ukrainian National SelectionEvrobachennya 2013Evrobachennya 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongTick-Tock (2014) Biography Marya Nazarivna Yaremchuk (born March 2, 1993, Chernivtsi) is a Ukrainian singer. She is the daughter of the Ukrainian singer Nazariy Yaremchuk. She has been singing since childhood, mostly in Ukrainian language, and occasionally performs songs in English and Russian. She graduated from the Kyiv Municipal Academy of Variety and Circus Arts. In 2012, she was a participant of Holos Krainy (The Voice Ukraine) where she joined the team of Oleksandr Ponomariov and took 4th place. In April 2012, she auditioned for “New Wave-2012” and became the sole representative from Ukraine. In the end, Maria took third place. She also received a prize from the company Megafon and the opportunity to shoot a music video, a prize from the Russian TV channel Muz-TV and the right to air the music video on the channel for a month, as well as a prize for viewers’ sympathy. On August 20, 2012, Maria received an award for “Promoting Ukrainian Music” during a meeting with then Prime Minister Mykola Azarov. She also expressed her support for the Party of Regions under the leadership of then-President Viktor Yanukovych. However, she stated her apolitical stance and patriotism. In October of the same year, she presented a Russian-language composition called “So mnoy optyat”, written by Konstantin Meladze and Andriy Frenz. A music video was also released for this song, directed by Serhiy Tkachenko.On November 26, 2012, the music video was released. On December 23, 2012, she participated in the national selection of Ukraine for Eurovision 2013 with the song “Imagine” and took 5th place. On July 31, 2014, Maria Yaremchuk participated in the concert tour “Support Your Own” for Ukrainian soldiers stationed in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone and in hospitals. In 2014, she won the national selection and thus went on representing Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, where she placed 6th.  In 2018 she left the stage, with her producer being Mykhailo Yasytskyi. The reason was her stage fright. In 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Maria Yaremchuk resumed her creative activities and released several new songs. In 2023, as an invited guest, Maria Yaremchuk performed at Eurovision in Liverpool. She, along with OTOY and the participant of Junior Eurovision 2022 Zlata Dzyun’ka, performed the songs “Rodina,” “Sadochok Vyshnevyy Kolo Haty,” and “Shchedryk.” Entries Tick-Tock Country🇺🇦 Ukraine Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsMariya YaremchukSandra Bjurman MusicMariya Yaremchuk BackingsAnna Linnea IsbäckGraciela Chin A LoiAnneli Maria TörnkvistElin Eva Maria Svensson DancerIgor Kuleshyn Results Semi Points: 118Position: 5Running order: 9 Results Finals Points: 113Position: 6Running order: 1 https://youtu.be/slHboKF9PIQ

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Sanna Nielsen

© Pelle T. Nilsson/All Over Press About Quick Facts NameSanna Nielsen Born27 November 1984 Nationality🇸🇪 Swedish National SelectionMelodifestivalen 2014Melodifestivalen 2011Melodifestivalen 2008Melodifestivalen 2007Melodifestivalen 2005Melodifestivalen 2003Melodifestivalen 2001 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongUndo (2014) Biography Sanna Nielsen is a well-known Swedish pop singer and television presenter. Born on November 27, 1984, in the town of Edenryd, Sweden, she has been an active figure in the entertainment industry for more than two decades.  Nielsen’s career started early, with her first album, “Silvertoner,” being released when she was just 11 years old in 1996. The album was well received and set the foundation for a successful career in music. Nielsen’s popularity in Sweden grew steadily, and she became a familiar face in the annual Melodifestivalen, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. She competed in Melodifestivalen seven times between 2001 and 2014. Despite coming close several times, it wasn’t until 2014 that she finally won the competition with the ballad “Undo,” earning her the chance to represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest. Her performance at Eurovision 2014 in Copenhagen was one of the highlights of her career. Nielsen’s powerful delivery of “Undo” captivated the audience and judges alike, and she finished in third place overall, further solidifying her place in the music industry. Besides her successful music career, Nielsen has also made a name for herself as a television presenter. In 2015, she co-hosted the Swedish national selection for Eurovision, Melodifestivalen. From 2016, Sanna Nielsen was the host for ‘Allsång på Skansen’. On June 20, 2022, she announced that 2022 will be her last season as the host of ‘Allsång på Skansen’. On December 24, 2016, Sanna Nielsen was the Christmas host on SVT December 24, 2016. On Christmas Eve 2021, she held a one-hour-long Christmas concert on SVT named Min Sanna jul. Entries Undo Country🇸🇪 Swedish Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsFredrik KempeDavid KreugerHamed ‘K-One’ Pirouzpanah MusicFredrik KempeDavid KreugerHamed ‘K-One’ Pirouzpanah BackingsBritta BergströmThérèse Löf AmbergJessica MarbergerAndrea NorbergJeanette Olsson Results Semi Points: 131Position: 2Running order: 4 Results Finals Points: 218Position: 3Running order: 13 https://youtu.be/5PQJI-3LW-8

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Elaiza

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts MembersElżbieta SteinmetzNatalie PlögerYvonne Grünwald Founded2013 Nationality🇩🇪 German🇺🇦 Ukrainian National SelectionUnser Song Für Dänemark 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongIs It Right? (2014) Biography Elaiza is a German folk-pop band known for their distinctive neo-folk sound, which blends modern pop elements with traditional Eastern European folk. The band was formed in 2013 and originally consisted of three members: Elżbieta Steinmetz, Yvonne Grünwald, and Natalie Plöger. Elżbieta Steinmetz, who goes by the stage name “Ela,” is a singer and songwriter with Polish roots, a factor that heavily influences the band’s sound. Yvonne Grünwald plays the accordion, and Natalie Plöger is the contrabassist. Later on, Steinmetz and Grünwald continued as a duo, with Plöger departing the band. Elaiza’s breakthrough came in 2014 when they won the German national finals for the Eurovision Song Contest. Their song “Is It Right” represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest held in Copenhagen that year. The band’s performance in the international music event significantly increased their profile in Germany and Europe more broadly, leading to a successful debut album, “Gallery,” which was released the same year. Elaiza is recognized for their vibrant and energetic performances, coupled with soulful lyrics and a unique musical style that blends modern pop with traditional influences. The band’s music often explores themes of love, life, and identity, and their work is characterized by Steinmetz’s powerful vocals, Grünwald’s expert accordion work, and a strong folk-pop sound. Elaiza had released two albums, “Gallery” in 2014 and “Restless” in 2016. The 2nd album was followed by a tour through Germany. At the same time, the band released two new singles, “Hurricane” and “Real”. However, before the band went on tour, Yvonne left the band. She was replaced by Laura Zimmermann. The band kept on touring through Germany in 2017. In November of that year they won a German Songwriting Award. In 2018, they did an acoustic tour. They even performed at the German embassy in Kenya and Ethiopia. The acoustic tour continued in 2019. Although the band did not officially split up, they didn’t perform anymore since March 2019. Entries Is It Right? Country🇩🇪 Germany Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsElżbieta SteinmetzAdam Kesselhaut MusicElżbieta SteinmetzFrank Kretschmer Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 39Position: 18Running order: 12 https://youtu.be/BFuGH2Kp9dI

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Conchita Wurst

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameThomas Neuwirth Born06 November 19888 Nationality🇦🇹 Austrian National SelectionInternal selection 2014Österreich rockt den Song Contest 2012 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongRise Like A Phoenix (2014) Biography Conchita Wurst is the stage persona of Austrian singer, recording artist and drag queen Tom Neuwirth. Neuwirth was born in Gmunden in Upper Austria and grew up in Bad Mitterndorf. In 2011 he completed an apprenticeship at the Graz Fashion School.  He took part in the third season of the TV casting show Starmania on Austrian TV in 2006 He finished second behind Nadine Beiler. In 2007 he founded the boy band Jetzt anders !, which broke up in the same year. Since 2011 Neuwirth has appeared as drag queen Conchita Wurst and since 2015 as Conchita, a diva with a full beard. Her fictional biography begins with the birth in the mountains of Colombia and leads through a childhood in Germany to the beginning of the career as a singer in Austria. Neuwirth explains this creation as a reaction and statement against discrimination that he experienced in his youth due to his homosexuality. His appearance as Conchita should also mean that “it is easier for young people – regardless of the reason why they are different from the others”.  Neuwirth was first known in the role of Conchita Wurst in 2011 as a participant in the ORF talent show Die große Chance, in which he finished sixth in the final round. As Conchita Wurst, he also took part in the Austrian preliminary decision for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 (Austria rocks the Song Contest) and in the final with the song “That’s What I Am” came in second place. In 2013 the song “That’s What I Am” could be found on the benefit album “Licht ins Dunkel 2013” and at a concert for the ORF Christmas campaign Licht ins Dunkel. In 2014, Conchita Wurst was internally selected to represent Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Rise like a Phoenix”. Conchita won the contest convincingly. At the end of 2014 Conchita Wurst released the single “Heroes”, followed by “You Are Unstoppable” at the beginning of March 2015.  On May 15, 2015, she released her debut album Conchita, which went platinum just a few days after its release in Austria and also entered the charts in other European countries and Australia. At the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna, Conchita  acted as a host in the Green Room. She was also involved in the opening song “Building Bridges”.  After the joint opening of the 2017 Vienna Festival, an album by Conchita and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra was released in October 2018 with the title “From Vienna With Love”. In June 2018, a reinterpretation of “The Sound of Music” from the film of the same name was released as a single. In September, the second single followed “Für mich soll’s rote Rosen regnen”, a cover version of Hildegard Knef’s song of the same name. In 2019 Tom Neuwirth announced that he would do a new project under the name WURST. When changing his image, he put his male side in the foreground as WURST. He did without wigs and appeared at events in a fetish outfit instead of clothes. The album T.O.M. – Truth Over Magnitude was published in autumn 2019. In the FameMaker program broadcast in September and October 2020, Neuwirth did not appear as the fictional character “Conchita Wurst” for the first time. In 2021 Conchita WURST released the singles “Malibu” and “Bodymorphia”. She also started an online talkshow, OZAA Talk. In July 2022 Conchita released a song in German, “Erstmal Pause”, followed by another English song, “Call me up”.  Entries Rise Like A Phoenix Country🇦🇹 Austria Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsCharlie MasonJoey PatulkaAli ZuckowskiJulian Maas MusicCharlie MasonJoey PatulkaAli ZuckowskiJulian Maas Backings– Results Semi Points: 169Position: 1Running order: 6 Results Finals Points: 290Position: 1Running order: 11 https://youtu.be/xhCC_PN9UlA

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Sergej Ćetković

About Quick Facts NameSergej Ćetković Born08 March 1976 Nationality🇲🇪 Montenegrin National SelectionInternal selection 2014Evropesma/Europjesma 2004 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongMoj Svijet (2014) Biography Sergej Ćetković was born on March 8, 1976, in Titograd, which is now known as Podgorica, in Montenegro. He is a prominent Montenegrin and Serbian pop singer who has made a significant impact on the music industry in the region. Ćetković’s journey in music began with the Montenegrin group Vatrena Srca. He was the group’s keyboardist and also served as a backing vocalist. After the group Amfiteatar disbanded in 1998, Ćetković embarked on a solo career. His first significant performance was at the Suncane Skale festival, where he performed the song “Bila si Ruza”. Two years into his solo career, in December 2000, Ćetković released a CD named “Kristina”. Around the same time, he performed at the Budva festival with the song “Sati, Dani, Godine”. His songs “Zaustavicu Vrijeme”, “Sati, Dani, Godine”, “Grad” and “Probudi me” gained substantial popularity, and he also filmed music videos for these numbers. In December 2002, under the “Goraton” label, Ćetković released “Budi Mi Voda” and twelve new songs. His song “Postojim I Ja”, which he performed at the Budva festival in 2003, won an award for the best arrangement and became a significant hit. In 2004, he released songs “Ljubavi Prokleta” and “Ne Mogu Da Ti Oprostim”. The latter participated in Evropesma/Europjesma, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest in the combined state Serbia and Montenegro. The song reached an 8th place in the final. Ćetković continued his momentum and published his third album, “Kad Ti Zatreba”, with ten new songs in 2005. The song “Pogledi U Tami” from this album was particularly successful. At the Beovizija festival in 2007 and 2008, he won the award for the pop singer of the year. In a notable highlight of his career, Ćetković was selected to represent Montenegro at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Denmark. With “Moj svijet”, he was the first singer to reach the final for Montenegro. The song ended up in 19th place. Branching out from singing, Ćetković composed original music for the popular local series “Istine i Lazi” (Truths and Lies) in 2017. The following year, he teamed up with Jana Šušteršič. who featured in the song “Bar da odes”. The song was followed by “Ako te zaboravim”. He also created and composed the first Serbian animated series “Lola i Mila”, inspired by his adopted daughters. Meanwhile, Sergej was one of the jurors in the talent show Pinkove Zvezdice. On the last day of 2018, Sergej released a new song and video: “Dio života”, followed in March 2019 by “Ljubav”. He teamed up with Who See for the song “Pusti probleme”. In 2020, Sergej released a collection of audio Viber stickers for his 20-year career. Fans could download a sticker and send it to someone, with a part of a Sergej-song on it. In May 2021, a new song, “Kofer”, was released, followed by a new live tour. More than a year later, in December 2022, the single “Na prvi pogled” was released. Entries Moj Svijet Country🇲🇪 Montenegro Year2014 LanguageMontenegrin LyricsSergej ĆetkovićEmina Jahović MusicSergej Ćetković BackingsDragan Brnas-FudoIvana ČabrajaMartina Majerle DancerJovana Stanisavljević Results Semi Points: 63Position: 7Running order: 15 Results Finals Points: 37Position: 19Running order: 8 https://youtu.be/6FJtzRSKHKg

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Aram MP3

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameAram Avetiki Sargsyan Born05 April 1984 Nationality🇦🇲 Armenian National SelectionInternal selection 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongNot Alone (2014) Biography Aram Avetiqi Sargsyan, better known as Aram MP3, is an Armenian singer-songwriter, comedian, showman, and actor. He was born on April 5, 1984, in Yerevan. From his childhood, he has been involved in several choir groups and theatrical performances. Although he always dreamed of a great fame, he chose the profession of a pharmacist, graduating from the Yerevan State Medical University.  During his student years, Aram participated in the shows of the comedy program “UHA”. In 2006, Aram became a member of the comedy club “32 Teeth”, where one of his colleagues, Vahagn Grigoryan, nicknamed him MP3, and he decided to use it as his stage pseudonym. In 2007, Aram became known as the winner of the competition 2 Stars of the Public Television Company. Collaborating with the Shant TV company, he hosted that TV company’s X-Factor, Armenian Superstar, My Name Is, Power of 10, and other projects. Aram was a member of the comedy project Vitamin Club, which was broadcast every week. In the Public Television Company, he hosted the Good Evening program with Garik Papoyan. On December 31, 2013 it was announced that Aram had been chosen by internal selection to represent Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. On March 14, it was announced that Aram would perform the song “Not Alone” at the contest. Hopes were high as the song was in the lead at the bookmakers for a long time. Aram reached the final with his song, and got a 4th place in the overall ranking. Following his Eurovision stint, Aram MP3 made numerous guest appearances on prominent Armenian TV programs, including The Voice and X Factor. He released a new single, “Help,” on February 7, 2015. In 2016, he lent his voice to the character of Adult Simba in the Armenian version of The Lion King, also performing the lead vocals for “Circle of Life”. That same year, Aram began serving as a judge and mentor on the Armenian Eurovision National final, where he guided a team composed of Saro Gevorgyan, LUCY, Lilit Harutyunyan, and Jujo. Unfortunately, all his team members were eventually eliminated, with LUCY securing the 6th position in the competition. In February 2017, Aram collaborated with Iveta Mukuchyan to release a single called “Dashterov.” On May 21, Mukuchyan announced a new traditional project in collaboration with Aram, also titled “Dashterov”. The project’s first song, “El Eghnim,” came out on June 15, and the second song, “Let the wind blow,” followed a week later, on June 22. Later in the month, Aram participated in a humanitarian project to assist Armenian children diagnosed with cancer, alongside several well-known Armenian artists like Mihran Tsarukyan, Erik Karapetyan, and Iveta Mukuchyan. In 2020, Aram teamed up with Arame, Arabo Ispiryan, Mihran Tsarukyan, Mkrtich Arzumanyan and Arsen Safaryan for the song “Heros therq”, which is an ode to the fallen soldiers in the war with Azerbaijan. In 2023 he released a new single “Depi bardzunq”, followed by the song “Shat apres Yerevan”. Entries Not Alone Country🇦🇲 Armenia Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsGarik Papoyan MusicAram Sargsyan Backings– Results Semi Points: 121Position: 4Running order: 1 Results Finals Points: 174Position: 4Running order: 7 https://youtu.be/oj0oOV-2fRQ

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Carl Espen

About Quick Facts NameCarl Espen Thorbjørnsen Born15 July 1982 Nationality🇳🇴 Norway National SelectionNorsk Melodi Grand Prix 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongSilent Storm (2014) Biography Carl Espen (born Carl Espen Thorbjørnsen on 15 July 1982 in Bergen, Norway) is a Norwegian singer and songwriter. Espen was born into a musical family and spent much of his childhood and youth in Bergen, where he discovered his passion for music at an early age. He spent his formative years singing in various local choirs and performing in school concerts. After high school, he joined the Norwegian Armed Forces and served in Kosovo under the United Nations peacekeeping mission. Upon his return from military service, he went to work as a doorman in a local bar, keeping his musical talents mostly to himself. His professional music career began rather unexpectedly. Espen’s cousin, Josefin Winther, a musician herself, wrote a song for him to perform at a family gathering. The song, “Silent Storm,” touched the family so deeply that they encouraged him to enter it into Melodi Grand Prix, Norway’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. Heeding their advice, Espen submitted the song to Melodi Grand Prix 2014 and managed to win the national contest, securing his spot to represent Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. His performance of “Silent Storm”  made a significant impact and he finished in 8th place in the final. After the Eurovision Song Contest, Carl Espen released a second single, “Holding on”. However, the song did not reach the charts. In October 2014, Carl Espen made an acoustic tour throughout Norway. After Eurovision Carl Espen did not build on a big career in music. He decided to go an study in order to become a nurse.   Entries Silent Storm Country🇳🇴 Norway Year2014 Language🇬🇧 English LyricsJosefin Winther MusicJosefin Winther BackingsStian Aarstad (piano)Isa Caroline HolmeslandAne Emilie Vold MickelssonMadeleine OssumSara Ulstrup Results Semi Points: 77Position: 6Running order: 3 Results Finals Points: 88Position: 8Running order: 5 https://youtu.be/BTMli8U17MM

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Pollapönk

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts MembersHeiðar Örn KristjánssonHaraldur Freyr GíslasonGuðni Þórarinn FinnssonArnar Þór Gíslason Founded2006 Nationality🇮🇸 Icelandic National SelectionSöngvakeppnin 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongNo Prejudice (2014) Biography Pollapönk is an Icelandic pop-rock band that has delighted audiences with their unique musical style and captivating performances since their inception in 2006. The band was initially formed by two preschool teachers, Heiðar Örn Kristjánsson and Haraldur Freyr Gíslason, with the aim of creating music that children and adults alike could enjoy. The band’s name, which translates to “Puddle Punk,” exemplifies their quirky and fun-loving character, as well as their appeal to a diverse range of listeners. Their colorful outfits and eccentric performances are hallmarks of their image. The duo soon expanded to a four-piece band with the inclusion of Guðni Finnsson and Arnar Þór Gíslason, further broadening their musical capabilities. They sing in both Icelandic and English, making their music accessible to a global audience. In 2014, Pollapönk represented Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest with the track “No Prejudice.” The song, an upbeat pop-rock number with an encouraging message about breaking down barriers and eradicating prejudice, made it to the final round of the competition. This performance significantly raised the band’s international profile and served as a testament to their talent and dedication. So far, Pollapönk released four albums. Their greatest hits, apart from “Enga fordóma/No prejudice” were “Litli ljótu ljónið” (2008), “Punkabillybræðraband” (2009). Despite their initial focus on children’s music, their broad appeal has transcended these boundaries, captivating listeners of all ages. As of mid-2023, Pollapönk continues to write, record, and perform, bringing their music. In May 2023, Pollapönk released a new version of “Enga fordóma/No prejudice” for Unicef, together with @Tag, a choir of deaf children. Entries No Prejudice Country🇮🇸 Iceland Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsHeiðar Örn KristjánssonHaraldur F. GíslasonJohn Grant MusicHeiðar Örn Kristjánsson BackingsÓttar ProppéSnæbjörn Ragnarsson Results Semi Points: 61Position: 8Running order: 5 Results Finals Points: 58Position: 15Running order: 4 https://youtu.be/U2qAvGsiCmc

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Dilara Kazimova

© Dilara Kazimova About Quick Facts NameDilarə Kazımova Born20 May 1984 Nationality🇦🇿 Azerbaijani National SelectionBöyük Səhnə 2014Land of Fire 2010Land of Fire 2008 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongStart A Fire (2014) Biography Dilarə Kazımova (born May 20, 1984, Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, USSR) is an Azerbaijani singer, actress, songwriter, and composer. Dilarə Kazımova graduated from the Republic Art Gymnasium in 2001. From 2002 to 2006, she attended the Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibeyov, where she studied opera vocals. Dilara Kazımova began her artistic journey as a member of the group Woman. In 2004, she joined the music competition Sing Your Song, where she performed a duet called “Cherry” with the band Unformal. Her collaboration with the band was so successful that she eventually became the lead singer of Unformal. In the finals of Sing Your Song, held at the grand Haydar Aliyev Palace, Dilara and Unformal were celebrated as runners-up. In 2006, she broadened her artistic portfolio, starring alongside renowned actor Fəxrəddin Manafov in the film “Çalış, nəfəs alma”. The film was well-received, earning a prestigious award at the Salento Finibus Terrae international short film festival in Italy. Continuing her journey with Unformal, in 2007, they performed the theme song “Sonsuz Yol” for the film Sirat Körpüsü. Dilara’s first encounter with the Eurovision Song Contest came in 2008 when she participated as part of “Unformal”. They reached the final stage and secured second place. Then, in 2010, Dilara returned to the Eurovision national selection, this time as the lead singer of Milk and Kisses. Once again, they finished in second place. That same year, Dilara won New Wave held in Jurmala, Latvia, and she acted in a joint Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, and Russia production called “Qardaşımdan yaxşısı yox idi”. In the subsequent years, Dilara continued to make waves in the music industry. In 2012, she presented her duet “Doğma Mahnılar” with Orkhan Zeynallı. In 2013, she introduced her single “Мысли”, a melodic piece composed by Emin Kərimiyə with lyrics by Riyad Əliyev. Dilara’s dream to represent Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest came true in 2014. She won the national selection through Böyük Səhnə,  the natiuonal final for the contest, and earned the right to represent her country with the song “Start a Fire”. Dilara reached the final and earned a 22nd place there. She also represented Azerbaijan at the Ukrainian version of the TV show “The Voice” in 2014 and was a guest performer at the solo concert of the group Okean Elzı in Baku. In 2015, she acted in the film “4.1 şəhər motivləri”, also known as “Dmitrov küçəsi 86”. That same year, she performed the folk song “Laçın” on Turkey’s popular television show “Transparent Room” to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre. In 2018, Dilara dedicated her single “613” to the 26th anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre. Later that year, she presented her single “Azərbaycan” at the Genclik Mall. She also performed at Star of Asia in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and collaborated with composer-singer Murad Arif to present the duet “Yalnız Səni Gözlədim”. In 2020, she released her single “Azərbaycanım”. In 2021, Dilara performed a duet with Elshad Xose called “Əsl sevgi”, with lyrics and music by Xose himself. She also introduced a single called “Ünvanımız xoşbəxtlik”, which she composed herself, and later in the year, she presented her singles “Qaralama” and “Olmaram”. In 2022, she teamed up with Ulviyya for the song “Korablik”. In December of that year, Dilara released two solo singles in English: “Running” and “Dream”. followed in 2023 by “Alov” and “Olmaz”.  Entries Start A Fire Country🇦🇿 Azerbaijan Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsStefan ÖrnJohan KronlundAlessandra Günthardt MusicStefan ÖrnJohan KronlundAlessandra Günthardt BackingsJennie JahnsSofia LindströmLena Engman DancersMatleena Laine (trapeze artist) Results Semi Points: 57Position: 9Running order: 8 Results Finals Points: 33Position: 22Running order: 3 https://youtu.be/5mPUMPcFQAY

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Teo

About Quick Facts NameYuriy Alexeyevich Vashchuk Born24 January 1983 Nationality🇧🇾 Belarusian National SelectionBelarusian National Final 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongCheesecake (2014) Biography Yury Vashchuk was born on January 24, 1983, in the village of Khidry. After four years of studying the bayan, he became a laureate of the international competition “Podsnezhniki” (“Praleski”). His first serious competition was the TV project “Zvyozdnoye raskrytie” (“Zornaya Rostan’”). In 2000, he was invited to work with the National Concert Orchestra of Belarus under the direction of Mikhail Finberg. In 2008, he graduated from the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts. He was the host of the program “Vperyod v proshloe” (“Naperad u minulaye”), which aired on the channels “Belarus 3” and “Belarus 24”. From 2011 to 2014, he received several national music awards, including the “Lira” awards: “Discovery of the Year” (2011), “Best Arranger” (2012), “Best Music Author” (for the song “Belarus Velykaya” with Leonid Shirin, 2013), “Best Performer of the Year” (2014), and “Best Song of the Year” (“Cheesecake”, 2014). Based on the results of the National Selection Tour organized by Belteleradiocompany for the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, he received an award from the jury and the “Crystal Heart” statuette for the song “Cheesecake”. On May 8, in the second semi-final, Vashchuk, under the pseudonym TEO, performed in the semifinal, securing Belarus a spot in the final. On May 10, 2014, TEO performed as the 2nd participant in the final and placed 16th.  On 3 December, 2015, Teo gave a huge solo concert in the Minsk Concert Hall in Minsk. In November 2016, Teo teamed up with his wife Olya Rizhikova for the song and video “Nam ochen”. In March 2017 they performed together in the Minsk Concert Hall. They released another song together in January 2018, “Po tonkomu l’du” and the solo song “Begu”. Teo and Olya hosted the 2018 national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. In July of the same year, Teo released another solo single, “Yukhu”. In November 2019, Olya and Teo released a new song, “Blizhe”, followed by “Kto kome nas” in July 2020. In March 2021, “Murashki po koje” came out. Teo and Olya performed at the Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk. They sang “Ty moy kosmos”. In October 2022 the video of the song came out. Entries Cheesecake Country🇧🇾 Belarus Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsDmitry Novik MusicYuriy Vashchuk BackingsYuriy SeleznyovArtyom AkhpashDenis Lis DancersAlexander ZalesskiyAndrey Martynov Results Semi Points: 87Position: 5Running order: 10 Results Finals Points: 43Position: 16Running order: 2 https://youtu.be/tImGMW-4eHY

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Mariya Yaremchuk

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameMariya Yaremchuk Born02 March 1993 Nationality🇺🇦 Ukrainian National SelectionEvrobachennya 2013Evrobachennya 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongTick-Tock (2014) Biography Marya Nazarivna Yaremchuk (born March 2, 1993, Chernivtsi) is a Ukrainian singer. She is the daughter of the Ukrainian singer Nazariy Yaremchuk. She has been singing since childhood, mostly in Ukrainian language, and occasionally performs songs in English and Russian. She graduated from the Kyiv Municipal Academy of Variety and Circus Arts. In 2012, she was a participant of Holos Krainy (The Voice Ukraine) where she joined the team of Oleksandr Ponomariov and took 4th place. In April 2012, she auditioned for “New Wave-2012” and became the sole representative from Ukraine. In the end, Maria took third place. She also received a prize from the company Megafon and the opportunity to shoot a music video, a prize from the Russian TV channel Muz-TV and the right to air the music video on the channel for a month, as well as a prize for viewers’ sympathy. On August 20, 2012, Maria received an award for “Promoting Ukrainian Music” during a meeting with then Prime Minister Mykola Azarov. She also expressed her support for the Party of Regions under the leadership of then-President Viktor Yanukovych. However, she stated her apolitical stance and patriotism. In October of the same year, she presented a Russian-language composition called “So mnoy optyat”, written by Konstantin Meladze and Andriy Frenz. A music video was also released for this song, directed by Serhiy Tkachenko.On November 26, 2012, the music video was released. On December 23, 2012, she participated in the national selection of Ukraine for Eurovision 2013 with the song “Imagine” and took 5th place. On July 31, 2014, Maria Yaremchuk participated in the concert tour “Support Your Own” for Ukrainian soldiers stationed in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone and in hospitals. In 2014, she won the national selection and thus went on representing Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, where she placed 6th.  In 2018 she left the stage, with her producer being Mykhailo Yasytskyi. The reason was her stage fright. In 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Maria Yaremchuk resumed her creative activities and released several new songs. In 2023, as an invited guest, Maria Yaremchuk performed at Eurovision in Liverpool. She, along with OTOY and the participant of Junior Eurovision 2022 Zlata Dzyun’ka, performed the songs “Rodina,” “Sadochok Vyshnevyy Kolo Haty,” and “Shchedryk.” Entries Tick-Tock Country🇺🇦 Ukraine Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsMariya YaremchukSandra Bjurman MusicMariya Yaremchuk BackingsAnna Linnea IsbäckGraciela Chin A LoiAnneli Maria TörnkvistElin Eva Maria Svensson DancerIgor Kuleshyn Results Semi Points: 118Position: 5Running order: 9 Results Finals Points: 113Position: 6Running order: 1 https://youtu.be/slHboKF9PIQ

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Sanna Nielsen

© Pelle T. Nilsson/All Over Press About Quick Facts NameSanna Nielsen Born27 November 1984 Nationality🇸🇪 Swedish National SelectionMelodifestivalen 2014Melodifestivalen 2011Melodifestivalen 2008Melodifestivalen 2007Melodifestivalen 2005Melodifestivalen 2003Melodifestivalen 2001 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongUndo (2014) Biography Sanna Nielsen is a well-known Swedish pop singer and television presenter. Born on November 27, 1984, in the town of Edenryd, Sweden, she has been an active figure in the entertainment industry for more than two decades.  Nielsen’s career started early, with her first album, “Silvertoner,” being released when she was just 11 years old in 1996. The album was well received and set the foundation for a successful career in music. Nielsen’s popularity in Sweden grew steadily, and she became a familiar face in the annual Melodifestivalen, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. She competed in Melodifestivalen seven times between 2001 and 2014. Despite coming close several times, it wasn’t until 2014 that she finally won the competition with the ballad “Undo,” earning her the chance to represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest. Her performance at Eurovision 2014 in Copenhagen was one of the highlights of her career. Nielsen’s powerful delivery of “Undo” captivated the audience and judges alike, and she finished in third place overall, further solidifying her place in the music industry. Besides her successful music career, Nielsen has also made a name for herself as a television presenter. In 2015, she co-hosted the Swedish national selection for Eurovision, Melodifestivalen. From 2016, Sanna Nielsen was the host for ‘Allsång på Skansen’. On June 20, 2022, she announced that 2022 will be her last season as the host of ‘Allsång på Skansen’. On December 24, 2016, Sanna Nielsen was the Christmas host on SVT December 24, 2016. On Christmas Eve 2021, she held a one-hour-long Christmas concert on SVT named Min Sanna jul. Entries Undo Country🇸🇪 Swedish Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsFredrik KempeDavid KreugerHamed ‘K-One’ Pirouzpanah MusicFredrik KempeDavid KreugerHamed ‘K-One’ Pirouzpanah BackingsBritta BergströmThérèse Löf AmbergJessica MarbergerAndrea NorbergJeanette Olsson Results Semi Points: 131Position: 2Running order: 4 Results Finals Points: 218Position: 3Running order: 13 https://youtu.be/5PQJI-3LW-8

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Elaiza

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts MembersElżbieta SteinmetzNatalie PlögerYvonne Grünwald Founded2013 Nationality🇩🇪 German🇺🇦 Ukrainian National SelectionUnser Song Für Dänemark 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongIs It Right? (2014) Biography Elaiza is a German folk-pop band known for their distinctive neo-folk sound, which blends modern pop elements with traditional Eastern European folk. The band was formed in 2013 and originally consisted of three members: Elżbieta Steinmetz, Yvonne Grünwald, and Natalie Plöger. Elżbieta Steinmetz, who goes by the stage name “Ela,” is a singer and songwriter with Polish roots, a factor that heavily influences the band’s sound. Yvonne Grünwald plays the accordion, and Natalie Plöger is the contrabassist. Later on, Steinmetz and Grünwald continued as a duo, with Plöger departing the band. Elaiza’s breakthrough came in 2014 when they won the German national finals for the Eurovision Song Contest. Their song “Is It Right” represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest held in Copenhagen that year. The band’s performance in the international music event significantly increased their profile in Germany and Europe more broadly, leading to a successful debut album, “Gallery,” which was released the same year. Elaiza is recognized for their vibrant and energetic performances, coupled with soulful lyrics and a unique musical style that blends modern pop with traditional influences. The band’s music often explores themes of love, life, and identity, and their work is characterized by Steinmetz’s powerful vocals, Grünwald’s expert accordion work, and a strong folk-pop sound. Elaiza had released two albums, “Gallery” in 2014 and “Restless” in 2016. The 2nd album was followed by a tour through Germany. At the same time, the band released two new singles, “Hurricane” and “Real”. However, before the band went on tour, Yvonne left the band. She was replaced by Laura Zimmermann. The band kept on touring through Germany in 2017. In November of that year they won a German Songwriting Award. In 2018, they did an acoustic tour. They even performed at the German embassy in Kenya and Ethiopia. The acoustic tour continued in 2019. Although the band did not officially split up, they didn’t perform anymore since March 2019. Entries Is It Right? Country🇩🇪 Germany Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsElżbieta SteinmetzAdam Kesselhaut MusicElżbieta SteinmetzFrank Kretschmer Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 39Position: 18Running order: 12 https://youtu.be/BFuGH2Kp9dI

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Conchita Wurst

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameThomas Neuwirth Born06 November 19888 Nationality🇦🇹 Austrian National SelectionInternal selection 2014Österreich rockt den Song Contest 2012 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongRise Like A Phoenix (2014) Biography Conchita Wurst is the stage persona of Austrian singer, recording artist and drag queen Tom Neuwirth. Neuwirth was born in Gmunden in Upper Austria and grew up in Bad Mitterndorf. In 2011 he completed an apprenticeship at the Graz Fashion School.  He took part in the third season of the TV casting show Starmania on Austrian TV in 2006 He finished second behind Nadine Beiler. In 2007 he founded the boy band Jetzt anders !, which broke up in the same year. Since 2011 Neuwirth has appeared as drag queen Conchita Wurst and since 2015 as Conchita, a diva with a full beard. Her fictional biography begins with the birth in the mountains of Colombia and leads through a childhood in Germany to the beginning of the career as a singer in Austria. Neuwirth explains this creation as a reaction and statement against discrimination that he experienced in his youth due to his homosexuality. His appearance as Conchita should also mean that “it is easier for young people – regardless of the reason why they are different from the others”.  Neuwirth was first known in the role of Conchita Wurst in 2011 as a participant in the ORF talent show Die große Chance, in which he finished sixth in the final round. As Conchita Wurst, he also took part in the Austrian preliminary decision for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 (Austria rocks the Song Contest) and in the final with the song “That’s What I Am” came in second place. In 2013 the song “That’s What I Am” could be found on the benefit album “Licht ins Dunkel 2013” and at a concert for the ORF Christmas campaign Licht ins Dunkel. In 2014, Conchita Wurst was internally selected to represent Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Rise like a Phoenix”. Conchita won the contest convincingly. At the end of 2014 Conchita Wurst released the single “Heroes”, followed by “You Are Unstoppable” at the beginning of March 2015.  On May 15, 2015, she released her debut album Conchita, which went platinum just a few days after its release in Austria and also entered the charts in other European countries and Australia. At the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna, Conchita  acted as a host in the Green Room. She was also involved in the opening song “Building Bridges”.  After the joint opening of the 2017 Vienna Festival, an album by Conchita and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra was released in October 2018 with the title “From Vienna With Love”. In June 2018, a reinterpretation of “The Sound of Music” from the film of the same name was released as a single. In September, the second single followed “Für mich soll’s rote Rosen regnen”, a cover version of Hildegard Knef’s song of the same name. In 2019 Tom Neuwirth announced that he would do a new project under the name WURST. When changing his image, he put his male side in the foreground as WURST. He did without wigs and appeared at events in a fetish outfit instead of clothes. The album T.O.M. – Truth Over Magnitude was published in autumn 2019. In the FameMaker program broadcast in September and October 2020, Neuwirth did not appear as the fictional character “Conchita Wurst” for the first time. In 2021 Conchita WURST released the singles “Malibu” and “Bodymorphia”. She also started an online talkshow, OZAA Talk. In July 2022 Conchita released a song in German, “Erstmal Pause”, followed by another English song, “Call me up”.  Entries Rise Like A Phoenix Country🇦🇹 Austria Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsCharlie MasonJoey PatulkaAli ZuckowskiJulian Maas MusicCharlie MasonJoey PatulkaAli ZuckowskiJulian Maas Backings– Results Semi Points: 169Position: 1Running order: 6 Results Finals Points: 290Position: 1Running order: 11 https://youtu.be/xhCC_PN9UlA

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Sergej Ćetković

About Quick Facts NameSergej Ćetković Born08 March 1976 Nationality🇲🇪 Montenegrin National SelectionInternal selection 2014Evropesma/Europjesma 2004 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongMoj Svijet (2014) Biography Sergej Ćetković was born on March 8, 1976, in Titograd, which is now known as Podgorica, in Montenegro. He is a prominent Montenegrin and Serbian pop singer who has made a significant impact on the music industry in the region. Ćetković’s journey in music began with the Montenegrin group Vatrena Srca. He was the group’s keyboardist and also served as a backing vocalist. After the group Amfiteatar disbanded in 1998, Ćetković embarked on a solo career. His first significant performance was at the Suncane Skale festival, where he performed the song “Bila si Ruza”. Two years into his solo career, in December 2000, Ćetković released a CD named “Kristina”. Around the same time, he performed at the Budva festival with the song “Sati, Dani, Godine”. His songs “Zaustavicu Vrijeme”, “Sati, Dani, Godine”, “Grad” and “Probudi me” gained substantial popularity, and he also filmed music videos for these numbers. In December 2002, under the “Goraton” label, Ćetković released “Budi Mi Voda” and twelve new songs. His song “Postojim I Ja”, which he performed at the Budva festival in 2003, won an award for the best arrangement and became a significant hit. In 2004, he released songs “Ljubavi Prokleta” and “Ne Mogu Da Ti Oprostim”. The latter participated in Evropesma/Europjesma, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest in the combined state Serbia and Montenegro. The song reached an 8th place in the final. Ćetković continued his momentum and published his third album, “Kad Ti Zatreba”, with ten new songs in 2005. The song “Pogledi U Tami” from this album was particularly successful. At the Beovizija festival in 2007 and 2008, he won the award for the pop singer of the year. In a notable highlight of his career, Ćetković was selected to represent Montenegro at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Denmark. With “Moj svijet”, he was the first singer to reach the final for Montenegro. The song ended up in 19th place. Branching out from singing, Ćetković composed original music for the popular local series “Istine i Lazi” (Truths and Lies) in 2017. The following year, he teamed up with Jana Šušteršič. who featured in the song “Bar da odes”. The song was followed by “Ako te zaboravim”. He also created and composed the first Serbian animated series “Lola i Mila”, inspired by his adopted daughters. Meanwhile, Sergej was one of the jurors in the talent show Pinkove Zvezdice. On the last day of 2018, Sergej released a new song and video: “Dio života”, followed in March 2019 by “Ljubav”. He teamed up with Who See for the song “Pusti probleme”. In 2020, Sergej released a collection of audio Viber stickers for his 20-year career. Fans could download a sticker and send it to someone, with a part of a Sergej-song on it. In May 2021, a new song, “Kofer”, was released, followed by a new live tour. More than a year later, in December 2022, the single “Na prvi pogled” was released. Entries Moj Svijet Country🇲🇪 Montenegro Year2014 LanguageMontenegrin LyricsSergej ĆetkovićEmina Jahović MusicSergej Ćetković BackingsDragan Brnas-FudoIvana ČabrajaMartina Majerle DancerJovana Stanisavljević Results Semi Points: 63Position: 7Running order: 15 Results Finals Points: 37Position: 19Running order: 8 https://youtu.be/6FJtzRSKHKg

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Aram MP3

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameAram Avetiki Sargsyan Born05 April 1984 Nationality🇦🇲 Armenian National SelectionInternal selection 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongNot Alone (2014) Biography Aram Avetiqi Sargsyan, better known as Aram MP3, is an Armenian singer-songwriter, comedian, showman, and actor. He was born on April 5, 1984, in Yerevan. From his childhood, he has been involved in several choir groups and theatrical performances. Although he always dreamed of a great fame, he chose the profession of a pharmacist, graduating from the Yerevan State Medical University.  During his student years, Aram participated in the shows of the comedy program “UHA”. In 2006, Aram became a member of the comedy club “32 Teeth”, where one of his colleagues, Vahagn Grigoryan, nicknamed him MP3, and he decided to use it as his stage pseudonym. In 2007, Aram became known as the winner of the competition 2 Stars of the Public Television Company. Collaborating with the Shant TV company, he hosted that TV company’s X-Factor, Armenian Superstar, My Name Is, Power of 10, and other projects. Aram was a member of the comedy project Vitamin Club, which was broadcast every week. In the Public Television Company, he hosted the Good Evening program with Garik Papoyan. On December 31, 2013 it was announced that Aram had been chosen by internal selection to represent Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. On March 14, it was announced that Aram would perform the song “Not Alone” at the contest. Hopes were high as the song was in the lead at the bookmakers for a long time. Aram reached the final with his song, and got a 4th place in the overall ranking. Following his Eurovision stint, Aram MP3 made numerous guest appearances on prominent Armenian TV programs, including The Voice and X Factor. He released a new single, “Help,” on February 7, 2015. In 2016, he lent his voice to the character of Adult Simba in the Armenian version of The Lion King, also performing the lead vocals for “Circle of Life”. That same year, Aram began serving as a judge and mentor on the Armenian Eurovision National final, where he guided a team composed of Saro Gevorgyan, LUCY, Lilit Harutyunyan, and Jujo. Unfortunately, all his team members were eventually eliminated, with LUCY securing the 6th position in the competition. In February 2017, Aram collaborated with Iveta Mukuchyan to release a single called “Dashterov.” On May 21, Mukuchyan announced a new traditional project in collaboration with Aram, also titled “Dashterov”. The project’s first song, “El Eghnim,” came out on June 15, and the second song, “Let the wind blow,” followed a week later, on June 22. Later in the month, Aram participated in a humanitarian project to assist Armenian children diagnosed with cancer, alongside several well-known Armenian artists like Mihran Tsarukyan, Erik Karapetyan, and Iveta Mukuchyan. In 2020, Aram teamed up with Arame, Arabo Ispiryan, Mihran Tsarukyan, Mkrtich Arzumanyan and Arsen Safaryan for the song “Heros therq”, which is an ode to the fallen soldiers in the war with Azerbaijan. In 2023 he released a new single “Depi bardzunq”, followed by the song “Shat apres Yerevan”. Entries Not Alone Country🇦🇲 Armenia Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsGarik Papoyan MusicAram Sargsyan Backings– Results Semi Points: 121Position: 4Running order: 1 Results Finals Points: 174Position: 4Running order: 7 https://youtu.be/oj0oOV-2fRQ

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Carl Espen

About Quick Facts NameCarl Espen Thorbjørnsen Born15 July 1982 Nationality🇳🇴 Norway National SelectionNorsk Melodi Grand Prix 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongSilent Storm (2014) Biography Carl Espen (born Carl Espen Thorbjørnsen on 15 July 1982 in Bergen, Norway) is a Norwegian singer and songwriter. Espen was born into a musical family and spent much of his childhood and youth in Bergen, where he discovered his passion for music at an early age. He spent his formative years singing in various local choirs and performing in school concerts. After high school, he joined the Norwegian Armed Forces and served in Kosovo under the United Nations peacekeeping mission. Upon his return from military service, he went to work as a doorman in a local bar, keeping his musical talents mostly to himself. His professional music career began rather unexpectedly. Espen’s cousin, Josefin Winther, a musician herself, wrote a song for him to perform at a family gathering. The song, “Silent Storm,” touched the family so deeply that they encouraged him to enter it into Melodi Grand Prix, Norway’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. Heeding their advice, Espen submitted the song to Melodi Grand Prix 2014 and managed to win the national contest, securing his spot to represent Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. His performance of “Silent Storm”  made a significant impact and he finished in 8th place in the final. After the Eurovision Song Contest, Carl Espen released a second single, “Holding on”. However, the song did not reach the charts. In October 2014, Carl Espen made an acoustic tour throughout Norway. After Eurovision Carl Espen did not build on a big career in music. He decided to go an study in order to become a nurse.   Entries Silent Storm Country🇳🇴 Norway Year2014 Language🇬🇧 English LyricsJosefin Winther MusicJosefin Winther BackingsStian Aarstad (piano)Isa Caroline HolmeslandAne Emilie Vold MickelssonMadeleine OssumSara Ulstrup Results Semi Points: 77Position: 6Running order: 3 Results Finals Points: 88Position: 8Running order: 5 https://youtu.be/BTMli8U17MM

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Pollapönk

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts MembersHeiðar Örn KristjánssonHaraldur Freyr GíslasonGuðni Þórarinn FinnssonArnar Þór Gíslason Founded2006 Nationality🇮🇸 Icelandic National SelectionSöngvakeppnin 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongNo Prejudice (2014) Biography Pollapönk is an Icelandic pop-rock band that has delighted audiences with their unique musical style and captivating performances since their inception in 2006. The band was initially formed by two preschool teachers, Heiðar Örn Kristjánsson and Haraldur Freyr Gíslason, with the aim of creating music that children and adults alike could enjoy. The band’s name, which translates to “Puddle Punk,” exemplifies their quirky and fun-loving character, as well as their appeal to a diverse range of listeners. Their colorful outfits and eccentric performances are hallmarks of their image. The duo soon expanded to a four-piece band with the inclusion of Guðni Finnsson and Arnar Þór Gíslason, further broadening their musical capabilities. They sing in both Icelandic and English, making their music accessible to a global audience. In 2014, Pollapönk represented Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest with the track “No Prejudice.” The song, an upbeat pop-rock number with an encouraging message about breaking down barriers and eradicating prejudice, made it to the final round of the competition. This performance significantly raised the band’s international profile and served as a testament to their talent and dedication. So far, Pollapönk released four albums. Their greatest hits, apart from “Enga fordóma/No prejudice” were “Litli ljótu ljónið” (2008), “Punkabillybræðraband” (2009). Despite their initial focus on children’s music, their broad appeal has transcended these boundaries, captivating listeners of all ages. As of mid-2023, Pollapönk continues to write, record, and perform, bringing their music. In May 2023, Pollapönk released a new version of “Enga fordóma/No prejudice” for Unicef, together with @Tag, a choir of deaf children. Entries No Prejudice Country🇮🇸 Iceland Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsHeiðar Örn KristjánssonHaraldur F. GíslasonJohn Grant MusicHeiðar Örn Kristjánsson BackingsÓttar ProppéSnæbjörn Ragnarsson Results Semi Points: 61Position: 8Running order: 5 Results Finals Points: 58Position: 15Running order: 4 https://youtu.be/U2qAvGsiCmc

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Dilara Kazimova

© Dilara Kazimova About Quick Facts NameDilarə Kazımova Born20 May 1984 Nationality🇦🇿 Azerbaijani National SelectionBöyük Səhnə 2014Land of Fire 2010Land of Fire 2008 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongStart A Fire (2014) Biography Dilarə Kazımova (born May 20, 1984, Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, USSR) is an Azerbaijani singer, actress, songwriter, and composer. Dilarə Kazımova graduated from the Republic Art Gymnasium in 2001. From 2002 to 2006, she attended the Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibeyov, where she studied opera vocals. Dilara Kazımova began her artistic journey as a member of the group Woman. In 2004, she joined the music competition Sing Your Song, where she performed a duet called “Cherry” with the band Unformal. Her collaboration with the band was so successful that she eventually became the lead singer of Unformal. In the finals of Sing Your Song, held at the grand Haydar Aliyev Palace, Dilara and Unformal were celebrated as runners-up. In 2006, she broadened her artistic portfolio, starring alongside renowned actor Fəxrəddin Manafov in the film “Çalış, nəfəs alma”. The film was well-received, earning a prestigious award at the Salento Finibus Terrae international short film festival in Italy. Continuing her journey with Unformal, in 2007, they performed the theme song “Sonsuz Yol” for the film Sirat Körpüsü. Dilara’s first encounter with the Eurovision Song Contest came in 2008 when she participated as part of “Unformal”. They reached the final stage and secured second place. Then, in 2010, Dilara returned to the Eurovision national selection, this time as the lead singer of Milk and Kisses. Once again, they finished in second place. That same year, Dilara won New Wave held in Jurmala, Latvia, and she acted in a joint Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, and Russia production called “Qardaşımdan yaxşısı yox idi”. In the subsequent years, Dilara continued to make waves in the music industry. In 2012, she presented her duet “Doğma Mahnılar” with Orkhan Zeynallı. In 2013, she introduced her single “Мысли”, a melodic piece composed by Emin Kərimiyə with lyrics by Riyad Əliyev. Dilara’s dream to represent Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest came true in 2014. She won the national selection through Böyük Səhnə,  the natiuonal final for the contest, and earned the right to represent her country with the song “Start a Fire”. Dilara reached the final and earned a 22nd place there. She also represented Azerbaijan at the Ukrainian version of the TV show “The Voice” in 2014 and was a guest performer at the solo concert of the group Okean Elzı in Baku. In 2015, she acted in the film “4.1 şəhər motivləri”, also known as “Dmitrov küçəsi 86”. That same year, she performed the folk song “Laçın” on Turkey’s popular television show “Transparent Room” to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre. In 2018, Dilara dedicated her single “613” to the 26th anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre. Later that year, she presented her single “Azərbaycan” at the Genclik Mall. She also performed at Star of Asia in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and collaborated with composer-singer Murad Arif to present the duet “Yalnız Səni Gözlədim”. In 2020, she released her single “Azərbaycanım”. In 2021, Dilara performed a duet with Elshad Xose called “Əsl sevgi”, with lyrics and music by Xose himself. She also introduced a single called “Ünvanımız xoşbəxtlik”, which she composed herself, and later in the year, she presented her singles “Qaralama” and “Olmaram”. In 2022, she teamed up with Ulviyya for the song “Korablik”. In December of that year, Dilara released two solo singles in English: “Running” and “Dream”. followed in 2023 by “Alov” and “Olmaz”.  Entries Start A Fire Country🇦🇿 Azerbaijan Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsStefan ÖrnJohan KronlundAlessandra Günthardt MusicStefan ÖrnJohan KronlundAlessandra Günthardt BackingsJennie JahnsSofia LindströmLena Engman DancersMatleena Laine (trapeze artist) Results Semi Points: 57Position: 9Running order: 8 Results Finals Points: 33Position: 22Running order: 3 https://youtu.be/5mPUMPcFQAY

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Teo

About Quick Facts NameYuriy Alexeyevich Vashchuk Born24 January 1983 Nationality🇧🇾 Belarusian National SelectionBelarusian National Final 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongCheesecake (2014) Biography Yury Vashchuk was born on January 24, 1983, in the village of Khidry. After four years of studying the bayan, he became a laureate of the international competition “Podsnezhniki” (“Praleski”). His first serious competition was the TV project “Zvyozdnoye raskrytie” (“Zornaya Rostan’”). In 2000, he was invited to work with the National Concert Orchestra of Belarus under the direction of Mikhail Finberg. In 2008, he graduated from the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts. He was the host of the program “Vperyod v proshloe” (“Naperad u minulaye”), which aired on the channels “Belarus 3” and “Belarus 24”. From 2011 to 2014, he received several national music awards, including the “Lira” awards: “Discovery of the Year” (2011), “Best Arranger” (2012), “Best Music Author” (for the song “Belarus Velykaya” with Leonid Shirin, 2013), “Best Performer of the Year” (2014), and “Best Song of the Year” (“Cheesecake”, 2014). Based on the results of the National Selection Tour organized by Belteleradiocompany for the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, he received an award from the jury and the “Crystal Heart” statuette for the song “Cheesecake”. On May 8, in the second semi-final, Vashchuk, under the pseudonym TEO, performed in the semifinal, securing Belarus a spot in the final. On May 10, 2014, TEO performed as the 2nd participant in the final and placed 16th.  On 3 December, 2015, Teo gave a huge solo concert in the Minsk Concert Hall in Minsk. In November 2016, Teo teamed up with his wife Olya Rizhikova for the song and video “Nam ochen”. In March 2017 they performed together in the Minsk Concert Hall. They released another song together in January 2018, “Po tonkomu l’du” and the solo song “Begu”. Teo and Olya hosted the 2018 national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. In July of the same year, Teo released another solo single, “Yukhu”. In November 2019, Olya and Teo released a new song, “Blizhe”, followed by “Kto kome nas” in July 2020. In March 2021, “Murashki po koje” came out. Teo and Olya performed at the Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk. They sang “Ty moy kosmos”. In October 2022 the video of the song came out. Entries Cheesecake Country🇧🇾 Belarus Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsDmitry Novik MusicYuriy Vashchuk BackingsYuriy SeleznyovArtyom AkhpashDenis Lis DancersAlexander ZalesskiyAndrey Martynov Results Semi Points: 87Position: 5Running order: 10 Results Finals Points: 43Position: 16Running order: 2 https://youtu.be/tImGMW-4eHY

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Mariya Yaremchuk

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameMariya Yaremchuk Born02 March 1993 Nationality🇺🇦 Ukrainian National SelectionEvrobachennya 2013Evrobachennya 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongTick-Tock (2014) Biography Marya Nazarivna Yaremchuk (born March 2, 1993, Chernivtsi) is a Ukrainian singer. She is the daughter of the Ukrainian singer Nazariy Yaremchuk. She has been singing since childhood, mostly in Ukrainian language, and occasionally performs songs in English and Russian. She graduated from the Kyiv Municipal Academy of Variety and Circus Arts. In 2012, she was a participant of Holos Krainy (The Voice Ukraine) where she joined the team of Oleksandr Ponomariov and took 4th place. In April 2012, she auditioned for “New Wave-2012” and became the sole representative from Ukraine. In the end, Maria took third place. She also received a prize from the company Megafon and the opportunity to shoot a music video, a prize from the Russian TV channel Muz-TV and the right to air the music video on the channel for a month, as well as a prize for viewers’ sympathy. On August 20, 2012, Maria received an award for “Promoting Ukrainian Music” during a meeting with then Prime Minister Mykola Azarov. She also expressed her support for the Party of Regions under the leadership of then-President Viktor Yanukovych. However, she stated her apolitical stance and patriotism. In October of the same year, she presented a Russian-language composition called “So mnoy optyat”, written by Konstantin Meladze and Andriy Frenz. A music video was also released for this song, directed by Serhiy Tkachenko.On November 26, 2012, the music video was released. On December 23, 2012, she participated in the national selection of Ukraine for Eurovision 2013 with the song “Imagine” and took 5th place. On July 31, 2014, Maria Yaremchuk participated in the concert tour “Support Your Own” for Ukrainian soldiers stationed in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone and in hospitals. In 2014, she won the national selection and thus went on representing Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, where she placed 6th.  In 2018 she left the stage, with her producer being Mykhailo Yasytskyi. The reason was her stage fright. In 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Maria Yaremchuk resumed her creative activities and released several new songs. In 2023, as an invited guest, Maria Yaremchuk performed at Eurovision in Liverpool. She, along with OTOY and the participant of Junior Eurovision 2022 Zlata Dzyun’ka, performed the songs “Rodina,” “Sadochok Vyshnevyy Kolo Haty,” and “Shchedryk.” Entries Tick-Tock Country🇺🇦 Ukraine Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsMariya YaremchukSandra Bjurman MusicMariya Yaremchuk BackingsAnna Linnea IsbäckGraciela Chin A LoiAnneli Maria TörnkvistElin Eva Maria Svensson DancerIgor Kuleshyn Results Semi Points: 118Position: 5Running order: 9 Results Finals Points: 113Position: 6Running order: 1 https://youtu.be/slHboKF9PIQ

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Sanna Nielsen

© Pelle T. Nilsson/All Over Press About Quick Facts NameSanna Nielsen Born27 November 1984 Nationality🇸🇪 Swedish National SelectionMelodifestivalen 2014Melodifestivalen 2011Melodifestivalen 2008Melodifestivalen 2007Melodifestivalen 2005Melodifestivalen 2003Melodifestivalen 2001 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongUndo (2014) Biography Sanna Nielsen is a well-known Swedish pop singer and television presenter. Born on November 27, 1984, in the town of Edenryd, Sweden, she has been an active figure in the entertainment industry for more than two decades.  Nielsen’s career started early, with her first album, “Silvertoner,” being released when she was just 11 years old in 1996. The album was well received and set the foundation for a successful career

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Elaiza

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts MembersElżbieta SteinmetzNatalie PlögerYvonne Grünwald Founded2013 Nationality🇩🇪 German🇺🇦 Ukrainian National SelectionUnser Song Für Dänemark 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongIs It Right? (2014) Biography Elaiza is a German folk-pop band known for their distinctive neo-folk sound, which blends modern pop elements with traditional Eastern European folk. The band was formed in 2013 and originally consisted of three members: Elżbieta Steinmetz, Yvonne Grünwald, and Natalie Plöger. Elżbieta Steinmetz, who goes by the stage name “Ela,” is a singer and songwriter with Polish roots, a factor that heavily influences the band’s sound. Yvonne Grünwald plays the accordion, and Natalie

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Conchita Wurst

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameThomas Neuwirth Born06 November 19888 Nationality🇦🇹 Austrian National SelectionInternal selection 2014Österreich rockt den Song Contest 2012 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongRise Like A Phoenix (2014) Biography Conchita Wurst is the stage persona of Austrian singer, recording artist and drag queen Tom Neuwirth. Neuwirth was born in Gmunden in Upper Austria and grew up in Bad Mitterndorf. In 2011 he completed an apprenticeship at the Graz Fashion School.  He took part in the third season of the TV casting show Starmania on Austrian TV in 2006 He finished second behind Nadine Beiler. In 2007 he founded the

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Sergej Ćetković

About Quick Facts NameSergej Ćetković Born08 March 1976 Nationality🇲🇪 Montenegrin National SelectionInternal selection 2014Evropesma/Europjesma 2004 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongMoj Svijet (2014) Biography Sergej Ćetković was born on March 8, 1976, in Titograd, which is now known as Podgorica, in Montenegro. He is a prominent Montenegrin and Serbian pop singer who has made a significant impact on the music industry in the region. Ćetković’s journey in music began with the Montenegrin group Vatrena Srca. He was the group’s keyboardist and also served as a backing vocalist. After the group Amfiteatar disbanded in 1998, Ćetković embarked on a solo career. His first significant

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Aram MP3

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameAram Avetiki Sargsyan Born05 April 1984 Nationality🇦🇲 Armenian National SelectionInternal selection 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongNot Alone (2014) Biography Aram Avetiqi Sargsyan, better known as Aram MP3, is an Armenian singer-songwriter, comedian, showman, and actor. He was born on April 5, 1984, in Yerevan. From his childhood, he has been involved in several choir groups and theatrical performances. Although he always dreamed of a great fame, he chose the profession of a pharmacist, graduating from the Yerevan State Medical University.  During his student years, Aram participated in the shows of the comedy program “UHA”. In

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Carl Espen

About Quick Facts NameCarl Espen Thorbjørnsen Born15 July 1982 Nationality🇳🇴 Norway National SelectionNorsk Melodi Grand Prix 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongSilent Storm (2014) Biography Carl Espen (born Carl Espen Thorbjørnsen on 15 July 1982 in Bergen, Norway) is a Norwegian singer and songwriter. Espen was born into a musical family and spent much of his childhood and youth in Bergen, where he discovered his passion for music at an early age. He spent his formative years singing in various local choirs and performing in school concerts. After high school, he joined the Norwegian Armed Forces and served in Kosovo under the

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Pollapönk

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts MembersHeiðar Örn KristjánssonHaraldur Freyr GíslasonGuðni Þórarinn FinnssonArnar Þór Gíslason Founded2006 Nationality🇮🇸 Icelandic National SelectionSöngvakeppnin 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongNo Prejudice (2014) Biography Pollapönk is an Icelandic pop-rock band that has delighted audiences with their unique musical style and captivating performances since their inception in 2006. The band was initially formed by two preschool teachers, Heiðar Örn Kristjánsson and Haraldur Freyr Gíslason, with the aim of creating music that children and adults alike could enjoy. The band’s name, which translates to “Puddle Punk,” exemplifies their quirky and fun-loving character, as well as their appeal to a

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Dilara Kazimova

© Dilara Kazimova About Quick Facts NameDilarə Kazımova Born20 May 1984 Nationality🇦🇿 Azerbaijani National SelectionBöyük Səhnə 2014Land of Fire 2010Land of Fire 2008 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongStart A Fire (2014) Biography Dilarə Kazımova (born May 20, 1984, Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, USSR) is an Azerbaijani singer, actress, songwriter, and composer. Dilarə Kazımova graduated from the Republic Art Gymnasium in 2001. From 2002 to 2006, she attended the Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibeyov, where she studied opera vocals. Dilara Kazımova began her artistic journey as a member of the group Woman. In 2004, she joined the music competition Sing Your Song, where

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Teo

About Quick Facts NameYuriy Alexeyevich Vashchuk Born24 January 1983 Nationality🇧🇾 Belarusian National SelectionBelarusian National Final 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongCheesecake (2014) Biography Yury Vashchuk was born on January 24, 1983, in the village of Khidry. After four years of studying the bayan, he became a laureate of the international competition “Podsnezhniki” (“Praleski”). His first serious competition was the TV project “Zvyozdnoye raskrytie” (“Zornaya Rostan’”). In 2000, he was invited to work with the National Concert Orchestra of Belarus under the direction of Mikhail Finberg. In 2008, he graduated from the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts. He was the host

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Mariya Yaremchuk

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameMariya Yaremchuk Born02 March 1993 Nationality🇺🇦 Ukrainian National SelectionEvrobachennya 2013Evrobachennya 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongTick-Tock (2014) Biography Marya Nazarivna Yaremchuk (born March 2, 1993, Chernivtsi) is a Ukrainian singer. She is the daughter of the Ukrainian singer Nazariy Yaremchuk. She has been singing since childhood, mostly in Ukrainian language, and occasionally performs songs in English and Russian. She graduated from the Kyiv Municipal Academy of Variety and Circus Arts. In 2012, she was a participant of Holos Krainy (The Voice Ukraine) where she joined the team of Oleksandr Ponomariov and took 4th place. In April

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