2016 Archives - Eurovision Universe

Esma Redžepova

About Quick Facts NameEsma Redžepova-Teodosievska Born08 August 1943 Deceased11 December 2016 Nationality🇲🇰 North Macedonian National SelectionInternal selection 2013Specialen Evroviziski Den 2006Jugovizija 1971 In Eurovision2013 Malmö SongPred Da Se Razdeni (2013, with Lozano) Biography Early Life and Introduction to Music Born on August 8, 1943, in the heart of Skopje, North Macedonia, Esma hailed from the vibrant Romani district of Čair. The youngest in a family of six, Esma’s early years were deeply influenced by the rich tapestry of Romani culture. Her initiation into the world of music began at local events and ceremonies where, even as a child, her melodious voice made her a favorite. In a fortuitous twist of fate, 13-year-old Esma’s talent caught the attention of Stevo Teodosievski, a prominent Macedonian composer and bandleader. Seeing potential in the young songbird, Teodosievski not only mentored her in music but also adopted her, ensuring she received both formal education and intensive musical training. Embarking on a Musical Journey Under Teodosievski’s guidance, Esma’s repertoire expanded to include various genres: from Macedonian folk to Romani ballads, Turkish classics, and even modern pop. By 1961, she was ready to record her first song. “Čaje Šukarije”, with its catchy rhythm and Esma’s unique voice, became an instant success, marking the beginning of her ascendancy as the “Queen of Romani Songs”. Esma’s distinct sound stemmed from her ability to seamlessly blend traditional Romani music with other genres. This adaptability made her music universally appealing, allowing her to transcend national borders. Throughout the 60s and 70s, her fame skyrocketed, leading to performances across Europe, Asia, and even Africa. In 1971 she took part in Jugovizija, the Yugoslav national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. Her song “Malo Malo” earned a 3rd place. Career Milestones and International Acclaim Across her illustrious career, Esma recorded over 500 songs and produced multiple albums. She performed in over 40 countries and sang in multiple languages, a testament to both her versatility and the universality of her music. Her tunes resonated with a wide audience, from the Balkans to the far reaches of the Middle East and beyond. One of her most memorable moments on the international stage came in 2013 when she represented Macedonia at the Eurovision Song Contest. Alongside singer Lozano, Esma showcased her timeless appeal to a European audience, further cementing her legacy. Beyond Music: A Humanitarian at Heart While music was her first love, Esma’s heart had room for much more. She was deeply moved by the plight of her Romani community, which, despite its rich cultural heritage, often faced prejudice and social exclusion. Together with Teodosievski, who she later married, Esma embarked on numerous humanitarian projects. The couple’s most notable endeavor was their decision to foster 47 destitute children. But for Esma and Teodosievski, fostering wasn’t just about providing shelter; it was about holistic development. The children were given formal education, trained in the arts, and most importantly, taught the values of love and unity. This led to the establishment of their ensemble, where many of their foster children performed, thus ensuring the next generation carried forward the Romani musical tradition. Esma’s relentless efforts towards uplifting the Romani community didn’t go unnoticed. The community lovingly bestowed upon her the title of “Romani Mother Theresa”. Legacy Esma Redžepova’s passing on December 11, 2016, marked the end of an era. Yet, her legacy is far from forgotten. As the voice of the Romani people, she championed their cause, bringing their music and issues to the global forefront. More than just an artist, Esma was an emblem of unity, resilience, and compassion. Entries Pred Da Se Razdeni (with Lozano) Country🇲🇰 North Macedonia Year2013 LanguageMacedonianRomani LyricsMagdalena Cvetkovska MusicDarko DimitrovLazar CvetkovskiSimeon Atanasov BackingsEleonora MustafovskaNina Yaneva Results Semi Points: 28Position: 16Running order: 13 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/Vi1VYsOUCsY?si=mmMG0NSQ1sYLooy0

Jala Brat

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameJasmin Fazlić Born16 October 1986 Nationality🇧🇦 Bosnian National SelectionInternal selection 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongLjubav je (Dalal & Deen ft. Ana Rucner & Jala, 2016) Biography Jasmin Fazlić, better known as Jala Brat, is a Bosnian rapper, singer-songwriter, and producer. Jasmin Fazlić was born in Sarajevo. He took his first steps in the music career in early 2000 by recording his first demo songs. He soon realized that rap was the genre he wanted to pursue. He created his first original songs in his home studio, which he shared with a close group of friends, and adopted his nickname “Jala” as his stage name. Initially, Jala worked alone, but in 2011, he formed a group called Blunt Blyon, with whom he worked more seriously and released his first album “Replay.” After the album’s release, his music career as a rapper started to flourish. In 2012, Jala met Sarajevo rapper Amar Hodžić. That same year, Jala and Amar started collaborating together, not only in music but also in live performances. Jala began releasing his songs on the YouTube channel Imperia, which they jointly managed. After the release of the album “Replay”, Jala worked on new material and collaborated with rappers such as Frenkie, Sajfer, Mayer, Klijent, and Buba Corelli. He recorded a total of 10 songs and released an album called “Riječ na riječ”, which came out on June 12, 2012. At the end of 2012, together with Buba and Kontro, he featured on the song “RMX” released on the album “Troyanac” by Tuzla rapper Frenkie, for which they also made a music video. The song received positive reviews, further launching Jala into the music scene. In the period from 2012 to 2013, he released two EP albums named “SA Sin City” in collaboration with Buba, and “Mahala” with rapper Shtela. In the same year, he met singer and producer Almir Ajanović, who decided to produce his music in his Tempo studio. Jala and Buba worked on new songs between 2013 and 2014, and together they recorded a studio album called “Pakt s đavolom” (Devil’s Pact). The album featured collaborations with various rappers and singers, including Rasta, Juice, MCN, and Sedžida Matoruga. “Pakt s đavolom” was released in 2014 and received positive reviews from the audience. The album was released by Tempo Digital, in cooperation with the record label RedEye Vision. In early 2015, Jala decided to change his stage name to Jala Brat, citing the fact that the nickname “Brat” (Brother) had started to appear frequently alongside his old name, Jala. He adopted it as his own and first introduced it in the music video for the song “Dom” (Home). Soon after, he recorded another joint album with Buba, titled “Stari radio” (Old Radio). The most popular songs from the album were “Skandal” and “Casino.” However, their collaboration with Buba was interrupted due to Buba being arrested. A significant turning point in Jala Brat’s career was his participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, where he co-wrote the song “Ljubav je” and performed it with singers Dalal Midhat-Talakić, Deen, and cellist Ana Rucner from Croatia. The Bosnian delegation did not qualify for the final of the competition after performing the song in the semi-final evening. The song was also recorded in English under the title “Love is all.” In November 2016, Jala Brat and Buba Corelli recorded an album titled “Kruna” (Crown). This was the first album released under the label of the Imperia publishing and media house. During the commercial success of the album “Kruna,” Jala Brat established contacts with mainstream singers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia. He recorded the song “Zvezde plaču za nama” (Stars Cry for Us, 2015) with rapper Vuk Mob, and the song “Dominantna” (Dominant, 2016) with folk singer Dado Polumenta. He collaborated with Elena Kitić again, this time on the song “Folira” (She’s Pretending, 2016), which he recorded in collaboration with Buba. Afterward, he continued to release singles collaborating with folk singer Maya Berović on the song “To me radi” (What She Does to Me, 2016), which he recorded together with Buba Corelli. In early 2017, he collaborated with Croatian pop singer Severina on the song “Otrove” (Poison), and with Serbian pop-folk singer Milan Stanković on the song “Ego.” In 2016, Jala decided to become politically involved and ran for the Municipal Council in the Local Elections in the Municipality of Vogošća as a candidate of the Party of Democratic Action. He faced criticism, mainly from the public and audience, for his candidacy, but he remained on the list due to the insufficient number of votes. Afterward, he withdrew from the political scene. The album “Alfa i Omega” (2016) was recorded in the Imperia studio and represents a continuation of Jala Brat’s collaboration with Buba Corelli. The highlight of the album was a concert tour, culminating in a sold-out concert at the Tašmajdan Arena in Belgrade, with an audience of over 15,000 people. Album “99” (2019) After seven years since the release of Jala’s first album, “Riječ na riječ,” his second solo album, titled “99,” was released on September 9, 2019. Jala Brat announced the album on July 4 via his Instagram profile. The album features collaborations with Buba Corelli, Coby, and Raf Camora. Music videos were made for all the songs. After launching the Imperia YouTube channel, Jala decided to produce songs for prominent artists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Croatia, together with Buba Corelli. He wrote lyrics and music for Milan Stanković, Dado Polumenta, Severina, Katarina Grujić, Aca Pejović, Dara Bubamara, and Selma Bajrami. However, his most significant collaboration was with pop-folk singer Maya Berović, for whom he and Buba produced several studio albums and most of the songs from 2017 onwards. Entries Ljubav je (with Dalal, Deen & Ana Rucner) Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2016 LanguageBosnian LyricsAlmir AjanovićJasmin Fazlić Jala MusicAlmir Ajanović BackingsEna ĐapoZorana Guja Results Semi Points: 104Position: 11Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/QLrXmTB8OaY

Ana Rucner

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameAna Rucner Born12 February 1983 Nationality🇭🇷 Croatian National SelectionInternal selection 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongLjubav je (Dalal & Deen ft. Ana Rucner & Jala, 2016) Biography She was born into a musically talented family. Her mother, Snježana, is a cellist and soloist at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, while her father, Dragan, is a violinist and soloist in the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra. She received her primary and secondary music education at the Elly Bašić Music Institute in Zagreb, and during her high school years and studies (from 1993 to 2003), she was constantly engaged with the Maribor Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2006, she married singer Vlado Kalember, from whom she divorced eight years later. She became particularly famous after the release of the “Ode to Joy” music video, which promotes Croatian tourism. The video was created based on her idea, and besides her, it featured the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ivan Goran Kovačić Academic Choir. The video won the tourism Oscar (“Das goldene Stadttor”) at the 11th International Tourism Film and Multimedia Festival in Berlin, competing against 180 countries. On April 9, 2013, the video was awarded a bronze medal at the New York Festivals, along with 11 other awards. In 2016, Ana performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm, Sweden, together with singers Dalal Midhat-Talakić and Fuad Backović, also known as “Deen,” and rapper Jasmin Fazlić Jala, with the song “Ljubav je,” representing Bosnia and Herzegovina. The song was performed in the first semi-final on May 10 but did not qualify for the final on May 14. This was the first time that representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina did not qualify for the Eurovision Song Contest final. Entries Ljubav je (with Dalal, Deen & Jala) Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2016 LanguageBosnian LyricsAlmir AjanovićJasmin Fazlić Jala MusicAlmir Ajanović BackingsEna ĐapoZorana Guja Results Semi Points: 104Position: 11Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/QLrXmTB8OaY

Dalal

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameDalal Midhat-Talakić Born05 August 1981 Nationality🇧🇦 Bosnian National SelectionInternal selection 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongLjubav je (with Deen, Ana Rucner & Jala) Biography Dalal Midhat-Talakić (born August 5, 1981) is a Bosnian singer. She was born in Sarajevo, where she also attended school. Her first original song was performed in 1995 at a choir competition in Zagreb’s Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall. In 1999, Dalal formed the group Erato with singer Aida Jašarević, where she co-wrote most of the songs they released together. They released two studio albums, “Backstage” (2003) and “Make Up” (2005), and performed numerous concerts and shows throughout the region. The albums were released by the JRTV record label. Erato disbanded in 2009, after which Dalal started her solo music career. As a singer and vocal soloist, she collaborated with many songwriters, musicians, and performers from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. She has released several singles, such as “Bonbon” (2015). Dalal represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 together with singers Deen, Ana Rucner, and Jala Brat. They performed the song “Ljubav je” (Love Is) written and produced by Almir Ajanović. The song did not qualify for the Eurovision final. After the Eurovision Song Contest she released the singles “Never Give Up” (2017), “Gdje sam ja” (Where Am I, 2017), and “Instant” (2019). Entries Ljubav je (with Deen, Ana Rucner & Jala) Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2016 LanguageBosnian LyricsAlmir AjanovićJasmin Fazlić Jala MusicAlmir Ajanović BackingsEna ĐapoZorana Guja Results Semi Points: 104Position: 11Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/QLrXmTB8OaY

Jake Shakeshaft

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts NameJake Shakeshaft Born25 July 1995 Nationality🇬🇧 British National SelectionEurovision: You Decide 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongYou’re not alone (2016, Joe & Jake) Biography Jake Shakeshaft was born in 1995 in Newcastle under Lyme. Since 2012, Jake Shakeshaft has been honing his guitar playing and singing skills, starting his solo performances the following year. In August 2014, he distinguished himself as a finalist at the NUA Entertainment Next Big Thing, held at The Cavern in Liverpool, making it to the final five. While studying Music Technology at Newcastle-under-Lyme College and juggling part-time work, he decided to focus on music full time and left his job. In 2015, Jake took part in The Voice UK, being coached by Will.i.am. Jake did not reach the live shows as he had to leave in the knockout round. While participating in The Voice UK, Joe Woolford and Jake Shakeshaft developed a strong friendship that led them to team up for Eurovision: You Decide, a competition organized by the BBC to select the UK’s representative for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. They emerged victorious among six contenders in the national final, a decision determined entirely by public voting that involved both televoting and online voting. Their performance of the song “You’re Not Alone” took place on May 14, 2016, at the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden. On March 11, 2016, Sony Music UK announced that they had signed a record deal with Joe and Jake. Despite their efforts, the duo placed 24th in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. The follow up, “Tongue tied”, was released in January 2017. After a break, Jake started performing again in September 2018. Entries You’re Not Alone (Joe & Jake) Country🇬🇧 British Year2016 LanguageEnglish LyricsMatt SchwartzJustin BensonSiva Kaneswaran MusicMatt SchwartzJustin BensonSiva Kaneswaran BackingsMikey BurkeRoss HarrisChris MoncrieffLai Shin-Aba Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 62Position: 24Running order: 25 https://youtu.be/XgGahKsBtts

Joe Woolford

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts NameJoe Woolford Born11 December 1994 Nationality🇬🇧 British National SelectionEurovision: You Decide 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongYou’re Not Alone (2016, Joe & Jake) Biography Born in Ruthin, Wales in 1994, Joe Woolford discovered his deep-seated love for music at the tender age of nine, nurtured by his musically inclined family. His talent truly began to shine when he made it to the Grand Final of the Open Mic UK competition during the period of 2013 to 2014. Equally adept at rapping and songwriting, Woolford’s music is inspired by various influences, not least of which is Tupac Amaru Shakur, better known as 2Pac. In 2015, Joe decided to participate in The Voice UK. With Rita Ora as a coach, he made it to the 2nd live show before he got eliminated. While participating in The Voice UK, Joe Woolford and Jake Shakeshaft developed a strong friendship that led them to team up for Eurovision: You Decide, a competition organized by the BBC to select the UK’s representative for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. They emerged victorious among six contenders in the national final, a decision determined entirely by public voting that involved both televoting and online voting. Their performance of the song “You’re Not Alone” took place on May 14, 2016, at the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden. On March 11, 2016, Sony Music UK announced that they had signed a record deal with Joe and Jake. Despite their efforts, the duo placed 24th in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. The follow up, “Tongue tied”, was released in January 2017. Beside performances as Joe & Jake after Eurovision, Joe teamed up with Hapoly & OutaMatic for the song “Turn back time”, which was released in November 2016. In early 2019, Joe performed in the Caribbean and in Brasil, but also in Hongkong. On 28 January 2021, Joe’s new single “Superpowers” was released. The follow up “Because of you” was released in August of the same year. Entries You’re Not Alone (Joe & Jake) Country🇬🇧 United Kingdom Year2016 LanguageEnglish LyricsMatt SchwartzJustin BensonSiva Kaneswaran MusicMatt SchwartzJustin BensonSiva Kaneswaran BackingsMikey BurkeRoss HarrisChris MoncrieffLai Shin-Aba Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 62Position: 24Running order: 25 https://youtu.be/XgGahKsBtts

Deen

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameFuad Backović Born12 April 1982 Nationality🇧🇦 Bosnian National SelectionInternal selection 2016BH Eurosong 2004BH Eurosong 2003BH Eurosong 2001Vaš šlager sezone 1999 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm2004 Istanbul SongLjubav je (2016)In the disco (2004) Biography Fuad Backović (born April 14, 1982, in Sarajevo), known by his stage name Deen, is a Bosnian singer. At the age of 12, Fuad Backović Deen took his first musical steps by recording his first song. The song was recorded at a music studio called Studio Number 1, owned by Bosnian broadcaster BHRT. In 1997, Backović became the frontman of the Bosnian boy band “Seven Up”. The group released two albums, “Otvori oči” and “Seven,” and enjoyed great success in Bosnia and surrounding countries (Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro). They took part in the Bosnian national selection for the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Daj spusti se”. The song reached a 3rd place. In 1998, Deen received an offer to perform for the opera choir. His vocal abilities were noticed by the National Theater of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and he accepted the role of the opera choir’s frontman during the production of Carmina Burana. Backović recorded a duet, “Poljubi me,” with Croatian singer Vlatka Pokos. Deen started a solo career after leaving Seven Up. In 2001, he took part in the Bosnian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. With his song “Deset miliona ljubavi”, he reaced a 7th place. A year later, his debut album “Ja sam vjetar zaljubljeni” was released. With the song “Taxi”, he took part in the 2003 national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest and became the runner up. In 2004, Deen was chosen by BHRT to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul with the song “In the Disco.” Deen finished in 9th place. Shortly after the contest, Deen’s second album “In the disco” was released, followed in 2005 by a third album, “Anđeo sa greškom”. Towards the end of the 2000s, Fuad withdrew from the music scene to enroll in a fashion business faculty at the Istituto Marangoni in Milan. During that time, in early 2009, he released the song “Bez trunke srama” (Without a Trace of Shame), which achieved great success in the local music scene. After some time, he released a song with the singer from the talent show Zvezda možeš biti ti, Verena Cerovina, titled “Voli me hitno” (Love Me Urgently) at the end of 2012, and already in 2013, he released the song “Rane manje bole” (Less Wounds Hurt). After completing his fashion studies, Deen is preparing his fourth studio album, which will see the light of day in the near future. Deen represented Bosnia and Herzegovina for the second time, this time in the Swedish capital Stockholm, together with Dalal Midhat-Talakić, Ana Rucner, and Jala. They performed the song “Ljubav je” (Love Is), but they did not qualify for the final. Entries Ljubav je (with Dalal, Ana Rucner & Jala) Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2016 LanguageBosnian LyricsAlmir AjanovićJasmin Fazlić Jala MusicAlmir Ajanović BackingsEna ĐapoZorana Guja Results Semi Points: 104Position: 11Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/QLrXmTB8OaY In The Disco Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2004 LanguageEnglish LyricsVesna Pisarović MusicVesna Pisarović BackingsMaja Sarihodžić1 other singer, name unknown Dancers3 dancers, names unkown Results Semi Points: 133Position: 7Running order: 21 Results Finals Points: 91Position: 9Running order: 12 https://youtu.be/B1USil8eOsE

Eneda Tarifa

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts NameEneda Tarifa Born30 March 1982 Nationality🇦🇱 Albanian National SelectionFestivali i Këngës 2016Festivali i Këngës 2008Festivali i Këngës 2004 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongFairytale (2016) Biography Eneda Tarifa was born in Tirana, Albania, on March 30, 1982. Her career began in 2001 when she participated in Kënga Magjike with the song “Ika larg” (I’m leaving). In 2003, she took part in Festivali i Këngës 42 with the song “Qëndroj” (I Stay), and successfully qualified for the final. In 2006, Tarifa participated in Kënga Magjike again, this time with the song “Rreth zjarrit tënd” (Around Your Fire), and achieved a respectable 4th place with 154 points. She also received the Çesk Zadeja Prize. The following year, she competed in Festivali i Këngës 46 with the song “E para letër” (The First Letter) and finished tenth out of seventeen, earning 11 points. In 2008, she returned to Kënga Magjike with the song “Zëri im” (My Voice). In 2010, Tarifa participated in Top Fest 2010 with the song “Me veten” (With Myself), winning the competition. Subsequently, she worked as a host on the television program “Portokalli” on Top Channel for several years. After a break, Tarifa made a comeback in Festivali i Këngës 53 with the song “Përrallë” (Fairytale) and emerged as the winner. This led to her representing Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm, Sweden. The song was sung in English as “Fairytale”. However she did not qualify for the final. In 2018, Tarifa served as a judge on The Voice Kids Albania. In 2019 and 2020 she hosted the show Top Talent on Top Channel.In 2019, she won Kënga Magjike with her song “Ma zgjat doren”. In January 2021, she released a single called “Dashuri siberiani. The follow up of this song, “Për ty” reached the no. 1 spot in the Albanian charts. In that year, she also took part in Kënga Magijike again. This time it was in duet with Walter Ricci. Their song “Udhëkryq” reached the 4th place in the contest. In June 2022 she released a new single, “Cep më cep”, featured by Renis Gjoka. A month later, the song “Kjani trima” came out. Entries Fairytale Country🇦🇱 Albania Year2016 LanguageEnglish LyricsOlsa Toqi MusicOlsa Toqi BackingsXhoni JesquBesa KrasniqiVenera Lumani Results Semi Points: 45Position: 16Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/jdT5EGcTjYw

Agnete

© Albin Olsson, Wikimedia Commons About Quick Facts NameAgnete Kristin Johnsen Saba Born04 July 1994 Nationality🇳🇴 Norwegian National SelectionNorsk Melodi Grand Prix 2016Norsk Melodi Grand Prix 2011 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongIcebreaker (2016) Biography Agnete Kristin Johnsen Saba, known by various names including Agnete Saba, Agnete Johnsen, or simply Agnete, is a Norwegian singer and songwriter. Agnete was born on July 4, 1994, in Varangerbotn, Nesseby, located in Finnmark, Norway. She comes from an ethnic Sami background and is the daughter of Sami children’s author Signe Iversen. In 2020, she changed her surname to Saba, adopting her grandmother’s maiden name. She started het career as a member of The BlackSheeps. The group was formed in 2008 while the band members were attending school in their hometown of Nesseby. They achieved success by winning Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2008 with their song “Oro jaska, beana” (“Be quiet, dog”), which was performed in both Norwegian and Northern Sami. The band also won the MGP Nordic 2008 competition. Their song “Oro jaska, beana” won the Song of the Year award at the Spellemannprisen Awards and reached number one on the Norwegian singles chart. In 2011, The BlackSheeps participated in Melodi Grand Prix 2011 with the song “Dance Tonight,” where they secured the second place. However, they disbanded later that year. In 2013, Agnete competed in the second season of the Norwegian music TV competition Stjernekamp, finishing as the runner-up. She also performed as an interval act during Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2013. From 2014 onwards, Agnete took part in the tenth season of the Norwegian version of Dancing with the Stars called Skal vi danse? (Shall we dance?) and emerged as the winner. In 2015, she participated in the Norwegian reality television series 71° nord but left early due to mental health issues. Agnete competed in Melodi Grand Prix 2016 with the song “Icebreaker” and emerged as the winner, receiving the most votes from the Norwegian public. Although she represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest, she failed to qualify for the final during the second semi-final held in Stockholm on May 12, 2016. Agnete made a comeback on November 6, 2020, with her new single titled “Beginning of the End.” In January 2021, she participated in the show “Hver gang vi møtes” (the Norwegian version of “The Best Singers”). On March 5 of the same year, she released the single “Solid” followed by the EP “Tundra.” Additionally, on August 30, a documentary titled “Agnete Jienáda,” focusing on Agnete and her Sami background, was released on NRK Web-TV. On July 8, 2022, Agnete released a new song called “Pusterom.” She also performed on the show “Allsang på grensen” and had a duet with Ronan Keating. Agnete took part in the all-stars version of “Skal vi danse.” In the same year, she collaborated with the Isaakband and featured on their new single, “Oainnán du.” In 2023, Agnete hosted the Sámi Grand Prix alongside Ole Nedrejord. Entries Icebreaker Country🇳🇴 Norway Year2016 LanguageEnglish LyricsAgnete JohnsenGabriel AlaresIan Curnow MusicAgnete JohnsenGabriel AlaresIan Curnow BackingsGabriel AlaresNicoline Berg KaasinCharlotte BredesenIngunn Dalland DancersSara Christine Einbu Results Semi Points: 63Position: 13Running order: 15 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/ACLcqZMwCSo

Lighthouse X

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts MembersSøren BregendalJohannes NymarkMartin Skriver Active2012 – 2016 Nationality🇩🇰 Danish National SelectionDansk Melodi Grand Prix 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongSoldiers Of Love (2016) Biography Founded in 2012, Lighthouse X (pronounced as Lighthouse Ten) was a Danish pop group consisting of Søren Bregendal, Martin Skriver, and Johannes Nymark, who were not only singers but also actors. The main objective of the group was to provide support to children and young people facing difficult circumstances. They achieved this by establishing close collaborations with organizations such as “Børnehjertefonden” (Children’s Heart Foundation), “Julemærkefonden” (Christmas Seal Foundation), and “Børn, Unge og Sorg” (Children, Youth, and Grief). In February 2015, the band released their EP titled “Lighthouse X” and followed up with the English-language single “It’s A Brand New Day” in August of the same year. Lighthouse X participated in the Danish Melodi Grand Prix 2016 and emerged as the winners with their song “Soldiers of Love.” They secured 42% of the votes in the final, surpassing Anja Nissen and Simone. Consequently, they represented Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 held in Stockholm. However, they did not manage to qualify for the final stage of the competition. On August 15, 2016, the group announced their decision to disband. Their final performance took place on August 17 during Copenhagen Pride. Entries Soldiers Of Love Country🇩🇰 Denmark Year2016 LanguageEnglish LyricsSebastian F. OvensDaniel Lund JørgensenKatrine Klith AndersenLighthouse X MusicSebastian F. OvensDaniel Lund JørgensenKatrine Klith AndersenLighthouse X BackingsChristoffer BrodersenSøren OkholmAnders Ørsager Results Semi Points: 34Position: 17Running order: 13 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/jGz12i-wGd0