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3+2

About Quick Facts MembersYulia ShishkoArtsem MikhalenkoElgiazar FarashanAlena KarpovichNinel Karpovich Active2009 – 2010 Nationality🇧🇾 Belarusian National SelectionInternal selection 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongButterflies (feat. Robert Wells, 2010) Biography 3+2 was a pop group from Belarus that participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 held in Oslo, Norway. The creation of the band was spearheaded by the Belarusian TV channel ONT alongside the initiative “New Voices of Belarus” in 2009. The band comprised finalists from this television competition. Securing a spot in the national selection for Eurovision 2010 significantly boosted the group’s popularity. On February 25, 2010, 3+2 was selected through an internal process to fly the Belarusian flag at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010.  The group received various song submissions from Belarusian and foreign songwriters. After considering numerous proposals for their song, visuals, and stage performance, the group’s management decided to seek insight from the renowned producer and songwriter Max Fadeev. Fadeev delivered a complete package for the group within a week, including the song “Butterflies,” which he co-wrote with Swedish musician Robert Wells and Polish poet Malka Chaplin specifically for 3+2. Initially, the group had selected “Far Away” for their Eurovision entry but switched to “Butterflies” following unfavorable feedback online. In the grand finale, “Butterflies” ended up in 24th place, accumulating a total of 18 points. After the Eurovision Song Contest, the group had not been active together. Entries Butterflies (featuring Robert Wells) Country🇧🇾 Belarus Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsMalka Chaplin MusicMaxim Fadeev Backings– Results Semi Points: 59Position: 9Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: 18Position: 24Running order: 9 https://youtu.be/MvK2KU2zfzA?si=hkYZ0kobr6MbVQPq

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Sjonni’s friends

About Quick Facts MembersGunnar ÓlasonVignir Snær VigfússonPálmi SigurhjartarsonMatthías MatthíassonHreimur Örn HeimissonBenedikt Brynleifsson Active2011 Nationality🇮🇸 Icelandic National SelectionSöngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2011 In Eurovision2011 Düsseldorf SongComing Home (2011) Biography Sjonni’s friends was  an Icelandic tribute band,also known at times as Sigurjón’s Friends. The band formed in early 2011 when the Icelandic singer Sjonni Brink (real name Sigurjón Brink) died just days before he was to perform his entry “Aftur heim” at Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins, the Icelandic national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. Gunnar Ólason, an Icelandic singer/guitarist, rose to fame with his band “Skítamórall,” formed in 1989. Known for his early musical talent, he achieved his first paid music job at 12. With six albums, including a hit by Sjonni Brink, and gold platinum sales, Gunnar remains a household name in Iceland. He participated in the 2001 ESC with Two Tricky‘s “Angel” and pursues a Bachelor’s degree while recording acoustic soul and blues music. Known as a loner, Gunnar balances a big appetite with a shy demeanor.  Vignir Snaer Vigfússon, a master guitarist, songwriter, and singer, is a prominent figure in Iceland’s music scene. He started playing guitar at nine and can play almost any instrument, with a particular passion for collecting guitars. A renowned producer, Vignir has created hits for many Icelandic artists, including Sjonni Brink. He’s also served as the musical director for shows like Icelandic Idol and X-factor, and played in musicals like Hair, Grease, and Footloose. Vignir has represented Iceland three times in the ESC, in various roles from guitarist to composer. He wrote the 2005 entry “If I had your love” for Selma. Pálmi Sigurhjartarson, celebrated for his piano skills, began his music career at eighteen in Reykjavik piano bars. His versatile career spans working with solo artists, big orchestras, and classical singers, and directing music for over 150 TV and radio shows. He’s also known for writing hit pop songs. Pálmi collaborated closely with Sjonni in theatre shows and bands like Rokk and the Flavors, and performed as a duo on various occasions.  Pálmi was the musical director for the acclaimed Icelandic Theatre Group Vesturport, recognized with the European Theatre Prize. Their productions have toured globally, including a 2008 project at London’s Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, where Pálmi was both performer and musical director. Matthías Matthíasson, from Dalvík, Iceland, gained acclaim at 18 in “Hair” and was nominated as “best newcomer” for “Jesus Christ Superstar” (1995). Known for his powerful, high-ranged rock voice, he’s one of Iceland’s most technical singers, able to hit high notes effortlessly. He’s sung with top bands, earning gold and platinum albums, and was praised by Rolling Stone Magazine for his band Dúndurfréttir’s Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin covers. Collaborating with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, he’s performed in significant concerts like “The Wall.” Matthías is also the voice of Sportacus in “Lazytown” and starred in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Hair.” A family man with three sons, he possesses a unique talent for speaking backwards. Hreimur Örn Heimisson, raised on an Icelandic pig farm, started the successful pop group Land & synir at 19 in 1997, topping charts with their debut single. They quickly became a popular band, releasing four albums and numerous hits. In 2001, Hreimur signed with Warner in New York, but their album was shelved due to 9/11. He continues a successful career in Iceland as a singer-songwriter, deeply impacting Icelandic music. Hreimur, known for his ever-present smile and green eyes, balances music with family life, soccer, and golf. His solo album was set for a 2012 release. Benedikt Brynleifsson, a prominent Icelandic drummer, has been playing professionally for 11 years with top artists and bands. Recently, he performed with Paul Oscar and the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, with concerts at Reykjavík’s Harpa. He’s a member of the band Rokk, founded by Sigurjón Brink. This marks Benedikt’s second Eurovision appearance, previously performing in 2007. His diverse career includes TV performances, modeling, and appearances in commercials, notably playing in house bands for Icelandic Pop Idol and X-Factor. Benedikt has contributed to over 20 albums and numerous singles and is a sought-after session drummer. His rock band, 200.000 Naglbítar, is currently recording an album. Entries Coming Home Country🇮🇸 Iceland Year2011 LanguageEnglish LyricsÞórunn ClausenSjonni Brink MusicSjonni Brink Backings– Results Semi Points: 100Position: 4Running order: 14 Results Finals Points: 61Position: 20Running order: 21 https://youtu.be/MYVjXG19eVA?si=0g_HAd-MxdY70Rqh

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Takasa

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts MembersSarah BreiterJonas GygaxKatharina HauriChristoph JakobEmil RamsauerMichel Sterckx Active2012 – 2013 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionDie grosse Entscheidungsshow 2013 In Eurovision2013 Malmö SongYou And Me (2013) Biography Takasa was a pop ensemble formed by members of the Bern Salvation Army. They were initially formed to compete in the Swiss preliminary round for the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest. While they started out as Heilsarmee for the qualifiers, they adopted the name Takasa for the main competition in Malmö. Claiming victory with their song “You and Me” during the Swiss national selection for Eurovision, the group secured 37% of public votes in a live telecast by Swiss Television SRF 1 on December 15, 2012. This triumph meant they would represent Switzerland at Malmö’s Song Contest. However, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) expressed reservations about the group’s name and uniform being potentially non-compliant. This posed the question of whether they would participate, as the Salvation Army identity and attire were integral to their brand. The EBU hadn’t raised any concerns before the initial stages. Come January 2013, the band declared their intention to compete with a new name and adjusted attire. Their track “You and Me” made its debut on the Swiss charts at the 21st spot on January 6, 2013, remaining there for three weeks. On March 13, 2013, the band revealed a rebrand to Takasa, which means “clean” in Swahili, along with a new white-blue attire. They released a fresh music video for “You and Me” on March 14, 2013, showcasing their trip to Malmö in a vibrant red Fiat 600. Speculation suggested that “Takasa” stood for phrases akin to Prince’s naming style, such as “The artists…” or “The act known as Salvation Army”, but the band dismissed such claims. Ultimately, after performing in the second semi-final of the contest, they didn’t advance to the final. After the Eurovision Song Contest, Takasa kept on performing on several occasions, but the last time they did so was around christmas 2013. Most of the time they performed on the streets of Bern. However, in November 2013 they got the opportunity to perform in the Royal Albert Hall in London. Sarah Breiter was the youngest member of the band at 20, whereas Emil Ramsauer, turning 95 in March 2013, was the eldest. Remarkably, Emil became the most senior musician ever to join the Eurovision stage. The ensemble mourned the loss of their bassist, who passed away at 103, 12 December 2021. Entries You And Me Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2013 LanguageEnglish LyricsGeorge SchluneggerRoman CamenzindFred Hermann MusicNames Backings– Results Semi Points: 41Position: 13Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/nH34iARVI-s?si=QKNvxIz7-R4xwfNT

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EQUINOX

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts MembersZhana BergendorffGeorgi SimeonovVlado MihailovTrey CampbellJohnny Manuel Active2018 Nationality???????? Bulgarian (Zhana, Georgi, Vlado)???????? American (Trey, Johnny) National SelectionInternal selection 2018 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongBones (2018) Biography Equinox was a Bulgarian band, established to represent Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest. The name “Equinox” comes from the term equinox, which means the moments of the year when day and night are approximately the same duration throughout our planet. These days are celebrated all over the world and are important to all major religions. Zhanna Bergendorf was born on October 20, 1985 in Sofia. She starts singing when she is 7 years old. When she was 18, she went to sing in South Korea. She remained there until 2010, after which she moved to Denmark. She participated in the X Factor Denmark. She became famous for winning the X Factor Bulgaria in 2013. She had a lot of hits in Bulgaria and won several important prizes in Bulgaria. Georgi Simeonov, known as JJ, is a singer, songwriter and vocal producer. He made his debut in the popular Bulgarian boy band 032 at the age of 16. In 2013, he began his solo career and released the songs “Better I Understood” and “Dealer of Love.” In 2009 he started teaching pop, soul and RnB, leading master classes in Sofia and Plovdiv. He works as a vocal producer for some of the biggest musicians in Bulgaria.  He participated in the X Factor Romania. Vladimir Mihailov is a Bulgarian singer, songwriter, artist and vocalist of the famous bands Sappho and Slang. Prior to joining Equinox, he was a backing vocalist for Christian Kostov. As an artist, he has starred in three of the biggest Bulgarian films of 2017 – “Vŭzvishenie”, “Benzin i Nokaut”, and “Vsichko, koeto tya napisa”. He composed songs for many Bulgarian artists. He has been invited to play a leading role in the Bulgarian production of the musical “Mamma Mia”. He has worked as a voice actor in animated films such as “Frozen”, “Tangled” and “The Muppets”. Johnny Manuel comes from Flint, USA. Johnny has been a performer since his childhood, touring with ‘N Sync at the age of 14. In 2017 he took part in “America’s Got Talent”. His Withney Houston performance went viral on the internet. After “America’s Got Talent,” he released two singles, “Come Alive” and “Blind Faith,” and began working on his debut album with Symphonics International. Trey Campbell is a songwriter from Los Angeles, one of the composers of “Bones”, a major contributor to Equinox. Trey has written music for artists such as Dua Lipa, Bebe Rexha, Norwegian singer Julie Bergan, and Romanian Alexandra Stan. In 2019, he was a backing vocal in the Eurovision Song Contest for Azerbaijani participant Chingiz Mustafayev. As a group, Equinox represented Bulgaria in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Bones”. Entries Bones Country???????? Bulgaria Year2018 LanguageEnglish LyricsBorislav MilanovTrey CampbellJoacim PerssonDag Lundberg MusicBorislav MilanovTrey CampbellJoacim PerssonDag Lundberg BackingsMaria Georgieva Results Semi Points: 177Position: 7Running order: 10 Results Finals Points: 166Position: 14Running order: 18 https://youtu.be/vC-1tdGDFQc

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3+2

About Quick Facts MembersYulia ShishkoArtsem MikhalenkoElgiazar FarashanAlena KarpovichNinel Karpovich Active2009 – 2010 Nationality🇧🇾 Belarusian National SelectionInternal selection 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongButterflies (feat. Robert Wells, 2010) Biography 3+2 was a pop group from Belarus that participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 held in Oslo, Norway. The creation of the band was spearheaded by the Belarusian TV channel ONT alongside the initiative “New Voices of Belarus” in 2009. The band comprised finalists from this television competition. Securing a spot in the national selection for Eurovision 2010 significantly boosted the group’s popularity. On February 25, 2010, 3+2 was selected through an internal process to fly the Belarusian flag at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010.  The group received various song submissions from Belarusian and foreign songwriters. After considering numerous proposals for their song, visuals, and stage performance, the group’s management decided to seek insight from the renowned producer and songwriter Max Fadeev. Fadeev delivered a complete package for the group within a week, including the song “Butterflies,” which he co-wrote with Swedish musician Robert Wells and Polish poet Malka Chaplin specifically for 3+2. Initially, the group had selected “Far Away” for their Eurovision entry but switched to “Butterflies” following unfavorable feedback online. In the grand finale, “Butterflies” ended up in 24th place, accumulating a total of 18 points. After the Eurovision Song Contest, the group had not been active together. Entries Butterflies (featuring Robert Wells) Country🇧🇾 Belarus Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsMalka Chaplin MusicMaxim Fadeev Backings– Results Semi Points: 59Position: 9Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: 18Position: 24Running order: 9 https://youtu.be/MvK2KU2zfzA?si=hkYZ0kobr6MbVQPq

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Sjonni’s friends

About Quick Facts MembersGunnar ÓlasonVignir Snær VigfússonPálmi SigurhjartarsonMatthías MatthíassonHreimur Örn HeimissonBenedikt Brynleifsson Active2011 Nationality🇮🇸 Icelandic National SelectionSöngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2011 In Eurovision2011 Düsseldorf SongComing Home (2011) Biography Sjonni’s friends was  an Icelandic tribute band,also known at times as Sigurjón’s Friends. The band formed in early 2011 when the Icelandic singer Sjonni Brink (real name Sigurjón Brink) died just days before he was to perform his entry “Aftur heim” at Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins, the Icelandic national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. Gunnar Ólason, an Icelandic singer/guitarist, rose to fame with his band “Skítamórall,” formed in 1989. Known for his early musical talent, he achieved his first paid music job at 12. With six albums, including a hit by Sjonni Brink, and gold platinum sales, Gunnar remains a household name in Iceland. He participated in the 2001 ESC with Two Tricky‘s “Angel” and pursues a Bachelor’s degree while recording acoustic soul and blues music. Known as a loner, Gunnar balances a big appetite with a shy demeanor.  Vignir Snaer Vigfússon, a master guitarist, songwriter, and singer, is a prominent figure in Iceland’s music scene. He started playing guitar at nine and can play almost any instrument, with a particular passion for collecting guitars. A renowned producer, Vignir has created hits for many Icelandic artists, including Sjonni Brink. He’s also served as the musical director for shows like Icelandic Idol and X-factor, and played in musicals like Hair, Grease, and Footloose. Vignir has represented Iceland three times in the ESC, in various roles from guitarist to composer. He wrote the 2005 entry “If I had your love” for Selma. Pálmi Sigurhjartarson, celebrated for his piano skills, began his music career at eighteen in Reykjavik piano bars. His versatile career spans working with solo artists, big orchestras, and classical singers, and directing music for over 150 TV and radio shows. He’s also known for writing hit pop songs. Pálmi collaborated closely with Sjonni in theatre shows and bands like Rokk and the Flavors, and performed as a duo on various occasions.  Pálmi was the musical director for the acclaimed Icelandic Theatre Group Vesturport, recognized with the European Theatre Prize. Their productions have toured globally, including a 2008 project at London’s Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, where Pálmi was both performer and musical director. Matthías Matthíasson, from Dalvík, Iceland, gained acclaim at 18 in “Hair” and was nominated as “best newcomer” for “Jesus Christ Superstar” (1995). Known for his powerful, high-ranged rock voice, he’s one of Iceland’s most technical singers, able to hit high notes effortlessly. He’s sung with top bands, earning gold and platinum albums, and was praised by Rolling Stone Magazine for his band Dúndurfréttir’s Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin covers. Collaborating with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, he’s performed in significant concerts like “The Wall.” Matthías is also the voice of Sportacus in “Lazytown” and starred in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Hair.” A family man with three sons, he possesses a unique talent for speaking backwards. Hreimur Örn Heimisson, raised on an Icelandic pig farm, started the successful pop group Land & synir at 19 in 1997, topping charts with their debut single. They quickly became a popular band, releasing four albums and numerous hits. In 2001, Hreimur signed with Warner in New York, but their album was shelved due to 9/11. He continues a successful career in Iceland as a singer-songwriter, deeply impacting Icelandic music. Hreimur, known for his ever-present smile and green eyes, balances music with family life, soccer, and golf. His solo album was set for a 2012 release. Benedikt Brynleifsson, a prominent Icelandic drummer, has been playing professionally for 11 years with top artists and bands. Recently, he performed with Paul Oscar and the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, with concerts at Reykjavík’s Harpa. He’s a member of the band Rokk, founded by Sigurjón Brink. This marks Benedikt’s second Eurovision appearance, previously performing in 2007. His diverse career includes TV performances, modeling, and appearances in commercials, notably playing in house bands for Icelandic Pop Idol and X-Factor. Benedikt has contributed to over 20 albums and numerous singles and is a sought-after session drummer. His rock band, 200.000 Naglbítar, is currently recording an album. Entries Coming Home Country🇮🇸 Iceland Year2011 LanguageEnglish LyricsÞórunn ClausenSjonni Brink MusicSjonni Brink Backings– Results Semi Points: 100Position: 4Running order: 14 Results Finals Points: 61Position: 20Running order: 21 https://youtu.be/MYVjXG19eVA?si=0g_HAd-MxdY70Rqh

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Takasa

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts MembersSarah BreiterJonas GygaxKatharina HauriChristoph JakobEmil RamsauerMichel Sterckx Active2012 – 2013 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionDie grosse Entscheidungsshow 2013 In Eurovision2013 Malmö SongYou And Me (2013) Biography Takasa was a pop ensemble formed by members of the Bern Salvation Army. They were initially formed to compete in the Swiss preliminary round for the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest. While they started out as Heilsarmee for the qualifiers, they adopted the name Takasa for the main competition in Malmö. Claiming victory with their song “You and Me” during the Swiss national selection for Eurovision, the group secured 37% of public votes in a live telecast by Swiss Television SRF 1 on December 15, 2012. This triumph meant they would represent Switzerland at Malmö’s Song Contest. However, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) expressed reservations about the group’s name and uniform being potentially non-compliant. This posed the question of whether they would participate, as the Salvation Army identity and attire were integral to their brand. The EBU hadn’t raised any concerns before the initial stages. Come January 2013, the band declared their intention to compete with a new name and adjusted attire. Their track “You and Me” made its debut on the Swiss charts at the 21st spot on January 6, 2013, remaining there for three weeks. On March 13, 2013, the band revealed a rebrand to Takasa, which means “clean” in Swahili, along with a new white-blue attire. They released a fresh music video for “You and Me” on March 14, 2013, showcasing their trip to Malmö in a vibrant red Fiat 600. Speculation suggested that “Takasa” stood for phrases akin to Prince’s naming style, such as “The artists…” or “The act known as Salvation Army”, but the band dismissed such claims. Ultimately, after performing in the second semi-final of the contest, they didn’t advance to the final. After the Eurovision Song Contest, Takasa kept on performing on several occasions, but the last time they did so was around christmas 2013. Most of the time they performed on the streets of Bern. However, in November 2013 they got the opportunity to perform in the Royal Albert Hall in London. Sarah Breiter was the youngest member of the band at 20, whereas Emil Ramsauer, turning 95 in March 2013, was the eldest. Remarkably, Emil became the most senior musician ever to join the Eurovision stage. The ensemble mourned the loss of their bassist, who passed away at 103, 12 December 2021. Entries You And Me Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2013 LanguageEnglish LyricsGeorge SchluneggerRoman CamenzindFred Hermann MusicNames Backings– Results Semi Points: 41Position: 13Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/nH34iARVI-s?si=QKNvxIz7-R4xwfNT

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EQUINOX

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts MembersZhana BergendorffGeorgi SimeonovVlado MihailovTrey CampbellJohnny Manuel Active2018 Nationality???????? Bulgarian (Zhana, Georgi, Vlado)???????? American (Trey, Johnny) National SelectionInternal selection 2018 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongBones (2018) Biography Equinox was a Bulgarian band, established to represent Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest. The name “Equinox” comes from the term equinox, which means the moments of the year when day and night are approximately the same duration throughout our planet. These days are celebrated all over the world and are important to all major religions. Zhanna Bergendorf was born on October 20, 1985 in Sofia. She starts singing when she is 7 years old. When she was 18, she went to sing in South Korea. She remained there until 2010, after which she moved to Denmark. She participated in the X Factor Denmark. She became famous for winning the X Factor Bulgaria in 2013. She had a lot of hits in Bulgaria and won several important prizes in Bulgaria. Georgi Simeonov, known as JJ, is a singer, songwriter and vocal producer. He made his debut in the popular Bulgarian boy band 032 at the age of 16. In 2013, he began his solo career and released the songs “Better I Understood” and “Dealer of Love.” In 2009 he started teaching pop, soul and RnB, leading master classes in Sofia and Plovdiv. He works as a vocal producer for some of the biggest musicians in Bulgaria.  He participated in the X Factor Romania. Vladimir Mihailov is a Bulgarian singer, songwriter, artist and vocalist of the famous bands Sappho and Slang. Prior to joining Equinox, he was a backing vocalist for Christian Kostov. As an artist, he has starred in three of the biggest Bulgarian films of 2017 – “Vŭzvishenie”, “Benzin i Nokaut”, and “Vsichko, koeto tya napisa”. He composed songs for many Bulgarian artists. He has been invited to play a leading role in the Bulgarian production of the musical “Mamma Mia”. He has worked as a voice actor in animated films such as “Frozen”, “Tangled” and “The Muppets”. Johnny Manuel comes from Flint, USA. Johnny has been a performer since his childhood, touring with ‘N Sync at the age of 14. In 2017 he took part in “America’s Got Talent”. His Withney Houston performance went viral on the internet. After “America’s Got Talent,” he released two singles, “Come Alive” and “Blind Faith,” and began working on his debut album with Symphonics International. Trey Campbell is a songwriter from Los Angeles, one of the composers of “Bones”, a major contributor to Equinox. Trey has written music for artists such as Dua Lipa, Bebe Rexha, Norwegian singer Julie Bergan, and Romanian Alexandra Stan. In 2019, he was a backing vocal in the Eurovision Song Contest for Azerbaijani participant Chingiz Mustafayev. As a group, Equinox represented Bulgaria in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Bones”. Entries Bones Country???????? Bulgaria Year2018 LanguageEnglish LyricsBorislav MilanovTrey CampbellJoacim PerssonDag Lundberg MusicBorislav MilanovTrey CampbellJoacim PerssonDag Lundberg BackingsMaria Georgieva Results Semi Points: 177Position: 7Running order: 10 Results Finals Points: 166Position: 14Running order: 18 https://youtu.be/vC-1tdGDFQc

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3+2

About Quick Facts MembersYulia ShishkoArtsem MikhalenkoElgiazar FarashanAlena KarpovichNinel Karpovich Active2009 – 2010 Nationality🇧🇾 Belarusian National SelectionInternal selection 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongButterflies (feat. Robert Wells, 2010) Biography 3+2 was a pop group from Belarus that participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 held in Oslo, Norway. The creation of the band was spearheaded by the Belarusian TV channel ONT alongside the initiative “New Voices of Belarus” in 2009. The band comprised finalists from this television competition. Securing a spot in the national selection for Eurovision 2010 significantly boosted the group’s popularity. On February 25, 2010, 3+2 was selected through an internal process to fly the Belarusian flag at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010.  The group received various song submissions from Belarusian and foreign songwriters. After considering numerous proposals for their song, visuals, and stage performance, the group’s management decided to seek insight from the renowned producer and songwriter Max Fadeev. Fadeev delivered a complete package for the group within a week, including the song “Butterflies,” which he co-wrote with Swedish musician Robert Wells and Polish poet Malka Chaplin specifically for 3+2. Initially, the group had selected “Far Away” for their Eurovision entry but switched to “Butterflies” following unfavorable feedback online. In the grand finale, “Butterflies” ended up in 24th place, accumulating a total of 18 points. After the Eurovision Song Contest, the group had not been active together. Entries Butterflies (featuring Robert Wells) Country🇧🇾 Belarus Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsMalka Chaplin MusicMaxim Fadeev Backings– Results Semi Points: 59Position: 9Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: 18Position: 24Running order: 9 https://youtu.be/MvK2KU2zfzA?si=hkYZ0kobr6MbVQPq

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Sjonni’s friends

About Quick Facts MembersGunnar ÓlasonVignir Snær VigfússonPálmi SigurhjartarsonMatthías MatthíassonHreimur Örn HeimissonBenedikt Brynleifsson Active2011 Nationality🇮🇸 Icelandic National SelectionSöngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2011 In Eurovision2011 Düsseldorf SongComing Home (2011) Biography Sjonni’s friends was  an Icelandic tribute band,also known at times as Sigurjón’s Friends. The band formed in early 2011 when the Icelandic singer Sjonni Brink (real name Sigurjón Brink) died just days before he was to perform his entry “Aftur heim” at Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins, the Icelandic national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. Gunnar Ólason, an Icelandic singer/guitarist, rose to fame with his band “Skítamórall,” formed in 1989. Known for his early musical talent, he achieved his first paid music job at 12. With six albums, including a hit by Sjonni Brink, and gold platinum sales, Gunnar remains a household name in Iceland. He participated in the 2001 ESC with Two Tricky‘s “Angel” and pursues a Bachelor’s degree while recording acoustic soul and blues music. Known as a loner, Gunnar balances a big appetite with a shy demeanor.  Vignir Snaer Vigfússon, a master guitarist, songwriter, and singer, is a prominent figure in Iceland’s music scene. He started playing guitar at nine and can play almost any instrument, with a particular passion for collecting guitars. A renowned producer, Vignir has created hits for many Icelandic artists, including Sjonni Brink. He’s also served as the musical director for shows like Icelandic Idol and X-factor, and played in musicals like Hair, Grease, and Footloose. Vignir has represented Iceland three times in the ESC, in various roles from guitarist to composer. He wrote the 2005 entry “If I had your love” for Selma. Pálmi Sigurhjartarson, celebrated for his piano skills, began his music career at eighteen in Reykjavik piano bars. His versatile career spans working with solo artists, big orchestras, and classical singers, and directing music for over 150 TV and radio shows. He’s also known for writing hit pop songs. Pálmi collaborated closely with Sjonni in theatre shows and bands like Rokk and the Flavors, and performed as a duo on various occasions.  Pálmi was the musical director for the acclaimed Icelandic Theatre Group Vesturport, recognized with the European Theatre Prize. Their productions have toured globally, including a 2008 project at London’s Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, where Pálmi was both performer and musical director. Matthías Matthíasson, from Dalvík, Iceland, gained acclaim at 18 in “Hair” and was nominated as “best newcomer” for “Jesus Christ Superstar” (1995). Known for his powerful, high-ranged rock voice, he’s one of Iceland’s most technical singers, able to hit high notes effortlessly. He’s sung with top bands, earning gold and platinum albums, and was praised by Rolling Stone Magazine for his band Dúndurfréttir’s Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin covers. Collaborating with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, he’s performed in significant concerts like “The Wall.” Matthías is also the voice of Sportacus in “Lazytown” and starred in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Hair.” A family man with three sons, he possesses a unique talent for speaking backwards. Hreimur Örn Heimisson, raised on an Icelandic pig farm, started the successful pop group Land & synir at 19 in 1997, topping charts with their debut single. They quickly became a popular band, releasing four albums and numerous hits. In 2001, Hreimur signed with Warner in New York, but their album was shelved due to 9/11. He continues a successful career in Iceland as a singer-songwriter, deeply impacting Icelandic music. Hreimur, known for his ever-present smile and green eyes, balances music with family life, soccer, and golf. His solo album was set for a 2012 release. Benedikt Brynleifsson, a prominent Icelandic drummer, has been playing professionally for 11 years with top artists and bands. Recently, he performed with Paul Oscar and the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, with concerts at Reykjavík’s Harpa. He’s a member of the band Rokk, founded by Sigurjón Brink. This marks Benedikt’s second Eurovision appearance, previously performing in 2007. His diverse career includes TV performances, modeling, and appearances in commercials, notably playing in house bands for Icelandic Pop Idol and X-Factor. Benedikt has contributed to over 20 albums and numerous singles and is a sought-after session drummer. His rock band, 200.000 Naglbítar, is currently recording an album. Entries Coming Home Country🇮🇸 Iceland Year2011 LanguageEnglish LyricsÞórunn ClausenSjonni Brink MusicSjonni Brink Backings– Results Semi Points: 100Position: 4Running order: 14 Results Finals Points: 61Position: 20Running order: 21 https://youtu.be/MYVjXG19eVA?si=0g_HAd-MxdY70Rqh

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Takasa

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts MembersSarah BreiterJonas GygaxKatharina HauriChristoph JakobEmil RamsauerMichel Sterckx Active2012 – 2013 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionDie grosse Entscheidungsshow 2013 In Eurovision2013 Malmö SongYou And Me (2013) Biography Takasa was a pop ensemble formed by members of the Bern Salvation Army. They were initially formed to compete in the Swiss preliminary round for the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest. While they started out as Heilsarmee for the qualifiers, they adopted the name Takasa for the main competition in Malmö. Claiming victory with their song “You and Me” during the Swiss national selection for Eurovision, the group secured 37% of public votes in a live telecast by Swiss Television SRF 1 on December 15, 2012. This triumph meant they would represent Switzerland at Malmö’s Song Contest. However, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) expressed reservations about the group’s name and uniform being potentially non-compliant. This posed the question of whether they would participate, as the Salvation Army identity and attire were integral to their brand. The EBU hadn’t raised any concerns before the initial stages. Come January 2013, the band declared their intention to compete with a new name and adjusted attire. Their track “You and Me” made its debut on the Swiss charts at the 21st spot on January 6, 2013, remaining there for three weeks. On March 13, 2013, the band revealed a rebrand to Takasa, which means “clean” in Swahili, along with a new white-blue attire. They released a fresh music video for “You and Me” on March 14, 2013, showcasing their trip to Malmö in a vibrant red Fiat 600. Speculation suggested that “Takasa” stood for phrases akin to Prince’s naming style, such as “The artists…” or “The act known as Salvation Army”, but the band dismissed such claims. Ultimately, after performing in the second semi-final of the contest, they didn’t advance to the final. After the Eurovision Song Contest, Takasa kept on performing on several occasions, but the last time they did so was around christmas 2013. Most of the time they performed on the streets of Bern. However, in November 2013 they got the opportunity to perform in the Royal Albert Hall in London. Sarah Breiter was the youngest member of the band at 20, whereas Emil Ramsauer, turning 95 in March 2013, was the eldest. Remarkably, Emil became the most senior musician ever to join the Eurovision stage. The ensemble mourned the loss of their bassist, who passed away at 103, 12 December 2021. Entries You And Me Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2013 LanguageEnglish LyricsGeorge SchluneggerRoman CamenzindFred Hermann MusicNames Backings– Results Semi Points: 41Position: 13Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/nH34iARVI-s?si=QKNvxIz7-R4xwfNT

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EQUINOX

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts MembersZhana BergendorffGeorgi SimeonovVlado MihailovTrey CampbellJohnny Manuel Active2018 Nationality???????? Bulgarian (Zhana, Georgi, Vlado)???????? American (Trey, Johnny) National SelectionInternal selection 2018 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongBones (2018) Biography Equinox was a Bulgarian band, established to represent Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest. The name “Equinox” comes from the term equinox, which means the moments of the year when day and night are approximately the same duration throughout our planet. These days are celebrated all over the world and are important to all major religions. Zhanna Bergendorf was born on October 20, 1985 in Sofia. She starts singing when she is 7 years old. When she was 18, she went to sing in South Korea. She remained there until 2010, after which she moved to Denmark. She participated in the X Factor Denmark. She became famous for winning the X Factor Bulgaria in 2013. She had a lot of hits in Bulgaria and won several important prizes in Bulgaria. Georgi Simeonov, known as JJ, is a singer, songwriter and vocal producer. He made his debut in the popular Bulgarian boy band 032 at the age of 16. In 2013, he began his solo career and released the songs “Better I Understood” and “Dealer of Love.” In 2009 he started teaching pop, soul and RnB, leading master classes in Sofia and Plovdiv. He works as a vocal producer for some of the biggest musicians in Bulgaria.  He participated in the X Factor Romania. Vladimir Mihailov is a Bulgarian singer, songwriter, artist and vocalist of the famous bands Sappho and Slang. Prior to joining Equinox, he was a backing vocalist for Christian Kostov. As an artist, he has starred in three of the biggest Bulgarian films of 2017 – “Vŭzvishenie”, “Benzin i Nokaut”, and “Vsichko, koeto tya napisa”. He composed songs for many Bulgarian artists. He has been invited to play a leading role in the Bulgarian production of the musical “Mamma Mia”. He has worked as a voice actor in animated films such as “Frozen”, “Tangled” and “The Muppets”. Johnny Manuel comes from Flint, USA. Johnny has been a performer since his childhood, touring with ‘N Sync at the age of 14. In 2017 he took part in “America’s Got Talent”. His Withney Houston performance went viral on the internet. After “America’s Got Talent,” he released two singles, “Come Alive” and “Blind Faith,” and began working on his debut album with Symphonics International. Trey Campbell is a songwriter from Los Angeles, one of the composers of “Bones”, a major contributor to Equinox. Trey has written music for artists such as Dua Lipa, Bebe Rexha, Norwegian singer Julie Bergan, and Romanian Alexandra Stan. In 2019, he was a backing vocal in the Eurovision Song Contest for Azerbaijani participant Chingiz Mustafayev. As a group, Equinox represented Bulgaria in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Bones”. Entries Bones Country???????? Bulgaria Year2018 LanguageEnglish LyricsBorislav MilanovTrey CampbellJoacim PerssonDag Lundberg MusicBorislav MilanovTrey CampbellJoacim PerssonDag Lundberg BackingsMaria Georgieva Results Semi Points: 177Position: 7Running order: 10 Results Finals Points: 166Position: 14Running order: 18 https://youtu.be/vC-1tdGDFQc

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3+2

About Quick Facts MembersYulia ShishkoArtsem MikhalenkoElgiazar FarashanAlena KarpovichNinel Karpovich Active2009 – 2010 Nationality🇧🇾 Belarusian National SelectionInternal selection 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongButterflies (feat. Robert Wells, 2010) Biography 3+2 was a pop group from Belarus that participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 held in Oslo, Norway. The creation of the band was spearheaded by the Belarusian TV channel ONT alongside the initiative “New Voices of Belarus” in 2009. The band comprised finalists from this television competition. Securing a spot in the national selection for Eurovision 2010 significantly boosted the group’s popularity. On February 25, 2010, 3+2 was selected through an internal

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Sjonni’s friends

About Quick Facts MembersGunnar ÓlasonVignir Snær VigfússonPálmi SigurhjartarsonMatthías MatthíassonHreimur Örn HeimissonBenedikt Brynleifsson Active2011 Nationality🇮🇸 Icelandic National SelectionSöngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2011 In Eurovision2011 Düsseldorf SongComing Home (2011) Biography Sjonni’s friends was  an Icelandic tribute band,also known at times as Sigurjón’s Friends. The band formed in early 2011 when the Icelandic singer Sjonni Brink (real name Sigurjón Brink) died just days before he was to perform his entry “Aftur heim” at Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins, the Icelandic national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. Gunnar Ólason, an Icelandic singer/guitarist, rose to fame with his band “Skítamórall,” formed in 1989. Known for his early musical talent, he

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Takasa

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts MembersSarah BreiterJonas GygaxKatharina HauriChristoph JakobEmil RamsauerMichel Sterckx Active2012 – 2013 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionDie grosse Entscheidungsshow 2013 In Eurovision2013 Malmö SongYou And Me (2013) Biography Takasa was a pop ensemble formed by members of the Bern Salvation Army. They were initially formed to compete in the Swiss preliminary round for the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest. While they started out as Heilsarmee for the qualifiers, they adopted the name Takasa for the main competition in Malmö. Claiming victory with their song “You and Me” during the Swiss national selection for Eurovision, the group secured 37% of

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EQUINOX

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts MembersZhana BergendorffGeorgi SimeonovVlado MihailovTrey CampbellJohnny Manuel Active2018 Nationality???????? Bulgarian (Zhana, Georgi, Vlado)???????? American (Trey, Johnny) National SelectionInternal selection 2018 In Eurovision2018 Lisbon SongBones (2018) Biography Equinox was a Bulgarian band, established to represent Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest. The name “Equinox” comes from the term equinox, which means the moments of the year when day and night are approximately the same duration throughout our planet. These days are celebrated all over the world and are important to all major religions. Zhanna Bergendorf was born on October 20, 1985 in Sofia. She starts singing when

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