Friday, February 24, 2023

The Latest Headlines At The Baku Collection

Latest updated (click on the country):

Sweden - Loreen Wins Eurovision 2012  ユーフォリアout now, , Remixes, Vinyl LP, Vekonyz remix, MF 2013 version, Euphobia cover, Axel Hirsoux cover. Sped Up 2023.
Portugal - Festival da Canção, CD! digital single for Filipa Sousa, updates. 2019 version of Vida Minha
Russia - Runner Up: Baku Babushka's win second semi, 10! Party versions released  For Everybody, Sochi Olympic version, 12 inch Picture disc, version 2018
Estonia - 6th: Ott Lepland's Kuula. language versions, cdsingle, New album out now, Dutch coverversion. 2016 live acoustic CD
France - Anggun cds, duet versions, Best Of remix updates
Romania - Mandinga cds,  new remixes by Soundfactory!, New edition CD Club De Mandinga with Bachata remix. Dutch cover version.
Bulgaria - Sofi Marinova just misses final,  promo updates, New guitar remix released, 2009 demo, 2013 Album out now
Denmark - Soluna Samay, Around the world, Best Of the old stuff release, remixes. new album 2013
Cyprus -  Ivi Adamou, Euro Edition CD, remixes,  2012's 2nd most succesful ESChit?, 2013 Club remix
Hungary - Compact Disco, 10 x TSOOH, Two Point Five album.
Austria - Trackshittaz backside closes rear, cds, remixes, coverversion
Iceland - Greta's Solo album out now, Greta and Jónsi  digital EP release, updates,
Latvia - New Beautiful Song for Anmary, cdsingle promo updates, download new remix, second promo, correction
Spain 10th Pastora Soler, digital EP, Quedate Conmigo. stunning coverversion, English version Stay With Me released.
Ukraine - Gaitana Be her guest to download, Special edition album details, Viva, Європа.
Ireland - Jedward II cdsingle, Watershedline, Young Love out now.
Croatia - Nina Badric Nebo remixes, cdsingle, Remix competition, Listen and download 31 remixes, third promo
Malta - What A Night for Kurt Calleja, cdsingle, mixes, updates.
Serbia - 3rd place for Željko Joksimović  Nije Ljubav Stvar, Download Spanish, Symphonic and new Trubači version 
Georgia - Anri Joxadze, no final for The Joker, updates
Azerbaijan - 4th: Sabina Babayeva, remixes, New ethnic version, Remix competition winner, new Jazz version, Promostella remixes
Belarus - Litesound Heroes go home empty handed. Listen to new version and remixes, updates
Shopping tips - Who has their CD out in the shops
Albania -  5th: Best ever result for Albania: Rona Nishliu, New Suus, English version
Turkey - 7th: Can Bonomo Loves Us Back, promo update
Germany - 8th: Roman Lob cds, new website, album out now
Italy - 9th Nina Zilli, L'Amore È Femmina (Out Of Love)
Moldova - Pasha Parfeny, Trumpet out for the girls
Macedonia - Kaliopi Crno i Belo, download Russian version
Lithuania - Well Donny!  Love Is Blind, Another version (French) and debut album tracklist, updates.
Greece - Eleftheria Eleftheriou  Aphrodisiac promo and cdsingle info.
Bosnia Hercegovina - Maya Sar Korake Ti Znam. Italian, English versions, promo update
United Kingdom - Engelbert Humperdinck, cdsingle Out Now!, Autobiography: What's in a name?
Norway - Tooji wins battle with Sofi but tails at ESC final , Acoustic version released, coverversion, updates
The Netherlands - Joan packs her feathers, Dreamcatcher! #1 hit, promo updates
Slovenia - Eva Boto. EMA CD, versions update, cdsingle
Slovakia - Miro Šmajda a.k.a. Max Jason Mai to Baku, Don't Close Your Eyes
Switzerland - Unbreakable, CD info, Sinplus, 7th Heaven remix, 11th in semi
Finland - UMK CD out now, Pernilla back to the handball competition
Israel - Izabo to Baku, versions update, Album details, Time to go
San Marino - Valentina Monetta Stock Exchange, 17 versions and counting, Social Network Song and the F-word song.
Montenegro Rambo Amadeus Not Last!' Brain Awareness, download
Belgium - IrisWould You cdsingle and album Seventeen

Handbook For Baku, Recommended reading
Azerbaijan History - Check out all details on Azerbaijan's first 4 Eurovision entries, versions and releases.
Armenia - Withdraws from Eurovision 2012
Poland skips a year

Sunday, May 27, 2012

1. Sweden - Euphoria - Loreen

Sweden won the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest in Baku with 374 points, 113 points more than the runner up. 18 countries awarded the maximum 12 point vote to Euphoria.
Euphoria is the fifth Eurovision victory for Sweden.
l
1 - 374 pts / 1 - 181 pts in semi 2

GRATTIS LOREEN, GRATTIS SVERIGE!
Loreen (Lorine Zineb Noka Talhaoui) won the 2012 Melodifestivalen in March with Euphoria written by Peter Boström and Thomas G:son.
Melodifestivalen, the six-show pre-selection to chose the Swedish entry for the Baku contest was held in Februari and March of 2012 with the final in Stockholm on March 10.
Watch the winners video here at SVT (scroll down a bit and click the small video on the left)

Euphoria is was first made available through most digital outlets in three versions: Original, Karaoke and Instrumental.
A remix EP was released through the tunes with three remixes and the original version.
A remix by 7th Heaven is released on a U.K. promo and the DJ CD Dance July 2012 (Pool).
Other U.K. mixes (the WAWA mixes) have been issued on several DJ releases.
Please see the versions list below for all the remixes that have been released.

Heal
The much anticipated album is titled Heal and was released on October 24 in Sweden.
The album includes Euphoria, My Heart Is Refusing Me, Sober and Swedish follow up single Crying Out Your Name.

Euphoria features in the longer version with violin intro as seen in the official video. Sober and My Heart... are featured in new versions/mixes.
(Sweden : Warner Music Sweden, WMS-5053105-356423 and WEA 5053105527526 in Europe)

LP
Heal will also be released on vinyl LP in several European countries. Remember the black 12"inch plate from the olden days? For the die hard fans of the ultimate sound experience. (WEA 5053105458110) Swedes seem have to get it on import, as the vinyl will only be released in a few countries. Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Estonia, Denmark and Poland are mentioned. (more later)

ユーフォリア - ロリーン
Heal is also  released in Japan and the limited edition CD includes three bonus tracks. (Warner Music Japan WPCR14683)
13ユーフォリア (シングル・ヴァージョン)
14ユーフォリア (アコースティック・ギター・ヴァージョン)
15ユーフォリア (アコースティック・ストリングス・ヴァージョン)
The bonus tracks are Single Version, Acoustic Guitar Version and Acoustic Strings version of Euphoria.
None of the acoustic versions have been released anywhere else so far.*
The Japanese edition is available through CDJapan. Listen to snippets at HMV Japan.
* On November 30 the Acoustic Guitar Version was released as the second track on the German cdsingle for My Heart Is Refusing Me. (Warner)
Check out Loreen at Bearecords for this cdsingle and other Euphoria releases.

Heal is also released in Taiwan, it has the same 12 tracks as the European edition but comes with an OBI strip with info and titles in Chinese characters.

iTunes phenomenon
Just days after Loreens victory Euphoria has taken over all European iTunes charts. Hitting #1 in over 20 countries, going top 10 in just about the rest. The Eurovision winner also charts in Australia (who bradcast the contest), New Zealand (who can probably get the Australian Broadcast), Canada and Mexico.
Let's hope, if radio picks up a Eurovision for once, Loreen can continue conquering the world
Euphoria has not been released in the US yet. (get to it then!)

cdsingle
The cdsingle is out on Metronome / Warner music Sweden on April 4. It includes:
1 Euphoria - Original version 
2 Euphoria - Carli Remix
3 Euphoria - Alex Moreno Remix
4 Euphoria - Carli Dub
5 Euphoria - Alex Moreno Remix Radio edit
6 Euphoria - Carli Remix Radio edit
7 Euphoria - Instrumental version
(Warner Music Sweden 5053105 254422)
This cds at BeaRecords

2-track
The international cdsingle out since 15 - 6 (Warner 5358625). It's a two track with the single version and karaoke. It's the only cd-release for the karaoke version.
A 1 track promo cds is issued by Warner finland (825646611072 ).

More remixes
Two remixes by Lucas Nord have been released through most digital sources (Thanks to STHLM MIX, see comments).
Lucas Nords website.

UK promo
A U.K. promo cdsingle has 5 versions of Euphoria.
1  Euphoria  - Original 
2  Euphoria  - WAWA Radio Edit
3  Euphoria  - 7th Heaven Radio Edit
4  Euphoria  - Carli Remix Version
5  Euphoria  - Instrumental 

The WAWA mix is also recorded as extended mix, this one is release on the DJ CD Dance Mixes 66 - Strictly DJ Only issued by DMC (DM66). (available at Juno)
The radio version can be found on DMC DJ CD 161 (July 2012)

Robin Rocks and Rubio Remix
Three Robin Rocks and Rubio remixes are released in October (see versions list below for more details)

Vekonyz remix
November 30 sees the release of yet another remix of Euphoria. The Vekonyz remix is the 2nd track on Vekonyz release Never Mind, digital release out November 30 (Alien Underground)
Vekonyz is Zoltan Vekony from Budapest, Hungary.

Symfosium Project version
A bit of an odd release is Euphoria by the Symfosium Project. It's a sax like instrumental using the original backing track and even though it claims to be featuring Loreen, here voice is not to be heard.
Symfosium are Anton Morozov and Alex Shumikhin operating from Finland.
Digital release through Juno on August 29 and through other sources, listen at Symfosiums soundcloud

Leonard Ladevig
Yet another remix that was released digitally.
The remix by Leonard Ladevig feat. Loreen is available through the usual digital sources (iTunes, Amazon, etc)

Euphoria 2013
Melodifestivalen saw a special performance of Euphoria by Loreen with Adolf Fredriks Musikklasser and Manillaskolan (School for sign language)
The version used was released on Spotify and iTunes.

Update: A similar performance with the same backing track opened the first semi final of the 2013 Malmö Eurovision.


In June 2023 a digital EP was issued with eight (known) versions of Euphoria.
Euphoria - 2013 version
Euphoria - String version
Euphoria - Guitar version
Euphoria - Single version
Euphoria - Tiger & Wolf remix
Euphoria - Alex Moreno remix
Euphoria - Carli remix
Euphoria - WAWA remix
The Tiger & Wolf remix appeared on a bootleg in 2012 but is now "official"


Euphoria versions:
Euphoria - Single version / Original ♫
Euphoria - Instrumental
Euphoria - Carli Remix
Euphoria - Carli Remix Radio edit
Euphoria - Carli Dub
Euphoria - Alex Moreno remix
Euphoria - Alex Moreno remix radio edit
- all on maxi cds
Euphoria - Karaoke version
- on 2 track cdsingle, digital
Euphoria - Lucas Nord radio remix
Euphoria - Lucas Nord extended remix
- both Lucas Nord mixes at iTunes
Euphoria - 7th Heaven radio edit
- on U.K. promo
Euphoria - 7th Heaven club mix
- on  DJ CD Dance July 2012 (Pool)
Euphoria - WAWA radio edit
- on U.K. promo, also on DMC DJ CD 161 (July 2012)
Euphoria - WAWA extended mix
- on the DJ CD Dance Mixes 66 (DMC)
Euphoria - Symfosium Project ft. Loreen
- Instrumental version, digital release
Euphoria - Robin Rocks and Rubio Remix
Euphoria - Robin Rocks and Rubio Remix - Radio Edit
Euphoria - Robin Rocks and Rubio Remix - Instrumental Mix
- Robin Rocks and Rubio mixes: October digital release through Beatport 
Euphoria - Album version / Video version
- The official video version has a longer violin intro and is on the album Heal.
Euphoria - Acoustic Guitar version
- Acoustic Guitar version is also on cdsingle release with My Heart Is Refusing Me as track 1, out november 13 (Warner Music International, German release)
Euphoria - Acoustic Strings version
- Both acoustic versions on Japan issue of Heal.
Euphoria - Vekonyz remix
- 2nd track on Vekonyz release Never Mind, digital release out November 30 (Alien Underground)
Euphoria - Remix by Leonard Ladevig feat, Loreen
- digital release, 
Euphoria 2013 - Adolf Fredriks Musikklasser och Loreen
Euphoria 2013 - Instrumental
- both above 2013 versions are released on Spotify, iTunes
Euphoria (Rhythm of my mind remix) - Mflex ft. Loreen
- on MFlex album Electric Time
Euphoria (Sped Up) by Loreen and "sped up world"
- digital 2023 (Warner Music Sweden Febryary 24)
Euphoria - Tiger & Wolf remix
- Bootleg in 2012, official digital in 2023

Many other remixes have been surfacing on the net and even on e-bay, but as far as I know only the above are officially released.

Charts:
Loreen is already at #1 of the Swedish charts the day before the MF final. She entered the charts at #12 the week before that. In week 11 she also enters the Finnish charts at #1 and in week 12 the Norwegian top 20 at #12.
The estimated worldwide sales of Euphoria exceed 2.000.000, making it the biggest seller of the modern Eurovision era.
Sweden top 60: [1-46] 12, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 5, 6, 6, 8, 2, 2, 4, 5, 5, 7, 8, 7, 9, 11, 12, 12, 15, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31, 37, 34, 38, 36, 25, 36, 39, 50, 57, - re-entry 2013: 52, - re: 59, - re: 60, -  re-entry 2023 re: 98, 41, -, re: 55
- Euphoria sales already reached 5x Platinum status in Sweden before the contest, by the end of August the counter sits at 9 x platinum, also making it the best selling single of 2012.
2013/2014 re-entries are in red. 2023 in pink

Germany top 100 [1-38]: 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 5, 2, 2, 5, 6, 4, 6, 8, 11, 11, 16, 16, 14, 24, 34, 30, 36, 28, 37, 36, 43, 47, 68, 58, 48, 38, 50, 64, 73, 93, -, re: 90, 77, 96, -
Switzerland top 75: [1-37] 1, 5, 6, 8, 10, 10, 6, 7, 7, 7, 2, 5, 9, 13, 10, 16, 13, 11, 17, 29, 22, 27, 13, 18, 17, 26, 23, 33, 35, (no charts), 34, 22, 33, 38, 48, 70, - re: 69, -, re 2013 56, -, re- 2014: 65, -, re 2023: 82
Spain top 50: [2-37] 12, 3, 5, 4, 6, 8, 7, 6, 2, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 3, 4, 7, 10, 9, 10, 15, 16, 22, 18, 17, 30, 16, 18, 17, 24, 19, 14, 29, 30, 42, -, re: 44, -
Austria top 75: [1-35]1, 1, 1, 3, 2, 4, 7, 4, 7, 8, 9, 14, 17, 24, 22, 27, 26, 22, 32, 48, 38, 54, 40, 36, 36, 38, 37, 44, 56, (no charts), 46, 35, 34, 70, 69, -, re: 66, -
Netherlands top 100: [2-35] 2, 6, 8, 6, 6, 6, 4, 4, 5, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 10, 12, 27, 23, 22, 10, 16, 12, 24, 43, 45, 60, 32, 30, 30, 41, 52, 78, -
Denmark top 40: [1-21] 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 17, 18, 21, 25, 34, 40, -, re: 38, 37, - , re:29, -
Finland top 20: [1-27]1, 3, 2, 7, 7, 6, 2, 2, 4, 4, 2, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 5, 4, 6, 6, 8, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, -  top 50 in 2023: 48
Norway top 20: [1-27]12, 14, 11, 9, 9, 7, 7, 4, 4, 4, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 2, 2, 6, 8, 12, 15, 20, - 
- Euphoria enters the U.K. charts at #85 the day after the contest. It stays 4 weeks on the top 40.
U.K. top 40 / 100: [3-4 / 3-16] 85, 3, 13, 20, 30, 41, 42, 60, 81, 64, 75, 59, 77, 79, 92, - re: 2013: 75, -
Belgium (Flanders) top 50: [1-18] 3, 1, 3, 2, 2, 3, 6, 6, 7, 7, 11, 18, 20, 20, 29, 47, 50, -re-entry in januari 2013: 36, -
Belgium (Wallonia) top 50: [14-10] 24, 14, 28, 31, 39, 36, 43, 48, - re: 38, 42, - 
Ireland top 100: [1-29] 1, 1, 4, 4, 5, 9, 12, 16, 18, 26, 27, 31, 31, 39, 41, 47, 60, 75, 85, 87, 100, - re in march 2013:  62, 94, re in Eurovision week 2013: 80, 29, 90, - re in Eurovision week 2014: 82, 84,-  re in 2023: 84
France top 100: [=26-3] 34, 26, 76, (116, 178, -, re:178, 196 in top 200, - re:200, 181, - re:160, 159, 163, 175, -)
Australia top 50: [36-4] 36, 70, 73, 98, - 
Japan hot 100: 98, - (in December 2012)
Euphoria also charts in various radio charts in Russia, Poland, Estonia and Lithuania already weeks before the contest. After the contest Loreen can also be found in various charts in Greece, Cyprus, Macedonia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Rep., Belarus, Latvia, Romania, Israel, Luxembourg and Brasil.


My Heart Is Refusing Me
Euphoria is Loreens second Melodifestivalen entry. In 2011 she entered My Heart Is Refusing Me.
She made it to the second chance round (Andra chansen) but didn't proceed to the final. But the song scored a #9 hit in the charts with 28 weeks on the list (9 weeks in 2012 after a Februari re-entry).
Follow up single Sober was released September 2011 but reached the Swedish charts in March 2012, a week before the MF final.
In 2004 she ended 4th in the first series of Swedish Idol. Her track with Freestyle Vill Ha Dej appeared on the 2004 Idol compilation.
In 2005 she cut a single with Rob'n'Raz, The Snake, but failed to chart.
Loreen also dubbed the voices for the Swedish versions of movies Shrek 3 as Törnrosa (Sleeping Beauty) and The Smurfs as Smurfan (Smurfette).
Update: My Heart Is Refusing Me is released as the follow up single to Euphoria in Europe. A new mix is recorded for the 2012 release.

Baku Collection Frontpage

The writers:
Thomas G:son (Thomas Gustafsson) is a prolific Eurovision songwriter. He (co-) wrote many songs for prelections in Sweden, Norway and Spain and also some for Romania, Finland, Denmark, Latvia, Poland and Belgium.
Seven of G:son's songs made it to Eurovision and with Euphoria the victory is his:
Sweden 2001 - Listen To Your Heartbeat - Friends
- written with Henrik Sethsson, 5th place
Sweden 2006 - Invincible - Carola
- written with Carola Häggkvist, Henrik Wickström and Bobby Ljunggren, 5th place
Spain 2007 - I Love You Mi Vida - D'Nash
- written with Andreas Rickstrand, Tony Sanchez-Ohlsson and Rebeca, 20th place.
Norway 2007 - Ven A Bailar Conmigo - Guri Schanke
- 18th in semi
Denmark 2010 - In A Moment Like This - Chanée and N'Evergreen
- written with Henrik Sethsson and Erik Bernholm, 4th place.
Sweden 2012 - Euphoria - Loreen
- written with Peter Boström, winner of Eurovision 2012
Spain 2012 - Quédate Conmigo - Pastora Soler
- Wiritten with Tony Sánchez-Ohlsson and Erik Bernholm, 10th place

Peter Boström (a.k.a. DJ/producer Bassflow) also has two songs in this years contest. With brother Figge and Tooji he wrote the Norwegian entry Stay.
It's quite a feat having two songs in the competition, but having one ending 1st and one ending last is remarkable.
Boström (co) wrote several Melodifestivalen entries including Headlines for Alcazar,  Manboy for Eric Saade and both Danny Saucedo runners up. He also wrote and or produced songs for Carola, Fabrizio Faniello, Gravitonas, Maarja Liis - Ilus, Martin Stenmarck, Emilia, Lutricia MacNeal and many others.


Euphoria Coverversions.
I'm not trying to cover all the coverversions that are popping up on the net, but below you can find some details of the ones that are officially released plus a few others that are of interest.

2014 Axel Hirsoux
Axel Hirsoux, Belgiums Eurovision 2014 hopeful, recorded a version of Euphoria that has appeared on various digital compilations. The earliest is various artists collection Euphoria (Bif Artista records) released in July 2012. 
Also available as seperate track.




De Toppers
Update: The Dutch trio, infamous for their Shine*,  have released a 2CD album of their yearly concert extravaganza and it includes a live version of Euphoria for everyone to sing along. (Toppers In Concert 2013 NRGY music M75102). Also on DVD.
* In the 2013 show Gordon is out and Gerard Joling is in.

2013 Euphobia
Eyevory (formerly known as Pink Mercury) is a progressive rock band from Bremen, Germany. They started in 2009, but 2013 finally sees the release of their debut album Euphobia, recorded with symphonic orchestra. The album features ten songs by their own hand and a coverversion of Loreen's Eurovision winner. Release date is April 26, out on Artists Station records.
Eyevory website, snippets at Amazon

2013: Here's a studio version video of Euphoria by Anti Fitness Club from Hungary, another rock interpretation of the Eurovision hit.
The band had a song in the 2012 Hungarian preslection, their Lesz, Ami Lesz stranded in the local semis.


Update 2013: The Voice Of Holland.
The popular The Voice talentshow has seen some Euphoria's being performed in sevral country's editions.
In the Dutch edition Patt Riley (coached by Trijntje Oosterhuis) was eliminated after performing Euphoria in the live show. Her version was released (in full studio version) on the 2CD The Voice Of Holland 2012 - The Songs (8Ball 8717774664865).
Loreen herself performed Euphoria with the finalists Floortje Smit and Leona Philippo in the final show, but this version wasn't released.



Gavin Mikhail recorded an acoustic version of Euphoria, which can be found on his digital release with five acoustic versions of current hits (+ five instrumental versions).
Mikhail's coverversions are a bit of an internet phenomenon and his version of Euphoria is defenitely worth checking out. I think MF 2013 may have their intervalact sorted with Gavin Mikhail.
Listen to Euphoria here or buy here at itunes or amazon

Another acoustic version is released by Icelandic singers Sverrir Bergmann and Halldór Gunnar on their covers album Föstudagslögin. The album is out on Sena digital and available at Tonlist.
Another acoustic take on Euphoria is recorded by Christer Wulff (live at P3). It's available at most digital sources.

Lisa Lois, Dutch X-factor winner (season 2009) has recorded a live acoustic version of Euphoria which is released through digital shops like iTunes and Amazon for Germany.. Her version enters the Dutch charts in November (# 87 in week 47).

Dansband
A different style coverversion is released by Bengt Hennings and it's a Dansband Schlager version.
Euphoria, in English, is included on their new CD Scenen Är Vår which is an album with songs in Swedish and English. So Gavin above has some competition for the MF interval slot now.
The album will be released on May 23.
Excerpts are here at the BH website. 


Tyler Ward and Alex G.
American singer/songwriter Tyler Ward has recorded Euphoria with Alex G. for his digital release The Hollywood Session EP. Video and more details here at Eurocovers

Tanya V
The first different language version of Euphoria I have come accross is the Afrikaans version by Tanya V.. I don't have any release info yet, but you can watch the new official video here at Angel Music Productions. 



Belgian Horror and Austrian Spook
A Flemish version of Euphoria is released by Popkidz. The version is titled Halloween and ties in neatly with the annual witches fest.
The track is available on iTunes Belgium. You can watch the video on their website.
Special thanks to Tom K.

On a similar spooky theme: Im Geisterschloss is a version recorded by Ewa Maria Zorn. She's one of the contestants of the hugely popular Austran Kiddy Contest 2012. The track is available on the album Kiddy Contest 2012 (Sony music). The album with kids doing all kinds of popular coverversions enters the Austrian charts at #1.

2013: More kiddies. German Michelle Steuer is asking for more pocket money in Mehr Taschengeld, a german version of Euphoria. Released on CD Mission Keksplanet: Die Rote! (Keksplanet).
It also includes a karaoke version. Check out the Keksplanet facebook.

The Voice kids (Germany) also resulted in a Euphoria cover. Aulona does it on the CD The Best Of The Voice Kids (Polydor)


Mia - Eufooria
Estonian singer Mia recorded a version in her own language. It uses the original backingtrack so it's not an official release. But it's fun and can listen to it here and there you'll also find a download link (for a wave file).
You may know Mia from her 2012 Eurolaul entry Bon Voyage.

Euphoria, it's a Classic
Nica and Joe (Veronika Belyavskaya and Joseph Guyton), contestants of the X factor 2011 (Germany), release their second album Magic Moments on November 16. It includes a 'classical' version of Euphoria. The album was recorded with the Radio Symphonic Orchestra of Macedonia and includes classical (operatic-esque) cover version of some well know hits. The album is out on Columbia in Germany)
2013: Euphoria is also released as the second track to the cds Elevated. Elevated is the duo's song for the German national final (Unser star für Malmö) (Columbia/Sony)

Smurphoria!
The German Smurfs (Schlümpfe) also discovered Euphoria. Their version is titled Ein Schlümpfentag (A Smurf day) and it can be found on their new CD Die Hits Der Schlümpfe Vol. 2 out now in Germany. (Universal 0602537225903)

As we all know The Smurfs are cunning multilinguists. They also released a new album in Dutch (as De Smurfen) and that also includes Euphoria. This time it's titled Mooi Smurfenland (Beautiful Smurf country). The album Winterpret Met De Smurfen (Winterfun with the Smurfs) is released on November 30 and also includes covers of Gangnam Style, Call Me Maybe, Little Talks and other 2012 hits. (EMI 5099997954828)

Trance Slamdown
Two remixes by O Cean are released digitally on August 31. The Slamdown! mix and Slamdown! edit will be available at Juno
The have also released the Bbop and Roksteadi extended remix on collection Friday Night Covered vol 4 (Lucky 8 records)
Update: Now there are 7 mixes by (now) Ocean . (more info at Amazon)

Helene Fischer
German singer Helene Fischer added Euphoria to her live shows and has now released a 2CD and DVD of her  2012 concert tour including the Loreen song.
Für Einen Tag - Live 2012 (seperate 2CD and DVD releases) out now on EMI / Electrola

Swiss Mary Keey released Euphoria on her digital EP 100 lights
(itunes)

Avoid
Many dodgy xerox versions have also surfaced at the home of dodgy covers Amazon. Euphoria (We're going Up Up Up Up) by Eurovisions and Euphoria 2012 (Eurovision No. 1 Compostion) seem to be the same version. The ones by Mila Project and by Annabel Andersson (who on another occasion calls herself Laureen!) are just plain awful. There a lot more of them bur regular readers already know that my advice is to ignore cheap copies like this.





Melodifestivalen 2012
In good tradition the CD with all 32 competing songs from the swedish national selection is released. The MF CD enters the compilation charts at #1. And as usual it's a bestselling album clocking up 4 x platinum in under three months.
(M & L Records UNI MLCD0021)
Update: the MF 2CD became the best selling album of 2012 in Sweden

Most songs have also been released as digital singles and several have already charted in the Swedish top 60.
Loreen's Euphoria is #1 in its second week on the charts and finalists Danny Saucedo and Sean Banan are also in the top 10.
9 out of the 10 finalist are in the top 60 the day before the final.


The DVD with all 32 MF performances is out now.
It's great to see this release return after two years of absence.
(M & L Records UNI MLDVD010)
This time they didn't include the full shows on the DVD. There's all 32 performances, some extra clips from the the semi results announcements, Helena Paparizou's interval version of Popular.
It also includes the priceless Lynda Woodruff clip (Sarah Dawn Finer in her role as clueless EBU representative showing us around Baku, later she also announced the Swedish votes).

It's just one disc instead of the two it was with former MFs.
The Melodifestivalen DVD always was among the top three best selling music DVD's of the year but in 2010 and 2011 there was no DVD release.

Check the Swedish page at the 2013 Malmö Collection websites for statistics (2002-2013) and history of Melodifestivalen.
The Swedish MF 2012 finalists:
David Lindgren - Shout it out
Thorsten Flinck och Revolutionsorkestern - Jag reser mig igen
Dead by April - Mystery
Lisa Miskovsky - Why start a fire
Top Cats - Baby Doll 
Loreen - Euphoria
Ulrik Munther - Soldiers
Björn Ranelid ft. Sara Li - Mirakel
Molly Sandén - Why I am crying
Danny Saucedo - Amazing


The Webjoker
It seemed like a lot of trouble to go through to find just one MF entry, but SVT (Swedish television) expanded the December (2011) Webjoker competition to a full blown Melodifestivalen format. The webjoker is one song added to the 32 song Melodifestivalen selection and it's the only song that is known well in advance.

32 songs in all have competed for just the one spot in a Melodifestivalen heat. The songs have been available for listening but have now been removed by SVT.
The winning song I Mina Drömmar by Maria BenHaji failed to make it to the final of MF.
Celebrate with Swedish party essentials

links and sources
SVT Melodifestivalen pages
Loreen website
Melodifestivalen 2012 at BeaRecords

Read all about Swedens other recent entries
2011 - Eric Saade
2010 - Anna Bergendahl
2009 - Malena Ernman


Baku Collection Frontpage

2. Russia - Party For Everybody - Buranovskie Babushki

2 - 259 pts / 1 - 152 in semi 1
Buranovskie Babushki (Бурановские бабушки, The Grandmothers from Buranovo) have won the Russian national final with the song Party For Everybody.
The song is written by Viktor Drobysh (Виктор Дробыш) with lyrics by the grannies themselves. It's in the Udmurt language with parts in English.

A new version is mixed for Eurovision, listen here at Rightsmusic youtube

Remix For Everybody - competition
Russian DFM radio have launched a Party For Everybody remix competition. You can enter by downloading the remix pack here at the DFM website. The kit has wave files of the seperate recording tracks, which is interesting even if you're not making your own remix.
All info is under the link Условия акции in Russian (use google translate) but I haven't studied it yet.
Update: The winner of the remix competition is DJ SLON

The Grannies are already making some money for their chrurch. Look at this commercial for Sprite.

2018 album Granddaughter
2018 version
A new version of Part can be found on the 2018 album  Внучка (Granddaughter), a digital release from 2018.


Sochi For Everybody Games
To support the 2014 Olympic winter games in Sochi Russia, the grannies have recorded a special version of their Eurovision entry titled Sochi For Everybody Games. You can listen here at their website.   Youtube

The Babuska's who hail from Buranovo, Udmurtia, Russia, made their Eurovision debut in 2010 when they finished third in the Russian final with Dlinnaja-dlinnaja Beresta I Kaka Sdelat Iz Neje Ajsjon (Длинная-длинная береста и как сделать из нее айшон)

A 10-track release is now available at Amazon digital
It features 10 version of the song:
1. Party For Everybody - Original Radio Edit
2. Party For Everybody - Official Eurovision 2012 DJ SLON Party Remix
3. Party For Everybody - DJ Karas Remix
4. Party For Everybody - Music People Deejays Remix
5. Party For Everybody - T.V.M. Remix - Radio Cut
6. Party For Everybody - Ed Mortel feat. Michel Nekoz
7. Party For Everybody - KJ AlGer Remix DFM
8. Party For Everybody - DJ Smash Remix
9. Party For Everybody - DJ Sanya JC Remix
10. Party For Everybody - Doberman Radio Edit
The same 10 tracks are on a promo cdsingle.
A 1-track promo is also issued

12"inch picture disc
A 12"inch vinyl picture disc was released by Mirumir records (Мирумир)
It features the same 10 mixes as on the digital release and promo cd.
It may have been released in 2012, but I think it may be later.
(Mirumir MIR100364)



Versions:
Party For Everybody - Eurovision version 
- on Baku 2012 CD
Party For Everybody - Original version
- has been on the net
Party For Everybody - Karaoke version
Plus the remixes above
There also was an early remix but I don't know if it is any of the mixes on the 10-track promo.
Party For Everybody (new recording 2018)
- album Внучка (Granddaughter)  (digital 2018)


Charts:
Belgium (Flanders) top 50: 37, 50, -
Sweden top 60: 45, 43, -
Ireland top 100: 61, -
Austria top 75: 38, -
Germany top 100: 44, -

Baku Collection Frontpage

Russia selected their entry through a preselection organised by RTR, Russia's second national channel, on March 7.
The list of artists is here.
A few Eurovision names were: Polina Smolova (Паліна Смолава) who represented Belarus with Mum in 2006 and there 2008 winner Dima Bilan (Дима Билан) in duet with half t.A.T.u. Julya Volkova (Юля Волкова) but they were no match for the grannie power.

links and sources
Buranovskiye Babushki website
Thanks to Lior and to Michel-Pierre

Russia's recent entries
2011 - Alex Sparrow / Alexey Vorobyov
2010 - Peter Nalitch
2009 - Anastasia Prikhodko

3. Serbia - Nije Ljubav Stvar - Željko Joksimović

3 - 214 pts / 2 - 159 pts in semi 2
RTS, Serbian Television have selected Željko Joksimović (Жељко Јоксимовић) to represent the country at the next Eurovision Song Contest.
The song was presented on March 10 in a show titled Европска песма (Eurovision song)at RTS 1.

The song is titled Nije Ljubav Stvar (Није љубав ствар, It's not a matter of love), the English version of the song is titled Synonym.
A Russian version of is also recorded. Любовь не вещь can also be downloaded through Željko's website.

The first promo cds (top pic) features the original Serbian, English and Russian versions of the song.
All are credited to Željko Joksimović & Ad Hoc Orchestra, the same ensemble that featured on his 2004 entry. (RTS UCD EV12 Sokoj)

Update: The second promo, used in Baku has 7 tracks: Original*, English, Russian, Spanish, Symphonic, Ins. Summer mix 15 in 1 and Karaoke.




Baku Collection Frontpage

More versions and App
Update: Another fun instrumental version can be downloaded at Željko's website.
It's the Trubači / Brass band version recorded with the Dejan Petrović Big band.

An instrumental version with the RTS Symphonic Orchestra is recorded.
You can listen and download here at RTS
Another fun instrumental version titled the Summer Mix 15 in 1 can be watched and downloaded here at RTS

You can also download a free App for Iphone and Android so you can find out the latest news on Zeljko, listen to the versions of the Eurovision entry. More details here at RTS

Zeljko keeps on delivering. You can now also check out and download the Spanish version of Nije Ljubav Stvar, it is called Su Amor Me Vencio and is a duet with Samuel Cuenda. Cuenda was a contestant in the 2009 edition of Spanish talent show Operacion Triunfo. Get the song here.


Versions:
Nije Ljubav Stvar / Није љубав ствар - Original Serbian version ♫
Synonym - English version
Lyubovʹ ne veshchʹ / Любовь не вещь - Russian version
Su Amor Me Vencio - Spanish version, duet with Samuel Cuenda.
- All four are at Zeljko's website
* Nije Ljubav Stvar / Није љубав ствар - second Serbian version
- on the 7 track promo, slightly different b-vox on the outtro
Nije Ljubav Stvar - Symphonic version instrumental
- with the RTS Symphonic Orchestra, at RTS website
Nije Ljubav Stvar - Summer mix 15 in 1 (instrumental)
- Download at RTS and ZJ website
Nije Ljubav Stvar - Karaoke
- at the official site's karaoke downloads

Željko Joksimović performed a version in Azerbaijani at the Sabina Babayeva party in Baku.

Charts:
Netherlands: 88, -


links and sources:
Željko Joksimović website
RTS eurovision pages
Special thanks to Ana Marija Simonovic at RTS
Bearecords Eurovision shop: Željko JoksimovićJelena Tomašević and Hari Mata Hari.
Eurovision Collectors Guide: The 10.000 coverversions project.
Thanks to Nino.

Serbia's recent entries:
2011 - Nina
2010 - Milan Stanković
2009 - Marko Kon and Milaan

2004 Lane Moje
It's the second time for Željko Joksimović as a singer, in 2004 he represented Serbia-Montenegro with Lane Moje and ended 2nd behind Ruslana's Wild Dances.
He also composed two further entries. Lejla by Hari Mata Hari (ended 3rd for Bosnia-Hercegovina) and the 2008 Serbian home entry Oro for Jelena Tomašević (6th place).
Joksimović also co-hosted the 2008 contest in Belgrade.


Recorded versions of Željko Joksimovič 2004 entry Lane Moje.
Lane Moje - Eurovision version
- on Warner cdsingle 674961-2-5 and promo CD/DVD set
Lane Moje original version with less b-vox
- on official Eurovision 2004 Istanbul CD and RTS CD/MC Evropesma 2004
Goobye - English version
- on Warner cdsingle and promo CD/DVD set
Lane Moje - Eastern Mix by Alek
- on Warner cdsingle
Lane Moje - Transfusion mix by Dream Team
- on Warner cdsingle
Lane Moje - Live 2007
- on CD Live / Uživo iz Beogradske Arene (City Records)

Details from The Eurovision Collectors Guide and The Istanbul Collection (document)

Update: Lane Moje has been covered in Serbian, English, Croatian, Greek, Bulgarian, Hebrew, Turkish and Romanian. Here is a list of officially released coverversions that I know of. If you know any more, please let me know.
Maja (from Japan)- Serbian version
- digital release also avaliable on CD to order
Eroika (male vocal trio from Slovenia) - Goodbye (English)
- on CD Eroika (Nika records, 2007)
Vatrogasci - Croatian version
- on CD Poruke U Boci (2005)
Petros Imvrios - Kathe Avrio (Καθε Αυριο)
- on advance promo cds and album Kathe Avrio
Azis - Mila Moja Angel Moj - Bulgarian version       
- on CD Azis (Sunny Music, 2005) Azis was the wailing male backing vocalist at Bulgaria's 2006 entry
Nava Medina - Mal Ach Shomer - Hebrew version          
- on Various Artists Balkan Bazaar
Cansu Koç - Gözlerin -Turkish version         
- on CD Yaznılıl Mevsimi 9 Renk
Adrian Copilul Minune - Stau Si Plang In Fata Ta -Romanian version      
- on CD Provocarea Campionilor
Nelutu de la Brasow - Stau Si Plang In Fata Ta - Romanian  version     
- on CD Nelutu
David Michaeli - Damanaxe Sheni Saxe (დამანახე შენი სახე) - Georgian version           
- on CD Damanaxe Sheni Saxe
Trubaci Guca - Instrumental version
- on CD, details wanted      

4. Azerbaijan - When The Music Dies - Sabina Babayeva


4 - 150 pts / not in semi

Eurovision 2012 host country Azerbaijan selected Sabina Babayeva (Səbinə Babayeva)
The multi week artist selection Milli Seçim Turu 2012 only selected the artist, the song When The Music Dies was presented on March 17.
Watch the official video here at Ictimai.

Sabina now has her own website at Eurovision talents, check it out here.
The song is written by Anders Bagge, Sandra Bjurman, Stefan Örn and Johan Kronlund.
Örn and Bjurman also wrote last years winner Running Scared with Iain Farquharsondur. Bagge, Bjurman and örn wrote Drip Drop for Safura, Azerbaijans 2010 entry that ended 5th.
Additional vocals on the song are by Alim Gasimov (Alim Qasimov) one of the most popular Mugam singers of Azerbaijan, who will also be appearing in the semi-finals intervals. 

You can listen to When The Music Dies here at the Sabine's Youtube.

More versions are uploaded to Sabina's Youtube. Here you can find the Azerbaijani version titled Gəl (Come) and here is an acoustic version.

Two remixes of When The Music Dies have been recorded. You can listen to (and download) the Synthy Pop version and the Disco remix here at Eurovision talents.

Another new version has been recorded. This time it's an ethnictake on the Azerbaijani version Gəl. It's produced by Yakhar Bakhish with Alim Qasimov, Ogtay Sherifov and Sarkhan vakhabov. Watch and listen here at Sabina's Youtube
A remix competition resulted in another remix now available. DJ Meel's version can be downloaded here at Eurovision talents
Another new version is a lovely jazz version of When The Music Dies. You can now listen and download at Sabina's Soundcloud.

Update: More remixes
Two remixes by Promostella are now available through digital shops.

Promos
A cd-rom promo was issued for use in Baku, it includes seven version of the Eurovision song

1. When The Music Dies - original version
2. When The Music Dies - acoustic version
3. When The Music Dies - ethnic version*
4. When The Music Dies - disco remix
5. When The Music Dies - Azerbaijani version*
6. When The Music Dies - Jazz version
7. When The Music Dies - Synthpop Remix
The disc also includes video, biographies and photos.
* Actually the same track appears twice, it's the Ethnic Azerbaijani version. The regular Azerbaijani version is not included on any release yet and has only been on the tube.
Thanks to Lior!

An earlier promo dsingle includes just one track, the original version of When The Music Dies.


Versions:
When The Music Dies - Original Eurovision version ♫
When The Music Dies - Acoustic version
Gəl - Azerbaijani version
Gəl - Ethnic version in Azerbaijani.
When The Music Dies - Disco remix
When The Music Dies - Synthy Pop version
- remixes at Eurovision Talents
When The Music Dies - Jazz version
- Sabina's soundcloud
When The Music Dies - Karaoke
When The Music Dies - DJ Meel remix
- winner of remix competition, download it here at Sabina's ET site.
When The Music Dies - Promostella Radio short remix
When The Music Dies - Promostella Radio club remix
- Promostella's are digital releases

Baku Collection Frontpage

Afrikaans Coverversion
Wanneer Die Musiek Verdwyn by Colé Van Dais is a coverversion of the home entry. It's sung in Afrikaans. You can listen to Colé's version through her Reverbnation and it's also for sale at RhythmMusic store (South Africa).
Colé Van Dais has recorded several Eurovision coverversions recently. (search the web....)

Milli Seçim Turu 2012
The other four singers in the final were:
Elton Ibrahimov (Elton İbrahimov)
Arzu Ismailova (Arzu İsmayılova)
Fagan Sagarov (Fəqan Səfərov)
Orhan Kerimli (Orxan Kərimli)

Sabina Babayeva already tried in the 2011 selection, but then she stranded in one of the national semi's.

It's more or less the same procedure as last year, but then ITV chose two of the finalists to from a duo. The song was selected and announced at a later date.

links and sources
Ictimai TV
Eurovision Azerbaijan
Sabina Babayeva pages at Eurovision talents
Thanks to Rick
Thanks to STHLM MIX for the tip.

Azerbaijans recent entries
Read all about Azerbaijans four entries so far here at the Baku Collection or find out more about Ell and Nikki at the Düsseldorf Collection, Safura at the Oslo Collection and Aysel and Arash at the Moscow Collection.