Sir Terry Wogan is somewhat British Royalty in the world of the Eurovision Song Contest and therefore, it comes as no surprise that Bonnie Tyler was invited to participate in his programme earlier this morning. Joined by four backing vocalists; two male and two female along with a male guitarist, she performed an acoustic version of Believe In Me, the song that she will be performing on behalf of the United Kingdom at the upcoming edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. Since leaving his commentary duties to Graham Norton, Sir Terry Wogan has continued to be a radio broadcaster, hosting the show Weekend Wogan on BBC Radio 2.

Bonnie has been doing a lot of press as of late, especially in the United Kingdom earning positive reviews of the track all over the nation in hope that she could earn more than twelve (12) points as achieved by Engelbert Humperdinck with his song Love Will Set You Free. Whilst the track itself has not really set the digital charts on fire in the United Kingdom, it has maintained it's entry and currently stands at around #387 on iTunes. The album from which it was taken entitled Rocks and Honey has had moderate success in mainland Europe including Germany and Switzerland where it peaked at number #59. We would like you to stay tuned to escflashmalta.com for all of the latest news about Bonnie Tyler and the United Kingdom in this years' Eurovision Song Contest.  

Source: BBC on Twitter

escflashmalta.com is proud to have engaged such professional individuals to analyse and assess the entries competing in this years' Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Malmö, Sweden noting that they had not had a whiff of what is seemingly in contention this time round. The first semi-final along with the three finalist countries voting there have long been concluded as we edge towards the mid-way of the second semi-final. Attention turns to Iceland whose broadcaster, RUV has been drawn in slot number #8 with the producers thinking this position best. The song entitled Ég Á Líf performed by Eythor Ingi is co-written between Örlygur Smári & Pétur Örn Gudmundsson.

Music was clearly a major part of Eyþór Ingi’s childhood; he used to sing Elvis Presley songs while still in kindergarten and he also loved acting. In 2004, at the age of fifteen, he won a part in the Icelandic version of the musical Oliver!, which turned out to be one of the most successful theatrical works ever staged in Akureyri, the capital of northern Iceland. This was only the beginning of his theatrical career as he was offered a part in Óvitar in 2007 as well as taking the leading role in a college staging of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar.

Eyþór Ingi won the College Song Contest in the spring of 2007 and was selected to compete as a contestant in TV talent show ‘Bandið hans Bubba‘. After winning the show in early 2008 he soon began working as a professional singer, musician and sound technician. Eyþór Ingi founded the progressive rock group Eldberg and in 2010 joined the renowned Icelandic band Todmobile, contributing to their seventh album, which was also entitled ‘7’. In 2011 Eyþór Ingi was nominated as best singer in the Gríman Theatrical Awards for his role as Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The following year he played hippie leader Berger in the musical Hair.

He also featured in the cast of Les Misérables as law student Marius Pontmercy, when the musical was staged in Þjóðleikhúsið, the National Theatre of Iceland, in 2011-2012. Eyþór Ingi was inspired to start singing by the music of Jeff Buckley and is also a big fan of David Bowie, Thom Yorke, Ian Gillan and Freddie Mercury. He has been a member of a Deep Purple tribute band and performed in the Freddie Mercury Tribute Show in Harpa Concert Hall in 2011-2012. The Icelandic national selection is one which people are seemingly becoming accustomed to every year and considering the recent tracks that have been submitted, it comes to no surprise. There were two former representatives competing this year, with only Birgitta from 2003 making it to the final.

Like Malta, Iceland will be taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest for the twenty-sixth time and their fortunes have also been quite similar with two first runner-up finishes, the first one coming in 1999 with Selma and her entry All Out of Luck and the second time round in 2009 with Yohanna and her song Is It True? Since the introduction of the semi-final system, the nation has been successful in getting through to the final on five occasions from a possible eight, as they were direct qualifiers in 2004. After three years of disappointments, Iceland got through to the final in 2008 with This Is My Life performed by Euroband and have always been there ever since but got their worst result since doing last year as Never Forget by Great & Jonsi mustered only forty-six (46) points in the final to finish in twentieth place. 

Professional Critics Voice their Opinion

Rating: 77%

Martin Isherwood: Translates as 'I have a life' - I wish. Good voice Good strong tune. Oooh, interesting dry vocal at the end. Nice Irish type piano ballad and a little in the style of Hallelujah in places. This type of song sometimes goes all the way but it’s very predicatable.

Sharon Vaughn: Very moving and compelling melody and performance, understated and sincere!

Stano Simor: "My Life" (Ég á Líf) is a beautiful emotional song. Eyþór Ingi has a pleasant voice color that when combined with a weeping melody transposed dramatic end, creates a perfect hit ballad. I believe that the audience will appreciate this enough to vote it into the final.

Source: eurovision.tv

Gianluca, who will be representing Malta in the upcoming edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with the track Tomorrow co-written by Boris Cezek and Dean Muscat is doing a series of promotional rounds on local television prior to leaving for the international spectacle. Ħadd Għalik has become a weekly Sunday appointment for several because it is a game-show with a difference involving particular themes and specific games. Angie Laus is the main host of the show, alongside Mario Coleiro and PJ Vassallo who aid and carry out features respectively. 

In this weeks' game-show, Gianluca joins his whole family including Malta Eurovision Song Contest Finalist, Dorothy Bezzina against the team that will be accompanying him abroad including Louise Ann Bugeja Tate, Christopher Tate, Kenny D'Ugo and Gabriel Cassar noting that Samaria Bezzina is still in the United Kingdom. In the meantime, special performances on the show are expected by resident singers including three time Eurovision Song Contest representative; Chiara who has just premiered her latest single Żarbun, as well as Malta Eurovision Song Contest finalists; Eleanor Cassar and Deborah C and Azeri representative, Farid Mammadov who will perform his entry Hold Me. Tune in to Television Malta between 12:10 and 15:30 CET and let yourself be entertained. Stay tuned to escflashmalta.com for all of the latest news.

Source: Where's Everybody

Like any other industry, music is known to have a lot of experienced figures who lurk in the shadows either as songwriters, producers or musicians and as a matter of fact, escflashmalta.com has been in touch with three in particular to help assess the entries competing in this years' Eurovision Song Contest. Hailing from the United Kingdom, United States and the Czech Republic, they bring a lot of knowledge to the table. In the second semi-final, seventeen (17) countries will be in contention and in slot number seven (7), the producers have decided to put none other than Bulgaria represented by the broadcaster known as BNT. The nation will be participating in the esteemed international competition for the ninth time and hoping to reach their second final. Elitsa Todorova and Stoyan Yankulov were selected internally by a selective committee appointed by the respective broadcaster with the song Samo Shampioni co-written by Elitsa Todorova and Christian Talev chosen through a public and jury vote.

Elitsa Todorova was born on 1977 in Varna. She studied music, specialising in authentic folklore singing and in percussions. She attracts the attention of both the audience and the critics with her specific voice - strong, deep-toned, clear and hardy, the tone-quality being one of a beautiful and rich ornamentation. She worked at the State Dance and Music Ensemble in Varna, in the choir The Mystery of the Bulgarian voices, and the Cosmic Voices of Bulgaria choir where she performed authentic Bulgarian folk songs, and compositions in Yiddish and Sanskrit. In 2003 Elitsa Todorova began working with Bulgaria's most popular and renowned drummer and percussionist Stoyan Yankulov. The unique Elitsa Todorova-Stoyan Yankulov Duo turned into a phenomenon in no time. Elitsa Todorova develops a percussions-playing style of her own, combining quick ostinate rhythms on the tarambuka with synhronised tarambuka with synchronised playing and singing. The result is a mosaic of unique vocal movements and impeccable musical improvisations.

She plays traditional percussion instruments in a most non-traditional way. The singer easily mixes traditional folklore with jazz, drum and base, ethno-motifs, classics and spontaneous improvisation. The result is fascinating. In her repertoire Elitsa Todorova plays instruments like the tarambuka, drums, maracas, clavess, old silver coins, shepperd's chimes, horses' bells, a magical thunder-wand, guirro, chimes, but of all musical instruments the best, in her opinion, is human voice. Through combining authentic Bulgarian folk songs with the energy of percussions Elitsa Todorova presents in a most touching way the core, the potency and the emotional power of Bulgarian culture. Stoyan Yankulov was born on September 10th in Sofia. At the age of eight he started taking piano lessons. At the same time he showed interest for percussion instruments. Since a young age he was the base of musical bands as a drummer, and he eventually graduated majoring in percussion instruments. Yankulov plays with rock and jazz bands, with folklore ensembles and with jazz-rock and fusion bands.

Stoyan Yankulov has already won many highly-ranked prizes. He records jazz, pop and ethnic music. This has significantly influenced his unique playing style. He manages to produce orchestral sound on percussion instruments. Sometimes the listener has the impression that there is more than one percussionist playing. "The acquisition of other techniques - from bass, piano or other instruments is useful in this process. For me to play means to communicate", Stoyan describes his very own style. Yankulov breaks and stretches the traditional way of playing drums, tupan, percussion by applying new techniques and non-standard musical ideas. Combining authentic folklore with new ways of expression with percussion instruments Stoyan Yankulov reveals the unlimited variety and emotional intensity of the unique Bulgarian culture. Elitsa & Stoyan have already performed together on the Eurovision Song Contest stage together in 2007, gaining the fifth place in the Final with Voda - the best placing for Bulgaria to date.

Bulgaria does not have too much of a history to look back to within the Eurovision Song Contest noting that this will be their ninth participation in total, having entered the international competition for the very first time back in 2005. Their debut entry entitled Lorraine finished in nineteenth place with just forty-nine (49) points but despite their results improving in later years, they have only managed to qualify just once, and that was in 2007 with the same duo that will be doing the honours this year. Water performed by Elitsa & Stoyan reached fifth place with one hundred, fifty seven (157) points. In recent years, BNT which is the public broadcaster in Bulgaria has been working hard to ensure success and this has been seen in terms of results with Na Inat (2011) and Love Unlimited (2012) finishing in twelfth and eleventh place respectively. The latter was actually joint tenth but after a close review of how the points were distributed, it was Norway's Stay performed by Tooji which got the spot in the final round. 

Professional Critics Voice their Opinion

Rating: 73%

Martin Isherwood: Melodically strong chorus Didn't get the lyrics! Good voice Interesting chromatic melody with strong eastern influences. This track is doing its own thing really with pipes and live drums against a dance track but I doubt it will have sufficient appeal to do very well. A bit crackers really!

Sharon Vaughn: Astounding. Can't wait to see this live.

Stano Simor: I must start off by saying that this track impressed me in the beginning but slowly started to fade after just one minute and this is due to the fact that there were too many genres infused together. The bridge, involving a timpani solo is just too cheap and sounds very cliché continuing to bore me. The duo look to enjoy their performance and this will surely work well on the cameras of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Source: eurovision.tv

Track Number #9 off the fifth studio album by Ira Losco is entitled Dead or Alive (Save my Soul) and it seems that the public have grown extremely fond of the track, so much that they have bought it several times to make it peak at number #1 on the iTunes singles chart. Jagged House, the company that represents Ira Losco have already released two official singles in the form of What I'd Give, winner of the Best Video Award at the Malta Music Awards, and The Person I Am which features vocals by David Leguesse and has amassed several views through viral website, YouTube. It is yet unknown whether Dead or Alive (Save my Soul) will be officially released as a single but nevertheless, the public have a right to select the tracks which they enjoy listening to the most.

To signify the importance of the first two digital singles, official music videos were created and as a matter of fact, both tracks made it to number #1 on iTunes as well as on leading radio station, 89.7 Bay. The album itself entitled The Fire was at the top position of the chart for five consecutive weeks and despite sales still shifting at the moment, it finds itself at number #2 behind the album 21 by British singer/songwriter Adele. 'I keep re-confirming that The Fire keeps burning! So many positive comments which obviously make me ecstatic!' are the words which echoed from the mouth of Ira Losco this morning as the editorial team of escflashmalta.com got in contact to announce her latest success. We urge you to continue purchasing the record through the iTunes Digital Store and to stay tuned to escflashmalta.com for another blog from Ira Losco in a couple of weeks time.

Source: iTunes, Emil Calleja Bayliss (Image)

Gianluca, a recently graduated medical doctor, will be representing Malta at the upcoming edition of the Eurovision Song Contest but prior to jetting off for the esteemed event in a couple of weeks time, he had teamed up with the National Blood Transfusion Service and the team of Xarabank for a day of events outside the National Blood Transfusion Centre in St.Luke’s Square, G’Mangia. The aim, generally speaking is for the public to give blood and aid increase the supply which has been running on a relatively low amount in recent weeks. The eveng is taking place today between 08:00 and 15:00 CET.

A number of special guests will be making their way to greet the present crowd noting that fan favourites, Gorġ & Pawlu known for their hit track Hot & Famous will be present as well as former Eurovision Song Contest representative; Kurt Calleja whose song This Is The Night took Malta back into the final for the very first time in two years. Gianluca, being a doctor as mentioned above will be assisting the nurses and doctors present yet nevertheless, will surely bring a smile to those present during the day especially with his charisma clearly always viable for those to see.

In a Press Release issued by the Public Broadcasting Services in collaboration with the National Blood Transfusion Service, it is stated that 'anyone interested in donating blood is advised to eat lightly and drink water before visiting the blood transfusion centre.  Alcohol and food that contains high fat content, such as junk food should be avoided before the blood donation as this may impact the results of the blood tests. Blood donors will be required to present their ID Card before the blood transfusion takes place.'

In the meantime, Tomorrow, co-written by Boris Cezek and Dean Muscat will be representing the country in the sixth slot of the second semi-final. According to bookmakers, our entry is one of the top eight within the semi-final and should therefore qualify. Gianluca has listed the Icelandic entry Ég á líf performed by Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson as his favourite entry. Stay tuned to escflashmalta.com for all of the latest news about the upcoming edition of the Eurovision Song Contest as soon as it becomes available. 

Source: Television Malta

Chiara, one of the most notable female vocalists in the Maltese Islands has been working on a number of original tracks in recent months following her signing to independent record label, Hands Up Music which is known for supporting the Icelandic acts at the Eurovision Song Contest. Following the release of her first single Forget Forgetting Me to positive reviews, many would have thought that the vocalist would be somewhat alternating between genres but as the release of her new single Żarbun came earlier than expected, the dance genre is still very much well represented. Joining her and providing guest vocals on the new track is none other than Haffi Haff, who also hails from Iceland and tried to represent his nation at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest with the track Ho Ho Ho, We Say Hey Hey Hey alongside his group, Merzedes Club as well as in 2008 as a soloist with the track The Wiggle Wiggle Song. 

Chiara represented Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest on three occasions, the first time being in 1998 with the track The One That I Love composed by Jason Cassar and penned by Sunny Aquilina, the second time being in 2005 with the self-penned song Angel and last but not least in 2009 with the entry What If We composed by Marc Paelinck to the lyrics of Gregory Bilsen. The renowned vocalist has been re-branding herself in recent months, ditching away her ballads for an r'n'b / dance type of sound. The european audience had the pleasure to see this new image during the Melodifestivalen where on behalf of the Maltese Jury, Chiara gave the votes. Her latest single, Żarbun which of course translates into Shoe is quite intriguing and escflashmalta.com urges you to have a listen whilst staying in touch for all of the latest news.

Source: Hands Up Music, JJ Chircop (Image)

Martin Isherwood from the United Kingdom, Sharon Vaughn from the United States and Stano Simor from the Czech Republic represent different music genres but nevertheless, their tastes hover and they have predominantly agreed with each other as they analyse and assess the entries competing in this years' Eurovision Song Contest. The ten (10) qualifiers as decided through their respective outcome will be revealed on the day of the actual semi-final to increase the suspense.  In the second semi-final, seventeen (17) countries will be in contention and in slot number six (6), the producers have decided to put none other than Malta represented by the Public Broadcasting Services. The tiny nation will be participating in the esteemed international competition for the twenty-sixth time. Gianluca, a first time participant in the Malta Eurovision Song Contest was the winner following a cumulative public and jury vote with his entry Tomorrow co-written by Boris Cezek and Dean Muscat. 

Although fully committed to what he describes as his vocational calling, music has always served as a good break for the singing doctor, who has very adeptly found a balance between his daily ward rounds and his passion for music. Gianluca is the front man of a local band, whose dynamic performances and recent single releases have propelled it to the forefront of the island’s music scene. While funk and indie elements characterise the band’s distinctive sound, Bezzina draws on a wider variety of influences as a solo artist. He is mostly inspired by Michael Bubé’s brassy standards, John Mayer’s modern blues, the nu-folk style of Mumford and Sons and Noah and the Whale, while also being deeply captivated by Chris Tomlin’s contemporary Christian music. Gianluca is a regular singer with his prayer group and has also spent time doing voluntary work among children in Turin, Cairo and Palermo, with the sisters of Mother Theresa. 

He started off his music career by playing the piano accordion, eventually shifting his focus to singing in various charity concerts around Malta, including the popular biannual Voices concerts and Rockestra, a yearly event organised by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and held under the Patronage of the President of Malta. It was through one of these charity events that songwriters Boris Cezek and Dean Muscat approached Gianluca with the intention of collaborating. Originally intended to be a radio hit, Tomorrow's feel-good factor combined with its simple yet meaningful lyrics, possessed all the necessary ingredients to take it to the Eurovision stage this year. Gianluca looks forward to broaden his experience through the Eurovision Song Contest as he feels it will give his career greater potential for growth and exposure, while allowing him to make further contacts with foreign music professionals.

In the leadup to the Eurovision Song Contest, Malta has always had a selection procedure but nevertheless, it has been altered throughout the years to reflect a similar system to the one used internationally. This years' edition of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest was one of the best in terms of both quality of production as well as competing tracks and several could have represented the nation abroad. The overwhelming public favourite was Kevin Borg with the song Needing You co-written with Thomas Thornholm, Simon Gribbe, Danne Attlerud and Michael Clauss. This was the song which also won the public vote and spent a couple of days at number #1 following it's release on iTunes. The second runner-up slot went to Davinia Pace with the track Betrayed composed by Elton Zarb to the lyrics of Matt Mercieca (Muxu). Davinia will be joining escflashmalta.com to comment on the second semi-final which will see Gianluca competing. 

Malta has an extremely rich history at the Eurovision Song Contest, quite similar to Iceland for that matter noting that the small Mediterranean Island is yet to win the prestigious competition despite being the first runner-up on two occasions in the past decade, the first time in 2002 thanks to Ira Losco and her entry 7th Wonder composed by Philip Vella and penned by Gerard James Borg and the second time in 2005 with Chiara and her self-penned track Angel. Apart from that, Malta has also finished in the second runner-up position twice, in 1992 with Mary Spiteri and her song Little Child composed by Georgina Abela to the lyrics of Ray Mahoney and in 1998 with Chiara and her entry The One That I Love composed by Jason Paul Cassar to the lyrics of Sunny Aquilina.  Last year, Malta returned to the final following a two year absence with the stunning semi-final performance of This Is The Night by Kurt Calleja.

Professional Critics Voice their Opinion

Rating: 83%

Martin Isherwood: Nice idea for the title but a bit clever and hard to grasp. Good lyrics. Nice voice if slightly unusual sibilant sound. Great tune. Very hooky. Still reminds me of the Housemartins.

Sharon Vaughn: Hands down my favourite. This song is magical and the singer is the perfect vessel to carry it. Best of Luck!

Stano Simor: Gianluca was one of my favourite artists in this years' national selection, one which I follow closely prior to the Eurovision Song Contest. The track itself is very positive and will surely help Malta progress to the final for the second consecutive year. The caribbean sound is something specific and one which I very much enjoy to listen to. 

Source: eurovision.tv

In the western music industry, it seems that one of the artists that will not require an introduction is Anouk from The Netherlands whose past success definitely precedes her especially in the pop/rock genre which is truly a safe haven. She will be representing her home country in a bid to take them back into the final for the very first since 2004, which was also the first year in which the semi-final system was introduced. Their entry entitled Without You performed by Re-Union had failed miserably within the final achieving one of the lower end results. Birds, the track that Anouk will be presenting to Europe on the night of the first semi-final is co-written with Martin Gjerstad and Tore Johansson is a melanchonic ballad which is being perceived as finishing in the top ten. 

Anouk is somewhat making a return to the music industry with her new album Sad Singalong Songs set for official release during the week of the Eurovision Song Contest under the Goldilox imprint. Birds, the first official single off the album is the most successful resounding track since 2009 when her track Woman managed to climb to number #3 in the Dutch Charts as opposed to #33 in the Belgian Charts. Her Eurovision entry has already hit number #2 in her home country as opposed to number #24 in Belgium. When one takes into account current sales through iTunes, Birds finds itself at number #24 in The Netherlands and number #75 in Sweden, therefore making it one of the most successful entries in this years' Eurovision Song Contest. Looking at the Betting Odds at the moment, it seems that the song is seen as a contender for top five with the current list seeming putting Denmark in first place, followed by Ukraine and Norway as the first and second runners-up and Russia and The Netherlands following closely behind. Stay tuned to escflashmalta.com for all of the latest news.

Source: esctracker.com

Ira Losco began her music career relatively early and achieved success as she built a road to the top noting that she went from a variety of local competitions to represent Malta within the Eurovision Song Contest, earning the first runner-up position with 7th Wonder composed by Philip Vella to the lyrics of Gerard James Borg. Upon her return, she was a true hero and she has built a reputable career, releasing her fifth studio album entitled The Fire, earlier this year. Working with the likes of producer, Howard Keith of Jagged House, Ira has always managed to carve out an image which keeps her grounded and true to herself. 

Her latest studio album has received rave reviews from local critics and has also led the albums chart on iTunes for five consecutive weeks and the next step is promoting the material off it through a number of live performances, and one of the first will be coming at the Beland Music Festival. Alongside her band, Ira will be performing with a nine piece band on Saturday, 11th May and remember that all of the proceeds would be going to Puttinu Cares, a charity which supports children in need. Ira Losco is a true, seasoned performer and in recent months, her live performances have been absolutely stunning. This will be one of the events of the season and despite following the tough act in the form of Kevin Borg on the day before, she will have the crowd at the palm of her hand considering how much she adores all of her fans.

Supporting Ira Losco on the night will be none other than two other bands, one of them being Planet Seed which is duly fronted by Klinsmann, finalist at the Malta Eurovision Song Contest on several occasions and the other one being known as The New Victorians. In the meantime, the evening shall be hosted by Moira Delia from Ilsien in-Nisa which airs on ONE Television as well as Christian Micallef who is known for hosting Replay on NET Television. Remember that you may purchase your copy of The Fire on iTunes. Stay tuned to escflashmalta.com for all of the latest news as soon as it becomes available. 

Source: Beland Music Festival, Official Ira Losco Facebook Page