EUROVISION 2006 A total of 38 countries have confirmed their participation in the 51st of the Eurovision Song Contest which will take place in Athens on 18 and 20 May 2006. The event, to be hosted by Greek national broadcaster, ERT, will comprise two live televised contests in one week – a Semi Final and a Final – which will be broadcast live from Athens over the Eurovision network. SPONSORED LINKS Add Your Ad Here   EUROVISION 2005 A total of 39 countries have participated in the 50th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest which took place in Kiev on 19 and 21 May 2005. The event, was hosted by Ukrainian national broadcaster, NTU, and comprised two live televised contests in one week – a Qualifying Round and a Final – which was broadcast live from Kiev over the Eurovision network. The winner was Helena from Greece; next edition will take place in Athens!   click to read more... EUROVISION 2004 A Magical Rendez-vous can change the destiny of individuals, of nations, of countries... The Eurovision Song Contest 2004 represented A Magical Rendez-vous of songs, performers and viewers in Turkey. One song, one performer, one country experienced this meeting as a fateful occurrence that can change the rest of the performer’s life. Star Radio played all of the Eurovision songs in its broadcast; every 5 to 7 songs, we played one of the Eurovision songs. Check out our last year's Eurovision contest page and remember all about the participants and the winner.   read more...                                       A total of 38 countries have confirmed their participation in the 51st of the Eurovision Song Contest which will take place in Athens on 18 and 20 May 2006. Star Radio's staff has selected for you a list of this year's best songs; you can find here below a small biography of each artist from our selection. The event, to be hosted by Greek national broadcaster, ERT, will comprise two live televised contests in one week – a Semi Final and a Final – which will be broadcast live from Athens over the Eurovision network. The 24 countries that will compete in the Semi Final are: Albania (RTVSH); Andorra (RTVA); Armenia (PTV); Belarus (BTRC); Belgium (VRT/RTBF); Bosnia & Herzegovina (PBSBiH); Bulgaria (BNT); Cyprus (CBC); Estonia (ETV); Finland (YLE); FYR Macedonia (MKRTV); Iceland (RUV); Ireland (RTE); Lithuania (LRT); Monaco (TMC); Netherlands (NPB); Poland (TVP); Portugal (RTP); Russia (C1R); Slovenia (RTVSLO); Sweden (SVT); Turkey (TRT); Ukraine (NTU). According to the format, 14 countries have secured their place in the Grand Final, including the winner (Greece) and the nine top scoring countries in 2005, along with the four largest countries in the contest. These countries are: Croatia (HRT); Denmark (DR); France (France 3); Germany (ARD); Greece (ERT); Israel (IBA); Latvia (LT); Malta (PBS); Moldova (TRM); Norway (NRK); Romania (TVR); Spain (TVE); Switzerland (SRG SSR idée suisse); United Kingdom (BBC). The running order of the songs was determined by a draw held during the Heads of Delegation Meeting in Athens on March 20-21, 2006; click here to check it out. The Eurovision Song Contest, which has a great tradition and heritage going back to 1956, is one of the very few truly pan-European television programmes. From mid-April until mid-June 2006, you will be able to LISTEN ONLINE to what we consider "THE 12 BEST EUROVISION 2006" songs right here on Star Radio; we will play one of these Eurovision songs each 25 minutes or so - preceeded by an ID (a jingle) so you can identify the track as one of the Eurovision's competing songs.       Here is STAR RADIO's selection of this year's BEST Participants; these artists were selected from both the Qualifying and Final Rounds (by alphabetical order) :               Country BELGIUM Singer Kate Ryan Song Je t'adore Biography Kate Ryan was born as Katrien Verbeeck on July 22, 1980. As virtually the whole Verbeeck family played either the guitar or the piano, Kate developed an equally large soft spot for both instruments. In the beginning of her career, Kate performed in her parents’ cafe and pub concerts in her home town Meerhout. She was armed with only a guitar and a considerable load of guts. She performed songs by Alanis Morissette, 4 Non-Blondes, Pointer Sisters or Aretha Franklin. Kate is best known in the international market with the hit single “Désanchantée” (originally sang by French famous artist Mylčne Framer). The song reached number 1 in no time, and settled there for 6 weeks on end and equally landing the Dutch top 5. In June 2002, Kate’s debut album “Different” was released, 12-tracks and 3 French bonus tracks. Kate's album was also released in the USA. US also have seen the release of a special double A-sided single, containing both “UR (My love)” and “Désenchantée”. Later Kate moved to EMI Belgium, and her second album "Stronger" was released in Europe in 2004, the North American Version was released in 2005. In 2006, she is n°1 again in Belgium with the song “Je t’adore”, she will be singing this song at the Eurovision song contest. Kate is predicted to win for Belgium, but will this years ‘predictions be right ? (remember Xandee in 2004!) Website www.kateryan.be Star Radio's Rating 9.7/10 Country CYPRUS Singer Annette Artani Song Why angels cry (Peter Yannaki) Biography Annette Artani is a native Greek-American New Yorker who is performing since she was seven years old. Over the years, Annette incorporated influences of singing in her college Gospel choir, as well as listening to R&B, pop and rock music. In 1994, she received a scholarship from BMG for writing and performing an original song, called "Summer Days". She has also won several talent titles in America's Favorite Pageants, the New York Star Pageant, the Ophelia Devoure Talent Connection, and has been featuring in both Pageantry and Billboard Magazine. Annette has also performed in theatrical productions in New York and Greece, often in lead or supporting roles because of her big, belting voice. Annette collaborated with several accomplished writers in New York such as Jeff Franzelo's and Tom Lamendola. As word got around about Annette's powerful voice, she was called to audition for Britney Spears, who was appearing on the Rosie O'Donnel show, as a background singer. Within a few days, she performed with the teen idol, and was asked to tour with her for the next year all over the country, and the world. Annette's role as background singer was not the norm. She was asked to dance and sing center stage with Britney and the other background singer in concert, and on the biggest TV shows in the world. In 2003 she co-wrote the song with Britney Spears “Everytime” (B. Spears / A. Stamatelatos) which is featured in the album “In the zone”. Annette has degrees in music, grew up studying dance and piano, and has also majored in Media and the Dramatic Arts. The past few years she has studied with two major vocal powerhouses in the music industry: Tania Travers & Doc Holiday. Her music has truly embodied all of her influences, and she has been described as the next new ‘art pop' artist about to hit it big. Her voice has traces of blues and R&B singers like Etta James, Aretha Franklin- with ethnic hints you might hear on a Nelly Furtado or Shakira album. And even though there is such a mesh of all these influences, it still sounds like none of these artists at all. Annette Artani is truly unique. In 2005, she released her first single, “Goodbye Amore”, and this year she will represent Cyprus in the Eurovision with the song “Why do angels cry”. Website www.annetteartani.com Star Radio's Rating 8.3/10 Country GREECE Singer Anna Vissi Song Everything (Nikos Karvelas - Anna Vissi) Biography Born in Cyprus, Anna started her musical career at the early age of six, by attending the Cyprus Conservatory. At 12, she won the first prize at a local song contest. Her mother was soon convinced of her daughter's talent and moved the entire family to Greece, where she thought better opportunities existed for her musical career. She started a collaboration with Mikis Theodorakis ("18 Lianotragouda gia tin pikri patrida", "grammata apo tin Germania"), Stauros Koujoumtzis until 1976 ("Sagapo", "Sta chronia tis ipomonis" ), Giorgos Hatzinasios ("To palikari"), Doros Georgiadis ("To palio to aeroplano", "As kanoume apopse mian arhi") and then a close collaboration with Nicos Karvelas, who was already a well known songwriter with many #1 hits to his credit, that is lasting to this day. Besides writing most of her songs, Karvelas penned Greece's first ever rock opera for Anna: "Demons" and the musical "Mala". Anna started her real career in 1978 with the release of her first album and has since more than 35 albums, mostly in Greek. The latest news on Anna Vissi's international craeer was in 2005 with the release of the English version of “Ise”, “Call me”. The single was a great success, and the song peaked at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music Club Play Charts and #2 on Billboard’s Dance Radio Airplay Charts! It also made significant appearances on other charts around the world, in countries like Turkey, Israel, Bulgaria and many more! During the summer, Anna returned in Greece with the official release of the “Call me” single, which also included a second English song “Lie”; both songs were played on Star Radio at that time. A month later, the Greek Diva released a new Greek CD “Nylon”. “Nylon” was the first Greek CD to be released in a Dual Disc format, which included unreleased videos from the creation of the CD. She will be representing Greece at the Eurovision son contest with a slow-beat 80s style song "Everything". Website www.annavissi.info Star Radio's Rating 7.5/10 Country MALTA Singer Fabrizio Faniello Song I do (Aldo Spiteri & Fabrizio Faniello) Biography Fabrizio Faniello is Malta's number one! This year he will represent Malta in the 51st edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "I do". Fabrizio is not new to the Eurovision scene, this is the second time he represents his country, Malta, in the Eurovision Song Contest. His real breakthrough in the Eurovision scene was in 2001. That year he won the Malta Song for Europe festival with the song "Another Summer Night", written by Paul Abela and Georgina. Fabrizio is not a stranger to Star Radio's listeners as he had a hit single in 2004 with the song "I'm in love" taken from his second album "When we danced". Fabrizio is a very famous singer in Malta and has already been in the scene since 2001. His latest album is "Believe". Website www.fabriziofaniello.de Star Radio's Rating 9.3/10 Country NORWAY Singer Christine Gulbrandsen Song Alvedansen (Kjetil Fluge, Christine Gulbrandsen, Atle Halstensen) Biography Christine Gulbrandsen (20) became known in Norway in 2003 and sold 30 thousand copies of her debut album "Surfing in the air". Her second album "Moments" (2004) also reached the top charts in Norway. Christine writes most of her songs on her own. Her song for the Eurovision is "Alvedansen" which she describes as a "majestic folksong with lots of use of violins." She has co-written both the music and the lyrics with her production team from 'Sounds Familiar' in Bergen. She will be singing in Norwegian in the Eurovision song contest. Website www.christine.bz Star Radio's Rating 7.6/10 Country ROMANIA Singer Mihai Traistariu Song Tornero (Eduard Carcota - Cristian Hriscu & Mihaela Deac) Biography Mihai Traistariu was born in Piatra Neamt on 16th of December 1979; at present, Mihai lives in Constanta. He graduated from the IT School, Iasi University, but he has been attracted to music even since he was little. He started studying piano at the age of 7, precisely when he started school, when his parents gave him a piano as a present. Throughout the years, he won 18 trophies at international festivals, and in 1998 he won second prize at the Song Contest - Mamaia Festival. In 1999, he joins the band "Valahia" but in 2000 decides to go solo. His first hit was "La mare, la soare" in 2001. Mihai qualifies, five consecutive times, at the Eurovision Song Contest - National Selection, arriving, gradually, on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place. This year he has the great opportunity to make his country proud. He is along with Greece and Belgium predicted to win this year’s contest. Let's wait and see. Good luck to you Mihai. Website www.mihaitraistariu.com Star Radio's Rating 8.7/10 Country RUSSIA Singer Dima Bilan Song Never let you go (Alexandr Lunyov - Karen Kavaleryan, Irina Antonyan) Biography 24 year old Dima Bilan, is born in Stavropolskiy and is graduated from Gnesinyh musical college (as classic vocal performer). His professional debuts were made when he was promoted to 4th place at amateur New Wave, 2002 contest. His song and video "Nochnoi Huligan" reached top spots in hit lists. It was followed by quite successful videos for the songs "Ty i tolko ty", "Ya oshibsya ya popal". In the beginning of 2003 another song "Ya tak lyublyu tebya" reached top spot in the charts. In end 2003, his debut album "Nochnoy huligan (I am a night Hooligan)" was issued. It included also classic songs "Caruso" by Lucio Dalla and "Fever" by Elvis. His second album is released in 2004, "Na beregu neba (Between the heaven and the sky)" in which foreign composers Shaun Escoffery and Diane Warren participated. The single taken from the album "Ty dolzhna ryadom byt " was performed at the National Preselection to the Eurovision song contest 2005. A third solo album is in preparation. This year Dima (real name Viktor) has won his ticket to Greece to represent Russia with a very beautiful song "Never let you go". Website www.bilandima.ru Star Radio's Rating 8.3/10 Country SLOVENIA Singer Anzej Dezan Song Mr. Nobody (Matjaz Vlasic - Ursa Vlasic) Biography Anžej Dežan was born in Celje in 1987. He started his career in 1997, when he won the Karaoke competition on national television. He continued in 1998, when he won at a local singing competition, on Radio Celje, called Full Cool Demo Top. This was his first attempt to record, and it continued in 2002, when he started improving his vocal skills at a young teacher, Jasmina Macek. He also entered a star-search competition called 'Bitka talentov' on prime-time tv-show 'Spet doma'. He gained the second place in the end, reaching more than 28000 votes from the public. From then onwards, thing started happening with high pace. He has found an award-winning music team of which Matjaž Vlašic and Urša Vlašic. The first single, “C'est la vie”, was released in December 2004, reaching success at the radio stations. Later on, he participated at the Slovenian selections for the ESC in 2005, where he sang as a back vocalist to Nuša Derenda, a very successful Eurovision singer. They came in forth, and this year, Anžej managed to win the selections on his own, coming in first with a song 'Mr. Nobody'. He will be participating in Athens on 18th May. Website www.anzej.com Star Radio's Rating 8.7/10 Country SWEDEN Singer Carola Song Invincible (Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren, Henrik Wikstrom - Thomas G:son, Carola Haggkvist) Biography She appeared on television for the first time after winning a talent show in 1977. A couple of years later promotor Bert Karlsson discovered her and she was offered to take part in Melodifestivalen 1982, the national preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest, but she turned down the offer. Her big breakthrough was in 1983 with the song Främling. Where she represented Sweden in Munich at the Eurovision song contest. She ended at the third place and sold more than on million copies of the song. During her career, she collaborated with the big names of the musical scene such as the Bee Gees. In 1991, she once again participated at the Eurovision song contest with the song “Fĺngad av en stormvind”. She ended at the first place. Since 1983 up to now, Carola released 25 Albums and did several concerts and participated in different musical events. Her status as a national celebrity has made her more or less constantly followed by the tabloid press. She has often talked about her Christian faith, and she has been criticized for making critical remarks on the acceptance of homosexuality in Sweden. She is representing once again Sweden at the Eurovsion song contest with the song “Invincible” , she was followed closely by the talented new group "Bodies without organs" (a hit group on Star Radio since several months now) who failed the win againt Carola. Website www.carola.com Star Radio's Rating 8.3/10 Country SWITZERLAND Singer Six4One Song If we all give a little (Ralph Siegel - Bernd Meinunger) Biography This year Switzerland will be represented by Six4One: a group of 6 singers who each have a career of their Own. The members are: Claudia D’Addio, Liel, Tinka, Andreas Lundstedt, Marco Matias & Keith Camilleri. They will be singing "If We All Give A Little" a catchy pop-rock hymn: The main message of the song lyrics is a desire that the world may come closer together, and that each and everyone of us contribute to the realization of this wish. They have already released a full seventeen track recording - six4one: the album. The six sing another three Siegel produced anthems together on the album in addition to the original version and an "unplugged" version of "If We All Give a Little". Each soloist performs another two tracks alone on the recording. The group six4one wants to remind you that they are six strong voices, six strong personalities, coming together with a single common goal: Success for Switzerland in Athens. Website www.jupiter-records.de/six4one Star Radio's Rating 8/10 Country NETHERLANDS Singer Treble Song Amambanda (Treble) Biography The group Treble was formed in 1995 by Caroline Hoffman (30) and sisters Nina (20) and Djem van Dijk (18). The sisters had met Caroline that year at a concert in the far south of the Netherlands, where the three of them still live. With the Treble language as their brand, the trio performs not only in the Netherlands, but abroad as well. In 2002, accompanied by their djembe's and guitar, they traveled to Italy and Greece, mostly playing on the streets so that other cultures could appreciate their music as well. At the end of 2003 the girls recorded their debut single ‘Ramaganana’, which turned out to be the major breakthrough for them. After a number of weeks in which the trio entertained the public, bringing their catchy music to Dutch shopping centres, as well as television shows, ‘Ramaganana’ reached the number one slot in the Dutch charts. In June 2004 their first album ‘No Trouble’ was released, on which Nina, Djem and Caroline proved their expertise in writing breathtaking compositions and memorable lyrics all which originate from their own creativity and skills. In April 2006, second album is released, Free, in collaboration with the producer Keith Olson. On “Free” the girls fill the air with a sound that unmistakably shows that they are ready to spread their wings and to conquer the world. The girls will be defending Holland with the catchy single “Amambanda”. Website www.treble.nl Star Radio's Rating 7.2/10 Country UNITED KINGDOM Singer Daz Sampson Song Teenage Life (Daz Sampson/John Matthews) Biography Daz Sampson started his music career as a mobile DJ but first found fame as the MC, songwriter and ideas man in Bus Stop. Bus Stop's debut single Kung Fu Fighting featuring Carl Douglas sold 250,000 copies in the UK and was a major international hit. Bus Stop had four hit singles in the UK and released two albums internationally before splitting. Daz formed the duo Rikki & Daz with John Matthews of the Cuban Boys. Their single Rhinestone Cowboy (Giddy Up Giddy Up) featured a new vocal from country music legend Glen Campbell, and reached no. 12 in the UK. In 2004 Daz was playing the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City when he heard the next Call On Me on the soundtrack Out Of Touch by Hall & Oates. Within hours, his production partner Paul Keenan had knocked up a demo sampling Out Of Touch, and the two of them formed Uniting Nations. The single sold well over 100,000 in the UK, and was a pan-European hit. There followed two further Uniting Nations hit singles and an album that showcases Daz's ability to write original smash hooks of his own. Their reputation as the UK's leading commercial dance act was sealed when Smash Hits readers and T4 viewers voted them Best Dance Act at the last ever Pollwinners Party in 2005. Daz's greatest ambition was bringing the Eurovision crown home to Britain. He will represent the UK with the song Teenage Life. Website www.dazsampson.co.uk Star Radio's Rating 7.6/10