1956-2018 - The Eurovision Collectors Guide

The Tel Aviv Collection is in full swing, but maybe you want to find out about the other 63 contests first.
Check out our facebook for more details on the 10th* edition of the Eurovision Collectors Guide.
If you like what you see, you can download the whole thing (Updated!) as a PDF file here at ESC History
And give us a Like if you have one to spare....

Sample page

* Actually the new one is #11, but I don't count the #0 edition that only had 10 copies made.

The first 9 Eurovision Collectors Guides

Belgium - Eliot Vassamillet - Wake Up

Digital release image

13 - 70 pts in semi 1
Belgium was represented in Tel Aviv by Eliot Vassamillet, chosen by the Wallonian broadcaster RTBF.
He's a discovery from The Voice Belgique and his song is written by Pierre Dumoulin.

Sadly Eliot didn't wake Europe up and he got stuck in the first semi.

The song is titled Wake Up and was leaked and released on Spotify ahead of the official reveal.
Dumoulin also gave us City Lights by Blanche which ended 4th in Kyiv in 2017. City Lights was probably the biggest Eurovision hit of the year.

An acoustic version was released on May 3.

A promo cds includes the Eurovision and acoustic versions. (Sony)

promo

Versions
Wake Up
- Tel Aviv 2CD, promo
Wake Up - acoustic
- digital release, promo
Wake Up - karaoke
- digital releases, karaoke on the official karaoke album

Charts
Belgian top 50 Flanders: 40, -, re-entry in ESC week: 37, 35, -
Belgian top 50 Wallonia: 44, 42, 42, 37, 36, 34, 35, 37, 27, 41, -
Wake Up entered the Wallonian charts two weeks later than the Flemish charts

Picture from Eurovision.tv

Links and sources
Belgium 2018 has the links to all Belgian entries from 2009 to 2018.
Eliot Vassamillet FB Insta

Portugal - Conan Osíris - Telemóveis

15 - 51 pts in semi 1
Conan Osíris is the winner of the 2019 Festival da Canção with the self penned song/musical piece Telemóveis (Mobile phones).
Sadly Conan and his ballerino João Reis Moreira didn't manage to convince Europe to steer away from their Telemóveises and they stranded in semi 1.

promo

Telemóveis is available on the 2019 Festival da Canção CD and also released as a digital single.
A promo for Tel Aviv is made (see comments). It includes the Eurovision and instrumental (karaoke) versions)

2nd DRI

Last years hosts selected their entry through the 53rd Festival da Canção. Semi finals were held on February 16 and 23. The final was on March 2.
You can listen to the 16 competing songs through FdC's Youtube.

A CD release of the 2019 Festival da Canção is out since Februari 25 but the album was released through digital sources earlier.
It features all songs from the competition.




Conan Osíris
Our Conan (born Tiago Miranda) has been at it for a while. He has released two EP's and two albums (all digital only).
You can listen to all at his Soundcloud and you will be surprised.

Single DRI

His most recent album is Adoro Bolos from 2017.

Versions
Telemóveis
- CD Festival da Canção 2019, Tel Aviv 2CD, promo
Telemóveis - karaoke
- digital on the official karaoke album, promo

Charts
Portugal top 100: 56, 49, 10, 14, 29, 55, 90, -

Links and sources
Portugal 2018 has the links to all Portuguese entries from 2009 to 2018.

RTP's FdC pages
Conan Osíris Soundcloud has some more of his work, Insta
Special thanks to RTP.

Poland - Tulia - Fire Of Love (Pali Się)

the vinyl single

11 - 120 pts in semi 1
Poland will be represented by Tulia in Tel Aviv. They are a traditional Polish vocal group working with modern songs and arrangements.

The song for Eurovision is a new version of the song Pali Się which was already released last year. The new version includes a part in English, hence the title Fire Of Love. (Pali Się)
The song is written by Sonia Krasny and Nadia Dalin. The English lyrics are by Allan Rich and Jud Friedmann.
Tulia are Tulia Biczak, Joanna Sinkiewicz, Patrycja Nowicka and Dominika Siepka.
The group came into the spotlights after Depeche Mode shared their folk version of Enjoy The Silence through their socials.

The Eurovision version is here and also available through the usual digital stores.
The original Pali Się (in Polish) video is here.

Digital release image

Vinyl
A limited edition vinyl single is released exclusively through Empik, a Polish chain of book/music/media stores. The also have a web shop that sells internationally. (But you have to brush up on your Polish to do order...)
The single includes the Eurovision version and the original version.
Here's the single at Empik, out on April 19.
It comes in deliscious red and white marbled vinyl.
Empik sold the singles as signed copies.
(Universal 602577 625503)
The single is also included in the presspack used in Tel Aviv. These are not autographed.

Tulia released their debut Tulia album in 2018 and it became a platinum selling album.
The original version of Pali Się (It's on fire) was already released on a new special edition of this album Tulia on November 9.

Picture from Empik record store

The Tulia (Special edition) album was released on 2CD and 2LP on gorgeous white/pink marbled transparant vinyl.
Tulia Special Edition 2CD (Universal Music Polska 7720798)
Tulia Special Edition 2LP (Universal Music Polska 7720805)

Note: There's another special edition CD from the Empik webshop, but that one is from June 2018 and does not include Pali Się yet.

Tulia 2CD deluxe version

Versions
Fire Of Love (Pali Się)
- digital single,vinyl single, Tel Aviv 2CD
Pali Się - original
- 2CD/2LP Tulia (Deluxe edition), vinyl single
Fire Of Love (Pali Się) - karaoke
- the karaoke is actually instrumental (no backing vocals) and can be found official karaoke album (digital)

Links and sources
Poland 2018 has links to the Polish entries from 2009 on.
Tulia Website (in Polish) FB, Insta
Thanks to Marcin!

Armenia - Srbuk - Walking Out

16 - 49 pts in semi 2

Promo

Srbuk travels to Tel Aviv to wave the Armenian flag.
The Eurovision song, Walking Out, was revealed on March 10.

Piano Cover DRI

The song is written by Lost Capital (a.k.a. Tim Enso a.k.a. Artemy Reimich), tokionine and Garik Papoyan.

A digital single was released on March 18.
Watch and listen here
Another version named the Piano Cover was released on April 19. It's a long version, with piano (duh) by Srbuk herself , so in Eurovision Collectors Guide's terms it's not a Cover, but that's what our Srbuk calls it.
A remix, the Going Deeper Mix, was released on April 26.
In June all except karaoke were already removed from Spotify.

The promo used in Tal Aviv is a 3-track cd-r attached to a large folder.

Digital release image

It has the original / Eurovision version, the Piano cover and the Going Deeper mix. (see versions below)

Srbuk (Srbuhi Sargsian, Սրբուհի Սարգսյան) rose to national fame after a 2nd place on Armenian X-factor and a 4th in The Voice.
She has released a few singles of which Half A Godess is the latest one.

Lyricist Garik Papoyan also wrote the lyrics to Aram MP3's Not Alone (2014).

first Remix DRI

Versions
Walking Out
- digital release, Tel Aviv 2CD, promo
Walking Out - Piano Cover
- digital release, promo
Walking Out - Going Deeper mix
- digital release, promo
Walking Out - karaoke
- on the official karaoke album

2nd Remix DRI

Links and sources
Armenia 2018 has the links to all Armenian entries from 2009 to 2018.
Srbuk FB
Thanks to Krzysztof and to Nigel.

Moldova - Anna Odobescu - Stay

Digital release image

12 - 85 pts in semi 2
Anna Obodescu is the winner of the Moldovan selection. Her song Stay represented the country in Tel Aviv. Stay is written by Georgios Kalpakidis, Thomas Reil, Jeppe Reil and Maria Broberg.
You can listen to the song here. (YT)
The official videoclip is here

Stay was released as a digital single on February 1st, along with an instrumental and karaoke version.
The version on the Eurovision album is a new recording.

A promo is issued. It's a 1-track cd-r which has the song as mp3.

In 2018 Anna entered the Moldovan selection with the song Agony.

Moldova's final was on March 3. All songs can still be heard at TRM's Youtube (here)  but they didn't make a playlist, but some fans did. (here)

2nd DRI

Versions (see comments)
Stay - Eurovision version
- on the Tel Aviv 2CD
Stay - single version
Stay - karaoke a.k.a alternative edit
Stay - instrumental
- above three on digital single release
Stay - Eurovision karaoke
- on the official digital karaoke album
Stay - Original version
- TRM video (pre-selection audio)

Links and sources
Moldova 2018 has links to all Moldovan entries from 2009 on.
Eurovision Moldova FB
Anna Odobescu FB
Thanks to Krzysztof and Pino (see comments) and Nigel.

Denmark - Leonora - Love Is Forever

12 - 120 pts / 10 - 94 pts in semi 2
Leonora (Leonora Colmor Jepsen) is the winner of the 2019 Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2019 with the song Love Is Forever. The song is in English but has a few French, German and Danish mots thrown in.
The song is written by Lise Cabble, Melanie Wehbe and Emil Lei.

2nd digital release image

The entry was released as a digital single on February 1.
Here's the lyric video (DMGP Youtube channel)

A version recorded with Livestrings (the Strings version) was released on April 19.

DRI DMGP

The final of the Danish Melodi Grand Prix was held on February 23.
You can listen to the participating songs here at DR's Grand Prix pages. All songs have been released  through the usual digital sources. In some territories the songs are available as a digital album.

The songwriters:
Lisa Cabble has (co) written many Danish Melodi Grand Prix entries and some made it to Eurovision. And one even won the whole thing.
1995 - Fra Mols Til Skagen - Aud Wilken
2011 - New Tomorrow - A Friend In London
2013 - Only Teardrops - Emmelie De Forest
Melanie Wehbe (co) wrote a few Melodifestivalen tunes includion the glorious Victorious by Lina Hedlund (MF 2019)

Versions
Love Is Forever - original
- digital release, Tel Aviv 2CD
Love Is Forever - Strings version with Livestrings
- digital release
Love Is Forever - karaoke
- on the official karaoke album (digital)

Charts
Denmark Tracklisten top 40: 16, 30, -
France top 200 (IFOP): 128, -
Scottish singles top 100 (OCC): 77, -

First digital release image

Links and sources
Denmark 2018 has links to all Danish entries from 2009 on.
DR Melodi Grand Prix pages
Leonora Jepsen FB, Insta

Montenegro - D Mol - Heaven

Digital release image, serious looking D Mol

16 - 46 pts in semi 1
D-Mol's Heaven is the song for Montenegro in Tel Aviv. Heaven is written by Dejan Božović and .
Some sources used D-Moll as the name, but the officially released single says D Mol.

The words are by Adis Eminić (who also gave us Slavko's Space in 2017).
A new version was recorded for Eurovision.

A promo was issued. It is a cd-rom with two audio's (ESC and instrumental) and video.
Audio's play in a cdplayer. (RTCG)

You can listen to the first Heaven here (Youtube)
The new official version is here.
The digital single is released on March 29

The original song was titled Ti and sung in Montenegran Serbian. This was selected for the Montenegrin final before the singers were chosen.
Aleksandar Miličić is the lyricist of Ti but only the English lyrics by Adis Eminić were recorded by the singers from D Mol.
D Mol stated that they would record Ti in their own language but it hasn't been revealed (yet?).
Eurovision's D-Mol are six singers from a larger youth choir.

promo, smiling D Mol

D Mole are (from left to right on promo) Ivana Obradović, Emel Franca, Mirela Ljumić, Rizo Feratović, Tamara Vujačić and Željko Vukčević

Montenegro had five songs in the Montevizija final on February 9.
All audio's are at youtube and some kind tuber made a playlist.

Versions
Heaven - Eurovision version
- Tel Aviv 2CD, promo
Heaven - Eurovision karaoke (= instrumental)
- on the official karaoke album (digital), promo
Heaven - first version
- at RTCG website
The original version Ti remains unreleased (so far).

Links and sources
Montenegro 2018 has links to all Montenegran entries from 2009 on.

RTCG Montevizija pages
D-Moll FB
Thanks to Nigel

Ireland - Sarah McTernan - 22

Digital release image

18 - 16 pts in semi 2
Ireland was represented in Tel Aviv by Sarah McTernan. Her song, 22, is written by Janieck, Marcia Sondeijker and Roulsen.
Watch and listen here (RTÉ's YT)

The digital single was released on March 29.

No physical release or promo was issued.

Versions
22
- digital release, Tel Aviv 2CD
22 - karaoke
- on the official karaoke album (digital)

Links and sources
Ireland 2018 has links to all Irish entries from 2009 on.
Sarah McTernan Website, FB

Czech Republic - Lake Malawi - Friend Of A Friend

11 - 157 pts / 3 - 242 pts in semi 1

New version DRI

On January 28 it was annonced that four piece band Lake Malawi are the winner of the Czech selection.
There was an internet selection with some added jury points.
The song, Friend Of A Friend, is written by Jan Steinsdörfer, Maciej Mikolaj Trybulec and band member Albert Černý.

The original video is here (Ctv Youtube).
Friend Of A Friend was released as a digital single on January 7.
A new version with new vocals was revealed on March 8.
The new video is here. The digital release is on March 31.

A cassette* was made for promotion. It has the Eurovision version and five other songs.
It came with a walkman*
* Ask anyone over 40.....

Here's some bites liberally extracted from their bio:

1st Digital release image

Lake Malawi named themselves after the Bon Iver song rather than the lake in question. The actual lake is very big and has a lot of fish. In fact it's so big it's also in Tanzania and Mozambique.

Today the band is Albert Černý (lead vocal, guitar), Jeroným Šubrt (bass and keys) and Antonín Hrabal (drums) and Pavel Palát (guitars).

They released their first EP We Are making Love Again in 2015 and their full length debut album Surrounded By Light is from 2017.

They have been supporting act for Thirty Seconds From Mars, Mika and The Kooks but now it’s their time to shine.

Versions
Friend Of A Friend - new version
- digital release, Tel Aviv 2CD
Friend Of A Friend - original
- first digital release

Friend Of A Friend - (new) karaoke
- on the official karaoke album (digital)

Charts
Sweden top 100: 86, -
France top 200 (IFOP): 179, -

Links and sources
Czech Republic 2018 has links to the entries from the Czech Republic from 2011 to 2017.
Lake Malawi website, FB, Insta.
Ctv Eurovision Insta, Youtube.

Belarus - Zena - Like It

24 - 31 pts / 10 - 122 pts in semi 1
Belarus is represented by Zena (Зена Куприянович) and her song Like It.
You can watch the live performance here.
The (downloadable) first studio version is here at TVR.BY.

The song was released on March 26 in a slightly altered version.

A promo cd-r is issued for Tel Aviv.
It has the Eurovision version of Like It and four other songs.

Zena has particpated in several nationa Belarussian talent shows including the preselection for the Junior Eurovision in 2016 and 2017.
In 2018 she hosted the Junior ESC which was held in Minsk.

Versions
Like It - Eurovision version
- Tel Aviv 2CD
Like It - original studio version
- as distributed by BYTV
Like It - Eurovision karaoke
- digital on the official karaoke album

Links and sources
Belarus 2018 has links to all Belarussian entries from 2009 on.
Zena Website,  Instagram, VK, FB

Hungary - Pápai Joci - Az Én Apám

12 - 97 pts in semi 1
Joci Pápai (Pápai Joci) returned to the Eurovision stage for Hungary. Two years ago he finished in 8th place with Origo.
The 2019 song, Az Én Apám (My father) is written by Joci (Joszef )himself. He was the first singer for Hungary to get a second go at Eurovision but it didn't work out this time.

promo

Eurovision version DRI

The original version of the song is included on the A Dal 2CD and is also released as a digital single.
A new version was revealed on March 14 on Joci P's Youtube as the Eurovision version.
It doesn't have the whistling...
The new Eurovision version was released on March 26 along with a karaoke version.

A promo cds for Tel Aviv is made. It has the Eurovision version and karaoke. Sleeve states that it's self released and limited to 350 copies.

1st Digital release image

Hungary selected their entry for Tel Aviv on February 23.
The A Dal selection included 30 songs: 3 rounds with 10 songs, two second chance rounds and a final.
The 2CD A Dal 2019 includes all 30 songs and has been released on January 24 (Grundrekords).
The 2 CD is available through BeaRecords

Versions
Az Én Apám - Eurovision version
- digital release, Tel Aviv 2CD, promo
Az Én Apám - original version
- A Dal 2CD, digital single
Az Én Apám - Eurovision karaoke
- digital release, promo

The A Dal 2019 2CD

Links and sources
Hungary 2018 has the links to all Hungarian entries from 2009 to 2018.
Pápai Joci in 2017
Official A Dal pages at Mediaklikk
Hungarian cds at BeaRecords
Pápai Joci FB
Thanks Krzysztof and to Nigel.

Latvia - Carousel - That Night

15 - 50 pts in semi 2
Indie pop duo Carousel (Sabīne Žuga and Mārcis Vasiļevskis) represented Latvia with the song That Night. They are joined by Stanislav Judins on double bass and Mareks Logins on drums.
Watch and listen here at LTV's Youtube.

New version Digital Release Image

EP DRI

That Night, the original version, was released as a digital single on December 29.
A new version was released on March 22 and had initially replaced the original version.
A digital EP, Sketches Of Sleepless Nights was released just after the contest. This includes the original mix of That Night.

No physical release or promo was issued.

Latvia selected the entry for Tel Aviv through their Supernova preselection. Two semi's with a final on February 16. You can listen to the 16 contestants here (Youtube)

Versions
That Night - Eurovision version
- Tel Aviv 2CD
That Night - Supernova version
That Night - karaoke (= instrumental)
- all digital releases, karaoke on the official karaoke album

Original version DRI

Links and sources
Latvia 2018 has the links to the Latvian entries from 2009 on.
LVT Supernova pages.
Carousel FB

Croatia - Roko Blažević - The Dream

Digital release image The Dream

14 - 64 pts in semi 2
Croatia's selection DORA 2019 was won by Roko Blažević and his song The Dream.
The Dream is written by Jacques Houdek, Andrea Ćurić and Charlie Mason.
The song is sung in English and Croatian.
Watch the live performance here at HRT's Youtube.
The song was originally recorded in Croatian as Heroj and Charlie Mason wrote the English lyrics afterwards.

The Dream and Heroj have been released as digital single tracks. (as Roko).
The full English version can only be found on the USB promos.

Two USB's (one card, one wristband) were used for promotion.
They have the ESC version, Croatian and English. Also includes, videos, photos and info.

All songs from this years DORA have been released on the CD Dora 2019 (Croatia records). Now available at BeaRecords
See comments.
The album is also available through digital sources

Digital release image Heroj

The composers:
Lyricist Charlie Mason wrote the words to the 2014 winner Rise Like A Phoenix. He also co-wrote the Slovenian entry of the same year. The English parts of L'Amore è Femmina (Italy 2012) are also by his hand.
Jacques Houdek represented Croatia in Kyiv with My Friend and ended 13th.

Versions
The Dream - English/Croatian
- digital release, on Dora 2019 CD, Tel Aviv 2CD
Heroj - Croatian
- digital release,  Youtube
The Dream - English
- promo USB card 
The Dream - karaoke (= instrumental)
- digital release

The Dora 2019 album

Pic from Roko's Facebook

Links and sources
Croatia 2018 has links to all Croatian entries from 2009 on.
Roko Blažević FB
Roko interview at Novolist.hr
Thanks to Jens and to Nigel.

Germany - S!sters - Sister

25 - 24 pts / not in semi 
S!sters won the German selection
The song is written by Laurell Barker, Marine Kaltenbacher, Tom Oehler and Thomas Stengaard.
Listen here at ARD

The song was released as a digital single on February 22.
The karaoke was released on March 15.
S!sters are Carlotta Truman & Laura Kästel.

Remixes and acoustic were released on May 31.

For the first time since 1957 no commercial single was released for a German entry. (Another) End of an era. And there was no promo either. And the song didn't chart.

7 artists were lined up for Unser Song für Israel on Feruary 23.

Versions
Sister
- Tel Aviv 2CD
Sister - karaoke
- digital releases
Sister - Acoustic
Sister - Jay Frog remix
Sister - Jay Frog remix edit
- all digital releases, not on all sources

Links and sources
Germany 2018 has links to all German entries from 2009 on.
Unser Song pages at ARD
S!sters FB

Estonia - Victor Crone - Storm

Digital release image

20 - 76 pts / 4 - 198 pts in semi 1
Storm by Victor Crone is the winner of Eesti Laul 2019 and represented Estonia in the Tel Aviv Eurovision Song Contest.
Storm is written by Stig Rästa, Vallo Kikas, Fred Krieger (a.k.a. Mr. Maarja-Liis Ilus) and Victor Fritz Crone himself.
Storm was released as a digital single in December. (Not available at all sources though)
The official video is here at Crone's Youtube.

The Skip Stones remix of Storm was released on March 8.
Another remix, the Madison Mars remix was released on iTunes on March 19.

No physical release or promo was issued.

You may have spotted Victor in the Swedish Melodifestivalen in 2015 where he took care of the vocals in Behrang Miri's entry Det Rår Vi Inte För which made it to the second chance round Andra Chansen.

The songwriters:
Stig Rästa entered the contest himself, with Elina Born, in 2015 and Goodbye To Yesterday which ended 7th.
He also co-wrote Juri Pootsmann's Play (2016, with Vallo Kikas) and had another go in the Estonian selection in 2018 with Home.

You can listen to all the songs from this years Eesti laul here at ERR.

Versions
Storm - original
- Tel Aviv 2CD
Storm - Skip Stones remix
Storm - Madison Mars remix
Storm - Karaoke
- digital releases (not on all sources though)

Charts
Sweden top 100: 39, 75, -
Switzerland top 10: 91, -
France top 200 (IFOP): 120, -
Scottish singles top 100 (OCC): 56

Links and sources
Estonia 2018 has the links to the Estonian entries from 2009 on.
ERR Eurolaul pages
Victor Crone FB
Thanks to Frederick

Greece - Katerine Duska - Better Love

21 - 74 pts / 5 - 185 pts in semi 1

Digital release image

Greek broadcaster ERT selected Katerine Duska (Κατερίνα Ντούσκα) as the singer for Greece in the Tel Aviv contest.
Her song, Better Love was revealed and released on March 6. It is written by Katerine Duska herself, Leon of Athens and David Sneddon.
A promo cdsingle in 7.5" inch folder is issued.
(ERT, Minos/EMI Universal 7767057)

Watch the official video here at Katerine Duska's Youtube.

Versions
Better Love
- promo cds, digital single, Tel Aviv 2CD
Better Love - karaoke
- on the official karaoke album (digital)

there was even some ribbon left over to tie the promo folder

Links and sources
Greece 2018 has the links to all Greek entries from 2009 on.
Katerine Duska FB, Insta

Ukraine - Maruv = Out

Maruv and her Siren Song won the final Vidbir (Відбір) 2019, a three night selection ending with a final on February 23.
Maruv wrote Siren Song with Mikhail Busin.

But Maruv is not going to Tel Aviv. You may be surprised, but it involved Politics. And Russia. Maruv is the scapegoat and Jamala the new head of inquisition.
After the 2nd and 3rd placed artists also declined to go Ukraine withdrew from the 2019 contest.
Officialy they (Freedom Jazz and Kazka) declined because they "feel we didn't win the right because we didn't win".
Brunettes Shoot Blondes who ended 4th also stated they didn't want to go, but they weren't even asked.

Maruv is out and so is her single

Maruv is Hanna Korsun (Анна Корсун).

Siren Song was released as a digital single on February 13.

Some kind Youtuber compiled a playlist with videos from all songs from the Vidbir selection.. It's here.

Links and sources
Ukraine 2018 has links to all Ukrainian entries since 2009.
Eurovision/Vidbir pages
Maruv FB