In the past few days, a crew working for the host broadcaster of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest has visited Armenia to record the official postcard that will be shown before the actual song during the live show. Despite the persistent rain, Iveta Mukuchyan, who will sing LoveWave in Stockholm, enjoyed the experience a lot. Check out our footage right here!
"We had only one day for the shoot, but we had so much stuff to do! Despite the constant rain, we still managed to get a lot of beautiful shots of some of Armenia's most iconic places. We also tried to include some symbolic elements like apricot trees, a huge chess board and, for the first time, you'll see me making traditional Armenian breadLavash. It was truly amazing and I'm really looking forward to seeing the postcard in May. I think you're going to love it", explains Iveta Mukuchyan.
The 8th edition of Eurovision in Concert will take place on Saturday 9th April in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. As is now customary, many participating artists in the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest will take part in the annual event. 23 acts are confirmed so far. This year’s edition will be hosted by Dutch Eurovision Song Contest commentator Cornald Maas and Hera Björk who represented Iceland in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest.
The concert will take place the Melkweg venue in the centre of Amsterdam, tickets for the show are now sold out. Prior to the concert a press programme will take place with all delegations. The participating acts will be welcomed by Kajsa Ollongren, the Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam and Sietse Bakker, Event Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest.
The Mayor of Stockholm, Karin Wanngård, has started the official countdown to the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm. Earlier today a three-dimensional sculpture of the symbol for this year's Eurovision Song Contest was unveiled at Norrmalmstorg Square in Stockholm. The sculpture will be counting down to 21:00 on 14th May when the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in the Globe Arena in Stockholm.
"Music engages, connects and unites across all borders - national, linguistic and cultural. The ability of music to unite is particularly important today. We are proud to be the host city for the 2016 competition and we would like to give Europe a warm welcome to Stockholm. The Eurovision Song Contest will be visible in the entire city, and will be an event characterised by openness, tolerance and equality of all people", said Karin Wanngård, Mayor of Stockholm.
The symbol for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest was inspired by the dandelion. It was created by INGO on behalf of the Swedish public broadcaster SVT and the EBU and represents the power of resistance and resilience but also regeneration – when the seeds fly away from the dandelion new life is created where they touch down. After the countdown has finished the installation will be placed in the grounds of the Globe Arena district as a reminder of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest.
Flower facts:
The sphere of the flower measures a total of four meters in diameter and consists of 190 flower seeds. It is also a dynamic and energy-saving light installation, has a subtle fragrance and plays music from the Stockholm-based streaming service Spotify. The flower stands on a three metre high podium with an integrated countdown clock.
The installation is a total of 8.5 metres high, of which the actual flower is 4x4 metres.
The fragrance from the Magic Flower comes from a system that follows the International Fragrance Association criteria for the production, handling and use of scents.
The fragrance is supplied by Uniscent ScentAir in Sweden.
The flower was drawn by MK Illumination and manufactured in Slovakia.
The sculpture is made of lacquered aluminum, frosted plastic cable ties and LED lighting.
84 square metres of metal was used to make the flower.
There are 7280 points of light on the magical flower.
The 2016 Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Stockholm, Sweden on 10th, 12th, 14th May and is organised by the Swedish broadcaster SVT and the City of Stockholm.
Bulgaria: Lyrics of "If Love Was A Crime" released
Sofia, Bulgaria
Poli Genova has been internally chosen If Love Was A Crime will be released on Monday. Now we can already reveal its lyrics - check them out!
to represent Bulgaria in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. The preview video of her song
Only two days to go until the Bulgarian entry at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest will be revealed: On Monday you can watch the preview video of If Love Was A Crime by Poli Genova right here on Eurovision.tv!
The composers and music producers of the song are Borislav Milanov, Sebastian Arman and Joacim Bo Persson. They are all part of Symphonics & REDFLY, which is already a proved brand in the world of pop music.
Poli Genova took part in the creative process and is co-writer of the lyrics. Now we can already reveal the complete lyrics of the song - check them out below:
More than 1000 tickets to each show went on sale on 29 February
Andres Putting (EBU)
Stockholm, Sweden
The second wave of tickets for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest have gone on sale AXS.com
More tickets to the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest have become available as the plans for the arena in Stockholm have developed further. This means that 10,000 tickets for the nine shows in Stockholm (the live shows and rehearsals) are now available meaning that more people will be able to experience the Eurovision Song Contest in person!
"More people have the opportunity to experience the shows in the Globe Arena and there are several different opportunities. You can take your children to the Family Show or see the Big Five rehearse on stage during the Jury Shows on May 9 and May 11, or get a seat for the Grand Final", said Martin Österdahl, Executive Producer of the 2016
The shows
Tickets are available to the two dress rehearsals held before each live broadcast. The first rehearsal is the Jury Show on the evening before each broadcast, when the jury groups all around Europe watch and cast their votes. The second is the Family Show, a dress rehearsal on the afternoon of the live broadcast.
If you want to see the Big Five rehearse on stage in the Globe Arena you should buy tickets for the Jury Shows on Monday May 9 (Spain and France) or Wednesday May 11 (Germany, Italy and United Kingdom).
Tickets are available for the following shows:
Semi-Final 1 Jury show 9th May 21:00 (performances from France, Spain and Sweden) Semi-Final 1 Dress rehearsal 10th May 15:00 Semi-Final 1 Live broadcast 10th May 21:00
Semi-Final 2 Jury show 11th May 21:00 (performances from Germany, Italy, United Kingdom) Semi-Final 2 Dress rehearsal 12th May 15:00 Semi-Final 2 Live broadcast 12th May 21:00
Update - 4th March
There are currently no tickets available for the following shows:
The Jury Final 13th May 21:00 Final dress rehearsal 14th May 13:00 The Live Grand Final 14th May 21:00
Further information is available on the website of Stockholm Globe Arena. It is strongly recommended that tickets are only purchased through official ticketing partners. Tickets will go on sale through AXS Sweden, the official ticketing partner for 2016. Fans with disabilities should email info@globearenas.se.
The 2016 Eurovision Song Contest 2016 will take place on 10th, 12th and 14th May in Stockholm, Sweden, produced by SVT in collaboration with the City of Stockholm.
Joe and Jake are a brand new musical duo whose debut track, You’re Not Alone, an anthemic pop song with a universal message, won the BBC national final, Eurovision: You Decide and will be representing the United Kingdom at the 61st Eurovision Song Contest.
Joe Woolford, 21 from Ruthin in Wales and Jake Shakeshaft, 20 from Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire first met as fellow competitors on The Voice UK, where they quickly bonded over their love of music, followed by a shared love of peri-peri chicken and football.
Joe and Jake have been passionate about music since an early age. Joe has experimented with various sounds over the years, including rap whilst Jake has always wanted to follow his dream of performing on stage, even teaching himself guitar at the age of 14.
Both Joe and Jake have an eclectic musical taste, citing Bob Marley, Måns Zelmerlöw and Rudimental as their musical influences.
Joe and Jake are a fun loving duo with a natural rapport and a firm friendship. They are extremely proud and excited to be representing the United Kingdom in Stockholm.
Jamala is a Ukrainian singer, composer and actor. She performs music that includes elements of such styles as soul, jazz, funk, folk and electronic. The singer became popular after her participation at The New Wave in 2009. In 2011, she performed her cheerful song Smile in the Ukrainian selection but didn’t win the final. In this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, Jamala will perform her own composition 1944.
Jamala made her first professional record at the age of nine, it was the album of songs for children. She has graduated from the National Music Academy named after Tchaikovsky in Kyiv, majoring in opera singing. Jamala was going to make a career in classical music but in summer 2009 Jamala went to The New Wave, the International Contest of Young Singers in in Jūrmala (Latvia) where she got Grand Prix.
This year, Jamala won YUNA awards such as "Best Album", "Best Duo", "Best Artist" and "Best Song". Besides this she got ELLE Style Award ("Singer of the year"), Ukrainian National Award "Person of the Year" (nomination "Idol of Ukrainians").
Jamala released four albums. The latest record Podykh (Breath) was released in 2015. The singer released 12 official music videos. She played the main female part in the historical drama Guide, which got the best box-office among Ukrainian movies in 2014. Jamala also had a cameo in fantasy movie Polina by Belgian director Olias Barco.
Douwe Bob, 23, was chosen to represent The Netherlands in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. "I write songs and now I have the chance to showcase my music on the largest stage in Europe. I am taking part to win and am happy that I can do so in my own unique way", he said. Douwe will perform Slow Down in the first Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Douwe Bob (23), was born and raised in an Amsterdam artists' family. In 2012 he was voted best singer-songwriter in the Netherlands and has become established in the Dutch music scene with the #1 album Pass It On and hits like Sweet Sunshine and Hold Me Now (duet with Anouk, 2013 Eurovision Song Contest). His music is characterised by the combination of songs rooted firmly in the 60s and 70s but at the same time, has an extremely contemporary sound. A love for music from that time was something he grew up with.
The chemistry with his band members is essential; their live performances at major national and international festivals and their recent tour of the Netherlands, have been described as formidable. Slow Down is a protest song against the demands of modern life. Douwe believes that it is necessary to sit back and look at what is really important in life.
Rykka is a multitalented singer and songwriter who hails from Canada but now calls Switzerland home. She started as an acoustic folk artist, but it was pop music that brought her fame: With The Last Of Our Kind, Rykka convinced both the audience and an expert jury in the Swiss national final in February, and thus won the ticket to Stockholm, where she will represent her home country in May.
Tucked away in the vast hills and deep lakes near Zürich, Switzerland, and in the Canadian wilderness surrounding Vancouver, Rykka has been writing feverishly and honing her next sound. Change has been a constant for the multitalented songwriter, who started as an acoustic folk artist under her name Christina Maria before reinventing herself as Rykka and emerging with an alternative pop bang.
Her new single, The Last Of Our Kind, is a triumphant mega-ballad about standing for love at the end of the world. It was produced by Warne Livesey at Toronto's Coalition Music, and Rykka recorded the vocals in the Swiss village of Belalp. Now, after winning the Swiss national final, Rykka is honoured to represent her homeland in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm.
Her album Beatitudes is an offering to the pop gods, with throbbing beats and mega-choruses contrasted by confessional comedowns. She will spend 2016 on tour, and the album will be out in the fall.
Things you should know about Rykka
What are the most interesting aspects about your entry?
I'm so excited to be representing Switzerland this year with my song, The Last Of Our Kind. It's a song that I wrote with my friends, Mike James, Jeff Dawson and Warne Livesey about standing up for love and what you believe in. We wrote it just for Eurovision, but also for my new album that is coming out this year: Beatitudes.
What are the most impressive facts about you?
I grew up in Vancouver, Canada. My grandfather was from Switzerland and migrated to Canada to set up a beautiful Swiss Bakery, he also played a big part in the Swiss Society of Vancouver. That's where I had my first performance with my brother and sister when I was 9. I started playing guitar and writing my own songs when I was 16, and pretty much since then I've been a full time musician.
Do you have a (lucky) routine before you go on stage?
I surround myself with people who believe in me and who I love. I've had so many people support me for so long, my family and my great friends. I've also met a lot of new supporters, and I'm thankful and so blessed for everyone. It feels good to be part of such an amazing team.
Why is the Eurovision Song Contest important for you?
I really feel it bringing all the best people together. So many people that I have met have so much passion, I feel like I can really connect with that! It's important for me in my life to find other passionate people and appreciate art and talent. It's so special for me to represent Switzerland as well because I live here now and I truly love it SO much. Switzerland is such an important part of who I am in my heritage and in my life today.
Frans (17) became popular at age 7 with a song dedicated to the football player Zlatan Ibrahimovic and made an explosive comeback in this year's Melodifestivalen, the Swedish national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song If I Were Sorry.
Frans Jeppson Wall was born on December 19, 1998 in Ystad, region of Skåne in Southern Sweden. He first gained recognition during the World Cup of 2006 when he released his now famed tribute track paying homage to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, all at the tender age of seven years old. The song, named Who's Da Man swiftly became a phenomenon and Frans was soon crowned "Zlatan- Frans" with and by the Swedish people. This year, 10 years post his original epic homage to Zlatan, Frans is now making an explosive comeback in the Swedish Song ContestMelodifestivalen with his new track If I Were Sorry.
The track is co-written by Fredrik Andersson, Michael Saxell, Oscar Fogelström and Frans himself. Frans performed the song for the very first time in Gävle during the fourth and last semi-final making it directly to the big final at the Friends Arena, Stockholm on March 12th.The single was released immediately after the performance and ascended quickly on the charts. The song is currently #1 on the Swedish Spotify charts, number 1 on the Swedish National single sales chart and the track has since release been streamed more than 4 million times – this despite stiff competition from other strong Melodifestivalen contributions as well as world famous tracks signed by Zayn or Rihanna.
The composers
Fredrik Andersson is a songwriter, producer and executive director of Cardiac Records. In 2015 Fredrik wrote and produced one of the most popular tracks in Sweden, Johnny G with the artist Badpojken. It was also Fredrik who in 2006 wrote the hit Who’s da man with Frans which stayed at the top of the charts for 21 weeks! Fredrik was awarded the Ystad Kommun Culture Prize last year. The prize was recognition for the initiative he had taken in founding the new music course at IMP - Institute of Music and Production.
"We had only one day for the shoot, but we had so much stuff to do! Despite the constant rain, we still managed to get a lot of beautiful shots of some of Armenia's most iconic places. We also tried to include some symbolic elements like apricot trees, a huge chess board and, for the first time, you'll see me making traditional Armenian bread Lavash. It was truly amazing and I'm really looking forward to seeing the postcard in May. I think you're going to love it", explains Iveta Mukuchyan.
