The Voice is a highly successful television singing competition franchise, with versions produced in over 50 countries and regions around the world, so it’s no surprise that eight of this year’s Eurovision performers have a history with The Voice. Seven Eight performers have stood facing the chair backs, desperately hoping for the coaches to turn around, while another Eurovision performer was lucky enough to be seated in one of the power chairs. Let’s take a look.

Albania  – Elhaida Dani

Albanian singler Elhaida Dani made an impact in Italy when she won the first series of The Voice of Italy in 2013, coached by French-Italian rock legend (and former Sanremo winner) Riccardo Cocciante. This is one of her performances from the final, “I Will Always Love You”.

Azerbaijan – Elnur Hüseynov

After being part of Azerbaijan’s Eurovision debut in 2008, Elnur went on to win O Ses Türkiye (The Voice of Turkey) in 2014, coached by Turkish entertainer Ebru Gündes. He auditioned with Sam Smith’s “Latch” and later reprised the song at the final.

https://youtu.be/7Vi8qlbZ9KQ

Belgium – Loïc Nottet

Loïc Nottet competed on The Voice Belgique in 2014, where he placed second, coached by American blues singer (and “Rhythm Inside” lyricist) BJ Scott. Loïc was especially known for his audition performance of Rihanna’s “Diamonds”, but here’s another one of his winning performances from the live shows.

https://youtu.be/1QL5CL0ygLc

Greece – Maria Elena Kyriakou

Maria Elena Kyriakou won the first series of The Voice of Greece in 2014, coached by Greek singer Despina Vandi, who also presented the Greek national final in 2013 and 2014. Here Maria Elena performs Christina Aguilara’s emotional ballad “Hurt”, which brings coach Despina to tears.

Lithuania – Monika Linkyte

Vaidas Baumila had a different talent show background (and we’ll cover that soon), but his singing partner Monika Linkyte was a participant on the second series of Lietuvos Balsas (Lithuanian Voice) in 2014. Coached by 2012 Eurovision representative Donny Montell, she made it to the super final where she placed second. Here’s her duet with Donny in the final.

Netherlands – Trijntje Oosterhuis

Trijntje Oosterhuis served as a coach for three seasons of The Voice of Holland. And being The Voice, there were always opportunities for the coaches to get up on stage. While Triijntje was an established star before her coaching role on The Voice, it still helped cement her reputation as a music legend in the Netherlands. Here’s Trijntje duetting with one of her singers, Leona Philipo, who went on to win the third series.

Norway – Debrah Scarlett

Rock guy Mørland doesn’t have a talent-show background, but his flame-haired singing partner does. Back in 2013 when she was known as Joanna Deborah Bussinger, the future Miss Scarlett was a contestant on The Voice – Norges beste stemme (Norway’s best voice). Here’s her chair-turning version of a Bob Dylan song.

Portugal – Leonor Andrade

Leonor Andrade placed sixth on The Voice Portugal in 2014, coached by the Angolan R&B star Anselmo Ralph. After turning chairs at her audition, Leonor later performed “Turning Tables” by Adele.

United Kingdom – Bianca Nicholas

While her fellow Electro Velvet member Alex Larke was busy gigging as a Mick Jagger impersonator, Bianca Nicholas was giving TV talent shows a shot. She auditioned for The X Factor, and in 2014 made it to the auditions of The Voice. Sadly neither Will.I.Am, Kylie Minogue, Ricky Wilson or Sir Tom Jones turned their chairs around. But little did Bianca know that something much bigger was to soon come her way. Here’s Bianca’s audition, where she performed U2’s ballad “One”.

Read more of our Eurovision lists

34 Comments
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David
David
8 years ago

Monika <3

Lenny
Lenny
8 years ago

Lenore <3 <3 <3

bakuboy
bakuboy
8 years ago

elnur voice is great and wonderful strong the best is ELNUR

Carlos
Carlos
8 years ago

@reddawg, the this is that, Leonor deserved the final of the voice, but in Portugal, most of televoting it´s made by girls, so, in 10 seasons of talent shows in Portugal, about nine seasons are won by Males!

Andy
Andy
8 years ago

@peter… check this video … Leonor playing at home i think… some classic i do not know..and then Muse… Feeling Good!! xD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e07lxYFMUVE

peter
peter
8 years ago

Leonor Andrade singing NINA SIMONE – I put a Spell on you

This is a TOP performance!!! <3 love it!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqdWc68Uu2M

Racal
Racal
8 years ago

I think Elhaida is a great singer and I loved her live version of “I’m alive”, but she doesn’t sound that good on the video up here. She screams more than she sings and she misses quite a few (important) notes. Anyway, I still think she’ll do well in Vienna!

Maria-Elena from Greece is impressive as well!

raquel
raquel
8 years ago

@reddawg: I’m from Portugal, and Leonor never was one of the hot favourites to win since the live shows started. The favourite was Luís Sequeira – Leonor’s now boyfriend -, but in a way that nobody still fully understands the show ended up being won by Rui Drummond who represented Portugal in 2005 in 2B.

reddawg
reddawg
8 years ago

HOw… did Leonor Andrade come in only 6th? She probably actually has the best voice out of all of these people. I find it IMPOSSIBLE to believe there were 5 better contestants on The Voice Portugal… there’s just no way.

Of course Loïc was out of breath, they made him dance around like crazy! He’s still awesome, it was a good performance, just not the best vocal (because again… it’s impossible to dance that much and sound perfect).

Ricardo
Ricardo
8 years ago

Elhaida was stunning at Blind Auditions with Mamma Knows Best of Jessie J. Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGmwz-RiZM8

peter
peter
8 years ago

I think Elhaida have a dull and shrill voice!!

paco
8 years ago

Por España Nalaya Brown la voz de telecinco 2015.A dios le pido verla algun dia en ESC

JimM
JimM
8 years ago

Maria Elena from Greece got really emotional while singing Hurt because her thought went on the death of her 9 year old nephew, a few years ago. Her coach, Despina, was brought to tears because her mind went to her father who has passed away…

Britney
Britney
8 years ago

@Alexa wait, she performed Mamma Knows Best by Jessie J? I have to see it now!

Britney
Britney
8 years ago

Deborah and Elhaida the best!
Lenor should have better song for Eurovision.
I don’t like Maria from Greece and the fact she sang one of my favorite songs ever doesn’t make it better, because I don’t like her performance.

eurana
eurana
8 years ago

Eurovision Song Contest became a big reunion for the best new talent in each country.

mad-professor
mad-professor
8 years ago

@ct
The number of acts they ‘forget’ to turn for is a lot, especially in this year’s series.

Tom
Tom
8 years ago

Loic <3 ^_^

JayKay
JayKay
8 years ago

Monika Linkyte was 2nd in the Voice. you can see her here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnbe9SagK3E
and her coach was Donny Montell (Donatas Montyvydas), who participated in ESC 2012

EF0912
EF0912
8 years ago

Marta Jandova is a judge on the Czech-Slovak version of the voice as well.

xoxo
xoxo
8 years ago

Monika Linkyte should be there as well

Guido
Guido
8 years ago

Magdalena Tul also competed on the Voice of Poland!!

andy
andy
8 years ago

Leonor…. sooooo Top, she´s beautifull!!

AquaWarrior13
AquaWarrior13
8 years ago

You forgot Monika Linkyt? from Lithuania. She competed in The Voice of LT 2013 and got second place…

HeyThere
HeyThere
8 years ago

ELHAIDAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ct
ct
8 years ago

Elhaida – at first I was underwhelmed but she nailed it in the end. Bravo. Elnur – terrible facial expressions and bad english accent. Even more grating than I remember him ESC. And what is someone who has already competed in ESC doing at The Voice anyway? Loic – I love him but he sounds out of breath when he dances on “Love me again” Maria Elena – Not a very big fan of her Aguillera impersonations, I prefer the Kelly Clarkson numbers she did for the Voice. It’s too bad that she picked an Aguillera-like song for ESC. Bianca… Read more »

Giorgos
Giorgos
8 years ago

Maria Elena is THE BEST!! Amazing voice!<3

james
james
8 years ago

Leonor andrade i love you <3
Anselmo Ralph <3 REPRESENT PORTUGAL PLEASE!

Mario My Vision of Gay Love
Mario My Vision of Gay Love
8 years ago

Im really not a fan of these music talent shows like Voice or XFactor with this lame unfair format…The contestants should not get separated and mentored by a certain coach as obviously each coach/mentor wants to save his/her own players or has them in more priority than the others rest players..

I prefer all the way the format that exists on the American Idol for example…Each player singer then does not get put on cliques and the judges then vote with much more fair non biased criteria..

Deniz@TurkNL
Deniz@TurkNL
8 years ago

The Netherlands invented The Voice > Without the voice, no fame for these artists > no artists > No good eurovisionartists.

No, that was just lame. I am sorry.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
8 years ago

I watched all of Elnur’s performances on the voice of Turkey and he was so much better than anyone else on the show. Such a talent. He also put in an excellent performance in Notre Dame de Paris!

alessio
alessio
8 years ago

elhaida is amazing

Alexa
Alexa
8 years ago

Elhaida’s voice is incredible! I loved her “Mamma knows best” performance in her blind audition!

Peter
Peter
8 years ago

Omg. The Greek girl, Maria Elena is awesome. I have underestimated her. Please post some other videos with her! I almost cried with her performance. 12 points