Potential Eurovision 2017 singers

Off season is a strange time of year for a Eurovision fan. The PED (Post Eurovision Depression) cloud is just beginning to lift, but the contest is still the guts of a year away. The nearest national final is in December and the junior equivalent won’t be on for ages. Even wiwivision is over! Despite the sunshine, the summer months can be bleak. It would be easy to mope until November, but the wiwibloggs team have a better plan. We’ve decided to dream.

For the next few Wednesdays our correspondents from across the world will be bringing you their ultimate wishlist for Ukraine 2017. And as this is all fantasy, we’ll also be taking a look at absentee countries, both long and short term. Because in our dream contest everyone comes to the party! To make sure that no one gets left out, we’ll be working through countries in alphabetical order, so this week we’re starting with Croatia and working through to Greece.

Croatia: Lana Jurcevic

Antranig: It’s been a long time since Croatia were at the top of the Eurovision leaderboard. While “Lighthouse” took them to the final in 2016, Lana Jurcevic could go even further. It’s not Eurovision without a Balkan dance song and Lana would be just the person to deliver one in 2017. With millions of views on YouTube and a wide variety of music in her repertoire, Lana is exactly what Croatia needs. Pack your tanning lotion and towels and let her lead you to the beach in “Ludo Ljeto”.

Past wishes: Franka Batelic and Luce

Cyprus: Metaxas

Jason: Cyprus has never really set Eurovision alight, crashing out in the semis on six occasions in the past ten years. Boo! Nikolas Metaxas, the runner-up on Greek X Factor‘s first season, could be the man to finally smash the island’s lacklustre record. Nikolas (or Metaxas as he seems to go by) competed to represent his country in 2008, and in fact wrote the 2009 Cypriot entry “Firefly”, which was sung by his sister Christina. His YouTube channel features many covers of old and new hits, as well as new material such as the haunting “Selene”, giving us an idea of what he could bring to the contest. Because who doesn’t love a brooding Cypriot hunk?

Past wishes: Valando Tryfonos and Kyriacos Georgiou

Czech Republic: Lenny

Mikhail: After seeing Czech Republic reach the final for the first time this year, we’re confident that their results will only get better. And there are lots of artists who could help them achieve continued success. Lenny is definitely one of the most promising. Young and ambitious, she possess a truly remarkable voice. She writes her own songs, giving them a unique flavour. Flirting with both pop and indie, she released two EPs in 2013. Her single “All My Love” was huge. She won over the public immediately, picking up the “Newcomer of the Year” award at the Ceny Andel music awards. In September she will release her first album “Hearts”, from which you can already here the single “Hell.O”. Maybe there will be something on the record that could conquer Eurovision…

Past wishes: Verona and Veronika Stýblová

Denmark: Turboweekend & Oh Land

Deban: Denmark is bursting with talent. This was partly documented in our Dansk Melodi Grand Prix wishlist back in February. But there’s more. Rather than picking a single artist or act, I’m being cheeky and proposing a grand collaboration. A fusion of Turboweekend and Oh Land could bag a trophy at Eurovision. Four talented musicians who have worked together in several constellations solidify as one united force — Turboweekend. Their synth-rock sound has brought them four successful albums and made them a staple at music festivals across the continent. Their collaboration with Oh Land — another four album heavyweight starlet — gives us a peek of what we could expect at Eurovision. Oh Land, the daughter of a pianist and an opera singer has sass, sparkle and perhaps one of the most versatile voices in today’s music industry. Their fusion would definitely shake up the leaderboard.

Past wishes: Ida Corr and Stine Bramsen

Estonia: IIRIS

Padraig: Estonia is in a bit of a dour and depressing rut. Sometimes that works — see Elina & Stig — other times it fails massively — hi Jüri. They need to shake things up, banish the grey clouds whilst retaining their quintessentially alternative spirit. Step forward IIRIS. The 25 year old tried to represent the Baltic country twice before, finishing second in 2008 and fourth in 2010. However, while those results were respectable, they don’t reflect the artist she’s evolved into today. Back then she’d yet to discover her quirky yet appealing sound. She cemented her place in the Estonian consciousness with the release of “Tigerhead” in 2013, her best known hit. It fuses oriental sounds and imagery in ways that Germany’s Jaime Lee can only dream of. Since then she’s been on a bit of hiatus, but she returned in a big way earlier this year, releasing an EP and co-writing Cartoon’s Eesti Laul entry “Immortality”. The woman has both the talent and desire needed for Eurovision. Send her already!

Past wishes: Jaan Lehepuu and Liis Lemsalu

Finland: Niila

Sami: While Finland’s national selection Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) has gotten better every year, one problem remains — it’s mostly open for newcomers and the county’s biggest stars show no interest in taking part. Luckily there are some great new talents, and Niila is one of them. After supporting Sunrise Avenue on their German tour, Niila performed to huge audiences and his debut album was released in Germany through one of the country’s biggest record labels. Niila’s sound is very international and despite being slightly melancholic, his melodies are extremely catchy. After failing to qualify twice in a row, Niila might have that something to get Finland back in the final.

Past wishes: Laura Närhi and Anna Abreu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN4Ac2HsW0w

France: Brigitte

Zakaria: When it comes to Eurovision, we all know that originality stands out and it’s fortunate because Brigitte have plenty of it. In a total league of their own, Brigitte is a duo consisting of Aurélie and Sylvie. They joined forces and decided to go indie after failed attempts with their respective bands. Since 2010, they have experimented with all kinds of music, from soul to folk to psychedelic rock. And the they are killing it! Their voices match perfectly and they possess an unmatchable charm and sense of showmanship thanks to their over-the-top and very sensual stage performances. Not surprising when you know that the band was named after French sex symbol Brigitte Bardot, ooh là là.

Past wishes: Mylène Farmer and Amel Bent

Georgia: NINI

Jordi: Following 2016’s big experiment with an indie-alternative band and electronic vibes, let me introduce you to Nini Bregvadze (or just NINI). She’s a 20 year-old hip hop, R&B, pop artist with a truly amazing voice and a strong personality. Her urban styled music mixes hip hop roots with pop and soul. She recently released her debut album Crazy I, in which you can find powerful and meaningful lyrics and a strong voice. My summer obsession is “Ocean”, with a characteristic dark essence that also worked well with Nina Sublatti in 2015. I’m also really into “Born for Peace”. NINI stood out in the Georgian version of The X Factor in 2015, and I would love to see her flying the Georgian flag in Ukraine.

Past wishes: Katie Melua and BERA

Germany: Glasperlenspiel

Patrick: Germany is failing badly at Eurovision lately. They need to make changes pretty fast and get their mojo back. It is time for something different and maybe the German language could be the answer. Glasperlenspiel is an electropop band made up of Carolin Nymczik and Daniel Grunenberg. Funnily enough they started singing in a Catholic youth choir before coming together as Glasperlenspiel. They participated in the Bundesvision Song Contest twice, and since then they’ve had several chart hits, made music for TV shows and had lots of concerts. Glasperlenspiel could — and surely would — turn Germany’s string of bad results into gold.

Past wishes: Mandy Capristo and Oonagh

https://youtu.be/oi_9I392Fos

Greece: Kings

Andy: If there is one country that could and should incorporate rap into their entry for 2017, it is Greece. And it should be with the hip-hop group Kings. They consistently work their way up the charts, releasing catchy and current singles that still have that saucy sexy Greek flavor. Greece is one of the most consistent countries at Eurovision when it comes to qualifying for the final — at least until this year. It’s time for Greece to return to the formula that makes it so popular across Europe — give us an upbeat song we can get down to, at least on the the dance floor.

Past wishes: Eleni Foureira and Tamta

What do y’all think? Have we chosen the best of the best? Or would y’all have chosen differently? As always let us know below. And check back next Wednesday to read our choices for Hungary through to Malta.

CHECK OUT OUR PREVIOUS WEDNESDAY WISHLISTS.

27 Comments
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Gavin
Gavin
7 years ago

What is it with Balkan Dance songs and pretending to be Spanish or Latin American? Being from Mexico, it is very odd.

Zu Zu
Zu Zu
7 years ago

Malou for Greece is the best choice for now (check out this song:”tous eipes pos”). Demy is terrible live.

Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

Barbora Poláková for Czech Republic please, she’s AWESOME!

stojko
stojko
7 years ago

Since you asked what do we think (my previous message didn’t get through for some reason) I’m telling you Kings would be one of the worst choices. Weak live vocals, soulless copycat music, a sexist use of the female body in their clips (though they tried to make up for this by having guys in trunks in their MAD VMA performance). Greece needs someone like: Demos Anastasiades, Malu, George Sambanis, MELISSES etcetera

Amdiron
Amdiron
7 years ago

These all are great songs, but I remeber most the Czech one. It just got stuck in my head, so I played some more of her songs and wow, this girl is awesome!

Steven Keenan
7 years ago

Love Oh Land so much! Would definitely love to see her for Denmark her music is so quirky and entrancing.

Hello hi
Hello hi
7 years ago

Christine and the queens for FRANCE
Perfect for a modern eurovision ..
Imagine this perfection at Eurovision

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o2VKaH2sKtU

Gav
Gav
7 years ago

Why is this not the wiwivision? How you came up with the selection you did is beyond me as all the songs were so bland. Yet all the songs presented here are fantastic and diverse! I don’t get it.

Héctor
Héctor
7 years ago

I find these songs far better than the ones participating for each country in the Wiwivision. I don’t know why you didn’t choose some of these.

YOUR STUPID!
YOUR STUPID!
7 years ago

That Georgian girl looks like nina sublati O_o

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
7 years ago

For Denmark, I want to see either Nabiha or Medina take the stage at ESC 2017.

For Greece, Demy, before anyone else.

For Germany, I hope Madeline Juno tries again. If not her, maybe Oonagh or Fahrenhaidt.

esc1234
esc1234
7 years ago

kings? hahahahahaha thats a good joke. the past wishes are the ones that should represent greece the next years…

Sarah Boucher
7 years ago

Perviy Kanal can pick Sestry Tolmachevy with a russian language folky number about Snoopy.

khm
khm
7 years ago

Ugh, Lana Jur?evi? with uptempo. NO. Just NO.

Yoyo360
Yoyo360
7 years ago

I’m French and I had absolutely never heard about those girls. And honestly this is not at all what I like (but it’s only personnal).

Aaaannnd this “oh la la” thing is just totally ridiculous ???????????? You should learn how we use it in French… it does not mean at all that something is sexy????????

Jr esc nl
Jr esc nl
7 years ago

I really want Iiris for estonia????, but glasperlenspiel is a bit out of reach i think

Vladimir P.
Vladimir P.
7 years ago

Serbia: Emina Jahovic or Ivana Jordan

cheesecake
cheesecake
7 years ago

Good wishlist this week!

Niki
Niki
7 years ago

Still hoping for Oonagh to represent Germany… ? 😀

loving_ya_harder
loving_ya_harder
7 years ago

All the songs are OK! Greek one is bad tho..

D
D
7 years ago

I 100% agree with Glasperlenspiel, NINI, and Iiris, I’m a big fan of both of them. I think Kerli would be great for Estonia as well, and SAARA would be amazing for Finland.

Vanaynay
Vanaynay
7 years ago

Germany: Madeline Juno!

Ruud
Ruud
7 years ago

Omg that Greek song is terrible

Angelos
Angelos
7 years ago

GREECE <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

johanleekens
johanleekens
7 years ago

I think Mark Forster would be great for Germany as well.
He is a bit like Roman Lob (at least they have the same style of music) and he has made some pretty good music lately.
Germany wouldn’t end last with him, that’s for sure.
Though I don’t know if he would be open for Eurovision.