Gabriela Guncíková took them to their first ever Eurovision final in 2016. And now the Czech Republic has chosen her successor — it’s Martina Barta.
We already knew that the Czech Republic had a singer lined up, but, until today, we didn’t know who.
However, with speculation mounting, all signs seemed to point towards Martina, an up-and-coming jazz singer.
Just yesterday, the Czech team dropped a photo from the recording studio in London. The picture included the top of a mystery woman’s head, we now know it to be Martina.
The news became somewhat official, when Martina’s jazz band 4 To The Bar published details on their website, although the post appears to have been subsequently removed.
The news has now been confirmed. The Czech team have made it official, with a post promising a the song and video clip will be coming soon.
Who is Martina Barta?
That is the question on everybody’s lips. Martina is not even particularly well-known in the Czech Republic.
In fact, hardly anyone knows her — at the time of writing she has only a handful of likes on her Facebook page and less than 50 YouTube subscribers.
Of course, this is not a sign of her talent, as she has a lot to offer.
Based in Berlin, the jazz singer also plays the French horn.
Jazz is quite a popular genre in the Czech Republic and if you walk around the streets of Prague you can find plenty of jazz clubs.
Martina is currently participating in Sinatrology — a swing gala night — alongside Dasha, the singer who was in discussions with Ceska Televize last year.
Martina’s song has yet to be revealed, but Czech fans are already predicting yet another ballad, which has been the trend since the Central European nation returned to the contest in 2015
Jan Bors, the head of the Czech delegation, avoided giving a clear answer when asked directly. Instead, he explained that the broadcaster received many different songs, mostly ballads though, and it all depends on the quality of the song.
He also mentioned that there were no songs from Czech composers in the shortlisted top five.
If it is a jazz track to match the style of the singer, then it would be a risky step, as the genre is not particularly popular at Eurovision.
At the same time, it may stand out. In the end everything will depend on the song and its execution. We just need to do wait and see.
Are you excited about the Czech entry? Let us know in the comments below!
Wow, jazz in ESC? I’d love the idea of it.
To those who say jazz was featured before, with Roger Cicero and Valentina, how well did it work for them?
I agree with what people say…..as a jazz singer, she should also enter jazz to ESC! That is music integretity, simply so
@Erasmus – I love rock My favburite style in ESC 🙂 Almost all rock songs hgave bveen in my top 10. Should be more rock in ESC
Jazz…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y177m0ZuZGg
This could lead to something really cool, but I fear that it will lead to something that only the diehard Eurovision fans will appreciate. Jazz doesn’t usally translate well to just 3 minutes. But hey, Germany sent a big band song back in 2007, so who knows.
Wow! I love her voice! I think that it´s time to something different at ESC! ESC needs more than pop! Good desicion 😉
Also remember, Valentina Monetta is a jazz singer and I dont hear any whining from you guys, so what gives?
I just checked her YouTube video. She sings flawless my. Clear vocals and enunciation, unique and controlled voice. Different because it’s jazz. Italy did well coming second with a jazz style did it not?
I honestly would love a sultry sexy jazz slow song, but not a ballad. And not too slow. Like you are entering a bar with smoke and oozing sensual appeal with the piano man and the lone woman singing whilst the people watch and drink etc.
The fact she’s a jazz singer doesn’t indicate anything, even the genre of the song.
It would be a jazz song, but I don’t know how well they’ll do with that.
I hope for a modern sound, a contemporary song with just jazz elements. It would be great!
Great to hear news from Czech Republic!
we have low ratings because Czech Television doesn’t do any propagation, time of broadcasting is also bad, ratings on tuesdays and thursdays always wins the most watched tv series in here and sadly a lot of people prefer it over eurovision and now they have chosen her, nobody knows her in here. i think that low ratings are czech televisions fault, i don’t get why we didn’t participate in previous years i mean before 2007
Please be Jazz
jazz in eurovision never worked and never will. Still cant understand why czech republic doesnt have an interest in eurovision (in the past years they had very low ratings)
I never listen to jazz in my free time, but everytime I hear it, I actually like it – just like “It Had Better Be Tonight” above. So, if her song at least contains some jazz elements, that’d be great!
I think Jazz would not be bad idea. since three known song are ballads but Hod said it will be litlle slower song so yeah ballad agian
I’d love a song like Caro Emerald’s fun jazzy style. If Czech Republic sends a song like That Man, then they surely would be one of my winners.
What’s wrong with jazz? Jamala is a jazz singer too
As long as it isn’t a jazz song it could do really well. Last year Gabriela was a rock singer but came with a pop ballad, so I don’t know if her previous work is an indicator of what her Eurovision song will sound like.
She’s a great singer and probably skilled as hell. Sings flawless in English
Good.Hope she sings jazz.
If a song is good it doesn’t matter what genre it is. I really don’t like rock or anything similar, but my favourite song from 2014 is from Finland, Something Better, it’s rock-pop but still..
I am Czech and I am really disappointed, I hope that song will be good enough. However how can they choose someone that nobody knows in here in Czech Republic? Ratings are already really bad and this definitely won’t improve them, even though we got to the final last week, many people still dislike it because of our stupid journalists, they write about Eurovision only in a negative way. Average age of jury who chose the singer is more than 50, that’s silly
I hope her song will keep at least a little jazz flavour, if not 100%.
The song above, ”It had better be tonight”, is it quick step ?
And why wouldn’t they send a jazz entry? If it’s the genre of their singer, it actually makes sense. Don’t ask her to sing in a genre she’s not comfortable with!
There’s no reason why jazz would not score well at ESC. Bad songs score badly, not jazz songs.
I was hoping for Mikolas Josef or Lenny – two amazing young singers from Czech republic. Well, even when I live here, I haven’t heard of Martina Barta yet. But from what I listened now, she CAN sing. I hope, we won’t send another ballad too… But I expect we will – to the top 5 songs managed to get only songs from abroad, so songs by songwriters, who are sending songs like to 10 countries for ESC, so it obviously sounds usually generated, boring and without soul… Yes, I am afraid, our jurors picked something like this. Let’s hope… Read more »
Mar – I agree! It was a real disappointment last year. A “cool” rock singer, but her song was a dull, generic pop ballad….and will they fall into that trap this year? Will be a disappointment! Musical integreity and honesty is important…to say authentic and true to youer music rules! DON’T try to “make up” something “gight” for ESC…it’s never right musially!
I really hope its not another ballad from Czech Republic. What’s the point of getting rock and now jazz singers and not have them perform songs from their repertoir and genre? Seems like an odd route to take.
I think it’d be really cool to have a quality jazz entry (a.k.a not Electro Velvet)
Just because she sings jazz doesn’t mean the song will be jazz. There’s a difference.
Last year they sent a rock singer who sang a pop ballad. Not much rock there…
So keep calm everybody!
If it turns out to be jazz, well maybe in a year with many ballads it might stand out!
Song with jazz sound or similar sound did n good very well with result Moldova 2008, Germany 2007.
I think they think jazz is not standard for Eurovision stage and becuase that , they will get so many points from juries and some from televote.
I think we wili another flop for Czech Republic in semi .
this doesn’t bode well
i get the same vibes i did from electro velvet oh no
A left field choice from Czechia.
(Well, I suppose I did tell them to stand out this year!)
It could be good; I look forward to hearing the song. 🙂
Cool to hear news from The Czech Republic. I would love if she indeed sung a jazzy song, cause genre diversity is important.
Now only 4 more countries to make some sort of reveal – Russia, Croatia, Australia and San Marino.
Love everyone is so quick to judge before even knowing what song its gonna be. Calm yourselves readers
I’m excited to see what the Czech Republic brings this year
The only time I can really think of jazz working was in 2011 with Italy. That was jazz right?
But ngl, I’m craving for the Czech Republic to win this contest. First, because it’s one of the prettiest countries I’ve seen in my life (I’d gladly move there after university), and second, because they have the money for it. Here in Italy the Czech Republic is perceived as an Eastern European country, but it really feels like Germany when you’re there.
A jazz singer? Lady Gaga’s impact is so global, whew. Y’all keep in mind that Marie N from Latvia is a jazz singer and she won, so let’s not rule this Martina Bárta girl out until we hear the song!
Czech Republic sending a woman ballad in a super killer semifinal where nearly all songs are ballads by women so far? Not good.
Oh, give me ALL THAT JAZZ! <3
I dream about the day when the pop songs on ESC will be voted down in oblivion. 🙂
Eurovision is about diversity. Jazz would be fine. But Czech Rep had perfect rock singers in last years and they sung ballads. Now they have jazz singer and she will sing ballad too. So it has no sense. It would be next mediocre pop with next female solo. Why I can be original and different, if I can be like the others. Booooring. Celebrate diversity? No.
Some of you guys are just….weird, I mean, how can you say it will flop or think that after two years of improvement, this is a step back. Have you guys heard the song yet? Tell me where I can listen to it. Im getting tired of these people… these people think only they know exactly what will do well in Eurovision and what not. All musicgenres are welcome to Eurovision, please be a bit more open minded lol and just wait for the song before you judge.
It’s a safe choice, maybe too safe, but let’s wait for the song
I love-love-love jazz, but generally, people hate it. I am absolutely excited about a jazz song, but it won’t do well at Eurovision.
why are people so negative towards jazz? this is great and will most definitely stand out at the contest! 🙂
Feeling not so well. Jazz won’t really catch viewers’ attention unless there is something memorable or well choreographed on it. However, I wont ‘judge’ unless the song comes out. Wish Martina and the Czech Republic all the best 🙂
That might be pretty interesting imo.
Get ready to flop… :/
Jazz? Sounds interesting! Will add a nice and innovative falvour to ESC. Musical diversity is very important. There have been great jazz songs in ESC before….all the way back to “Heute In Jerusalem” (1979) and songs from the 50/60.
In 2007, the country had a brilliant song as a debut (which was somewahat “pearls before swine” in ESC though). Kabat had been a leading metal band for many decades in Czechia, and their song was excellent. Since then, they have mostly generated songs which have been quite “meh” for me…So it might change this year 🙂
Really? The last two years they have improved so much.. and now they’re going for a jazz singer? :/