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 nine of this year’s Eurovision performers have a history with The Voice. 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 those powerful chairs. Let’s take a look.
Armenia: Iveta Mukuchyan
In her home country of Armenia, Iveta was a contestant on Hay Superstar (Armenian Idol) in 2009, where she placed fifth. Then in 2012, she competed on The Voice of Germany, with the coaching of Xavier Naidoo. Iveta was eliminated in the duel stage of the live shows. Here Iveta performs “Euphoria” at her audition (watch the full clip here).
Azerbaijan: Samra Rahimli
Samra is a veteran of two series of The Voice. In 2015 she made it to the quarter finals of O Ses Türkiye (The Voice of Turkey), and earlier this year she made it all the way to the final of Ses Azerbaycan (The Voice of Azerbaijan). Here’s her audition in her home country, where she tackled Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball”.
Belgium: Laura Tesoro
In 2014, Belgium’s 2015 act Loïc Nottet placed second on the French-language The Voice Belgique. Around the same time, his future Eurovision successor placed second on the Flemmish version, The Voice van Vlaanderen (The Voice of Flanders). Here’s Laura duetting with her coach Koen Wauters on Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'”.
Croatia: Nina Kraljic
Nina got her start in 2009 when she came 10th on Supertalent (Croatia’s Got Talent), where one of the judges was Croatia’s 2012 representative, Nina Badric. Then in 2015 Ms Kraljic appeared on The Voice – Najljepši glas Hrvatske (The Voice of Croatia) which she went on win. Here Nina puts a diva spin on Metallica’s rock ballad “Nothing Else Matters”.
Cyprus: Francois Micheletto (Minus One)
Minus One frontman François surprised Eurovision fans when he appeared on France’s The Voice: la plus belle voix, as the live shows would clash with his Eurovision duties. His audition song impressed the judges and he went through to the next round. Conveniently enough, though, he was eliminated in the battle round, leaving him free to do Eurovision.
France: Amir
Amir got his break on the Israeli talent show Kokhav Nolad (A Star Is Born) in 2006, where he was eliminated at the fourth stage. But eight years later, he had a huge boost from his appearance on France’s The Voice: la plus belle voix. Coached by pop singer Jenifer, he eventually came third overall, with Kendji Girac winning the series. Here Amir’s grand final performance of John Legend’s “All of Me”.
https://youtu.be/uhyZvzWfdJM
Germany: Jamie-Lee Kriewitz
17-year-old Jamie-Lee Kriewitz impressed judges and viewers alike when she appeared on The Voice of Germany last year, going on to win the series. Her Voice winner’s single “Ghost” would later become her entry in Germany’s national final, where it won her the ticket to Stockholm.
Russia: Sergey Lazarev
Sergey brought his pop experience to Holos Krainy (The Voice of Ukraine) as a coach in the 2014 series. He sat alongside Ukraine’s 2008 representative (and Sergey’s BFF) Ani Lorak. Yeah, he duetted with his acts, but it’s more fun to watch this video of Sergey doing a really nerdy laugh.
United Kingdom: Joe & Jake
Joe and Jake first met on series four of The Voice UK. Joe was in Rita Ora’s group, while Jake had will.i.am as his coach. Both singers were eliminated in the early live shows, but a friendship was formed, which led to their eventual Eurovision partnership.
Update:
Lithuania: Donny Montell
When he’s not being Eurovision star Donny Montell, the Lithuanian singer is Donatas Montvydas, coach on Lietuvos Balsas (The Voice of Lithuania). He’s spent three years on the show, and has been the winning coach twice, first with Justina Budaite, and more recently with Kotryna Juodzeviciute.
Coming soon: we’re also taking a look at Eurovision stars who found fame on other television talent shows, including The X Factor and Idol.
Joe’s voice is very powerful I didn’t expect that! He deserves a better song than ‘You’re not alone’
@Robyn
It’s really cool to see that you’re assuming your omission ! 😀
Nina has a really beautiful voice, and Amir is very touching with”all of me” and has a beautiful voice.
@Robyn
Wow, don’t worry.
Micha? Szpak – X FACTOR POLAND
Nina just slayed everyone.
@love the baltic boys Robyn has her own logic.
@Felix Prochain that’s exacly why Donny should be inculed! If they included Sergey who was a coach, they should have included Donny too..
@love the baltic boys, why should the coaches be included anyways?
Instead of Iveta we got here a picture of coach Sergay Lazarev who has never taken part in the competition.
Nina is just <3 She makes every song just as it should be. Whether it's gentle like Lighthouse, or she belts it out like what she did with She Wolf (goosebumps), or turns it around completely like with Wicked Games.
Samra sounds awful in her blind audition. Never seen someone being THAT off key and being cheered on that much, this looks ridiculous. If that got 4 chairs to turn around, I can’t imagine what the other contestants sounded like. 🙁
Ninaa *–* <3
Ok, Nina is breathtaking… I’m speechless…
Why didn’t you include Donny??? He was a coach too
Samra is so beautiful..
But Nina Wow, just Wow
@William Lee Adams – Lithuania’s Donny Montell was a coach on The Voice of Lithuania (Lietuvos Balsas) in 2013, 2014 (winning coach) and 2015 (winning coach). In 2013 he coached Monika Linkyte (last year’s Lithuania’s representative along with Vaidas) who came second.
Check that voice, Nina the queen!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDVK-xZv9Esoo&v=EKCizY2M1no
Gosh Nina *-*
sergey slays.
Nina and Amir ?