Bulgaria‘s track record in recent years has shown they are a country to watch. Now the national broadcaster BNT has revealed the names of the 13 songs that are vying to be Bulgaria’s entry for Lisbon. And there are some intriguing clues.

The submission period ended on 29 December and the broadcaster has revealed some statistics about this year’s entries.

A record 202 songs were received this year. However, Bulgaria isn’t just looking for a song. Their internal selection process is specifically looking for an entire project: song, singer, staging, the works. From the 202 songs, there were only 13 workable projects. But as BNT points out, their emphasis is quality over quantity.

The internal selection process is open to international creatives, as long as they are collaborating with Bulgarians. There are five such teams, including three international artists.

Most intriguingly, the statistics mention one returning artist. A few names have been mentioned amongst fans, but the one name that keeps getting mentioned is that of Eurovision 2012 winner Loreen. The Swedish artist proved earlier this year with “Statements” that she was open to a Eurovision return. We don’t know if there’s any truth to this rumour — there are many possible returning artists, after all — but anything is possible!

The 13 songs

BNT also revealed the titles of the 13 songs projects that are vying to follow Poli Genova and Kristian Kostov to Eurovision.

  • “A New Home”
  • “Bad News”
  • “Bones”
  • “Choosing”
  • “Cold as Ice”
  • “Collide”
  • “Colours”
  • “Love Never Lies”
  • “Lovers to Enemies”
  • “Rebirth”
  • “Sky Symphony”
  • “Two Hearts Collide”
  • “You Will be the Change”

The broadcaster has also started to drop hints about the character of each of the competing songs. BNT will give hints about three songs each day.

First is “Colours”, which is described as a “catchy uptempo tune”, “radio and chart-friendly”, “very modern” and with an “RnB flavour”.

Next is “Bad News”. This is described as “a mix between Broadway-style tune and radio-friendly commercial sound. Out of the box combination.”

Today we also learned about “Bones”. This is described as a “dark, modern, ‘silent’/soulful ballad”, with “deep emotions”, “very spiritual” and with a “powerful chorus”.

And finally today there was “Sky Symphony”. It’s described as “uptempo, optimistic” and with a “slight Euroasian flavour”.

The Bulgarian team has one month to pick their entry for Lisbon. The 13 projects will be assessed by various focus groups. The broadcaster aims to not just find the best song in demo form but to find the best entry for Eurovision 2018.

The act will be selected by 31 January, but it won’t be revealed to the public until 12 March. In the six weeks between selection and announcement, the song will be given a post-production polish. Afterall, with two top-five finishes in the last two years, Bulgaria has a track record to uphold.

What do you think of the 13 song titles? Who do you think the returning artist is? Share your thoughts below!

READ MORE BULGARIA EUROVISION NEWS

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Lewis S
Lewis S
6 years ago

Question: Were the maNga rumours put to rest? If not is there a possibility they could be the returning artist? Just wondering.

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

We already have the Bulgarian entry among these songs! So excited!

The truth is “Bones” sounds like a song Loreen would sing. However, I don’t think she’ll compete basically because she’s not Bulgarian. The description seems promising. Dark and modern, deep emotions.
“Colours” is catchy,uptempo and radio friendly. All these sound good, but the title worries me a bit.
The other 2 don’t seem like sth exceptional.

Christian
Christian
6 years ago

That means, all the songs are in English? That’s a little disappointing.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Christian

So you point this out… in English. 😀
I don’t know Bulgarian, but I’ll try to do it in French:
“Donc, toutes les chansons sont en anglais? C’est un peu décevant.”

Happy New Year / Bonne année !

Kaz
Kaz
6 years ago

Bones sounds the best from the descriptions given. I really like how Bulgaria are constantly keeping the fans up to date and giving us tidbits of information to keep us excited.

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

Colours was in last year’s selection as well. It’s a BOP.

Aaron
Aaron
6 years ago

Is there an online version of it to listen to? 🙂

Nikos
Nikos
6 years ago

I like that the song titles are very unique for Eurovision. Except for Love Never Lies, which is yet another love,love,peace,peace (and reminds me of Hope Never Dies).

My wild guess for the returning artist is Miroslav Kostadinov from 2010 “Angel si ti”. Too soon in my opinion for Kristian to return, and I don’t think Poli will return again. We love her but only Valentina seems to return for 3+ contests these days 🙂

brunowskii
brunowskii
6 years ago

Nice production from BNT…
Bulgaria is really deserving to be the next stage for ESC…

Eeuuaa
Eeuuaa
6 years ago

Are we going to be able to hear all these songs? Or do we just get to hear the one they pick to represent Bulgaria?

I don’t mean for this to be a stupid question, I just think that all of this teasing and hype is pointless if we only get to hear one out of the 13.

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
6 years ago
Reply to  Eeuuaa

EXACTLY. That was, what I was thinking…

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Eeuuaa

I don’t know either. I have asked this question to Robyn in the next Bulgaria post thread.

EUROFAN MEXICO
EUROFAN MEXICO
6 years ago

SOFI IS COMMING BACK

Daniel_2017
Daniel_2017
6 years ago
Reply to  EUROFAN MEXICO

That would be great!

ZVP
ZVP
6 years ago
Reply to  EUROFAN MEXICO

They/BNT/ will say who will be our next person/or group/ to present Bulgaria in ESC Lisbon 2018. But i dont know about her to be one of the people who can be selected in 12th of March.

Zoe
Zoe
6 years ago

I’m really excited to hear Sky Symphony and Bad News! They both sound really interesting

NINASUBLATTI
NINASUBLATTI
6 years ago

I DON’T WANT TO SEE KRISTIAN IN EUROVISION AGAIN. JUST NO, BULGARIA!!!!!!

H5rre
H5rre
6 years ago

I don’t get why people think Kristian is coming back. I like him, he’s talented and I enjoyed his entry in 2017 but it’s just too soon to bring him back. Wouldn’t mind him coming back in a few more years but to bring him back a year after he only just competed at Eurovision would be too soon.

I think the returning artist will either be Sofi Marinova or Poli Genova again which I would love to see any of these two amazing artists return again ?

EscAU
EscAU
6 years ago

Something upbeat ethnic and true to the region like Sofi Marinova (Bg 2012 was the closest we’ll get to seeing Inna at the contest) Though maybe Romania will being something like her new stuff

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
6 years ago

I hope it’s not going to be Kris again. I kinda feel like enough is enough. A song and a place so good won’t be achieved two years in a row with the same Artist… There’s also the risk, that they try to copy the concept from the year before. He should be satisfied with his 2nd place if you ask me.

Katelynn Hinton
Katelynn Hinton
6 years ago
Reply to  Weißbrot

Ambition isn’t a quality he should be ashamed of. Ambition is what’s got him to where he is today and ambition is what will get him very at in life. He’s a celebrity at 17 years old I don’t think you should tell him that he should be “satisfied without his second place” if you haven’t achieved anything that he hasn’t already achieved.

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
6 years ago

I’m not telling him what to do, I’m just saying, that it’s too soon to come to Eurovision again. And I’m not the only one saying that… He can come back to Eurovision in a few years, but not now. It’s just my opinion, why are you so salty at me? 😀

Tihomir
Tihomir
6 years ago
Reply to  Weißbrot

Kristian is not participating in Eurovision 2018
I am from Bulgaria and I know from his interview on TV. Please stop speculating about it

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Tihomir

1. That’s sour.
2. Why is BNT releasing details of its internal selection process in the first place. Can you explain?

I thought maybe the whole point was to provoke “speculation”?
There seems to be a misunderstanding here.

Tihomir
Tihomir
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Bulgarian society is sensitive when it comes transparency. Last year there were accusations against BNT that the selection was set up and the winner was decided before the selection.
So they are trying to be more open and close to the fans as much as possible in an internal selection. Also this is a good idea for marketing

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Tihomir

Ah, okay. Thanks for explaining.

bella
bella
6 years ago
Reply to  Tihomir

Oh !But he sparkled a rumour .What did exactly he say?

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Ok, they said it’s not Loreen, so I’m guessing it might really be Kris again.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

There are 13 candidates though, we may never know who it is…

Dyon Trible
Dyon Trible
6 years ago

I hope the returning artist is Sofi Marinova!

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

Unless I’m reading it wrong, then having a returning artist is still only ONE possibility. It’s not a certainty. Is that right/wrong?

Ítalo
Ítalo
6 years ago

It’s not Loreen. In Twitter’s profile @bg_eurovision wrote that he is a famous artist, but he has achieved a good position in Eurovision more recently. Only one name comes to mind: Sergey Lazarev. Let’s not forget that Philipp Kirkorov said he is involved in a project for a Russia-friendly country and aligned with the politic of its president.

Maclaren
Maclaren
6 years ago
Reply to  Ítalo

Wow… no way… though maybe… but what do the rules say about the singers citizenship? Aren’t participants expected to be Bulgarian passport holders?

Oy
Oy
6 years ago
Reply to  Ítalo

Well, actually Philip Kirkorov himself would be a “returning artist” and he Aldo achieved “success recently” co-writing Lazarevs/Russias nr.3 in 2016. Also Philip Kirkorov is of Bulgarian ancestry.

FANNY
FANNY
6 years ago

Where do these Loreen rumours come? Wiwibloggers are so into her, that they want her tihe represent Bulgaria? Insane. I hope the returning artist will be Sofi Marinova!

Kitkatty
Kitkatty
6 years ago

I hope they will send Preslava to Eurovision

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

Oh and about Loreen:
She can sing for the world.
(She don’t need no…)

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

Similar to what Mark said…
If it’s an “internal” selection, just get on with it!
Also, some of those song titles look “familiar” to me, but I will let more knowledgeable people expand on that, if there’s anything to expand on.

ImFromRomania
ImFromRomania
6 years ago

All ppl says ,Bones’ looks like Loreen style 😀 .

Gorilla716
Gorilla716
6 years ago

Based on the song titles, I’m guessing all of the songs are in English? Also, Loreen is Swedish so why would she represent Bulgaria at Eurovision? (Perhaps it’s because Bulgaria relies on Swedish songwriters for Eurovision?)

Zolipop
Zolipop
6 years ago
Reply to  Gorilla716
D
D
6 years ago

Yeah…I don’t know if I could support Loreen representing Bulgaria. That’s just so random and screams of desperation now that she’s becoming irrelevant and her music isn’t selling. Then again, “Bones” does sound very up-my-alley so I’m hoping that Loreen rumours are fake (and honestly I think they are because they really make no sense).

Polyna
Polyna
6 years ago

> Loreen

Dat wishful thinking.

Also I wish Bulgaria luck, they can’t send again a Russian singer with a Terrible Mess of a song and count on the vote of Russian “patriots” in a year where “coincidentally” Russia doesn’t participate…

desfolhada
desfolhada
6 years ago

Russia or Bulgaria?
I’m rooting for Iceland
bjs

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
6 years ago

I mean… What is the Point in revealing all the song titles and stuff if we only get to hear the winner in the end? We’re not going to hear the other Songs, right? Then how is this going to help anyone?

Mark
Mark
6 years ago

This whole announcing of the songs is more in line with a televised, National Selection… Just have a open contest already; stop teasing us.

Lewis S
Lewis S
6 years ago

I have some faith that Bulgaria will do well again… but if Loreen is the returning artist it will cause a big divide… I remember many comments from 2017 Melodifestivalen saying that she shouldn’t return because she’s won it and isn’t that enough. Personally I wouldn’t mind, I love her work…. but it’d be a risk. Look forward to March.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

That sounds like desperation for the win, imo. “We have to do like they did with Euphoria” seems to be a recurring sentence lately. But I hope I’m wrong.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

What I meant to say was about Loreen herself. Sometimes, it seems that the formula for success at ESC is to use Euphoria’s staging, Euphoria’s songwriters, Euphoria’s choreographer…
But like I said, I hope I’m wrong.

William Lee Adams
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

When I saw “Bones” I instantly thought of the “Statements” Loreen.

Daniel_2017
Daniel_2017
6 years ago

As I read this, I have ‘My heart is refusing me’ on repeat, I think it’s the 50th time. And this is after ‘Heal’ and ‘Statements’ marathons. I adore Loreen, and I would love to see her return to ESC, I don’t care for which country (although, I must say, I would be bitter if she would sing for Bulgaria instead of my country, Romania ??? – just kidding!!!!! … Or am I?!?! ???)

M_K
M_K
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

When I read “Bones” I first thought “Skeletons”. I guess my way of thinking is a little to naive sometimes. 🙂

M_K
M_K
6 years ago
Reply to  M_K

*too

Nicolas
Nicolas
6 years ago
Reply to  M_K

I thought of “Skeletons” too, but more so “Blackbird”, since that had a very powerful chorus, and was dark and full of emotion.