Christmas is finally here once again. It’s time for us to gather with family, stuff our faces with food and put on some good old Christmas tunes.
Yesterday we gave you some new festive tracks from a few national final acts. But a number of former Eurovision stars have also released some new festive tunes for us all this year.
So as you pull the crackers and open your presents, here’s a roundup of some of our favourite new songs that you should add to your Christmas playlist to play throughout the day.
And from all of us here at wiwibloggs, have a very merry Christmas! We hope y’all have a wonderfully cheer-filled day.
Helena Paparizou – “Χριστούγεννα Ξανά”
Starting off with the champion of Eurovision 2005, Helena Paparizou’s festive offering is “Χριστούγεννα Ξανά” (“Christmas Again”), also released in English as “It Is Christmas”. Starting off with some strong electric guitar chords (perhaps in honour of FiKmas), the sleigh bells soon enter and we’re off with a great uplifting festive affair.
The translated Greek lyrics see the Greek star making a wish to the stars that she’ll always be together with her loved one and able to embrace them at Christmas each year: “Christmas came / Everything is festive / And a single thought / Fills my heart / In the lights / In a white landscape / I’m telling you / How much I love you / Who will embrace you / Christmas came again”.
Eleni Foureira – “2019 Σ’ Αγαπώ”
Staying in the south of Europe, and Eurovision 2018 runner-up Eleni Foureira is getting ready for the new year with “2019 Σ’ Αγαπώ” (“2019 I Love You”). The song is all about the “Feugo” hitmaker’s partner, with the Cypriot representative dedicating all her words to them: “Darlin’ I’m getting ready / I’m putting on my best outfit / I’m coming to your neighbourhood and… / And I scream to you / 2019 ‘I Love You’s’ / Baby I dedicate them to you / Santa Claus is like hohoho / And I’m melting for you”.
Those of you who know Eleni from before Eurovision will no doubt recognise the song. She released the same single for 2017 and 2018 (obviously with slightly altered lyrics). So if the pattern continues then it looks like we’ll be getting a new version from her for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025…
OG3NE – “Alles Is Nog Hier”
Slowing things down a notch and OG3NE, The Netherlands’ Eurovision 2017 act, have released “Alles Is Nog Hier” (“Everything Is Still Here”). A touching ballad, the track is filled with the trio’s dazzling harmonies. The song also deals with a subject that many will relate to each year – going through the festive period after the loss of a close family member or friend.
Naturally it’s a very personal topic for the sisters following the sad news of their mother’s death last year. But the “Lights and Shadows” singers focus on the fact that even though she may be gone, she is still close to them in their hearts: “Oh / Even if you are not with me / Yet you feel so close / Oh / Nothing that just disappeared / Straight through the walls / Because everything, yes everything is still here”.
Sunstroke Project – “Новогодняя”
From one Eurovision 2017 trio to another, Moldova’s Sunstroke Project are celebrating the festive period with their song “Новогодняя” (“New year”). Fun, upbeat, and needless to say full of catchy saxophone riffs, the tune will get you up and dancing throughout the day.
The accompanying music video is particularly heartwarming and what the festive period is all about – spending time with your family and loved ones. In it we see Sergey Ialovitsky and Sergey Stepanov (i.e Epic Sax Guy) playing around with their children as they (attempt) to set off confetti cannons.
Perhaps if you’ve got some young children on a bit of a sugar rush with you yourself this Christmas then this could be the perfect song to put on repeat, get them dancing along too, and eventually tire them out a bit.
Sanna Nielsen – “Christmas Candle”
If there’s one country that knows how to produce a great Christmas song, it’s Sweden. And this year Eurovision 2014 bronze medallist Sanna Nielsen has given us “Christmas Candle”. The song is a wonderful Christmas ballad that shows off the “Undo” singer’s delicious vocal talents and will definitely get you feeling all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
Lyrically, the verses have some wonderful festive imagery: “Christmas lights and cobble stone / Snowman’s walking Santa home / Carols echo down the street / Angels stomp their frozen feet”.
Meanwhile the chorus sees Sanna singing to us all and offering some goodwill, wishing that all our dreams will come true: “I light a Christmas candle just for you / May all the pretty dreams you dream come true / I light a Christmas candle cause I, I believe / Miracles will find a way somehow on Christmas eve”.
Lindita – “Holiday”
Albania’s Eurovision 2017 diva Lindita has also given us a festive offering this year with “Holiday”. A lot more mainstream than her Eurovision power ballad, the song fits in much better with the rest of her post-Eurovision R&B-styled tracks. However, for that reason it’s perhaps not going to quite get you in the festive mood like many of the other songs in this roundup. Apart from the lyrics there’s not anything particularly Christmas-y about the melody/production.
Speaking of the lyrics, like many Christmas songs this track sees the “World” singer wishing that special person was with her for the holidays: “I don’t even want a kiss / There’s only one on my list / Only one thing I wish / Only one thing that I miss / You’re all that I need for the holidays / I just want you here with me for the holiday”.
Birgit, Tanja, and Jüri Pootsmann (with Mikk Saar and The Swingers) – “Aisakell”
They’ll be entering Eestei Laul 2019, but before then Estonian band The Swingers and Eurovision 2013 and 2014 alumni Birgit and Tanja have formed a common framework by bringing in 2016 representative Jüri Pootsmann and fellow Estonian singer Mikk Saar for the song “Aisakell” (“Sleigh Bell”).
The song is an Estonian language version of the classic Christmas tune “Jingle Bells”, and is a cover of the same track originally performed by Estonian singers Pearu Paul, Mart Mardisalu, Hedvig Hanson and Mary-Liis Ilus back in 1995.
The music video for the song is also a re-make of the one shot 23 years ago, with the original shown in the bottom left corner for comparison. We don’t know if Jüri was just getting into character, but there’s definitely an expression of ‘why have I been roped into doing this’ throughout much of the video. There’s also a lot less snow in the new version (obviously Santa Claus hadn’t blessed Estonia with a winter wonderland at the time of filming).
Brendan Murray – “Last Christmas”
Eurovision 2017 and X Factor UK semi-finalist Brendan Murray has also recently covered a classic Christmas song, taking on “Last Christmas” initially performed by Wham!. Of all the well known Christmas songs, this is definitely one that Brendan’s unique vocal style suits the best. The Irish singer is able to bring out the emotion of the track and puts his own stamp on it.
This melancholic feeling is added to in the music video, which is shot in black and white and sees Brendan moping around reflecting about the person he gave his heart to last year.
What do you make of these new festive offerings by Eurovision stars? Which ones will you be adding to your Christmas playlist? Let us know in the comments section below!
OG3NE are magical as always! I adore their vocals and how they play with them, plus I really love the sound of the Dutch language. Its reminds me a lot of my own language (Hebrew) yet is different: it provokes my auditory curiosity and takes me to another place. Love it!
Hebrew does sound like a distant version of Dutch and vise-versa.
OG3NE and Estonia are the good ones. Jüri is the perfect amount of cheerful.
Have you forgotten The Fizz ? Great Christmas album, I hope you sent Jay a get well message after the rotten year she has gone through. Hopefully she’s on the mend & fingers crossed she will be able to sing once again
I will be helpful on Christmas by saying they already covered it 🙂
https://wiwibloggs.com/2018/12/15/bucks-fizz-jay-aston-doubts-uk-eurovision/229765/
There is information about the album and it is spoken about Jay overcoming cancer this year.
Sorry for doing your job, Robyn, haha 😀 But honestly, I have to say thank you for our great discussions here in the comments in 2018. I hope, 2019 will be as fine here as last year ^^