National final season for Eurovision 2020 kicked into gear with Raylee storming to the final in Norway and Monika Marija leading the way in Lithuania. The action continues tonight, Saturday 18 January.
Here are all the details you need for 2020’s second Saturday of national selections. We’ll be checking in with Norway, Lithuania and Slovenia.
You can follow all the results on wiwibloggs (and via our Twitter@wiwibloggs and Instagram wiwibloggs) throughout the evening. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s happening, when it’s on and how to watch.
Saturday 18 January: Eurovision 2020 Selection Shows
Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix 2020
Semi-Final Two
Time: 19:50 CET to 21:10 CET
Norway’s MGP 2020 turns 60 this year. And to mark the occasion, the Nordic nation is reviving the semi-finals, last used in 2014. This evening’s show will see performances from four acts — Tore Petterson, Rein Alexander, Kim Wigaard & Maria Mohn and Anna Jæger. A series of duels will reduce this number to just one finalist. They’ll join the other semi-final qualifiers plus five pre-qualified finalists in the grand final.
Automatic qualifiers Didrik & Emil Solli-Tangen will also showcase their entry tonight.
Click to Watch Melodi Grand Prix 2020 Semi-Final Two
For additional viewing instructions, click here.
Lithuania’s Eurovizijos atranka 2020
Heat Two
Time: 20:00 CET to 22:10 CET
Over in the Baltics, Lithuania is also shaking things up a bit. The once bloated national selection — it ran for 10 weeks as recently as 2017 — has been slashed to just six episodes. And to mark the new slimmer show, there’s also been a little bit of a rebrand. The official title is now Pabandom iš naujo! Nacionalinė Eurovizijos Atranka 2020.
Tonight’s second heat will see 12 acts battle for six semi-final slots. There are several familiar names including Moniqué, Alen Chicco and Rūta Loop.
Click to Watch Eurovizijos atranka 2020 Heat Two
For additional viewing instructions, click here.
Slovenia’s EMA 2020
EMA FREŠ
Time: 20:00 CET to 21:20 CET
The early stages of Slovenia’s EMA 2020 selection come to a close tonight. After weeks of convoluted voting, eliminations and second chances, the grand final of EMA FREŠ is upon us. The conclusion of the newly introduced wildcard round will see ten acts competing for two spots in the EMA 2020 final. One qualifier will be chosen by an expert jury while the public will decide the second. Fan favourites include Astrid in Avantgarden and Younite.
Click to Watch EMA FREŠ Final 2020
For additional viewing instructions, click here.
Other shows
Israel’s mammoth casting show The Next Star for Eurovision 2020 continues. Episode 26 will air from 20:15 CET to 22:30 CET. The live stream will be available on this link. All performances will be available here after the episode’s broadcast comes to an end.
Well done to wiwibloggs for all the excellent coverage of the building Eurovision season. As a Brit I envy the level of selection action going on in these countries. I sense that the UK are already heading for 26th place in the final. Had the BBC found a substantial act for its internal selection, it would have been announced by now. The longer it keeps quiet, the more likely we’ll get another Electro Velvet. I hope I’m wrong.
I must say, three of the MGP songs kind of came alive on stage (whereas “The Start of Something New” was just a mess). When it comes to Slovenia, however… well… the first seven songs all sounded extremely amateurish live, sorry to say that.
I want to hear monique’s song so bad.
facebook.com/LRT.LT/videos/161444591828194/
I’m not a huge fan , it’s a good effort though
I liked the two girls singing in Lithuanian better in semi 1
Pabandom is Naujo is so versatile I love it. I’ve heard some snippets of Monique’s song and it slaps. Time for Lithuania to win? Unironically?
She sang the song at morning show it’s magnificent
If we win then I’ll become president
Can’t for Monique!
Oh god please don’t promote ema fres cuz it’s embarrassing on international level haha
This project is more meant as an incubator for young (to be) musicians than to find our esc act for 2020. 😀
Astrid, Younite to main show please
Norway semi 2 winner i hope Rein or that duo