Summer is always the quiet period for Eurovision fans as we wait for national finals to start once again. Thankfully, the music will always continue and a number of past Eurovision artists are still producing new songs for us to enjoy.
Contrary to the commonly perpetuated myth about the song contest killing careers, we’re always thrilled to report that singers and performers associated with both Eurovision itself and the various national selections are thriving.
Here is a selection of just some of the songs and music videos released in the last week or so.
New music from Eurovision artists: 2020 | Week 25 Part 1
Shiri Maimon – “עד שתגדל”
Shiri Maimon secured Israel’s best result of the 2000s, placing fourth in 2005. Last week, the star released her new studio album נשימה (Breath) – her first LP since 2012. Alongside the album, Maimon also dropped the music video for her new single “עד שתגדל” (“Until you grow up”). A beautiful ballad, the song sees the Israeli star singing about how she feels the need to protect her child from harm. Maimon talked more about the meaning behind the song in a post on Instagram:
“The day I became a mother, I discovered that I had feelings that I didn’t know existed in me. The need to protect and protect my children has become stronger than I am. … The song “Until you grow up” talks about exactly that. It is our desire to protect and protect them, to hold their hand and eventually to let go, to let them fly, to let go.”
(Jonathan)
J-MOX and Nathan Trent – “Millions”
Austria’s Eurovision 2017 act Nathan Trent has regularly collaborated with music producer J-MOX over recent years. Now, the duo have teamed up once more for the new song “Millions”. At 2:21 minutes in length, it’s a short but sweet pop-dance track that is designed to brighten up the listener’s day. Providing the vocals for the song, Trent sings about how spending time with the person he’s fallen for is worth more than any amount of money: “I’d give my millions away / To spend one night with you / Show me resilience and stay / Cos millions away /To make our dreams come true”. (Jonathan)
F3M – “In The Sauna”
They went “Bananas” at Finland’s UMK 2020. And now, for their follow-up single, the women of F3M are taking us somewhere hot and steamy with “In The Sauna”. The funky pop tune with house influences sees Hanna Ollikainen, Viivi Sopanen and Miranda Sahiti sing that they’re not “Baywatch babies” but “Scandinavian ladies”. They go on to detail how to get down when “it’s cold in the north”.
Oscar Enestad – “Sorger”
He was one of the three Os in The Fooo Conspiracy, which later became FO&O in time for Melodifestivalen 2017. One year on from his solo debut in the 2019 competition with “I Love It”, Oscar Enestad continues to release highly personal songs. On “Sorger”, Oscar says “It is a song that is about letting go. When you tried to fix what was broken but you have come to realize that it no longer works”.
Frida Öhrn – “Fading Like A Flower”
She reached the Andra Chansen round of Melodifestivalen 2020 with “We Are One”. Now, for her followup single, Frida Öhrn has released a cover of Roxette’s “Fading Like A Flower”. The official press release says this is a tribute to Marie Fredriksson: “Marie has been a great inspiration to me since my childhood. My version of “Fading Like A Flower” feels more poppy, summery and bright. It’s a version that I want to drive my car to, roll down the windows and crank up the volume. At the same time, Per Gessle’s text is heartbreakingly sad and I like that combination”.
Allysandra – “Krossat glas”
She was the original blue-haired Holly in the ever-revolving Dolly Style line-up. And as part of the trio, Allysandra twice graced Sweden’s Melodifestivalen stage with “Hello Hi” (2015) and “Rollercoaster” (2016). She’s been a consistent dropper of bops ever since she left the group in 2018. Her latest is “Krossat glas”. “The song is about a difficult period in my life that I realized I needed to leave. A period where I lost all my self-esteem and let another person destroy me. A person who had such power over me that I didn’t know how to find out. I just messed up more and more. Haven’t always been great at talking about feelings or sharing with me, that’s why this song became special to me. This release is like getting a chapter from my diary”, she writes on Instagram.
Feli – “Ma striga mama”
She was a hot favourite to represent Romania at Eurovision 2018 with “Bună de iubit (Royalty)”. And while Feli missed out on the ticket to Lisbon, the hits continue to flow. Her newest effort is “Ma striga mama” (My Mother Calls Me). This “is a song I wrote from my parents’ love story, from my mother’s love for my father, who did not take anyone or anything into account and chose to follow his heart”, she says on Instagram.
Eimear Quinn – “Hibernia”
Fresh on the heels of her first new album in over a decade, Ireland’s Eurovision 1996 winner Eimear Quinn has released the official music video for “Hibernia”. The “The Voice” songstress writes: “Taking Ireland’s oldest poem as inspiration; The Song of Amergin, this is an ‘ode to Ireland’ invoking the ancient images of the poem, but also the historical Latin names for Ireland. The lyrics, in three languages, weave a path from ancient to current times. The song speaks to the intrinsic human spirit present in us all; a core strength exclusively owned by the individual that can never be taken or broken. Composed with Sarah Class, we set out to weave an anthem of enduring strength, rich heritage and majestic resilience”.
Kristian Kostov – “Things I Like”
Almost one year after he premiered the song live, Kristian Kostov has dropped the studio cut for “Things I Like”. The Bulgarian Eurovision 2017 runner-up says on Instagram: “Like all my songs do, this one started out as a heartbreak ballad. Like most of my MOOD: songs do, it ended up as something totally different altogether. MOOD: is coming.”
Paula – “Touch Me”
She reached the Lithuanian Eurovizijos atranka finals in 2017 and 2018 with the slick pop stylings of “Let U Go” and “1 2 3”. And Paula’s sound remains just as cool in 2020. “Touch Me” is a laid back, sensual number in which Paula lustfully details the frisson between herself and her lover.
MONATIK & Vera Brezhneva – “ВЕЧЕРиНОЧКА”
He’s the famed Ukrainian popstar who memorably opened semi-final one of Eurovision 2017 with an English-language version of his massive hit “Spinning”. Upon the release of his latest single “ВЕЧЕРиНОЧКА”, a collab with Vera Brezhneva, MONATIK writes: “Whatever this summer may be … We will definitely dance what we can. But dances can raise any mood … Plus … Summer has come. So we don’t dare leave you without home parties. Let’s do everything we believed in! We invite you to the party of a new time! With loved ones. Be healthy, evening and night, day and morning. Each day of the week. Belief in love saves the world!”
Lindita – “Better You”
Albania’s Eurovision 2017 star Lindita excitedly announced her new single “Better You” on Instagram: “Better you is finally out now 🔥🔥🔥🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 This song was done with so much love and amazing people 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼💜💜💜💜💜 I wish I could’ve done the Music video , but we are all living in trying times and Hopefully soon I’ll be able to share new video soon 🎉🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 for now, I would love to see all of you creating your own videos to Better You and send them to me! I will repost all of them! Enjoy the song and thank you so much for your continued support! Ju dua shume 🥰🥰💜💜💜💜🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱 🇺🇸 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇽🇰🇽🇰🇽🇰 🙏🏼🔥💜”.
Laura Põldvere – “On Meie Aeg”
She went a little country for her Eesti Laul 2020 entry “Break Me”. But for her latest effort “On Meie Aeg”, Laura Põldvere treads a path that may be more familiar to fans of her poppier output. “Finally you can start this still cool year of cool & chill summer .. take time for your loved ones, gather fresh thoughts and shout with a warm heart by the campfire: “It is our time & our endless summer”, writes the “Verona” songstress on Instagram.
Greta Salóme – “Án þín”
She sang in English at both Eurovision 2012 and 2016. But for her latest single, Iceland’s Greta Salóme is covering the classic “Án þín” in her native tongue. Upon the release of the spectacular music video filmed beneath a waterfall, Greta wrote: “How INSANE is Iceland? 🇮🇸 So happy to be finally able to share this video with you guys 🙏🏻 It’s a new version of an old song and this project has been one and a half years in the making 🙈”.
Arisa + Manupuma – “Nucleare”
She’s a two-time Sanremo winner who remains hungry for Eurovision. But for her latest project, Arisa strikes A sombre note. “Nucleare” is a collaboration with Manupuma and is dedicated to children born during the COVID 19 pandemic. It has been released in support of the Francesca Rava Foundation with proceeds going towards the HUB-Maternity COVID 19 project. Arisa explains the lyrics “It is the clear manifesto of some of the aspects of this time. That life continues without danger and fear because only in the eyes of a child will we always find true love to show us the way”.
Maya Sar – “Hvala”
After a four-year hiatus, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 2012 representative Maya Sar has returned with “Hvala”. The song title translates as “Thank You”. Upon its release, Maya shared the following quote: “Finding peace in gratitude is the“ light motive ”of a happy life. A reflection of spiritual wealth and maturity, which is what we strive for in our efforts to be better people.”
Sebalter – “Corrono i Baci Corrono”
The quirky “Corrono i Baci Corrono” is the latest cut from Sebalter’s new album Gente Simpatica. In the 1980s-inspired music video, Switzerland’s Eurovision 2014 is seen in a variety of bizarre scenarios — leading a fitness class, running away from a bride… only to be captured by an overzealous knitter. He dons a massive handlebar moustache and mullet throughout.
Monique – “L.A.”
She was the runner-up in Lithuania’s Pabandom iš naujo! 2020 selection. And while “Make Me Human” had a melancholic feel, Monique’s latest offering is much more optimistic. “L.A.” is a summery tune which describes the place in the world that brings you the most joy, along with the person you want to be there with — that’s according to Monique’s message on Facebook.
Mohombi & Klara Hammarström “The One”
They both competed at Melfest 2020 — Mohombi reached the final while Klara Hammarström placed fifth in her semi. Now, they’ve come together for “The One”. The song is a co-write between the two artists themselves, along with familiar Eurovision names Arash and Laurell Barker as well as Yei Gonzalez. “To succeed in keeping a relationship together is not something that happens by itself – even a happy relationship requires work”, says Mohombi. “We should love each other, respect each other and fight for each other. We should not give up, we should not leave each other, we should stick together. You’re my ‘The One’.”
Red Moon – “Medusa”
You’ll know her best as Debrah Scarlett — one half of Norway’s Eurovision 2015 duo. But since the start of 2020, Debrah has adopted a new moniker — Red Moon. She’s released three singles to date as Red Moon — “Dogma”, “Slow Down” and “Medusa”. On “Medusa”, Red Moon says:
“Medusa is the Italian word for “Jellyfish”. I knew I wanted to write about those beautiful sea creatures for a while, as they represent something special to me personally. When @producedbymagnus and I wrote the song, I feel it became a symbolic statement as well as a personal song. A reminder to myself that we all can be these glowing creatures in the dark sea. In a lot of ways the ocean can be similar to our mindset, which can represent our world, our subconsciousness, emotions or memories we stack away, or maybe even repressed feelings. Sometimes things get really heavy in my head, so I wanted to create something uplifting musically. Something that sounds like you’re floating in the water, with an effortlessness. A song that reflects both on speaking up and finding a voice and inspiration from within. The beautiful thing about someone who laughs is that it is contagious.. ✨and so is our light ✨”
Which of these new songs is your favourite? Have we missed out on any? Do you have any artists you want to shout out to? Let us know in the comments.
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Hanna Ferm’s song, not bad. Better than Brave.
You forgot about this from Lithuania: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lN-L_mWziNo
Greta Salome is amazing!