The Eurovision 2022 season is now in full swing and no doubt fans will have the songs from this year’s contest on repeat until we crown a winner in May. But that doesn’t mean we forget about the artists from past contests – they’re still brining us a lot of new music to enjoy.
Contrary to the commonly perpetuated myth about the song contest killing careers, we’re always thrilled to report that singers associated with Eurovision are thriving.
Here is our latest weekly roundup with a selection of just some of the songs and music videos released recently by Eurovision stars.
New music from Eurovision artists: 2022 | Week 9
Daði Freyr & filous – “Sabada”
Eurovision 2021 star Daði Freyr has released the new song “Sabada”. The title is not meant to be an actual English word, but is the melody Daði suggests we all sing in our own way: “Sing your own melody / Even if it’s out of key […] You are you and I am me / That’s alright and you don’t need / To make up apologies / Sabada babadabada”. The Icelandic singer collaborates with Austrian music producer filous for the groovy tune. Both feature in the accompanying music video, which sees filous travelling to Iceland in order to meet Daði Freyr and present him with a gift.
Coyot & The Prince Karma (feat. Kállay Saunders) – “Why”
Hungary’s Kállay Saunders has added his vocals to “Why”, the new song by music producers Coyot and The Prince Karma. The Eurovision 2014 star sings: “Why do we pull each other so close / Then wait for the other to go / ‘Cause we don’t want to be alone”. Musically, it’s a low-key dance track with an ethnic flair added into the post-chorus instrumental.
Kasia Moś – “Bezdźwięcznie”
Kasia Moś celebrated her 35th birthday by releasing the new single “Bezdźwięcznie” (“Soundlessly”). It’s predominantly a soft ballad, though it does build a bit more in the final chorus. Lyrically, Poland’s Eurovision 2017 star encourages us to persevere and fight for our dreams: “Do not be afraid / The day isn’t over yet / Maybe this last time / It will, it will / I believe it will work”. Kasia talked more about this on social media:
“Let today be the first day. Without fear and full of hope, let’s start a fight for ourselves – for our dreams, for our plans, for our feelings. Also for our relatives and for every moment thanks to which we can feel truly happy.”
Athena Manoukian – “Kiss Me in the Rain”
Armenia’s Eurovision 2020 entrant is prepared to get wet for a little loving. Athena Manoukian has released “Kiss Me in the Rain”, a mid-tempo R&B track. In a post on Instagram, Athena explains the meaning of the song’s lyrics:
“A song that describes how a person can be hurt from someone and want to erase him/her from
his/her life and emphasises the rebirth of a confident and powerful person, but when heart speaks
at the end all he/she truly wants is to kiss him/her in the rain. The main message of this song is that
love can leave scars, but also give us beautiful moments. So it motivates you to live to the fullest as
all we have is now. So call him/her and arrange a 💋 in the 🌧”
Michał Szpak & Jowiszja – “Halo Wodospad”
Michał Szpak and producer Jowiszja give us the spirited single “Halo Wodospad” (“Hello Waterfall”). The song starts with Poland’s Eurovision 2016 singer offering a prayer: “Forgive me, Father, for I was so afraid / Forgive me because I do”. It then picks up from one minute in and continues with a consistent drum beat until the end.
Loukas Yorkas – “An M’ Agapas”
Greek-Cypriot singer Loukas Yorkas has released “An M’ Agapas” (“If You Love Me”). The Eurovision 2011 star sings about how he would crumble and fall if he doesn’t receive the love from a certain individual: “Without love where to go / I will fall down and break / Only you will hold me / If you love me, if you love me”. The music video arrives on Tuesday.
The below video is just a short clip. You can find the full song on Spotify.
Marko Škugor – “Ti Budi Ti”
Marko Škugor was part of Croatia’s Eurovision 2013 group Klapa s Mora. His latest solo single is “Ti Budi Ti” (“You Be You”). It’s a Balkan ballad in which Marko sings of a special person who is there to support him when no one else is: “You wake up once everyone turns their backs on me / You, of the women I know, are the rarest plant / When everyone pretends / You be you, and I have enough, I have enough”.
ela. – “Wenn ich NEIN sag, dann mein ich NEIN”
ela. is taking a stand for gender equality with her new single “Wenn ich NEIN sag, dann mein ich NEIN” (“When I say NO, then I mean NO”). Germany’s Eurovision 2014 singer sings to men who effectively have things handed to them and notes how much work women have to put in to keep up to the same level: “You get everything you need / And what you want, that’s what you get / All my life I have had to be much stronger […] If I say no, yes, then I mean no / Because I mean it like I mean it”. In the accompanying music video, ela. goes all Love Actually and shares facts about women in the music industry through a series of cards.
Ermal Meta & Giuliano Sangiorgi – “Una cosa più grande”
“‘Una cosa più grande’ is a song about getting out of the centre, sensing that our lives are inevitably tied to those of others in constant motion.”
All of us live our own individual lives, but Ermal Meta wants to highlight how these are connected with everyone else around us. The Eurovision 2018 representative joins forces with fellow Italian singer Giuliano Sangiorgi for “Una cosa più grande” (“Something bigger”), where they sing: “You fight and sometimes you don’t have / Something to die for / But everything you are / Is only a part of something bigger”.
PAENDA, N-Chased & Tony Vida – “Your Shirt”
PAENDA has teamed up with music producers N-Chased and Tony Vida. They come together for the earthy dance track “Your Shirt”. In the lyrics, Austria’s Eurovision 2019 star comes across the shirt of her ex-partner, which prompts her to regret letting them leave: “Since you’ve been gone / I’m just dreaming / Staring at the ceiling / Knowing you won’t come back home”.
Vanilla Ninja -“Encore ’22”
Vanilla Ninja have shaken up their line-up. After reuniting in 2021, keyboard player Katrin Siska and bass player Triinu Kivilaan have left the group. Meanwhile, Kerli Kivilaan has joined regular members Lenna Kuurmaa and Piret Järvis to form a trio. They’ve now headed into 2022 with the new song “Encore ’22”. Switzerland’s Eurovision 2005 band leave the rock behind for a moment and dive more into a 2000’s dance-pop sound.
Gali Atari & Lehakat HaNachal – “השיר שיביא לך אהבה”
Gali Atari is honouring former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on what would have been his 100th birthday. The Eurovision 1979 winner covers “השיר שיביא לך אהבה” (“The song that will bring you love”), which was one of Rabin’s favourites. Gali performs alongside Lehakat HaNachal, the music group of the Nahal paramilitary defence force of Israel’s IDF.
Jonida Maliqi (feat. Obie Kellz) – “Need You”
“With you in my life / My future looks bright / I need you in my life”. Jonida Maliqi returns to music for the first time since representing Albania at Eurovision 2019. She’s also brought in Obie Kellz to join her for the new single “Need You”. A very different aura to her dramatic Eurovision entry, “Need You” gives off a summery R&B vibe.
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.
I like the song front Michal Spzak too, it’ s beautiful
Lots of very good songs from this week.
Michal Szpak WOOOOW ?
Micha? Szpak is a great energetic song that lifts the mood