ESC 2021 – Selezioni Nazionali – 1ª Semi-Finale

images

La selezione dei partecipanti all’Eurovision Song Contest spetta alle emittenti televisive competenti dei singoli stati. A loro spetta la scelta del metodo di selezione: una selezione interna (quindi cantante e/o brano vengono scelti dall’emittente stessa), come accade solitamente per San Marino o Australia, oppure può organizzare un festival musicale (il pubblico sceglie un vincitore che viene invitato a partecipare all’Eurovision Song Contest), come accade in Norvegia (Norsk Melodi Grand Prix), Svezia (Melodifestivalen), Italia (Festival di Sanremo), Grecia (Ellinikós Telikós) e molti altri. Il vincitore dell’eventuale festival però non è obbligato a partecipare all’Eurovision Song Contest né tanto meno è obbligato ad esibirsi con la canzone vincitrice, ad esempio Iva Zanicchi ha vinto il Festival di Sanremo nel 1969, in coppia con Bobby Solo, con la canzone “Zingara”, ma all’Eurovision Song Contest si presentò da sola con il brano “Due grosse lacrime bianche”. Con il tempo buona parte delle emittenti sta abbandonando la selezione interna in favore del festival musicale.

I partecipanti non devono obbligatoriamente avere vincoli di nazionalità (ad esempio nel 1988 la Svizzera vinse con la cantante canadese Céline Dion) e le canzoni non hanno restrizioni riguardanti la lingua (anche se nelle prime edizioni vigeva un obbligo di cantare in una delle lingue ufficiali del proprio paese).

L’Eurovision Song Contest 2021 sarà la 65ª edizione dell’annuale concorso canoro e si terrà presso l’Ahoy Rotterdam a Rotterdam, nei Paesi Bassi.

Il 18 marzo 2020 l’Unione europea di radiodiffusione (UER) ha annunciato la cancellazione dell’edizione 2020 a causa della pandemia di COVID-19 che ha coinvolto diverse regioni del mondo tra cui, più duramente, la Cina e l’Europa. Successivamente è stato annunciato che la manifestazione verrà riorganizzata nel maggio 2021 e sono in corso discussioni con le emittenti olandesi NPO, NOS, AVROTROS, incaricate di organizzare la precedente edizione, e la città di Rotterdam sulla riorganizzazione dell’evento nella stessa città o meno.

Il 16 maggio 2020, durante la trasmissione dello show Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light, è stato confermato che la città Rotterdam avrebbe ospitato l’evento.

A seguito della cancellazione l’UER ha valutato la possibilità di consentire ai brani selezionati di competere nel 2021; tuttavia, il 20 marzo 2020, è stato confermato dal gruppo di referenza che, in conformità al regolamento, ciò non sarebbe avvenuto, lasciando però la possibilità alle singole emittenti di selezionare nuovamente i rappresentanti annunciati per il 2020.

Il 16 maggio 2020 l’EBU-UER e AVROTROS hanno confermato che lo slogan ufficiale dell’evento resterà Open Up, il medesimo pianificato per l’edizione annullata.

97090839_3306849109359734_3573747346749521920_n

Eurovision Song Contest 2019 Eurovision Song Contest 2020 ← Eurovision Song Contest 2020 2021 → Eurovision Song Contest 2022 Contest

• Country: Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciata il 2 Aprile 2020; Selezionata: Eurovision – Australia Decides 2020, l’8 febbraio 2020 Ι Song: 5 Marzo 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: Special Broadcasting Service (SBS)
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Montaigne (Jessica Alyssa Cerro)
  • Selection song: “Technicolour”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Jessica Cerro, Dave Hammer

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 1
  • Final result:

Australia will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Montaigne as their representative with the song “Technicolour”. She was due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Don’t Break Me” before the event’s cancellation.

Background. Australia debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2015 by invitation from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) as a “one-off” special guest to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Eurovision. On 17 November 2015, the EBU announced that SBS had been invited to participate in the 2016 contest and that Australia would once again take part.

In 2015, Australia was guaranteed a spot in the final of the contest and was allowed to vote during both semi-finals and the final. For 2016, Australia would have to qualify for the final from one of two semi-finals and could only vote in the semi-final in which the nation was competing. Dami Im sang Sound of Silence and finished second in the 2016 contest.

In 2019, the country was represented by Kate Miller-Heidke with “Zero Gravity,” which was chosen in a national selection. Australia received ninth place in the grand final with 284 points.

Before Eurovision.

Internal selection: On 2 April 2020, SBS confirmed that Montaigne will represent Australia in the 2021 contest. Her entry for 2021, entitled “Technicolour”, had its premiere on Triple J on 4 March 2021, and was released one day later, on 5 March 2021.

At Eurovision: According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the “Big 5” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. For the 2021 contest, the semi-final allocation draw held for 2020 which was held on 28 January 2020, will be used. Australia was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.

• Country: Azerbaigian the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciata il 20 Marzo 2020; Selezionata: Internal selection, il 20 febbraio 2020 Ι Song: 15 Marzo 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: İctimai Televiziya (İTV)
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Efendi (Samira Efendi, Samirə Əfəndiyeva, Samira Əfəndi / Samirə Azər qızı Əfəndiyeva, Samira Azer gizi Efendiyeva)
  • Selection song: “Mata Hari”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Amy van der Wel, Luuk van Beers, Tony Cornelissen, Josh Earl

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 1
  • Final result:

Azerbaijan will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Samira Efendi as their representative with the song “Mata Hari”. She was due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Cleopatra” before the event’s cancellation.

Background. 

Before Eurovision. Prior to the 2021 Contest, Azerbaijan had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 12 times since its first entry in 2008.[1] Azerbaijan had won the contest on one occasion in 2011 with the song “Running Scared” performed by Ell/Nikki. Since their debut in 2008, Azerbaijan has had a string of successful results, qualifying to the final and placing in the top ten each year until 2014, including a third-place result in 2009 with the song “Always” performed by AySel and Arash and a second-place result in 2013 with the song “Hold Me” performed by Farid Mammadov. However, in 2018, Azerbaijan placed eleventh in the semi-final with the song “X My Heart” performed by Aisel, making it the first occasion that Azerbaijan did not participate in a Eurovision final since their debut in 2008. In 2019, Chingiz with “Truth” brought Azerbaijan back into the top 10, finishing in 8th place with 302 points.

Internal selection: On 20 March 2020, İTV confirmed that Efendi would remain as Azerbaijan’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. On 7 January 2021, the broadcaster called for interested songwriters to submit their songs to the broadcaster by 1 February 2021. Songwriters could be of any nationality. Six songs were shortlisted from 229 submissions from local and international songwriters and their titles were revealed by INFE Azerbaijan on 9 February 2021.

“Breathing You”
“Manifesto”
“Mata Hari”
“Owe You Pretty”
“Ratata”
“When I’m Gone”

On 13 March 2021, İTV announced that “Mata Hari” was the selected song that would represent Azerbaijan. “Mata Hari” was selected from the six shortlisted songs based on the decision of İTV and participants of an opinion survey that featured music industry experts and Eurovision fans. The song was released on 15 March 2021 alongside a music video. “Mata Hari” was written by Amy van der Wel, Luuk van Beers and Tony Cornelissen.

At Eurovision: According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the “Big 5” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. For the 2021 contest, the semi-final allocation draw held for 2020 which was held on 28 January 2020, will be used. Azerbaijan was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.

• Country: Bielorussia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: 9 Marzo 2021 Ι Song: 9 Marzo 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): – 
  • Host broadcaster: National State Television and Radio Company of the Republic of Belarus (BTRC)
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Galasy ZMesta
  • Selection song: “Ya nauchu tebya (I’ll Teach You)”
  • Selected songwriter(s):

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 1
  • Final result:

Belarus may participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. They internally selected Galasy ZMesta as their representative, but following the rejection of their initial entry, have not given an update on their participation in the contest.

Background. Prior to the 2021 Contest, Belarus had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest sixteen times since its first entry in 2004. The nation’s best placing in the contest was sixth, which it achieved in 2007 with the song “Work Your Magic” performed by Dmitry Koldun. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the 2004, Belarus had managed to qualify to the final six times. In 2019, Belarus qualified to the final with the song “Like It” performed by ZENA, and eventually finished in 24th place with 31 points. In 2020, the duo VAL was set to represent Belarus with the song “Da vidna” before the contest’s cancellation.

The Belarusian national broadcaster, National State Television and Radio Company of the Republic of Belarus (BTRC), broadcasts the event within Belarus and organises the selection process for the nation’s entry. The broadcaster has used both internal selections and national finals to select the Belarusian entry for Eurovision in the past. From 2012 to 2020, BTRC has organised a national final in order to choose Belarus’ entry.

Before Eurovision.

Disqualificacion of VAL: The musical project VAL, which was to represent Belarus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, was not internally selected for Eurovision 2021 by the broadcaster as a result of a string of events in the aftermath of the 2020-2021 Belarusian protests.

In the run-up towards and after the August 2020 Belarusian presidential elections, VAL showed support for opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and subsequently openly supported the Belarusian democracy movement. After not having appeared in the media for five months, VAL gave an interview to an independent publication, stating that they had not been allowed to talk with the media according to their contract and that they felt neglected by the broadcaster. Back in March 2020, during a broadcast of Makaionka, 9, then Belarusian Eurovision commentator Evgeny Perlin said that the Belarusian state broadcaster had not confirmed VAL yet, because “there [was] still time for that”.

On September 25, 2020, a day after the independent interview was published, the Belarusian broadcaster confirmed that they would not internally select VAL for Eurovision 2021, stating the duo had “no conscience”.

Internal selection of Galasy ZMesta: Artists and composers were able to submit their applications and a live performance of their entries to the broadcaster between 1 January 2021 and 31 January 2021. On 9 March 2021, Galasy ZMesta was announced as the chosen entrant with their song “Ya nauchu tebya (I’ll Teach You)”.

Diqualification of “Ya nauchu tebya”: There were calls for Belarus to be disqualified from the Eurovision, due to the “obvious political subtext” of the participation. Swedish political party Liberalerna and the Belarusian Foundation for Cultural Solidarity called for Belarus to be disqualified from the contest. Several Eurovision news outlets also announced that they would be limiting the coverage of the song.

On 11 March 2021, the EBU released a statement, stating that after scrutinizing the entry, they concluded that “the song puts the non-political nature of the Contest in question”. As a result, the EBU has declared the entry ineligible to compete in the contest, and demanded that the Belarusian broadcaster BTRC must submit either a new version of the song or an entirely new song that is compliant with the rules, or face disqualification.

On 13 March 2021, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko had stated that he may order BTRC to opt for a new entry instead of modifying the lyrics of the original song.

At Eurovision: According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the “Big 5” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. For the 2021 contest, the semi-final allocation draw held for 2020 which was held on 28 January 2020, will be used. Belarus was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.

• Country: Belgio in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciati il 20 Marzo 2020; Selezionati: Internal selection, l’1 ottobre 2019 Ι Song: 4 Marzo 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): – 
  • Host broadcaster: Radio Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française (RTBF) / Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT)
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Hooverphonic (Alex Callier, Raymond Geerts, Geike Arnaert)
  • Selection song: “The Wrong Place”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Alex Callier, Charlotte Foret

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 1
  • Final result:

Belgium will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Hooverphonic as their representative with the song “The Wrong Place”. They were due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Release Me” before the event’s cancellation.

Background. Prior to the 2021 contest, Belgium had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 61 times since its debut as one of seven countries to take part in 1956. Since then, the country has won the contest on one occasion in 1986 with the song “J’aime la vie” performed by Sandra Kim. Following the introduction of semi-finals for 2004, Belgium had been featured in only six finals. In 2019, Eliot Vassamillet represented Belgium with the song “Wake Up”. The song failed to qualify to the grand final, placing 13th out of 17 entries in its semi final.

The Belgian broadcasters for the 2021 contest, who broadcast the event in Belgium and organise the selection process for its entry, are Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT) and Radio Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française (RTBF). Both broadcasters have alternatively selected the Belgian entry using national finals and internal selections in the past.

Before Eurovision.

Internal selection: On 20 March 2020, both VRT and RTBF confirmed that the band Hooverphonic will represent Belgium in the 2021 contest. Their entry for 2021, entitled “The Wrong Place”, was released on 4 March 2021.

At Eurovision: According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the “Big 5” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. For the 2021 contest, the semi-final allocation draw held for 2020 which was held on 28 January 2020, will be used. Belgium was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.

• Country: Croazia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Dora 2021. – Hrvatska Pjesma za Pjesmu Eurovizije
  • Selection date(s): 13 February 2021
  • Host venue: Marino Cvetković Sports Hall, Opatija
  • Presenter(s): Daniela Trbović, Barbara Kolar, Jelena Lešić i Doris Pinčić Rogoznica
  • Host broadcaster: Hrvatska radiotelevizija (HRT)
  • Participants – Number of entries: 14
  • Selection entrant: Albina
  • Selection song: “Tick-Tock”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Branimir Mihaljević, Max Cinnamon, Tihana Buklijaš Bakić

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 1
  • Final result:

Croatia will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The national broadcaster, Hrvatska radiotelevizija (HRT), organised the national selection Dora 2021 to select the country’s representative.

Background: Prior to the 2021 Contest, Croatia had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest twenty-five times since its first entry in 1993. Croatia’s highest placing in the contest, to this point, has been fourth place, which the nation achieved on two occasions: in 1996 with the song “Sveta ljubav” performed by Maja Blagdan and in 1999 “Marija Magdalena” performed by Doris Dragović. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the 2004 contest, Croatia had featured in seven finals. In 2019, Croatia failed to qualify to the final, placing 14th in the second semi-final with the song “The Dream” performed by Roko.[3] In 2020, Damir Kedžo was due to represent Croatia with the song “Divlji vjetre” before the contest’s cancellation.

Before Eurovision: 

Dora 2021: The national broadcaster Hrvatska radiotelevizija (HRT) organised Dora 2021 in order to select the nation’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. The competition consisted of fourteen entries competing in one final held on 13 February 2021 at the Marino Cvetković Sports Hall in Opatija, broadcast on HRT 1 and HRT 2 as well as online via the broadcaster’s streaming service HRTi and hosted by Daniela Trbović, Barbara Kolar, Jelena Lešić and Doris Pinčić Rogoznica.

Competing entries: On 26 October 2020, HRT opened a submission period where artists and composers were able to submit their entries to the broadcaster with the deadline on 10 December 2020. Unlike in 2020, where songs submitted to the contest were required to be in either English, French, Italian or Croatian, the 2021 edition expanded it’s rules to any European language. 140 entries were received by the broadcaster during the submission period. A five-member expert committee consisting of Andrej Babić (HGU, HDS), Hrvoje Prskalo (HDS), Matija Cvek (HGU), Monika Lelas (HRT) and Uršula Tolj (HRT) reviewed the received submissions and selected fourteen artists and songs for the competition. HRT announced the competing entries on 15 December 2020 and among the competing artists, Tony Cetinski represented Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1994, while Nina Kraljić represented Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.

Artist Song Composer(s)
Albina (Albina Grčić) “Tick-Tock” Branimir Mihaljević – Max Cinnamon, Tihana Buklijaš Bakić
Ashley Colburn & Bojan Jambrošić “Share the Love” Ivan Škunca, Ashley Colburn –  Ivan Škunca
Bernarda (Bernarda Brunović) “Colors” Bernarda Brunović, Borislav Milanov
Beta Sudar “Ma zamisli” Predrag Martinjak
Brigita Vuco “Noći pijane” Brigita Vuco
Ella Orešković “Come This Way” Siniša Reljić Simba, Ella Orešković
Eric (Eric Vidović) “Reci mi” Eric Vidović
Filip Rudan “Blind” Filip Rudan, Antonio Franić, Hrvoje Domazet
Cambi (Klapa Cambi: Jure Nikolić, Sandro Gerbec, Luka Čulić i Joško Tranfić) “Zaljubljen” Miljko Mirković
Mia Negovetić “She’s Like a Dream” Mia Negovetić, Linnea Deb, Denniz Jamm, Denise Kertes
Nina Kraljić “Rijeka” Hana Librenjak – Miki Solus, Nina Kraljić
Sandi Cenov (Aleksandar “Sandi” Cenov) “Kriv” Siniša Reljić Simba – Fayo
ToMa (Tomislav Marić) “Ocean of Love” Adriana Pupavac, Andreas “Beemon” Björkman, Kalle Persson, Tomislav Marić – Adriana Pupavac
Tony Cetinski & Kristijan Rahimovski (Anthony Cetinski & Kristijan Rahimovski) “Zapjevaj, sloboda je!” Kristijan Rahimovski

Brani di riserva:

Artist Song Composer(s)
Elis Lovrić “Brodolom” Elis Lovrić
ENDI (feat. LORA) “Megaloman” A. Čubrić, J. Houdek – A. Čubrić
Pjerino Ružević “Soldier” P. Ružević, A. Bjorkman, A. Pupavac, J. Alin – P. Ružević, A. O’Connor
Z/11 “Only love” B. Čakić, I. Ivić, R. Babić – B. Čakić, N. Špralja

Final: The final took place on 13 February 2021. The running order was announced on 18 January 2021. The winner, “Tick-Tock” performed by Albina, was determined by a 50/50 combination of votes from ten regional juries and a public televote. The viewers and the juries each had a total of 580 points to award. Each jury group distributed their points as follows: 1-8, 10 and 12 points. The viewer vote was based on the percentage of votes each song achieved through telephone and SMS voting. For example, if a song gained 10% of the viewer vote, then that entry would be awarded 10% of 580 points rounded to the nearest integer: 58 points. Ties were decided in favour of the entry ranked higher by the public televote.

Final – 13 February 2021
Draw Artist Song Jury Televote Total Place
Phone
Calls		 SMS Total Points
1
 Nina Kraljić & Alkonost Of Balkan “Rijeka” 68 3,745 1,575 5,320 77 145 2
2
 Eric Vidović “Reci mi” 29 659 408 1,067 16 45 10
3
 Ella Orešković “Come This Way” 26 1,425 336 1,761 26 52 9
4
 Bernarda Brunović “Colors” 77 1,131 413 1,544 22 99 7
5
 Sandi Cenov “Kriv” 5 403 82 485 7 12 14
6
 ToMa “Ocean of Love” 64 2,121 574 2,695 39 103 6
7
 Filip Rudan “Blind” 65 3,204 460 3,664 53 118 5
8
 Beta Sudar “Ma zamisli” 8 456 84 540 8 16 12
9
 Cambi “Zaljubljen” 47 4,488 393 4,881 71 118 4
10
 Ashley Colburn & Bojan Jambrošić “Share the Love” 9 2,237 94 2,331 34 43 11
11
 Brigita Vuco “Noći pijane” 7 504 78 582 8 15 13
12
 Mia Negovetić “She’s Like a Dream” 67 3,143 471 3,614 52 119 3
13
 Albina “Tick-Tock” 78 6,609 1,688 8,297 120 198 1
14
 Tony Cetinski & Kiki Rahimovski “Zapjevaj, sloboda je!” 30 2,746 464 3,210 47 77 8

Criticism: After the final, Nina Kraljić alleged that there were problems with her rehearsals, where she had to listen to Albina’s song in her in-ear headphones instead of her own. She also said that many people couldn’t vote for her due to telecomunication problems. Two days later, Kraljić removed her Facebook page as well as Instagram page. 

On the next day, the family of another contestant, Bernarda Brunović, also alleged that they got an information from Croatian Head of Delegation Uršula Tolj that they could not win because they were on a “blacklist”. They also confirmed Nina Kraljić’s earlier allegations. Uršula Tolj commented on this a day later, where she confirmed that everything was done right and that there have been no problems with the voting that would affect the final result. She also dismissed the allegations that there existed a “blacklist”.

At Eurovision: According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the “Big 5” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. For the 2021 contest, the semi-final allocation draw held for 2020 which was held on 28 January 2020, will be used. Croatia was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.

• Country: Cipro in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

• National selection: 

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: 25 November 2020 Ι Song: 24 February 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC)
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Elena Tsagrinou (Ελένη Τσαγκρινού)
  • Selection song: “El diablo”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Jimmy Thornfeldt, Laurell Barker, Oxa, Thomas Stengaard

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 1
  • Final result:

Cyprus will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, to be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Elena Tsagrinou was selected by the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) to represent the country with the song “El diablo”. 

Cyprus was drawn to compete in the second half of the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place on 18 May 2021. The draw order was unchanged from the canceled 2020 edition.

Background: Prior to the 2021 contest, Cyprus had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest thirty-six times since the island country made its debut in the 1981 contest. Its best placing was at the 2018 contest where Eleni Foureira placed second with “Fuego”. Before that, Cyprus’s best result was fifth, which it achieved three times: in the 1982 competition with the song “Mono I Agapi” performed by Anna Vissi, in the 1997 edition with “Mana Mou” performed by Hara and Andreas Constantinou, and the 2004 contest with “Stronger Every Minute” performed by Lisa Andreas. Cyprus’ least successful result was in the 1986 contest when it placed last with the song “Tora Zo” by Elpida, receiving only four points in total. However, its worst finish in terms of points received was when it placed second to last in the 1999 contest with “Tha’nai Erotas” by Marlain Angelidou, receiving only two points. After returning to the contest in 2015 following their one-year absence from the 2014 edition due to the 2012–13 Cypriot financial crisis and the broadcaster’s budget restrictions, Cyprus has qualified for the final of all the contests in which it has participated.

The Cypriot national broadcaster, CyBC, broadcasts the contest within Cyprus and organises the selection process for the nation’s entry. Cyprus has used various methods to select its entry in the past, such as internal selections and televised national finals to choose the performer, song or both to compete at Eurovision. In 2015, the broadcaster organised the national final Eurovision Song Project, which featured 54 songs competing in a nine-week-long process resulting in the selection of the Cypriot entry through the combination of public televoting and the votes from an expert jury. Since 2016, however, the broadcaster has opted to select the entry internally without input from the public.

Before Eurovision: 

Internal selection: On 25 November 2020, CyBC announced that they had internally selected Greek singer Elena Tsagrinou to represent Cyprus in Rotterdam with the song “El diablo”. Tsagrinou previously participated in the second season of Ellada Eheis Talento where she progressed to the semi-final. Signed to Panik Records, she was a former member of the group Otherview. “El diablo” was written by Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Laurell Barker, Oxa, and Thomas Stengaard. Barker and Stengaard have written several Eurovision entries for various countries with the latter having written the Danish Eurovision Song Contest 2013 winning song “Only Teardrops”. On 25 January 2021, Tsagrinou announced on her Instagram account that the song would be released exactly one month later, on 24 February 2021. 

A preview of “El diablo” was presented to the public on 24 February 2021 during the RIK 1 programme Happy Hour, hosted by Andreas Giortsios. The official preview video for the song, directed by George Benioudakis was also available on the Panik Records mobile app and website. The music video was hosted on the website until 27 February; on 28 February, the song and full length music video was officially released to the public.

At Eurovision: The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 is scheduled to take place at Rotterdam Ahoy in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and will consist of two semi-finals held on 18 and 20 May, and the grand final on 22 May 2021. According to the Eurovision rules, each participating country, except the host country and the “Big 5”, consisting of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the grand final.[11] The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. For the 2021 contest, the semi-final allocation draw held for 2020 which was held on 28 January 2020, will be used. Cyprus was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.

Marvin Dietmann was announced as the artistic director for the entry, responsible for the country’s stage performance.

• Country: Irlanda in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciata il 17 Dicembre 2020; Selezionata: Internal selection, il 5 marzo 2020 Ι Song: 26 Febbraio 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ)
  • Participants – Number of entries: – 
  • Selection entrant: Lesley Roy
  • Selection song: “Maps”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Lesley Roy, Lukas Hällgren, Philip Strand, Normandie, Deepend, Emelie Eriksson

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 1
  • Final result:

Ireland will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Lesley Roy as their representative with the song “Maps”. She was due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Story of My Life” before the event’s cancellation.

Background. Prior to the 2021 Contest, Ireland had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 52 times since its first entry in 1965. Ireland has won the contest a record seven times in total. The country’s first win came in 1970, with then-18-year-old Dana winning with “All Kinds of Everything”. Ireland holds the record for being the only country to win the contest three times in a row (in 1992, 1993 and 1994), as well as having the only three-time winner (Johnny Logan, who won in 1980 as a singer, 1987 as a singer-songwriter, and again in 1992 as a songwriter). In 2011 and 2012, Jedward represented the nation for two consecutive years, managing to qualify to the final both times and achieve Ireland’s highest position in the contest since 2000, placing eighth in 2011 with the song “Lipstick”. However, in 2013, despite managing to qualify to the final, Ryan Dolan and his song “Only Love Survives” placed last in the final. The Irish entries from 2014 to 2017 all failed to qualify for the final. Ireland once again qualified for the final in 2018 with the song Together performed by Ryan O’Shaughnessy, placing 16th in the grand final. However, in 2019, Ireland once again failed to qualify for the final, placing last in the second semi-final with Sarah McTernan and the song “22”.

Before Eurovision.

Internal selection: On 17 December 2020, RTÉ announced that they had again internally selected Lesley Roy to represent Ireland in Rotterdam. The song, entitled “Maps”, was released on 26 February 2021. The song was written by Roy, Lukas Hällgren, Philip Strand, Normandie, Deepend and Emelie Eriksson.

At Eurovision: According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the “Big 5” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. For the 2021 contest, the semi-final allocation draw held for 2020 which was held on 28 January 2020, will be used. Ireland was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.

• Country: Israele in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Artist: Internal selection Ι Song: HaShir Shelanu L’Eurovizion / “השיר שלנו לאירוויזיון 2021”
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciata il 22 Marzo 2020; Selezionata: HaKokhav HaBa L’Eurovizion 2020 (The Next Star for Eurovision 2020, 2020 “השיר הבא לאירוויזיון”),  il 4 Febbraio 2020 Ι Song: HaShir Shelanu L’Eurovizion 2021 (Our Song For Eurovision 2021, 2021 השיר שלנו לאירוויזיון),  25 Gennaio  2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): Lucy Ayoub (لوسي ايوب‎, לוסי איוב‎)
  • Host broadcaster: Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC/KAN)
  • Participants – Number of entries: 9 canzoni (3 finaliste)
  • Selection entrant: Eden Alene (עדן אלנה‎; ኤደን አለነ) 
  • Selection song: “Set Me Free” (חופשיה)
  • Selected songwriter(s): Noam Zaltin, Ido Netzer, Amit Mordechai, Ron Carmi (נועם זלטין, עידו נצר, עמית מרדכי, רון כרמי)

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 1
  • Final result:

Israel will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Eden Alene as their representative with the song “Set Me Free”. She was due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Feker Libi” before the event’s cancellation. 

Background: Prior to the 2021 contest, Israel had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest forty-two times since its first entry in 1973. 

Israel has won the contest on four occasions: in 1978 with the song “A-Ba-Ni-Bi” performed by Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta, in 1979 with the song “Hallelujah” performed by Milk and Honey, in 1998 with the song “Diva” performed by Dana International and in 2018 with the song “Toy” performed by Netta Barzilai.

Since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, Israel has failed to reach the final six times. In 2005, Shiri Maimon gave the country its tenth top five result, finishing fourth. Having failed to qualify for the final for four consecutive years (2011–14), Israel reached the final for the first time in five years, with Nadav Guedj finishing ninth in 2015, and the country has participated in the final every year since. Israel’s fourth victory came when Netta won the 2018 contest in Lisbon, with the song “Toy”. The following year, when the contest was held in Tel Aviv, Kobi Marimi represented the country on home soil with the song “Home”, finishing twenty-third with 35 points in the final.

Before Eurovision.

Internal selection (Artist selection): On 22 March 2020, KAN confirmed that Eden Alene would be kept as the Israeli representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.

HaShir Shelanu L’Eurovizion / “השיר שלנו לאירוויזיון 2021”: The song that Eden Alene represented Israel with in Rotterdam will be selected through a national final called HaShir Shelanu L’Eurovizion. On 16 September 2020, KAN opened the public song submission following the announcement of Alene as the selected artist with the deadline on 15 October 2020. 220 submissions were received, which were subsequently evaluated by a professional committee consisting of Ofri Gopher / עופרי גופר (Director of KAN Music Stations), Roi Dalmadigo / רועי דלמדיגו (Editor of KAN Gimel), Tal Argaman / טל ארגמן (DJ and music editor at KAN 88), Alona Kedem / אלונה קדם (Editor of KAN 88 and KAN Gimel), Tali Katz / טלי כץ (Head of Delegation for Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest) and Michael Weisbergn / ומיכל וייסברג (CEO of Aroma Music) that selected nine songs for the competition.

Final: The winning song was selected over two rounds of online voting through KAN’s official website. In the first round, demo versions of the nine competing songs were released on 2 December 2020 and the public was able to vote until 13 December 2020. The two songs with the most votes advanced to the second round and the professional committee selected an additional song from the remaining seven to advance. In the second round, the three songs, finalized and re-recorded by Alene, were to be released on 18 January 2021, however the songs were officially released on 5 January 2021 after an early publication by the newspaper Israel Hayom. The public was able to vote for their favourite song between 19 January and 25 January 2021 and the winning song was revealed during a special televised broadcast on 25 January 2021.

First round – 2 December 2020 – 13 December 2020
Song Language Composer(s) Percentage Place Result
“Can’t Stop a Hurricane” (הוריקן) English 8.9% 6 Eliminated
“Coming Out” (יוצאת לחופשי) English 7.3% 8 Eliminated
“Flying” (עפים) English 8.7% 7 Eliminated
“La La Love” (לה לה לאב) English, Hebrew Yosef Bach, Gal Malka, Gil Vain (יוסף באך, גל מלכה, גיל ויין) — Advanced, Online vote qualifier
“Rise Up Today” (נזרח היום) English, Amharic 7.2% 9 Eliminated
“Set Me Free” (חופשיה) English, Hebrew Noam Zaltin, Ido Netzer, Amit Mordechai, Ron Carmi (נועם זלטין, עידו נצר, עמית מרדכי, רון כרמי) — 3 Advanced, Jury qualifier
“Shoulders” (שולדר’ס) English, Amharic Zohar Barzilai, Adi Rotem 12.1% 4 Eliminated
“Spilling Magic” (קסם) English 10.4% 5 Eliminated
“Ue La La” (או לה לה) English, Hebrew, French Niv Cohen, Meital Cohen, Noy Eisen, Aline Cohen (נוב, נוי אייזן, אלין כהן) — Advanced, Online vote qualifier

Second round: 

Second round – 19 January 2021 – 25 January 2021
Song Percentage Place
“La La Love” 17.2% 2
“Set Me Free” 71.3% 1
“Ue La La” 11.5% 3

At Eurovision: According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the “Big 5” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. For the 2021 contest, the semi-final allocation draw held for 2020 which was held on 28 January 2020, will be used. Israel was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.

• Country: Lituania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Pabandom iš naujo! (Let’s try again!) 2021
  • Selection date(s): Heats (Atrankos): 16 gennaio 2021, 23 gennaio 2021 Ι Semi-finals (Pusfinaliai): 30 gennaio 2021 Ι Final (Finalas): 6 febbraio 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): Ieva Stasiulevičiūtė, Vytautas Rumšas, Vaidas Baumila
  • Host broadcaster:  LRT televizija (LRT)
  • Participants – Number of entries: 22
  • Selection entrant: The Roop
  • Selection song: “Discoteque”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Vaidotas Valiukevičius, Robertas Baranauskas, Mantas Banišauskas, Laisvūnas Černovas, Kalle Lindroth, Ilkka Wirtanen

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 1
  • Final result:

Lithuania will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The Lithuanian broadcaster, LRT televizija (LRT), will use the national selection Pabandom iš naujo 2021 to decide their representative.

Background: Prior to 2021, Lithuania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest twenty times since its first entry in 1994. Their best placing was achieved in 2006, with “We Are the Winners”, performed by LT United, finishing in sixth place in the final. Following the introduction of semi-finals in 2004, Lithuania has managed to qualify to the final nine times. Lithuania was represented in 2019 by the song “Run with the Lions”, performed by Jurijus Veklenko, finishing in 11th place in the second semi-final with 93 point.

Before Eurovision.

Pabandom iš naujo! 2021: Pabandom iš Naujo! 2021 (Let’s try again! 2021) was the national final format developed by LRT in order to select Lithuania’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. The competition involved a four-week-long process that commenced on 16 January 2021 and concluded with a winning song and artist on 6 February 2021. The four shows took place at the LRT studios in Vilnius and were hosted by Ieva Stasiulevičiūtė and Vytautas Rumšas with Vaidas Baumila hosting segments from the green room. The shows were broadcast on LRT televizija, LRT Lituanica and LRT Radijas as well as online via the broadcaster’s website lrt.lt.

Format: For the 2021 competition, two heats consisting of ten entries each were held on 16 and 23 January where half of the entries from each heat were eliminated, while the remaining ten entries advanced to the competition’s semi-final. In the semi-final, half of the entries were eliminated and the top five proceeded to the final. In the final, the winner was selected from the remaining five entries and an additional entry from The Roop (who were due to represent Lithuania in 2020 before the contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe) that proceeded directly to the final.

The results of each of the four shows were determined by the 50/50 combination of votes from a jury panel and public televoting. The ranking developed by both streams of voting was converted to points from 1-8, 10 and 12 and assigned based on the number of competing songs in the respective show. During the first three shows, the jury votes were determined by a five-member panel. In the final, a seven-member panel voted. The public could cast their votes through telephone and SMS voting, which were monitored by independent observers from auditor Grand Thornton Baltic. Ties in all shows were decided in favour of the entry that was awarded the most points by the jury.

Competing entries: On 31 March 2020, LRT opened two separate submission forms: one for artists and another for songwriters to submit their songs. The submission deadline for both applications concluded on 14 December 2020. Artists that applied to compete with a song were required to indicate which song they wanted to compete with on their application. On 3 January 2020, LRT announced the 22 artists selected for the competition. Among the artists are previous Lithuanian Eurovision contestant Evelina Sašenko, who represented Lithuania in 2011, Sunday Afternoon (Vilija Matačiūnaitė), who represented the nation in 2014, and The Roop, who were to represent the nation in 2020 before the contest was cancelled. On 4 January 2021, the final changes to the list of 22 competing acts were made with the withdrawal of singers Evelina Sašenko and Gintarė Korsakaitė.

Artist Song Composer(s)
Aistė Brokenleg “Home” Linas Karolis Krasauskas, Aistė Motiejūnaitė
Aldegunda “Sit Down” Gailė Asačiovaitė-Main
Grupė „Be U“ “Love Yourself” Ąžuolas Paulauskas
Grupė „Black Spikes“ su Indrė Launikonytė “Don’t Tell Me” Dovilė Virbalaitė, Rimantas Budriūnas, Agnieška Vrubliauskienė, Simona Karinauskaitė, Indrė Launikonytė
Cosmic bride (Natalja Chareckaja) “Solitary Star” Natalia Chareckaja, Davide Fortugno
Donata Virbilaitė “The Way I Am” Ylva Persson, Linda Persson
Evelina Sašenko (Evelina Sašenko-Statulevičienė, Ewelina Saszenko, Евеліна Сашенко) “Malda” (We are strong)
Evita Cololo “Be paslapcių” Evita Cololo, Elizabeta Eliševa Povilaitė, Vitalijus Puzyrovas
Gabrielė Goštautaitė “Freedom” Gabrielė Goštautaitė, Tomas Kondrackis
Gabrielius Vagelis “My Guy” Gabrielius Vagelis, Bjørn Holmesland
Gebrasy (Audrius Petrauskas) “Where’d You Wanna Go?” Audrius Petrauskas, Faustas Venckus
Gintarė Korsakaitė —
Martyna Jezepčikaitė “Thank F**k You Very Much” Andreas Stone Johansson, Julia Kautz, Morten Thorhauge, Selin Üstün
Milita Daikerytė “Shadows” Audrius Petrauskas, Faustas Venckus
Norbertas/Norbė “Man in Need” Faustas Venckus, Dennis Steenbergen
Rapolas (Rapolas Meškauskas) “Degam” Rapolas Kęstutis Meškauskas
Sunday Afternoon (Vilija Matačiūnaitė) “Open” Vilija Matačiūnaitė
Grupė „The Roop“ (Vaidotas Valiukevičius, Robertas Baranauskas, Mantas Banišauskas) “Discoteque” Vaidotas Valiukevičius, Robertas Baranauskas, Mantas Banišauskas, Laisvūnas Černovas, Kalle Lindroth, Ilkka Wirtanen
Thomukas1 (Thomas Tumosa) “Wish” Thomas Tumosa, Simonas Kazlauskas, Pijus Brazys
Titas ir Benas “No” Audrius Petrauskas, Faustas Venckus
Grupė „Twosome“ “I Love My Bear” Justinas Stanislovaitis, Paulius Šinkūnas
Grupė „UnoBand“ “Eisiu” Paulius Jasiūnas
Voldemaras Petersonas / Voldemars Petersons “I Never Fall for You Again” Voldemars Petersons

Shows.

Heat 1 / Pirma laida (16 January 2021): The first heat of the competition aired on 16 January 2021 and featured ten of the competing artists. The show was filmed on 12 January 2021. The members of the jury consisted of Ramūnas Zilnys (music reviewer), Jievaras Jasinskis (composer and musician), Vytautas Bikus (composer), Ieva Narkutė (singer) and Aistė Smilgevičiūtė (singer). Half of the entries advanced to the semi-final, while the remaining half were eliminated.

Draw Artist Song Jury Public Total Place
Votes Points Televote Points
1 Black Spikes ft. Indrė Launikonytė “Don’t Tell Me” 24 4 805 8 12 6
2 Thomukas 1 “Wish” 8 2 108 1 3 10
3 Be U “Love Yourself” 30 6 780 7 13 5
4 Titas & Benas “No” 41 8 994 10 18 2
5 Martyna Jezepčikaitė “Thank You Very Much” 27 5 2063 12 17 3
6 Donata Virbilaitė “The Way I Am” 36 7 353 3 10 7
7 Twosome “I Love My Bear” 8 2 213 2 4 9
8 Milita Daikerytė “Shadows” 49 10 448 5 15 4
9 Aldegunda “Sit Down” 15 3 357 4 7 8
10 Voldemars Petersons “Never Fall for You Again” 52 12 498 6 18 1

Heat 2 / Antra laida (23 January 2021): The second heat of the competition aired on 23 January 2021 and featured ten of the competing artists. The show was filmed on 19 January 2021. The members of the jury consisted of Ramūnas Zilnys (music reviewer), Ieva Narkutė (singer), Vytautas Bikus (composer), Gerūta Griniūtė (cultural presenter and event host) and Stanislavas Stavickis-Stano (singer-songwriter). Half of the entries advanced to the semi-final, while the remaining half were eliminated.

Draw Artist Song Jury Public Total Place
Votes Points Televote Points
1 UnoBand “Eisiu” 7 1 169 3 4 10
2 Cosmic Bride “Solitary Star” 26 6 93 1 7 9
3 Rapolas “Degam” 19 3 333 5 8 7
4 Sunday Afternoon “Open” 24 5 249 4 9 6
5 Aistė Brokenleg “Home” 27 7 131 2 9 5
6 Norbertas “Man In Need” 21 4 587 10 14 4
7 Gabrielė Goštautaitė “Freedom” 18 2 340 6 8 8
8 Gebrasy “Where’d You Wanna Go?” 55 12 868 12 24 1
9 Evita Cololo “Be paslapčių” 46 8 443 8 16 3
10 Gabrielius Vagelis “My Guy” 47 10 423 7 17 2

Semi-final / Pusfinaliai (30 January 2021): The semi-final of the competition aired on 30 January 2021 and featured the ten entries that qualified from the two heats. The show was filmed on 26 January 2021. The members of the jury consisted of Ramūnas Zilnys (music reviewer), Aistė Smilgevičiūtė (singer), Jievaras Jasinskis (composer and musician), Gerūta Griniūtė (cultural presenter and event host) and Stanislavas Stavickis-Stano (singer-songwriter). The top five entries advanced to the final, while the bottom five were eliminated.

Draw Artist Song Jury Public Total Place
Votes Points Televote Points
1 Be U “Love Yourself” 14 1 858 7 8 9
2 Aistė Brokenleg “Home” 16 4 208 1 5 10
3 Gabrielius Vagelis “My Guy” 24 6 688 4 10 7
4 Martyna Jezepčikaitė “Thank You Very Much” 20 5 1816 10 15 2
5 Norbertas “Man In Need” 15 2 832 6 8 8
6 Evita Cololo “Be paslapčių” 45 10 350 2 12 3
7 Titas & Benas “No” 16 4 943 8 12 5
8 Voldemars Petersons “Never Fall For You Again” 38 7 819 5 12 4
9 Milita Daikerytė “Shadows” 42 8 592 3 11 6
10 Gebrasy “Where’d You Wanna Go?” 60 12 2237 12 24 1

Final / Finalas (6 February 2021): The final of the competition took place on 6 February 2021 and featured the remaining five entries that qualified from the semi-final and the pre-qualified entry: “Discoteque” performed by The Roop. The members of the jury consisted of Ramūnas Zilnys (music reviewer), Aistė Smilgevičiūtė (singer), Jievaras Jasinskis (composer and musician), Gerūta Griniūtė (cultural presenter and event host), Stanislavas Stavickis-Stano (singer-songwriter), Vytautas Bikus (composer) and Ieva Narkutė (singer). “Discoteque” performed by The Roop was selected as the winner after gaining the most points from both the jury vote and the public vote.

Draw Artist Song Jury Public Total Place
Votes Points Televote Points
1 Titas & Benas “No” 44 6 1094 6 12 6
2 Martyna Jezepčikaitė “Thank You Very Much” 40 5 2453 8 13 4
3 Gebrasy “Where’d You Wanna Go?” 70 10 6413 10 20 2
4 Voldemars Petersons “Never Fall for You Again” 51 8 1224 7 15 3
5 Evita Cololo “Be paslapčių” 47 7 427 5 12 5
6 The Roop “Discoteque” 84 12 74512 12 24 1

Ratings:

Viewing figures by show
Show Air date Viewers
(thousands)		 Share Ref.
Heat 1 16 January 2021 255,600 23.3% –
Heat 2 23 January 2021 258,200 24.5% –
Semi-final 30 January 2021 234,100 22.3% –
Final 6 February 2021 324,500 29% –

At Eurovision: According to contest rules, all participating countries with the exception of the host country and the “Big 5” are required to qualify for the final as one of the top ten countries from one of two semi-finals. In allocating countries to semi-finals, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split the countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot.

The semi-final allocation draw that was scheduled to be used in 2020 will be used in 2021. Lithuania was placed into the first semi-final, which will be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.

• Country: Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciata il 18 Marzo 2020; Selezionata: X Factor Malta 2020 Season 2, l’8 Febbraio 2020 Ι Song: 15 Marzo 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: Public Broadcasting Services (PBS)
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Destiny (Destiny Chukunyere)
  • Selection song: “Je me casse”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Malin Christin, Amanuel Dermont, Nicklas Eklund, Pete Barringer

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 1
  • Final result:

Malta will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Destiny Chukunyere as their representative to perform the entry “Je me casse”, written by Malin Christin, Amanuel Dermont, Nicklas Eklund and Pete Barringer. She was previously due to compete in the 2020 contest with “All of My Love” before the event’s cancellation.

Background: Prior to the 2021 Contest, Malta has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 32 times since its first entry in 1971. Malta briefly competed in the Eurovision Song Contest in the 1970s before withdrawing for sixteen years. The country had, to this point, competed in every contest since returning in 1991. Malta’s best placing in the contest thus far was second, which it achieved on two occasions: in 2002 with the song “7th Wonder” performed by Ira Losco and in 2005 with the song “Angel” performed by Chiara. 

In 2019, Malta returned to the final after two years with Michela Pace, performer also selected through X Factor Malta, and the pop entry Chameleon, managing to achieve a fourteenth place in the Saturday show with 107 points.

Before Eurovision.

Internal selection: On 18 May 2020, PBS confirmed that Destiny Chukunyere will represent Malta in the 2021 contest. Her song for 2021, entitled “Je me casse” and written by Malin Christin, Amanuel Dermont, Nicklas Eklund and Pete Barringer, was released on 15 March 2021.

At Eurovision: According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the “Big 5” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. For the 2021 contest, the semi-final allocation draw held for 2020 which was held on 28 January 2020, will be used. Malta was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.

• Country: Macedonia del Nord in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal Selection
  • Selection date(s):Artist: Annunciato il 20 gennaio 2021; Selezionata: Internal Selection, il 15 gennaio 2020 Ι Song: 11 Marzo 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: Macedonian Radio Television (MRT)
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Vasil
  • Selection song:“Here I Stand”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Vasil Garvanliev, Borče Kuzmanovski, Davor Jordanovski

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 1
  • Final result:

North Macedonia will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Vasil Garvanliev as their representative with the song “Here I Stand”. He was due to compete in the 2020 contest with the song “You” before the event’s cancellation.

Background: Prior to the 2021 contest, North Macedonia had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest nineteen times since its first entry in 1998 as F.Y.R. Macedonia. The nation’s best result in the contest to this point was twelfth, which it achieved in 2006 with the song “Ninanajna” performed by Elena Risteska. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the 2004, Macedonia had featured in only five finals. In 2019, Tamara Todevska managed to qualify for the final with her song “Proud”, that marked the nation’s first appearance in the final since 2012, also achieving the first ever top 10 result.

Before Eurovision. 

Internal selection: On 20 January 2021, MRT confirmed that Vasil will represent North Macedonia in the 2021 contest. Following the announcement, a song submission period was opened for interested composers to submit their songs until 27 January 2021. The chosen song, entitled “Here I Stand” and written by Vasil himself, was released on 11 March 2021.

At Eurovision: According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the “Big 5” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. For the 2021 contest, the semi-final allocation draw held for 2020 which was held on 28 January 2020, will be used. North Macedonia was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.

• Country: Norvegia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

• National selection:

  • Selection process: (Norsk) Melodi Grand Prix 2021
  • Selection date(s):Semi-finals (Delfinaler): 16 January 2021, 23 January 2021, 30 January 2021, 6 February 2021 Ι  Second chance (Siste sjanse):15 February 2021Ι Final (Finale): 20 February 2021 
  • Host venue: H3 Arena, Fornebu
  • Presenter(s): Kåre Magnus Bergh, Ingrid Gjessing Linhave (Semi-final 1–4), Ronny Brede Aase og Silje Nordnes (Semi-final 5, Second Chance, Final)
  • Host broadcaster: Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK)
  • Opening act: Final: Ulrikke Brandstorp with “Attention”
  • Interval act: Final: Ulrikke Brandstorp with “Falling Apart”
  • Participants – Number of entries: 26 (12 finalists)
  • Selection entrant: Tix
  • Selection song: “Fallen Angel”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Andreas Haukeland, Emelie Hollow, Mathias Haukeland

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 1
  • Final result:

Norway will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The Norwegian broadcaster, Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK), used the national selection Melodi Grand Prix 2021 to decide their representative.

Background: Prior to the 2021 contest, Norway had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fifty-nine times since their first entry in 1960.[1] Norway had won the contest on three occasions: in 1985 with the song “La det swinge” performed by Bobbysocks!, in 1995 with the song “Nocturne” performed by Secret Garden and in 2009 with the song “Fairytale” performed by Alexander Rybak. Norway also had the two dubious distinctions of having finished last in the Eurovision final more than any other country and for having the most “nul points” (zero points) in the contest, the latter being a record the nation shared together with Austria. The country had finished last eleven times and had failed to score a point during four contests. Following the introduction of semi-finals in 2004, Norway has only failed to qualify on three occasions. In 2019, Norway was represented by KEiiNO with the song “Spirit in the Sky”. The country placed 6th in the final with 331 points. In 2020, Ulrikke Brandstorp was set to represent Norway with the song “Attention” before the contest’s cancellation.

The Norwegian national broadcaster, Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK), broadcasts the event within Norway and organises the selection process for the nation’s entry. The broadcaster has traditionally organised the national final Melodi Grand Prix, which has selected the Norwegian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in all but one of their participations.

Before Eurovision.

Melodi Grand Prix 2021: Melodi Grand Prix 2021 was the 59th edition of the Norwegian national final Melodi Grand Prix which selected Norway’s entry for the 2021 contest. The competition consisted of five semi-finals between 16 January and 13 February, a second chance round on 15 February and a final on 20 February 2021. The five semi-final shows were hosted by Kåre Magnus Bergh, Ingrid Gjessing Linhave and Ronny Brede Aase, while the second chance round and the final were hosted by Kåre Magnus Bergh, Ingrid Gjessing Linhave and Silje Nordnes. The national final was televised on NRK1, NRK TV, broadcast via radio on NRK P1 as well as streamed online at NRK’s official website nrk.no.

Melodi Grand Prix 2021 was the 59th edition of the Norwegian music competition Melodi Grand Prix (MGP). The contest served as the country’s preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. The competition was organized by NRK and was held between 16 January 2021 and 20 February 2021. A total of 26 songs participated – the highest number in the history of the competition.

The competition consisted of five semi-finals, a “wild card” show, and the final on Saturday 20 February 2021. A total of twelve songs participated in the final. Of these, six songs were pre-qualified, while the rest had to qualify through the five semi-finals and the wild card show. All shows were broadcast live from the H3 Arena in Fornebu, just outside Oslo.

The contest was won by the song “Fallen Angel” by Tix. The song will therefore represent Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Format. The contest was held without an audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway.

Presenters: The competition was hosted by the same three presenters as the previous edition: Kåre Magnus Bergh hosted for the seventh time, whereas Ronny Brede Aase and Ingrid Gjessing Linhave hosted the show for the second time. Linhave left the show from the fifth semi-final, citing long-term back problems, and was replaced by Silje Nordnes.

Competing entries: Song submissions were open from 15 May 2020 to 16 August 2020. The competing entries in each semi-final were revealed five days before their respective semi-final’s scheduled airdate. The six pre-qualified acts were revealed on 11 January 2021, along with the competing entries in the first semi-final.

Competing entries
Artist Song Composer(s)
Ane.Fin (Ane Caroline Finstad) “Walking In My Sleep” Ane Caroline Finstad, Niklas Rosström, Espen Andreas Fjeld, Kim Rune Hagen, Vebjørn Jernberg
Atle Pettersen “World on Fire” Atle Pettersen, Jesper Borgen, Magnus Clausen, Alexander Standal Pavelich, Peter Daniel Newman
Beady Belle (Beate Slettevoll Lech, Marius Julian Reksjø, Erik Holm) “Playing with Fire” Beady Belle
Big Daddy Karsten (Karsten Dahl Marcussen) “Smile” Karsten Dahl Marcussen, Are Næsset, Pål Gauslaa Sivertzen
Blåsemafian / Blåsemafian med Hazel (Sigurd Evensen, Stig Espen Hundsnes og Jørgen Lund Karlsen er Caroline (Hazel) Teigen) “Let Loose” Jørgen Lund Karlsen, Sigurd Evensen, Stig Espen Hundsnes, Benjamin Sefring, Caroline Teigen
Daniel Owen (Daniel Johansen Elmrhari) “Psycho” Daniel Elmhari, Paria Ahmadzade, Marius Hongve, Henrik Høven, Patrick Brizard, Jørgen Troøyen, Leif Inge Fosen, Marcus Nilsen Ulstad
Dinaye (Dina Matheussen) “Own Yourself” Christian Ingebrigtsen, David Thulin, Dina Matheussen
Emmy (Emmy Kristine Guttulsrud Kristiansen) “Witch Woods” Olli Äkräs, Elsa Søllesvik, Morten Franck
IMERIKA (Erika Dahlen) “I Can’t Escape” Erika Dahlen, Bjørn Olav Edvardsen, Morten Franck, Ben Adams
Jorn (Jørn Marumsrud Lande) “Faith Bloody Faith” Åge Sten Nilsen, Jørn Lande, Eirik Renton, Kjell Åge Karlsen
Kaja Rode (Kaja Noreen Rode) “Feel Again” Magnus Martinsen, Mirjam Johanne Omdal, Andreas Gjone, Erika Dahlen
KEiiNO (Fred-René Øvergård Buljo, Alexandra Rotan, Tom Hugo Hermansen) “Monument” Tom Hugo Hermansen, Alexander Nyborg Olsson, Fred Buljo, Alexandra Rotan, Rüdiger Schramm
Ketil Stokkan “My Life is OK” Ketil Stokkan
KiiM (Kim Rune Hagen) “My Lonely Voice” Kim Rune Hagen, Espen Andreas Fjeld, Vebjørn Jernberg, Niklas Rosström
Landeveiens Helter (Rune Rudberg, Dag Ingebrigtsen, Lars Erik Blokkhus og Stian Staysman Thorbjørnsen) “Alt det der” Lars-Erik Blokkhus, Petter Bjørklund Kristiansen, Thor-Erik Claussen
Maria Solheim “Nordlyset” Andreas Gjone, Camilla North, Elsbeth Rehder, Torgeir Ryssevik, Maria Solheim
Marianne Pentha & Mikkel Gaup (Mikkel Mathis Gaup) “Pages” Vanessa Liftig, Robin Lynch, Marianne Pentha, Mikkel Gaup
Ole Hartz “Vi er Norge” Rein Mellbye Van Vliet, Eirik Næss, Ole F. Hartz Gravbråten, Magnus Hagen Clausen, Petter Bjørklund Kristiansen
Raylee (Raylee Charlotte Kristiansen) “Hero” Andreas Stone Johansson, Anderz Wrethov, Laurell Barker, Thomas Stengaard, Frazer Mac
Rein Alexander (Rein Alexander Hauge Korshamn) “Eyes Wide Open” Rein Alexander Korshamn, Christian Ingebrigtsen, Kjetil Mørland
RIVER (Thomas Heiland og Lennart Karlsen) “Coming Home” Thomas Heiland, Lennart Karlsen, Magnus Claussen, Simen Meland Handeland, Tommy La Vardi
Royane (Royane Harkati) “Circus” Royane Harkati
Stavangerkameratene (Kjartan Aasland Salvesen, Tommy Fredvang, Glenn Roger Lyse og Ole Alexander Mæland) “Who I Am”[a] Tommy Fredvang, Lars Horn Lavik, Robin Sharma, Glenn Lyse
Stina Talling  “Elevate” Bård Mathias Bonsaksen, Hilda Stenmalm, Stina Talling, Eirik Hella, Monika Engeseth
TIX (Andreas Andresen Haukeland) “Fallen Angel“[b] Andreas Haukeland
TuVeia (Roar Galaaen Bredalslien, Kristian Galaaen Bredalslien og Bendik Johnsen) “Bli med meg på gar’n” Kristian Galaaen Bredalslien, Roar Galaaen Bredalslien, Bendik Johnsen, Torgeir Ryssevik, Carl-Henrik Wahl, Jonas Holteberg Jensen, Sindre Timberlid Jenssen, Sarah A. V. Johnston

Heats. Semi-finals and Second chance: 

  • The first semi-final took place on 16 January 2021. “Let Loose” performed by Blåsemafian feat. Hazel qualified to the final.
  • The second semi-final took place on 23 January 2021. “Hero” performed by Raylee qualified to the final.
  • The third semi-final took place on 30 January 2021. “Witch Woods” performed by Emmy qualified to the final.
  • The fourth semi-final took place on 6 February 2021. “My Lonely Voice” performed by Kiim qualified to the final.
  • The fifth semi-final took place on 13 February 2021. “I Can’t Escape” performed by Imerika qualified to the final.
  • The second chance round took place on 15 February 2021. “Faith Bloody Faith” performed by Jorn qualified to the final.

Heat 1 (Delfinale 1): The entries competing in the first semi-final were revealed on 11 January 2021, and the semi-final took place on 16 January 2021.

Semi-final 1: 16 January 2021
Duel Draw Artist Song Result
Duel 1
1
 Stina Talling “Elevate” Gold Duel
2
 Beady Belle “Playing with Fire” Second Chance
Duel 2
1
 Jorn “Faith Bloody Faith” Second Chance
2
 Blåsemafian feat. Hazel “Let Loose” Gold Duel
Promo
–
 Keiino “Monument” Pre-qualified
–
 Tix “Ut av mørket” Pre-qualified
Gold Duel: 16 January 2021
Draw Artist Song Result
1
 Stina Talling “Elevate” Second Chance
2
 Blåsemafian feat. Hazel “Let Loose” Final

Heat 2 (Delfinale 2): The entries competing in the second semi-final were revealed on 18 January 2021, and the semi-final took place on 23 January 2021.

Semi-final 2: 23 January 2021
Duel Draw Artist Song Result
Duel 1
1
 Ketil Stokkan “My Life is OK” Second Chance
2
 Daniel Owen “Psycho” Gold Duel
Duel 2
1
 Raylee “Hero” Gold Duel
2
 Maria Solheim “Nordlyset” Second Chance
Promo
–
 Stavangerkameratene “Barndomsgater” Pre-qualified
Gold Duel: 23 January 2021
Draw Artist Song Result
1
 Daniel Owen “Psycho” Second Chance
2
 Raylee “Hero” Final

Heat 3 (Delfinale 3): The entries competing in the third semi-final were revealed on 25 January 2021, and the semi-final took place on 30 January 2021.

Semi-final 3: 30 January 2021
Duel Draw Artist Song Result
Duel 1
1
 Dinaye “Own Yourself” Second Chance
2
 Big Daddy Karsten “Smile” Gold Duel
Duel 2
1
 Emmy “Witch Woods” Gold Duel
2
 Ole Hartz “Vi er Norge“ Second Chance
Promo
–
 Kaja Rode “Feel Again” Pre-qualified
Gold Duel: 30 January 2021
Draw Artist Song Result
1
 Big Daddy Karsten “Smile” Second Chance
2
 Emmy “Witch Woods” Final

Heat 4 (Delfinale 4): The entries competing in the fourth semi-final were revealed on 1 February 2021, and the semi-final took place on 6 February 2021.

Semi-final 4: 6 February 2021
Duel Draw Artist Song Result
Duel 1
1
 Marianne Pentha & Mikkel Gaup “Pages” Gold Duel
2
 Landeveiens Helter “Alt det der” Second Chance
Duel 2
1
 Kiim “My Lonely Voice” Gold Duel
2
 Royane “Circus” Second Chance
Promo
–
 Atle Pettersen “World on Fire” Pre-qualified
Gold Duel: 6 February 2021
Draw Artist Song Result
1
 Marianne Pentha & Mikkel Gaup “Pages” Second Chance
2
 Kiim “My Lonely Voice” Final

Heat 5 (Delfinale 5): The entries competing in the fifth semi-final were revealed on 8 February 2021, and the semi-final took place on 13 February 2021.

Semi-final 5: 13 February 2021
Duel Draw Artist Song Result
Duel 1
1
 TuVeia “Bli med meg på gar’n” Second Chance
2
 River “Coming Home” Gold Duel
Duel 2
1
 Ane.Fin “Walking in My Sleep” Second Chance
2
 Imerika “I Can’t Escape” Gold Duel
Promo
–
 Rein Alexander “Eyes Wide Open” Pre-qualified
Gold Duel: 13 February 2021
Draw Artist Song Result
1
 River “Coming Home” Second Chance
2
 Imerika “I Can’t Escape” Final

Second chance / Siste sjanse: The second chance round will take place on 15 February 2021.

Second Chance: 15 February 2021
Draw Artist Song Result
1
 Beady Belle “Playing with Fire” Eliminated
2
 Jorn “Faith Bloody Faith” Final
3
 Stina Talling “Elevate” Eliminated
4
 Ketil Stokkan “My Life Is OK” Eliminated
5
 Maria Solheim “Nordlyset” Eliminated
6
 Daniel Owen “Psycho” Eliminated
7
 Dinaye “Own Yourself” Eliminated
8
 Ole Hartz “Vi er Norge” Eliminated
9
 Big Daddy Karsten “Smile” Eliminated
10
 Landeveiens Helter “Alt det der” Eliminated
11
 Royane “Circus” Eliminated
12
 Marianne Pentha & Mikkel Gaup “Pages” Eliminated
13
 Ane.Fin “Walking In My Sleep” Eliminated
14
 TuVeia “Bli med meg på gar’n” Eliminated
15
 River “Coming Home” Eliminated

Final (Finale):Twelve songs consisting of the six semi-final and Second Chance qualifiers alongside the six pre-qualified songs competed during the final on 20 February 2021 at the H3 Arena in Fornebu. The winner was selected over three rounds of online voting. In the first round, the top four entries were selected to proceed to the second round, the Gold Finall: “Let Loose” performed by Blåsemafian feat. Hazel, “Fallen Angel” performed by Tix, “Monument” performed by Keiino and “Faith Bloody Faith” performed by Jorn. In the Gold Final, the top two entries were selected to proceed to the third round, the Gold Duel: “Fallen Angel” performed by Tix and “Monument” performed by Keiino. In the Gold Duel, the results of the online vote were revealed by Norway’s five regions and led to the victory of “Fallen Angel” performed by Tix with 380,033 votes.

Twelve songs consisting of the five semi-finals winners and one Second Chance alongside the six pre-qualified songs competed in the final which was hosted by H3 Arena, Fornebu on 20 February 2021. In the first round, all twelve finalists performed once, after which the four best songs proceeded to the gold final. After the second voting round, the two best songs from the gold final proceeded to the gold duel. A third voting round then determined the winner of Melodi Grand Prix 2021. After the gold duel, the results of the online voting were revealed by representatives of Norway’s five regions, which led to the victory of “Fallen Angel” performed by Tix.

Final: 20 February 2021
Draw Artist Song Result
1
 Atle Pettersen “World on Fire” Eliminated
2
 Raylee “Hero” Eliminated
3
 Stavangerkameratene “Who I Am” Eliminated
4
 Kiim “My Lonely Voice” Eliminated
5
 Blåsemafian feat. Hazel “Let Loose” Gold Final
6
 Emmy “Witch Woods” Eliminated
7
 Tix “Fallen Angel” Gold Final
8
 Kaja Rode “Feel Again” Eliminated
9
 Rein Alexander “Eyes Wide Open” Eliminated
10
 Imerika “I Can’t Escape” Eliminated
11
 Keiino “Monument” Gold Final
12
 Jorn “Faith Bloody Faith” Gold Final
Gold Final: 20 February 2021
Draw Artist Song Result
1 Blåsemafian feat. Hazel “Let Loose” Eliminated
2 Tix “Fallen Angel” Gold Duel
3 Keiino “Monument” Gold Duel
4 Jorn “Faith Bloody Faith” Eliminated
Gold Duel: 20 February 2021
Draw Artist Song South Central North West East Total Place
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
1 Keiino “Monument” 27,666 42.80 38,850 45.29 42,437 60.16 58,942 41.56 113,148 37.94 281,043 42.51 2
2 Tix “Fallen Angel” 36,996 57.20 46,937 54.71 28,105 39.84 82,891 58.44 185,104 62.06 380,033 57.49 1

Incidents. After the second semi-final, NRK revealed that there had been technical difficulties in the first two semi-finals, which caused votes from devices with older iOS and Android operating systems to be rejected. NRK stated that the results of the semi-finals were unaffected. The system was corrected for the later shows.

After the final, it was reported by Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang that voting issues had again occurred in the final, and that some viewers’ votes had not been counted. NRK stated that the voting system had interpreted the large number of votes as suspicious, and confirmed that the error did not affect the results.

Ratings.

Viewing figures by show
Show Air date Viewers
(millions)		 Share Ref.
Semi-final 1 16 January 2021 784 000 (NRK1: 753 000; NRK TV: 31 000) 46% –
Semi-final 2 23 January 2021 0.717 000 (NRK1: 697 000; NRK TV: 20 000) 48% –
Semi-final 3 30 January 2021 0.668 000 (NRK1: 647 000; NRK TV: 21 000) 47% –
Semi-final 4 6 February 2021 0.758 000 (NRK1: 737 000; NRK TV: 21 000) 52% –
Semi-final 5 13 February 2021 0.706 000 (NRK1: 696 000; NRK TV: 10 000) – –
Second Chance 15 February 2021 – 000 (NRK1: ; NRK TV: ) – –
Final 20 February 2021 1.110 000 (NRK1: 1 082 000; NRK TV: 28 000) 67% –

Preparations: Tix recorded a backup tape of his performance on 22 February 2021, which will be broadcast at Eurovision in the event that he is unable to travel to Rotterdam for the contest.

At Eurovision: According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the “Big 5” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. For the 2021 contest, the semi-final allocation draw held for 2020 which was held on 28 January 2020, will be used. Norway was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.

• Country: Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s):Artist: Annunciata il 31 Marzo 2020; Selezionata: Internal selection, l’11 Febbraio 2020 Ι Song: 4 Marzo 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: Televiziunea Română (TVR)
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: ROXEN (Larisa Roxana Giurgiu)
  • Selection song: “Amnesia”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Adelina Stinga, Victor Bourosu

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 1
  • Final result:

Romania will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Roxen as their representative with the song “Amnesia”. She was due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Alcohol You” before the event’s cancellation.

Background: Prior to the 2021 contest, Romania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 20 times since its first entry in 1994. Its highest placing in the contest, to this point, has been third place, which the nation achieved on two occasions: in 2005 with the song “Let Me Try” performed by Luminița Anghel and Sistem, and in 2010 with “Playing with Fire” by Paula Seling and Ovi. In 2019, Romania failed to qualify to the final, placing 13th in the second semi-final with Ester Peony’s “On a Sunday”. This marked the second consecutive time that the nation failed to qualify to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest since the introduction of semi-finals in 2004, after 2018. In 2020, Romanian Television (TVR) had collaborated with Global Records to select the Romanian entry, yielding in Roxen being chosen internally to perform “Alcohol You”; the latter was selected through the national final format Selecția Națională 2020.

Before Eurovision: 

Internal selection: Upon discussions with Global Records, on 31 March 2020, TVR’s Liana Stanciu (Romania’s 2020 head of delegation) announced its will to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, as well as that Roxen would be kept as Romania’s representative for the event. During an Instagram post in January 2021, Roxen shared the news of having found “the perfect song for Eurovision 2021”, suggesting that TVR had no plans of organising a multiple-song national final as in the previous year.

Soon after, TVR confirmed that her entry would be chosen internally out of several demos recorded throughout February 2021 by a jury panel due to budgetary constraints and COVID-19 safety measures. Around six English-language songs had been shortlisted to be rated by the jury which is was made up of several industry professionals: Luminiţa Anghel, Andrei Tudor, Stanciu, Lucian Ștefan, Bogdan Păun, Liviu Elekes, Bogdan Pavlică, Dan Manoliu and Gabriel Scîrlet. The chosen song, titled “Amnesia”, was released on 4 March 2021 alongside an accompanying music video directed by Bogdan Păun. “Amnesia” was written by Adelia Stinga and Victor Bourosu, while the production was solely handled by the latter.

At Eurovision: Stanciu has been appointed as the country’s head of delegation.

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the “Big 5” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. For the 2021 contest, the semi-final allocation draw held for 2020 which was held on 28 January 2020, will be used. Romania was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.

• Country: Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Yevrovidenie 2021 – Natsionalnyy Otbor
  • Selection date(s): 8 Marzo 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK) / Channel One (First Channel) 
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Manizha ()
  • Selection song: “Russian Woman”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Ori Avni, Ori Kaplan, Manizha

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 1
  • Final result:

Russia will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The Russian broadcaster Channel One Russia (C1R) organised the national selection Yevrovidenie 2021 – Natsionalnyy Otbor to determine the Russian representative.

Background: Prior to the 2021 contest, Russia had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 22 times since its first entry in 1994. Russia had won the contest on one occasion in 2008 with the song “Believe” performed by Dima Bilan. In 2016, Russia finished third with the song “You Are the Only One” performed by Sergey Lazarev, who would later return to represent his country again in 2019 with the song “Scream”, also finishing in third place. In 2018, Russia placed fifteenth in the second semi-final with the song “I Won’t Break” performed by Yuliya Samoylova, making it the first time Russia did not qualify for the final since the introduction of semi-finals in 2004. In 2020, the band Little Big was set to represent Russia with the song “Uno” before the contest’s cancellation.

Before Eurovision: 

Yevrovidenie 2021 – Natsionalnyy Otbor: Yevrovidenie 2021 – Natsionalnyy Otbor was the national final format developed by C1R in order to select Russia’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. The final took place on 8 March 2021 at the C1R studios in Moscow, hosted by Yana Churikova and was broadcast on Channel One as well as online via the broadcaster’s website 1tv.ru. Three entries competed and the winner, “Russian Woman” performed by Manizha, was selected exclusively through a public televote.

Final – 8 March 2021
Draw Artist Song Composer(s) Televote Place
1 Therr Maitz “Future Is Bright” Anton Belyaev, Victoria Zhuk 24.6% 3
2 #2Mashi “Bitter Words” Maria Zaytseva, Maria Sheykh 35.7% 2
3 Manizha “Russian Woman” Manizha, Ori Avni, Ori Kaplan 39.7% 1

At Eurovision: According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the “Big 5” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. For the 2021 contest, the semi-final allocation draw held for 2020 which was held on 28 January 2020, will be used. Russia was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.

• Country: Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Artist: Internal selection, Evrovizijska Melodija – EMA 2021
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciata il 16 Maggio 2020; Selezionata: EMA 2020, il 22 Febbraio 2020 Ι Song: Evrovizijska Melodija – EMA 2021, 27 Febbraio 2021
  • Host venue: Studio 1, Lubiana, Slovenia
  • Presenter(s): Lea Sirk, Nejc Šmit
  • Host broadcaster: RTV Slovenija (RTV Slo)
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Ana Soklič (Anna Soklich, Diona Dim)
  • Selection song: “Amen”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Ana Soklič, Bojan Simončič, Žiga Pirnat, Charlie Mason

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 1
  • Final result:

Slovenia will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Ana Soklič as their representative with the song “Amen”. She was due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Voda” before the event’s cancellation.

Background: Prior to the 2021 contest, Slovenia had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest twenty-six times since its first entry in 1993.[1] Slovenia’s highest placing in the contest, to this point, has been seventh place, which the nation achieved on two occasions: in 1995 with the song “Prisluhni mi” performed by Darja Švajger and in 2001 with the song “Energy” performed by Nuša Derenda. The country’s only other top ten result was achieved in 1997 when Tanja Ribič performing “Zbudi se” placed tenth. Since the introduction of semi-finals to the format of the contest in 2004, Slovenia had thus far only managed to qualify to the final on six occasions. In 2018, Slovenia was represented by Lea Sirk and the song “Hvala, ne!”, which qualified to the final and placed twenty-second. One year later, in 2019, Slovenia qualified for the final again with Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl, finishing in fifteenth place with the song “Sebi”.

The Slovenian national broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTV Slovenija), broadcasts the event within Slovenia and organises the selection process for the nation’s entry. RTV Slovenija confirmed Slovenia’s participation in the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest on 16 May 2020. The Slovenian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest has traditionally been selected through a national final entitled Evrovizijska Melodija (EMA), which has been produced with variable formats. For 2021, the broadcaster opted to organise an internal selection to select the Slovenian entry. To this point, the broadcaster has only foregone the use of the national final in 2013 when the Slovenian entry was internally selected.

Before Eurovision:

Internal selection: On 16 May 2020, RTV Slovenija confirmed that Ana Soklič would remain as Slovenia’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.[2] Following the announcement of Soklič as the selected artist, composers were able to submit their songs to the broadcaster between 13 July 2020 and 30 September 2020.[3] 191 songs were received by the broadcaster during the submission period. An expert committee consisting of Soklič, Darja Švajger (singer, vocal coach and 1995 and 1999 Slovenian Eurovision entrant) and Vladimir Graić (composer of Serbia’s winning Eurovision entry “Molitva” in 2007) shortlisted three songs from the received submissions, with the Slovenian entry being determined by an alternate expert committee consisting of Darja Švajger, Mojca Menart (Head of the publishing business of ZKP RTV Slovenija) and Matevž Šalehar (musician and singer-songwriter) from the three shortlisted songs.

The selected song, entitled “Amen”, was presented during the special show EMA 2021 which took place on 27 February 2021 at the RTV Slovenija Studio 1 in Ljubljana, hosted by Lea Sirk and Nejc Šmit. The 2021 edition of EMA also simultaneously celebrated Slovenia’s 60th anniversary since their first appearance in the Eurovision Song Contest (including Slovenia’s appearances as part of Yugoslavia).[4] The song was written by Bojan Simončič, Žiga Pirnat, Charlie Mason and Ana Soklič herself. Mason had previously co-written the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 winning entry “Rise Like a Phoenix”.

At Eurovision: According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the “Big 5” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. For the 2021 contest, the semi-final allocation draw held for 2020 which was held on 28 January 2020, will be used for 2021 contest. Slovenia was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.

• Country: Svezia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Melodifestivalen 2021
  • Selection date(s): Semi-finals (Deltävlingarna): 6 February 2021, 13 February 2021, 20 February 2021, 27 February 2021 Ι Second Chance (Andra chansen): 6 March 2021 Ι Final: 13 March 2021
  • Host venue: Okänd studio i Stockholm, Stockholm
  • Presenter(s): All shows: Christer Björkman Ι Guest co-hosts: (SF 1) Lena Philipsson, (SF 2) Oscar Zia e Anis Don Demina, (SF3) Jason Diakité, (SF 4) Per Andersson e Pernilla Wahlgren, (Andra Chansen) Shirley Clamp, (FI) Måns Zelmerlöw e Shima Niavarani
  • Host broadcaster: Sveriges Television (SVT)
  • Participants – Number of entries: 28
  • Selection entrant: Tusse
  • Selection song: “Voices”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Anderz Wrethov

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 1
  • Final result:

Sweden will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Tusse will represent the country with the song “Voices”, following his victory in the national selection Melodifestivalen 2021 organised by Sveriges Television (SVT).

Background: Prior to the 2021 contest, Sweden had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fifty-nine times since its first entry in 1958. Sweden had won the contest on six occasions: in 1974 with the song “Waterloo” performed by ABBA, in 1984 with the song “Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley” performed by Herreys, in 1991 with the song “Fångad av en stormvind” performed by Carola, in 1999 with the song “Take Me to Your Heaven” performed by Charlotte Nilsson, in 2012 with the song “Euphoria” performed by Loreen, and in 2015 with the song “Heroes” performed by Måns Zelmerlöw. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the 2004, Sweden’s entries, to this point, have featured in every final except for 2010 when the nation failed to qualify.

The Swedish national broadcaster, Sveriges Television (SVT), broadcasts the event within Sweden and organises the selection process for the nation’s entry. Since 1959, SVT has organised the annual competition Melodifestivalen in order to select the Swedish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Before Eurovision:

Melodifestivalen 2021: Four semifinals, one Second chance round and a final will be held. It will be held between 6 February and 13 March 2021.

Melodifestivalen 2021 was the 61st edition of the Swedish music competition Melodifestivalen. The competition was organised by Sveriges Television (SVT) and took place over a six-week period between 6 February and 13 March 2021. Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, all shows of this edition took place in the Annexet in Stockholm, and without an audience. The winner of the competition was Tusse with the song “Voices”, who will represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The format of the competition consisted of 6 shows: 4 semi-final rounds, a second chance round and a final. An initial 28 entries were selected for the competition through three methods: an open call for song submissions, direct invitations to specific artists and songwriters, and a wildcard given to one of the artists that participated in the P4 Nästa competition organised by Sveriges Radio P4. The 28 competing entries were divided into four semi-finals, with seven compositions in each. From each semi-final, the songs that earned first and second place qualified directly to the final, while the songs that placed third and fourth proceeded to the Second Chance round. The bottom three songs in each semi-final were eliminated from the competition. An additional four entries qualified from the Second Chance round to the final, bringing the total number of competing entries in the final to 12.

All six shows were hosted by Christer Björkman, who was joined by guest co-hosts during each show: Lena Philipsson (semi-final 1), Oscar Zia and Anis Don Demina (semi-final 2), Jason Diakité (semi-final 3), Per Andersson and Pernilla Wahlgren (semi-final 4), Shirley Clamp (Second Chance round), and Shima Niavarani and Måns Zelmerlöw (final).

Semi-finals and Second Chance round:

  • The first semi-final took place on 6 February 2021. “Dandi dansa” performed by Danny Saucedo and “Tänker inte alls gå hem” performed by Arvingarna qualified directly to the final, while “The Missing Piece” performed by Paul Rey and “Pretender” performed by Lillasyster advanced to the Second Chance round. “Horizon” performed by Jessica Andersson, “One Touch” performed by Kadiatou and “Fingerprints” performed by Nathalie Brydolf were eliminated from the contest.
  • The second semi-final took place on 13 February 2021. “Little Tot” performed by Dotter and “New Religion” performed by Anton Ewald qualified directly to the final, while “The Silence” performed by Frida Green and “Rena rama ding dong” performed by Eva Rydberg and Ewa Roos advanced to the Second Chance round. “Tears Run Dry” performed by Patrik Jean, “90-talet” performed by WAHL featuring SAMI and “Rich” performed by Julia Alfrida were eliminated from the contest.
  • The third semi-final took place on 20 February 2021. “Still Young” performed by Charlotte Perrelli and “Voices” performed by Tusse qualified directly to the final, while “Bailá Bailá” performed by Alvaro Estrella and “Beat of Broken Hearts” performed by Klara Hammarström advanced to the Second Chance round. “Om allting skiter sig” performed by Emil Assergård, “Contagious” performed by Mustasch and “Den du är” performed by Elisa were eliminated from the contest.
  • The fourth semi-final took place on 27 February 2021. “Every Minute” performed by Eric Saade and “In the Middle” performed by the Mamas qualified directly to the final, while “Best of Me” performed by Efraim Leo and “Behöver inte dig idag” performed by Clara Klingenström advanced to the Second Chance round. “Good Life” performed by Tess Merkel, “Allting är precis likadant” performed by Lovad and “All Inclusive” performed by Sannex were eliminated from the contest.
  • The Second Chance round (Andra chansen) took place on 6 March 2021. “Bailá Bailá” performed by Alvaro Estrella, “The Missing Piece” performed by Paul Rey, “Behöver inte dig idag” performed by Clara Klingenström and “Beat of Broken Hearts” performed by Klara Hammarström qualified to the final.

Format: Due to pandemic precautions, SVT did not hold the usual Melodifestivalen tour around six different Swedish cities. Instead, all shows were held at Stockholm’s Annexet hall, one of the venues in Stockholm Globe City (in which the host venue of Eurovision 2000 and 2016, the Ericsson Globe, is located). The shows did not have a live audience.

Presenters: On 4 January 2021, the presenters of the 61st edition of Melodifestivalen were announced. Christer Björkman, Melodifestivalen’s contest producer for the past 20 years and head of the Swedish delegation at the Eurovision Song Contest, served as the main presenter for all six shows. Björkman was joined by guest co-hosts during each show: Lena Philipsson (semi-final 1), Oscar Zia and Anis Don Demina (semi-final 2), Jason Diakité (semi-final 3), Per Andersson and Pernilla Wahlgren (semi-final 4), Shirley Clamp (Second Chance round), Shima Niavarani and Måns Zelmerlöw.

Competition Schedule
Show Date City Venue
Semi-final 1 6 February 2021 Stockholm Annexet
Semi-final 2 13 February 2021
Semi-final 3 20 February 2021
Semi-final 4 27 February 2021
Second Chance Round 6 March 2021
Final 13 March 2021

Competing entries: Broadcaster SVT revealed on 27 November 2020 that they would be releasing the acts for Melodifestivalen 2021 on a countdown, starting on 1 December.

Artist Song Songwriter(s)
Alvaro Estrella (Álvaro Raúl Estrella Zapata) “Bailá Bailá” (Baila Baila) Anderz Wrethov, Linnea Deb, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt
Anton Ewald (Anton Kim Ewald) “New Religion” Jonas Wallin, Joe Killington, Anton Ewald, Maja Strömstedt
Arvingarna (Lars “Lasseman” Larsson, Tommy Carlsson, Kim Carlsson, Casper Janebrink) “Tänker inte alls gå hem” (Not At All Going To Go Home) Stefan Brunzell, Nanne Grönvall, Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren
Charlotte Perrelli (Anna Jenny Charlotte Jensen Perrelli, Charlotte Nilsson) “Still Young” Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren, Erik Bernholm, Charlie Gustavsson
Clara Klingenström (Emma Clara Idun Klingenström) “Behöver inte dig idag” Clara Klingenström, Bobby Ljunggren, David Lindgren Zacharias
Danny Saucedo (Daniel Gabriel Alessandro Saucedo Grzechowski) “Dandi dansa” Danny Saucedo, Karl-Johan Råsmark
Dotter (Johanna Maria Jansson) “Little Tot” Johanna Jansson, Dino Medanhodzic
Efraim Leo (Efraim Faramir Sixten Fransesco Vindalf Cederqvist Leo) “Best of Me” Efraim Leo, Cornelia Jakobsdotter, Amanda Björkegren, Herman Gardarfve
Elisa (Eva Elisa Lindström Frykén) “Den du är” Bobby Ljunggren, Ingela “Pling” Forsman, Elisa Lindström
Emil Assergård (Mats Emil Assergård) “Om allting skiter sig” (If everything sucks) Emil Assergård, Jimmy Jansson, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Anderz Wrethov, Johanna Wrethov
Eric Saade (Eric Khaled Saade) “Every Minute” Eric Saade, Linnea Deb, Joy Deb, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt
Eva Rydberg och Ewa Roos (Eva Gunilla Johansson Rydberg och Ewa Maria Roos Sevenheim) “Rena rama ding dong” Göran Sparrdahl, Kalle Rydberg, Ari Lehtonen
Frida Green (Frida Elin Green) “The Silence” Anna Bergendahl, Bobby Ljunggren, David Lindgren Zacharias, Joy Deb
Jessica Andersson (Jessica Elisabeth Andersson, Jessica Elisabeth Arvidsson) “Horizon” David Kreuger, Fredrik Kempe, Marcus Lidén, Christian Holmström
Julia Alfrida (Julia Alfrida Ridderdal) “Rich” Julia Alfrida, Jimmy Jansson, Melanie Wehbe
Kadiatou (Kadiatou Claudine Holm Keita, Kadde) “One Touch” Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Anderz Wrethov
Klara Hammarström (Klara Lovisa Hammarström) “Beat of Broken Hearts” David Kreuger, Fredrik Kempe, Niklas Carson Mattson, Andreas Wijk
Lillasyster (Martin Westerstrand,
Max Flövik, Ian-Paolo Lira, Andreas Bladini)		 “Pretender” Isak Hallén, Jakob Redtzer, Martin Westerstrand, Ian Paolo Lira, Palle Hammarlund
Lovad (Lova Inger Irene Drevstam) “Allting är precis likadant” (Everything is exactly the same) Mattias Andréasson, Alexander Nivek, Lova Drevstam, Albin Johnsén
Mustasch (Ralf Gyllenhammar, Mats ”Stam” Johansson, David Johannesson, Robban Bäck) “Contagious” Ralf Gyllenhammar, David Johannesson
Nathalie Brydolf (Maria Nathalie Brydolf) “Fingerprints” Andreas Stone Johansson, Etta Zelmani, Laurell Barker, Anna-Klara Folin
Patrik Jean (Jean Patrik Olsson) “Tears Run Dry” Herman Gardarfve, Patrik Jean, Melanie Wehbe
Paul Rey (Pauli Sebastian Jokela) “The Missing Piece” Fredrik Sonefors, Laurell Barker, Paul Rey
Sannex (Andreas Olsson, Micke Norsten, Patrich Rundström, Peter Brodin) “All Inclusive” Greta Svensson, Hans Thorstensson
Tess Merkel (Eva Therése Margareta “Tess” Merkel Solomons) “Good Life” Tony Malm, Tess Merkel, Palle Hammarlund, Mats Tärnfors
The Mamas (Ashley ”Ash” Haynes, Loulou Lamotte, Dinah Yonas Manna) “In the Middle” Emily Falvey, Robin Stjernberg, Jimmy Jansson
Tusse (Tousin “Tusse” Chiza) “Voices” Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Anderz Wrethov
WAHL feat. SAMI (Christopher Wahlberg, Christopher Hans Sebastian Vahlberg, Chrippa; feat. Sami Daniel Rekik, Sam-E) “90-talet” Sami Rekik, Christopher Wahlberg, Josefin Glenmark, Jesper Welander, Andreas Larsson

Semi-finals and Second Chance round: The first semi-final took place on 6 February 2021. “Tänker inte alls gå hem” performed by Arvingarna and “Dandi dansa” performed by Danny Saucedo qualified directly to the final, while “Pretender” performed by Lillasyster and “The Missing Piece” performed by Paul Rey advanced to the Second Chance round. “Horizon” performed by Jessica Andersson, “One Touch” performed by Kadiatou and “Fingerprints” performed by Nathalie Brydolf were eliminated from the contest.

Semi-finals (Deltävlingarna).

Semi-final 1 (Deltävling 1): The first semi-final took place on 6 February 2021. 3,308,000 viewers watched the semi-final live. Approximately seven million votes were cast, using 628,624 devices (which is a record for a semi-final).

Draw Artist Song Votes Place Result
Votes Points
1 Kadiatou “One Touch” 967,331 29 6 Out
2 Lillasyster “Pretender” 1,159,154 48 4 Second chance
3 Jessica Andersson “Horizon” 1,065,794 38 5 Out
4 Paul Rey “The Missing Piece” 1,239,146 68 3 Second chance
5 Arvingarna “Tänker inte alls gå hem” 1,190,449 72 2 Final
6 Nathalie Brydolf “Fingerprints” 825,414 11 7 Out
7 Danny Saucedo “Dandi dansa” 1,377,663 78 1 Final

Semi-final 2 (Deltävling 2): The second semi-final took place on 13 February 2021. 2,972,000 viewers watched the semi-final live. Approximately 6.6 million votes were cast, using 581,410 devices.

Draw Artist Song Votes Place Result
Votes Points
1 Anton Ewald “New Religion” 1,218,312 68 2 Final
2 Julia Alfrida “Rich” 751,337 11 7 Out
3 WAHL feat. SAMI “90-talet” 961,160 30 6 Out
4 Frida Green “The Silence” 1,028,299 47 4 Second chance
5 Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos “Rena rama ding dong” 997,947 52 3 Second chance
6 Patrik Jean “Tears Run Dry” 1,049,434 44 5 Out
7 Dotter “Little Tot” 1,464,962 92 1 Final

Semi-final 3 (Deltävling 3): The third semi-final took place on 20 February 2021. 3,188,000 viewers watched the semi-final live. Approximately 7.6 million votes were cast, using 647,000 devices, again a record for a semi-final.

Draw Artist Song Votes Place Result
Votes Points
1 Charlotte Perrelli “Still Young” 1,272,523 62 2 Final
2 Emil Assergård “Om allting skiter sig” 987,458 34 5 Out
3 Klara Hammarström “Beat of Broken Hearts” 1,252,895 58 4 Second chance
4 Mustasch “Contagious” 763,045 18 6 Out
5 Elisa “Den du är” 613,779 18 7 Out
6 Alvaro Estrella “Bailá Bailá” 1,193,914 60 3 Second chance
7 Tusse “Voices” 1,919,353 94 1 Final

Deltävling 4 (Deltävling 4): The fourth semi-final took place on 27 February 2021. 2,953,000 viewers watched the semi-final live. Approximately 6.6 million votes were cast, using 565,705 devices.

Draw Artist Song Votes Place Result
Votes Points
1 Tess Merkel “Good Life” 868,050 40 5 Out
2 Lovad “Allting är precis likadant” 783,763 21 6 Out
3 Efraim Leo “Best of Me” 1,035,821 52 3 Second chance
4 The Mamas “In the Middle” 1,550,459 94 1 Final
5 Sannex “All Inclusive” 609,909 14 7 Out
6 Clara Klingenström “Behöver inte dig idag” 930,002 51 4 Second chance
7 Eric Saade “Every Minute” 1,179,580 72 2 Final

Second chance (Andra chansen): The Second Chance round took place on 6 March 2021. 2,732,000 viewers watched the show live. Approximately 8.4 million votes were cast, using 632,883 devices.

Duel Draw Artist Song Votes Points ResulT
I 1 Alvaro Estrella “Bailá Bailá” 1,365,376 7 Final
2 Lillasyster “Pretender” 1,163,807 1 Out
II 3 Frida Green “The Silence” 925,473 1 Out
4 Paul Rey “The Missing Piece” 1,207,581 7 Final
III 5 Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos “Rena rama ding dong” 1,173,492 3 Out
6 Clara Klingenström “Behöver inte dig idag” 1,276,040 5 Final
IV 7 Klara Hammarström “Beat of Broken Hearts” 1,139,262 8 Final
8 Efraim Leo “Best of Me” 908,611 0 Out

Final: The final took place on 13 March 2021. A total of 16,752,439 votes were cast during the show. 

Draw Artist Song Juries Televote/App Total Place
Votes Points
1 Danny Saucedo “Dandi dansa” 39 1,309,741 35 74 7
2 Klara Hammarström “Beat of Broken Hearts” 43 1,341,566 36 79 6
3 Anton Ewald “New Religion” 9 1,066,340 16 25 11
4 The Mamas “In the Middle” 50 1,646,198 56 106 3
5 Paul Rey “The Missing Piece” 18 998,030 7 25 12
6 Charlotte Perrelli “Still Young” 32 1,016,557 28 60 8
7 Tusse “Voices” 79 2,964,269 96 175 1
8 Alvaro Estrella “Bailá Bailá” 7 1,071,188 19 26 10
9 Clara Klingenström “Behöver inte dig idag” 39 1,455,605 52 91 5
10 Eric Saade “Every Minute” 69 1,471,324 49 118 2
11 Dotter “Little Tot” 57 1,488,599 48 105 4
12 Arvingarna “Tänker inte alls gå hem” 22 923,022 22 44 9
Detailed international jury votes
Draw Song France Albania Iceland Israel United Kingdom Switzerland Cyprus Netherlands Total
1 “Dandi dansa” 3 3 7 3 6 6 6 5 39
2 “Beat of Broken Hearts” 8 4 8 8 4 5 2 4 43
3 “New Religion” 2 2 – 2 – 2 – 1 9
4 “In the Middle” 6 6 6 4 12 8 1 7 50
5 “The Missing Piece” 1 5 2 1 – 3 – 6 18
6 “Still Young” 5 1 3 7 5 1 10 32
7 “Voices” 12 10 12 10 7 12 4 12 79
8 “Bailá Bailá” – – 1 – 1 – 5 – 7
9 “Behöver inte dig idag” 10 7 10 5 2 – 3 2 39
10 “Every Minute” 4 8 5 12 8 10 12 10 69
11 “Little Tot” 7 12 4 6 10 7 8 3 57
12 “Tänker inte alls gå hem” – – – – 3 4 7 8 22

At Eurovision: According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the “Big 5” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. For the 2021 contest, the semi-final allocation draw held for 2020 which was held on 28 January 2020, will be used. Sweden was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.

• Country: Ucraina in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciati il 18 March 2020; Selezionati: Vibdir (Yevrobachennia. Natsionalnyi Vidbir, Євробачення. Національний відбір; Eurovision. National Selection) 2020, il 22 Febbraio 2020 Ι Song: 4 February 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (UA:PBC)
  • Participants – Number of entries:
  • Selection entrant: Go_A (Kateryna Pavlenko, Ihor Didenchuk, Taras Shevchenko, Ivan Hryhoriak / Катерина Павленко, Тарас Шевченко, Ігор Діденчук, Іван Григоряк)
  • Selection song: “SHUM” (ШУМ, Noise)
  • Selected songwriter(s): Taras Shevchenko, Kateryna Pavlenko, Igor Didenchuk (Тарас Шевченко, Катерина Павленко, Ігор Діденчук)

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 1
  • Final result:

Ukraine will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Go_A as their representatives with the song “Shum”. They were due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Solovey” before the event’s cancellation.

Background: Prior to the 2021 contest, Ukraine had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fifteen times since its first entry in 2003.The nation had won the contest on two occasions: in 2004 with the song “Wild Dances” performed by Ruslana and in 2016 with the song “1944” performed by Jamala. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the 2004, Ukraine had managed to qualify to the final in every contest they participated in thus far. Ukraine had been the runner-up in the contest on two occasions: in 2007 with the song “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” performed by Verka Serduchka and in 2008 with the song “Shady Lady” performed by Ani Lorak. Ukraine’s least successful result had been 24th place, which they achieved during the 2017 contest with the song “Time” performed by O.Torvald.

The Ukrainian national broadcaster, National Television Company of Ukraine (UA:PBC), broadcasts the event within Ukraine and organises the selection process for the nation’s entry. In the past, UA:PBC had alternated between both internal selections and national finals in order to select the Ukrainian entry. Between 2011 and 2014, UA:PBC had set up national finals with several artists to choose both the song and performer to compete at Eurovision for Ukraine, with both the public and a panel of jury members involved in the selection. NTU withdrew from the contest for one year in 2015 due to the unstable financial and political situation caused by the conflict in east Ukraine. In 2016, NTU collaborated with the commercial broadcaster STB in order to organise a national final to select Ukraine’s entry, resulting in the selection of Jamala who went on to win the Eurovision Song Contest. Ukraine missed the contest in 2019 after contractual disagreements with its chosen artist, Maruv. Ukraine had planned to return to Eurovision in 2020. Go_A were selected to represent Ukraine at the Vidbir final on 22 February 2020. However, the 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before Eurovision:

Internal selection: On 18 March 2020, UA:PBC confirmed that Go_A will represent Ukraine in the 2021 contest. Go_A submitted three songs to the broadcaster: “Rano”, “Shum” and “Tserkovka”, all of which were composed by Kateryna Pavlenko and Taras Shevchenko. An expert jury selected “Shum” as the 2021 Ukrainian entry on 1 February 2021. The jury panel consisted of Jamala (singer-songwriter, winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 for Ukraine), Yevhen Filatov–The Maneken (singer and producer, creator of group Onuka), Ruslan Kvinta (music producer and composer) and two members of the Managing Board of UA:PBC: Yaroslav Lodygin and Dmytro Khorkin.

At Eurovision: According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the “Big 5” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. For the 2021 contest, the semi-final allocation draw held for 2020 which was held on 28 January 2020, will be used. Ukraine was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.