ESC 2021 – Selezioni Nazionali – 2ª Semi-Finale

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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.

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

• Country: Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 

Logo of Festivali i Këngës 59.jpg

• National selection:

  • Selection process:  Festivali i Këngës 59
  • Selection date(s): Semi-finals (Gjysmëfinalet): 17 December 2020, 8 December 2020, Ι Final (Finalja): 19 December 2020
  • Host Venue: Sheshi Italia, Tirana
  • Presenter(s): Blendi Salaj, Jonida Vokshi
  • Host Broadcaster: Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH)
  • Participants – Number of entries: 26
  • Selection entrant: Anxhela Peristeri
  • Selection song: “Karma”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Kledi Bahiti, Olti Curri

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 2
  • Final result:

Albania will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with the song “Karma” performed by Anxhela Peristeri. Its entry was selected through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2020.

The Festivali i Këngës 2020 was the 59th edition of the annual Albanian music competition Festivali i Këngës. It was organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in an open-air venue at the Sheshi Italia in Tirana, Albania, and consisted of two semi-finals on 21 and 22 December, and the final on 23 December 2020. The three live shows were hosted by Jonida Vokshi and Blendi Salaj.

Due to the pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the competition did not used the traditional symphonic orchestra and was not held as traditionally at the Pallati i Kongreseve but rather in an open-air location at the Sheshi Italia. Anxhela Peristeri with “Karma” emerged as the winner of the contest will therefore represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Background: Prior to the 2021 contest, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest sixteen times since its first entry in 2004.[1] Its highest placing in the contest, to this point, had been the fifth place, which the nation achieved in 2012 with the song “Suus” performed by Rona Nishliu. However, its first entry was performed by Anjeza Shahini with the song “The Image of You” finishing in the seventh place, the nation’s second-highest placing to date. During its tenure in the contest, the nation failed to qualify for the final seven times, with both, the 2016 and 2017 entries, being the most recent non-qualifiers. Since 2018, Albania managed to qualify for the final in both, the 2018 and 2019 contest with Eugent Bushpepa finishing in eleventh place with “Mall” and Jonida Maliqi placing in seventeenth place with “Ktheju tokës”.

Before Eurovision: 

Festivali i Këngës – Format: The national broadcaster of Albania, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), organised the 59th edition of Festivali i Këngës to select their participant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. It consisted of two semi-finals on 21 and 22 December, and the final on 23 December 2020. The three live shows were hosted by Albanian actress Jonida Vokshi and Albanian host Blendi Salaj. The broadcaster opened a submission period between August and October for artists and composers to participate in the competition. A jury panel, consisting of Agim Doçi, Alma Bektashi, Eugent Bushpepa, Jonida Maliqi and Klodian Qafoku, scored all received songs. On 28 October, the broadcaster published a provisory list of twenty-six artists and songs shortlisted to compete in the semi-final of the contest. On 16 November, the broadcaster ultimately released all of the competing songs on its official YouTube channel.

The 59th edition of Festivali i Këngës was organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in order to determine Albania’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. The former consisted of two semi-finals on 21 and 22 December, and the final on 23 December 2020. The three shows were hosted by Albanian actress Jonida Vokshi and Albanian host Blendi Salaj.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: For the first time, due to the ongoing pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the competition did not involved the usual symphonic orchestra and was not held as traditionally at the Pallati i Kongreseve but rather in an open-air location at the Sheshi Italia. As a result of the aforementioned, the performances of the semi-final and final were pre-recorded prior to the scheduled dates.

Competing entries: Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) opened a submission period for artists and composers to participate in the competition between August and October 2020. On 28 October, it published a provisory list of twenty-six artists and songs shortlisted by a jury panel, consisting of Agim Doçi, Alma Bektashi, Eugent Bushpepa, Jonida Maliqi and Klodian Qafoku, to compete in the semi-final of the contest. On 16 November, the broadcaster ultimately released all of the competing songs on its official YouTube channel.

Artist(s) Song Composer(s) Lyricist(s)
Agim Poshka  “Vendi im” Agim Poshka
Anxhela Peristeri  “Karma” Kledi Bahiti Olti Curri
Devis Xherahu “Peng” Devis Xherahu Pandi Laço
Enxhi Nasufi  “Njësoj” Boocky DJ Enxhi Nasufi
Era Rusi “Zjarri im” Enis Mullaj Era Rusi, Eriona Rushiti
Erik Lloshi “Jo” Enis Mullaj Endrit Mumajesi
Evi Reçi  “Tjerr” Olsa Toqi Florian Zyka
Fatos Shabani  “Ty” Fatos Shabani
Festina Mejzini “Kush je ti dashuri” Flamur Shehu Jorgo Papingji
Florent Abrashi “Vajzë” Bledi Shishmani
Franc Koruni “E morën botën” Franc Koruni
Gigliola Haveriku “E lirë” Endrit Shani Atina Laço
Gjergj Kaçinari “Më jep jetë” Gjergj Kaçinari Ilir Krasniqi, Gjergj Kaçinari
Inis Neziri “Pendesë” Inis Neziri Elhaid Cufi
Kamela Islamaj “Kujtimet s’kanë formë” Kamela Islamaj Megi Hasani
Kastro Ziso (Klevis Bega) “Vallja e jetës” Kastro Ziso
Klint Çollaku “Do t’ja dal” Endrit Shani Pandi Laço
Manjola Nallbani[a] “Ora e jetës” Eriona Rushiti
Durim Morina (Mirudi) “Nëse vdes” Durim Morina ‘Mirud’
Orgesa Zaimi  “Valixhja e kujtimeve” Gridi Kraja Olti Curri
Rosela Gjylbegu “Vashëzo” Eriona Rushiti Rosela Gjylbegu
Sardi Strugaj “Kam me t’ba me kajt” Edesa  Malçi Sardi Strugaj
Stefan Marena “Meteor” Gramoz Kozeli Klotilda Klo Harka
Viktor Tahiraj “Nënë” Artur Dhamo Nexhip Seraj
Wendi Mancaku  “Vesi i shpirtit tim” Wendi Mancaku Rozana Radi
Xhesika Polo “Më mbron” Marko Polo Xhesika Polo, Aleksandër Seitaj

Notes: [a] Prior to the first semi-final, Nallbani announced that she has tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and she has not withdrawn from the competition. However, during the scheduled rehearsals of the competition, she was ultimately forced to withdraw.

Shows:

Semi-finals (Gjysmëfinalet): The two semi-finals took place on 21 December and 22 December 2020 and were broadcast at 21:00 (CET), respectively. As a result of the ongoing pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the performances of the semi-finals and final were pre-recorded prior to the scheduled dates. During the first semi-final, the competing participants performed the official studio version of their entries, while on the second semi-final, they presented their acoustic versions. Prior to the secon semi-final, the votes of an expert jury panel selected eighteen songs to advance to the final.

Semi-final 1 (Gjysmëfinalja e parë): The The first semi-final took place on 21 December 2020 and was broadcast at 21:00 (CET). During the show, the competing participants performed the official studio version of their entries. Prior to the second semi-final, the selected eighteen songs to advance to the final were announced.

Semi-final 2 (Gjysmëfinalja e dytë): The second semi-final took place on 22 December 2020 and was broadcast at 21:00 (CET). During the show, the competing participants performed an acoustic version of their entries.

Semi-final 2 – 22 December 2020
Draw Artist(s) Song
1
 Florent Abrashi “Vajzë”
2
 Stefan Marena “Meteor”
3
 Wendi Mancaku “Vesi i shpirtit tim”
4
 Viktor Tahiraj “Nënë”
5
 Sardi Strugaj “Kam me t’ba me kajt”
6
 Giliola Haveriku “E lirë”
7
 Kastro Zizo “Vallja e jetës”
8
 Agim Poshka “Vendi im”
9
 Evi Reçi “Tjerr”
10
 Mirud “Nëse vdes”
11
 Festina Mejzini “Kush je ti dashuri”
12
 Anxhela Peristeri “Karma”
13
 Erik Lloshi “Jo”
14
 Inis Neziri “Pendesë”
15
 Franc Koruni “E morën botën”
16
 Fatos Shabani “Ty”
17
 Era Rusi “Zjarri im”
18
 Klinti Çollaku “Do t’ja dal”
19
 Devis Xherahu “Peng”
20
 Xhesika Polo “Më mbron”
21
 Gjergj Kaçinari “Më jep jetë”
22
 Kamela Islamaj “Kujtimet s’kanë formë”
23
 Enxhi Nasufi “Njësoj”
24
 Rosela Gjylbegu “Vashëzo”
25
 Orgesa Zaimi “Valixhja e kujtimeve”

Final (Finalja): The final took place on 23 December 2020 and was broadcast at 21:00 (CET). Eighteen songs competed and the winner was determined by the combination of the votes from a seven-member jury panel consisting of Andri Xhahu, Kastriot Çaushi, Prec Zogaj, Rame Lahaj, Robert Radoja, Vasil Tole and Zana Shuteriqi. Before the end of the show, Anxhela Peristeri with “Karma” emerged as the winner of the competition and was simultaneously announced as the country’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.

Final – 23 December 2020
Draw Artist(s) Song Result
1
 Sardi Strugaj “Kam me t’ba me kajt”
2
2
 Xhesika Polo “Më mbron”
7
3
 Orgesa Zaimi “Valixhja e kujtimeve”
13
4
 Wendi Mancaku “Vesi i shpirtit tim”
9
5
 Era Rusi “Zjarri im”
10
6
 Gjergj Kaçinari “Më jep jetë”
16
7
 Rosela Gjylbegu “Vashëzo”
8
8
 Devis Xherahu “Peng”
11
9
 Mirud “Nëse vdes”
17
10
 Gigliola Haveriku “E lirë”
14
11
 Viktor Tahiraj “Nënë”
6
12
 Kamela Islamaj “Kujtimet s’kanë formë”
18
13
 Florent Abrashi “Vajzë”
12
14
 Inis Neziri “Pendesë”
4
15
 Evi Reçi “Tjerr”
5
16
 Anxhela Peristeri “Karma”
1
17
 Festina Mejzini “Kush je ti dashuri”
3
18
 Kastro Zizo “Vallja e jetës”
15

At Eurovision: The  Eurovision Song Contest 2021 is scheduled to take place at Rotterdam Ahoy in Rotterdam, the 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 for the final. The top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the grand final. On 17 November 2020, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed that the semi-final allocation draw for the 2021 contest will not be held. Instead, the semi-finals will feature the same line-up of countries as determined by the draw for the cancelled 2020 contest’s semifinals, which was held on 28 January 2020 at the Rotterdam City Hall, meaning that Albania was drawn to participate into the second half of the second semi-final.

• Country:  Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

• National selection:

  • Selection process: 
  • Selection date(s): Semi-finals: Ι Final:
  • Host venue: 
  • Presenter(s):
  • Host broadcaster: Public Television company of Armenia (AMPTV) 
  • Participants – Number of entries:
  • Selection entrant:
  • Selection song:
  • Selected songwriter(s):

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 2
  • Final result:

Armenia will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. 

Background: Prior to the 2021 Contest, Armenia had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest thirteen times since its first entry in 2006. Armenia’s highest placing in the contest, to this point, has been fourth place, which the nation achieved on two occasions: in 2008 with the song “Qélé, Qélé” performed by Sirusho and in 2014 with the song “Not Alone” performed by Aram Mp3. Armenia had, to this point, failed to qualify to the final on three occasions in 2011, 2018 and 2019. The nation briefly withdrew from the contest in 2012 due to long-standing tensions with then host country Azerbaijan.

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 for 2021 contest. Armenia was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.

• Country: Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciati il 26 Marzo 2020; Selezionati: Internal selection, il 12 dicembre 2019 Ι Song:
  • Host venue: 
  • Presenter(s):
  • Host broadcaster: Österreichischer Rundfunk (ÖRF) 
  • Participants – Number of entries:
  • Selection entrant: Vincent Bueno (Vincent Mendoza Bueno, Suitcase)
  • Selection song:
  • Selected songwriter(s):

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 2
  • Final result:

Austria will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Vincent Bueno as their representative. He was due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Alive” before the event’s cancellation.

Background. Prior to the 2021 contest, Austria had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 52 times since its first entry in 1957. The nation had won the contest on two occasions: in 1966 with the song “Merci, Chérie” performed by Udo Jürgens and in 2014 with the song “Rise Like a Phoenix” performed by Conchita Wurst. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the 2004, Austria had featured in five finals. Austria’s least successful result has been last place, which they have achieved on eight occasions, most recently in the 2012. Austria has also received nul points on four occasions; in 1962, 1988, 1991 and 2015.

The Austrian national broadcaster, Österreichischer Rundfunk (ÖRF), broadcasts the event within Austria and organises the selection process for the nation’s entry. ÖRF confirmed their intentions to participate at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest on 21 September 2018. From 2011 to 2013, ÖRF had set up national finals with several artists to choose both the song and performer to compete at Eurovision for Austria, with both the public and a panel of jury members involved in the selection. For the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, ÖRF held an internal selection to choose the artist and song to represent Austria at the contest. In 2015 and 2016, the broadcaster returned to selecting the Austrian entry through a national final. For the 2017, 2018 and 2019 contests, ÖRF opted for an internal selection to select their artist and song. After five consecutive appearances in the final, Austria failed to qualify for the final in 2019, for the first time since 2013.

Before Eurovision.

Internal selection: On 26 March 2020, ORF confirmed that Vincent Bueno will represent Austria in the 2021 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 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 for 2021 contest. Austria was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.

• Country:  Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciata il 21 Marzo 2020; Selezionata: Internal selection, il 25 novembre 2019 Ι Song:
  • Host venue: 
  • Presenter(s):
  • Host broadcaster: Bulgarian National Television (BNT)
  • Participants – Number of entries:
  • Selection entrant: VICTORIA (Victoria Georgieva, Виктория Георгиева)
  • Selection song:
  • Selected songwriter(s):

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 2
  • Final result:

Bulgaria will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Victoria as their representative. She was due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Tears Getting Sober” before the event’s cancellation.

Background. Prior to the 2021 contest, Bulgaria had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest twelve times since its first entry in 2005. The nation achieved their best result in the contest in 2017 with the song “Beautiful Mess” performed by Kristian Kostov, which placed second. To this point, four Bulgarian entry have qualified to the Eurovision final; the nation had failed to qualify to the final with their other eight entries.

The Bulgarian national broadcaster, Bulgarian National Television (BNT), broadcasts the event within Bulgaria and organises the selection process for the nation’s entry. In the past, BNT had alternated between both internal selections and national finals in order to select the Bulgarian entry. After consistently being present for every contest since their debut in 2005, the Bulgarian broadcaster announced in November 2013 that the country would not participate in the 2014 citing an expensive participation fee and limited funds due to budget cuts as reasons for their decision. Limited finances also prevented the broadcaster from returning in 2015 After a two-year absence, BNT confirmed Bulgaria’s return at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, managing to qualify for the final from 2016 to 2018. In 2019, Bulgaria once again did not participate in the contest due to limited finances.

Before Eurovision.

Internal selection: On 21 March 2020, BNT announced that Victoria had been internally selected to represent Bulgaria in Rotterdam. On 29 January 2021, the Bulgarian delegation announced that Victoria will release an EP with five songs, including her previous single “Ugly Cry.” One of the songs from this EP will be selected to represent Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest 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 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 for 2021 contest. Bulgaria was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.

• Country:  Repubblica Ceca in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciato il 13 Maggio 2020; Selezionati: Eurovision Song CZ, il 3 febbraio 2020 Ι Song: 16 February 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: Česká televize (ČT) 
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Benny Cristo (Ben da Silva Cristóvão)
  • Selection song: “Omaga”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Ben Cristovao, Filip Vlček

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 2
  • Final result:

The Czech Republic will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Benny Cristo as their representative with the song “Omaga”. He was due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Kemama” before the event’s cancellation.

Background. Prior to the 2021 Contest, the Czech Republic had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest eight times since its first entry in 2007. The nation competed in the contest on three consecutive occasions between 2007 and 2009 without qualifying to the final: in 2007 Kabát performing “Malá dáma” placed 28th (last) in the semi-final achieving only one point, in 2008 Tereza Kerndlová performing “Have Some Fun” placed 18th (second to last) in her semi-final scoring nine points, in 2009 Gipsy.cz performing the song “Aven Romale” placed 18th (last) in their semi-final failing to score any points. The Czech broadcaster withdrew from the contest between 2010 and 2014 citing low viewing figures and poor results for their absence. In 2015, the Czech Republic returned to the contest and once again failed to qualify to the final with the song “Hope Never Dies” performed by Marta Jandová and Václav Noid Bárta, placing 13th in their semi-final with 33 points. In 2016, Gabriela Gunčíková and the song “I Stand” qualified for the final and placed 25th out of 26 entries, marking the Czech Republic’s first qualification to the final since their debut in 2007. In 2018, Mikolas Josef with the song “Lie to Me” finished in sixth place with 281 points, achieving the Czech Republic’s best-ever result in the contest and their first top 10 finish. In 2019, Lake Malawi with the song “Friend of a Friend” finished in eleventh place with 157 points, achieving the Czech Republic’s second best result in the contest.

Before Eurovision.

Internal selection: On 13 May 2020, ČT confirmed that Benny Cristo will represent Czech Republic in the 2021 contest. His entry for 2021, “Omaga”, was released on 16 February 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. Czech Republic was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.

• Country: Danimarca in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2021
  • Selection date(s): 6 March 2021
  • Host venue: DR Byen,København
  • Presenter(s): Tina Müller e Martin Brygmann
  • Host broadcaster: Danmarks Radio (DR)
  • Interval Act: “Fra Mols til Skagen” fremført af Andreas Odbjerg
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Fyr og Flamme
  • Selection song: “Øve os på hinanden”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Laurits Emanuel

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result:
  • Final result:

Denmark will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The Danish broadcaster, DR, used the national selection Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2021 to decide their representative.

Background. Prior to the 2021 contest, Denmark had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest forty-eight times since their first entry in 1957. Denmark had won the contest, to this point, on three occasions: in the United Kingdom with the song “Dansevise” performed by Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann, in Sweden with the song “Fly on the Wings of Love” performed by Olsen Brothers, and again in Sweden with the song “Only Teardrops” performed by Emmelie de Forest. In the 2019 contest, “Love Is Forever” performed by Leonora came 12th in the final with 120 points. In 2020, Ben & Tan were set to represent Denmark with the song “Yes” before the contest’s cancellation. Denmark has selected all of their Eurovision entries thus far through the national final Dansk Melodi Grand Prix.

Before Eurovision.

Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2021: Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2021 was the 51st edition of Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, the music competition that selects Denmark’s entries for the Eurovision Song Contest. The event was held on 6 March 2021 at the DR Studio 5 in Copenhagen, hosted by Tina Müller and Martin Brygmann. The show was televised on DR1 as well as streamed online at the broadcaster’s streaming service DR TV and the official DR website.

Format: Eight songs competed in one show where the winner was determined over two rounds of public voting. In the first round, the top three songs based on the results of a public vote qualified to the superfinal. In the superfinal, the winner was determined exclusively by the public vote. Viewers were able to vote via SMS or a mobile application specifically designed for the competition. Viewers using the app to cast a vote were provided with one free vote.

Competing entries: DR opened a submission period between 29 October 2020 and 20 November 2020 for artists and composers to submit their entries. The spokesperson for the competition, Gustav Lützhøft, stated that the competition would seek out “songs that reflect Danish culture and identity with a diversity of both genres and musical expressions” with emphasis on songs that have the potential for further success after the competition. A selection committee selected eight songs from the entries submitted to the broadcaster and the competing artists and songs were officially presented on 10 February 2021.

Artist Song Composer(s)
Chief 1 & Thomas Buttenschøn “Højt over skyerne” Chief 1, Thomas Buttenschøn, Nermin Harambasic
Claudia Campagnol “Abracadabra” Melanie Wehbe, Emil Lei, Louis Jarto
Emma Nicoline “Står lige her” Jeppe Pilgaard, Jacob Jørgensen, Emma Nicoline Winther Nielsen, Adam Kalwa, Patricia Namakula Mbabazi
Fyr & Flamme “Øve os på hinanden” Laurits Emanuel
Jean Michel “Beautiful” Clara Sofie Fabricius, Johannes Nymark, Jesper Hjersing Sidelmann, Andreas Jensen
Mike Tramp “Everything Is Alright” Mike Tramp
Nanna Olivia “Hvileløse hjerter” Anna David, Nicolai Levring, Casper Sørensen
The Cosmic Twins “Silver Bullet” Lise Cabble, Gisli Gislason, Rasmus Duelund, August Emil

Final: The final took place on 6 March 2021. The running order was determined by DR and announced on 25 February 2021. In the first round of voting the top three advanced to a superfinal based on a public vote. The three superfinalists were “Højt over skyerne” performed by Chief 1 & Thomas Buttenschøn, “Øve os på hinanden” performed by Fyr & Flamme and “Beautiful” performed by Jean Michel. In the superfinal, the winner, “Øve os på hinanden” performed by Fyr & Flamme, was selected solely by the public vote.

Final – 6 March 2021
Draw Artist Song Result
1 Chief 1 og Thomas Buttenschøn (Lars Pedersen & Thomas Buttenschøn) “Højt over skyerne” Superfinalist
2 Nanna Olivia “Hvileløse hjerter” Eliminated
3 The Cosmic Twins (Chris og Alec) “Silver Bullet” Eliminated
4 Claudia Campagnol “Abracadabra” Eliminated
5 Mike Tramp (Michael Trampenau) “Everything Is Alright” Eliminated
6 Fyr og Flamme (Jesper Groth og Laurits Emanuel) “Øve os på hinanden” Superfinalist
7 Emma Nicoline “Står lige her” Eliminated
8 Jean Michel “Beautiful” Superfinalist
Superfinal – 6 March 2021
Draw Artist Song Televote Place
1 Fyr & Flamme “Øve os på hinanden” 37% 1
2 Chief 1 & Thomas Buttenschøn “Højt over skyerne” 29% 3
3 Jean Michel “Beautiful” 34% 2

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. Denmark was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.

• Country: Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Eesti Laul 2021
  • Selection date(s): Semi-finals: 18 February 2021, 20 February 2021 Ι Final: 6 March 2021
  • Host venue: ETV Studios, Tallinn; Saku Suurhall
  • Presenter(s): Tõnis Niinemets ja Grete Kuld
  • Host broadcaster: Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR)
  • Participants – Number of entries: 156 – 24 (12 finalists)
  • Selection entrant: Uku Suviste
  • Selection song: “The Lucky One”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Uku Suviste, Sharon Vaughn

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 2
  • Final result:

Estonia will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. The Estonian broadcaster Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR) organised the national final Eesti Laul 2021 in order to select the Estonian entry for the 2021 contest in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Background: Prior to the 2021 Contest, Estonia had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest twenty-five times since its first entry in 1994, winning the contest on one occasion in 2001 with the song “Everybody” performed by Tanel Padar, Dave Benton and 2XL. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the 2004, Estonia has, to this point, managed to qualify to the final on seven occasions. In 2019, “Storm” performed by Victor Crone allowed Estonia to qualify to the Grand Final once again, in which the song placed twentieth.

The Estonian national broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR), broadcasts the event within Estonia and organises the selection process for the nation’s entry. Since their debut, the Estonian broadcaster has organised national finals that feature a competition among multiple artists and songs in order to select Estonia’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. The Eesti Laul competition has been organised since 2009 in order to select Estonia’s entry. Before that, the Eurolaul format had been used.

Before Eurovision. 

Eesti Laul 2021: Eesti Laul 2021 was the thirteenth edition of the Estonian national selection Eesti Laul, which selected Estonia’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. The competition consisted of twenty-four entries competing in two semi-finals on 18 and 20 February 2021 leading to a twelve-song final on 6 March 2021.

Format: The format of the competition included two semi-finals on 18 and 20 February 2021 and a final on 6 March 2021. Twelve songs competed in each semi-final and six from each semi-final qualified to complete the ten song lineup in the final. The results of the semi-finals was determined by the 50/50 combination of votes from a professional jury and public televoting for the first four qualifiers and a second round of public televoting for the fifth and sixth qualifier. The winning song in the final was selected over two rounds of voting: the first round results selected the top three songs via the 50/50 combination of jury and public voting, while the second round (superfinal) determined the winner solely by public televoting.

Competing entries: On 1 September 2020, ERR opened the submission period for artists and composers to submit their entries up until 6 November 2020 through an online upload platform. Artists and composers of any nationality were able to submit entries and each artist and songwriter was only able to submit a maximum of five entries. Foreign collaborations were allowed as long as 50% of the songwriters were Estonian. A fee was imposed on songs being submitted to the contest, with €25 for songs in the Estonian language and €75 for songs in other languages. 156 submissions were received by the deadline. One of the 24 semi-finalist spots was reserved for Uku Suviste, who was to represent Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 before the contest was cancelled, while a 17-member jury panel selected the remaining 23 semi-finalists from the submissions and the selected songs were announced during the ETV entertainment program Ringvaade on 11 and 12 November 2020. The selection jury consisted of Bert Prikenfeld, Kaupo Karelson, Jüri Pihel, Jaan Pehk, Anu Varusk, Karl-Erik Taukar, Sten Teppan, Mari-Liis Männik, Ahto Kruusmann, Margus Kamlat, Laura Põldvere, Vaido Pannel, Robert Kõrvits, Rauno Märks, Dmitri Mikrjukov, Andres Aljaste and Liis Lemsalu.

Among the competing artists were previous Eurovision Song Contest entrants Ivo Linna, who represented Estonia in 1996 together with Maarja-Liis Ilus, Koit Toome, who represented Estonia in 1998 and 2017 together with Laura, Tanja, who represented Estonia in 2014 and Jüri Pootsmann, who represented Estonia in 2016.

Competing entries
Artist Song Composer(s)
Alabama Watchdog (Ken Einberg, Sven Seinpere ja Taaniel Pogga) “Alabama Watchdog” Ken Einberg
Andrei Zevakin & Pluuto (Andrei Zevakin & Henry Orlov) “Wingman” Andrei Zevakin, Henry Orlov
Egert Milder “Free Again” Kaspar Kalluste, Matteo Capreoli, Egert Milder
Gram-Of-Fun (Kristel Aaslaid, Martin “Muudu” Kuut, Kostja Tsõbulevski, Raul Ojamaa, Jaan Jaago ja Dr.PhilGood) “Lost in a Dance” Martin Kuut, Kristel Aaslaid], Raul Ojamaa, Kostja Tsõbulevski, Mikk Simson
Hans Nayna “One By One” Vahur Valgmaa, Hans Nayna
Helen (Helen Randmets) “Nii kõrgele” (So high) Rob Montes, Jason Hunter, Renae Rain, Helen Randmets
HELEZA (Helena Põldmaa) “6” Karl Killing, Helena Põldmaa
Ivo Linna, Robert Linna, Supernova (Ivo Linna, Robert Linna, Supernova: Rainer Michelson, Vilho Meier, Mati Sütt, Karvin Lillepea, Erki-Andres Nuut) “Ma olen siin” (I am here) Rainer Michelson, Robert Linna
Jüri Pootsmann “Magus melanhoolia” (Sweet melancholy) Jüri Pootsmann, Joonas Mattias Sarapuu, Jana Hallas, Aleksi Liski
Kadri Voorand “Energy” Kadri Voorand
Karl Killing “Kiss Me” Karl Killing
Kéa (Ketter Orav) “Hypnotized” Ketter Orav, Sander Sadam, Alvar Antson, Karl-Mathias Saarse
Kristin Kalnapenk “Find a Way” Kristin Kalnapenk, Hannes Agur Vellend
Koit Toome “We Could Have Been Beautiful” Joonas Parkkonen, Koit Toome, Peppina Pällijeff
Nika Marula “Calm Down” Andrei Zevakin, Nika Marula, Daniil Kotilevits
Rahel (Rahel Ollisaar) “Sunday Night” Rahel Ollisaar, Frederik Küüts, Jason Hunter
REDEL (Liikmed: (Indrek Vaheoja, Silver Lepaste, Ove Musting, Indrek Nõmm, Kristjan Oden ja Olavi Sander) “Tartu” (Tartu) Kristjan Oden, Indrek Vaheoja
Sissi (Sissi Nylia Benita) “Time” Sissi Nylia Benita, Andrei Zevakin, Kelly Tulvik
Suured tüdrukud (Kaire Vilgats ja Dagmar Oja) “Heaven’s Not That Far Tonight” Koit Toome, Gevin Niglas, Karl Killing
Tanja (Tatjana Mihhailova-Saar, Татьяна Михайлова) “Best Night Ever” Timo Vendt [et], Tanja Mihhailova-Saar, Mihkel Mattisen
Tuuli Rand “Üks öö” (One night) Gevin Niglas, Kristel Aaslaid, Tuuli Rand
Uku Haasma “Kaos” (Chaos) Uku Haasma, Henri Erik Tammai, Rudolf Toltsberg
Uku Suviste “The Lucky One” Uku Suviste, Sharon Vaughn
WIIRALT (Vahur Krautman, Marta Arula, Martin Saaremägi, Sander Nõmmistu, Mihkel Uba, Hans Kristjan PIkani ja Siim Türnpuu) “Tuuled” (The winds) Pat Lyons, Martin Saaremägi

Semi-final 1 (1. poolfinaal): The first semi-final took place on 18 February 2021. Twelve songs competed for six spots in the final with the outcome decided upon by the combination of the votes from a jury panel and a public televote. The jury panel that voted in the first semi-final consisted of Kerli Kõiv, Heidy Purga, Sünne Valtri, Janika Sillamaa, Anett Kulbin, Nele Kirsipuu, Kristjan Järvi, Koit Raudsepp, Silver Laas, Andres Puusepp and Genka. In addition to the performances of the competing entries, Elina Born, who represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 and singers Beebilõust and Villemdrillem performed as the interval acts.

[1] First round (jury and televote) qualifier [2] Second round (televote-only) qualifier

Semi-final 1 – 18 February 2021
Draw Artist Song First round Second round
Jury Televote Total Place Televote Place
1 Tanja “Best Night Ever” 25 1 685 2 3 10 781 3
2 Hans Nayna “One By One” 40 3 916 4 7 8 1083 2[2]
3 WIIRALT “Tuuled” 59 6 945 5 11 5 737 4
4 Kéa “Hypnotized” 37 2 411 0 2 11 446 6
5 Andrei Zevakin & Pluuto “Wingman” 14 0 1476 8 8 6 1593 1[2]
6 Karl Killing “Kiss Me” 54 5 1151 7 12 4 — —[1]
7 Nika Marula “Calm Down” 62 7 548 1 8 7 686 5
8 Egert Milder “Free Again” 100 10 1136 6 16 3 — —[1]
9 Tuuli Rand “Üks öö” 9 0 278 0 0 12 164 8
10 Koit Toome “We Could Have Been Beautiful” 111 12 2873 12 24 1 — —[1]
11 Kristin Kalnapenk “Find a Way” 51 4 705 3 7 9 412 7
12 Ivo Linna, Robert Linna, Supernova “Ma olen siin” 76 8 1519 10 18 2 — —[1]

Semi-final 2 (2. poolfinaal): The first semi-final took place on 20 February 2021. Twelve songs competed for six spots in the final with the outcome decided upon by the combination of the votes from a jury panel and a public televote. The jury panel that voted in the second semi-final consisted of Kerli Kõiv, Heidy Purga, Sünne Valtri, Janika Sillamaa, Anett Kulbin, Nele Kirsipuu, Kristjan Järvi, Koit Raudsepp, Silver Laas, Andres Puusepp and Genka. In addition to the performances of the competing entries, singer Daniel Levi and the group Curly Strings performed as the interval acts.

[1] First round (jury and televote) qualifier [2] Second round (televote-only) qualifier

Semi-final 2 – 20 February 2021
Draw Artist Song First round Second round
Jury Televote Total Place Televote Place
1 Sissi “Time” 44 4 1797 5 9 7 2451 2[2]
2 Gram-Of-Fun “Lost in a Dance” 67 8 1403 3 11 6 1771 3
3 Kadri Voorand “Energy” 107 10 2680 7 17 2 — —[1]
4 Helen “Nii kõrgele” 3 0 1210 2 2 10 1270 5
5 REDEL “Tartu” 63 6 2876 8 14 5 2600 1[2]
6 Rahel “Sunday Night” 33 1 839 0 1 11 819 7
7 Uku Haasma “Kaos” 12 0 654 0 0 12 522 8
8 HELEZA “6” 35 2 1494 4 6 9 1345 4
9 Uku Suviste “The Lucky One” 41 3 6291 12 15 3 — —[1]
10 Alabama Watchdog “Alabama Watchdog” 64 7 1052 1 8 8 1022 6
11 Jüri Pootsmann “Magus melanhoolia” 110 12 2119 6 18 1 — —[1]
12 Suured tüdrukud “Heaven’s Not That Far Tonight” 59 5 5370 10 15 4 — —[1]

Final (Finaal): The final took place on 6 March 2021. The six entries that qualified from each of the two preceding semi-finals, all together twelve songs, competed during the show. The winner was selected over two rounds of voting. In the first round, a jury (50%) and public televote (50%) determined the top three entries to proceed to the superfinal: “The Lucky One” performed by Uku Suviste, “Time” performed by Sissi and “Magus melanhoolia” performed by Jüri Pootsmann. The public vote in the first round registered 55,956 votes. In the superfinal, “The Lucky One” performed by Uku Suviste was selected as the winner entirely by a public televote. The public televote in the superfinal registered 52,214 votes. In addition to the performances of the competing entries, singers Liis Lemsalu, Stefan, Smilers, Mr. Lawrence, Pitsa and Goresoerd performed as the interval acts. The jury panel that voted in the first round of the final consisted of Moniqué, Brian Henry, Ben Camp, Sylvia Massy, Jan Frost Bors, Stephen Budd, Helena Meraai, Pierre Dumoulin and Steve Rodway.

Final – 6 March 2021
Draw Artist Song Jury Televote Total Place
1 Egert Milder “Free Again” 24 1 1871 1 2 12
2 Suured tüdrukud “Heaven’s Not That Far Tonight” 33 2 5002 6 8 7
3 Hans Nayna “One By One” 47 6 1754 0 6 10
4 Ivo Linna, Robert Linna, Supernova “Ma olen siin” 18 0 2030 2 2 11
5 Karl Killing “Kiss Me” 60 8 1678 0 8 8
6 Uku Suviste “The Lucky One” 42 3 11393 12 15 1
7 Sissi “Time” 73 12 4186 3 15 3
8 Jüri Pootsmann “Magus melanhoolia” 59 7 6193 8 15 2
9 Redel “Tartu” 17 0 5160 7 7 9
10 Koit Toome “We Could Have Been Beautiful” 43 4 6779 10 14 4
11 Andrei Zevakin & Pluuto “Wingman” 62 10 4944 4 14 5
12 Kadri Voorand “Energy” 44 5 4966 5 10 6
Superfinal – 6 March 2021
Draw Artist Song Televote Place
1 Uku Suviste “The Lucky One” 24081 (46.4%) 1
2 Sissi “Time” 14968 (28.9%) 2
3 Jüri Pootsmann “Magus melanhoolia” 12776 (24.7%) 3

Controversy: There was widespread anger over the lyrics of Alabama Watchdog’s self-titled entry which was widely perceived as being transphobic and anti-vaccine. However, the group insisted the following in the defence of their song: “In short, we didn’t write the song to offend anyone and we’re not transphobic or lockdown deniers as people claim us to be. For example, in March we shared a picture on Facebook with the hashtag #staythefuckhome to encourage people to stay safe and in their own homes during the first Covid wave. At the end of the day, we’re just simple everyday people who tried to write the best possible song that they can. However about the song itself — the lyrics of the song are written from an everyday man’s perspective who tries to observe the messy world of 2020 all the while trying to find their place in it. It was deliberately written in a way, where it doesn’t take sides on a topic but rather acknowledges a problem’s existence and/or tries to ask questions. Since there were so many different controversial topics that went through the media, nearly every line references a completely different thing. If a person reads the full paragraph in one go, it can mean something completely different. But I guess that’s a mistake on our end for not clarifying things…whoops…”.

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. Estonia was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.

• Country:  Finlandia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

UMK2020.jpg

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2021
  • Selection date(s): 20 February 2021
  • Host venue: Mediapolis Television Studio, Tampere
  • Presenter(s): Antti Tuisku; Commentatori: Mikko Silvennoinen (fi), Johan Lindroos ja Eva Frantz (ru), Levan Tvaltvadze (se), Jani Kareinen ja Katri Norrlin (en)
  • Host broadcaster: Yleisradio (YLE)
  • Participants – Number of entries: 7 (75 % Televoting,
    25 % Juryvoting)
  • Selection entrant: Blind Channel
  • Selection song: “Dark Side”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Aleksi Kaunisvesi, Joonas Porko, Joel Hokka, Niko Moilanen, Olli Matela

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 2 
  • Final result:

Finland will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The Finnish broadcaster, Yleisradio (Yle), used the national selection Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2021 to decide their representative.

Background. Prior  to the 2021 Contest, Finland had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fifty-three times since their first entry in 1961. Finland has won the contest once in 2006 with the song “Hard Rock Hallelujah” performed by Lordi. In the 2019 contest, “Look Away” performed by Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman failed to qualify for the final, finishing in 17th (last) place in the first semi-final with 23 points. In 2020, Aksel Kankaanranta was set to represent Finland with the song “Looking Back” before the contest’s cancellation.

The Finnish national broadcaster, Yleisradio (Yle), broadcasts the event within Finland and organises the selection process for the nation’s entry. Finland’s entries for the Eurovision Song Contest have been selected through national final competitions that have varied in format over the years. Between 1961 and 2011, a selection show that was often titled Euroviisukarsinta highlighted that the purpose of the program was to select a song for Eurovision. However, since 2012, the broadcaster has organised the selection show Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), which focuses on showcasing new music with the winning song being selected as the Finnish contest entry for that year.

Before Eurovision.

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2021: Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2021 was the tenth edition of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), the music competition that selects Finland’s entries for the Eurovision Song Contest. The competition consisted of one final on 20 February 2021. The show was held at the Mediapolis in Tampere and hosted by Antti Tuisku with commentary in Finnish by Mikko Silvennoinen, in Swedish by Johan Lindroos and Eva Frantz, in Russian by Levan Tvaltvadze and in English by Katri Norrlin and Jani Kareinen. The show was broadcast on Yle TV1 and online at yle.fi/umk as well as via on Yle Radio Suomi and with commentary in Swedish by Eva Frantz and Johan Lindroos on Yle X3M.[2] The competition was watched by 1.1 million viewers in Finland with a peak of 1.7 million, making it the most watched edition of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu since its establishment in 2012.

Competing entries: A submission period was opened by Yle which lasted between 1 September 2020 and 7 September 2020. At least one of the writers and the lead singer(s) had to hold Finnish citizenship or live in Finland permanently in order for the entry to qualify to compete. A panel of eight experts appointed by Yle selected seven entries for the competition from the 278 received submissions. The panel consisted of Tapio Hakanen (Head of Music at YleX), Anssi Autio (UMK producer), Juha-Matti Valtonen (television director), Samuli Väänänen (Senior Editor at Spotify Finland), Mirva Merimaa (CEO of Tiketti), Katri Norrlin (YleX music editor), Jani Kareinen (YleX music editor), Johan Lindroos (Head of Music at Yle Radio Suomi) and Amie Borgar (Head of Music at Yle X3M). The competing artists were presented on 13 January 2021, while the competing entries were released between 14 and 22 January 2021.

Artist Song Songwriter(s)
Aksel (Aksel Kankaanranta) “Hurt” Gerard O’Connell, Kalle Lindroth, Joonas Angeria
Blind Channel (Joel Hokka, Niko Vilhelm, Joonas Porko, Olli Matela, Tommi Lalli ja Aleksi Kaunisvesi) “Dark Side” Aleksi Kaunisvesi, Joonas Porko, Joel Hokka, Niko Moilanen, Olli Matela
Danny (Ilkka Johannes Lipsanen) “Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua“ Janne Rintala
Ilta (Ilta Elina Fuchs) “Kelle mä soitan“ Ilta Fuchs, Väinö Wallenius, Jouni Aslak, Tuomas Kauhanen
Laura (Laura Põldvere, Laura Remmel) “Play” Karl-Ander Reismann, Reinis Straume, Laura Põldvere
Oskr (Oskari Ruohonen) “Lie” Oskari Ruohonen, Joonas Angeria, David Pramik
Teflon Brothers x Pandora (Pyhimys, Heikki Kuula, Voli x Anneli Magnusson) “I Love You” Jaakko Salovaara, Axel Ehnström, Mikko Kuoppala, Heikki Kuula, Jani Tuohimaa, Anneli Magnusson

Final: The final took place on 20 February 2021 where seven entries competed. “Dark Side” performed by Blind Channel was selected as the winner. The winner was selected by a combination of public votes (75%) and seven international jury groups from Iceland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States (25%). The viewers had a total of 882 points to award while the juries each had a total of 294 points to award. Each jury group distributed their points as follows: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 points. The viewer vote was based on the percentage of votes each song achieved through the following voting methods: telephone, SMS and app voting. For example, if a song gained 10% of the viewer vote, then that entry would be awarded 10% of 882 points rounded to the nearest integer: 88 points. A total of 138,195 votes were cast during the show: 92,017 votes through the Yle app and 46,178 votes through telephone and SMS.

Draw Artist Song Jury Televote Total Place
Votes Percentage Points
1 Teflon Brothers x Pandora “I Love You” 30 23,493 17.0% 150 180 2
2 Aksel “Hurt” 56 8,154 5.9% 52 108 5
3 Laura “Play” 4 1,382 1.0% 9 13 7
4 Danny “Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua“ 22 5,942 4.3% 38 60 6
5 Oskr “Lie” 62 8,292 6.0% 53 115 4
6 Blind Channel “Dark Side” 72 75,040 54.3% 479 551 1
7 Ilta “Kelle mä soitan“ 48 15,892 11.5% 101 149 3
Detailed International Jury Votes
Draw Song United Kingdom Switzerland United States Poland Iceland Spain Netherlands Total
1 “I Love You” 6 2 2 6 4 10 30
2 “Hurt” 10 12 8 8 4 8 6 56
3 “Play” 2 2 4
4 “Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua” 4 4 4 4 2 4 22
5 “Lie” 8 10 10 10 12 10 2 62
6 “Dark Side” 12 8 12 12 8 12 8 72
7 “Kelle mä soitan” 2 6 6 6 10 6 12 48
International Jury Spokespersons
  • United Kingdom – William Lee Adams
  • Switzerland – Zibbz
  • United States – Carlton Wilborn
  • Poland – Lanberry
  • Iceland – Klemens Hannigan
  • Spain – Soraya Arnelas
  • Netherlands – Katja Zwart

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. Finland was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.

• Country: Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciato il 19 Marzo 2020; Selezionato: Georgian Idol, il 31 dicembre 2020 Ι Song: 15 March 2021
  • Host venue: – 
  • Presenter(s): – 
  • Host broadcaster: Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB)
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Tornike Kipiani (თორნიკე ყიფიანი)
  • Selection song: “You”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Tornike Kipiani, Aleko Berdzenishvili

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 2
  • Final result:

Georgia will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Tornike Kipiani as their representative with the song “You”. He was due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Take Me as I Am” before the event’s cancellation.

Background. Prior to the 2021 contest, Georgia have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 12 times since their first entry in 2007. The nation’s highest placing in the contest, to this point, has been ninth place, which was achieved on two occasions: in 2010 with the song “Shine” performed by Sofia Nizharadze and in 2011 with the song “One More Day” performed by Eldrine. The nation briefly withdrew from the contest in 2009 after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) rejected the Georgian entry, “We Don’t Wanna Put In”, for perceived political references to Vladimir Putin who was the Russian Prime Minister at the time. The withdrawal and fallout was tied to tense relations between Georgia and then host country Russia, which stemmed from the 2008 Russo-Georgian War. Following the introduction of semi-finals, Georgia has, to this point, failed to qualify to the final on four occasions.

The Georgian national broadcaster, Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB), broadcasts the event within Georgia and organises the selection process for the nation’s entry. GPB confirmed their intentions to participate at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest on 2 October 2017. Georgia has selected their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest both through national finals and internal selections in the past. In 2013 and 2014, GPB opted to internally select the Georgian entry, in 2015, the Georgian entry was selected via a national final, and in 2016, the artist was internally selected while the song was chosen in a national final. For their 2017 participation, the entry was selected through a national final. In 2018 the artist was internally selected. In 2019, the entry was fully selected through Georgian Idol for the first time ever. Oto Nemsadze failed to qualify to the Saturday final with “Keep On Going”, achieving just a fourteenth place in the first semi-final.

Before Eurovision.

Internal selection: On 19 March 2020, GPB confirmed that Tornike Kipiani will represent Georgia in the 2021 contest. His entry for 2021, entitled “You”, 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. Georgia was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.

• Country: Grecia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciata il 18 Marzo 2020; Selezionata: Internal selection, il 3 febbraio 2020 Ι Song: 7 January 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT/ΕΡΤ)
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Stefania (Stefania Liberakakis, Στεφανία Λυμπερακάκη, Stefanía Lymperakáki)
  • Selection song: “Last Dance”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Dimitris Kontopoulos, ARCADE (Pavlos Manolis, Anastasios Rammos, Diverno, Gabriel Russell), Sharon Vaughn / Δημήτρης Κοντόπουλος, ARCADE (Παύλος Μανώλης, Αναστάσιος Ράμμος, Diverno, Γκάμπριελ Ράσελ), Σάρον Βον

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 2 
  • Final result:

Greece will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Greek-Dutch singer Stefania was internally selected by the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT) with the song “Last Dance”, written by Dimitris Kontopoulos, ARCADE, Sharon Vaughn. Stefania was due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Supergirl” before the event’s cancellation.

Greece was drawn to compete in the first half of the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place on 20 May 2021. The draw order was unchanged from the canceled 2020 edition.

Background: Prior to the 2021 contest, Greece had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest forty times since their debut in 1974. The nation has won once, at the 2005 contest with the song “My Number One” performed by Helena Paparizou. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the 2004 contest, Greece managed to qualify for the grand final with each of their entries for several years. Between 2004 and 2013, the nation achieved nine top ten placements in the final. To this point, Greece in 2016 with Argo’s “Utopian Land” failed to qualify from the semi-finals for the first time ever, being absent from the grand final for the first time since 2000 and marking Greece’s worst result at the contest. In the 2018 contest, Greece failed to qualify for the second time with Yianna Terzi and the song “Oniro mou” finishing 14th in the semi-final. Greece returned to the grand final in the 2019 contest with Katerine Duska and the song “Better Love”, placing 21st with 74 points.

The Greek national broadcaster, Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), broadcasts the event within Greece and organises the selection process for the nation’s entry. ERT had been in charge of Greece’s participation in the contest since their debut in 1974 until 2013, when the broadcaster was shut down by a government directive and replaced with the interim Dimosia Tileorasi (DT) and later by the New Hellenic Radio, Internet and Television (NERIT) broadcaster. During this time, from 2013 through 2015, the Greek television station MAD TV organised the selection process. On 28 April 2015, a legislative proposal that resulted in the renaming of NERIT to ERT was approved and signed into law by the Hellenic Parliament; ERT began broadcasting once again on 11 June 2015, and shortly after confirmed their intentions to once again participate in the Eurovision Song Contest.

The Greek broadcaster has used various methods to select the nation’s entry in the past, such as internal selections and televised national finals, to choose the performer, song or both to compete at Eurovision. On 18 March 2020, the day of the 2020 contest’s cancellation, ERT was one of the first four broadcasters (the others being the Netherlands’ AVROTROS, Spain’s RTVE and Ukraine’s UA:PBC) to confirm their participation in the next edition and to announce their continued cooperation with their 2020 artist, Stefania.

Before Eurovision.

Song selection: With Stefania already selected to represent the country in 2021, it was announced that the same team responsible for the songwriting and the choreography of the 2020 entry would also be used for the 2021 contest, and that the song would be selected internally. On 14 December 2020, ERT revealed the names of the people who comprised the jury panel involved with the selection of the song. The jury consisted of music composer and ERT board member Dimitris Papadimitriou, and music producers Petros Adam and Yiannis Petridis. All three were members of the previous year’s jury panel. As it was announced, the jury panel planned to select the Greek entry before 2021, while the song would not be released before March 2021.

Songwriters Dimitris Kontopoulos and Sharon Vaughn, and the production team ARCADE (Pavlos Manolis, Anastasios Rammos, Diverno, Gabriel Russell, Loukas Damianakos, Gioni), submitted at least four potential entries to ERT for consideration. On 18 December 2020, an Instagram post by Stefania on the official account of the Eurovision Song Contest revealed the name of one of the song candidates, “Adrenaline”. Three weeks later on 7 January 2021, “Last Dance”, was announced as the title of selected song, with its release planned for 10 March.

At Eurovision: The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 is scheduled to take place at Rotterdam Ahoy in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and will consist of two semi-finals held on 18 and 20 May, and the grand final on 22 May 2021.[16] 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 in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the grand final.[17] 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. Greece was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show. 

Fokas Evangelinos was announced as the artistic director for the entry, responsible for the country’s stage performance.[19] Stefania will be joined on stage by four dancers: George Papadopoulos (stage director for the Greek entry at the 2014 Contest[20]), Nikos Koukakis, Markos Giakoumoglou and Costas Pavlopoulos.

The two semi-finals and the final will be televised in Greece on ERT with commentary by Maria Kozakou and Giorgos Kapoutzidis.

• Country:  Islanda in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciati il 23 Ottobre 2020; Selezionati: Söngvakeppnin 2020, il 29 febbraio 2020 Ι Song: 13 March 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV) 
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Daði og Gagnamagnið (Daði Freyr Pétursson, Daði Freyr og Sigrún Birna Pétursdóttir, Árný Fjóla Ásmundsdóttir, Hulda Kristín Kolbrúnardóttir, Stefán Hannesson and Jóhann Sigurður Jóhannsson)
  • Selection song: “10 Years”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Daði Freyr Pétursson

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 2
  • Final result:

Iceland will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Daði og Gagnamagnið as their representatives with the song “10 Years”. They were due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Think About Things” before the event’s cancellation.

Background. Prior to the 2021 contest, Iceland had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 36 times since its first entry in 1986. Iceland’s best placing in the contest to this point was second, which it achieved on two occasions: in 1999 with the song “All Out of Luck” performed by Selma and in 2009 with the song “Is It True?” performed by Yohanna. Since the introduction of a semi-final to the format of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004, Iceland has failed to qualify to the final seven times. In 2019, Iceland placed tenth in the grand final with the song “Hatrið mun sigra” performed by the band Hatari.

The Icelandic national broadcaster, Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV), broadcasts the event within Iceland and organises the selection process for the nation’s entry. From 2006 to 2020, Iceland’s competitor has been selected by the Söngvakeppnin, a televised national competition. Daði og Gagnamagnið won Söngvakeppnin 2020 with “Think About Things”. The song was considered one of the favourites to win, however the contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before Eurovision.

Internal selection: On 23 October 2020, RÚV confirmed that Daði og Gagnamagnið will represent Iceland in the 2021 contest. Their entry for 2021, entitled “10 Years”, was released on 13 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. Iceland was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.

• Country: Lettonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciata il 16 Maggio 2020; Selezionata: Supernova 2020, il 8 febbraio 2020 Ι Song: 12 March 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: Latvijas Televīzija (LTV)
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Samanta Tīna (Samanta Poļakova)
  • Selection song: “The Moon Is Rising”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Samanta Tīna, Aminata Savadogo, Oskars Uhaņs

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 2
  • Final result:

Latvia will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Samanta Tīna as their representative with the song “The Moon Is Rising”. She was due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Still Breathing” before the event’s cancellation.

Background. Prior to the 2021 contest, Latvia had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest twenty times since its first entry in 2000. Latvia won the contest once in 2002 with the song “I Wanna” performed by Marie N. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the 2004, Latvia was able to qualify to compete in the final between 2005 and 2008. Between 2009 and 2014, the nation had failed to qualify to the final for six consecutive years. In the 2015 contest, Latvia managed to qualify to the final with the song “Love Injected” performed by Aminata, which placed 6th in the final, scoring 186 points, giving them their best placing since 2005. In 2019, Latvia was represented by Carousel and the song “That Night”, but the country did not qualify for the final and finished 15th in the second semi-final with 50 points.

Before Eurovision.

Internal selection: On 16 May 2020, LTV confirmed that Samanta Tīna was selected internally to represent Latvia in the 2021 contest. The Latvian entry for 2021, titled “The Moon Is Rising”, was revealed on 12 March 2021, at the close of a special documentary series on LTV titled Kā uzvarēt Eirovīzijā? Samantas Tīnas ceļš uz Roterdamu (English: How to win at Eurovision? Samanta Tīna’s Road to Rotterdam) that chronicles the process of choosing the entry.

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. Latvia was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.

• Country:  Moldavia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciata il 26 January 2021; Selezionata: O melodie pentru Europa 2020, il 15 luglio 2020 Ι Song: 4 March 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: Teleradio-Moldova (TRM)
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Natalia Gordienko (Наталя Гордієнко, Natalia Gordienco)
  • Selection song: “Sugar”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Dimitris Kontopoulos, Philipp Kirkorov, Mikhail Gutseriev, Sharon Vaughn

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 2 
  • Final result:

Moldova will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Natalia Gordienko as their representative with the song “Sugar”. She was due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Prison” before the event’s cancellation.

Background. Prior to the 2021 Contest, Moldova had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fifteen times since its first entry in 2005. The nation’s best placing in the contest was third, which it achieved in 2017 with the song “Hey Mamma!” performed by SunStroke Project. To this point, Moldova have achieved another three top-ten placings at the contest, with Zdob și Zdub placing sixth with “Bunica bate toba” in 2005, Natalia Barbu placing tenth in 2007 with “Fight” and DoReDoS in 2018 performing “My Lucky Day”, also placing tenth. In 2019, Moldova was represented by Anna Odobescu with the song “Stay”. The country failed to qualify, placing 12th in the semi-final.

Before Eurovision.

Internal selection: On 26 January 2021, TRM confirmed that Natalia Gordienko will represent Moldova in the 2021 contest. The song, entitled “Sugar”, 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. Moldova was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.

• Country:  Polonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): 12 March 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: Telewizja Polska (TVP)
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Rafał
  • Selection song: “The Ride”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Joakim Övrenius, Thomas Karlsson, Clara Rubensson, Johan Mauritzson

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result:
  • Final result:

Poland will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Rafał Brzozowski as their representative with the song “The Ride”.

Background. Prior to the 2021 Contest, Poland had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest twenty-two times since its first entry in 1994. Poland’s highest placement in the contest, to this point, has been second place, which the nation achieved with its debut entry in 1994 with the song “To nie ja!” performed by Edyta Górniak. Poland has only, thus far, reached the top ten on two other occasions, when Ich Troje performing the song “Keine Grenzen – Żadnych granic” finished seventh in 2003 and when Michał Szpak performing the song “Color of Your Life” finished eighth in 2016. Between 2005 and 2011, Poland failed to qualify from the semi-final round six out of seven years with only their 2008 entry, “For Life” performed by Isis Gee, managing to take the nation to the final during that period. After once again failing to qualify to the final in 2011, the country withdrew from the contest during 2012 and 2013. Since returning to the contest in 2014, Poland managed to qualify to the final with both their 2014 entry, “My Słowianie – We Are Slavic” performed by Donatan and Cleo, their 2015 entry “In the Name of Love” performed by Monika Kuszyńska, their 2016 entry “Color of Your Life” performed by Michał Szpak and their 2017 entry “Flashlight” performed by Kasia Moś. In 2018, Poland was represented by Gromee feat. Lukas Meijer with the song “Light Me Up”, which placed fourteenth in the semi-final with 81 points, marking the first time Poland failed to qualify to the final since their return in 2014. In 2019, Poland was represented by Tulia with the song “Fire of Love (Pali się)” which placed eleventh in the semi-final with 120 points, missing the final by two points. That was the second time Poland did not qualify since 2014. In 2020, Alicja Szemplińska was set to represent Poland with the song “Empires” before the contest’s cancellation.

Before Eurovision.

Internal selection: TVP announced that the Polish entry for the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest would be revealed on 12 March 2021 during the TVP2 programme Pytanie na śniadanie. During the show, it was announced that Rafał would represent the country with the song “The Ride”, written by Joakim Övrenius, Thomas Karlsson, Clara Rubensson and Johan Mauritzson. Rafał previously took part in the Polish national final for the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest, placing second with 16 points. He was also one of the presenters of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2020.

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. Poland was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.

• Country:  Portogallo in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

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• National selection:

  • Selection process: Festival da Canção 2021
  • Selection date(s): Semi-finals: 20 February 2021, 27 February 2021 Ι Final: 6 March 2021
  • Host venue: Estúdios RTP, Lisboa
  • Presenter(s): SF 1 – Jorge Gabriel e Sónia Araújo; SF 2 – José Carlos Malato e Tânia Ribas de Oliveira; FI – Filomena Cautela e Vasco Palmeirim
  • Opening Act: Final Abertura P’ró Boneco!
  • Interval Act: Semi-Final 1Elisa – “Na ilha”
    Dora – “Não Sejas Mau para Mim” Ι Semi-Final 2 Homenagem à Paulo de Carvalho feito pelo filho Agir – “Flor Sem Tempo” e “E Depois do Adeus“,Lúcia Moniz“O Meu Coração não Tem Cor” Ι Final Homenagem à Carlos do Carmo feito por: Ricardo Ribeiro – “Estrela da Tarde”, Ana Moura -“Uma Flor de Verde Pinho”, Camané -“No Teu Poema”.  Ricardo Ribeiro,Ana Moura,Camané “Lisboa Menina e Moça”, Dino D’Santiago -“Os Putos”  homenagem à José Mário Branco,Sérgio Godinho e José Afonso por Clã ,Cláudia Pascoal e Filipe Sambado. Sérgio Godinho – “Novo Normal”. Elisa – “Medo de Sentir”
  • Host broadcaster: Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (RTP)
  • Participants – Number of entries: 20 (50 % Jury voting,
    50 % Televoting)
  • Selection entrant: The Black Mamba
  • Selection song: “Love Is on My Side”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Tatanka

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 2
  • Final result:

Portugal will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, Netherlands with the song “Love Is on My Side”, performed by The Black Mamba. The Portuguese entry for the 2021 contest was chosen through the national selection Festival da Canção, organised by the Portuguese broadcaster Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (RTP), which consisted of two semi-finals on 20 and 27 February, and a final on 6 March 2021.

This will be the first Portuguese entry in the Eurovision Song Contest to be performed entirely in English.

Background: Prior to the 2021 Contest, Portugal had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fifty-one times since its first entry in 1964. Since semi-finals were introduced into the contest in 2004, Portugal has failed to reach the final eight times. Portugal held the record for the most appearances in the contest without a win until 2017 when they won in Kyiv, Ukraine, with Salvador Sobral’s entry, “Amar pelos dois”. In 2019, Portugal was represented by Conan Osíris and the song “Telemóveis”. The country failed to qualify to the final, ending in fifteenth place in the semi-final with 51 points. In 2020, Elisa was set to represent Portugal with the song “Medo de sentir” before the contest’s cancellation.

Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (RTP) broadcasts the contest in Portugal and organises the selection process for its entry. Portugal has most commonly selected their entry through the national final Festival da Canção except between 2003 and 2005 when the broadcaster used internal selections and the talent competition Operação triunfo to select their entry. RTP will organize the 2021 edition of Festival da Canção in order to select the Portuguese entry for the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest.

Before Eurovision.

Festival da Canção 2021: Festival da Canção 2021 will be the 55th edition of Festival da Canção, the music competition that selects Portugal’s entries for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Format: The format of the competition consisted of three shows: two semi-finals on 20 and 27 February 2021 and the final on 6 March 2021, all taking place at RTP’s studios in Lisbon. The competition featured twenty competing songs written by composers selected by RTP through various methods. The composers both created the song and selected the performer for their entry. Each semi-final featured ten competing entries from which five advanced to the final from each show. Results during the semi-finals was determined by a jury panel (Marta Carvalho, Paulo de Carvalho, Rita Guerra, NBC, Vanessa Augusto, Rita Carmo) appointed by RTP and votes from the public, with the jury panel having the deciding vote in the event of a tie. In the final, the winner was determined by the votes from regional jury panels and public voting, with the public having the deciding vote in the event of a tie.

For the fifth consecutive year, RTP abolished the language restrictions, so that artists may submit songs in any language(s), even without Portuguese. On 4 December 2020, RTP revealed the names of the twenty participating composers: eighteen invited by RTP and two selected from 693 submissions received during an open call for songs. The competing artists and songs were revealed on 20 January 2021.

Artist Song Composer(s) Selection
Ana Tereza “Com um abraço” Viviane, Tó Viegas Invited by RTP
Ariana “Mundo melhor” Virgul, Alex D’Alva Invited by RTP
Carolina Deslandes “Por um triz” Carolina Deslandes Invited by RTP
Da Chick “I Got Music” (Eu Tenho a Música) Da Chick Invited by RTP
EU.CLIDES “VOLTE-FACE” Pedro da Linha, Tota Invited by RTP
Fábia Maia “Dia lindo” Fábia Maia Invited by RTP
Graciela “A vida sem acontecer” João Vieira Invited by RTP
IAN “Mundo” IAN Invited by RTP
IRMA “Livros” IRMA, PITY Invited by RTP
Joana Alegre “Joana do mar” Joana Alegre Invited by RTP
Karetus & Romeu Bairos “Saudade” Karetus, Romeu Bairos Invited by RTP
mema. “Claro como água” Stereossauro, mema. Invited by RTP
Miguel Marôco “Girassol” Miguel Marôco Open call winner
Nadine “Cheguei aqui” Anne Victorino D’Almeida, Tiago Torres da Silva Invited by RTP
NEEV “Dancing in the Stars” (A Dançar nas Estrelas) NEEV Invited by RTP
Pedro Gonçalves “Não vou ficar” Pedro Gonçalves Open call winner
Sara Afonso “Contramão” Filipe Melo, Teresa Sequeira Invited by RTP
Tainá “Jasmim” Tainá Invited by RTP
The Black Mamba “Love is on My Side” (O Amor Está do Meu Lado) Tatanka Invited by RTP
Valéria “Na mais profunda saudade” Hélder Moutinho Invited by RTP

Semi-final 1: The first semi-final took place on 20 February 2021, hosted by Jorge Gabriel and Sónia Araújo. In the first semi-final ten entries participated, and of these ten, five advanced to the final. The qualifiers were determined by a 50/50 combination of votes from jury members made up of music professionals and a public telephone vote.

Semi-final 1 – 20 February 2021
Draw Artist Song Jury Televote Total Place
1 The Black Mamba “Love Is on My Side” 10 12 22 1
2 Valéria “Na mais profunda saudade” 6 10 16 3
3 mema. “Claro como água” 2 1 3 10
4 Nadine “Cheguei aqui” 1 6 7 9
5 Miguel Marôco “Girassol” 3 5 8 8
6 Fábia Maia “Dia lindo” 8 2 10 5
7 Irma “Livros” 5 3 8 6
8 Karetus & Romeu Bairos “Saudade” 7 8 15 4
9 Sara Afonso “Contramão” 12 7 19 2
10 IAN “Mundo” 4 4 8 7

Semi-final 2: Te second semi-final took place on 27 February 2021, hosted by Tânia Ribas de Oliveira and José Carlos Malato. In the second semi-final ten entries participated, and of these ten, five advanced to the final. The qualifiers were determined by a 50/50 combination of votes from jury members made up of music professionals and a public telephone vote.

Semi-final 2 – 27 February 2021
Draw Artist Song Jury Televote Total Place
1 Da Chick “I Got Music” 1 5 6 10
2 Tainá “Jasmim” 4 2 6 9
3 Ariana “Mundo melhor” 6 1 7 7
4 EU.CLIDES “VOLTE-FACE” 10 3 13 4
5 Joana Alegre “Joana do mar” 7 8 15 3
6 Pedro Gonçalves “Não vou ficar” 3 7 10 5
7 Ana Tereza “Com um abraço” 5 4 9 6
8 Carolina Deslandes “Por um triz” 12 10 22 1
9 Graciela “A vida sem acontecer” 2 6 8 8
10 NEEV “Dancing in the Stars” 8 12 20 2

Final: The final took place on 6 March 2021, hosted by Filomena Cautela and Vasco Palmeirim. In the final ten entries competed, and the winner was determined by a 50/50 combination of votes from seven regional juries and a public telephone vote.

Final – 6 March 2021
Draw Artist Song Jury Televote Total Place
Votes Points
1 Karetus & Romeu Bairos “Saudade” 29 4 6 10 6
2 Joana Alegre “Joana do mar” 44 6 3 9 7
3 Fábia Maia “Dia lindo” 19 2 1 3 10
4 Valéria “Na mais profunda saudade” 28 3 7 10 5
5 Carolina Deslandes “Por um triz” 67 12 8 20 2
6 NEEV “Dancing in the Stars” 38 5 12 17 3
7 Pedro Gonçalves “Não vou ficar” 16 1 4 5 9
8 Sara Afonso “Contramão” 55 8 5 13 4
9 EU.CLIDES “VOLTE-FACE” 47 7 2 9 8
10 The Black Mamba “Love Is on My Side” 63 10 10 20 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. Portugal was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.

• Country:  San Marino in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciata il 16 Maggio 2020; Selezionata: Internal selection, il 6 marzo 2020 Ι Song: 7 Marzo 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: San Marino RTV (SMRTV)
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Senhit (Senit, Senhit Zadik Zadik)
  • Selection song: “Adrenalina”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Thomas Stengaard, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Jimmy Thörnfeldt, Kenny Silverdique, Suzi Pancenkov, Malou Linn Eloise Ruotsalainen, Chanel Tukia, Dillard Trama, Senhit

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 2
  • Final result:

San Marino will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Senhit as their representative with the song “Adrenalina”. She was due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Freaky!” before the event’s cancellation.

Background. Prior to the 2021 contest, San Marino had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest ten times since its first entry in 2008. Their debut entry in 2008, “Complice” performed by Miodio, failed to qualify to the final and placed last in the semi-final it competed in. San Marino subsequently withdrew from the contest in 2009 and 2010, returning in 2011 with Italian singer Senit performing “Stand By”, which also failed to take the nation to the final. Between 2012 and 2014, San Marino sent Valentina Monetta to the contest on three consecutive occasions, which made her the first singer to participate in three consecutive contests since Udo Jürgens, who competed in 1964, 1965 and 1966 for Austria. Her entries in 2012 (“The Social Network Song”) and 2013 (“Crisalide (Vola)”) also failed to qualify San Marino to the final. However, in 2014, Monetta managed to bring San Marino to the final for the first time where she placed 24th with the song “Maybe”. In 2015, the nation once again failed to qualify to the final with the song “Chain of Lights” performed by Anita Simoncini and Michele Perniola. In 2016, San Marino failed to qualify with “I Didn’t Know” sung by Turkish performer Serhat. In 2019, San Marino sent Serhat again with the song “Say Na Na Na”, finishing in 19th place with 77 points, giving San Marino its best result to date.

Before Eurovision.

Internal selection: On 16 May 2020, SMRTV announced that they had again internally selected Senhit to represent San Marino at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. Her song was scheduled to be revealed on 23 February 2021, however the date was later moved to 8 March 2021. “Adrenalina” was presented as the song to represent San Marino in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 via the release of the official music video on 7 March 2021 following a leak via several streaming services. A version of the song features vocals from American rapper Flo Rida, and was written and composed by Thomas Stengaard, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Jimmy Thörnfeldt, Kenny Silverdique, Suzi Pancenkov, Malou Linn Eloise Ruotsalainen, Chanel Tukia, along with Senhit and Flo Rida themselves. Both Joy and Linnea Deb had previously composed the winning Eurovision entry for Sweden in 2015 “Heroes”, while Stengaard had previously composed winning Eurovision entry for Denmark in 2013 “Only Teardrops”. The concept and creative director for the Sammarinese entry was Luca Tommassini.

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. San Marino was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.

• Country: Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciata il 17 Dicembre 2020; Selezionata: Beovizija 2020, il 1 marzo 2020 Ι Song: 5 Marzo 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: Radio Television of Serbia (RTS)
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Hurricane (Hurricane Girls, Harikejn / Харикејн: Sanja Vučić, Ivana Nikolić i Ksenija Knežević / Сања Вучић, Ксенија Кнежевић и Ивана Николић)
  • Selection song: “Loco loco”
  • Selected songwriter(s): Nemanja Antonić, Sanja Vučić

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 2
  • Final result:

Serbia will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Hurricane as their representative with the song “Loco loco”. They were due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Hasta la vista” before the event’s cancellation.

Background. Prior to the 2021 Contest, Serbia had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest twelve times since its first entry in 2007, winning the contest with their debut entry “Molitva” performed by Marija Šerifović. Since 2007, nine out of twelve of Serbia’s entries have featured in the final with the nation failing to qualify in 2009, 2013 and in 2017, missing out 2014 contest.

The Serbian national broadcaster, Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), broadcasts the event within Serbia and organises the selection process for the nation’s entry. RTS confirmed their intentions to participate at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest on 31 August 2020. Between 2007 and 2009, Serbia used the Beovizija national final in order to select their entry. However, after their 2009 entry, “Cipela” performed by Marko Kon and Milaan, failed to qualify Serbia to the final, the broadcaster shifted their selection strategy to selecting specific composers to create songs for artists. In 2010, RTS selected Goran Bregović to compose songs for a national final featuring three artists, while in 2011 Kornelije Kovač, Aleksandra Kovač and Kristina Kovač were tasked with composing one song each. In 2012, the internal selection of Željko Joksimović and the song “Nije ljubav stvar” secured the country’s second highest placing in the contest to this point, placing third. In 2013, RTS returned to an open national final format and organized the Beosong competition. The winning entry, “Ljubav je svuda” performed by Moje 3, failed to qualify Serbia to the final at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest. In 2015, RTS selected Vladimir Graić, the composer of Serbia’s 2007 Eurovision Song Contest winning entry “Molitva”, to compose songs for a national final featuring three artists. After two internal selections in 2016 and 2017, RTS announced that Beovizija would return as a national selection in 2018, and was subsequently used for 2019 and 2020.

Before Eurovision.

Internal selection: On 17 December 2020, RTS confirmed that the band Hurricane will represent Serbia in the 2021 contest. Despite initial plans to hold a national selection for public to select the song, RTS ultimately decided that the song would also be internally selected. The song, entitled “Loco loco”, was released 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. Serbia was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.

• Country: Svizzera in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

• National selection:

  • Selection process: Internal selection
  • Selection date(s): Artist: Annunciato il 20 Marzo 2020; Selezionato: Internal selection, il 4 marzo 2020 Ι Song: 10 Marzo 2021
  • Host venue: –
  • Presenter(s): –
  • Host broadcaster: Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR)
  • Participants – Number of entries: –
  • Selection entrant: Gjon’s Tears (Gjon Muharremaj)
  • Selection song: “Tout l’Univers”
  • Selected songwriter(s):  Gjon Muharremaj, Wouter Hardy, Nina Sampermans, Xavier Michel

• Final performance: 

  • Semi-final result: SF 2
  • Final result:

Switzerland will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, having internally selected Gjon’s Tears as their representative with the song “Tout l’Univers” by the Swiss broadcaster Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR). He was due to compete in the 2020 contest with “Répondez-moi” before the event’s cancellation.

Background. Prior to the 2021 Contest, Switzerland had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest sixty-one times since their first entry in 1956. Switzerland is noted for having won the first edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Refrain” performed by Lys Assia. Their second and, to this point, most recent victory was achieved in 1988 when Canadian singer Céline Dion won the contest with the song “Ne partez pas sans moi”. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the 2004, Switzerland had managed to participate in the final four times up to this point. In 2005, the internal selection of Estonian girl band Vanilla Ninja, performing the song “Cool Vibes”, qualified Switzerland to the final where they placed 8th. Due to their successful result in 2005, Switzerland was pre-qualified to compete directly in the final in 2006. Between 2007 and 2010, the nation failed to qualify to the final after a string of internal selections. Since opting to organize a national final from 2011 onwards, Switzerland has managed to qualify to the final twice. In 2019, Switzerland qualified for the final for the first time since 2014, placing 4th in the final with the song “She Got Me” performed by Luca Hänni.

Before Eurovision.

Internal selection: On 20 March 2020, SRG SSR confirmed their intentions to participate at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest, as well as that Gjon’s Tears would remain as Switzerland’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. Multiple songwriting camps were later held in order to create potential songs for further phases of the selection. 20 songs were written by Gjon’s Tears along with Swiss and international composers during the camps, and the combination of votes of a 100-member public panel (50%) and a 20-member international expert jury (50%) selected the winning song. The members of the public panel were put together according to selected criteria in cooperation with Digame, while the international jury consisted of members who had been national juries for their respective countries at the Eurovision Song Contest.

On 10 March 2021, “Tout l’Univers” was announced as the Swiss entry via the release of the official music video on the official Eurovision Song Contest YouTube channel. The song was written and composed by Gjon’s Tears himself along with Wouter Hardy, Nina Sampermans and Xavier Michel. In regards to the song, Gjon’s Tears stated: “I am so happy that I will finally be able to take part in Eurovision this year and that I can spread a positive message with my song. It was important for us to keep hope in this particularly difficult time: we must not give up and we must stay strong. With love, friendship, strength and courage, we can rebuild our future. I am convinced that in this exceptional situation it is possible to rediscover and reinvent ourselves.”

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. Switzerland was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.