Eurovision Song Contest 2018 – BIG 5 + HOST Country – Previews

Previews of songs from the BIG 5 and this year’s host country.

May is here and Europe’s (and Australia’s) favorite TV circus is just around the corner.

Last year, Salvador Sobral gave Portugal it’s first Eurovision Song Contest win in 53 years of competing. As a result, Portugal is hosting Eurovison Song Contest 2018. It’s capital Lisbon was chosen as the host city. The first semifinal is set for May 8, the second semifinal for May 10 and the grand final for May 12. The image above is the official logo of this year’s competition.

43 countries are taking part this year. Six countries are directly qualified for the grand final: the BIG 5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom) and the host country (Portugal). The rest are divided into two semifinals. The first semifinal has 19 participants and the second semifinal has 18 participants. 10 countries from each semifinal will qualify for the grand final. All songs are available on iTunes, Apple Music and Spotify.

BIG 5 & Portugal

FRANCE

Song Title: Mercy
Performer: Madame Monsieur (Eurovison.tv Profile)
Writers: Emilie Satt, Jean-Karl Lucas
Composers: Emilie Satt, Jean-Karl Lucas
Videos: Music VideoNational Final / Presentation Performance – Profile Video
Notes: The pair met 10 years ago in a bar, but their solo musical journey started only a few years ago. Their debut album (Vu d’ici) was actually released this year.

GERMANY

Song Title: You Let Me Walk Alone
Performer: Michael Schulte (Eurovison.tv Profile)
Writers: Michael Schulte, Thomas Stengaard, Katharina Müller, Nisse Ingwersen
Composers: Michael Schulte, Thomas Stengaard, Katharina Müller, Nisse Ingwersen
Videos: Music VideoNational Final / Presentation PerformanceProfile Video
Notes: Michael started out in 2007 as a YouTube artist. He auditioned for season 1 of The Voice Germany and finished in 3rd place. This song is very personal for Michael. It’s about his father, who died when Michael was 14 years old.

ITALY

Song Title: Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente
Performer: Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro (Eurovison.tv Profile)
Writers: Ermal Meta, Fabrizio Moro, Andrea Febo
Composers: Ermal Meta, Fabrizio Moro, Andrea Febo
Videos: Music VideoNational Final / Presentation Performance – Profile Video
Notes: Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro are solo artists that teamed up for a song and won San Remo Festival. This song is about various issues that we are dealing with in the present. It mentions terrorist attacks in Paris and Nice, different religions. Check out the English lyrics.

SPAIN

Song Title: Tu Canción
Performer: Amaia Romero & Alfred Garcia (Eurovison.tv Profile)
Writers: Raul Gomez Garcia, Sylvia Ruth Santoro Lopez
Composers: Raul Gomez Garcia, Sylvia Ruth Santoro Lopez
Videos: Music VideoNational Final / Presentation PerformanceEnglish VersionProfile Video
Notes: Amaia and Alfred are the winner and a finalist of the latest edition of Spanish talent show Operación Triunfo. A few weeks before the final the TOP 6 contestants were given original songs to sing and a duet of Amaia and Alfred was chosen to represent Spain at Eurovision Song Contest. Amaia then went on to win the show.

UNITED KINGDOM

Song Title: Storm
Performer: SuRie (Eurovison.tv Profile)
Writers: Nicole Blair, Gil Lewis, Sean Hargreaves
Composers: Nicole Blair, Gil Lewis, Sean Hargreaves
Videos: Music VideoNational Final / Presentation PerformanceProfile Video
Notes: Susanna Marie (SuRie) is a classically trained musician and graduate from the Royal Academy of Music in London. She has some experience with Eurovision as she sang backing vocals for Belgium entries in 2015 and 2017.

PORTUGAL

Song Title: O Jardim
Performer: Cláudia Pascoal (Eurovison.tv Profile)
Writer: Isaura
Composer: Isaura
Videos: Music Video – National Final / Presentation PerformanceProfile Video
Notes: Claudia participated in Portuguese Idol in 2015 and was a finalist on the Voice of Portugal in 2017.

OFFICIAL RECAP: Big 5 & Portugal – Eurovision Song Contest 2018

About Mateja Praznik 1060 Articles
I recently graduated from the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In my free time I like to read books, watch TV and listen to music. I'm also a huge cat lover. I cover X Factor UK for MJsBigBlog.com.