Eurovision 2017: The artists and the songs selected

Meet the artists selected for the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. This overview gives you the information you need about the participants selected by the 43 competing countries.

42 countries will participate at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. 43 were selected, but Russia later withdrew after Ukraine had denied their participant access to the country.

This alphabetical list keeps you updated on the selection of all the artists. Click on a name of the country to get the latest news from that particular country. Bookmark it!

2017 participants:

  • Albania: Lindita Halimi – World
    On the 23rd of December, Lindita won the 55 editon of Festivali i Këngës, the name of the Albanian national selection, and thereby the right to represent the country at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. The song was in Albanian first, and later the Eurovision version – in English was released.
  • Armenia: Artsvik – Fly With Me
    On December 24 Artsvik beat Marta in the Depi Evratesil to become the Armenian representative 2017. The song was released on the 18th of March and is written by experienced Eurovision song writers Lilith and Levon Navasardyan with lyrics by Avet Barseghyan and David Tserunyan..
  • Australia: Isaiah Firebrace Don’t Come Easy
    17 year old Isaiah will represent Australia with the song Don’t Come Easy which is written by DNA Songs duo David Musumeci and Anthony Egizii, the same team who wrote Dami Im’s Eurovision entry. Isaiah won the Australian edition of X-Factor in 2016.
  • Austria: Nathan Trent – Running On Air
    For the 2017 contest, Austria returned to an internal selection. They selected Nathan, a newcomer who is mostly known within the pop and R’n’B genre.
  • Azerbaijan: Diana Hajiyeva – Skeletons
    From backing singer in 2016 to be solo singer in 2017. Diana was internally selected to represent Azerbaijan at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest.
  • BelarusNavi Historyja Majho žyccia
    For the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest, Belarus has gobe a bit untradional and chosen a folk song. If the song stays in Belarussian, it will be the first time they don’t participate with a song in English.
  • Belgium: Blanche (Ellie Delvaux) – City Lights
    16 year old Ellie Delvaux also known as Blanche will represent Belgium. The song was released on the 8th of March, and immidiately became one of the bookmaker favourites. It is written by Pierre Demoulin and lyrics is by Pierre and Blanche herself.
  • BulgariaKristian Kostov – Beautiful Mess
    16 year old Kristian – who turns 17 before the contest, was internally selected to represent Bulgaria. The song titled Beautiful Mess was released on the 13th of March.
  • Croatia: Jacques Houdek – My Friend
    Local broadcaster HRT internally selected Jacques Houdek to represent them at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. The song was released on the 2nd of March and is bilungual Italian and English.
  • Cyprus: Hovig – Gravity
    After two failed attempts to win the Cypriot national final, 28 year Hovig was internally selected for the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. For the second year in a row, Cyprus is going with a song written by Eurovision legend Thomas G:Son. Via three hints, the songtitle was revealed to be Gravity.
  • Czech Republic: Martina Bárta – My Turn
    For the first time the Czech broadcaster had an open call for potential Eurovision entries. They received more than 300 songs. At the end, Jazz singer and hornist Martina Bárta was chosen.
  • DenmarkAnja – Where I Am
    The national final (Melodi Grand Prix) was held on the 25th of February in Herning. 10 songs competed to represent the country which was won by Anja and Where I Am.
  • EstoniaKoit Toome and Laura – Verona
    On the 4th of March the Estonian representative was chosen via the selection called Eesti Laul. 10 acts competed, and after a top three battle, Koit and Laura took the prize.
  • Finland: Norma John – Blackbird
    If Nordic Noir can be used about music, that is what Finland sends to Eurovision 2017. Norma John won the national selection Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu beating nine other artists on the 28th of February.
  • FranceAlma – Requiem
    The Eurovision interest in France has been growing steadily since Amir represented them at the 2016 contest. For the 2017 edition the broadcaster received more than 300 potential entries from which they chose Alma and the song Requiem.
  • GermanyLevina – Perfect Life
    For the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest, German broadcaster changed their format into a casting show for young undiscovered artists. They received nearly 2500 applications which was cut down to 30, and then again to five who competed in the final of Unser Song on the 9th of February. Levina with Perfect Life won and will be their entry.
  • GeorgiaTako Gachechiladze  Keep The Faith
    The Georgian national selection was held on January 20th and after 25 contestants fighting for the rights to represent their country, Tako Gachechiladze was picked by public as well as five international juror with her song Keep The Faith.
  • Greece: Demy This Is Love
    Demy was been chosen internally, in a national selecton the public chose between three songs for her. All the songs were written by Eurovision veteran Dimitris Kontopoulos who will work together with Fokas Evangelinos again for the stage performance.
  • Hungary: Joci PápaiOrigo
    After five preliminary heats, Joci Pápai was crowned the winner of this year’s A Dal. He beat 7 other participants with a song which definetly stands out – whether you like it or not.
  • Iceland: Svala Björgvinsdóttir – Paper
    On the 11th of March, the national selection for Iceland called Söngvakeppnin was held. Svala Bjorgvinsdóttir was named the winner and will represent her country in Kyiv with the song Paper.
  • Ireland: Brendan Murray – Dying To Try
    For the second year in a row, Ireland went for an internal selection. They selected Brendan from the band HomeTown, back in December. The song was released on the 10th of March.
  • Israel: Imri ZivI Feel Alive
    Imri Ziv won the Israli national selection HaKokhav HaBa L’Eurovizion on the 13th of February. He comes with plenty of Eurovision experience, having been backing singer for Nadav Guedj in 2015 and for Hovi Star last year.
  • Italy: Francesco Gabbani Occidentali’s Karma
    The winner of the famous music festival Sanremo won and accepted the right to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest. Francesco Gabbani performed Occidentali’s Karma on the 11th of February, which will also be his Eurovision entry.
  • LatviaTriana Park – Line
    Supernova is the name of the national selection format they use to choose their entry. On February 26th, four acts competed in the Supernova, which was won by Triana Park.
  • Lithuania: Fusedmarc – Rain of Revolution
    After ten weeks of national selection through Eurovizijos, the band Fusedmarc was finally selected with their song Rain of Revolution.
  • FYR MacedoniaJana Burčeska – Dance Alone
    She was internally chosen to represent her country at the 2017 Eurovvision Song Contest. The broadcaster invited everyone to submit potential songs for her until the 25th of December.
  • Malta: Claudia Faniello – Breathlessly
    Claudia lived up to the expectations as one of the favourites to represent her country at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. She won the national final MESC on the 18th of February with the song Breathlessly. Claudia’s brother Fabrizio represented Malta twice at Eurovision.
  • MoldovaSunStroke Project – Hey Mamma
    O Melodie Pentru Europa is the name of the selection format used in Moldova. Through an open submission and live auditions, a semi-final took place on the 24th of February, and the final the next day, the 25th when SunStroke Project won.
  • Montenegro: Slavko KalezićSpace
    National broadcaster RTCG intanally selected 31 year old actor and singer Slavko Kalezić to represent them at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. There song is titled Space, but it hasn’t yet been released.
  • The NetherlandsO’G3NE – Lights And Shadows
    Girl trio, and former Junior Eurovision participants, O’G3NE was selected internally by the broadcaster in October 2016. After winning the talent show The Voice two years ago, the girls are now ready to test their talents to an international audience. The song was presented in the beginning of March.
  • Norway: Jowst – Grab The Moment
    A record breaking 1035 songs were received by the broadcaster. The Melodi Grand Prix national selection was held on March 11th and following a strong support from international jury, as well as televoting, Jowst was named the winner.
  • Poland: Kasia MośFlashlight
    On the 18th of February, Poland held their national final Krajowe Eliminacje which resulted in Kasia Moś beating 9 other competitors. She will represent Poland at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Flashlight.
  • Portugal: Salvador Sobral – Amar Pelos Dois
    On the 5th of March, Salvador won the national final – and as such will represent his country at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest.
  • Romania: Ilinca ft. Alex FloreaYodel It!
    After being excluded from the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest just a few weeks before the contest, Romania plan to return for the 2017 edition. In their national selection, Selectia Nationala, they selected Ilinca ft. Alex Florea as their contestant in this year’s contest.
  • Russia: Julia SamojlovaFlame Is Burning Russia withdrawal on the 13th of April.
    After speculations about if they would even participate at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest, Russia finally, on the 12th of March, announced Julia as their participant. She has been internally chosen wtih the song Flame Is Burning. On the 13th of April Russia withdrew from the contest after Ukraine had denied Julia access to the country.
  • San Marino: Valentina Monetta & Jimmie WilsonSpirit Of The Night
    Valentina was chosen for a 4th time to represent San Marino at the Eurovision Song Contest, but this time she will be joined by Jimmie Wilson on the song Spirit Of The Night, which is written by Germany veteran composer Ralph Siegel. This song is his 25th Eurovision entry.
  • Serbia: Tijana BogićevićIn Too Deep
    35 year old Tijana Bogićević has been internally selected to represent the country the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. The song is written by Borislav Milanov, Bo Persson, Johan Alkenas and Lisa Ann-Mari Linder. They were a part of Conchita’s winning team in 2014 in Copenhagen. Furthermore it is the same composer team, that wrote If Love Was A Crime, for Bulgaria’s Poli Genova last year in Stockholm.
  • SloveniaOmar Naber – On My Way
    EMA was used to select the Slovenian 2017 representative. On February 24th Omar Naber beat out another 7 participants to win the EMA grand final.
  • Spain: Manel NavarroDo It For Your Lover
    The Spanish selection, Objetivo Eurovisión, offered quite a drama this year as two contestants ended in a tie in the final. At the end, Manel Navarro was chosen with two out of three juries in favour of him, but with the televoting result against him.
  • Sweden: Robin Bengtsson – I Can’t Go On
    The national final of Melodifestivalen, the Swedish selection show was held on the 11th of March in Stockholm. Robin Bengtsson, who took part in the 2016 selection, was named the winner.
  • Switzerland: Timebelle Apollo
    In a national final againts five other competitors, Timebelle won the Swiss final on the 5th of February. The entire band is from Romania. The song is composed by the same Swedish team which were behind Azerbaijan’s 2014 entry Start A Fire.
  • Ukraine: O.Torvald – Time
    The national final was held on the 25th of February. Six acts competed and it was won by O.Torvald with Time.
  • United KingdomLucie Jones – Never Give Up On You
    Lucie Jones beat five other contestants to win the Eurovision: You Decide national selection on January 27 with the song Never Give Up On You. The song is co-written by 2013 Eurovision Song Contest winner Emmelie de Forest.

2017 Eurovision details

Location: By winning the 2016 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, Ukraine had the right to host the 2017 contest. They have chosen The International Exhibition Centre as venue. A capacity of aproximately 11,000 spectators is expected.

Dates: The Two semi-finals will take place on Tuesday the 9th and Thursday the 11th of May 2017. The grand final is to be held two days later, on Saturday the 13th.

Format: Host country Ukraine is automatically qualified for the final together with the so-called Big5 countries Italy, France, Spain, Germany and United Kingdom. All other participating countries will be divided into two semi-finals from where they will try to qualify for the final.

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