🇧🇬 It’s official: Bulgaria out of Eurovision 2019
BULGARIA – It was hinted for days through various messages on the social media, but now it’s officially confirmed.
Bulgaria will not participate in the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest due to lack of funds.
The broadcaster was waiting for some days until the public announcement takes place in order for them, first to announce the news to the Eurovision team inside the broadcaster.
An online petition has been launched as the fas was to change the decision of BNT, a tool which never works anyway.
Bulgaria has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 12 times since making its debut at the 2005 contest in Kiev. The country’s best result is a second-place finish for Kristian Kostov and the song “Beautiful Mess” at the 2017 contest.
Bulgaria has failed to qualify for the final in eight out of twelve appearances at the contest, most narrowly in 2012, when Sofi Marinova lost out on the 10th qualifying place from the second semi-final in a tie-break with Norway.
However, on three of the four occasions that they have reached the final, they have finished in the top five: placing fifth with Elitsa & Stoyan in 2007, fourth with Poli Genova in 2016 and second with Kristian Kostov in 2017.
Bulgaria reached the final for the fourth time in 2018, with supergroup Equinox placing 14th.
October 15 ➡️ the latest #Eurovision headlines
ARMENIA – oikotimesArmenia – Through a Facebook post Armenian broadcaster hinted Gevorg Harutyunyan as their internal selection for Tel Aviv. Will it be confirmed?
SWEDEN – Aftonbladet are out with their first rumoured Melodifestivalen artist of the year. Former FO&O member Oscar Enestad. His previous single ‘Heaven On My Skin’ is a tune and a half, released back in June.
MONTENEGRO – RTCG revealed some info about how they will decide the country’s participation in Tel Aviv: “the way in which the authors and singer will be selected, which will represent Montenegro at the Eurovision, will be in accordance with the program requirements and internal procedures of the RTCG.”
IRELAND – Brendan Murray, who represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017, has been selected by Louis Tomlinson to go through to the live shows of The X Factor.
FRANCE – Madame Monsieur have now launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Mercy and her mother, Taiwo Yussif, with their new life in Italy. They shared their idea on the web: “Friends, in recent months, many of you have asked us how it was possibleto give little Mercy and her mom a hand in starting their new live. It took a long time because we wanted to do things well, but it is now possible! Whether big or small, every contribution will help build a future for them. It’s easy peasy and it’s here https://www.GoFundMe.com/Mercy. And do not hesitate to share!”
MALTA – Following tabled rumours, Gaia Cauchi, 2013 JESC winner who participated in the UK X factor qualified to the six hair challenge as a group with Sweet Sense, didn’t make it to the next round as Robbie Williams suspected there is no co ordination within the group.
France 2019 🇫🇷 ITV Studios France director of programming, Matthieu Grelier, upon Destination Eurovision
FRANCE – “ITV Studios France” director of programming, Matthieu Grelier, gave an interview to the French media this weekend, about ITV projects in France. Of course, a few words were dedicated to “Destination Eurovision 2019”, the French national final show, produced by ITV.
M. Grelier confirmed that all three shows this year will be live events, but could not say much more about the possible changes to the national final (giving France 2 the privilege to announce all the details about the show later this year).
When asked about last year complaints about “Destination Eurovision” being too closely linked to “The Voice” (both shows being ITV productions, and he line-up being a bit similar), M. Grelier declared that since “The Voice” was the biggest cradle for new singers it was natural that some on them tried their luck for Eurovision (like it happens in a lot of countries nowadays).
About the 2018 French results in Lisbon, he is not disappointed at all, he is even proud about Madame Monsieur and “Mercy” that have become a big hit. Nevertheless, ITV will try to achieve better results this year in Tel Aviv.
Eventually, in the case of a French victory, Matthieu Grelier would be thrilled to become the producer of the big show in France. But, he underlined the fact that such a victory was just a fiction so far and that, anyhow, the production of Eurovision goes through a tender process under the supervision of the EBU.
No question was asked about that topic, but it is still interesting to notice that the French entrant for Junior Eurovision is Angela, winner of the 2017 “The Voice Kid”. Well, well, well, it seems that France 2 and ITV are living a successful and passionate Eurovision love story…