Eurovision 2018 By The Numbers Written by Samantha Ross on May 7, 2018 | 3 Comments

The Artists

Who’ll be performing (43 nations, surpassing last year’s total by one, and tying the record set in 2008 and 2011):

• Solo Female (16): Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, United Kingdom
• Solo Male (14): Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Montenegro, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Ukraine
• Duos (6): France, Italy, Poland, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland
• Groups and Collaborations (7): Bulgaria, Georgia, Hungary, FYR Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia

Artists under the age of 20:

• Iceland: Ari Olafsson (19)
• Spain: Amaia Romero (19)

Artists over the age of 40:

• Italy: Fabrizio Moro (43)
• Serbia:
  • Sanja Ilić (67)
  • Ljubomir Dimitrijević (66)

The Selections

How they were chosen:

• National Final (28): Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy*, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom
  • *- The winner of Italy’s San Remo Festival is given first right of refusal for the ticket to Eurovision. This year, the winner accepted the invitation.
• Partial National Final:
  • Public artist selection, internal song selection (1): Israel
  • Internal artist selection, public song selection (1): Finland
• Internal Selection (12): Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Ireland, FYR Macedonia, Russia, The Netherlands
• Other (1): Greece
  • Greece was scheduled to have a national final, but due to a series of disqualifications and withdrawals, only one song was left standing, and will be sent to Lisbon by default.

The Songs

Songs changed/significantly modified from original announcement.

• Albania: Due to Eurovision’s three-minute time restriction, the original version of “Mall” was cut down from 4:31.
• Belarus: Partially to distance itself from the Russian-language version released in 2017, “Forever” was translated into English and revamped.
• Czech Republic: “Lie to Me” was revamped in order to remove some salty language.
• France: Due to Eurovision’s three-minute time restriction, the original version of “Mercy” was cut down from 3:58.
• Italy: Due to Eurovision’s three-minute time restriction, the original version of “Non me avete fatto niente” was cut down from 3:28.
• United Kingdom: Between the National Final and the release of the Official Music Video, the arrangement for “Storms” was revamped.

What language will the song be performed in?

• English (30): Austria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania**, FYR Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Ukraine, United Kingdom
  • ** – (The studio version of “When We’re Old” was in English, but Ieva may be adding a line or two in Lithuanian to the live version.)
• No English (13, the highest since 2013): Albania, Armenia, Estonia, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Montenegro, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain

How many have previous involvement with Eurovision?

• Australia: Jessica Mauboy performed as the Second Semifinal’s interval act in 2014, singing “Sea of Flags”
• Austria: Cesár Sampson was a backing singer for Bulgaria in 2016 and 2017.
• Bulgaria: Vladdi Mihailov was a backing singer for Bulgaria in 2017.
• Norway: Alexander Rybak was the winner of the 2009 Contest with “Fairytale”.
• Serbia: Sanja Ilić, the man behind Balkanika, composed Yugoslavia’s 1982 entry, “Halo, Halo”, performed by Aska. The song came in 14th place of 18.
• Slovenia: Lea Sirk was a backing vocalist for Slovenia in 2014 and 2016.
• Russia: Yulia Samoylova was intended to be Russia’s entrant at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest, but due to her legal inability to enter Ukrainian territory, her participation was deferred.
• The Netherlands: Waylon, as one half of the Common Linnets, came in second place in 2014 with “Calm After the Storm”.
• United Kingdom: SuRie was a backing singer for Belgium in 2015 and 2017.

How many have previous involvement with Junior Eurovision?

• Lithuania:
  • Ieva Zasimauskaite performed as a backing singer at Junior Eurovision 2007.
• Malta: Christabelle attempted to represent Malta at Junior Eurovision three times.
  • 2003: “Smile”, 3rd place
  • 2004: “One Way Journey”, 3rd place
  • 2005: “Going Wild”, 4th place
• San Marino: Jessika attempted to represent Malta at Junior Eurovision
  • 2004: “Precious Time”, 16th place

How many had previously been involved in a National Final (not counting their 2018 victory)?

• Albania:
  • 2009: “S’jam balade”, with Rovena Dilo, 12th place
• Belarus
  • 2018: Withdrew from Ukraine’s Vidbir 2018 in order to submit his entry to the Belarusian National Final.
• Croatia:
  • 2009: “Pjesma za kraj”, 7th place.
• Cyprus:
  • 2010: “Kivotos tou Noe”, with Manos Pyrovolakis, 2nd place, Greek National Final
• Estonia:
  • 2017: Co-hosted Eesti Laul semifinals
• Finland:
  • 2004: “Dance My Heart Away”, as a member of Heidi Kyrö & JUST, 6th place
  • 2008: “Broken Flower”, as a backing singer for Hanna Marsh, Eliminated at Semifinal
  • 2009: “Meren”, as a backing singer for Riikka, Eliminated at Second Chance
  • 2010: “Meant to Be”, Eliminated at the Online Selection
  • 2011: “Blessed with Love”, 2nd place
  • 2016: “No Fear”, 2nd place
• Italy:
  • Ermal Meta:
    • 2017: “Vietato morire”, 3rd place
  • Fabrizio Moro:
    • 2017: “Portami via”, 7th place
• Lithuania
  • 2013: “I Fall in Love”, with Gabrelius Vagelis, 5th place
  • 2014: 6th place
  • 2016: “Life (Not That Beautiful)”, 4th place
  • 2017: “I Love My Phone”, with Vidas Bareikis, Eliminated in Heats
  • 2017: “You Saved Me”, Eliminated at Semifinal
• Malta
  • 2014: “Lovetricity”, 8th place
  • 2015: “Rush”, 2nd place
  • 2016: “Kingdom”, 4th place
• Moldova
  • 2015: “Maricica”, 6th place
  • 2016: “FunnyFolk”, 4th place
• Montenegro
  • 2006: “Kad me jednom za te ne bude”, 21st place in Beovizja (Serbia’s preselection for the Serbo-Montenegrin National Final)
• Norway
  • 2009: “Fairytale”, 1st place
• San Marino
  • Jessika Muscat:
    • 2008: “Tangled”, Eliminated prior to the Final, Maltese National Final
    • 2009: “Smoke Screen”, “Hey You”, Eliminated at Heat, Maltese National Final
    • 2010: “Fake”, Eliminated at Semifinal, Maltese National Final
    • 2011: “Down Down Down”, 15th place, Maltese National Final
    • 2012: “Dance Romance”, Eliminated prior to the Final, Maltese National Final
    • 2013: “Ultraviolet”, 8th place, Maltese National Final
    • 2014: “Hypnotica”, 8th place, Maltese National Final
    • 2015: “Fandango”, 9th place, Maltese National Final
    • 2016: “The Flame”, 7th place, Maltese National Final
    • 2017: “ Edge of Tomorrow”, “Immortal”, “Let There Be Light”, Eliminated prior to the Final, Maltese National Final
    • 2018: “Out of the Twilight”, “Stuck Without Me”, Eliminated prior to the Final, Sammarinese National Final
  • Jenifer Brening:
    •  2018:
      • “Sorry”, Eliminated prior to the Final, Sammarinese National Final
      • “Until the Morning Light”, finalist, Sammarinese National Final
• Serbia
  • Danica Krstić:
    • 2015: “Suze za kraj”, 2nd place
• Slovenia
  • 2009: “Znamenje iz sanj”, 9th place
  • 2010: “Vampir je moj poet”, 10th place
  • 2012: As a member of the group Leaparfume, Eliminated at Heat
  • 2017: “Freedom”, eliminated at Semifinal
• Sweden
  • 2017: “Good Lovin’”, 5th
• The Netherlands
  • 2005: “Leven als een beest”, with Rachel Kramer, Eliminated at Semifinal
• Ukraine
  • 2017: “Wonder”, 3rd place

How many had taken part in non-Eurovision-affiliated TV talent shows or major music festivals?

• Armenia:
  • Glavnaya Stsena (X Factor Russia), Series 1, Eliminated at Quarterfinals
  • The Voice of Russia, Series 4, Eliminated in Knockout Rounds
  • X Factor Ukraine, Series 7, Winner
  • The Voice of Armenia, Series 3, Judge/Coach
• Australia:
  • Australian Idol, Series 4, Runner-up
• Belarus:
  • Voice of Ukraine, Series 4, Eliminated after first live show
• Bulgaria:
  • Zhana Bergendorff:
    • X Factor Denmark, Eliminated prior to live shows
    • X Factor Bulgaria, Series 2, Winner
  • Johnny Manuel:
    • America’s Got Talent, Series 12, Semifinalist
  • Georgi “JJ” Simeonov
    • X Factor Romania, Series 7, eliminated in Four Chair Challenge
• Croatia:
  • Showtime, Series 1, Winner
  • Ples sa zvijezdama (Dancing with the Stars), Series 4, Winner
• Estonia:
  • Eesti otsib superstaari, Series 3, Eliminated in preliminary rounds
  • Klassikatähed 2014, Finalist
• Germany
  • The Voice of Germany, Series 1, 3rd place
• Finland:
  • Talent Suomi, Series 1, Top 3
  • The Voice of Finland, Series 1, 2nd place
  • X Factor UK, Series 13, 2nd place
• Iceland:
  • Ísland Got Talent
  • The Voice Island, Series 1, Eliminated in Battle Rounds
• Ireland:
  • The Voice of Ireland, Series 1, Eliminated after first live show
  • Britain’s Got Talent, Series 6, 5th place
  • The Hit, Series 1, Runner-up
• Lithuania
  • Chorų karai, Series 1, member of winning choir
  • Lietuvos balsas, Series 1, Third Place
• FYR Macedonia
  • SkopjeFest 2015, Winner
• Moldova
  • X-Factor Romania, Series 6, Eliminated in Duel Rounds
  • 2017 New Wave, Winner
• Norway
  • Idol: Jakten på en superstjerne, Series 3, Semifinalist
  • Kjempesjansen, Series 2, Winner
• Portugal
  • Ídolos, Series 3, did not pass through auditions
  • Factor X, Series 1, did not pass through auditions
  • Ídolos, Series 6, Eliminated before live shows
  • The Voice Portugal, Series 5, 6th place
• Russia
  • Faktor A, Series 3, Runner-up
• San Marino
  • Jenifer Brening
    • The Winner Is…, Series 1, Finalist
    • Deutschland sucht den Superstar, Series 11, Eliminated before live shows
• Slovenia
  • Bitke Talentov, Series 3, Runner-up
  • Znan obraz ima svoj glas (Your Face Sounds Familiar), Series 4, Finalist
• Spain
  • Alfred García
    • La Voz, Series 4, Audition
  • Amaia Romero
    • El Número Uno, Series 1, 11th place
• Sweden
  • Lilla Melodifestivalen 2006, Winner
  • MGP Nordic 2006, 4th place
  • Let’s Dance, Series 9, Winner
• The Netherlands
  • Holland’s Got Talent, Series 1, Second place
  • The Voice of Holland, Series 7-present, Judge/Coach
• Ukraine
  • X Factor, Series 6, Winner

Who wasn’t born in the country they’ll be representing?

• Belarus: Alekseev is originally from Kyiv, Ukraine.
• Bulgaria:
  • Johnny Manuel is originally from Flint, Michigan, USA, but currently lives in Los Angeles.
  • Trey Campbell is originally from Gastonia, North Carolina, USA, but currently lives in Los Angeles.
• Cyprus: Eleni Foureira was born in Fier, Albania, and moved to Greece as a young child.
• Italy: Ermal Meta was born in Fier, Albania, and moved to Italy in his youth.
• Latvia: Laura Rizzotto was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and raised in Edina, Minnesota, USA as a child. She is of Brazilian-Latvian descent.
• Norway: Alexander Rybak was born in Minsk, Belarus, while it was still part of the Soviet Union.
• Poland: Lukas Meijer is originally from Stockholm, Sweden.
• Montenegro: Vanja Radovanović was born in Belgrade, Serbia, while it was still a united Yugoslavia.
• San Marino:
  • Jessika Muscat is originally from Mosta, Malta.
  • Jenifer Brening is originally from Berlin, Germany.

How many songs this year were written or composed (at least partially) by the performer?

• Albania
• Armenia
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Georgia
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• FYR Macedonia
• Malta
• Montenegro
• Norway
• Poland
• Romania
• San Marino
• Serbia
• Slovenia
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• The Netherlands
• Ukraine

How many of this year’s entries include a songwriter who had previously taken part at Eurovision as a singer (including returning artists)?

• Moldova: “My Lucky Day” was co-written by Philipp Kirkorov, who represented Russia at Eurovision 1995 with “Kolybelnaya dlya vulkana” coming in 17th place. He also wrote “Work Your Magic” for Belarus in 2007, “Shady Lady” for Ukraine in 2008, and “You Are The Only One” for Russia in 2016.
• Norway: “That’s How You Write a Song” was written by Eurovision 2009 champion Alexander Rybak.
• San Marino: “Who We Are” was co-written by Zoë Straub, who represented Austria in 2016 with “Loin d’ici”.
• The Netherlands: “Outlaw In ‘Em” was written by Waylon, who previously performed for the Netherlands as part of the Common Linnets in 2014.

How many songs this year include at least one Swedish songwriter on their roster?

• Austria
• Bulgaria
• Denmark
• Finland
• Malta
• Poland
• Sweden

How many of this year’s entrants have family connections to past Eurovisions, or to their song?

• Finland: “Monsters” was co-written by Ki Fitzgerald, son of Scott Fitzgerald, who came in second place at Eurovision 1988, just one point behind Celine Dion.
• Iceland: Ari Olafsson is the cousin of Paul Oskar, who performed “Minn hinsti dans” in 1997.
• Ireland: Ryan O’Shaughnessy’s uncle, Gary, sang for Ireland in 2001, taking “Without Your Love” to 21st place.
• Switzerland: Zibbs are made of of a pair of siblings, Corinne and Stefan Gfeller.

How many of this year’s artists have released at least one full-length studio album or EP?

• Australia
  • As a member of Young Divas: New Attitude (2007)
  • As a soloist: The Journey (2007), Been Waiting (2008), Get ‘Em Girls (2010), soundtrack to The Sapphires (2012), Beautiful (2013), iTunes Session (EP – 2014)
• Belarus
  • Пьяное солнце (2016), Держи (EP – 2017), Forever (EP – 2018)
• Croatia
  • Featuring (2012)
• Cyprus
  • Eleni Foureira (2010), Ti poniro mou zitas (2012), Anemos agapis (2014), Vasilissa (2017)
• Finland
  • Blessed With Love (2011), Enkeleitä – Angels (2011), You Had My Heart (2013), Ai De Zhu Fu (2013), Tonight (2015), Wild Wild Wonderland (2018)
• France
  • Tandem (2016), Vu d’ici (2018)
• Germany
  • Wide Awake (2012), Thoughts (EP – 2014), The Arising (2014), Hold the Rhythm (2017),
• Greece
  • Gyrna to kleidi (2006), Ase me na taxidepso (2008)
• Hungary
  • Fata Morgana (2011), Világposztolás (EP – 2012), Égésföld (2014), Kint a vízből (2016)
• Ireland
  • Ryan O’Shaughnessy (EP – 2012), Back to Square One (2016)
• Italy
  • Ermal Meta: Umano (2016), Vietato morire (2017), Non abbiamo armi (2018)
  • Fabrizio Moro: Fabrizio Moro (2000), Ognuno ha quel che si merita (2005), Pensa (2007), Domani (2008), Barabba (EP – 2009), Ancora Barabba (2010), Atlantico Live (2011), L’inizio (2013), Via delle girandole 10 (2015), Pace (2017), Parole rumori e anni (2018)
• Latvia
  • Made in Rio (2011), Reason to Stay (2014), RUBY (EP – 2017)
• FYR Macedonia
  • Superstar Wannabe (2008), Samo Sakav (2015), Are We Having Fun (2018)
• Montenegro
  • Pričaj dodirom (2008), Svi životi moji (2012)
    
• Norway
  • Fairytales (2009), No Boundaries (2010), Visa vid vindens ängar (2011), Christmas Tales (2012), Trolle og den magiske fela (2015)
• Poland
  • Gromee
    • Chapter One (2018)
• San Marino
  • Jenifer Brening
    • Recovery (2016)
• Serbia
  • Balkan 2000 (1999), Balkan Concept (2004), Ceeepaj (2009), Stand Up (2018)
• Slovenia
  • Roža (2014)
• Spain
  • Alfred García
    • Beginning (2012), Inblack (Volume One) (2016)
• Switzerland
  • Ready? Go! (2013), It Takes a Village (2017)
• The Netherlands
  • Wicked Ways (2009), After All (2011), Heaven After Midnight (2014), Seeds (2016), The World Can Wait (2018)
• Ukraine
  • Face to Face (EP – 2017)
• United Kingdom
  • SuRie (EP – 2016), Something Beginning With … (2016)