Eurovision 2019 By The Numbers Written by Samantha Ross on May 13, 2019

Who’ll be performing (41 nations, down from last year’s total by two, following the withdrawal of Bulgaria and Ukraine):

• Solo Female (14): Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Malta, Moldova, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia
• Solo Male (18): Azerbaijan, Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, France, Georgia, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
• Duos (3): Finland, Germany, Slovenia
• Groups and Bands (6): Czech Republic, Iceland, Latvia, Montenegro, Norway, Poland

Artists under the age of 20 (at the time of performance):

• Belarus: Zena (16)
• Belgium: Eliot (18)
• Croatia: Roko (18)
• Germany:
  • Carlotta Truman (19)
• France: Bilal Hassani (19)
• Malta: Michela Pace (18)
• Montenegro:
  • Emel Franca (18)
  • Mirela Ljumić (17)
  • Ivana Obradović (18)
  • Željko Vukčević (19)
  • Tamara Vujačić (16)
• Slovenia
  • Zala Kralj (19)

Artists over the age of 40 (at the time of performance):

• Finland:
  • Darude (43)
  • Sebastian Rejman (41)
• San Marino: Serhat (54)

Solo Artists using a pseudonym, mononym, or nickname:

• Armenia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Denmark
• Finland
• Italy
• Malta
• The Netherlands
• Portugal
• Romania
• San Marino
• Spain

How the songs were chosen:

• National Final (26): Albania, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy*, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, 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 (2): Israel, Malta
  • Internal artist selection, public song selection (1): Finland
• Internal Selection (12): Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Russia, San Marino, Switzerland

What language will the song be performed in?

• English (28): Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, The Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway*, Romania, Russia, San Marino**, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
  • * Norway’s song contains a phrase in Northern Sámi.
  • ** San Marino’s song contains a countdown in Turkish.
• Bilingual with English (5): Croatia, Denmark, France, Poland, Serbia
• No English (8): Albania, Georgia, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain

How many acts have previous involvement with Eurovision?

• Hungary
  • Joci Pápai previously represented Hungary at Eurovision in 2017, coming in 8th place overall with “Origo”.
• Lithuania
  • Jurijus served as a backing singer for Lithuania’s 2013 entry, “Something”, and 2015 entry, “This Time”.
• North Macedonia
  • Tamara Todevska competed on behalf of Macedonia in 2008 alongside Vrčak and Adrian Gaxha with “Let Me Love You”. They came in 10th place in their semifinal, but due to the rules of qualification that year, they did not make it to the Final.
  • Tamara also served as a backing singer for Toše Proeski in 2004 (“Life“) and her sister Tijana Dapčević in 2013 (“To the Sky“).

• Russia
  • Sergey Lazarev sang for Russia in 2016, coming in third place with “You Are the Only One”.
• San Marino
  • Serhat competed for San Marino in 2016 with the disco remix of “I Didn’t Know”, coming in 12th place in his semifinal.
• Serbia
  • Nevena Božović sang for Serbia in 2013 as a member of Moje 3, who came in 11th place in their semifinal with “Ljubav je svuda”.
• Switzerland
  • Luca Hänni was the spokesperson for the Swiss Jury at Eurovision 2017.

How many acts have previous involvement with Junior Eurovision?

• Belarus
  • ZENA twice competed at the National Final to represent Belarus at Junior Eurovision:
    • 2015: 4th place, “Mir”
    • 2016: 3rd place, “Kosmos”
  • ZENA was the co-host of the 2018 Junior Eurovision Song Contest, hosted in Minsk.

ZENA with fellow Junior Eurovision 2018 hosts Eugene Perlin and Helena Meerai (photo: BTRC/EBU)

•  Serbia
  • Nevena Božović represented Serbia at Junior Eurovision 2007 with the song “Piši mi”, coming in third place overall.

Are there backing singers who have previous Eurovision and Junior Eurovision experience?

• Estonia
  • Stig Rästa, who represented Estonia in 2015 (“Goodbye to Yesterday“) and co-wrote “Storm”, as well as 2016’s “Play“.
• France
  • Émilie Satt, co-writer of “Roi”, represented France in 2018 with “Mercy” as one half of Madame Monsieur.
•  Malta
  • Destiny Chukunyere, the winner of Junior Eurovision 2015 with “Not My Soul”
• Serbia
  • Mladen Lukić, who represented Serbia in 2018 as a part of Balkanika with “Nova Deca”
• United Kingdom
  • Anna Sahlene, the Swedish-born singer who represented Estonia in 2002 with “Runaway”. She also performed backing vocals for Australia in 2016 (“Sound of Silence”).

How many acts had previously been involved in a National Final (not counting their 2019 victory)?

• Albania*:
  • 2004 (for ESC 2005): “Frikem se më pëlqen”, 3rd place
  • 2006 (for ESC 2007): “Pa identitet”, 8th place
  • 2007 (for ESC 2008): “S’ka fajtor në dashuri“, 4th place
  • * – Jonida Maliqi had also taken part at Festivali i Këngës in the years before it was used as a National Final, including 1995 (with “Planeti fëmijevë“), 1997 (with “Flas me engjëllin tim”), 1999 (with “Do jetoj pa ty”), 2000 (with “Çast”), 2001 (with “Ik”), and 2002 (with “Do humbas më ty”).
• Azerbaijan
  • 2011: Eliminated in Semifinal (no linked song)

• Cyprus:
  • 2007: “With Love”, 3rd place (Greek National Final)
• Estonia:
  • 2015: “Det rår vi inte för”, Eliminated in Andra Chansen (Melodifestivalen, Sweden)
• Georgia:
  • 2017: “Dear God”, 10th place
• Hungary:
  • 2017: “Origo”, winner
• Ireland:
  • 2018: Submitted to San Marino’s 1 in 360, did not progress to live rounds.
• Latvia:
  • 2019: “Awe”, 3rd place (Mārcis Vasiļevskis appears in both Carousel and Laime Pilnīga)
• Lithuania:
  • 2012: “Tu ne viena“, Eliminated in Semifinals
  • 2014: Eliminated in Heats (no linked song)
  • 2015: As a member of Rollikai, 12th place (no linked song)
  • 2017: “Get Frighten”, as the hidden main vocalist for Lolita Zero, 4th place

•  Malta:
  • 2017: “Cruise Control”, Eliminated at Preliminary Rounds
• Moldova
  • 2018: “Agony”, 5th place
• North Macedonia
  • 2007: “Kazi koj si ti“, 2nd place
  • 2008: “Vo ime na ljubovta” with Vrčak and Adrian Gaxha, winner (later translated as “Let Me Love You”)
  • 2015: “Brod što tone”, 2nd place
• Norway
  • Tom Hugo:
    • 2013: “Det er du”, Eliminated at Semifinals
    • 2018: “I Like I Like I Like”, Eliminated at Finals
  • Alexandra Rotan:
    • 2018: “You Got Me” with Stella Mwangi, 3rd place
• Russia:
  • 2008: “Flyer”, 4th place
• Serbia:
  • 2013: “Ljubav je svuda” (as a member of Moje 3), winner
• Sweden:
  • 2018: “My Turn”, 3rd place

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

• Albania:
  • Dancing with the Stars Albania, Series 4 (2013), Host
  • The Voice of Albania, Series 5 (2017), Judge
• Armenia:
  • X-Factor, Series 1 (2010-2011), Runner-up
  • Holos Krainy (The Voice Ukraine), Series 8 (2018), 4th place
• Austria:
  • Popstars (Germany), Series 11 (2015), Quarter-finalist

• Azerbaijan
  • Yeni Ulduz (Pop Idol), Series 1 (2007), Winner
  • New Wave, 2013, 11th place
  • Holos Krainy (The Voice Ukraine), Series 6 (2016), Eliminated at Battle Rounds
• Belarus
  • New Wave Junior, 2013, 9th place
  • Junior Slavianski Bazaar, 2014, placement unknown
  • Fabrika Zvyozd (Star Factory, Russia), Series 10 (2017), 3rd place
• Belgium:
  • The Voice Belgique, Series 7 (2018), Eliminated after first Live Round
• Croatia:
  • Supertalent, Series 1 (2011),
  • Pinkove Zvezdice (Serbia), Series 3 (2017), Winner
  • Zvijezde (2018), 2nd place
• Cyprus:
  • Super Idol (Greece), Series 1 (2004), Runner-up
  • X Factor Georgia, Series 1 & 2 (2014-2015), Coach
  • X Factor Greece, Series 4 & 5 (2016-2017), Coach
• France:
  • The Voice Kids, Series 2 (2015), Eliminated at Battle Rounds

•  Georgia
  • Geostar, Series 5 (2010), Winner
  • Holos Krainy (The Voice Ukraine), Series 3 (2013), Runner-up
•  Germany
  • Laura Kästel
    • Kiddy Contest, Series 8 (2002), Winner
    • Star Search, Series 2 (2004), Semifinals
  • Carlotta Truman
    • Das Supertalent, Series 3 (2009), 11th place
    • The Voice Kids, Series 2 (2014), Runner-up
• Ireland:
  • The Voice of Ireland, Series 4 (2015), 3rd Place
• Italy
  • X Factor, Series 6 (2012), Eliminated on 3rd live show
  • Festival di Sanremo 2016, Nuove Proposte (Newcomers), 4th place
  • Sanremo Giovani 2018, Winner
•  Lithuania
  • Chorų karai (Clash of the Choirs), Series 1 (2010) (as a member of the Klaipeda Choir)
  • Lietuvos talentai (Lithuania’s Got Talent), Series 2 (2010), 9th place
  • Lietuvos balsas (The Voice of Lithuania), Series 2 (2013), Eliminated in Live Shows
• Hungary
  • Megasztár, Series 2 (2005), Eliminated in Consolation Round
•  Moldova
  • Slavianski Bazaar, 2016, 2nd place
• North Macedonia
  • Sunčane Skale, 2003, 2nd place
•  Norway
  • Fred Buljo
    • Norske Talenter, Series 1 (2008), Finalist (as a member of Duolva Duottar)
  • Alexandra Rotan
    • Melodi Grand Prix Junior 2010, Superfinalist, with the song “Det vi vil”
    • Idol, Series 9 (2016), Semifinalist
•  Russia
  • New Wave, 2002, Winner (as a member of SMASH!!)
  • Танцы на льду (Dancing on Ice), Series 1 (2006), 2nd place
  • Цирк со звёздами (Circus of the Stars), Series 1 (2008), Winner

• San Marino
  • Riziko! (Jeopardy!), 1994-2000, Host & Executive Producer
  • Megahit-International Mediterranean Song Contest, 2002-2004, Host & Executive Producer
• Serbia
  • Prvi glas Srbije, Series 2 (2012-2013), Runner-up
•  Spain
  • Operación Triunfo, Series 10 (2018), 6th place
• Switzerland
  • Deutschland sucht den Superstar, Series 9 (2012), Winner
  • Dance Dance Dance, Series 2 (2017), Winner
• The Netherlands
  • The Voice of Holland, Series 5 (2014), Eliminated at Semifinals
• United Kingdom
  • X Factor UK, Series 11 (2014), Eliminated at Bootcamp Stage
  • All Together Now, Series 1 (2018), winner

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

• Azerbaijan
  • Chingiz was born in Moscow, Russia, but moved to Azerbaijan as a young child.
• Cyprus
  • Tamta was born in Tbilisi, Georgia (while it was still part of the USSR), and emigrated to Greece in her early 20s.
• Estonia
  • Victor Crone is from Österåker, near Stockholm, Sweden.
• Greece
  • Katerine Duska was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
• Moldova
  • Anna Odobescu was born in Dubăsari, in the disputed territory of Transnistria.
• San Marino
  • Serhat is from Istanbul, Turkey.
• Serbia
  • Nevena Božović was born in the city of Kosovska Mitrovica, in what is now considered Kosovo.
• Sweden
  • John Lundvik was born in London, UK, but moved to Sweden as a young child.

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

• Australia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Estonia
• Finland
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Portugal
• Romania
• San Marino
• Serbia
• Slovenia
• Sweden
• Switzerland

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

• Azerbaijan
  • Trey Campbell (Bulgaria 2018, as a member of Equinox)
• Croatia
  • Jacques Houdek (Croatia 2017)
• France
  • Émilie Satt and Jean-Karl Lucas (France 2018, as Madame Monsieur)
• Estonia
  • Stig Rästa (Estonia 2015)
• Russia
  • Philipp Kirkorov (Russia 1995)
• Serbia
  • Nevena Božović (Serbia 2013, as a member of Moje 3)
• United Kingdom
  • John Lundvik (Sweden 2019)

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

• Azerbaijan
• Cyprus
• Estonia
• Malta
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom

How many songwriters this year have more than one song in the running?

• Laurell Barker
  • Germany
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
• John Lundvik
  • Sweden
  • United Kingdom
• Borislav Milanov
  • Azerbaijan
  • Malta

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

• Australia:
  • Kate Miller-Heidke wrote “Zero Gravity” along with her husband, Keir Nuttall.
• Iceland:
  • Klemens Nikulásson Hannigan and Matthías Tryggvi Haraldsson, vocalists for Hatari, are first cousins.
• North Macedonia:
  • Tamara’s sister Tijana Dapčević represented (FYR) Macedonia in 2014 with “To The Sky”, which featured Tamara on backing vocals. In turn, Tijana appeared on Tamara’s promotional video for “Proud”.
• Despite their name, Germany’s S!sters (Carlotta Truman and Laurita Spinelli) are not actually related.