15/09/2009 - Exclusively for JuniorEurosong.net, we present you with an interview from Ia Orjonikidze! Ia is a Georgian singer who participated in the 2007 and 2008 national finals with the songs 'Butterfly Rock' and 'Harale'. When did you first become interested in singing?
When I was 3 years old, I went to studio "Basti Bubu". It was my first contact to music. Then I went to personal teacher of vocal.
What are your other hobbies? (Expect for singing)
Dancing, skating, listening to music, make designs, taking photos, watching movies and sleeping :)
What do you think about JESC?
JESC is my favorite music contest. It's very interesting and amazing. I like it very much.
Did you like the winner of JESC 2007 and 2008?
In 2007 and 2008 both winners were very cute and they were exectly in format of JESC.
Who did you think was the best or most deserving in the Georgian 2007 and 2008 finals? 
In 2007 the winner was my friend Mari Romelashvili who really deserved first place because the show was great for Georgia's presentation (as you know that in 2007 Georgia first took part in JESC). And in 2008 the winners were BZIKEBI who won the JESC 2008 so as you see they were very interesting and lovely. Their song was difficult to sing with Georgian motives.
Which country was the best in JESC 2007 and 2008?
In 2007 my favorite songs were Nevena Bozovic (Serbia) and Arevik (Armenia)
In 2008 my favourite songs were Bobi Andonov (FYR Macedonia) and Oliver (Belgium)
But the best was Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz :))
What do you think about Bzikebi? Did you like their song? Do you agree with them receiving first place at JESC 2008?
Bzikebi were cool!! Really cool. They were different from others and had very interesting, difficult song. They really deserved first place at JESC 2008. BZZZZ! :)
Do you still watch JESC? If you do, who is your favourite?
I am still watching JESC. In Georgia there will be final soon. My friends are taking part in it. Group "Shatalo" . I hope they will win in georgia and then JESC 2009 .
Who are your favourite singers? 
Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Ashley Tisdale, Taylor Swift etc.
If you could choose one person to do a duet with, who would you choose and why?
I would make a duet with Miley Cyrus, because She is very talented, has nice songs, music videos and She is my favourite singer :)
What are your plans for the future?
I have many foreigner friends and we are planning to make some concerts in various countries:) so I am working hard to be really good and famous singer not only in georgia but in the whole world :) For junioreurosong.net... from Ia!! :) |
11/09/2009 -  Bzikebi have given an interview during their visit to Belarus. Here is a translated (by junioreurosong.net) version: Click here to watch the interview What countries you did visit after victory at the competition? Where did you enjoy most?
- After winning JESC we have traveled to Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus and all around Georgia. We often go to Georgia. We enjoyed it all.
Is this your first time in Minsk? What is your impression of the city?
- We are very glad to be present here. Belorussians are very warm people. Your city is very beautiful.
Will Georgia be entering Eurovision next year?
- Yes!
How did the victory change your life?
- We have appeared in so many popular concert programs in Georgia, we do this very often now!
What is the secret of your success? How do you win the competition?
- The main thing is not the be scared.
Do you watch Eurovision (adult)?
- Yes.
Do your classmates know of your popularity?
- They laugh, they talk about it, but we are normal to them.
How long will you stay in Belarus' and what will you do?
- We will be three days in Belarus', to sing in the Junior Eurovision concert and we tomorrow, unfortunately, leave already. Unfortunately, because we loved our stay.
You do know that children's Eurovision 2010 will pass to Minsk? Your thoughts?
- Yes, we know and are very glad!
What emotions did you experience when they announced you won?
- We were so glad, that we all began to cry. But Georgiy was troubled, that he (as a man) burst into tears. But there were very strong emotions, they overwhelmed us.
Did try you Belorussian ice cream? Teachers did not forbid?
- No. We did not try. Tomorrow we can try it.
Can you give Belarussian participant of 2009 advice?
- Be assured in yourself, do not fear - and everything will be good.
What else do you like to do besides singing…
- We play piano, we study English, we love to dance.
Have you met Alexey who won in 2007 in Minsk?
- No we have not.
Do you have any treasured toys? That you take on tour?
- No we are much too big for toys.
Do you sing Bzzz around the house always?
- Yes! And not only in the house… Everywhere!
Do you still fit your wasp suits?
- Yes we have not grown much!
After your JESC triumph what was the reaction in Tblisi?
We were greeted as heroes, by the president!
After BZZ, tongue twisters are easy?
- (They laugh). No, it is not terrible. (They sing Bzzz).
In the concert will you be singing or just guests?
- We appear on this concert not only as guests - we know all your songs. We will sing all your songs. We know the words to Alexey and Dasha, Alina and Karina’s songs!
How was your trio formed? Did you sing separately before?
- We all arrived separately to the casting, and the idea occurred to the music leader, why not put us together? We decided to be wasps!
Which of the Belarus singers do you like best?
- Dasha, Alina, Karina!!
Your favourite singers?
- Justin Timberlake and Whitney Houston are who we want to sing with.
Is it possible to hear other songs of Bzikebi? Will you release an album?
- On the sites www.1tv.ge, www.junior.eurovision-georgia.ge there are other songs, there it is possible to hear them. The recording of an album is planned.
Does singing interfere with school?
- We learn well, but it can be stressful, we have to try very hard.
In what other musical competitions you did participate? Did you win?
- At the national musical competition Ana-Bana in which 1300 children participated, Georgi won and Mariam Tatulashvili came 2nd. There we also met Mariam Kikuashvili.
What is your favourite subjects?
- Mathematics and the Georgian language and literature.
What musical instruments do you play? Do you go to music class?
- The girls play piano. Georgi sings in a choir and his church.
What else do you sing besides Bzz?
- Bzz is our most popular song and will be on our album, but we write many more.
Who did you think was your strongest competitor in JESC?
- Victoria from Ukraine. We thought she would win.
For how many years have you been singing?
- The girls have been singing since age 2, and Giorgi from age 5. We have been performing at concerts on stage since we were 6.
What are your plans for the near period?
- There are many concerts. After Minsk has us participate in the national elimination stage of JESC , concerts in Tblisi and then of course we’ll be traveling to Kyiv.
Who is your idol, who inspires you?
- We do not have idols.
What music do you listen to? What actors do you like?
- Angelina Jolie, Pussycat Dolls.
Do you love honey?
- Very. Bzzzz…
What is your dream?
- To sing for Georgia at the adult Eurovision!
What did your teachers say after your victory? Did their attitude towards you change?
- After the victory, when we arrived into the school, we got many presents. Us girls are at a different school to Giorgi.
You have domestic animals?
- Yes we have cats and dogs. |
 11/09/2009 – Last night the Belarussian final for 2009 took place in Minsk. Our greatest hopes/ worst fears (chose one, because no one is in the middle on this song) were confirmed – Yuriy Demidovich won. His song which was previously called Fairytales, is now known as “The Magic Rabbit” (Volshebniy krolik), and is about a boy who is forced to go to school and learn Latin, but just wants to  enjoy life. “Soul” is repeated many times throughout the song, in a rather eerie fashion that has had religious groups clamouring to ban it. Well, at least they’re taking notice of jESC. Versions have been recorded in Italian, German, French, Chinese, Russian and Belarussian, although in JESC Yuriy will sing in Russian as he lives in Minsk and is not fluent in Belarussian. Yes, you read that correctly – Belarussian is taught only as a subject in school, in Belarus. There should be dance versions and an English version released soon. Yuriy is, in essence, the Russian Susan Boyle.
 Yuriy’s song is the most hyped JESC entry ever, one which many people are proclaiming will be the winner for sure, is revolutionary. I must say.. I’m not sure I agree with either, but it is no doubt.. interesting. And we can expect a lot more publicity for the Eurovision this year. Junior Eurovision really is Belarus’s forte, their child singers are infinitely more successful than their adult counterparts, and the effort Belarus puts into JESC is commendable. Already they are planning for JESC 2010, the arena is being put into action, promo videos have been filmed, special documentaries on past contestants have been released. But we will cover this later.
 Svetlana Statsenko, Kseniya Sitnik’s mother and coach of also Andrei Kunets and Dasha, Alina and Karina was one who was displeased with the result, claiming that ‘The Magic Rabbit” is not a child friendly song and didn’t deserve to win, it brings her an ominous feeling rather than a happy one. As her latest student Zlata placed second behind Yuriy with her song ‘Baba Yaga-2009’, it is hard to take this without bias. Svetlana certainly knows the winning formula though, but is this junior fairytale enough to win, against many peoples better judgment? After all, Yuriy did not make the pre-selections initially, it was only after a time that the selection panel decided to add Yuri, turning him into the phenomenon he is today. One professional (Константин Стешик) has said about Yuriy – 
“Sometimes (it is it's a pity, that very rarely) I am actually proud of my country. It is excellent when one day in your life appears the star, who is in this case Yuriy Demidovich. – a little Belorussian boy, one song alone converted your country into the excellent magic garden, on trees of which grow the young talents - their own talents present, not a copy, not clones… It transports you above reality, allows you to leap beyond the framework of the strictly structured, formed by television consciousness. It allows you to be proud of being Belorussian. This music is very necessary to Belarus. "
Bzikebi and Dasha/Alina/Karina also performed at the final. It was good to see Bzikebi SINGING. As in, not buzzing. ;)
To see videos of Yuriy and the rest of the national final click here. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JuniorEurovisionJESC&view=videos And as for Yuriy? He'll have plenty of practise for JESC, he'll be performing next to The Prodigy and the ULTRAMUSIC festival in Minsk.. in front of a crowd this big:
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 10/09/2009 - I'm excited, aren't you? What is the reason for this? No not JESC week! I'm not quite to that constantly waiting for live updates phase yet ;) Tonight is the Belarussian final! We will finally know, will Yuriy Demidovich win? He has had immense popularity, the most for any JESC contestant ever. Millions of youtube views, hundreds of (Russian) articles. Personally, I have a feeling Diana Gromova might take the prize though. Does anyone else have a chance? It's slim. But possible. Bzikebi will be performing live at the concert which begins at 20.50 CET and can be watched live here.
Don't forget, here are the finalists:
1. Band «RoKi» (Voloznev Roman and Ermakov Kirill) "Tolko vperyod!" (Only forward!) (Minsk);
2. Guzino Diana "Mechtayu letat'" (I dream to fly) (Grodno);
3. Aslanov Magammed «Tik-Tak» (Grodno);
4. Mezhennaya Ekaterina "Tolko lyubov" (Only Love) (Minsk);
5. Klishkova Polina "Za zvezdoy" (After the star) (Mogilev);
6. Murashko Ekaterina "Den rozhdenya" (Birthday) (Mogilev);
7. Shulgina Darya "Ognennye noty" (Fiery notes) (Grodno);
8. Demidovich Yuriy "Volshebniy krolik" (Magic rabbit) (Minsk);
9. Larchenko Zlata "Baba Yaga-2009" (Dzerzhinsk, Stankovo);
10. Gromova Diana "Ey, malchishki i devchonki" (Hey, boys and girls) (Gomel). |
Phase 1 starts today 
5/9/2009 -Phase 1 of the Cypriot preselection will take place today (5th September), when an 8-member jury (appointed by CyBC) will select 8 songs which will compete against each other at the second/final phase. The final phase will take place on 3rd October 20.15 CEST, and it will be broadcasted on RIK1, RIKsat and online on the official CyBC website. UPDATE: The songs chosen are: Μια χαρούμενη μέρα - Mia haroumeni mera - A happy day
Μες στην τάξη - Mes stin taxi - In the classroom
Α μπε πα μπλομ - A pe ba blom
Ανακύκλωση ζωής - Anakyklosi zois - Recycling of life
Κόσμος μαγικός - Kosmos magikos - Magic world
Ζω - Zo - I live
Θάλασσα, ήλιος, αέρας, φωτιά - Thalassa, ilios, aeras, fotia - Sea, sun, air, fire
Παιδιά κάτω από τον ίδιο ουρανό - Pedia kato apo ton idio ourano - Children under the same sky |
 27/08/2009 - As yet this has not been confirmed by the EBU or Ukrainian broadcaster but it is looking likely that Shady Lady Ani Lorak who represented Ukraine in ESC 2008 will host JESC 2009! The Eurovision runner up is very famous in the ex-soviet countries and as we know, is very adept at putting on an exciting act (she will perform one of her own songs, so we may see her and Alexander Rybak on the JESC stage this year.. and Dima too if he cannot resist the spotlight :P). According to Oikotimes she will appear with a male and child co-star, but she will be the main attraction for many ESC fans I'm sure. Here's hoping Ilona Halytska from JESC 2007 will be the child host, she is rather brilliant.
 Even if the jESC entries this year aren't quite up to scratch, at least the intervals acts should be good. |
26/08/2009 - This week the Maltese broadcaster PBS conducted their auditions for the final of Junior Eurosong 2009. Out of the 66 entries received they chose the top 20, who will compete for a ticket to Kyiv on 12th September. No entries in the Maltese language passed through! The finalists are: (Audition Number – Name – Song Name) 1 - Denise Spiteri - Free Like a Butterfly 4 - Francesca Sciberras and Mikaela Bajjada – Double Trouble 17 - Yazmin Helledie – Super Girl 23 - Michaela Agius - Queen of Peace 26 – Jade Cini – An Island Dream 27 - Tik-i-Tik Girls (Roxanne Cassar, Kelly Ann Mintoff, Kimberley Micallef) - The Tik-i-Tik Song 29 - Charlene Muscat - Reaching for Heaven 31 - Mireille Caruana - D.A.N.C.E. 35 - Kurt Galea - Ahoy! Ahoy! 37 - Miki Debattista (Fula) – I Spy 39 - Ylenia Vella - My One True Passion 42 - Whitney Cremona - Mamma's Girl 43 - Chantelle Farrugia – Sailing 48 - Sarah Bonnici - The Mambo Song 51 - Rebecca Bonello – Toys 52 - Antoine Farrugia, Kayleigh Cassar - Boys and Girls 56 - Maxine Pace - Toy Soldier 60 - Stefan Galea - Shake Up Wake Up 61 - Nicole Azzopardi - Fun, Fun, Fun 64 - Cherylis Camilleri – Hey Yo  Nicole Azzopardi took part in 2007 and 2008 (2 songs in 2008), Denise Spitiri also took part both years, as did Whitney Cremona. Ylenia Vella was a finalist in 2008, as was Jade Cini, Yazmin Helledie and Francesca Sciberras. Yazmin entered in 2004 with Sophie (JESC 2006) and they guest starred in the 2003 national final with "Magical Spaceship".
It is interesting to note that Sophie Debattista's family is still heavily involved in JESC. Among those to pass to the final are her cousin (Miki) and good friend Yazmin. There is a good chance we will see someone affiliated with Sophie win this final. And as I know a lot of you out there were keen for last years runner up Jodie to win, she DID enter, but did not get through.. so Malta is not going for young and cute this year.. are they being pushed from certain people? Apparently, Maxine Pace and Antoine/Kayleigh are acts to watch out for. Finally, the singer of the 2nd placed song in 2007 "Stolen" - Danica Muscat also failed to qualify for the final, which I find rather strange considering... perhaps it is not the best voice they are after?Bring on the final! :D Results were verified by Dr Sharon Fiorentino (Notary Public) and Mr Jonathan Desira (Certified Public Accountant) in the presence of PBS Advisory Team and Mr. Horace Anastasi from UKAM. All 66 entries were judged by Ms. Lorraine Aquilina (music/drama teacher); Mr. Christian Axiak (music teacher); Ms.Adrienne Azzopardi (singer/composer); Ms. Maria Lewis (singer); Mr. Mark Gauci (music teacher/musician); Mr. Eric Montfort (music critic). A meeting for all finalists will be held at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, Floriana on Friday 28th August, 2009 at 3pm.
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 25/08/2009 - Sophie Debattista (remember, the cute 12 year old who sang "Extra Cute" for Malta in 2006,) presents to you Sophie LIVE!  She is now 15 and one of Malta's top emerging young artists. She has come a long way since JESC and her voice has matured a lot. She is supported by sister Charlotte (a member of jESC 2004's Young Talent Team), Nicole Schembri, Anthea Zammit and Michela Gatt. Her first single "The Clapping Song" rated extremely well on the charts, and her next single which she wrote herself - "K.I.S.S. (Keep it Simple Stupid) will be released in September. At the moment she is touring the United Kingdom with her dance troupe. She will be performing at the Southern Cross in London to launch the tour, details below -
Times: Sep 05, 21:00 - 22:30 Price: £5 on the door
On Sunday Sophie supported Swedish Pop Idol 2008 winner Kevin Borg in concert, along with Daniel Testa, the JESC Maltese representative from 2008. To follow Sophie, you can check out her site at http://www.totallysophie.com |
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 22/08/2009 - Encouraged by their success in jESC 2008, the Maltese have received entries from a much wider variety of singers this year. (They received 66 entries, but this is one song per person, usually they enter several each.) However expect to see many familiar faces, providing they make the finals of course, many singers from the last few years will be back. The semis will be held this week and the final 20 will be announced this Thursday the 27th. The final will take place on September 12th and be 50/50 jury/televoting. Daniel Testa will perform a remix of "Junior Swing".
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When did you become interested in singing?
