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KATE RYAN |
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"Je T'Adore"(I Adore You) (listen here) |
When Flemish broadcaster VRT announced the performers in the year's Belgian selection at least one name was instantly recognizable to fans of European pop and dance music. 25 year old Kate Ryan (real name Katrien Verbeeck) has enjoyed a string of European hits,
the biggest being a cover of French superstar Mylène Farmer's "Désenchantée" which became a pan-European smash in 2002. Her last major success was a cover of Cock Robin's "The Promise You Made" in the summer of 2004. Kate has now teamed up with a team of top Swedish songwriters and there is certainly a more
Scandinavian sound to her potential Eurovision entry "Je T'Adore". The song won the first Eurosong 2006 semi-final last Sunday and is certainly one of the favourites to win the ticket to Athens when the long drawn out Belgian selection reaches its final on February 19th. You can read more about Kate Ryan on her website here. |
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COSMOS |
"I Hear Your Heart" (listen here) |
For the last few years a regular feature in several national selections has been the acapella song, normally performed by a an all male group. While several of these songs have done quite well, none so far has made it to Eurovision, but that could be about to
change in Latvia. In the their semi-final, the song which won the popular vote was the oddly fascinating "I Hear Your Heart" sung by Cosmos a the six piece vocal harmony group that cite the Flying Pickets among their influences. While the song only finished third with the jury, there is no question that this has a strong
chance to represent Latvia in Athens and as automatic finalist it could certainly be one of the more unusual entries ever seen in a Eurovision final.
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IRINA DOROFEEVA |
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"Vyshita Sorochka" (Embroidered Chemise)
(listen here) |
From the samples of the songs that I've heard so far, next Friday's Belarussian final could be one of the most varied and interesting events in this year's selection calendar. 28 year old Irina Dorofeeva finished 4th in the 2004 Belarus final and now she's back
with one of the prettiest songs I've heard anywhere this year. Irina is one of the most popular singers in Belarus and she has already played many festivals around Europe promoting the music of her native country. This ethnic flavoured slavic ballad will apparently be presented with a visual emphasising the theme of the song and it is
a million miles away from the Belarus Eurovision entries from 2004 and 2005. You can read more about Irina Dorofeeva on her website here.
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