Portugal - Maro - Saudade, Saudade

9 - 207 pts   4 - 208 pts in semi 1

Maro (Mariana Seca) is the winner of the 56th Festival da Canção with the song Saudade, Saudade (longing, longing) written by Maro herself with John Blanda. The song is performed in a mix of English an Portuguese. 

Next to the version on the FdC album (CD & digital, see below) Maro also released a Live In Studio version of her winning song (digital release, 7-3)

On April 21, 2023 a set of remixes was released. (Secca records digital)

- carbeau remix

- Diogo Piçarra remix

- NOËP remix

digital release image of live version

Portugal had their Festival da Canção on 5, 7 and 12 March and the CD with all songs is available. (fnac.pt sells internationally).
It includes all 20 songs in the competition. Also available through your favorite digitalia.

Charts:

Portugal top 200: 176, 4, 13, 26, 45, 57, 70, 76, 64, 21, 3, 17, 21, 37, 46, 71, 81, 101, 127, 176, 188, -

Swedish top 100 (Topplistan): 68, -

Ireland top 100 (IRMA): 93, -

Switzerland top 100: 79, -

Versions:

Saudade, Saudade

- CD Festival da Canção 2022, on the official album

Saudade, Saudade - live in studio

- digital single (7-3)

Saudade, Saudade - carbeau remix

Saudade, Saudade - Diogo Piçarra remix

Saudade, Saudade - NOËP remix

- remixes digital 21-4 2023

Saudade, Saudade - karaoke

- on the official karaoke album (digital)

Links and sources:

Maro: FB, Page at Quincy Jones management

FdC: Website, FB

Ukraine - Kalush Orchestra - Stefania

Victory For Ukraine!

cdsingle

1 - 631 pts   1 - 337 pts in semi 1

Kalush Orchestra has won the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest in Turin.

After disqualification of the original winner of Vidbir (Ukarine's pre-selection) it was announced that Kalush (Orchestra), the runner up in the Ukarinian Vidbir, would represent the country in Turin with their song Stefania (Стефанія).  

The band members have been serving in the Ukrainian army and relief organisation but the made it to in Turin and also to Eurovision in Concert.

Stefania (Стефанія) was released on February 7.

The song is written by band members 

Ivan Klimenko, 

Oleh Psiuk, 

Tymofii Muzychuk, 

Vitaii Duzhyk and 

Ihor Didenchuk. The latter is the flute guy we know and love from Go_A.

A 5-track CD is released on 13-5. It has the following tracks. Out on Sony

1. Stefania (Kalush Orchestra)     
2. Dodomu (feat. Skofka)     
3. Fajna (feat. Skofka)     
4. Zori     
5. Gori (feat. alyona alyona)  

Available at Empik (Poland), RecordshopX (Finland) both sell internationally (although complicated for empik, they  force you to buy a premium account) but I expect others will follow. (let us know!)

JPC has it too (a shop I buy from often)

Asfalt shop (Poland only) Fnac for France (and international, cheapest I found at 4,99)

The cds comes in a thin "jewel case". All proceeds will be donated (but they don't say to whom).

Versions:

Stefania - single version / ESC version

- digital  7-2, on the official album, Kalush cd maxi

Stefania - karaoke

- on the official karaoke album (digital)

A special edition stamp was issued in April 2023, order here at Ukrposta or check your e-bays and such if you're a collector. 

Charts:

Dutch top 100: 36, 60, -

Dutch top 40: 38, 38, -

Swedish top 100 (Topplistan): 7, 18, 52, 93, -

Norway VG lista top 40: 19, -

Ireland top 100 (IRMA): 30, 67, -

U.K top 100: 38, 96, -

Germany top 100: 33, 72, -

Italy top 100 (FIMI): 53, -

Switzerland top 100: 11, 49, -

Belgium (Flemish) top 50: 37, 24, -

Finland top 20 (IFPI): 2, 12, -

Austria top 75: 26, -

Portugal top 200: 92, -

Links and sources:

Kalush (Orchestra): 

Kalush FB, Insta

Alina Pash - The withdrawn entry
Alina Pash is the winner of Vidbir 2022, the Ukrainian selection for the Turin Eurovision Song Contest. But she won't be going to Turin after all. She withdrew after allegations about illegally entering the Crimea etc. etc., you read the news.

The lyrics to Shadows Of Forgotten Ancestors are written by Alina Ivanivna Pash (Аліна Іванівна Паш) herself, with music provided by Taraz Baseev.
The song is performed in a mix of Ukrainian and English.

Shadows... was released as a digital single on February 4.

Digital release image

Links and sources:

Shadows Of Forgotten Ancestors: Audio linktree, Lyric video

Alina Pash: FB, Insta, Soundcloud