Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Puuluup, Marina Satti and alyona alyona to star in this year’s Eurovision
The Eurovision Song Concert is back for another year, this time taking place in Malmö, Sweden – with the final on May 11 – and there are a surprising number of artists that we’ve featured in Songlines involved.
Marina Satti (photo by Yannis Kelemenis)
Here are three artists that should make this year’s edition extra interesting:
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5Miinust & Puuluup ‘(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi’ (Estonia)
Representing Estonia this year is a collaboration between hip-hop group 5Miinust and folk group Puuluup. Their track ‘(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi’ is all about high energy, the accompanying video offering a live performance where the group leap around the stage and Puuluup show off their skills on the talharpa (bowed harp). Despite the genre clash it’s a fun track, and sure to be unlike any other song in the contest.
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Marina Satti ‘Zari’ (Greece)
Representing Greece is singer, songwriter and actress Marina Satti. On ‘Zari’ Satti showcases her singing, rapping and a modern Greek production to craft a powerful anthem Greece is sure to stand behind. The music video is filmed in Athens and plays with a tour guide theme with drifting cars and numerous dance entourages. The lyrics speak of love and the leaps of faith that are sometimes risked in pursuit of love.
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alyona alyona & Jerry Heil ‘Teresa & Maria’ (Ukraine)
Accomplished rapper aloyna aloyna will be accompanied by fellow Ukrainian, singer Jerry Heil, with the two sparking positivity into the world and reminding everyone that they are capable of achieving great heights and following their dreams. We all have to start small – ultimately, it is our actions that will eventually define us.
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The Eurovision Song Contest will start with semi-finals on May 7 and 9 – featuring Marina Satti and alyona alyona & Jerry Heil, before the final takes place on May 11. However, not everyone will be watching the contest as normal. Various politicians, musicians, artists, protestors, venues and other organisations have asked Eurovision to ban Israel from participating in 2024 due to the war in Gaza, citing the fact that the contest had suspended Russia in 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine as a similar situation. If that doesn’t happen, then many have said that they will boycott the event, with the usual Eurovision watch parties unlikely to take place. Israel has already been approved by Eurovision to compete after a lyric change was requested for a track originally called ‘October Rain’, which was seen as a reference to the October 7 attack by Hamas which ignited the war in Gaza, changed to ‘Hurricane’.
