The Team of Radio International is back this week and would like to invite to join the weekly Ultimate Eurovision Experience to overcome to Post Eurovision Depression during the summer 2012. The Show is broadcast on 106.8FM and Digital Cable 41 in the Netherlands and also via the internet via www.radiointernational.tv and will also be web-televised via the show's own Live Video Channel via the website. The simulcast will be from 2000 – 2300 hours CET this Wednesday.

Interview with Iris (Belgium 2012):  

Belgium last qualified for the Grand Final in 2010 in Oslo when Tom Dice won his Semi Final with the song "Me and my guitar". In 2011 it was Witloof Bay who almost get Belgium back into the Grand Final with the song "With love baby" but missed a few points and ended up at Number 11 in their Semi Final meaning not qualifying Belgium for the Grand Final in Duesseldorf. Now in 2012, Iris represented Belgium and on reached Number 17 in Semi Final 1 with the song "Would you". Lilian, Roger and JP met the young singer for a brief interview which you can hear on the showthis week. 

Eurovision Song Contest Spotlight - The Host Entries:  

After reflecting on the 57th Eurovision Song Contest over the past weeks Radio International now continuous to present a brand new series with the Eurovision experts in the UK and Ireland to take you through the summer. The new series is taking a look at the entries to the Eurovision Song Contest by the countries that were hosting the contest e.g. this year the Eurovision Song Contest came from Azerbaijan and the Azeri entry = Host Entry is Sabina Babayeva. This week it is the turn of Ross Bennett who will be joining the team in the studio from Brighton to take a look at the host entries of 1962, 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002 and 2012. 

Home Composed Song Contest 2012 - Call out for submissions:  

As in previous years Radio International supports the Home Composed Song Contest which is a songwriters competition across Europe and beyond. 2012 marks the 21st edition of the Song Contest and the 2011 edition was won by Denmark and this year's edition is hosted by Spain. Contact the website of the Home Composed Song Contest to find out further details how to submit your entries and also what the schedule looks like. Samuel Bugia Garrido and his team is ready to guide you through the contest. Their email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Interview with Mandinga (Romania 2012): 

 What a nice delegation Romania took to the Eurovision Song Contest 2012. Celebrating it's 10th Anniversary Mandinga represented Romania with the song "Zalelah" in Baku successfully qualifying heir home country to the Grand Final and reaching a remarkable Number 12 position. "Zalelah" is a dance Mandinga invites the audience to dance to. Although representing Romania Mandinga also has members in the group from Cuba. Lilian and JP had the great pleasure to meet Mandinga for a second time for an interview this time in Baku's Press Centre after their initial interview with Radio International at Eurovision in Concert 2012 in Amsterdam earlier on this year.

Eurovision Song Contest News with Luke Fisher from escXtra.com:

Check out the latest developments connected to the Eurovision Song Contest. Whether it is music releases of Eurovision performers, appearances, special concerts, gossip, news, etc. Luke will have the latest updates during this week's edition of the show.

Join Radio International on Wednesday, 11 July 2012 from 2000 - 2300 hours CET, via the website or on FM. Radio International is available live via www.radiointernational.tv and on FM 106.8 and Digital Cabel Channel 41 in parts of the Netherlands. Should you not be able to listen live, the show will appear in the Programme’s Show Archive a few hours after it’s airing on the radio.

Eurovision Music Requests/Eurovision Quiz:

A big part of the show is playing listeners' requests. Submit your requests and / or greetings to your Eurovision friends through Radio International via the CONTACT Link on www.radiointernational.tv. But also don’t miss out on the weekly Eurovision Quiz where you can win a dip into the freshly filled up Goodies Bag or pick a Eurovision Song Contest from the past on DVD.

Interview with Pernilla Karlsson (Finland 2012):  

Unfortunately, no qualification for the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest for the lovely Pernilla Karlsson who represented her native Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Semi Final 1 at Number 12 when only the Top 10 per Semi Final advance to the Grand Final. The song "När jag blundar" translates to "When I close my eyes" and is performed in Swedish due to the fact that the area Pernilla comes from is a minority area where the language spoken is Swedish. This is a special interview as Lilian, Camera Man Roger and JP "kidnapped" the delegation bus of Finland and did the interview aboard the bus :) That's a first in JP's interviewing career :)  

Source: Radio International Team

When the list of finalists in Romania was initially released, there was quite a buzz going on with regards to the fact that one of the groups had a massive fan base behind them and had already gained recognition in the music industry. The group Mandinga had initally come in the top three true but did not win the playback phase of the competition but then performed great live and ended up being the winners with the song Zaleilah. In recent days, the popularity of the group has expanded far beyond Romania following two strong performances and therefore, it might be a case of a surprise at this years' music competition.

This is actually the fourteenth appearance of Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest and following years of disappoinment, they managed to succeed on a number of occasions and have not failed to make the final in any of their respective attempts. In the past two years, they finished fourth in the semi-final and one of those entries entitled Playing With Fire finished in third place in the long run giving the country the best result ever tying it with Luminita Anghel and Sistem. In this interview, Juergen Boernig and Lilian Brunell speak to the group about their experience in Baku thus far as well as their clothing selections amongst other things.

The Team of Radio International would like to invite to join the weekly Ultimate Eurovision Experience. The Show is broadcast on 106.8FM and Digital Cabel 41 in the Netherlands and also via the internet via www.radiointernational.tv and will also be web-televised via the show's own Live Video Channel via the website. The simulcast will be from 2000 – 2300 hours CET this Wednesday.

Eurovision in Concert 2012: 

Last Saturday, 21 April 2012, the annual Eurovision Music extravaganza took place in Amsterdam for the fourth time where this year is a record of 24 countries' representatives performed their entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 which will come from Baku, Azerbaijan on May 22, 24 and 26. The event was a full success with an early start for the artists and journalists meeting in the delegation hotel in Amsterdam for the first session of interviews. After a Word of Welcome from EBU's Sietse Bakker the artists were taken by boat to the centre of Amsterdam for their soundcheck in the venue for the evening - The Melkweg. That also included the second session of interviews with the many international media that was accredited. The Team of Radio International in combination with Poplight from Sweden were also present to conduct as many interviews as possible with the 2012 Hopefulls. This week on Radio International listen to interviews with the representatives of Austria, Belarus, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, San Marino and Switzerland.

Interview with Litesound (Belarus 2012):

After Anastasia Vinnekova's "I love Belarus" in 2011 which did not qualify Belarus for the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Belarus tries it this time with a young Rock & Pop Band by the name of Litesound. The band is composed of the two brothers Dmitry and Vladimir Karyakin, and Italian singer Jacopo Massa and will perform "We are the Heroes" which is definitely a grower. Belarus will be in Semi Final 2 on Thursday, 24 May 2012 at Number 5. Eric & JP met the singers at the annual Eurovision Promotion event in Brussels last weekend and had the big pleasure of an extensive interview.

Interview with Donny Montell (Lithuania 2012):   

Lithuania will be represented by young singer Donny Montell who will perform the song "Love is blind" which will go into the competition in Semi Final 2 at Number 18. Donny was also part of the guest list of Eurovision in Concert 2012 in Amsterdam on 21 April 2012 and the team of Radio International had the pleasure of a short interview with the singer.  

Interview with Mandinga (Romania 2012):  

In 2011 Hotel FM represented Romania at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Change". This year Romania sends in the happy sounds of Romanian Group Mandinga who is a mix of Romanian and Cuban members. The song is called "Zaleilah" and is based in Mandinga's Dance during the peformance. But more details you can hear in the interview on this week's show. Romania will be in Semi Final 1 at Number 6. 

Eurovision Song Contest Sportlight - Eurovision 2012 - The Team's Favourites:  

Last week Dermot Manning gave us his lists of the Top 10 what he thinks will be ending up in the Top Ten but also what his favourite Top 10 of the 57th Eurovision Song Contest are. This week is the turn of Alasdair Rendall. 

Interview with Valentina Monetta (San Marino 2012): 

2012 is the third time for San Marino to take part at the Eurovision Song Contest after Mio Dio in 2008 and Senit in 2011. This year San Marino teamed up with German Song Writer Ralph Siegel who delivered the "Social Network Song" which will be performed by Valentina Monetta at the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Semi Final 1 at Number 11. Radio International interviewed the young lady during Eurovision in Concert 2012 in Amsterdam on 21 April 2012.  

Euro Friends Song Contest 2012 with Andy Simon:

Continuing with the Euro Friends Song Contest in search for the ultimate Eurovision song as voted for by the many fans around the world. Andy  Simon joins us every week to reveal the qualifiers for the next round.  The website of the Euro Friends Song Contest www.euro-friends.com where you can easily vote for your favourite Eurovision song per country and also see The Euro-Friends TV Show as hosted by Andy Simon. You can also join the Facebook Group. This week Andy looks at the next qualifiers from Heat 47 (United Kingdom).

Interview with Sinplus (Switzerland 2012):  

Gabriel & Ivan are Sinplus and were also on the guest list of Eurovision in Concert but as well part if the Eurovision Promo Event in Brussels on 29 April 2012. There Radio International's Eric chattet with the boys about the preprations for Baku. "Unbreakable" is the Eurovision entry of Switzerland  in Semi Final 1 at Number 7. 

Eurovision Song Contest News with Luke Fisher from escXtra.com:

Check out the latest developments connected to the Eurovision Song Contest. Whether it is music releases of Eurovision performers, appearances, special concerts, gossip, news, etc. Luke will have the latest updates during this week's edition of the show.

Interview with the Trackshittaz (Austria 2012):  

Part of the guest line-up at Eurovision in Concert was also the Austrian representatives to the 57th Eurovision Song Contest - the Trackshittaz who will perform "Woki mit deim Popo" in Semi Final 1 at Number 16. This song is in total contrast to what the country sent in 2011 when Nadine Beiler performed "The Secret is Love". You either love or hate "Woki mit deim Popo". Check out the interview the Team of Radio International did at the event with the Rappers from Austria.  

Eurovision Music Requests/Eurovision Quiz:

A big part of the show is playing listeners' requests. Submit your requests and / or greetings to your Eurovision friends through Radio International via the CONTACT Link on www.radiointernational.tv or via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . But also don’t miss out on the weekly Eurovision Quiz where you can win something.

Interview with Filipa Sousa (Portugal 2012):  

The winner of the Portuguese national selection to the Eurovision Song Contest called Festival da Canacao this year is Filipa Sousa who is the Portuguese Ambassador at the 57th Eurovision Song Contes. Unlike last year with Homens da Luta, Filipa bring back to Eurovision the traditional "Fado-like" sounds of Portugal to Eurovision in the song "Vida Minha" (My Life) which wil be in Semi Final 2 at Number 6. Listen to a short interview with the singer done at Eurovision in Concert 2012. 

Join Radio International on Wednesday, 02 May 2012 from 2000 - 2300 hours CET, via the website or on FM. Radio International is available live via www.radiointernational.tv and on FM 106.8 and Digital Cabel Channel 41 in parts of the Netherlands. Should you not be able to listen live, the show will appear in the Programme’s Show Archive a few hours after it’s airing on the radio.

Source: Team of Radio International

Time flies when one is having fun and in day three of our reviews, we head onto the sixth nation carefully analyzed by a set of professional individuals who hail from countries who have won the Eurovision Song Contest on more than one occasion. Together, they seem to have compiled a list of qualifiers but nevertheless, this will be revealed closer to the actual event. In the meantime though, all of the marks being presented within the reviews are an opinion on the song and not within the frame of the competition. Their chances of qualification will be rate more or less through this system but believe me, some interesting results will be noted. The sixth country is Romanian who will be represented by the group Mandinga with the song Zaleilah composed by Costi Ionita and penned by Elena Ionescu & Dihigo Omar Secada.

Mandinga is a unique band in Romania. The cultural variety, as a result of mixing Romanian and Cuban musicians, guarantees the best show on stage. The group is capable of pleasing the most heterogeneous crowds. Mandinga consists of 7 members: Elena (lead vocals), Alex (trumpet), Chupi (drums), El Niño (congas), Omar (piano), Zach (saxophone) and Tony (trombone). Only six of them will sing on the stage in Baku, Tony being just their Green Room supporter.

The band started 10 years ago. Since then they have become known as the best latino band in the country. They have released no less than four albums so far and at the moment, the band members are working on a new album which will be released soon. Mandinga's success has gone beyond the borders of Romania and that is because they were not afraid to create and launch new concepts for their shows. 

Anyone who meets Mandinga can see and listen to the 7 musicians playing latino music, latin jazz, balkan salsa or even club music, as they do in their Club de Mandinga show. Any Mandinga appearance on a stage turns into a spectacular show due to the blend of sounds, virtuosity and impeccable visual construction. Mandinga is representing Romania in Eurovision Song Contest 2012, after the group received both the public and jury votes in the Romanian national selection.

The Critics Voice Their Opinion

Jan Van Dijck

• Can this song become a summer hit? Looks like Shakira’s sound in the beginning of her career. Big effort to please every European citizen. From Spanish lyrics to the sound of bag pipes. Just have my doubts where this song wants to bring us. It’s all very déjà vu. Well, here's a four (4) pointer from my end.

Knut-Oyvind Hagen

• Balkan party! But I would have to be quite drunk to truly appreciate this. The song too simple, the production is too bad, and I wish that the singer would spend some more time practicing her singing. It seems like she has spent too much of her time in front of the mirror rehearsing ridiculous posing. I believe that two (2) points is enough for this track.

Pitchtunes

• A summer smash song that will get a lot of people going crazy on the dancefloor. The accordion is really nice. Vocals could be better, the chorus drops a bit because of a way too relaxed performance. It still has a good melody which saves the song. I will give this six (6) points.

 

Entry Background

 Performers: Mandinga

 Composer: Costi Ionita

Authors: Elena Ionescu & Dihigo Omar Secada

 Song: Zaleilah

 Language: Spanish

Broadcaster: TVR

Source: Eurovision.tv for the Biographical Information and all respective media