Eurovision 2023: Austria

Artist: Teya and Salena

Song: Who the hell is Edgar?

Currently with bookmakers: 10th* (40/1-100/1)

Place 2022: 15th of 17 in Semi final 1

Wins: 1, 2014

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Teya and Salena met while competitors on Starmania, an Idol rip-off in Austria, and were internally selected to represent Australia in 2023. Teya (Teodora Špirić) tried to represent her parents native Serbia in 2020 but finished 10th at Beovizija. Salena (Selina-Maria Edbauer) also tried her hand at Eurovision in 2019 for Austria, but was not selected by the broadcaster that time. She has also competed on The Voice of Germany in 2017 before the fateful Starmainia meeting in 2021.

Who the hell is Edgar? has ben one of the more popular entries this year since it was announce and it is certainly a great entry. It also has a great dance routine with it which, if it is performed on stage will get the live audience going. This song has been hovering around the top 10 and could be a sleeper and win, or it could cash and burn. We'll see

There is the potential that Eurovision acts of the past look at new entries and wonder what happened to music, particularly if they came from 1959 when a Calypso was yodelled at Eurovision by this guy. 
 

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Eurovision 2023: Greece

Artist: Victor Vernicos

Song: What they Say

Currently with bookmakers: 29th* (200/1-750/1)

Place 2022: 8th in the final

Wins: 1, 2005

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Victor Vernicos is the youngest entrant Greece has ever sent to Eurovision at sweet 16, but he will still get 12 points from Cyprus. He was selected from an internal shortlist that went from 7 to 3 and then the three was put to too juries, and artistic one that preferred young Victor, and the public committee which preferred Melissa Mantzoukis. Strangely, though the public committee was meant to be over 50% of the vote, they handed out over 400 points less than the Artistic committee, as a result  Melissa Mantzoukis is suing the national broadcaster and that case will be heard after Eurovision where Victor performs. 

What they say has elements of Mumford and Son's, who are honoured with imitations every Eurovision, and maybe some Coldplay. It is a rather mumble-y song and with only about 25 seconds to grab the audience before they are bored and take a toilet break the early mumbles are bad. This probably won't qualify unless countries other than Cyprus gives it points. 

Despite only winning one Eurovision in almost 50 years, Greece has come a long way since 1974 where they had the worlds happiest backing singer. At least the lead singer seemed happy

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Eurovision 2023: San Marino

Artist: Piqued Jacks

Song: Like an Animal

Currently with bookmakers: 31st* (200/1 - 1000/1) - last since Semi one completed.

Place 2022: 14th of 18 in Semi Final 2

Wins: 0

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Piqued Jacks hail from the tiny little San Marinese external territory known as Tuscany, better known for being part of Italy. San Marino searched far and wide for entrant and even Alfie Arcuri, who tried to represent Australia in 2019 ultimately finishing 5th at Australia decides, managed to get past over 1000 acts to make the top 20 at Una voce per San Marino, where Piqued Jacks won the right to represent a country of 33,562 people. I have been in a sport stadium containing 3 times the amount of people that call San Marino home, which is why they will give their Eurovision entry to anyone of 1000 entrants

Like an Animal is a very catchy pop rock song that is comparable with songs by The Killers, The White Stripes and potentially The Strokes. The Problem for this song is that San Marino has only made the final thrice. Even when the crowd in the venue likes the San Marinese song, it rares translates to high votes which is a shame. 

San Marino has had a short history in Eurovision, but Ralph Siegel has written over 1/3 of their entries. Though mainly for Valentina Monetta, He also wrote their entry in 2015, which was best forgotten so here is a reminder. Classic Siegel
 

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