« EUROPE SHINE A LIGHT » GOT A NEW COMPETITOR

The Euroision Song Contest 2020 might be cancelled but Stefan Raab announced a brand new competition which will be aired on ProSieben at 16th May at 20:15 CET as an alternative: the Free European Song Contest (abbrev. Free ESC). 

ProSieben announced the 15 competing countries last week, including Turkey and Kazakhstan.

These 15 countries will be represented by a singer which lives in Germany and has origins to the respective country the artist is representing.

Now more details about the show came to the spotlight as ProSieben made a special digital press conference with the hosts Conchita Wurst (Eurovision Song Contest 2014 winner) and Steven Gätjen and with ProSieben chef Daniel Rosemann.

It is planned that the Free ESC will be held annually each year. However no details are given if the show will be held at the same night as the Eurovision Song Contest.

ProSieben also announed the first artists who will compete in the competition:

• Croatia: Vanessa Mai
• Bulgaria: Oonagh
• Turkey: Eko Fresh with Umut Timur
• Austria: Josh. 
• United Kingdom: Kelvin Jones
• Kazakhstan: Mike Singer (parents from Kazakhstan)
• Ireland: Sean Hill
• Italy: Sarah Lombardi (Italian mother)

The remaining artists will be announced later.

Being asked why the contest will be held at the same day as « Europe Shine A Light » ProSieben announced that the date was set before the date for Europe Shine A Light was revealed.

It was also announced that the artists will do live performances with a live band. Not all the songs will be heard for the first time, however all the songs will be fresh and with different and interesting languages.

ProSieben also revealed the first spokespersons who will reveal the points from each country:

• Poland: Lukas Podolski
• United Kingdom: Melanie Ci
• Ireland: Angelo Kelly

Germany, Austria and Switzerland can vote via televote while the votes from the other countries will be determined by a jury which have to be representatives of their own country. The countries will not be able to vote for their own countries.

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Source: ProSieben
Photo by: ProSieben