The new ESC season is in full swing with live shows in Belgium, Estonia, Malta and Norway

Even if there are two songs and seven participants known for the upcoming ESC 2023 in Liverpool, the real first ESC weekend is about to begin.

• Belgium

There have been various pre-rounds, which were only visible in Belgium. It’s the first time since years that Belgium is going to have a national final again. The show will be located in the Palais 12 in Brussels.

These are the finalists:

• Loredana – “You Lift Me Up” 
• Chérine - “Ça m’ennuie pas” 
• Hunter Falls – “Ooh La La” 
• Ameerah – “The Carnival” 
• Gala Dragot –The Starlings  

Watch the trailer from broadcaster VRT: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnu/a-z/eurosong/trailer/eurosong-trailer-s2023/
This is a compilation of all the songs in the Belgian selection for 2023

Saturday, January 14th, 20.20 CET on VRT. You can watch the Belgian national final here: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnu/livestream/video/een/

• Estonia

The first semi final has already brought five qualifiers for the final on February 11th:

• JANEK – “House of Glass” 
• OLLIE – “Venom” 
• Andreas – “Why Do You Love Me”
• Bedwetters – “Monsters” 
• Anett x Fredi – “You Need to Move On” 

And these are the ten remaining songs in the second semi final:

1. Inger – “Awaiting You” 
2. Linalakk & Bonzo – “Aeg” 
3. Meelik – “Tuju” 
4. Elysa – “Bad Philosophy” 
5. Robin Juhkental – “Kurbuse matused” 
6. m els – “So Good At What You Do” m els"
7. Wiiralt - “Salalik” 
8. Sissi – “Lighthouse” 
9. Carlos Ukardea - “Whiskey Won't Forget” 
10. Alika – “Bridges”

You can watch the semi final 2 form Eesti Laul 2023 at 18.30 CET on https://otse.err.ee/k/etv

• Norway

There are some changes in the Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix 2023. There will be big changes in Melodi Grand Prix next year. Fewer and bigger semi-finals, no pre-qualified artists, no duels, no last chance and a Grand Finale in the city of Trondheim – with an international jury. The hosts will be Arian Engebø and Stian "Staysman" Thorbjørnsen.

There are some familiar names in the first heat: Ulrikke Brandstorp, who has chosen in 2020 with “Attention”  for Rotterdam. Unfortunately, the ESC has been cancelled due to the corona pandemic. Furthermore Kate Guldbrandsen, who made a fantastic 9th place with “Mitt Liv”  in Brussels, 1987 and JOWST, who came 10th in Kiev 2017 with “Grab The Moment” 

These are the seven participants in the first heat:

1. Ulrikke Brandstorp – “Honestly” 
2. Erik Næss – “Wave” 
3. Kate G – “Tårer I Paradis” 
4. Rasmus Thall – “TRESKO” 
5. Alessandra Mele – “Queen of Kings”
6. JOWST & Byron Williams Jr – “Freaky for the Weekend” 
7. Umami Tsunami – “Geronimo” 

On Saturday January 14th, the first heat will be broadcasted at 19.50 CET here: https://tv.nrk.no/direkte/nrk1

• Malta

In Malta there will be three quarter finals, one semi final and a grand final. There is one internationally known singer: Fabrizio Faniello, he has already represented Malta twice: 2001 with “Another Summer Night” 9th place, and 2006 with “I do” , 24th place.

These are the participants for the first quarter final:

• Haley – “Tik Tok”
• Stefan – “What Do You Want?”
• Clintess – “Lura Qatt” (Never backwards)
• Fabrizio Faniello – “Try To Be Better”
• Eliana Gomez Blanco – “Guess What”
• Christian Arding – “Eku Ċar” (Clear echo)
• Jason Scerri – “Anything Can Happen”
• Maria Debono – “X’allegrija” (What joy)
• Geo Debono – “The Mirror”
• Mike – “Leħen Fiċ-Ċpar” (A voice in the fog)
• Aidan – “Reġina” (Queen)
• Nathan – “Creeping Walls”
• Klinsmann – “Piranah” (Piranha)

The Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2023 can be watched live on Friday, January 13th at 21 CET: https://tvmi.mt/live/2

Author: Bernd LemmermannEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Public relations, Editor, Journalist

About me:
As one of the founders of eurovisionlive.com I am responsible for the interviews with the singers and the editorial content. My passion for the Eurovision Song Contest exists since my early childhood. The exotic music, different cultures and languages have given a lot of inspiration to me. Since my very first ESC in Dublin 1994 I particularly appreciate the get together and friendship of all the nationalities and Riverdance was a thrill!