France - Requiem - Alma

DRI Eurovision version

12 - 135 pts, not in semi 
France appointed Alma (Alexandra Maquet) to represent the country in Kyiv.
Her song, Requiem, is written by Nazim Khaled.

The original version of Requiem was released through digital shops on Januari 13.
You can watch the video clip of the song here at Alma's Youtube.
The song was reworked for Eurovision and contains some parts in English.

The official video of the new version is here.
A 1-track promo in cardsleeve (first version) is issued by Warner Music France.
Another 1 track promo features the Eurovision version.

The elusive 7th Heaven Requiem
Then there's the 7th Heaven remix. It was made but never released. someone got their hands on it and you can listen to it here in a podcast. Scroll down to the audio player. It starts at 3:20, is in bad sound quality. A better sound quality excerpt is at the newly opened 7th Heaven website (here) but it's only just over a minute. (It's in Showreel 2017-2018).
Why it never was released I don't know, it's not that bad.
You can find more details (list) on the 7th Heaven Eurovision remixes here at the end of the U.K. 2017 post.

Alma's debut album Ma Peau Aime is planned for May 5 and will include both versions of the Eurovision entry.
A 7-track promo, including both versions of Requiem, is issued by Warner.

Alma released her debut single La Chute Est Lente last year June. Well worth checking out too.

Last year Amir scored the biggest Eurovision hit in France since 2012, so it's no surprise one of the songwriters Nazim Khaled was involved in this years choice.
Amir's also had (by far) the most visited page at the Stockholm Collection.

Digital release image First version

Versions
Requiem - Eurovision version in French and English
- digital release
Requiem - Original version in French
- digital release
Requiem - Eurovision version karaoke (= instrumental)
- digital release (single track release)
Requiem - Eurovision version karaoke (with b-vox)
- digital release (official karaoke album)
Requiem - 7th Heaven club edit
- unreleased, but you can listen here (scroll down to player, starts at 3:20, bad sound but it's proof)

Charts
French top 200 (Ifop): 70, 175, -, 172, -, 187, -, 154, 70, 25, 5, 38, 101, -
Coverversion:
A coverversion (in English) was recorded by South African singer Karin Bekker.
Find out more here at Eurocovers

Links and sources
Thanks to Krzysztof 
Alma: Website, Facebook
France 2 Eurovision Facebook
Looking for the recent French songs?: 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

The forthcoming album

Portugal - Amar Pelos Dois - Salvador Sobral

CONGRATULATIONS PORTUGAL!

Parabéns Salvador e Luísa

Portugal wins the 62nd Eurovision Song Contest

Digital release image

1 - 758 pts /1 - 370 pts in semi 1
What a way to celebrate your 50th* Eurovision entry! After 54 years Portugal wins the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, and there's no debate, Salvador Sobral won both the Jury voting and televoting with an impressive lead.
Not bad for a country whose last (and best) top 10 placing was 21 years ago. (6th).
* 49 actually, plus a withdrawn entry in 1970

After a year in the Absent Friends Category Portugal returned to the Eurovision fold with Salvador Sobral who won the Festival da Canção 2017 on March 5.

His song, Amar Pelos Dois (Love for both of us), is written by Luísa Sobral, sister to Salvador.

Here's the live performance at RTP's youtube.

The song was released on March 10 (digital)
A promo cds includes the original version and instrumental.

Sony Music Portugal have released an official cd-single release of Amar Pelos Dois, on June 16. It includes the Portuguese and instrumental versions, just like the promo. Good news is you don't have to offer redic prices at the bay anymore. (Sony 889854570422)
Sony only handles APD, so there will be no album re-release (of the Excuse Me CD) with the Eurovision winner on it.
No English version is recorded by Sobral himself.

The picture discs offered at e-bay are counterfeit, unofficial, without permission, illegal etc. Don't buy them.

Here you can find an article on coverversions of Amar Pelos Dois in various languages.

cds artwork, pic from RTP

Excuse Me Ao Vivo
On December 15 a live album Excuse Me Ao Vivo is released. It includes a 6 minute version of Amar Pelos Dois which mainly features a lot of community singing. The album has 9 tracks, most songs from the 2016 album Excuse Me.
The digital version is out now, the CD is already spotted through FNAC Portugal (and isn't available outside Portugal). 
(Valentim De Carvalho 560523 1062923)
See full tracklist at the end of this post.
Thanks for the tip Frederick!

Who's Salvador Sobral?

The saviour of Portuguese Eurovision, Jazz singer Salvador (Salvador Vilar Braamcamp Sobral) entered the Portuguese Idols in 2009 where he finished 7th.

Seven years later he released his debut album Excuse Me with songs mainly in English, but also in two Spanish and one in Portuguese.

His most recent single from Excuse Me is Nem Eu (Me neither).
Listening to the album (spotify) I can't help but get some genuine 50's Chet Baker Sings vibes, wonderful stuff! Go on, have a listen.
Update: In the wake of the Eurovision victory the Excuse Me album charts in the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and both Belgian charts and the Eurovision song isn't even on it.

promo cds

Festival da Canção '17
A compilation of all songs in the 2017 Festival da Canção is released by Sony and RTP. 15 tracks are studio versions, one is a live recording.
The digital album is available through itunes and the likes.
The CD was released on April 7.
Full tracklist below
It's available now here at Bearecords

Versions
Amar pelos dois - original
- Kyiv 2CD, Festival da Canção 2017 CD
Amar pelos dois - instrumental
- both digital releas, both on promo cds
Amar Pelos Dois (live)
- on album Excuse Me Ao Vivo.
The official karaoke album (digital release) has the instrumental.

Charts
Portuguese top 100: 38, 83, -, 3, 1, 2, 2, 6, 15, 31, 28, 43, 52, 61, 84, 90, -
Portuguese top 50: 41, 11, 13, 26, 31, 41, 46, 35, 36, 8, 1, 2, 2, 2, 8, 11, 10, 22, 39, 30, 37, -
Belgian top 100 (FL): 30, 35, -, 50, -
Netherlands top 100: 35, -
Sweden top 100: 33, -
U.K. top 100: 97, -
Germany top 100: 43, -
Switzerland top 100: 6, -
France top 200: 4, 110, -
Austria top 75: 22, -
Spain top 50: 1, 12, -

Coverversions:
Quite a few coverversions of Amar Pelos Dos can be found at your digital services.
Here's a few names:
Alfred Garcia (Spanish singer for 2018)
Anarita (Both Portugese and English versions on a Ball room dance album Oversway)
Leon Noel (digital single)
Svenska Lyxorkestern - För Oss Båda (Swedish, digital single)
Marina Damer (digital single)
Bruno M (digital single)
Sam Darris (digital single)
Elaine Brackin (digital single)
Gerson Galvan (digital single)
Spell Choir (acapella, digital single))
Mercuzio Pianist (Piano instrumental, digital single)
Leon Noel (Piano instrumental, digital single)
David Matevosyan (Violin instrumental, digital single)
Full list here

Single Nem Eu (2016)

Links and sources
Thanks to Frederick and to Paulo Bravo at Sony Music Portugal.
Salvador Sobral: Facebook
ESCPortugal
RTP Festival da Canção 2017 pages, Facebook
These years Portugal actually entered: 2014 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 






Tracklist Festival da Canção 2017

Picture from ESCPortugal.pt

1. Márcia - Agora 

2. Golden Slumbers - Para Perto 

3. Fernando Daniel - Poema a Dois 

4. Deolinda Kinzimba - O que eu vi nos meus sonhos 

5. Rui Drumond - O teu melhor 

6. Siraiva feat. Lisa Garden - Without You 

7. Salvador Sobral - Amar pelos dois 

8. Viva La Diva - Nova Glória (live)

9. David Gomes - My Paradise 

10. Lena d'Água - Nunca me fui embora 

11. Beea - Ao Teu Olhar 

12. Pedro Gonçalves - Don't Walk Away 

13. Helena Kendall - Andamos no Céu 

14. Celina da Piedade - Primavera 

15. Jorge Benvinda - Gente Bestial
16. Inês Sousa - Se o Tempo Não Falasse

Tracklist Excuse Me Ao Vivo

1. Change
2. Nada que esperar
3. Excuse me
4. Nem eu
5. Something real
6. Amar pelos dois
7. Ready for love again
8. Ay amor
9. Até já (encore)

Romania - Yodel It - Ilinca feat. Alex Florea

Digital release image

7 - 282 pts /6 - 174 pts in semi 2
After one year on the bench Romania is back with a vengeance. The Romanian public voted massively for Yodel It by Ilinca feat. Alex Florea in the final of the Romanian selection.

Yodel It, a combination of rapping and yodelling, was already released as a digital single in January.
A remix by Al Mike was released in April.
Another remix, by DJ Pantelis & DJ Pete was released in September.

The track was re-released in a remastered version with altered lyrics (the "sh1t" line is replaced) by Universal on March 29 with a karaoke version.

After a long selection process 10 songs entered final on March 5 where the televoters decided the winner..
Listen and watch to the final here at TVR
Last years unlucky boy Ovidiu Anton performed a special concert in the first semi final with his new band called Anton.

Versions:
Yodel it! - Eurovision version
- Kyiv 2CD
Yodel it! - Single version
Yodel it! - karaoke
- digital releases
Yodel it! - Al Mike official remix
- youtube, digital release
Yodel it! - DJ Pantelis & DJ Pete remix
- digital release 

Charts
Sweden top 100: 64, -
Netherlands top 100: 90, -
Germany top 100: 93, -
Switzerland top 100: 50, -
France top 200: 70, -
Austria top 75: 34
Spain top 50: 46

2nd DRI

Links and sources
Thanks to the Eurovision Romania Team and to Rick
Ilinca: Facebook
Alex Florea: Facebook
TVR Eurovision pages, Facebook
Romania's recent entries: 2016 (out) - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009
Romania are one of the very few countries that have always proceded from the semi to the final, Ilinca and Alex were no exception.