NuVidz: The Common Linnets, Neil Diamond, Sunstroke Project feat Deepcentral, Anouk!

The official video-clip of Give Me A Reason was premiered this morning and it's fantastic! The video-clip was filmed in an old barn, surrounded by farm animals and it suits the song perfectly. They will tour The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and Austria later this year. The Art Of Love is Neil Diamond's latest tune. This blogger has always been a fan of the American singer-songwriter. Another beautiful song from this legend! Splendid voice. Stunning lyrics. He will release an album will be released on 21st October. Can't wait for that!!! SunStroke Project, the group who represented Moldova in 2010 with Olia Tira, joined forces with Deepcentral and released Sunshine. A great summer tune - shame it wasn't released a few months earlier... Since giving birth to her fifth child, Anouk released Places To Go. It's a very personal video for Anouk as it includes her new son. She'll release an album in a couple of months.

The Netherlands: Waylon leaves The Common Linnets!

It's a sad day. Waylon has revealed that he's going to leave The Common Linnets. Ilse and Waylon formed The Common Linnets to create a beautiful country-sounding album. The Common Linnets came 2nd in Copenhagen and have had lots of success since Eurovision. Following Eurovision, The Common Linnets have charted in a number of countries and even managed to achieve #9 in the UK Single Charts. Waylon released this statement:

Dear Fans,
I would like to take this opportunity to let you know I found again. It’s strange to notice that I’ve become now national property and therefore also a national search to me was started. But there is not so much going on, other than one suggests.
I am the past year with lots of fun has been part of The Common Linnets together with Ilse DeLange. We have, for the occasion, decided to join forces in our love for our country and Americana music.
The Common Linnets, however, is a project of Ilse DeLange. She has figured it out and it’s always been clear that this would be in a varying composition.
We have ever agreed that I would make a plate with her, later our participation in the Eurovision song contest and the concert on 21 June in the Twente Stadium. There are also on our calendars.
The success after the Eurovision song contest has both of us by surprise. It makes that you need to start looking at.
For me there are a lot of layers and obligations the coming period with the release of my new album “Heaven after Midnight” in september. Last year an album that I have recorded and have funded themselves. An important and personal album. I have this album already postponed due to the Eurovision song contest.
To my calendar now to throw for the Linnets full foreign promotion of The Common has for me so more consequences than for Ilse. I have to go for a longer period than freeing me and connecting with The duo The Common Linnets, perhaps for a year or longer, especially if America also in the picture.I hope that you understand that these choices are that I cannot simply take and also not alone.
I had me going for long periods of time can and want to connect to The Common Linnets, as this abroad based on creative equivalence would happen. Ilse and I have long talked about, but have not yet come true. That has nothing to do with money, but with an emotional commitment of two people to a duo in a fixed composition, focusing our solo careers for the time being, would put in the refrigerator.
Ilse is free to with The Common Linnets, as they initially intended, from a varying composition to go touring.
The international success of course tasted delicious and was it work properly with Ilse and her band. Finally, Jake, JB, Rob and Matthew fantastic musicians and lyricists! I look forward to Tuckerville on June 21, the place where we meet, also see, Ilse and I go again.

Copenhagen 2014: Grand final tonight!

The grand final of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest will be held tonight! 26 acts are all in the running to be crowned the winner, and it's going to be a spectacular show. The running order was decided yesterday by DR and the EBU. Ukraine will open the show, and the United Kingdom will close it! Does this mean Molly can win? I really hope so! Azerbaijan will perform #03 in the finale - maybe this be the first year they don't make the top ten? And who will be last? I have a horrible feeling it could be Germany.. I hope I'm wrong. There are so many unanswered questions - and that's why this is the strongest and most exciting final in years! Remember, we see Montenegro and San Marino in the final for the first time ever! I predict the winner will be between Sweden, Hungary, Spain, The Netherlands, Denmark, Russia, Greece and maybe Austria? It's so hard to call. These are tonight's participants:

1. Ukraine
2. Belarus
3. Azerbaijan
4. Iceland
5. Norway
6. Romania
7. Armenia
8. Montenegro
9. Poland
10. Greece
11. Austria
12. Germany
13. Sweden
14. France
15. Russia
16. Italy
17. Slovenia
18. Finland
19. Spain
20. Switzerland
21. Hungary
22. Malta
23. Denmark
24. The Netherlands
25. San Marino
26. United Kingdom

Good luck to everyone! Especially Ruth Lorenzo, Emma, Molly and Valentina Monetta! <3

Copenhagen 2014: Semi final ONE review!

The first semi final was held last night and it was truly amazing. The stage looked great on TV and all the performances were very strong. I also loved the hosts! Ten countries qualified from last night's semi and I was mostly pleased with the results. Montenegro and San Marino made the grand final for the first time ever... YAY! I'm delighted for Valentina! She has finally achieved her dream! It's marvellous - maybe this will entice other microstates to come back? It's also great to see Montenegro in the final. The Netherlands were amazing - and they are now among the favourites to win on Saturday! Amsterdam 2015? Sweden seems to be the front runner now though.. Armenia was good but not good enough to win me thinks. The Russian twins were booed when it was announced they had made the final - it was always going to happen I guess... Ukraine looked great on TV and I think a top five position is very likely for them.

Here are the lucky qualifiers:

• Armenia
• Sweden
• Iceland
• Russia
• Azerbaijan
• Ukraine
• San Marino
• The Netherlands
• Montenegro
• Hungary

Latvia, Albania, Estonia, Portugal, Belgium and Moldova were eliminated. I thought that Portugal and Moldova would have made the final easily... Portugal really was amazing! Why didn't the lovely Suzy make it? Gutted - I would have loved her in the final. Latvia's song is sweet although the performance wasn't up to much. Axel's performance was very disappointing and Estonia underwhelmed me too, I'm afraid... It was a great show and I cannot wait for tomorrow now! 

Copenhagen 2014: Semi-final ONE tonight!

The first semi-final of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest takes place tonight! 16 acts are battling for those 10 important spaces in the grand final... The show will kick off at 21:00 CET and will last two hours. Three big favourites are competing tonight - Armenia, Sweden and Hungary.

These are tonight's participants:

1. Armenia - Aram MP3 with Not Alone
2. Latvia - Aarzemniekl with Cake to Bake
3. Estonia - Tanja with Amazing
4. Sweden - Sanna Nielsen with Undo
5. Iceland - Pollapönk with No Prejudice
6. Albania - Hersi with One Night's Anger
7. Russia - Tolmachevy Sisters with Shine
8. Azerbaijan - Dilara Kazimova with Start a Fire
9. Ukraine - Mariya Yaremchuk with Tik-Tock
10. Belgium - Axel Hirsoux with Mother
11. Moldova - Cristina Scarlat with Wild Soul
12. San Marino - Valentina Monetta with Maybe (Forse)
13. Portugal - Suzy with Quero Ser Tua
14. The Netherlands - The Common Linnets with Calm After the Storm
15. Montenegro - Sergej Cetkovic with Moj Svijet
16. Hungary - András Kállay-Saunders with Running

Who do I *think* will qualify? Armenia, Sweden, Russia, Hungary, Moldova, The Netherlands, Ukraine, Belgium, Estonia and Azerbaijan.

Who do I *want* to see qualify? Latvia, Montenegro, Azerbaijan, Hungary, San Marino, The Netherlands, Armenia, Sweden, Moldova and Portugal!

Introducing 2014: The Netherlands!

In 2013, Anouk was the first Dutch act to qualify for the grand final since 2004 - which was brilliant and very beneficial, as other big names from The Netherlands are now willing to do Eurovision. Consequentially, The Common Linnets were announced as the Dutch representatives back in November 2013. The duo consists of Ilse DeLange, and Waylon. Ilse DeLange is a household name in The Netherlands. She's one of my favourite Dutch artists, and has been on the music scene since 1998. I'm delighted she's finally going to Eurovision. Waylon is country/pop singer - who has tried to represent his country before, in 2005 although he wasn't successful. The band wasn't just created for Eurovision, but because they were working on a new album in America. Calm After The Storm was released on 13th March. I love the Dutch entry. It's one of my favourites and I really hope to see The Netherlands qualify. This is quality music and it deserves to be in the final. 

The Netherlands: "Calm After The Storm" released!

I think The Netherlands are now my favourites! The Common Linnet's released their Eurovision entry this morning and it really is a beautiful piece of music. An acoustic version was released last night although I prefer the official ESC version. It has more hook. The lyrics are great and both of their voices completely suit this song. I'm really impressed with this! Listen here!

The Netherlands: Acoustic version of "Calm After The Storm" performed live!

The Common Linnets have tonight revealed an acoustic version of "Calm After The Storm". They performed it during De Wereld Draait Door, a popular Dutch TV program. During the program, a number of short clips were played from some of the chosen entries for Eurovision 2014 and they seemed most impressed with Sweden, Romania and the United Kingdom. Ilse looked horrified when the Latvian song was played ;-)

The official Eurovision version will be released tomorrow morning on a Dutch radio show! I'm excited to hear it! Watch the acoustic performance here.

The Netherlands: “Calm After The Storm” to be presented on 13th March!

It has been revealed The Common Linnets will sing "Calm After The Storm" in Copenhagen! The song will be officially released on 13th March - which is the same day Germany will select their entry. The Common Linnets will sing an acoustic version the day before, on 12th March on a Dutch TV show. Ilse DeLange and Waylon wrote them song themselves. Can't wait to here it :-)