Romania | Voltaj - "De la capăt (All over again)"

EUROVISION

From May 12th to May 18th, Sounds European! will review the best entries of this year's Eurovision Song Contest, which is going to take place in Vienna – with semifinals on May 19th and 21st and the final on the 23rd.

Voltaj is a Romanian band which was formed in Bucharest in 1982. They are one of the most famous and traditional bands from the country. Now, they'll represent it on Eurovision, with "De la capăt (All over again)". It is a touching song with very well developed instrumentals, convincing vocals and a great message behind. The rare use of the Romanian language is another detail to praise – it is only the third time Romania has an entry with it since 2000.

Iceland | María Ólafs - "Unbroken"

EUROVISION

From May 12th to May 18th, Sounds European! will review the best entries of this year's Eurovision Song Contest, which is going to take place in Vienna – with semifinals on May 19th and 21st and the final on the 23rd.

The sweet María Ólafsdóttir was born in Blönduós, Iceland, in 1993. She won the Icelandic National Final, called Söngvakeppnin, with the song "Unbroken", a beautiful and pure pop smasher with a very catchy chorus.

Estonia | Elina Born feat. Stig Rästa - "Goodbye to yesterday"

EUROVISION

From May 12th to May 18th, Sounds European! will review the best entries of this year's Eurovision Song Contest, which is going to take place in Vienna – with semifinals on May 19th and 21st and the final on the 23rd.

A duet for Estonia. The very young singer Elina Born will join forces with the popular singer and songwriter Stig Rästa. The duet won landslide the popular Eesti Laul and will flag the Estonian flag with "Goodbye to yesterday", a dramatic pop song with a very cool retro feeling.

Cyprus | Maria-Elena Kyriakou - "One last breath"

EUROVISION

From May 12th to May 18th, Sounds European! will review the best entries of this year's Eurovision Song Contest, which is going to take place in Vienna – with semifinals on May 19th and 21st and the final on the 23rd.

For Sounds European!'s readers, the name of Maria-Elena Kyriakou isn't new. The Cypriot-born singer, who was elected The Voice of Greece, was here last year with the amazing "Dyo angeloi stin Gi (Un angelo disteso al Sole)". She will now represent the Greek colors in Austria with another beautiful ballad: "One last breath" is an incredible grower, which is extremely enjoyable.

Albania | Elhaida Dani - "I'm alive"

EUROVISION

From May 12th to May 18th, Sounds European! will review the best entries of this year's Eurovision Song Contest, which is going to take place in Vienna – with semifinals on May 19th and 21st and the final on the 23rd.

Elhaida Dani was presented by us in 2013, right after she had won The Voice of Italy. In the very last days of 2014 she won the traditional Festivali i Këngës, the National Final of Albania, with the song "Diell". After some controversy, she finally changed her Eurovision song to "I'm alive", a very smooth ballad which grows as it happens, displaying all the power of Elhaida's voice.

Latvia | Aminata - "Love injected"

EUROVISION

From May 12th to May 18th, Sounds European! will review the best entries of this year's Eurovision Song Contest, which is going to take place in Vienna – with semifinals on May 19th and 21st and the final on the 23rd.

Aminata Savadogo, born in Riga in 1993, is an example of how the world can be a melting pot: her mother is Latvian with Russian descent and her father is from Burkina Faso. Aminata will defend the flag of Latvia in Vienna with "Love injected", a very deep pop track which explores her voice to the most.

France | Nadav Guedj - "Golden boy"

EUROVISION

From May 12th to May 18th, Sounds European! will review the best entries of this year's Eurovision Song Contest, which is going to take place in Vienna – with semifinals on May 19th and 21st and the final on the 23rd.

Born in France, but raised in Israel, Nadav Guedj is one of the several very young talents who will be on the Eurovision stage in Vienna. The 16-year-old singer will represent Israel with "Golden boy" with a mission: take his country back to the contest's final, feat which doesn't happen since 2010. His song is greatly entertaining! It starts slow, then becomes a catchy dance track, for later exploding into a very traditional chorus.

Norway | Mørland feat. Debrah Scarlett - "A monster like me"

EUROVISION

From May 12th to May 18th, Sounds European! will review the best entries of this year's Eurovision Song Contest, which is going to take place in Vienna – with semifinals on May 19th and 21st and the final on the 23rd.

Norway's Melodi Grand Prix 2015 found its winners in the Norwegian singer Mørland and Swiss-born Debrah Scarlett. Their song, "A monster like me", is a very emotional and soulful ballad. A very soft and broken first two minutes eventually lead to an epic finish, including a beautiful orchestration. Delicious one!

Austria | The Makemakes - "I am yours"

EUROVISION

From May 12th to May 18th, Sounds European! will review the best entries of this year's Eurovision Song Contest, which is going to take place in Vienna – with semifinals on May 19th and 21st and the final on the 23rd.

The Makemakes are an Austrian rock band which was founded in 2012 in Vöcklabruck. They'll have the honour of representing their country exactly when it is hosting the contest, after almost 50 years from the previous time. Their entry "I am yours" is a very beautiful rock ballad, which reminds us of some of the work by the bands The Beatles and Coldplay.

Switzerland | Mélanie René - "Time to shine"

EUROVISION

From May 12th to May 18th, Sounds European! will review the best entries of this year's Eurovision Song Contest, which is going to take place in Vienna – with semifinals on May 19th and 21st and the final on the 23rd.

Mélanie René was born in Geneva in 1990. She won the Swiss national selection, called Die Entscheidungsshow, last January with "Time to shine". The song is a haunting pop with folkloric elements, very nice chorus and a tremendous display of Mélanie's vocals.