So, now we're going to one of the most sucesseful countries in both EM and ESC. Brittany Ashworth or, as we call her, Britt is an english girl playing on its home ground!







About EM:
1. How did you joined EM? How did you find out about EM?
I joined EM back in January 2012 at EM11, representing Ireland! I honestly have no idea how I found out about EM, I believe I received an email about it, as I am a huge Eurovision fan and was part of several websites dedicated to Eurovision.

2. Did you discover new music at EM? Name some of your favourite songs.
I definitely discovered some AMAZING songs. I love to learn about cultures and languages and it made me appreciate other languages so much more - my music playlist is so diverse and brilliant now thanks to EM! Some of my top favourites that come to me right now are:
From Ukraine, Ani Lorak - "Solntse"
From Sweden, Anna Bergendahl - "The Army"
From Italy, Annalisa - "Senza Riserva"
From Turkey, Kolpa - "Beni Aşka İnandır

3. What do you like most about EM?
I love the mixture of cultures, languages and the fact that's a place to express my love for all things from Eurovision where I often find it difficult to express within my daily life - plus I love meeting new people and new languages and new music!

4. Are you happy with the results and voting system in general?
Pretty happy, yes. I do often find the winner is a song I have never voted for - but I enjoy that, because it's always exciting to find out who the winner is as there is never an obvious country!

5. Do you think that this contest can be improved? How?
More links or ideas to the actual official Eurovision song contest!

6. What do you think about the EM Organizers and the other groups of EM (Family, Journalists, Fairness Commitee)?
I think all the organizers do a fantastic job and have dealt with the majority of situations very well indeed. I love the EM family, its a great page and I love to read everyone's posts and see their music, opinions and languages! I do wish we had more articles from the Journalists but I understand time is a big problem and also there isn't much Eurovision related news at the moment!

7. Did EM influenced your life in some particular way?
It helped me explore wider music genres and languages and songs I would have never listened to. I love everthing about it!

About ESC:
8: Since when do you follow the show? Which are you first memories of it?
My first ever memory was from the 2002 contest when Latvia and Marie N won! I loved the idea of having fantastic, strange and awesome music on the TV! I was only aged 8, but since then, myself and my family have been HUGE fans and have followed the contest ever since!

9. Did you liked this year's winner? Did you had any other favourites?
Only Teardrops? I found it to be a very predictable win! My other favourites were Italy, Georgia, Norway and Greece which were all fantastic songs!

10. What about ESC2014? What are you expecting with all the recent news, from already selected singers to details about the venue and the show?
I'm incredibly excited for ESC 2014 as I may be able to actually attend it live! My country, United Kingdom typically does terrible at Eurovision, but I've heard we have a new selection process for 2014 which is incredibly exciting. I hope for good things!

11. If you had to select, which would be your "All-Time" song from ESC?
It simply HAS to be Serbia 2007 "Molitva" - amazing, catchy, gives me the shivers every single time I hear it. A fantastic song, in Serbian (and most winners seem to be in English!) and simply amazing. It was the song what won that year, not the production or the dancers - it was a great year for music!...

A close second does have to be 1997 UK "Love Shine A Light", as it is my own country, and our last win and the song really speaks to me and I love it!!

12. Any last words to end the interview?
Thank-you for interviewing me - I hope you all love eurovison as much as me and Eurovision Memories, which is a significant part of my life now! Thank-you! xoxo

Well, thank you, Britt!

Oh, and Congratulations! You just won the last edition of Season 3!! We want to know as soon as possible where we're going to meet in the beginning of the next season!

Today, we're going South to do our next interview. Flávio Ferreira, from Portugal, is the Icelandic HoD and our 4th interviewed person.








About EM:
1. How did you joined EM? How did you find out about EM?
I joined EM due to two main things: First of all, Márcio has shown it to me. As I had a previous large experience with online contests, I decided to give it a try, as it looked cool.

2. Did you discover new music at EM? Name some of your favourite songs.
If we consider an edition to be a year, I am in EM for a decade, so, I can proudly say that I discovered a lot of good and new songs at EM. Some of them made it into my playlists, like "Run Run Run" (by Celeste), "Thank you very much" (by Margaret), "Up in the sky" (by Bombay Street) and many others.

3. What do you like most about EM?
EM has attracted me by its website design: every edition and every country has a special page, making things easier. But what I really like the most is what makes EM special: we're like a family, we have a team, and everyone can share what they feel about it. It's not just a simple contest.

4. Are you happy with the results and voting system in general?
Well, that's a complex question, as it really depends in the general taste of the participants. Generally talking, the results have shown the mainstream about the music styles, but sometimes some songs surprise us. About the voting system... I think there is one change that can be done: the SC round, I find it somehow needless.

5. Do you think that this contest can be improved? How?
I've just mentioned the SC round, which is something I would like to see changed. Herewith, I don't think this contest needs a structural change. Nevetheless, I would love to see each participant giving its votes in a 50/50 way (jury/public), each way focusing in perceived quality and personal taste, respectively. In the end, we could see the differences.

6. What do you think about the EM Organizers and the other groups of EM (Family, Journalists, Fairness Commitee)?
When I entered EM, I saw the Fairness Commitee as something not so fair. With time, in spite of the tensions between some players, I began to see that the FC was actually something trustable, as well as the other groups. It's one of the things which makes EM different, more sophisticated.
About the other groups: they really help EM to stand up, not just the contest itself, but the players as well. Every group, specially the family and the journalists, make things more realistic, and not just about winning or losing the editions. It unites the players for sure.

7. Did EM influenced your life in some particular way?
I don't think it has influenced my life in the long run, but surely it has in the short run. I've dedicated some hours to the contest, trying to find good songs to send, trying to vote, etc. I could have used those hours for something else, but if I used them for EM, it may mean that the contest has some influence in my life.


About ESC:
8: Since when do you follow the show? Which are you first memories of it?
I follow ESC since 2004, but just as an addicted fan since 2008. I remember every single time I watched it, which is something meaningful to me. But still, I remember watching the voting of the 2001 contest, as well as some songs of the 2003 contest, the latter being my favorite edition of all time (I like every song of that year).

9. Did you liked this year's winner? Did you had any other favourites?
Of course I did, Emmelie was my favorite since she won DMGP. The song is powerful, catchy, so it deserved. I also love the song from Sweden, Ukraine, and many others. A powerful year, I should say.

10. What about ESC2014? What are you expecting with all the recent news, from already selected singers to details about the venue and the show?
Just the fact that Denmark is going to host it makes me excited. The idea of the stage being in the middle, the arena being in an Eurovision-themed island, and so on, may add value to the contest. About the singers: I don't know the Macedonian one, I won't comment about the Austrian, and I just hope for something good from Valentina, the diva from San Marino, ahah. And hurray for Portugal, my country, which is back!

11. If you had to select, which would be your "All-Time" song from ESC?
"Hold On Be Strong", by Maria Haukaas Storeng (Norway 2008). It wasn't my favorite back then, but with time, I learned to love this tune. The lyrics make it even more special to me.

12. Any last words to end the interview?
Hum, when is this interview going to be shown?... Ahah, just kidding. Well, I wish good luck to everyone, not only in EM, but in their lives as well. I just wish EM to be as great as it has been until now.

Here's our third interview! This time, we interviewed Dávid Koleszár, one of the few persons who has the luck to represent their own country in Eurovision Memories (in this case, Hungary).







About EM: 
1. How did you joined EM? How did you find out about EM?  

I've joined EM in June, in 2012, when I've finished my exams in high school. I've found out about EM on the Internet, I just saw an article about it on the ESC Hungary Fan Page on Facebook. Then,  I've discovered that Hungary was free and I've joined. 

2. Did you discover new music at EM? Name some of your favourite songs.  

I've discovered many new musics at EM and I'm glad that I find new songs in every edition. I think, that there are many styles of music, from which I can select my favourites. Some of my favourite songs are:  

Mónica Naranjo - Make you rock  
Severina - Hurem 
Stromae - Papaoutai  
Kate Winslet - What if 

3. What do you like most about EM?  

I like the fact that we are a cohesive team, the design of each edition, the special editions, of course, and the most important: the music from all Europe. 

4. Are you happy with the results and voting system in general?  

In general, I'm happy with the results, except when Hungary or my favourite song(s) are on the last places. I think that the voting system is fair, because there aren't any block voting and the members vote for the song, not for the person. 

5. Do you think that this contest can be improved? How?  

I think that this contest can be improved. We could give our points with video calling, like in ESC. 

6. What do you think about the EM Organizers and the other groups of EM (Family, Journalists, Fairness Commitee)?  

I'm content with the work of EM Organizers. They work on well and I haven't got problems with them. The EM Family 
works great on Facebook, the Journalists write very good articles and the Fairness Commitee has good decisions in
various cases. 

7. Did EM influenced your life in some particular way?  

The EM really influenced my life, because I've gained new friends from all  Europe, mainly from the neighbour countries 
of Hungary and those friends understand and help me when I've got some problems in my life. I think that the international recognition is very important today. 


About ESC:  
8: Since when do you follow the show? Which are you first memories of it?  

I follow Eurovision since 2007, when Magdi Rúzsa represented Hungary in Helsinki with Unsubstantial Blues. I remember that I accidentally switched on the TV and I've found it. 

9. Did you liked this year's winner? Did you had any other favourites?  

I liked this year's winner and I've heard that Denmark was the most probable winner. I had many favourites, for example:  

Amandine Bourgeois - L'enfer et moi  
Anouk - Birds  
ByeAlex - Kedvesem (Zoohacker remix)  
Cezar - It's my life  

10. What about ESC2014? What are you expecting with all the recent news, from already selected singers to details about the
venue and the show?  

I'm very curious how Denmark will organize Eurovision on their third time. I'm curious how the singers will perform their
songs, how will be the spectacle, the stage, the postcards (if there would be postcards) and what kind of special
performances will exist. 

11. If you had to select, which would be your "All-Time" song from ESC? 

That's a very hard question, because I have many "All-Time" songs. But if I had to choose one song, it would be: Céline Dion - Ne partez pas sans moi (1988 Switzerland). 

12. Any last words to end the interview? 

My friends know that I'm keen on ESC and that's a fact. I know the winners from the beginning with titles, singers or 
groups, countries, host cities and countries, even when I'm drunk. When I go to karaoke parties in Szeged, I mostly sing songs from Eurovision in English, French, Estonian, Russian, Italian, of course and I post it on Facebook. So, ESC and EM are my life.

Many thanks, Dávid! We still have many people to interview and we can even have a surprise! Just stay tuned!

Our second guest for the interviews is Ermin Basaskic, an bosnian person representing Germany in Eurovision Memories.








About EM:

1. How did you joined EM? How did you find out about EM?

Ahh well... I was looking for good contests, then I meet Mihai Moldova and he was talking about a nice contest. I asked him which and he gave me the link of the admin, Florin Suciu!

2. Did you discover new music at EM? Name some of your favourite songs.

Yeah OFC! Mostly, my favorite songs were from Liechtenstein, like 'Mandy Capristo - The Way I Like It' or 'Glasperlenspiel - Ich bin ich' (but I knew that songs already), but there were also great songs from Romania like ABCD - "Final de razboi" or Liviu Hodor feat. Mona - "Sweet Love" (which I didn't knew).

3. What do you like most about EM?

What I like the most in this contest is that it's the fairest online contest I know. Also, the exciting in every edition and the great job the admins are doing here. Oh, and I love the EM X Factor the most.

4. Are you happy with the results and voting system in general?

Hmm, I think that's different by everyone, because some of us love some songs and on the other side we hate some songs too, but I think the only one thing which is maybe negative is that here Im a new member and much of the old members have a little bit influence of friendship in them voting but the rest is fine!

5. Do you think that this contest can be improved? How?

Hmm maybe, but I don't know how.

6. What do you think about the EM Organizers and the other groups of EM (Family, Journalists, Fairness Commitee)?

Oh, well ... all the groups are great!

7. Did EM influenced your life in some particular way?

Ehh... Not really. It's just to have more fun in my life.



About ESC:

8: Since when do you follow the show? Which are you first memories of it?

As my mother said to me, the first time I saw it was when I was 1 year old so, it was in 1999 or 2000 (not sure), but the first one I remember is the 2003 edition. My favorite was Turkey and they have won there.

9. Did you liked this year's winner? Did you had any other favourites?

Well, it was the same situation as with Loreen! I HATE STOLEN SONGS. But, as I didn't knew that, it was my 3rd favorite! I'm really sad because of Cascada and Natália Kelly. They were my number 1 and 3, respectively. Azerbaijan was my 2nd place and, in the end, they got it. And I'm sad that my country, Bosnia&Herzegovina, withdrew from ESC.

10. What about ESC2014? What are you expecting with all the recent news, from already selected singers to details about the venue and the show?

Well, I don't have anything against any of the singers, I first want to hear the song and then, I can gave an opinion. About the show, I think it won't be as good as in 2011 (my favorite ESC show). I only hope that it won't be like the last time in Denmark: too rough and colorless, bad songs and bad results too.

11. If you had to select, which would be your "All-Time" song from ESC?

Well, easy for me: Lena - "Satellite".

12. Any last words to end the interview?

Not really, I only want to say "Thank You" to all the organisation team because it's really helpful, grateful and friendly! Thanks for that and be successful!



Thanks, Ermin! We're still contacting people to answer our questions! Who will be the next?

And we start our round of interviews with the Czech Republic representant, Dinis Lopes, a portuguese player.







About EM: 
1. How did you joined EM? How did you find out about EM?  

It was Flávio's idea to show me the contest and, in general, I really enjoyed its differences compared to the "common" contests. I ended up joining in since I wanted an "adventure" with a country whose music scene I didn't know so well. 

2. Did you discover new music at EM? Name some of your favourite songs.  

I did! Specially songs from The Netherlands and Denmark, and also from the Czech Republic (my country), of course. I really, really liked "Lamppost Light" by Lydmor from Denmark. That song is really beautiful. 

3. What do you like most about EM? 

Easy: the quality and the general look of the website and how it's really well organised. 

4. Are you happy with the results and voting system in general?  

Generally, yes. I can't blame my results on the contest overall, I know it's hard sometimes to appreciate different music genres.  

5. Do you think that this contest can be improved? How? 

I would remove the "Second Chance Round" though, since only a part of the players vote, not exactly everyone, which might be unfair. 

6. What do you think about the EM Organizers and the other groups of EM (Family, Journalists, Fairness Commitee)?  

I don't really think I have much to say about them. They perform a good work overall, and it isn't my place to judge them.

7. Did EM influenced your life in some particular way?  

Not really, or at least not yet! It's just an hobby of mine, simply. 


About ESC: 

8: Since when do you follow the show? Which are you first memories of it? 

I've watched it since the 2005 edition, but only followed it as a "closer" fan (online as well) from 2007 onwards. I remember that, in Sunday Church Class in 2005, we spoke about it once, as the show occured on the night before. It was so fun that we were telling each other our favourites and funny things about it. It's a heartwarming memory. 

9. Did you liked this year's winner? Did you had any other favourites? 

I did, I really like Emmelie de Forest. She was one of my favourites, along with ByeAlex, Bonnie Tyler and Marco Mengoni. 

10. What about ESC2014? What are you expecting with all the recent news, from already selected singers to details about the venue and the show? 

First of all, I'm delighted that Portugal will be back, it's just great. So far, I don't know much, but I am sure that Denmark will be an outstanding host, being it the country that it is. And we get to see Valentina again, yay! *ironic laughter* 

11. If you had to select, which would be your "All-Time" song from ESC? 

RändajadEven though I have various, and it's hard to pick just 1, I would have to say that "Randajad" by Urban Symphony is my favourite song of all time from the contest. It's just too much of a masterpiece to even be just a song, it's even more than that for me. It's like a 3 minute-trip to heaven! 

12. Any last words to end the interview? 

Well, I'd like to thank you for asking me and giving me the chance to share a bit of my thoughts. And I'd like to wish the best to it and all the contestants.

And we finish our first interview! Who will be the next one?? Stay tuned!