All entries in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest are known, but the actual contest is still six weeks away. As a warm-up, we introduce one of the entries every day in random order. Part seventeen is dedicated to the entry from the Czech Republic.
Basic information
| Performers: | Gipsy.cz |
| Song: | Aven Romale (Come on Roma) |
| Language: | English and Romani |
| Music: | Radoslav Banga |
| Lyrics: | Radoslav Banga |
| Draw: | 2nd in the first semi final |
The song
Aven Romale is an unusual up-tempo song with a folkloristic arrangement and hip-hop elements. Through the lyrics, the singer tells that he is proud of his Romani lifestyle and he invites everyone to sing with him:
Hate me or love me, baby
Speed up from null to eighty
In the next three seconds
Music turns you to slave it
Aven Romale!
If you really wanna understand
Just sing it with me
Aven Romale!
I can make you really sing like Gipsy
The band
Lead singer Radoslav Banga, who had already been successful as a solo artist, founded the band Gipsy.cz in 2006with Vojta Lavicka (violin), Petr Surmaj (guitar, accordion) and (double bass). Their unusual style, which mixes traditional Romani music with rap and pop music, was an instant success and the same year, they won the Andel Award in the newcomer category. Since then, Gipsy.cz have went on to become one of the most popular Czech music acts in the world. In 2007, they went on tour thourgh Europe and played in eight different countries. Later, they would go even further and give concerts in South Korea.
The band has released two albums so far. Their debut album Romano hip hop was a big success in the Czech Republic, where itpeaked at number eight and would remain on the charts for 43 weeks. The debut single of the same title reached number six in the chartsand is their biggest hit to date. The song was also voted Song of the year by the readers of the music magazine Filter. Their second album Reprezent was released in 2008.It reached number eleven in the charts.
The band tried to represent the Czech Republic in the Eurovision Song Contest on both previous occasions. In 2007, they entered the national final with the song Muloland, butcould not winthe selection just like the year after, when they competed with Benga beating. However, that song managed to enter the Cezch single charts, where it peaked at number 51 and would remain on the charts for two months. In 2009, they were chosen internally by the Czech broadcaster to represent the country in Moscow. The song Aven Romale was chosen among two entries presented to the audience.
The national selection
After two classic national finals in 2007 and 2008, the Czech Republic went for the smallest national selection in the 2009 national final season. Gipsy.cz had been chosen internally and presented two songs in a TV show. The winning song was chosen by televoting and it was a narrow decision as Aven Romale got 53% of the votes.
The Czech Republic in the Eurovision Song Contest
The Czech Republic was one of the last European countries to join the Eurovision Song Contest in 2007. They have not been very successful since finishing last in the 2007 semi final and second last in the second semi final of the 2008 contest. It was the seventh country to finish last on its debut (and San Marino would become the eighth one the year after).
PÅ�ejeme Ä�eské republice a Gipsy.cz hodnÄ� štÄ�stí a dobrý výsledek v MoskvÄ�!
Videos
Song presentation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEgjMkjJow8
The video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fScK_qAI6E&rel=0
Romana hip hop:
In the 2008 national final:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDUdHl4C3Lk
Other parts of this series
- France
- Portugal
- Romania
- Denmark
- Netherlands
- Cyprus
- Latvia
- Ireland
- Malta
- Armenia
- Germany
- Serbia
- Belgium
- Greece
- Croatia
- Poland
Tomorrow, we will take a look at the Icelandic entry.
