The Junior Eurovision Song Contest began in 2003 and over the last 16 years it has become a great platform for countries to showcase their young talent.
In celebration of tonights Junior Eurovision 2019 final at Gliwice Arena in Gliwice-Silesia, Poland we look back at the young Junior Eurovision talent that have leaped into the main Eurovision Song Contest.
Nevena Božović
Nevena Božović - Piši mi (3rd place in JESC - 2007 - Serbia)
Moje 3 - Ljubav je svuda (11th place in the semi final ESC - 2013 - Serbia)
Nevena Božović - Kruna (18th place in ESC - 2019 - Serbia)
Now Nevena Božović must have Eurovision running in her veins, she has jointly appeared in JESC and ESC three times. The first time was in Junior Eurovision with a impressive third place finish in 2007 where she sung her Serbian power ballad “Piši mi”. Six years later she reached the main Eurovision stage as part of the group Moje 3. Unfortunately their Euro banger just missed out on a Grand Final spot coming in at 11th place.
Yet again six years later Nevena Božović would return to the Eurovision stage as a soloist with “Kruna”. Her powerful voice and performance only got her an 18th place finish.
Lisa, Amy & Shelley aka O'G3NE
Lisa, Amy & Shelley - Adem in, adem uit (11th place in JESC - 2007 - The Netherlands)
O’G3NE - Lights and Shadows (11th place in ESC - 2017 - The Netherlands)
Lisa, Amy & Shelley had such dynamic energy together when they sung “Adem in, adem uit” at Junior Eurovision in 2007. I believe they were robbed from a highly placed finish as they ended up in the 11th spot .
A decade would go by until they would reunite for a Eurovision audience once again, but this time as O’G3NE. Their sparkling Eurovision performance of “Lights and Shadows” got them an 11th place finish. It was one of my hot favourites that year.
Michele Perniola and Anita Simoncini
Michele Perniola - O-o-O Sole intern a me (10th place in JESC - 2013 - San Marino)
The Peppermints - “Breaking My Heart” (15th place in JESC - 2014 - San Marino)
Michele Perniola and Anita Simoncini - Chain of Lights (16th in the semi final ESC - 2015 - San Marino)
The Italian native, Michele Perniola first represented San Marino at the Junior Eurovision 2013 Contest where he sung the crowd favourite “O-o-O Sole intern a me” with his striking golden jacket and energetic dance routine. He got San Marino a top 10 position in their debuting year in the Contest.
The following year San Marino sent the all girl group The Peppermints with their powerful pop song “Breaking My Heart”. Anita from the group, the one wearing the red skirt in their performance, was the first Sammarinese singer to represent San Marino, as all the other members of the group were from Italian decent.
Both Michele and Annita from The Peppermints joined forces in 2015 to compete in Eurovision with the song “Chain of Lights”. Unfortunately they didn’t qualify for the Grand Final.
Tolmachevy Sisters
The Tolmachevy Twins - Vesenniy Jazz (1st place in JESC - 2006 - Russia)
Tolmachevy Sisters - Shine (7th place in ESC - 2014 - Russia)
These Russian identical twins Anastasiya and Maria Andreyevna Tolmachevy are the most successful Junior Eurovision participants. They won Junior Eurovision in 2006 at just nine years old with their song “Vesenniy Jazz”, which in English means Spring Jazz. They sung with such enthusiasm, confidence and fun energy! They took that energy along with a large seesaw to the Eurovision stage in 2014 with their song “Shine”, but were subject to some unfortunate booing from the audience. Their awesome performance got them a 7th place in the Grand Final keeping Russia in the top 10 for a third straight year. In 2019 they were part of the Russian professional jury for Eurovision.
Backing vocalists
It is worth noting that two JESC singers have gone on to be backing vocalists at the Eurovision Song Contest. Firstly Weronika Bochat who represented Poland at Junior Eurovision in 2004 as part of KWADro went on to be backing vocalist for Marcin Mroziński’s performance “Legenda” in the 2010 Eurovision Contest in Oslo.
Secondly Monica who represented Armenia in the 2008 Junior Contest with the song “Im Ergi Hnchyune” went on to being backing vocalist in two Eurovision performances. Firstly in 2016 for Iveta Mukuchyan with “LoveWave” and most recently in 2018 for Sevak Khanagyan’s “Qami”.
We really hope to one day see Australian Junior Eurovision contestants represent Australia on the big Eurovision stage.
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