We are celebrating four Eurovision birthdays today, despite the fact that there are really just one birthday boy and two birthday girls to celebrate. Let me explain. This was also the birthday of Toše Proeski, and I (yup, getting personal again; sorry about that!) will never stop celebrating him. One of today’s birthday girls, just like yesterday, is a former Eurovision winner; Fionnuala Sherry!
Fionnuala Sherry, 55
In 1995, violinist Fionnuala Sherry represented Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin. Being Irish, she was the fourth Irish artist to win the contest on home ground. She was however the first to win it for another country. Fionnuala won Eurovision as part of the group Secret Garden. Secret Garden is really a duo, consisting of Fionnuala Sherry and Rolf Løvland, but for Eurovision a vocalist and a harpist were added to the lineup. Their “Nocturne” is to this day the only predominantly instrumental Eurovision winner.
Snæbjörn, 40
Snæbjörn Ragnarsson represented Iceland at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen. He did so as member of the band Pollapönk. Snæbjörn is not a regular member of the band, but joins them for live performances when he has the time. He is better known as bassplayer, singer and lyricist of the wonderful viking metal band Skálmöld. Pollapönk finished 15th in the grand final with their entry “No Prejudice”, thus achieving a very “Icelandic result”.
Tina Karol, 33
Tina Karol represented Ukraine at the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest in Athens. She finished in an impressive 7th place with her “Show Me You Love”. In the national final however, the song was called “I Am Your Queen“, but it was reworked before going to Greece.
All of us here at escXtra wish Fionnuala Sherry, Snæbjörn and Tina Karol the happiest of birthdays!
Toše Proeski , 25 January 1981 – 16 October 2007
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