Hungary in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Encyclopedia
Hungary participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. The Hungarian broadcaster, Magyar Televízió
(MTV), confirmed their participation in November 2008.
MTV confirmed in January 2009 that an internal selection will be held to select the Hungarian entry for the 2009 contest. An open call for songs was held until 2 February, with both the performer and song being selected internally.
On February 3, after receiving a total of 105 entries, MTV revealed that they had selected Márk Zentai to represent Hungary at the contest in Moscow
, Russia
, with the song "If You Wanna Party". However, shortly after the announcement of the proposed Hungarian entry, it came to light that the song selected had been released in 2004 under the title "We Became Friends", which acted as the Swedish Big Brother
theme song. Zentai withdrew his song from the selection shortly after this news became apparent, and MTV set about finding a new entrant for the contest.
On February 4, MTV announced that actress Kátya Tompos
would replace Zentai as the Hungarian representative, competing with the song "Magányos csónak" (Lonely boat). However the Alliance of Hungarian Popular Music Composers and Songwriters protested that they did not feel as if the jury had long enough to make a correct decision on 3 February, and were dissatisfied with the internal selection instead of a national final where the public could vote for the winner. Other claims were made as well, such as that the songwriters have to be from his or her motherland and that the jury was not professional. MTV, however, stood by their decision of selecting the song internally, as well as revealing that the jury of television and music industry professionals chose the song all day long on 3 February, and that they were satisfied with the jury's decision.
On 10 February, Tompos announced her withdrawal from the contest, alleging she wanted to focus on her theatre career and that she had no time to prepare her participation in Eurovision properly, because she takes part in 8 plays of 3 different theatres. The MTV jury had to convene once again to select another artist to represent Hungary at Eurovision. On 23 February, MTV held a press conference about this year's entrant. They mentioned that the jury chose three songs before the final decision was made to be sure one of them will not withdraw and completely meet the requirements. Then they announced the official entrant, which was Zoli Ádok
with the song "Dance With Me
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnX9_65_qNU.
Zoli performed for Hungary in position 11 in the running order, following Slovenia
and preceding Azerbaijan
. He failed to qualify Hungary to the final for a second successive year.
Magyar Televízió
Magyar Televízió is the Hungarian national public service television company, with three TV channels, called m1 , m2 and m3....
(MTV), confirmed their participation in November 2008.
Selection
| Place | Artist | Song | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Márk Zentai | "If You Wanna Party" | disqualified |
| 2nd | Kátya Tompos Kátya Tompos Kátya Tompos is a Hungarian actress who was to represent Hungary at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song "Magányos csónak"... |
"Magányos csónak" | withdrawn |
| 3rd | Zoli Ádok Zoli Ádok Zoltán Ádok is a Hungarian singer, actor and dancer who represented his nation at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Dance with me". Ádok's song was the internal selection jury's third choice, but after the original winning song was disqualified and the first runner-up withdrawn,... |
"Dance With Me Dance with Me (Zoli Ádok song) "Dance with Me" is a song by Hungarian singer Zoli Ádok and was the Hungarian entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, set to be held in Moscow, Russia... " |
final entrant |
MTV confirmed in January 2009 that an internal selection will be held to select the Hungarian entry for the 2009 contest. An open call for songs was held until 2 February, with both the performer and song being selected internally.
On February 3, after receiving a total of 105 entries, MTV revealed that they had selected Márk Zentai to represent Hungary at the contest in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, with the song "If You Wanna Party". However, shortly after the announcement of the proposed Hungarian entry, it came to light that the song selected had been released in 2004 under the title "We Became Friends", which acted as the Swedish Big Brother
Big Brother Sweden
Big Brother Sverige was the Swedish version of reality TV show Big Brother and was aired from 2000 to 2004 on Kanal 5 for four very successful seasons. In 2005 and 2006 it was merged with the Norwegian version of the show...
theme song. Zentai withdrew his song from the selection shortly after this news became apparent, and MTV set about finding a new entrant for the contest.
On February 4, MTV announced that actress Kátya Tompos
Kátya Tompos
Kátya Tompos is a Hungarian actress who was to represent Hungary at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song "Magányos csónak"...
would replace Zentai as the Hungarian representative, competing with the song "Magányos csónak" (Lonely boat). However the Alliance of Hungarian Popular Music Composers and Songwriters protested that they did not feel as if the jury had long enough to make a correct decision on 3 February, and were dissatisfied with the internal selection instead of a national final where the public could vote for the winner. Other claims were made as well, such as that the songwriters have to be from his or her motherland and that the jury was not professional. MTV, however, stood by their decision of selecting the song internally, as well as revealing that the jury of television and music industry professionals chose the song all day long on 3 February, and that they were satisfied with the jury's decision.
On 10 February, Tompos announced her withdrawal from the contest, alleging she wanted to focus on her theatre career and that she had no time to prepare her participation in Eurovision properly, because she takes part in 8 plays of 3 different theatres. The MTV jury had to convene once again to select another artist to represent Hungary at Eurovision. On 23 February, MTV held a press conference about this year's entrant. They mentioned that the jury chose three songs before the final decision was made to be sure one of them will not withdraw and completely meet the requirements. Then they announced the official entrant, which was Zoli Ádok
Zoli Ádok
Zoltán Ádok is a Hungarian singer, actor and dancer who represented his nation at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Dance with me". Ádok's song was the internal selection jury's third choice, but after the original winning song was disqualified and the first runner-up withdrawn,...
with the song "Dance With Me
Dance with Me (Zoli Ádok song)
"Dance with Me" is a song by Hungarian singer Zoli Ádok and was the Hungarian entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, set to be held in Moscow, Russia...
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnX9_65_qNU.
At Eurovision
Since Hungary is not one of the "Big Four" nor was it the host of the 2009 contest, it had to compete in one of the two semi-finals. At the semi-final allocation draw on 30 January, it was decided that the country would compete in the second semi-final on 14 May 2009.Zoli performed for Hungary in position 11 in the running order, following Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
and preceding Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. He failed to qualify Hungary to the final for a second successive year.