Introduction

• Participant(s): Equinox
• Song: "Bones"
  
• Writer(s): Borislav Milanov, Joacim Persson, Brandon Treyshun Campbell, Dag Lundberg
• Composer(s): Borislav Milanov, Joacim Persson, Brandon Treyshun Campbell, Dag Lundberg
• Broadcaster: BNT
  
• Social media:    
  
• Team review: 

What’s going on in Bulgaria? Since the last two year’s the success for Bulgaria at the ESC seems to fly like a rocket. In 2016 Poli Genova could achieve a brilliant 4th place with “If Love Was A Crime” and the year after Kristian Kostov was able to top that with “Beautiful Mess”, a fabulous 2nd place! Don’t underestimate Bulgaria in the ESC again! Since Bulgaria is working with Borislav Milanov, Trey Campbell, Joacim Persson and Dag Lundberg as Symphonix International a victory seems to be closer as ever.

Well, this year won’t be an exception. The band Equinox has extra been collected together for the Eurovision Song Contest. The band members consists of three Bulgarians and two Americans: Zhana Bergendorff, Vladimir Mihailov, Georgi Simeonov, Johnny Manuel and Trey Campbell. The name of the geographical expression can be taken literally, as all members enjoy the equal rights.

• Zhana Bergendorff is one of the most successful singers in Bulgaria. She has become famous since her participation at the “X Factor Bulgaria” in 2013. Zhana has released several singles. 

• Vladimir Mihailov is singer, songwriter and actore, has already being part of the bands Safo and Sleng. He has been one of the backing singers of last year’s entry “Beautiful Mess”. 

• Georgi Simeonov is also a singer and songwriter, was part of the Bulgarian boy band 032 and started a solo career. 

• Johnny Manuel is a singer and has been on tour with NSYNC when he was 14 year old. In 2017 he reached the semi final of “America’s Got Talent”. With his performance of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” he became really popular. 

• Trey Campbell is a songwriter from Los Angeles, USA.

The song “Bones” is a very modern and catchy song, despite of the dark and mystic lyrics. What will happen with us, when we are off earth? Love is like a black hole, the textline says. That does not sound too optimistic, but with the success from the previous year it can be expected that this one will do well again. Just imagine the realisation on stage. It already belongs to the favourites.
So don’t underestimate Bulgaria this year again!

History

• Debut: 2005
• Participations: 12
• Victories: 0
• Finals: 3
• Top 10: 3
• Chances for Top 10 placing: 25%
• Chances for Final: 25%

Bulgaria takes part for the 12th time in the Eurovision Song Contest. And recently Bulgaria has developed a really good and successful way. These days you always have to aware what is coming from the Balkan country. Bulgaria has paused in the 2014 and 2015, but is back since 2016 and will be among the 63rd edition of the ESC in Lisbon. Interesting to know that Bulgaria had its debut in Kiev in 2005, 17 years ago.

The Bulgarian debut entry “Lorraine” by Kaffe was a wonderful song and unfortunately this entry has not qualified for the Grand Final in Kiev. Since then Bulgaria is mostly trying to participate. The neighbour country Romania has already joined the ESC family in 1994.

The biggest success so far was last year’s performance of Kristian Kostov with “Beautiful Mess” – a great entry, which was very close to victory as never before, at the end Kristian made a very good 2nd place. The year before Poli Genova made made a 4th place in Stockholm. And not to forget the extraordinary drum performance “Water” by Elitsa Todorova & Stoyan Yankulov in Helsinki 2007, they made a great 5th place.

Bulgarian entries showed different music styles over the years. Unfortunately, not all songs matched the European taste. If there is an international production like the last two years, the chances for a good placing are a lot higher. The verve for the ESC in Bulgaria has increased from year to year, even if Bulgaria did not make it into the Grand Final.

Biggest successes

1x 2nd place

• Kristian Kostov |  Beautiful Mess (2017)

1x 4th place

• Poli Genova | If Love Was A Crime (2016)

1x 5th place

• Elitsa Todorova & Stoyan Yankulov | Water (2007)

Video Nostalgia

• “Lorraine” | Kaffe, Rank 19 (Semi Final), Kiev 2005
• “DJ, Take Me Away” | Deep Zone & Balthazar, Rank 12 (Semi Final), Belgrade 2008
• “Love Unlimited” | Sofi Marinova, Rank 11 (Semi Final), Baku 2012