Introduction

• Participant(s): Mikolas Josef
• Song: "Lie To Me"
  
• Writer(s): Mikolas Josef
• Composer(s): Mikolas Josef
• Broadcaster: ČT
• Social media:      
• Team review: 

For the Czech Republic it’s the 7th entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. This year there were six finalists and it was possible to vote for the favourite via internet. There was no national final though. At the end a jury decided that Mikolas Josef is going to represent the Czech Republic in Lisbon. 

Mikolas has also been asked by the Czech broadcaster CT to represent the country last year with “My Turn”, but he denied as the song was not his song. Later on Marina Bárta has sung the ballad in Kiev and did not reach the Grand Final. 

Mikolas Josef was born in Prague, Czech Republic in 1995. He grew up in family of musicians. Hence he learned to play the guitar in the age of five. He attend the English school in Prague and finished with best notes. In the age of 17 he received the gold medal for singing and acting from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. But Mikolas denied to go to University instead he wanted to dedicate his life to music. He went through various European city like Oslo, Vienna, Zurich and Hamburg as a street musician. Mikolas also worked as a male model for various brands, but after a year he gave up modelling.

Now Mikolas decided to live in Vienna. He is working with his mentor Nikodem Milewski on his career in music. His first single was “Hands Bloody” , the second song “Free” became the fourth most played song in the Czech Republic. “Believe” was his third success. 

The song “Lie To Me” is about a find the right partner after a break up. Don’t get too negative and dance and sing instead – is the message. The music is very 2018 and there is a very catchy trumpet sound supporting the entry. The handsome singer Mikolas will definitely get a lot of attention in Lisbon. He is funny and clever and the RnB style of his songs is totally up to date. Mikolas is perfectly in his choreographies and he knows how to achieve the best attention. With his positive attitude and youngish smile he will definitely surprise the Europeans in Lisbon.

Good Luck! 

History 

• Debut: 2007
• Participations: 7
• Victories: 0
• Finals: 1
• Top 10: 0
• Chances for Top 10: 0%
• Chances for Final: 14%

The stats for the Czech Republic do not look overwhelming, but there is a very positive development since 2016, where a place in the Grand Final could be achieved for the first time. Even if the Czech Republic reached the Grand Final with “I Stand” by Gabriela Gunčiková, the 25th place was the second last, but at least a good quality entry could have been presented to an audience of 200 million possible viewers. In contrast to the neighbour country Slovakia, the Czech Republic is on a good way to success in the ESC.

The Czech Republic has been transmitting the Eurovision Song Contest for many years until they have decided to join the contest in 2007, while Slovakia has participated since 1994 already. The Czech debut entry “Malá Dáma” by the rock singer Kabát has only received one point in the Semi Final and came last. Many TV spectators would have not even noticed that the Czech Republic has been taking part in those years, as they have never passed the qualification rounds, and only appeared in the Semi Finals. The best position could be achieved in Stockholm 2016. This was a very good progress and showed contemporary Czech music which was highly appreciated internationally.

Great to see that the Czech Republic is showing a high interest despite of so many unsuccessful attempts. Like the qualification from 2016 it looks quite prosperous for the Czech Republic, a great singer with a great song that works. So the Grand Final is reachable it just depends on the entry and the singer.
The former Eastern European countries had a similar contest in the past called “InterVision”, which resulted of the annual Sopot Festival in Poland. This was a music festival from the post-Soviet states and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. There countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, GDR, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, even Western European countries participated like Finland, Switzerland and even beyond Canada and Cuba. A lot of international stars have been invited as well such as Whitney Houston, Vanessa Mae, Chris Rea, Annie Lennox, LaToya Jackson, Tanita Tikaram and many more. There were plans for a revival of this contest with Russia and China.

The most popular Czech singer in the ESC is with not doubts Karel Gott, who has been representing Austria with “Tausend Fenster”, place 13 in 1968, which was composed by Udo Jürgens.

Biggest successes

1x 24th place Grand Final

• I Stand” - Gabriela Gunciková (2016)

Video Nostalgia

• “Have Some Fun“ - Tereza Kerndlová, Rank 18 (Semi Final), Belgrade 2008

•  “My Turn” - Martina Bárta, Rank 13 (Semi Final), Kiev 2017