Introduction

• Participant(s): Lake Malawi
• Song: "Friend Of A Friend"
  
• Writer(s): Jan Steinsdoerfer, Maciej Mikolaj Trybulec, Albert Černý
• Composer(s): Jan Steinsdoerfer, Maciej Mikolaj Trybulec, Albert Černý
• Broadcaster: ČT
• Social media:         
  
• Team review: 

Like last year the Czech broadcaster CT has made an online poll to determine the Czech representative for the Eurovision Song Contest. The group Lake Malawi has won this contest and will represent the country in Tel Aviv with the song “A Friend Of A Friend”.

The band Lake Malawi consists of Albert Černý (lead vocal, guitar), the founder of the band, Jeroným Šubrt (bass and keys) and Antonín Hrabal (drums). This band had various members and appeared in several festival such as Colours of Ostrava or Rock of People. The debut album “Surrounded by Light” has been received very well so the band has been invited to play as pre band at concerts like The Knooks, Mika and Thirty Seconds To Mars. Lake Malawi have played over 300 gigs in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Austria and the United Kingdom. Have a look at the first singles of the band first song "Always June" and “Chinese tree".

The song “A Friend Of A Friend” is a funny pop tune, very catch and modern. With the sympathetic smile of the singer Albert this will definitely get a lot of attention in Tel Aviv. The song itself won’t get as far as Mikolas Josef, but it’s a very modern arrangement and has a funny story.

History

• Debut: 2007
• Participations: 8
• Victories: 0
• Finals: 2
• Top 10: 1
• Chances for Top 10: 13%
• Chances for Final: 25%

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 and last year in Lisbon, a Top10 position could be achieved by Mikolas Josef with “Lie To Me2". 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, but not taking part since 2012 anymore. 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 positions could be achieved in Stockholm 2016 and Lisbon 2018. 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. And Mikolas Josef could proof for another time that a good song can achieve a great result at the end.

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 6th place Grand Final

• “Lie To Me” – Mikolas Josef

1x 24th place Grand Final

• “I Stand” - Gabriela Gunciková (2016)

Video Nostalgia

• “Malá Dáma“ - Kabát, Rank 28 (Semi Final), Helsinki 2007
  
• “Aven Romale” - Gipsy.cz, Rank 18 (Semi Final), Moscow 2009