Introduction

• Participant(s): Benny Cristo
• Song: omoga
  
• Writer(s): Benny Cristo
• Composer(s): Filip Vlček
• Broadcaster: ČT
• Social media:         
  
• Team review: 

Benny Cristo has been selected last year already to perform “Kemama” in Rotterdam 2020. As we all know, the contest has been cancelled due to the corona pandemic. Fortunately, the Czech broadcaster CT has chosen him again to represent the Czech Republic in Rotterdam 2021.

Benny Cristo, whose real name is Ben Cristovao was born in Pilsen in 1987. His mother is Czech while is father is Angolan, that’s the reason for the Portuguese name. In 2009 he could reach the 7th place in the casting show “Cesko Slovenská SuperStar”. His debut album “Definitely Different” was the first of three albums so far. He also released various singles and two EP’s. In Benny’s career he could achieve many awards and prices e.g. the best video for “Bomby” . His music combines an interesting mix of Hip Hop, Rn’B and Pop. Benny’s biggest stage appearance took place in the O2 Arena in Prague with 15.000 people, he mainly act in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The new song “omaga” literally means “Oh My God” just distorted like it’s usual in the rap music scene. It’s another typical song from Benny Cristo, a bit faster than “Kemama”, a love song where Benny wants his beloved back:

I'm happy you're here
I'm trying to make you smile for a while
now I'm like oh my god
you're so beautiful

The video clip is cute, Benny is doing everything to get her back. It has a positive vibe and is probably not the typical music, people expect to hear at the Eurovision Song Contest. But the contest get more modern in all aspects and the younger fans should be reached as well to keep it attractive.

History

• Debut: 2007
• Participations: 9
• Victories: 0
• Finals: 3
• Top 10: 1
• Chances for Top 10: 11%
• Chances for Final: 33%

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 thanks to Mikolas Josef with “Lie To Me”, he could make a great sixth place in Lisbon 2018. The year after Lake Malawi reached the 11th place in the Grand Final of Tel Aviv. In contrast to the neighbour country Slovakia, which does not take part anymore since 2013, had only four finalists out of seven participations. Obviously the Slovaks have no interest in the ESC anymore, that’s what the national broadcaster says.

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. Since 2016 the Czech Republic became stronger and come with surprising entries. This is a very good progress and shows contemporary Czech music which is highly appreciated internationally. A great singer with a great song that works.

Great to see that the Czech Republic is showing a high interest despite of so many unsuccessful attempts. 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 former Czechoslovakia could win the contest with Helena Vondráčková and the song "Malovaný džbánku" in 1977

The most popular Czech singer in the ESC is with no doubts is Karel Gott, who has been representing Austria with “Tausend Fenster”, place 13 in 1968, which was composed by Udo Jürgens. Both singers passed away sadly.

Biggest successes

• 1x 6th place
  “Lie To Me” | Mikolas Josef (Lisbon 2018)
• 1x 11th place
  “Friend Of A Friend” | Lake Malawi (Tel Aviv 2019)
• 1x 24th place
  “I Stand” | Gabriela Gunciková (Stockholm 2016)

Video Nostalgia

• “Malá Dáma“| Kabát
  Rank 28 (Semi-Final), Helsinki 2007
• “Aven Romale“| Gipsy.cz
  Rank 18 (Semi-Final), Moscow 2009
• “My Turn“| Martina Bárta
  Rank 13 (Semi-Final), Kiev 2017