Introduction

• Participant(s): We Are Domi
• Song: Lights Off
  
• Writer(s): Benjamin Rekstad, Dominika Haskova, Abigail Frances Jones
• Composer(s): Benjamin Rekstad, Casper Hatlestad, Dominika Haskova, Abigail Frances Jones, Einar Eriksen Kvaløy
• Broadcaster: ČT
• Social media:        
  
• Team review: 

Last year Benny Cristo has been the Czech singer, who could not pass the semi-final with “omaga”. Nevertheless the Czech broadcaster CT has arranged another online selection called ESCZ 2022”, out of six entries the electro pop band We Are Domi has been chosen. They could achieve the highest votes from both the international juries and international online voters, while the Czech online voters put the group on the fourth place.

The group We Are Domi consists of three musicians: the Czech lead singer Dominika Hašková and two Norwegians Casper Hatlestad (guitar) and Benjamin Rekstad (keyboards). The found each other in 2006, while they have been studying at the Leeds College of Music. The made music together and followed up this project, producing electro pop songs with Scandinavian influence. The music genre also include indie. In the meanwhile the band has recorded six singles including their ESC entry “Lights Off”:

• Let Me Follow (2019)
• Someone New (2020) (2019)
• I'm Not Alright (2020)
• Someone New (2020)
• Come Get Lost (2021)
  
  

The song “Lights Off” is an uplifting electro pop song with a strong chorus and a good rhythm and the most important thing an unmistakable climax. Starting in the stronger second semi-final in Turin will probably not harm the success of this entry. Almost one third of the songs are ballads this year, so it’s good to stand out of the competitors.

History

• Debut: 2007
• Participations: 10
• Victories: 0
• Finals: 3
• Top 10: 1

The stats for the Czech Republic do not look overwhelming, but there is a very positive development since 2016. The lovely Gabriela Gunčíková could reach the Grand Final with her extraordinary song “I Stand”. And two years later Mikolas Josef sang “Lie To Me”, he could even make a Top 10 position. 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 single 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. Now the Czech Republic became stronger and comes with surprising fresh entries. This is a very good progress and shows contemporary Czech music which is highly appreciated internationally. A great singer with a great song is always working.

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 success

• 1x 6th place
  “Lie To Me” | Mikolas Josef (Lisbon 2018) 

Video Nostalgia

• “I Stand” | Gabriela Gunčíková
  Rank 25, Stockholm 2016
• “My Turn“ | Martina Bárta
  Rank 13 (Semi-Final), Kiev 2017
• “Friend Of A Friend” | Lake Malawi
  Rank 11, Tel Aviv 2019
  
  

First Rehearsal