New music this week (part 2): Songs from Helena Paparizou, Barbara Pravi, Salvador Sobral and more

Salvador Sobral, Portugal’s 2017 Eurovision winner, teams up with Astrid Canales for “Empty,” featured on Astrid’s latest album EGO. Sung in Spanish, the track feels like a heartfelt musical dialogue, accompanied by gentle piano. Its melancholic and nostalgic tone makes it a perfect album outro, touching the soul of anyone who appreciates slow, introspective ballads.

Connect-R, who represented Moldova in 2006 alongside Natalia and Arsenium, continues his musical journey this week with long-time friends Smiley and Alex Velea. Their new song, “How Your Mother Made You,” is a slower-paced track compared with their previous releases but still features Connect-R’s signature energetic rap.

The song is a heartfelt tribute to women, celebrating their natural beauty even on days when they don’t feel it. The chorus declares: “How beautiful you are like this/ Just how your mother made you/ Natural, you don’t need anything else/ I love you exactly as you are.”

Soraya, who represented Spain in 2009, is back this week with an energetic collaboration featuring Essie de Vall and Seiken. Their new track, “There Are No Chains,” is an EDM banger perfect as a club anthem, a party starter, or just a confidence booster in your earphones. The lyrics are a powerful reminder of personal strength and optimism: “There are no chains now/ The fear is left behind/ Your wings have started to spread/ You’re ready to fly/ You will shine…/ You will shine!”

Ferman, who represented Turkey in 2010 as the frontman of maNga, returns with “He’s Gone.” The song blends contemporary Turkish sounds with a poetic depth, serving as a tribute to the Turkish poet Refik Durbaş.

Its lyrics explore longing and loss, portraying someone unable to move on from a past love, even when knowing that person will never return. Rich in metaphors and vivid imagery, the song captures the ache of devotion: “I dedicated myself to a disaster/ Trying my voice on a new dead body, every day/ The morning and the coming of spring/ The afternoons that live in paintings/ The rhyme that evening casts into solitude/ The nights cut off by the sword/ The dungeons of bluebirds.”

Sebastien, who represented France in Eurovision 2008, returns with “Naïve at Heart,” a chanson that blends retro charm with futuristic touches. The music video transports you into Sebastien’s unique musical universe, visually complementing the song’s atmosphere. Lyrically, it delves into loneliness and lingering heartbreak: “Naïve at heart/ Long distance sadness, crying on the shore/ I wake up alone, I’m all alone, it’s my fault,” exploring the haunting echoes of love stories that didn’t last.

Evridiki, who represented Cyprus in 1992, 1994, and 2007, returns with a deeply personal and emotional track, “Listen daddy, listen father.” The song is a heartfelt letter to her late father, released on his birthday. With a delicate arrangement of piano and strings orchestra, the song captures raw honesty and emotion. The lyrics celebrate cherished memories while expressing longing and pain: “But I remember your words/ ‘Let’s go, my little one, let’s go’/ ‘Put on a shirt, don’t get cold’/ ‘Don’t rush to grow up’/ I used to sing you songs/ And you used to give me flowers.”

Aminata, who represented Latvia in 2015, returns with a full Latvian-language album featuring 11 songs that showcase her remarkable vocal talent. Every track delivers quality, but standouts like “Viedoklis” (“Opinion”) and “Upe” (“River”) are bound to become fan favourites. The title track, “Liela Meitene” (“Big Girl”), comes with a music video and is a powerful pop anthem reflecting on childhood and the journey to adulthood, celebrating a young woman finding her strength and independence.

ISAAK, who represented Germany in last year’s Eurovision, returns with a heartfelt pop ballad. The song captures the feeling of crashing and burning after being left behind, mixing melancholy with moments of raw emotion. Its lyrics speak about fighting inner demons and feeling hollow, making it a perfect soundtrack for the moody autumn season.

Jeangu, who was selected to represent the Netherlands in 2020 (when the contest was cancelled) and returned in 2021, is back with a new album exploring the stages of youth—awkwardness, loneliness, and self-discovery. The 12-track album takes listeners through a variety of musical genres, from heartfelt ballads like “The Distance” and “What You Dreamed About” to irresistible dance tracks such as “Everybody Needs Somebody” and “On Top Of The World.” The standout anthem of the album is “Independent Girls and Nasty Evil Gays,” perfectly capturing the playful and bold spirit of the record.

Marko, who represented Croatia in 2013 as part of the music ensemble Klapa s Mora, returns with “Whirlwind and Storm,” a powerful ballad. The black-and-white music video heightens the song’s dramatic intensity. With lyrics like “I’m not fatal, I’m not even a lover / Just the wrong man for the wrong woman,” the track explores a love that blossomed at the wrong time and place, leaving only regrets behind.

Timebelle, who represented Switzerland in 2017, teams up with their Romanian vocalist Runa and John Puzzle for “Espresso Macchiato.” And yes, it is THAT “Espresso Macchiato.” Originally Tommy Cash’s song, which represented Estonia in this year’s Eurovision and finished 3rd in the final chart, this version comes as a club remix designed to get everyone moving on the dancefloor.

Jurijus, who represented Lithuania in 2019, is back with a perfect autumn anthem called “Burning Leaves.” The music video features him performing on a balcony, while his bandmates play on other balconies, creating a visually engaging experience. The song blends rock influences with addictive radio-friendly melodies, making it the perfect soundtrack for your autumnal walks.

Joost, who was selected to represent the Netherlands last year, is back with a new track called “Second Hand.” The song delivers his signature rap flow, tackling themes about his country, life, and the things that need changing, with lines like “everything has a price but the price is negotiable.” The music video includes English subtitles, allowing fans to dive deeper into the lyrics, while Joost stays true to the style that his audience loves.

Tajci, who represented Yugoslavia in 1990, returns with a new track called “Everyone Knows Their Own Path.” The song is an empowering anthem about staying true to yourself and following your own path, regardless of what others think. Infused with traditional Balkan influences, it showcases Tajci’s diva energy while delivering an authentic taste of folk music.

We close this week’s round-up with Lord of The Lost, the legendary German rock band who competed in Eurovision in 2023. They recently collaborated with the German symphonic metal band Beyond The Black to deliver a stunning fusion of rock, metal, and symphonic music. The song is a powerful meditation on loneliness: “Hello solitude, I’m back again/ To make loneliness my home/ Where reflection is my closest friend/ It’s the art of being alone.”

New music this week (part 2): Songs from Helena Paparizou, Barbara Pravi, Salvador Sobral and more

New music from Eurovision artists: 2025 | Week 41 part 2

Helena Paparizou & Konstantinos Christoforou – “Latrevo”

Ben Cristovao & Stefan Medjmedj – DENPASAR

Coline Rio feat. Barbara Pravi – “La gentillesse”

S10 & Froukje – “Offline” & “Misschien”

Astrid Canales feat. Salvador Sobral – “VACÍO”

Connect-R, Smiley & Alex Velea – “Cum Te-a Facut Mama Ta”

Soraya, Essie de Vall & Seiken – “You Will Shine”

Ferman Akgül – “O Gitti”

Sebastien Tellier – “Naïf de Coeur”

Evridiki – “Άκου μπαμπά, άκου πατέρα”

Aminata – Liela Meitene

ISAAK – “PAPER PLANE”

Jeangu Macrooy – Young, Awkward & Lonely

Marko Škugor – “Vira i nevira”

Timebelle & John Puzzle – “Espresso Macchiato”

Jurijus – “Degantys lapai”

Joost – “Tweedehands”

Tajci – “Svako svoj put zna”

Beyond The Black feat. Lord Of The Lost – “The Art Of Being Alone”

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