Romania

Jörgen Olsson in Sweden reports that according to Radio Romania International the name of the Romanian contribution is "Eu cred" (I believe) Artist: Malina Olinescu, Composer: Adrian Romcescu. The final was held Saturday, March 14.

I have just received these pictures and text from Andrei Nourescu, the manager of Malina Olinescu.

Over to Andrei:
Malina is 23 years old and she won last year the International Festivals "Mamaia" and "Golden Stag".

I have been managing her for about a year.
She also released her first album, on CD and MC, in English, called "Ready for You".

I attach also a Photo with Malina and VJ Thomas from MTV and a photo with Malina, me (Andrei Nourescu) and Liliana Stafan, the author of the lyrics.

The contest was on 14 March and there were 12 songs in the selection.

Thanks very much to Andrei Nourescu.

Spain

Spanish television have chosen a young singer quite well known in Spain named Mikel Herzog to sing "Que Voy Hacer Sin Ti". Mikel´s club of fans has a web-page you can reach at this link.
Mikel Herzog began as singer with an orchestra and in a choir. Then he became a member of the group "Cadillac" , a group that represented Spain in ESC86. Also, he was member of the group " La Década Prodigiosa" ESC88 in which Mikel made a tour of Spain.
Recently Mikel participed in a "Concert for the Peace" in honor of Miguel Ángel Blanco (a young basque town councillor murdered by the terrorist band E.T.A last July). [Víctor Bedoya, Jose Luis Duran - Spanish Eurosong pages where there is a audio clip now]

France

News from France 2 says plans to have the first French final for many years have were abandoned, due to the poor standard of entry.
France 2 recently announced 38-year old Marie Line (right) would sing "Ou Allez" in Birmingham. [Jose Luis Duran]. She appearred on France 2 on a show 'Vive L' Eurovision' on Saturday 21st March and sang the song. The show was a tribute to the Eurovision Song Contest with many past French stars, and this year's Israeli entrant, Dana International, too.

Poland

Johnny Andersson writes:
Poland is to be represented by Sixteen with the song "To takie proste" (It's so easy).
Lyrics by Olga Pruszynska and music by Jaroslaw Pruszkowski. In a public voting recently, Sixteen were voted as the 6th best Polish group of 1997 as well as 3rd crap. Same position achieved by Aqua in the foreign category.
Thanks very much for the news Johnny - Johnny's Eurovision web site (Poland & general ESC)

Hungary

The BBC web site reports Charlie (Karoly Harvath) will sing "A holnap mar nemlesz szomoru".

Chris Zavos has sent me this picture of Charlie.

Earlier Erika Zoltan was said to be representing Hungary.