Hungary 2019: All you need to know about Joci Pápai and his entry Az én apám”
After three qualifying heats and two semi-finals and a total of 30 candidates, Hungary selected its Eurovision 2019 representative once again through the national selection format of A Dal . Joci Pápai emerged as the winner of the final show of “A Dal 2019” and will represent Hungary in Tel Aviv with the song Joci “Az én apám”.
A few words about Joci Pápai
József (Joci) Pápai, was born on September 22, 1981 and he’s a Hungarian roma singer, rapper , guitar player and voice actor. The road to fame for Joci wasn’t an easy one as he made attempts so people get to know him through several televised shows. He initially received some publicity in 2005 during his participation in a talent show, but no success followed. Almost a step away from resigning from his dream of becoming a popular singer, came the song Origo, and his participation in the national final “A Dal 2017” which he won and represented Hungary at Eurovision 2017 in Kiev, achieving an 8th placing in the Grand final.
Following his Eurovision participation came several concerts across the country and abroad and new work that met wide acceptance by the audience.
The entry “Az én apám”
Strings resound in my ear with his heart
Days of the past, jolly lovely days
Songs of the past, memories everlast
Na na na…
My sorrow’s gone as he sings his song
Days of the past, jolly lovely days
Songs of the past memories everlast
Na na na…
The Eurovision Story So Far
The Hungarians made an attempt to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993. They participated in the special prelimary semi-final in Ljubiana with Andrea Szulak‘s Arva reggel. The country failed to win one of the three spots that led to Millstreet in Ireland.
In 1994 the country finally debuted in the contest with Friderika Bayer and her song Kinek mondjam el vetkeimet achieving a 4th place in Dublin, which is the Hungary’s best placing up to date. In 1999 the country withdrew from the contest and came back after a six years break, in 2005. In its 16 participations has achieved 6 top 10 placings, specifically: 4th in 1994, 5th in 2014, 8th in 2017 and 9th in 2007 and 10th in 2013.
In 2018 the winners of its traditional national selection A Dal, Rock band AWS represented the country in Lisbon with their entry Viszlat Nyar. The band achieved a 21st placing in the Grand Final
