Cesár Sampson: Everytime I wrote “You”, I either meant my inner self, the higher power, or all of you, who are listening to me

Photo: Jeff Mangione

Hello everybody! It's time to get to know more about the Austrian act for ESC 2018, here are Cesár's answers:
Name: Cesár Sampson
Birthday: 18.08.1983
Height: 183
Favorite color: Gold
Favorite food: Sweetpotato Quinoa Risotto and heaps and heaps of letucce :)
Where are you right now? Munich,Germany for the weekend
3 things that make you happy: Truth, Love, Nature
What’s your strangest talent? I don´t get hematoma :D
What is the strangest thing you have in your room? I don´t think I have any strange things in my room
What are you really good at? Bringing my point across with words
What are you really bad at? smalltalk
Childhood idol: Michael Jackson
Childhood memory: kissing LaToya Jackson (on the lips! haha)
Celebrity crush: LaToya Jackson :D
Tell me something no one knows about you: I am an alien visitor from Planet Melmak
What would you do if you were invisible? Be very very bored. I am a Leo, we don´t fantasize about being invisible:)
Favorite movie: The OA (not exactly a movie but still)
Favorite TV series: Game of Thrones
What is your guilty pleasure? I watch fictional character deathmatches on youtube :D like Mickey Mouse vs Danger Mouse :D
If you were a girl for a day, what would you do? I´d finally find out why girls always go to the rest room as a team.
Name a song that never fails to make you happy: Nobody but You 
Can you teach me some interesting words in German?  « Nahrungsmittelunverträglichkeit » = food intolerance
« Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft » = Danubian Steamship Company
« Arbeiterunfallversicherungsgesetz » = worker accident insurance law

Photo: Thomas Ramstorfer

Hello Cesár! How are you doing?
Fantastic!

How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I would describe myself as a late blooming artist, considering I´ve been one for about 17 years.

You were part of the Bulgarian team for ESC in 2016 and 2017, what did you learn from those experiences?
More than I can list here, certainly. Most importantly, I learnt how important it is to be yourself and to lower your guards. People have to feel who you are. 

You were selected by ORF to represent Austria in Lisbon. How did it all begin?
The ORF prompted me about submitting a song back in 2016, and then again in 2017. In 2017 all the right ingredients came together and so, here I am.

Photo: Maria Hintz

“Nobody but you” is the title of your song, and it’s written by you, Sebastian Arman, Joacim Persson, Johan Alkenäs and Borislav Milanov. How was it to work with them?
Sebastian, Boris and me know each other since almost 15 years, so we have a good understanding of where everyone is coming from. Joacim and Johan are the coolest guys, they are such fun personalities and amazing professionals. I´m lucky to have them on board. The fact that 5 people can end up on the same page about one song, speaks for itself. 

Photo: Jeff Mangione

What’s the story behind the song?
Since Sebastian and I started writing the song, there have always been two parallel, but not mutually exclusive meanings to it. Let me just say, I didn´t write it with a person in mind. Everytime I wrote “You”, I either meant my inner self, the higher power, or all of you, who are listening to me. Sebastian on the other hand would probably give you a different answer entirely.

Photo: Thomas Ramstorfer

Describe the song with 4 words:
Groovy, rocknroll, grand, spiritual

What can we expect to see on stage for the performance?
Expect the unexpected

Photo: Thomas Ramstorfer

Tell me about the official video of “Nobody but you”:
It was hard work, shooting in the freezing cold for hours on end, and I spent most of that time shivering, as I was the only one who was not sufficiently clothed for the occasion ;)

What do you like about Eurovision?
I like the professionality of it, the size of it, the idea behind it, and the mottos, that always center around inclusion, diversity and feeling connected. 

What do you dislike about Eurovision?
I rather dislike when eurovision (just like any other big event) is abused by indivduals, to further their closed-minded agendas. Individuals that certainly cannot be called true eurovision fans. But we are not letting anyone harsh our mellow:)

Tell me the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word:
Freedom: being yourself, always
Nightmare: I don´t have them, the waking world contains all the horrors I can handle
Euroclub: If the Songcontest is the heart of Eurovision, Euroclub is its liver:))) 
Tight pants: not for me
Chicken sound: bagawwwk
Future: Unknown

Photo: Maxwell

What are your plans for 2018?
I take things one step at a time, theres lots to do in the present.

Thank You!

Thanks to Cesár for the interview! All the best in the contest!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CesarSampsonOfficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cesarsampson/

Georgia 2018: Iriao

Time to listen to song 43! This is the Georgian entry, "For you"

It is nice to see something like this in ESC! I like it but I dont think it will be one of my favorites.

Bulgaria 2018: Equinox

This is "Bones", the Bulgarian entry for ESC 18:

Hmmm I dont know how I feel about this, I like the idea of the song but I feel there's nothing genuine about it, however I think this will do very well cause Im sure they will sound amazing live.

Lithuania 2018: Ieva Zasimauskaitė

Photo: sciuka

This is the song that will represent Lithuania in May: "When we're old"

This is a cute song and she performs it so well, I like it.

Russia 2018: Julia Samoylova

Here is the Russian entry for 2018: I wont break

This is much better than her song from last year, but still not something to get excited for.

Israel 2018: Netta

This is "TOY", the song that will represent Israel in Lisbon:

I wish I had recorded my reaction when I heard this song for the first time (The demo that leaked the day before the official release) cause my jaw fell to the floor just with the intro. This is such an exciting entry and Im so glad we will get to see Netta shining on stage doing what she knows to do best. I hope they find the perfect staging cause I really think this song deserves a top 5 result. GO NETTA! GO ISRAEL!

Macedonia 2018: Eye Cue

This is the Macedonian entry for ESC 2018: Lost and found

It feels like there are 3 different songs in this entry but strangely it kinda works! Hope they work on a good staging for the performance in May.

Norway 2018: Alexander Rybak

Rybak is back back back back again and this is the song he will sing in Lisbon: "That's how you write a song"

I love Rybak and even if my first reaction to the song was "WTF is this?", it grew on me very fast and  he is such a brilliant performer! Im glad he won MGP! (Cant see this doing well in ESC though)

Sweden 2018: Benjamin Ingrosso

Photo: Olle Sporrong/Expressen

SVERIGE, VI HAR EN VINNARE...BENJAMIN INGROSSO!

I love Benji and Im so glad we will see him in Lisbon! The whole act is pretty strong and I think Sweden is going to get another great result in May! GO BENJAMIN!

BIG SHOUT OUT TO FELIX! (Every single day is my favorite song of Mello 2018 and he did such a beautiful performance on stage! Cant wait to listen more music from him!)

Ireland 2018: Ryan O'Shaughnessy

Here is the song that will represent Ireland in may: Together

He has a nice voice and the song is not bad, I think this could work for Ireland with a strong performance.

Austria 2018: Cesár Sampson

Photo: Thomas Ramstorfer

This is the song that will represent Austria in Lisbon: Nobody but you

He is so handsome! This is an okay entry, not excited about it right now but it might grow on me later.

Australia 2018: Jessica Mauboy

This is "We got love", the song that will represent Australia in Portugal:

Im not a fan of her and I was expecting to dislike this a lot but I dont, that doesnt mean that I like it cause I dont but this isnt bad.

Croatia 2018: Franka

Photo: SRECKO RUNDIC

Here is the Croatian entry: Crazy

It's nice to see Franka finally representing Croatia, I remember liking her DORA songs back then. This song doesnt tell me much sadly, I wish the chorus was more impactful.

Belgium 2018: Sennek

Time to listen to the Belgian entry for ESC 18, this is "A matter of time":

I really REALLY like the mood of this song, I dont know how it will do in May but this is such a good quality entry and Sennek is amazing! GO BELGIUM!

Portugal 2018: Cláudia Pascoal

This is "O Jardin", the winner of Festival da Canção 2018:

This is a beautiful song and Im glad it won! I hope she gets a good result in May!

Shout out to my other favorite in FDC:
Janeiro

Azerbaijan 2018: Aisel

Here is the song that will represent Azerbaijan this year: X my heart

I think she is a really good artist, but why did she pick this lame song? Im so disappointed!

Iceland 2018: Ari Ólafsson

This is "Our choice", the song that will represent Iceland this year:

He is adorable but I dont like this (Please sing it in Icelandic!)

San Marino 2018: Jessika feat. Jenifer Brening

Here is the song that will represent San Marino in may: Who we are

Is this better than past entries from San Marino? Yeah...I guess but at the same time it's just an okay song (The rap is ridiculous! I'd get rid of it)

Poland 2018: Gromee feat. Lukas Meijer

This is "Light me up", the Polish entry for ESC 2018:

This is just okay, not something to get excited about!

Estonia 2018: Elina Nechayeva

Photo: Kairit Leibold

The winner of Eesti Laul 2018 is Elina Nechayeva with "La Forza":

This lady is so freaking talented! I dont care much about the song but her vocal performance is just WOW and she looks so stunning on stage!

Finland 2018: Saara Aalto

Photo: shotbywarila

YLE ditched the UMK 2018 songs and selected Saara to represent them in Lisbon, this is "Monsters" the song she will sing in May:

I dont like the way YLE handled the UMK 18 thing but I understand their decision to pick Saara, and Im happy for her cause she is living her ESC dream, however I dont get their over the top/glitter/costume change/more is more approach, I know Saara is a campy artist but there are just too many things happening on stage and they just dont work imo. I think the song is nice (Wont be on my favs list though) so I hope they can find a way to fix the messy staging.

Cyprus 2018: Eleni Foureira

This is "Fuego", the song that will represent Cyprus in Lisbon:

I was expecting this to be an Aphrodisiac/This is love/Solayoh kind of cheap mess but I gotta say that this is a very nice party song and I really hope they work hard on the staging and on her vocals cause this truly has the potential to be the bop of the year! Go Cyprus!

The Netherlands 2018: Waylon

Waylon is back and this is "Outlaw in 'em", his Eurovision 2018 song:

Waylon has such a strong stage presence and I think he could do a kick ass performance with this song. Good luck to The Netherlands!