Wales in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018#Chwilio am Seren
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox song contest national year
| Contest = Junior
| Year = 2018
| Country = Wales
| Selection process = Artist: Chwilio am Seren
Song: Internal selection
| Selection date = Auditions:
18–25 September 2018
2 October 2018
Final: 9 October 2018
| Artist = Manw
| Song = Perta
| Writer = Ywain Gwynedd
| Final result = 20th (last), 29 points
}}
Wales debuted in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018 held in Minsk, Belarus on 25 November 2018. The Welsh broadcaster S4C was responsible for organising their debut entry for the contest. Manw was selected through Chwilio am Seren to represent Wales, winning the televised national final on 9 October at the Venue Cymru in Llandudno.{{cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2018/10/09/wales-manw-to-junior-eurovision-2018/|title=Wales: Manw to Junior Eurovision 2018|last=Granger|first=Anthony|date=9 October 2018|website=|publisher=Eurovoix|access-date=10 October 2018}} The winning song, "Hi yw y Berta", was chosen internally and written by Ywain Gwynedd.{{cite web|url=https://www.s4c.cymru/e_press_level2.shtml?id=4175|title=Manw is the winner of Chwilio am Seren Junior Eurovision|publisher=S4C Press|date=9 October 2018|accessdate=10 October 2018}}
Background
{{main|Wales in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest}}
Wales announced on 9 May 2018 that they would debut at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018 to be held in Minsk, Belarus. Welsh broadcaster S4C is responsible for the country's participation in the contest.{{cite web|url=https://junioreurovision.cymru/home/|title=Chwilio am Seren|website=junioreurovision.cymru|publisher=S4C|date=9 May 2018|accessdate=9 May 2018}} A televised national selection process, Chwilio am Seren (English: Search for a Star), was held to select the Welsh entry.{{cite web|last1=Granger|first1=Anthony|title=Wales: Debuts in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest|url=https://eurovoix.com/2018/05/09/wales-debuts-in-the-junior-eurovision-song-contest/|publisher=Eurovoix|date=9 May 2018|accessdate=10 May 2018}}
Wales previously took part in the contest as part of the United Kingdom between {{Escyr|2003|Junior}} and {{Escyr|2005|Junior}}, with ITV being responsible for their participation. S4C had also shown interest in participating in the {{Escyr|2008|Junior}} contest, but in the end decided against participating.{{cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/11163/junior_eurovision_2008_united_kingdom_to_return_to_jesc/|title=Junior Eurovision 2008: United Kingdom to return to JESC?|last=Kuipers|first=Michael|date=20 April 2008|publisher=ESCToday|accessdate=9 June 2009}}
Before Junior Eurovision
=''Chwilio am Seren''=
Chwilio am Seren (Search for a Star) was the national selection process that was used to select the 2018 entrant. Auditions took place at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, Aberystwyth Arts Centre and at Cardiff's Wales Millennium Centre during June 2018 with mentors Connie Fisher, Stifyn Parri and Tara Bethan as the judging panel. The four-part series, produced by Rondo Media for S4C, was aired on Tuesday nights with a repeat broadcast on Saturday afternoons.
The first two shows covered the nationwide auditions. Following a masterclass round at Llandaff's Memorial Hall (part of The Cathedral School), the final twenty singers were whittled down to the top 12 who then performed in public at Quadrant Shopping Centre in Swansea. The jury decided at the end of these performances who would perform during a final round live on television.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision-fr.net/news/lire.php?id=5640|title=Eurovision Junior PAYS DE GALLES JUNIOR 2018: Les 6 Finalistes de Chwilio Am Seren|website=Eurovision-fr.net|accessdate=10 October 2018}}
;Table key
:{{Color box|#FFDEAD|border=darkgray}} Participant who was selected to progress to the national final
| class="sortable wikitable collapsible" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto" |
| + Top 12 artists – 2 October 2018 |
| Draw
! Song (performed in Welsh) ! Mentor |
|---|
| style="font-weight:bold; background:#FFDEAD;"
| style="text-align:center;" | 1 | Lily Mai Duncan | Fisher |
| style="text-align:center;" | 2
| Tiah | "Symphony" | Parri |
| style="text-align:center;" | 3
| Emma Kennedy | "Bwgi" | Bethan |
| style="text-align:center;" | 4
| Iestyn Gwin Jones | "Byw Fel Brenin" | Bethan |
| style="text-align:center;" | 5
| Amelia Francis | "Calon" | Fisher |
| style="font-weight:bold; background:#FFDEAD;"
| style="text-align:center;" | 6 | Gracie Jayne Fitzgerald | "You're My World" | Parri |
| style="font-weight:bold; background:#FFDEAD;"
| style="text-align:center;" | 7 | Manw Lili Robin | "Ysbryd Efnisien" | Bethan |
| style="font-weight:bold; background:#FFDEAD;"
| style="text-align:center;" | 8 | Ella Georgia Thomas | "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" | Fisher |
| style="text-align:center;" | 9
| Manon | "What About Us" | Parri |
| style="font-weight:bold; background:#FFDEAD;"
| style="text-align:center;" | 10 | Misha Parry | TBC (by Alys Williams) | Bethan |
| style="text-align:center;" | 11
| Lauren Price | "Hold My Hand" | Parri |
| style="font-weight:bold; background:#FFDEAD;"
| style="text-align:center;" | 12 | Lauren Mia Jones | "The Voice Within" | Fisher |
==National final==
The national final took place in Llandudno's Venue Cymru on 9 October 2018, hosted by Trystan Ellis-Morris and broadcast live on S4C. The first round saw the six live finalists performing cover songs. Regional juries (Aberystwyth, Llandudno, Carmarthen, Cardiff and London) consisting of two adults and two children awarded stars (points) to their favourite three performers which were announced by a spokesperson. The three mentors, Fisher, Parri and Bethan all gave their opinions on the performances but could not vote. In the second round, the three superfinalists each performed a different arrangement (folk ballad, funky pop, piano ballad) of the official Welsh entry "Hi yw y Berta", written by Ywain Gwynedd. The televote alone selected the winner from the second round, this being Manw.
The national final opened with a performance by the six finalists, performing a Welsh version of the anthem of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2017, "Shine Bright". During the televote window, a summary of the various winners of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest was broadcast.
| class="sortable wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto; text-align:center" | |||
| +Final – 9 October 2018 | |||
| Draw | Artist | Song (original artists)
!Stars !Place | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| style="font-weight:bold; background:#FFDEAD;"
| 1 | style="text-align:left;"| Ella Georgia Thomas | style="text-align:left;"| "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen) | {{rating|5|5}} |1 | style="text-align:left;"| Superfinalist | |||
| 2
| style="text-align:left;"| Gracie-Jayne Fitzgerald | style="text-align:left;"| "Rhywbeth o'i le" (Huw Chiswell) | {{rating|2|5}} |4 | style="text-align:left;"| Eliminated | |||
| style="font-weight:bold; background:#FFDEAD;"
| 3 | style="text-align:left;"| Lily Mai Duncan | style="text-align:left;"| "Adre" (Caryl Parry Jones) | {{rating|3|5}} |3 | style="text-align:left;"| Superfinalist | |||
| style="font-weight:bold; background:#FFDEAD;"
| 4 | style="text-align:left;"| Manw Lili Robin | style="text-align:left;"| "Fy nghariad gwyn" (Ywain Gwynedd) | {{rating|4|5}} |2 | style="text-align:left;"| Superfinalist | |||
| 5
| style="text-align:left;"| Lauren Mia Jones | style="text-align:left;"| "Angel" (Elin Fflur) | {{rating|0|5}} |6 | style="text-align:left;"| Eliminated | |||
| 6
| style="text-align:left;"| Misha Parry | style="text-align:left;"| "O Gymru" (Rhys Jones (m.), Leslie Harris (l.)) | {{rating|2|5}} |4 | style="text-align:left;"| Eliminated |
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto; text-align:center;" |
| colspan="7" |Detailed Regional Jury Votes |
|---|
| Artist
! Cardiff ! London ! Total |
| align="left"| Ella Georgia Thomas
| X | X | | X | X | 4 |
| align="left"| Gracie-Jayne Fitzgerald
| X | | X | | | 2 |
| align="left"| Lily Mai Duncan
| | X | X | | X | 3 |
| align="left"| Manw Lili Robin
| X | X | | X | X | 4 |
| align="left"| Lauren Mia Jones
| | | | | | 0 |
| align="left"| Misha Parry
| | | X | X | | 2 |
| class="sortable wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+ style="font-size: bigger;" | |+Superfinal – 9 October 2018 | ||
| Draw | Artist | Song |
|---|---|---|
| style="background:gold;"
| style="text-align:center;" | 1 | Manw Lili Robin | "Hi yw y Berta" |
| style="text-align:center;" | 2 | Ella Georgia Tomas | "Hi yw y Berta" |
| style="text-align:center;" | 3 | Lily Mai Duncan | "Hi yw y Berta" |
== Ratings ==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Combined viewing figures by show |
| scope="col" | Show
! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Viewers ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| scope="row" | Auditions 1
| 18 September 2018 | 19 |
| scope="row" | Auditions 2
| 25 September 2018 | 16 |
| scope="row" | Top 12
| 2 October 2018 | 18 |
| scope="row" | Final
| 9 October 2018 | 22 |
Artist and song information
=Manw=
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Manw
| image = JESC 2018 partisipants. Manw (Wales).jpg
| origin =
| instrument = Vocals
| genre =
| occupation = Singer
| years_active = 2014–present
| label =
| caption =
| image_size =
| birth_name = Manw Lili Robin
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|2004}}
| death_date =
| birth_place = Rhosgadfan, Gwynedd, North Wales, United Kingdom
| associated_acts =
| website =
| notable_instruments =
}}
Manw Lili Robin{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision-fr.net/news/lire.php?id=5655|title=Eurovision Junior PAYS DE GALLES JUNIOR 2018: Manw à Minsk|website=Eurovision-fr.net|accessdate=10 October 2018}} (born circa 2004) is a Welsh singer from Rhosgadfan in Gwynedd, North Wales. She represented Wales at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the song "Perta".{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/cymrufyw/45809019|title=Junior Eurovision: Manw i gynrychioli Cymru|date=10 October 2018|publisher=BBC|accessdate=10 October 2018}}
She performed at the National Eisteddfod of Wales and Urdd National Eisteddfod a number of times, most recently in 2017,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/cymrufyw/40572513|title=Monolog i rai 12–16 oed (117) / Monologue 12–16 yrs (117)|date=7 August 2017|publisher=BBC|accessdate=10 October 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://eisteddfod.wales/results-7-august|title=Results – 7 August – National Eisteddfod|website=eisteddfod.wales|date=7 August 2017|accessdate=10 October 2018}} and attends Ysgol Glanaethwy in Bangor. In 2014, Manw played the part of Awen in the Welsh version of the animated film, The Secret of Kells (Cyfrinach Llyfr Kells) which was broadcast on S4C on 24 May.{{cite web|url=http://www.s4c.cymru/caban/?p=9150|title=An Irish adventure sparks a new Welsh film – S4C Caban|website=s4c.cymru|date=20 May 2014|accessdate=10 October 2018}} In 2015, Manw was a member of the Welsh choir Cor Glanaethwy, who reached the live finals of Britain's Got Talent.
On 23 November, S4C broadcast a 30-minute documentary Manw yn Minsk, which followed her journey to the contest.{{Cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2018/11/22/wales-s4c-to-broadcast-documentary-about-manws-junior-eurovision-journey/|title=Wales: S4C To Broadcast Documentary About Manw's Junior Eurovision Journey|first=Anthony|last=Granger|date=22 November 2018|website=Eurovoix|access-date=3 January 2023}}
=Perta=
{{Infobox song contest entry
| junior = yes
| song = {{Flagicon|Wales}} "Perta"
| image = Manw at JESC 2018.jpg
| caption =
| year = 2018
| country = Wales
| artist = Manw Lili Robin
| as = Manw
| with =
| language = Welsh
| languages =
| composer = Ywain Gwynedd, Ifan Siôn Davies, Richard James Hooson Roberts{{cite web|url=https://junioreurovision.tv/participant/manw |title=Manw - Wales - Minsk 2018 - Junior Eurovision Song Contest — France 2021 |publisher=Junioreurovision.tv |date= |accessdate=2021-06-08}}
| lyricist = Ywain Gwynedd
| place = 20th
| points = 29
| lyrics =
| prev_year =
| prev =
| prev_link =
| next_year = 2019
| next = Calon yn Curo
| next_link = Wales in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2019#Calon yn Curo
}}
"Perta" (originally called "Hi yw y Berta", later "Berta") is a song performed by Welsh singer Manw. It represented Wales at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018. The song underwent a revamp ahead of the contest in Minsk,{{cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2018/10/10/wales-hi-yw-y-berta-to-undergo-revamp/|title=Wales: "Hi yw y Berta" to Undergo Revamp|date=10 October 2018|publisher=Eurovoix|accessdate=10 October 2018}} with the official music video released on 16 October.{{cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2018/10/16/wales-berta-official-music-video-released/|title=Wales: "Berta" Official Music Video Released|date=16 October 2018|publisher=Eurovoix|accessdate=16 October 2018}} Ywain Gwynedd stated in an interview that the lyrics were written with a focus on sounding nice to non-Welsh speakers, with a repetitive chorus that was easy for viewers to sing along to. The song finished in 20th place with 29 points.{{cite web | last=Bissett | first=Daniel | title=Perta - the story behind the Junior Eurovison song | website=North Wales Live | date=2018-11-17 | url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/special-features/perta-story-behind-junior-eurovison-15410459 | access-date=2021-06-08}}
At Junior Eurovision
During the opening ceremony and the running order draw which both took place on 19 November 2018, Wales was drawn to perform eighteenth on 25 November 2018, following Armenia and preceding Malta.
The final was broadcast live in Wales on S4C, with commentary provided by Trystan Ellis-Morris in Welsh. English commentary by Stifyn Parri was available via the red button.{{cite web|last1=Herbert|first1=Emily|title=Wales: Trystan Ellis-Morris to Commentate on Junior Eurovision 2018|url=https://eurovoix.com/2018/11/22/wales-trystan-ellis-morris-junior-eurovision/|publisher=Eurovoix|date=22 November 2018|accessdate=22 November 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/Stifyn1/status/1066627833810903040|title=Twitter|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=25 November 2018}} It was the joint 14th most watched show that week on S4C with 23,000 viewers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.s4c.cymru/en/about-us/page/31295/viewing-figures-week/?weekid=1323|title=Viewing Figures - Week Ending 2018-11-25|website=www.s4c.cymru|date=24 November 2018|access-date=2 January 2023}}
=Voting=
{{Junior Eurovision Song Contest voting explanation|2018}}
In the contest, Wales received no points from the professional juries; they received 29 points from the online vote.{{cite web |title=Results of the Final of Minsk 2018 |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/event/minsk-2018/final/results/wales |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=1 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601135415/https://junioreurovision.tv/event/minsk-2018/final/results/wales |archive-date=1 June 2021 |url-status=live}}
==Detailed voting results==
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{BBC programme|id=p06k9td7|title=Chwilio am Seren Junior Eurovision}}
- {{Official website|https://junioreurovision.cymru}}
{{Wales in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018}}