Eurovision 2021 discussion thread

[Nicky91]

Norway Second Chance wildcard show starts at 20:00 CET (19:00 UK Time)

[Nicky91]

https://magazin.hrt.hr/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.hrt.hr%2Fmedia%2Fd2%2F 19%2F740x438-broj-poziva-i-poruka-publike-dora2021-16-9-20210215153018.jpg&w=1280&q=90

Croatia's full televote results

[Nicky91]

Jorn won the wildcard for MGP final


Czech song release today for Benny Cristo

[Nicky91]

https://escxtra.com/2021/02/16/eurovision-in-concert-postponed/

no pre-parties, eurovision in concert postponed

[Nicky91]

maybe they will do home concerts again like last year, my idea actually to do that as a temporary replacement for pre-party season

[Nicky91]

E1r3euYaq4Q

[Nicky91]

singer-songwriter Eefje de Visser and dancer Redo have been confirmed as interval acts for one of the semi's

[Nicky91]

Finland's UMK this weekend

https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/150746267_10159387769459824_192101545603447565_o.j pg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=3&_nc_sid=dbeb18&_nc_ohc=38whoLHbyQUAX_tAzo6&_nc_ht=scontent-vie1-1.xx&oh=5752866e083bc40b7b9be1c0a0bc430d&oe=6050CE7E

Haloo Helsinki! is their interval act

[Nicky91]

so this weekend we're getting 2 entries

Norway, Finland their nf's

and Sweden's melfest semi 3




shall list some in calendar too now (as for internals)

San Marino's song for Senhit released on 23rd February

Germany's song for Jendrik released on 25th February

Slovenia's song for Ana Soklic released on 27th February

Switzerland's song for Gjon's Tears released somewhere in March

Netherlands's song for Jeangu Macrooy released early March

unknowns are Malta, Russia, Serbia, Moldova, Romania, UK, Latvia, Georgia, Armenia, Poland, Ireland


Belarus might be a NF idk but also no dates from them

[Nicky91]

https://eurovoix.com/2021/02/18/%F0%9F%87%AC%F0%9F%87%AA-georgia-tornikes-song-for-eurovision-2021-has-been-recorded

finally some news about Georgia, Tornike's song has been recorded

[Nicky91]

eesti laul semi 1 tonight

[Nicky91]

https://eurovision.tv/story/pieter-gabriel-to-produce-music-for-flag-parade

DJ Pieter Gabriel will produce music for the flag parade for grand final (what he would've done in 2020 if it wasn't cancelled)

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/bbceurovision/status/1362667257642577921

representing UK is James Newman, song reveal in March

[Black Dagger]

Hes coming with a banger x

[UserSince2005]

He must be the size of a truck after lockdown.

[Black Dagger]

He's lovely. Good for him if he wants to gorge on cake x

[UserSince2005]

I did think it was a bit cruel that he wasn't guaranteed his 2021 spot.

[Nicky91]

I did think it was a bit cruel that he wasn't guaranteed his 2021 spot.

just to use some clickbait for the gays first, with the frock destroyers and united kingdolls

[Black Dagger]

I did think it was a bit cruel that he wasn't guaranteed his 2021 spot.

Who says he wasn't?

[UserSince2005]

Who says he wasn't?

He said he wasn't.

[Black Dagger]

He said he wasn't.

Oops I missed that bit! I think regardless it was inevitable he'd return.

[Nicky91]

EY53KCy6lyk

which song should Bulgaria choose?

[UserSince2005]

Has Iceland been revealed yet? I remember it was around this time last year I was in Reykjavik and the final section show just happened to be on. It was great to see how that song went from strength to strength over the year.

[Nicky91]

Has Iceland been revealed yet? I remember it was around this time last year I was in Reykjavik and the final section show just happened to be on. It was great to see how that song went from strength to strength over the year.

no March 13th, same as Sweden's final

[UserSince2005]

no March 13th, same as Sweden's final

Good. there was a horrible rock band who came second last year, I hope they are not competing again.

[Nicky91]

Good. there was a horrible rock band who came second last year, I hope they are not competing again.

there is no nf, it is Dadi again with internal selection

[Nicky91]

Iceland already first place in odds, without knowing the song

[Nicky91]

4vvq1I5fNic

its official, no Little Big for Russia at ESC2021, since they are Navalny supporters

[Nicky91]

tomorrow is also first semi of Portugal's Festival da Cancao

[Nicky91]

the songs which we are getting tomorrow are from Finland, Norway, Spain

and we also got Portugal kicking off their NF, Melfest semi 3, Eesti Laul semi 2

so quite a marathon of 6 hours of national final content

[Black Dagger]

MGP - Blasemafian/Raylee/Keiino
UMK - Blind Channel/Teflon Brothers/Oskr
Spain - Voy a quedarme

Any results from them (although idc if Memoria wins either, Blas has downgraded) and I'm happy x

[Nicky91]

for me

MGP: Rein/Raylee/Keiino
UMK: Danny/Teflon Brothers&Pandora/Ilta
Spain: Memoria

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/eurovision_tve/status/1362754444660797457

sneak peek at Blas's rehearsals for the two songs

[ArgyESC]

I prefer Memoria for Spain but I don't think either would do well tbh :(

[Jay28jay2]

https://twitter.com/bbceurovision/status/1362667257642577921

representing UK is James Newman, song reveal in March

King!

[Nicky91]

https://bulgaria2021.com/eurovision/web/?en

you can give your feedback on Victoria's potential ESC2021 songs here

[Nicky91]

pDMqSqEXJag

masterpiece :flutter:

[Black Dagger]

Eh

[Nicky91]

Eh

he is most popular, most fanbase out of all MGP finalists

also most current artist of Norway, Keiino are more to call dated

[Calderyon]

UMK21 winner and Finnish entry:

yIpW_SQvFRc

[Nicky91]

bump

[Nicky91]

my ranking after 10 songs

12p) Ukraine
10p) Norway
8p) Czech Republic
7p) Finland
6p) Spain
5p) Lithuania
4p) France
3p) Croatia
2p) Israel
1p) Albania

[Nicky91]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLjSA2_pODS/?igshid=19w8ltfsddt2

Sanremo 2021 stage

[ArgyESC]

Norway flop, Finland love it

[Nicky91]

Norway flop, Finland love it

trash Keiino didn't win that is more important thing, good thing karma happened for those idiotic keiino ''fans''


TIX is a contender for my votes :love:

[Nicky91]

San Marino song reveal tomorrow, feeling hyped for my mommy queen Senhit :love:

[Nicky91]

sooooo 3 song releases next 3 days starting tomorrow

24th Cyprus Elena Tsagkrinou's El Diablo

25th Germany's song for Jendrik

26th Ireland Lesley Roy - MAPS

[Nicky91]

Cyprus breaking my balls yet again, how can you reject this man's comeback tour, twice in a row

7Di3bzkKiSI

a robbed masterpiece :bawling:

1Y3h-3ka4bo

from last year, also a masterpiece :bawling:

[Nicky91]

ydgxZnHFLi4

Germany's song is a serve, also luv the spoken word in german (also being a part of the song i know since in studio it is also there) so we got a bit of german language back in the contest

but this is sooooo good fun :dance:

[UserSince2005]

Such a violent thing was much much better.

[Nicky91]

Just a little while longer and Rotterdam is completely against the Eurovision song contest that will be held in Ahoy. And the city pulls out all the stops to get into the spheres, with different artists who are allowed to go wild.

The artistic decoration of the city is provided by Studio VollaersZwart, Mothership, Arttenders, Stichting Hip Hop In Je Smoel and Flowerdales Agency, the Rotterdam Eurovision organization announced today. It is up to them to bring the city into Eurovision spheres.

The artists' plans came to an abrupt end last year because of the corona crisis and the cancellation of the Eurovision song contest. "We asked the artists to review their plans and adapt them to different scenarios" says Annemieke van Wegen-Delhaas, project manager citybranding & citydressing Host City Rotterdam. According to her, the decoration can be seen "first mainly digitally and remotely". "And then hopefully little by little to more visibility in the streets of Rotterdam to the Rotterdam living rooms."

In the city there will be colored flags and banners with lyrics of winning Eurovision songs. They mark a route between Central Station and Rotterdam Ahoy, where the song fest takes place.

https://www.rtlboulevard.nl/entertainment/showbizz/artikel/5216639/rotterdamse-kunstenaars-toveren-de-stad-om-voor-songfestival

cool idea

[Denver]

James Newman has pretty much confirmed he is doing an uptempo banger, will make a change from us constantly sending ballads

[Jay28jay2]

James Newman has pretty much confirmed he is doing an uptempo banger, will make a change from us constantly sending ballads

If his brother is anything to go by, I’m extremely optimistic

[Denver]

If his brother is anything to go by, I’m extremely optimistic

If we are going by his posts he is hinting at a possible summer dance athem

[UserSince2005]

Imagine the U.K. winning in brexit year. Solidify ourselves as the true champs of europe

[Nicky91]

Imagine the U.K. winning in brexit year. Solidify ourselves as the true champs of europe

i still won't vote for UK even with a banger

[Nicky91]

Ireland song release 9:35 CET

[Nicky91]

sure nq for Ireland ew, the only good thing thankfully only 2:36 length phew

[Nicky91]

i mean why even try finding a better singer like Patricia Kelly, Michael Patrick Kelly

when you can stick with the vocal horror that is lesley roy :bored:

[Nicky91]

my ranking after 10 songs

12p) Ukraine
10p) Norway
8p) Czech Republic
7p) Finland
6p) Spain
5p) Lithuania
4p) France
3p) Croatia
2p) Israel
1p) Albania

my top 12

1. Ukraine
2. Norway
3. Germany
4. Czech Republic
5. Finland
6. Lithuania
7. Spain
8. France
9. Croatia
10. Israel
11. Albania









-------------------
12. Ireland

[Nicky91]

https://wiwibloggs.com/2021/02/26/russian-media-claim-little-big-has-been-selected-for-eurovision-2021/262445/?fbclid=IwAR0VV_4adhJdoxFmukNLSZrYuSJWt4sxiyuOJUWE V_UD3_M0LAVyPHQFego

Russia might go for national final? some media claim little big has been selected but that there will be a song national final, for the public to vote for the entry

[Nicky91]

Portugal FdC semi 2

Sweden Melfest semi 4

and Slovenia's non-competitive EMA + internal selection show for Ana Soklic

tonight

[Nicky91]

HRIvhTSUDnU

2 hours to go

[Nicky91]

1 minute :cheer:

[Nicky91]

Cyprus serves yet again :clap1:


piss off those pathetic christians over there, good on you Elena queen

[Nicky91]

55 minutes from now we get Melfest semi 4, and slovenia's ema show


22:07 CET portugal's FdC semi 2, before that on RTP bit of talking about previous FdC years


Portuguese people care more about FdC than eurovision, eurovision is more to share their culture to rest of europe, they don't care about results, so you will never ever see them go for generic pop stuff or latin pop

there are english songs now in that, but idk for the win, i think one of own language ones might stand more chance, the biggest name this year in that is Carolina Deslandes, and for the composers only bit Virgul, Helder Moutinho

[Denver]

Eric Saade finally getting his win this year:clap1:

[Black Dagger]

Lol. I knew you'd support that basic ass song.

[Nicky91]

UK's entry is very danish, think Andy Abraham (but less soul) meets Lighthouse X, early 00's europop

or so i've read

[Nicky91]

Russia is gonna have a national final (for first time since 2012)


on March 8th, a special holiday national selection show, where there is a vote for the russian public voting for the artist and song who they want to see in Rotterdam



and we had our covid protocol yesterday revealed, scenario B is more and more likely, in the right direction now anyway


5 days of quarantaine before departure for rotterdam, and after arrival immediately all artists to the hotel, and only leaving the hotel for ESC official duties, face masks are a compulsory apart from when performing, but in green room too wearing masks is a must, press conferences will also be done differently, one artist at a time, instead all at once

if a artist can't perform they use the backup tape, if that one happens to qualify and able to perform in the final for example, the artist is allowed to perform live


but the main goal is to get all artists performing live, but we are also thinking of health and safety of all delegations, production members, hosts, backstage workers first of all


lesser delegation members travelling to rotterdam as well, so some could opt to appear virtually with a zoom screen if they want to

[Nicky91]

https://eurovisionfun.com/en/2021/03/russia-these-are-the-candidates-for-the-national-final/

Russia's NF artists/candidates

NILETTO 29 yrs old, former participant of New Star, a finalist of that

a example of past work: deWVIDPEQrA

2Machi a duo consisting out of Maria Zaitseva, Maria Sheikh

past work: GQlWZqOPRoE

Anton Belyaev 42 yrs old, frontman of the band Therr Maitz

past work: Ya_BscDbudQ

[Nicky91]

Friday 21st May (the day before the final) a charity livestream esc concert confirmed by former dutch esc acts :) such as Marlayne, Franklin Brown, but also from our esc expert Koos van Plateringen and our JESC presenter Buddy Vedder

another bit of fun esc event, with covers of most of the iconic winning songs in its 64 yr long history

[Nicky91]

Belgium's song slaps :clap1:

the return of Geike brings a true miracle to Hooverphonic :flutter:

[Nicky91]

Australia's song Technicolour: umm i like it :love:, a lot for me a lot better than last years song for Montaigne don't break me, she is definitely much better in this one, also the notes near the end, comes even close to Kate or Dami's strong vocals


with right staging, top 10, maybe top 5 potential :think:

[Nicky91]

Netherlands song title

https://images.ctfassets.net/gdyish51p3vl/6WqmJoWW29W27aLtVtSezp/21a92a34a56ca63267a4972c50889345/jeangu.png?fit=thumb&w=960&h=540&f=&fm=webp

[Denver]

Rumour is that James Newmans song is an upbeat dance song similar to what he rewrote for rudimental

[Nicky91]

we dutchies serving a ethnic bop :dance: :dance: :dazzler:

[Nicky91]

this is how you deliver as host nation, no guts, no glory just try out something new


the song is about Jeangu's roots, family background, how surinam has gotten stronger in more recent times compared to some decades ago

the phrase he sings in sranan tongo means ''you don't break me'' more like anti-slavery song

[Nicky91]

Moldova well LOL they tried to compare to siren song :laugh3: doesn't even come close to Maruv whatsoever, Kirkorov's music is sooooo outdated these days the mold is on top of it

contender for last place in semi 2 :laugh3:

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/Eurovision/status/1367480198350929923

tomorrow Super Saturday 2, with the finals of Estonia, Portugal, Italy, Denmark



today 18:00 CET Serbia hurricane loco loco song release

[Nicky91]

Armenia withdraws from Eurovision 2021

[Cherie]

Armenia withdraws from Eurovision 2021

Why so?

[Nicky91]

Why so?

because of the war

political crisis but you can't mention that in official statement bc EBU wants to steer clear of politics in Eurovision ;)

[Cherie]

because of the war

political crisis but you can't mention that in official statement bc EBU wants to steer clear of politics in Eurovision ;)

Oh right

[Nicky91]

oh well two evened out semi's for this year anyway


and i myself am thinking of them in my own personal album, with a honorary unofficial entry of theirs in that :hee:


2022 i hope for more countries again, hoping we can return to 42 or 43 countries (montenegro i would love to see back, Andorra's grand comeback what they been working on yes please, and hope Armenia get their **** sorted out before next year too)

[Nicky91]

Belgium some details on the act, staging


The art direction and staging of the act shall be done by Ignace D'Haese and Hans Pannecoucke, who've both been working wit​​h Hooverphonic for years. They are also known in the world of Eurovision for their collaborations with Duncan Laurence, The Common Linnets and Laura Tesoro to name but a few.
Geike, Alex and Raymond are joined on stage in Rotterdam by Christa Jerôme, who co-wrote and sang two songs on the album In Wonderland, and regular drummer Arnout Hellofs.

Styling

Tom Eerebout is responsible for the styling of the band in the video clip, and also takes care of the stage outfits in Rotterdam. Eerebout is a Belgian stylist and fashion consultant who studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. He has been working for a number of years with, among others, Kylie Minogue and Lady Gaga, for whom he recently came up with the outfit for the inauguration of Joe Biden.
.

[Nicky91]

FSTMz-_kbVQ

:drool:

[Nicky91]

tonight national finals of Estonia, Portugal, Italy, Denmark


and Sweden's Andra Chansen duels for next weeks final

[Nicky91]

my hopes for tonight

Estonia: Daddy Koit (i am in love with his beautiful ballad) :love:

Portugal: Karetus, Carolina or even Valéria i would like (just not generic plastic NEEV pls)

Denmark: Emma Nicoline, Fyr og Flamme, Mike Tramp is my top 3 there

Italy well surprise me whoever wins sanremo is a worthy winner i think

[Nicky91]

well i am liking the line up so far


we got danish language back a first in 24 years :clap1: :clap1: hope they keep it in danish anyway it has its charm, song overall is very fun 80's disco, which is again very current these days tbh


Italy going for rock :love:


Estonia having their own ''sergey lazarev type of act'' very jury bait radio friendly pop song


Portugal surprising me, actually choosing the better of the two english songs, Black Mamba's singer well a male macy gray/gabrielle sort of voice, and song wise is very james morrison with a very portuguese jazz vibe

[Black Dagger]

Italy was the only decent result last night.

The rest were ****ing moronic and confined themselves to the SFs

[Nicky91]

Italy was the only decent result last night.

The rest were ****ing moronic and confined themselves to the SFs

don't call any artist/song moronic pls :(


i applaud Denmark going for their native language, it is a real fun cheesy performance too, they are also a good name in todays music scene over there

Portugal actually has a big name now, going for english is a first for them which i applaud them to for, with the right song (NEEV's was just mediocre and basic vocally wise)

Estonia well not a surprise Uku got the sympathy votes, but tbh it is better than his song last year so i'm ok with it, also very mainstream/radio friendly appeal

[Nicky91]

i absolutely adore this line up so far


and we also got two surprises (Belarus) and one best kept secret (Poland) too

[Black Dagger]

don't call any artist/song moronic pls :(


i applaud Denmark going for their native language, it is a real fun cheesy performance too, they are also a good name in todays music scene over there

Portugal actually has a big name now, going for english is a first for them which i applaud them to for, with the right song (NEEV's was just mediocre and basic vocally wise)

Estonia well not a surprise Uku got the sympathy votes, but tbh it is better than his song last year so i'm ok with it, also very mainstream/radio friendly appeal

Youre literally abusive about so many artists.

I clearly meant the juries/public who voted them through.

[Nicky91]

https://www.nme.com/news/music/flo-rida-features-on-san-marinos-eurovision-song-for-2021-2895436

San Marino YOU are making my dreams come true :worship:


the song is called Adrenalina, by Senhit and it features worldfamous american rapper Flo Rida (famous for hits like ''whistle'' ''club can't handle me'' ''right round'' ''wild ones'' ''i cry'')

:amazed: :drool: most famous act on the competing line up field we had so far in years :clap2:

[Braden]

W22baUqdi5Q

Robbed icons.

[Nicky91]

hope he can make it to rotterdam :fc: adrenalina is also his song kinda (he is part of songwriters too) + his amazing performing skills can be of good use in the entry's chances too

[Barry.]

Russia's so called NF :laugh3:

what a weak bunch of amateur entries :laugh3:

Didn’t you just tell blackdagger off for being mean? Take your own hint

[Black Dagger]

Didn’t you just tell blackdagger off for being mean? Take your own hint

Nicky being a hypocrite shocker.

He ruins it for me. I dont post nearly as much about it as I used to.

[Barry.]

Nicky being a hypocrite shocker.

He ruins it for me. I dont post nearly as much about it as I used to.

I think you should do next years thread

[Nicky91]

I think you should do next years thread

+100

:clap1: :clap1:

[Nicky91]

Russia's song is a bop :clap1:


this year is one of the best ESC years EVER :dance: :dance:

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/EurovoixNote/status/1369225613878439937

Belarus will make announcement today regarding their entry (perhaps a date when the chosen artist/song will be revealed, or maybe just the reveal which one was chosen by selection jury)

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/Eurovision/status/1369231486369562624

[Nicky91]

Belarus entry is not too bad, more of a 80's retro rockish feel to it, in russian language btw

very nice throwback for them to their and russia's older music scene (70's 80's 90's)



also good on them sending something fun rather than trying too hard to be ''competitive''

it adds to the fun quality of the line up/album :cool:

[Nicky91]

today Bulgaria, Switzerland, Greece their song releases

[Nicky91]

Greece: hmm not too bad, very radio friendly song also thankfully not tooo much future nostalgia vibes

Switzerland: prefer this over his 2020 entry, lesser high notes anyway

[Nicky91]

North Macedonia: musical theatre delight, also intro similar to pure imagination from willy wonka and chocolate factory

nothing macedonian culture ofc, but it is better than his attempt last year with that generic pop trash You

[Nicky91]

Azerbaijan's song reveal possibly on March 15th

[Nicky91]

so after today/tomorrow we're left with Malta, Georgia, Azerbaijan


and perhaps a deadline extension for Belarus's chosen band, that is least what EBU can do in return to give them few extra days to come with replacement song (since EBU were the ones who pulled out their originally intended song tbh)

[Nicky91]

my top 10 currently

1) United Kingdom
2) North Macedonia
3) Portugal
4) Serbia
5) Netherlands
6) Greece
7) San Marino
8) Switzerland
9) Ukraine
10) Romania

[Nicky91]

Latvia has a great banger again, ugh Samanta delivering two iconic bangers in a row :love:


also LGBTQ+ queen, few drags in the music video

[Nicky91]

Melfest Final tonight


and Iceland's song for Dadi & Gagnamagnio release ''10 years''

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/RTLBoulevard/status/1370716213106606081

one of our hosts Nikkie has won a Kids Choice Award, for ''favoriete ster nederland'' (Favourite Celeb Netherlands)

[Nicky91]

sold out audience for Melfest tonight

[Nicky91]

amazing winner for sweden, BLM political message :clap1: :clap1:

[Nicky91]

regarding Belarus, we are just waiting on wether it will be a new song for this band, or a new act to be chosen

https://eurovoix.com/2021/03/13/alexander-lukashenko-another-song-eurovision-2021/

their teleradio company whom has conversations all the time with EBU, will answer questions when they have revealed the format of their participation


it will be a new song anyway (but not exactly sure yet if the band stays or not)

[Nicky91]

mid april is the day when decision will be made on live audience or not, physical eurovillage or a virtual eurovillage (with some livestream content on youtube, livechats to virtually socialize/''gather'')

so some time away from now i guess, hope we can all work hard to keep new case numbers down,


but as for audience, idk i rather have just artists in ahoy, and them cheering for each other for one year, if that is safest and that is also what i am kinda expecting, the special permission to travel for artists should be easy to manage, i mean if sportspeople can get this special permission, so can artists, and that staying in hotel apart from when attending official esc duties is good, wearing masks all the time apart from when performing also seems good, 1.5 metre distance in place all the time is also great

[ArgyESC]

sweden boring

[Shaun]

I haven't heard all of the songs yet but from the glimpses I've seen...

Cyprus - very good, will be interesting to see how she performs it though.

Sweden - :umm2: I didn't really check out the Melodi contenders this year but... this won!? It's perfectly nice but SO boring and unoriginal.

Iceland - I might actually prefer this song to last year's? Very good either way.

Russia - I lowkey enjoy this? It's completely outside of the usual stuff they send... I'm not sure I actually like listening to it but I appreciate them taking risks.

Ukraine - we stan a futuristic banger!

Bulgaria - fell asleep

France - could not be more stereotypically French if it tried... I'm not getting it yet

Australia - who gave a Tumblr girl who can't sing the stage?

[Nicky91]

best line up in recent years :clap1:

[Nicky91]

with few more to come

Georgia, Azerbaijan, Malta


and of course Belarus i am excited for what new song (maybe act) Daddy president Lukashenko is gonna give green light now

[ArgyESC]

with few more to come

Georgia, Azerbaijan, Malta


and of course Belarus i am excited for what new song (maybe act) Daddy president Lukashenko is gonna give green light now

please stop being nice to l*ka*hen*o

[Nicky91]

please stop being nice to l*ka*hen*o

i am nice to Lukashenko, Putin, Duda cuz they are not that bad



scum like Orban, Erdogan though are pure evil

[Black Dagger]

Pls stop pretending you know politics.

[Nicky91]

what a dumb mess the EBU has been, seems like belarus entry wasn't political at all, the lead singer of the band has come clean what the intention of his entry was all about

and he was surprised too the EBU pulled it out for being too political, it was never their intention


and this band will remain their act too for this year it seems (not sure if they opted for change of lyrics or a new song since lyrics editing feels tempting not much work to be done there)

[Nicky91]

HoD Meeting today


Azerbaijan song: hmm kinda disappointing, but maybe it can grow on me idk


we'll get Malta and Georgia later on


and since its HoD meeting i am expecting again some news on Belarus's format of participation, which option of the two they went for me, maybe some final decisions (more bc BTRC are constantly in contact with EBU)

[Legrand]

Finland is winning, a bop! :elephant:

[Nicky91]

now only belarus's song left

[Nicky91]

on Belarus

nothing new on twitter, apart from one confirmation post that Galasy Z Mesta will remain their act for rotterdam if everything goes to plan, so i presume the new song is now more undergoing the screening process under BTRC/Lukashenko and EBU supervision very thorough i think too

wouldn't surprise me if we get the most sterile/PC song eurovision has ever seen :laugh:


but hope all goes well, i'm among minority ofc, and they won't get high result but i hope they are still in, russian retro rock seems to make me very very happy and in a good mood so

[Legrand]

I'm pretty sure this is unpopular here but this year is complete crap. :unsure:

[Nicky91]

I'm pretty sure this is unpopular here but this year is complete crap. :unsure:

one of best years ever

[Nicky91]

no international big name interval act this year

[Nicky91]

songs whom i recommend to anyone on here: from Azerbaijan (another homage to a historical figure Mata Hari), Malta (bit of 1920's in music video meets sister act sort of gospel/soul diva pop song with a hint of french), Serbia (serbian pussycat dolls, but song wise very 80's disco in serbian language), Ireland (very folkish 00's pop, really catchy)

Iceland (for me much better than think about things, similar disco vibe but somehow better)

Poland (alcazar vibes, also a very likeable singer one of JESC2020 hosts too fun fact)

[Nicky91]

also more interesting fun facts

Norway: sending most current artist out there, No Keiino aren't current at all with mainstream norwegian audience

Portugal: Black Mamba are a respectable quite known band, also they sing mostly in english so it was expected when the lead singer was revealed on list of composers the entry would be in english, and in this style too, happy they won, the right english and not dull overhyped NEEV, whom is a talent but still has much to improve upon

Denmark: Fyr og Flamme are also quite current in todays charts over there, so yeah somehow a bigish name, and also fully in danish which is a first in 24 years


Russia: Manizha quite a story actually, she retired from music few years ago, but she recently made her comeback (also if it was up to her father she wouldn't have been a singer, since he does not believe muslim women should be singers) song is strong women enpowerment message with nice russian folk music

Sweden: Tusse won Idols couple years ago, his song is not entirely BLM related, can of course be used for that, but basically against all form of racism, homophobia, extremism

Netherlands: song against slavery in suriname, Jeangu is a surinamese singer, his sranan tongo phrases mean ''you can't break me''

Serbia: Hurricane made up out of Sanja Vucic (whom we know from ESC2016 solo) Ksenija Knezevic (her father is Knez whom was at ESC2015 for Montenegro with ''Adio'' where she was in the backings on stage) Ivana Nikolic (a dancer whom won many european dance competitions) the group was formed at the caribbean island Sint-Maarten, first single was a charity song for the victims of a hurricane there at that time

Azerbaijan: full dutch songwriting team for Samira Efendi, a song about the tragic life of dutch erotic worker and spy Mata Hari (also in the song, first we hear azeri in ESC one repeated phrase)




all languages we either fully or a bit of this year: Albanian, Azeri, Croatian, Czech, Danish, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Russian, Serbian, Sranan Tongo, Spanish, Ukrainian

also quite a nice genre diversity either for this year

[Nicky91]

Georgia, well what can i say, Tornike is a bit their own Leonard Cohen, the entry ''You'' is really not what you expect to hear at ESC

its good but its so alternative, that somehow does make it quite nice

[Nicky91]

one day closer to the UK win, this will do extremely well with juries how new and fresh sound this is, never heard before too

also massive televote appeal


so

Its Coming Home, Its Coming Home

Eurovision is Coming Home to the all time best nation ever, the United Kingdom, the country of the music elite

:smug:

[Nicky91]

i wanna be his dancer in ahoy, i would dress up as a devil, that we're ''gonna light up the roof'' embers = we can relate back to Hell

[Jarrod]

one day closer to the UK win, this will do extremely well with juries how new and fresh sound this is, never heard before too

also massive televote appeal


so

Its Coming Home, Its Coming Home

Eurovision is Coming Home to the all time best nation ever, the United Kingdom, the country of the music elite

:smug:

I love your optimism on this but Eurovision will only come back to the UK when pigs fly unfortunately.

[Jay28jay2]

one day closer to the UK win, this will do extremely well with juries how new and fresh sound this is, never heard before too

also massive televote appeal


so

Its Coming Home, Its Coming Home

Eurovision is Coming Home to the all time best nation ever, the United Kingdom, the country of the music elite

:smug:

You’re not from the UK though lol

[Nicky91]

I love your optimism on this but Eurovision will only come back to the UK when pigs fly unfortunately.

well one of few times i love a UK entry (this and also i liked last years too, would've probably not gotten my vote but MLB is still better than a Bigger than Us or that from Joe & Jake in 2016)


but no i am overall excited about it all this year, also i think a virtual eurovillage would be better, wouldn't mind lack of audience either since as long as we can get artists there they can cheer for each other and that would also feel quite nice i think

virtually we can have ''acoustic performances from their rooms'' instead of euroclub


the last resort ''live on tape'' is kinda dull, not horrendous or a disaster but it lacks the live performance feeling how it felt for me at JESC last year


and these next few months we got theme music and postcard music to look forward to either

[Nicky91]

we got some news from EBU regarding Belarus, they were granted a deadline extension to finish off the new entry before end of this month (since all countries have that deadline for their final performance videos done in time and sent over to EBU for eventual last resort live on tape performance if necessary but they are not hoping to use them anyway, since main focus is on scenario B with all artists live from ahoy)

https://wiwibloggs.com/2021/03/19/belarus-btrc-claims-to-have-new-entry-for-eurovision-2021/263415/

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/Eurovoix/status/1372892373240451075

Germany internal selection confirmed for ESC2022, search begun to shortlist several artists/songs for internal jury

[Nicky91]

It was still in 2020, the year in which the Eurovision Song Contest should have taken place in Ahoy, but the corona pandemic led to postponement. As early as 2020, the organization announced that the festival would definitely go ahead this year. Either way.

To make that message possible, Twan van de Nieuwenhuijzen (52) and his team are currently working their way out of the seams. This month, van de Nieuwenhuijzen, who can call himself head of contest, is mainly concerned with the so-called backup tapes. That's a special video and audio recording of every performance to take place during the semifinals or final in May. After today, three-quarters of the participating countries have had their turn, including the Netherlands.

https://images0.persgroep.net/rcs/HGvJsSBMq5TB4mK72Dq-KAORZ6w/diocontent/201074906/_fitwidth/694/?appId=21791a8992982cd8da851550a453bd7f&quality=0.8&desiredformat=webp
Twan van de Nieuwenhuijzen, one of the heads of delegation of the Eurovision Song Contest. Van de Nieuwenhuijzen is responsible for making the backup tapes.

It is a possibility that no one is waiting for, but unfortunately not only imaginary in this day and age: The winner of the Eurovision song contest is not in Ahoy on 22 May, but somewhere at home in Europe. And he or she then sees himself performing the winning performance again from a previously recorded tape. Van de Nieuwenhuijzen explains exactly how this works.

Why is it necessary to record all the performances already?
,,To get the most equal possible match. If you switched live with the countries during the shows, you run the risk of faltering image connections, you can't do it again if things go wrong and you have less control. Each country has an hour in which a notary, people from the umbrella organization EBU and the Dutch organization watch live. In that hour, an artist is allowed to sing his or her song up to three times. They can choose the best version themselves, which is submitted. So far, all the countries have taken advantage of those three attempts, it was never said after one or two times: 'it's good'.''

Are there any special rules attached to that?
,,It is not realistic to build the same stage 40 times, so there are differences that you cannot escape. However, the rule is: what is not allowed or can't be done in Ahoy is also not allowed with the backup tapes. For example, water should not be part of the act, because that is not allowed in Ahoy. Suppose a country wants to use water, then you will never get the stage so dry in the 35 seconds between two performances that the next artist will no longer suffer from it.''

https://images0.persgroep.net/rcs/PlsS83_9VjwWyIVZS59W-cDpkdQ/diocontent/201074956/_fitwidth/694/?appId=21791a8992982cd8da851550a453bd7f&quality=0.8&desiredformat=webp

Suppose the vocals on a backup tape are just not completely pure, can they still secretly tinker with that?
"That has also been considered; before the hour is over, the local national broadcaster must start sending the material. This way we prevent any clever tricks.''

In what cases are the backup tapes used?
,,There are several conceivable cases, anyway if some or even all artists are not allowed to come to Rotterdam because of the corona restrictions. Then the presenters in Ahoy would present the semi-finals and final and talk from tape to tape. But it can also be a godsend when an artist is tested positive after the semi-final. Then that tape will be there before the final.''

And at best...
"We're not going to see one again. It sounds contradictory, but we're in the middle of a massive operation that hopefully is for nothing. Wouldn't it be sad if the winning song wasn't played live afterwards, but from a tape? On the other hand, this guarantees that the festival will continue. I think a lot of people are yearning for an evening of Eurovision watching on the couch, with a points list on their lap. What I personally like about those hours in which we record; you really feel the match tension on the other side of the 'line'. The people there are aware that what they do in that one hour may already be their final Eurovision performance. That makes it very special anyway, whether we use the material or not.''

translation of this dutch article https://www.ad.nl/songfestival/de-coronaverzekering-van-het-songfestival-hele-operatie-hopelijk-voor-niets~a92c13bc/

[Nicky91]

https://eurovisionfun.com/en/2021/03/belarus-galasy-zmesta-submitted-2-new-songs-for-eurovision/?fbclid=IwAR1l8KRNnmLSnu7q_-9ip6M9mqB_0N0z9jTxdzJBIE2Bl2BKIkuIEv78A0c

Belarus's Galasy Z Mesta submitted 2 new songs for eurovision to be screened

[Nicky91]

my review on line up (so far)

Albania: outdated snooze

Australia: authentic, well produced, could be another top 10 finish for the almighty aussies

Austria: decent ballad

Azerbaijan: very catchy, boppy tribute to a amazing historical icon Mata Hari, Efendi is a lovely girl too (fun fact she has had military training herself) also the composer team is 90% dutch, and one part swedish

Belgium: Geike's voice is so damn sexy, far better and more hooverphonic's style than last year

Bulgaria: wonderful composition, very international sound thankfully rather than outdated bulgarian chalga

Croatia: far better than last years outdated snooze by flopzo, very modern banger

Cyprus: when Gaga meets Zara Larsson, good bop nevertheless, and i'm not bothered about the devil reference either

Czech Republic: very solid dance-pop song, also a upgrade from Benny compared to last year, love the subtle hint of czech in there too

Denmark: very feel good danish italodisco 80's banger, even though you don't understand it, it makes you feel happy

Estonia: radio friendly pop song ala Russia back in 2016 or Austria in 2018, also a upgrade from Uku compared to last year

Finland: for anyone who is a linkin park fan, you'll adore this most definitely

France: classic french chanson, in style of Edith Piaf could really do well i think, a contender to win maybe

Georgia: for any Leonard Cohen fans out there, this is your cup of tea, very intimate, emotional, very not typical eurovisionish song, this might stand out bc it is so alternative

Germany: feel good pop song, Jendrik has a very fun personality either, reminds you of electro velvet meets alf poier, meets stefan raab/dadi freyr, also nice little return of german language even if just two phrases

Greece: 80's pop banger, for dua lipa fans a real treat, Stefania is also a very nice bubbly sweet girl

Iceland: for me personally a upgrade from last year, or i'm more used to Dadi's quirky voice now with that think about things overload we had last year, very nice first slow intro into quirky disco song

Ireland: very folkish feel good pop song, good that RTE gave Lesley this second chance after last years ''katy perry sound'' disaster, but i want this to do well honestly

Israel: it feels very israeli in instrumentals which is good, almost like a israeli dua lipa sound, few hebrew parts (curious about the revamp though)

Italy: good italian rock song, also fun fact the one girl in the band is half danish too

Latvia: for the LGBTQ+ and drag race fans out there, this is a true serve, Samanta is the diva queen of Sassiness

Lithuania: very original, very boppy, catchy song, feel good choreography as well, could be a contender again

Malta: bit of 1920's style in music video, very sassy diva pop song, also reminds you of electro velvet

Moldova: bit of musical theatre burlesque vibe you get, a typical Kirkorov signature

Netherlands: authentic, inventive, clever usage of sranan tongo language

North Macedonia: beautiful tribute to musical theatre, also beginning bit reminds me of Pure Imagination

Norway: showstopper, piece of theatrical art of angels and demons

Poland: lots of alcazar vibes, very polish accent in his voice, could be a nice result if staged/performed well

Portugal: unique vocal skill, also a first for them in english, very gabrielle/macy gray/james morrison lounge style

Romania: billie eilish vibes all over, very nice showcase to see she is very talented, also quite charismatic at least for me

Russia: mix of modern pop and russian folk, strong women enpowerment song

San Marino: fuego vibe done Senhit's way, adrenalina is in italian language btw, for international streaming success well i think it might be huge bc of Flo Rida's rap and composer credit

Serbia: even though u don't understand it, very feel good and makes you happy, these ladies are so charismatic and sassy at same time, also a nice disco vibe

Slovenia: her voice reminds you of anastacia, song bit similar to conchita rise like a phoenix (same composer charlie mason)

Spain: very lovely spanish ballad, Blas is a good performer too, if staged well could be nice

Switzerland: Gjon is talented, this song has some of ''Arcade'' team behind it, modern french chanson

Ukraine: ukrainian folk, it is very authentic, one of a kind probably too, this band well they are so so talented, i saw them in home concerts last year, they are amazing live performers too, don't underestimate it my advice

United Kingdom: very catchy, fresh and new, modern fun bop, James is a great singer-songwriter, lovely person too, read good things about him from our Armin van Buuren what he said after working with him on ''Therapy'' and ''Slow Lane'' could be a very great result for UK i think



will update this post later on when we will get Belarus

[Nicky91]

https://wiwibloggs.com/2021/03/23/eurovision-2021-organisers-say-live-audience-is-still-an-option-but-the-current-situation-in-netherlands-makes-that-look-increasingly-unlikely/263530/

Organisers: live audience still an option, but current situation in netherlands makes it look more unlikely



update: our health minister Hugo de Jonge in press conference last night, if we all work together now in staying home, and speeding our vaccination rollout there might be more possible in May and in summer

[Nicky91]

XkQ4qau_500

teaser of possible new belarus entry at 5:21


dai dai dai, hmm it sounds like it could be part of a chorus, bit to make it catchier idk


i mean we ourselves had Lai La La Lai Lai La La in de troubadour in the 60's and we won that time, simplistic can work


Dmitry (frontman of the band) i find sooooo incredibly charismatic, sweet :love:

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/esc_macedonia/status/1374376781722001421

there was some doubt due to Vasil's dual nationality (macedonian and bulgarian passport holder) but the support vasil petition won, and he will go to rotterdam for them with ''Here i Stand''

indeed Music wins :cheer:

[Nicky91]

Australia's postcard (with artist virtually through hologram) will be at Sparta Rotterdam stadium, since their artist Montaigne is a fan of football


:cool: Sparta's stadium getting attention of 200 million people

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/Eurovision/status/1375056363936698368

[Nicky91]

another all stars interval with: Lenny Kuhr, Teach-In (Getty Kaspers), Sandra Kim, Helena Paparizou, Lordi, Mans Zelmerlow

[Nicky91]

T3e2uURFfFA

for those unaware who Lenny Kuhr is, she won in the 60's with ''de troubadour'', she is more like our ''dutch lys assia'' lets say

she is going to release her 33rd album also very soon

[Nicky91]

tBND4qEQYT0

a cover of something older russian folk, wanna dq their too political entry fandom, they come back with a even stronger fun bop

his voice also so charming, and this makes me instantly smile :dance:


maybe this was meant to forget about ya nauchu tebya, but anyway this is so feel good even tho a cover

[Nicky91]

not the lady singer next to Dmitry looking like Nicola Sturgeon :laugh2:

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/eurospaincom/status/1375161159905636353

Spain pre party on 24th April, done virtually so people can attend that at a livestream, with live chat

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/ESF_FOK/status/1375482906555080713

pls make it happen san marino, pls pls give us flo rida in rotterdam

[Josiah.]

Well, Belarus has been officially disqualified.

https://eurovision.tv/story/ebu-statement-on-belarusian-entry-2021

[Nicky91]

official: 3.500 dutch people allowed to all 9 shows, seating area only

ESC will also be one of those field lab test events

[Nicky91]

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2021/04/eurovision-can-go-ahead-with-limited-audience-dutch-organisers-say/

article about this in english here

[Nicky91]

ages from our artists

oldest are

Belgium's singer of hooverphonic Geike Arnaert (41)

San Marino's Senhit (41) (would also be Flo Rida (41) if indeed he gets green light to go to rotterdam, i hope so and also cool he is very eager to come)



youngest artist is Greece's Stefania (18)

[Nicky91]

7jw1zBgkGMc

behind the scenes of Live-On-Tape recordings, the last resort back up option in case artists cannot make to rotterdam, but we all hope of course we don't need to use those (some artists find it fun to record it 3 times in a row, extra preparation time en route for rotterdam, N.Macedonia's Vasil for example said and he also said thank you to head of contest Twan)

PNWn1ewb3u4

get to know Sweden's artist Tusse

[Nicky91]

https://www.datocms-assets.com/17246/1617350381-postcard-haven-rotterdam-bewerkt.png?auto=format&w=1400
APM-Terminal Maasvlakte II Rotterdam

https://www.datocms-assets.com/17246/1617350498-postcard-schiphol-jpeg.jpg?auto=format&w=1400
Schiphol Airport

https://www.datocms-assets.com/17246/1617350523-postcard-markerwadden.jpg?auto=format&w=1400
naturepark Marker Wadden in the Markermeer


With less than 7 weeks to go until the first live show from Rotterdam Ahoy, we are also working hard behind the scenes on the 39 different postcards: the introductory videos with which all performances are announced. Earlier, the organization announced that the Lighthouse Westhoofd in Ouddorp, Evoluon in Eindhoven, the natural ice in Nannewiid and the Sparta-Stadion in Rotterdam serve as the background to these special videos. Today, three new locations will be added.

Again, three different locations have been chosen that show the different sides of the Netherlands: the breathtaking marker wadden nature reserve in the Markermeer, the state-of-the-art and automated facility APM terminal Maasvlakte II in Rotterdam and the famous Schiphol airport have been added to the list of postcard locations and are seen throughout Europe during the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. Which postcard belongs to which décor remains a surprise until the television shows of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in May.

Every postcard focuses on a so-called tiny house, which symbolizes the living room that became such a central part of our lives last year. With the latest digital techniques, the participating artists are presented in this tiny house. This cottage is decorated according to the story and personality of the artist. In this way, all participating artists are presented to the public in a special place in the Netherlands.
.

3 new postcard locations revealed

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/DenzelDiMare/status/1378455472227938307

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/songfestivalNL/status/1378968422084718597

DJ Afrojack, Wulf, Glennis Grace also added to the interval line up of the grand final


Duncan (our 2019 winner) will perform in the opening probably alongside few other winners not revealed yet but they could tease that

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/MarcvdZee/status/1378771771311198209

we got another postcard location reveal, Nijmegen and if you look closely in the view of that area, a iconic bridge which made famous in operation market garden WW2 also with the movie ''A Bridge too Far''

[Nicky91]

my realistic prediction for this years top 10

1. Bulgaria
2. Iceland
3. Russia
4. Lithuania
5. Azerbaijan
6. France
7. Italy
8. Greece
9. Serbia
10. Czech Republic




what i would want myself

1. Azerbaijan
2. Serbia
3. Belgium
4. Bulgaria
5. Italy
6. Ireland
7. Georgia
8. France
9. Russia
10. Czech Republic

[Nicky91]

Ux92nGK8rzU

Manizha performed new version of ''Russian Woman'' at Zhara Music Awards

[Nicky91]

so we now know 3 interval acts then

Rock The Roof

Music Binds Us

Duncan's new song premiere



also https://www.instagram.com/p/CNF7-HiBv4A/

some filming of Duncan singing outside in hellevoetsluis, his own hometown, so could be for the opening of semi 1 how it all might begin

[Nicky91]

46 days till ESC :)

[Nicky91]

UK entry, James Newman will be live tonight 20:00 CET (19:00 UK Time) on the ESC instagram, ''My Life in Music''

[Nicky91]

this weekend, the organizing team will officially receive the key to Ahoy to begin the build up for ESC


and people here can already point out specifically as of now to let themselves tested for the ESC audience :)

part of opening up netherlands again under new normal society, still safe but also trying something again for economy too

[Nicky91]

our dutch love island voice over new co-commentator, Sander Lantinga next to Cornald Maas

:clap2: he is funny so good choice, also makes a lot of word jokes as a radio dj so cannot wait

[Barry.]

our dutch love island voice over new co-commentator, Sander Lantinga next to Cornald Maas

:clap2: he is funny so good choice, also makes a lot of word jokes as a radio dj so cannot wait

I wonder if Scott and Rylan will be back for our semi finales one.

[Nicky91]

i wonder if Sander will comment on James like ''here is a familiar face for our radio listeners, given his collabs with our armin van buuren''

or it could be something like ''finally UK decided to be competitive'' :laugh:

[Nicky91]

https://static.eurovision.tv/hb-cgi/images/9323a241-4ac9-45e4-9af0-e53b12500b5c.jpg

Last year, the Royal Dutch Mint released a commemorative medal with an innovative design in honour of the 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.

The special edition jewellery will return this year in the form of a pendant on a necklace; the first of the limited run of 500 has been presented to Eurovision champion Duncan Laurence.

The design of the pendant contains all the winning songs from the Eurovision Song Contest so far. These songs were mixed together by music producer Eric Van Tijn. Then, using a unique installation developed by Juan Sanchez Castano (designer at the Royal Dutch Mint), the mix was played on a speaker with a vessel of water from the Rotterdam river Maas on top.

The vibrations created on the surface of the water were captured and physically rendered into a 3D model. You can find out more by watching the Royal Dutch Mint’s video.

The pendant and necklace are available in two varieties: silver and gold plated silver. This high quality collector’s item is strictly limited edition, so if you’d like to see those chains on, chains on you, then head over to the Eurovision Shop and place your pre-order now.

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/ESF_FOK/status/1380536224482463746

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/EuroTripPodcast/status/1380804231435784192

[Nicky91]

MZht6UwSyT8

construction of the stage has started


Sieste Bakker referred that they'll get the first acts on Saturday, 8th May

[Nicky91]

https://www.theeurovisionbible.com/post/will-montaigne-take-part-in-rotterdam-ahoy-stage

will Montaigne take part for Australia in rotterdam ahoy stage?

[Nicky91]

ahoy map (spoiler cuz image too large)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EytQCczWQAMIB_F?format=jpg&name=large

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/NathanReinds/status/1381492155559116802

[Nicky91]

https://escbubble.com/2021/04/amanda-holden-announced-as-uk-spokesperson/

Amanda Holden announced as UK spokesperson

[Nicky91]

i've seen some stage plan pictures, but it is going to be one neat stage and cool light effects too, good extension platform at the stage too



green room extra huge maybe done on purpose for added social distancing between all delegations


yes i feel hyped for next month, hope all delegations can make it, but they want to request a special permission for all countries by our government, also australia since they are not in eu of course, and non-eu citizen travel is forbidden but exceptions could be made of course for work related stuff and eurovision is work for artists and delegation members (tbh there have been australians in the eu for lesser important stuff recently, one actor there for some series in US had to film scenes in the balkans and italy and that was also allowed)

soo let us hope all 39 can be there fingers crossed

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/Eurovision/status/1381895354040397824

[Nicky91]

we still got one surprise interval act name to go apparently?

[Nicky91]

Hila Noorzai, Samya Hafsaoui, Koos van Plateringen are the press conference hosts

Rutger Vink is the online host, Samya Hafsaoui is also going to be seen in the online content


https://static.eurovision.tv/hb-cgi/images/93317159-575b-4cde-9ee2-9301ecdb9b2e/hero.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1065973760027754496/2ocOVt-O_400x400.jpg

https://eurovision.tv/story/latest-news-april-2021

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/HorecaDelft/status/1382313567945363461

another postcard location revealed :D

[Nicky91]

zPOPftALxuc

:cool:


music first a new bit of background info on entries



the male voice in loco loco is composer Darko Dimitrov :eyes: apparently he just sang along in studio and the other composer/producer Nemanja edited that into the song :D

[Nicky91]

and another postcard location, the wonderful Giethoorn whom are one of those who volunteered since they were heavily affected by coronacrisis in the tourism section, and they want to promote themselves a lot more than ever now

the french tv channel TF1 has been recording some material these last few days

[Nicky91]

13 days till premiere of Krista Calling (Krista Siegfrids finland's eurovision 2013 representative, our online host of this year, since NikkieTutorials got promoted to main show/green room host)

[Nicky91]

prayer circle for surprise interval act to be Lee Towers, would love that for him since he is a icon for rotterdam, + he is a music legend too here


other decent choice would be Marco Borsato (to represent our music charts, he had many no.1 chart top 40/top 100 hits)

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/Eurovision/status/1382952146060996608

not for the grand final, but for the first semi final (Davina Michelle and actress Thekla Reuten with their ''The Power of Water'' interval)

[Nicky91]

TcJ6CI_mGHI

[Nicky91]

stage is coming together quite nicely in such a short amount of time :clap1: they even work at night :love: on the main huge LED screen

green room also quite nice how it will cover entire floor


will be nervewrecking a bit with audience negative testing but 3.500 isn't too much audience at all



12 days until Krista Calling :cheer:

[Nicky91]

Gerben (head of show) was at talkshow Op1 last night

they are more and more optimistic all artists will be there in ahoy in May for the shows, only Australia not 100% sure but they are working extremely hard for them to also make it possible for their delegation to travel to ahoy


they are also working now already with the entries more because stand in rehearsals will begin very soon either (so one other factor they want australia to be there either otherwise the only live from them in ahoy is their stand in rehearsal and that would be awkward)


overall there is more optimism for the artists

[Nicky91]

jWdusym2LQw

Rafal did The Ride at their Voice Kids

[Nicky91]

https://i.imgur.com/e4nJIOT.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/tnZl71f.jpg

delegation hosts had visited rotterdam

[Nicky91]

audiences in doubt here as well after cancelling 538 kings day party due to rioting, anti lockdown demonstration worries


we can only hope for a miracle and our health minister De Jonge tonight to come forward and be honest regarding fieldlab test events as our way out of the lockdowns


otherwise maybe virtual audience to go for, and fake clapping

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/Eurovision/status/1384387023868416005

australia will not come to rotterdam, we will only hear their LOT performance

[Nicky91]

as expected, australia was the only one they weren't certain of if they could travel to ahoy

[Nicky91]

audiences in doubt here as well after cancelling 538 kings day party due to rioting, anti lockdown demonstration worries


we can only hope for a miracle and our health minister De Jonge tonight to come forward and be honest regarding fieldlab test events as our way out of the lockdowns


otherwise maybe virtual audience to go for, and fake clapping

update: will be nervewrecking to see if ICU numbers can decrease before then, cuz if above 900 patients, no audience will be possible for ESC

[Nicky91]

https://eurovoix.com/2021/04/20/%f0%9f%87%b3%f0%9f%87%b1-eurovision21-aim-for-grand-final-length-of-3-hours-45-minutes/?fbclid=IwAR34I0mjvisvqdBRJKNChFE22Q_YHXNXfCMChjX7 kmnrL6i4NCPk1E2lgWk

grand final length is 3 hours and 45 minutes

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/actualmontaigne/status/1384386622364405760

[Nicky91]

https://wiwibloggs.com/2021/04/21/the-wiwi-jam-at-home-2021-the-united-kingdoms-james-newman-is-ready-to-light-up-the-room/264465/

UK's entry is confirmed for the wiwi jam at home 2021

[Nicky91]

ome things from a presentation given to the Rotterdam city's council:
*Eurovision Village will start on 15 May and is completely online. They wanted to organize it as Fieldlab events first so an audience could be there, but that will not happen'

*It is still very likely that there will be an audience - even if the number of people on the intensive care is above 900 people

*Except Australia, they expect all delegations to be there

[Nicky91]

King Willem Alexander visits Ahoy today to see the preparations for the contest :o :o

:cool:

https://twitter.com/ESF_FOK/status/1385148636590395392

[Nicky91]

stage, green room picture

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EzkLeOPX0AAmYDB?format=jpg&name=large



the entire floor will be stage and green room, no audience (the audience will sit in rings of the arena)

[Nicky91]

also to confirm it now, this years eurovision thread is the last one i made on here, i will give that honour as of next year back to Lucas/Black Dagger


but as for now, positivity only (also good news it is very likely all other delegations could still come to ahoy, already been thinking of that, but mostly due to australia having been only one with problems, with their own health ministry, understandable given australia literally almost has no cases anymore, other countries are like artists/delegation members must self isolate immediately upon return)

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/wiwibloggs/status/1385211421861064706

[Nicky91]

more pictures, more details on green room (different colors of sofas, and also neon lights around each green room sofa outer layer)

https://i.imgur.com/j5vA42g.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1YCNLV2.jpeg

[Nicky91]

mofKRqSqkkE

Spain's Blas released a english version of his entry

[Nicky91]

Spain's virtual pre party line up

https://i.postimg.cc/448KZzd2/ESC-2021-preparty-full.jpg

[Nicky91]

Dancing, singing and jumping: theatre schools record music video for Eurovision Song Contest
Benthemplein in Rotterdam is the setting for dance, music and rotating cameras. About 100 first-graders from theatre schools PT010 and MT010 will be in the spotlight this Thursday. And all for a place in the city program of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Groups of children spin in circles, wave their arms and sing along loudly to the Children's Song Festival song Speak Up. On the basketball court between the Grafisch Lyceum and the Jeugdtheater Hofplein, it is a colourful experience. The students wear floral trousers, coloured sweaters and some have dyed their hair blue or purple.

Today, the talents of both theatre schools unite to record a music video. Especially for this occasion, they have received permission from the municipality to be together with a hundred children, against the corona rules.

Meaning
The music video gets a place in the online city program for the Eurovision Song Contest. For 12-year-old Noémi and the equally old Koen, the song and the clip have a lot of meaning. "It shows that you can be yourself." Both are excited to be featured in the city program. "But you don't have to care about others," koen says.

Principal Priscilla Mahadew speaks of an emotional day. "The children have had online lessons for a long time. Now they can sing and dance together again. That's what they finally signed up for."

Speak Up
According to Mahadew, the video contributes to forming their own opinion. ,,The theme of the song is Speak Up. They can really start to feel that." They need to learn to go their own way, she says: "It's good that they're developing their own color."

The video clip is an initiative of the Open Up Talent project. Four musical talents from Rotterdam-Noord were selected to participate in the city programme, including the theatre schools.

https://images0.persgroep.net/rcs/T88GZs0eNMKbW-I76-PxK6QafXk/diocontent/202147768/_fitwidth/694/?appId=21791a8992982cd8da851550a453bd7f&quality=0.8&desiredformat=webp

https://www.ad.nl/rotterdam/dansen-zingen-en-springen-theaterscholen-nemen-videoclip-op-voor-het-eurovisie-songfestival~ab1bc8b1/

[Nicky91]

NikkieTutorials covers glitter, glamour and gossip in new show

As if presenting the Eurovision Song Contest wasn’t a big enough task in itself, Nikkie de Jager will also host her own ‘LookLab’ show on the official Eurovision Song Contest YouTube channel.

NikkieTutorials will open up her LookLab studio in the Rotterdam Ahoy where she’ll welcome all 39 acts to discuss the glitter, glamour and gossip of the 65th Eurovision Song Contest.

LookLab with NikkieTutorials can be watched on the official Eurovision YouTube channel with new episodes appearing daily from Monday 10 May - Friday 21 May.

https://static.eurovision.tv/hb-cgi/images/93432bcf-f88e-4cf0-a092-8bd875f9e8ba.png

https://eurovision.tv/story/looklab-with-nikkietutorials

[Nicky91]

RESUME OF THE REHEARSALS' SCHEDULE:

Saturday, 8th May 2021:
Semi-Final 1 - First Rehearsals - First 7 songs

Sunday, 9th May 2021:
Semi-Final 1 - First Rehearsals - Last 9 songs

Monday, 10th May 2021:
Semi-Final 2 - First Rehearsals - First 9 songs

Tuesday, 11th May 2021:
Semi-Final 2 - First Rehearsals - First 8 songs

Wednesday, 12th May 2021:
Semi-Final 1 - Second Rehearsals - First 15 songs

Thursday, 13th May 2021:
Semi-Final 1 - Second Rehearsals - Last song / Semi-Final 2 - Second Rehearsals - First 9 songs / Finalists - First Rehearsals - All 6 songs

Friday, 14th May 2021:
Semi-Final 2 - Second Rehearsals - Last 8 songs

Saturday, 15th May 2021:
Finalists - Second Rehearsals - All 6 songs

Sunday, 16th May 2021:
(no rehearsals)

Monday, 17th May 2021:
Semi-Final 1 - First and Second Dress Rehearsals

Tuesday, 18th May 2021:
Semi-Final 1 - Third Dress Rehearsal

Wednesday, 19th May 2021:
Semi-Final 2 - First and Second Dress Rehearsals

Thursday, 20th May 2021:
Semi-Final 2 - Third Dress Rehearsal

Friday, 21st May 2021:
Final - First and Second Dress Rehearsals

Saturday, 22nd May 2021:
Final - Third Dress Rehearsal

[Nicky91]

https://images0.persgroep.net/rcs/5-X0gNvcH9Xeju66mvsBrM8Te4s/diocontent/181822993/_fitwidth/694/?appId=21791a8992982cd8da851550a453bd7f&quality=0.8&desiredformat=webp
De Vooravond presenters Fidan Ekiz, Renze Klamer


Talk shows Op1 and De Vooravond live from Ahoy during Eurovision
The talk shows Op1 and De Vooravond broadcast their programme around the Eurovision song contest from Ahoy. This will take place from Monday 17 to Friday 21 May. On1 will exceptionally also broadcast live from the host location in Rotterdam on the final evening, Saturday 22 May.

In the coming weeks, the NPO will count down to the semi-finals and the final show, which is estimated to be followed by some 180 million viewers in dozens of countries.

Goedemorgen Nederland also comes from Ahoy that week from Monday to Saturday. Time for MAX also settles down nearby during the Eurovision Song Contest, right next to the SS Rotterdam. In addition to television, the NPO also reports on the radio on location of all developments around the Eurovision song contest.

NPO Radio 2 comes from Rotterdam with backstage reports, live performances and interviews with participants. Lunch Lekker with Daniel Dekker on NPO Radio 5 also broadcasts all week from the port city.

https://www.ad.nl/show/talkshows-op1-en-de-vooravond-live-vanuit-ahoy-tijdens-songfestival~a8198357/



wow got a lot myself to look forward to :cool:

[Nicky91]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuhair_Murad

https://wiwibloggs.com/2021/04/22/zuhair-murad-will-design-natalia-gordienkos-looks-for-eurovision-2021-stage-show/264488/

this guy Zuhair Murad, lebanese fashion designer will design the dress for Moldova's Natalia Gordienko

some whom he had designed for before are: Adele, Marion Cotillard, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Ivana Trump, Shakira, Christina Aguilera, Vanessa Williams


but also Princess al-Taweel of Saudi Arabia had worn a creation at William & Kate royal wedding

[Nicky91]

SsXWevkPLGs

here is the link for the spain virtual pre party

[Nicky91]

lovely acoustic versions from Latvia, Ireland :love: :clap2:


Serbia's Hurricane slaying yet again, adore their harmonies so so much :flutter:



N.Macedonia's Vasil beginning in spanish for his entry was cute he did that for the pre party :clap1:

[Nicky91]

there might even be a audience even if ICU patients are at total of above 900

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/Bensvision/status/1386973199217397763

[Nicky91]

today final decision will be made on audience

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/Eurovision/status/1386711669737394179

official album is out

[Nicky91]

no decision on audience today, the meeting was postponed until tomorrow

[Nicky91]

19 days until semi final 1

[Nicky91]

https://www.ampco-flashlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/L1.jpg

the space behind the huge LED screen

[Nicky91]

the news regarding the audiences, maybe at 18:30 PM CET (17:30 UK Time) or bit later than that, announcement could be at my nation's entertainment show RTLBoulevard


so a very long wait and tension

[Nicky91]

https://eurovision.tv/story/voicefortheplanet-eurovision-partners-with-wwf

might as well share this, the WWF nature charity a new official partner for eurovision

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/Eurovision/status/1387826652936294415

why don't they include ''dutch people only'' since otherwise it is clickbait

[Nicky91]

https://wiwibloggs.com/2021/04/30/adriatic-preparty-15-eurovision-2021-acts-to-perform/264665/

Adriatic Pre Party, croatia's first pre party, 15 out of 39 acts there to perform

[Nicky91]

https://eurovoix.com/2021/03/29/omni-television-eurovision-2021/

Canada again broadcasting the contest either, via their channel OMNI Television (no commentary)

[Nicky91]

4ZgGW-YbMpk

[Nicky91]

our own commentary team Cornald Maas, Sander Lantinga will go into the ahoy bubble as of next week

Cornald feeling sad that he can't get vaccinated before that and he can't leave the bubble so he can only get vaccine in June

[Nicky91]

France National final for eurovision 2022 confirmed by their HoD

[Nicky91]

15 days until semi 1

17 days until semi 2

19 days until final

[Legrand]

Finland's still my fave i fink! :D

[Nicky91]

https://i.ibb.co/RHMRjFr/E0e-Vuh-SX0-AEQgu-B.jpg

interval act rehearsal

https://euro.forumgreek.com/

[Nicky91]

during the final seconds of the voting in grand final, we will have a sketch and a dance performance with title "The Human Countdown"




and also one final postcard teaser, this one in Amersfoort

https://static.eurovision.tv/hb-cgi/images/93336e07-5543-407d-8c66-08c44e5d86b2/gallery-19:10.jpg

[Nicky91]

OPENING ACTS:

SF 1

- Duncan Laurence performing Armin van Buuren's "Feel something" as part of the "Get ready!" sequence

SF 2

- Redo (dancer) and Eefje de Visser (singer) performing "Forward unlimited"

FINAL

- The now usual flag parade of the 26 finalist countries with music by DJ Pieter Gabriel

INTERVAL ACTS:

SF 1

- Davina Michelle (singer) and Thekla Reuten (actress) performing "The power of water"

SF 2

- Ahmad Joudeh (ballet dancer) and Dez Maarsen (BMX-rider) performing "Close encounter of a special kind"

FINAL

- Afrojack, Glennis Grace ( ESC 2005) and Wulf performing "Music binds us"

- Lenny Kuhr ( ESC 1969), Teach-In ( ESC 1975), Sandra Kim ( ESC 1986), Elena Paparizou ( ESC 2005), Lordi ( ESC 2006) and Måns Zelmerlöw ( ESC 2015) performing "Rock the roof"

- Duncan Laurence performing his winning ESC 2019 entry

- "The human countdown", also known as a dance act for the televoting's last minute or so



all the opening and interval acts for this year, so no international big name

[Nicky91]

wLqBeSbWM3A

today episode 2 of Krista Calling

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/Eurovoix/status/1389972778326052871

no elderly among audience

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/Eurovision/status/1389998541699944454

[Nicky91]

Ireland: her co-composers from Normandie Philip Strand and Emilie Eriksson will be Lesley's backing singers

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/RichardCrommert/status/1390257444614545410

today results rehearsal

[Nicky91]

https://twitter.com/Eurovision/status/1390263824482197505

Open Up to Online Eurovision Village

[Nicky91]

https://www.rijnmond.nl/media/1208899/Paul-de-Leeuw-presenteert-Eurovision-Village-2021

dutch article, our former national final host, spokesperson Paul de Leeuw is one of online eurovision village presenters

[Nicky91]

https://imgr.rgcdn.nl/e29ee06cd8e649e9ac4fa3790a5cef26/opener/Joe-Platt-naast-zijn-geprinte-Eurovisie-trofee-Foto-Suzanne-Mulder.jpg?v=Jz4bKVSn_EddB1b84gUOGA2

3d printed eurovision trophy at Rotterdam Centraal train station, created by Joe Platt

[Nicky91]

https://i.ibb.co/DWhw0yC/Screenshot-20210507-120332-01.jpg

Lithuania's The Roop departing for Rotterdam

https://sun9-35.userapi.com/impg/ZQX-QVQ-N0dnvqMLTP_AiRKjY0gnvXFeRWUJWw/AkBHWb9MeDE.jpg?size=508x887&quality=96&sign=826f46b1175ca2f4c9abafd8566638d7&type=album

Russia's Manizha departing for Rotterdam (5 backing singers with her to ahoy)

[Nicky91]

https://sun9-63.userapi.com/impg/YNgT_kxEHQHizj8H1MID0Sb8HO5ip8YDeDErcA/KtiR3z6Kp4A.jpg?size=1153x511&quality=96&sign=d76cd9951c98dc1449c3881155cc3a50&type=album

part 1 of rehearsal schedule for tomorrow


when australia was supposed to rehearse (but since they are not there) they'll just have a longer break