The first ten finalists at Eurovision 2013 have now been chosen, and Team Wiwi had a front row seat at the press conference. We’ve transcribed all the juicy gossip and bland pleasantries for you to read below. These people weren’t just perspiring ambition tonight. They were exuding happiness and it was really sweet. The contestants also drew their running order position for the final. This year rather than drawing numbers they have drawn first half or second half. SVT producers will decide their exact starting position.
Estonia: Birgit Oigemeel with “Et uus saaks alguse”
How happy are you today? “Of course I’m really really happy. I can’t say anything else.”
You were worried before this semi-final because you worried you didn’t have enough neighboring countries voting in this semi. “Of course. I am happy. I am excited. It was a surprise for me. Latvia and Finland were not in that semi-final, and I think some votes can come from neighboring countries. I’m especially happy for that.”
Running order draw: First half
Denmark: Emmelie de Forest with “Only Teardrops”
You have strong pressure on you as the favourite. How did that affect you? “I was so happy and I think the audience was amazing. I couldn’t stop smiling. I don’t know what to say.”
How much do you believe in your victory now? “I mean, I believe in my song. I think it’s a wonderful song. I love the melody and the message. Right now I’m just happy to be through to the final.”
How many questions have you received about not wearing shoes? “A lot of questions. But it’s something I’ve always been doing, singing without shoes, so it just seemed natural to keep doing that. I didn’t make it up for Eurovision. I just feel so comfortable when I’m not wearing shoes.”
Running order draw: Second half
Russia: Dina Garipova with “What If?”
Tell us about your performance. “It was really interesting. It was really exciting and I’m happy I can’t find the words to say how I feel now.”
What was the doll you were holding in the green room? “It’s a little present from my fans and they give it to me and tell me that it’s good luck. It’s a little grandma, a Tartar grandma.”
You seemed so emotional tonight. Who were you thinking about? “This is a song about all of us and when I sing I am thinking about all of the people. These words are really wonderful for me. I want to tell this message and this is very important message for all of us. We are one”
Running order draw: First half
Ukraine: Zlata Ognevich with “Gravity”
Any special thoughts when you entered the stage? “In my head like always only music and love to each other. And sitting here for me is a big surprise. I’m so nervous in the little room and the green room waiting for results and I’m almost crying. Thank you for your vote and supporting me.”
How was your giant? “He says me that for him today is very great today. Today he is happiest than ever. He feel himself like not one day rehearsal like today performance.”
You were one of the last finalists to be called. How did you feel at that moment? “Of course I so nervous with all my team, yeah? But I’m feel so happy when we going to final and I broke my boots and one of my back vocalists Cleavland Watkiss put me in his hands and took me to the stage because I couldn’t go. I lost my boots. Cinderella, I’m like.”
Ukraine have always sent beautiful amazing girl with beautiful voice. Do you hav singing guys in your country? “Of course we have, for example Verka Serduchka. He’s like 10 Ukrainian girls. Thank you.”
Running order draw: Second half
The Netherlands: Anouk with “Birds”
[The press start chanting Anouk]You were at the very end before you found out you qualified. What went through your head? “I don’t know. Maybe it sounds a little bit arrogant. I wasn’t worried. When number 9 came I was like no, way, really. Maybe it’s not. And then I thought…I saw these camera people twice walking along. Were they just checking me? I thought maybe there was a slight chance. And there they were.”
Eurovision has a lot of gay viewers and you are a gay icon in Belgium and Netherlands. Is it important to be a gay icon in this competition? “I don’t think so. Gay or not, I’m just here to perform my song as good as possible.”
Last week you performed in front of an empty hall and tonight you had the audience. How much energy do you get from them? “A lot because I was quite nervous of course. I thought it was amazing that the moment the chorus came in everyone was waving their flags. It was awesome. It felt really good.”
Running order draw: First half
Belgium: Roberto Bellarosa with “Love Kills”
How much energy did you get from the crowd? “A lot. It is just amazing what happened to me. I am 18 years old and it is just a great surprised. For all the team it is a great surprise. I am very happy for us because we worked red very hard for the Eurovision. i did my first casting with the song of Anouk on The Voice. I am just surprised to sit near her and just amazing what happened for me. I am very happy and I am very happy for Belgium.”
Young girls had flags with your name. Do you think you are a new Justin Bieber? “No. No.” [Head of delegation: He’ll do the same as Justin Bieber. he said if he passed to the final he’d cut his hair off since one year he has hair that way.]
“It’s better in English because for French a lot of countries don’t understand that. But I prefer to sing in French of course.”
Running order draw: First half
Belarus: Alyona Lanskaya with “Solayoh”
What did you want to bring to the arena? “My song is about happiness and love. Today during the semi-final I said how much I miss my family. My main goal was to bring people t the happiess point and make people feel as warm and happy as I am when I think of my family and friends.”
What do you think of Planet Solayoh? Did it help you tonight? “Of course I think my planet helps people because my main goal is to return people to happy moments. This can be in their hearts and hands. Today in the second semi-final [the planet was] somewhere in the sky and people saw it. I think we have happiness in our arms and if we want we can bring our songs to the happiest moment in our lives.”
If Belarus wins this year, will it help Belarus to become more open and democratic? “I would like to say that I love my country and my motherland, so if I win of course we will host the Eurovision 2014 at a very high level.”
Running order draw: First half
Moldova: Aliona Moon with “O Mie”
Everything worked beautifully with your dress. “Thank you.”
Aliona, how heavy is your dress? “Actually the dress is very heavy. We don’t know the weight of the dress. But when I take it off I feel the pain in my back. So I don’t need the gym.”
Which country is your biggest competition this Saturday? “In this competition this year there are a lot of countries which can make the final and a lot of countries which deserve to get first place. Let’s see the results of the second semi-final and what it will bring to the final.”
Running order draw: First half
Ireland: Ryan Dolan with “Only Love Survives”
The head of delegation says Ryan can take tomorrow off.
The emcee asks Ryan about his promise to take off his shirt if he advanced to the final. He says he doesn’t want to.
Four years in a row we’ve qualified for the final. There’s a lot of coverage back home that your priest is supporting you. “He hasn’t actually arrived yet. I think he’s coming over. He’s given me his blessings and he’s praying for me every day he says. He gave me a small medal. I keep it in my pocket all the time when I’m on stage. I’m really looking forward to him coming over.”
You’re a native English speaker. Maybe of your colleagues sing in English without speaking it. What do you think of it? “I think everybody is entitled to do what they want to do. If they want to sing in English that’s their decision.”
Running order draw: Second half
Lithuania: Andrius Pojavis with “Something”
You’re not falling asleep at the end of the table? “You are looking beautiful tonight.”
You must be exhausted. how did you handle nerves? “I didn’t handle something. I was just going with the flow.”
What are his chances [to head of delegation]? “I don’t want to estimate our chances. We are happy to be already there. Actually when we were being announced early in the green room, then we were very nervous for the Netherlands. Emmelie I am glad we are two songs out of format.”
Congratulations on making the final. Your first album came out last year and now you’re in the final. This is quite unexpected to a lot of people. How does it feel? “Well definitely for my country and for Lithuania. yeah, I’m doing this for my country.”
Was this result expected for you? How will you celebrate? “I’m expecting the 8th position because I did an album called Eighth. So my dream is the eighth. I am going to drink something.”
Running order draw: First half
Photo: Thomas Hanses (EBU)
You can read our song reviews on the Wiwi Jury page. Then read the lyrics to this year’s entries on our contestants page. And then vote for your favourite contestants in our various polls.
I guess you are talk to wiwi,but i must advocate this becouse it was huge interes for visiting and voting predictions from fans of Moje 3,and some other fans from other countryes and song was presented erlyer then some other countryes as well as campaine.So it is not wiwis fault..i want to be fair l i dont want talk any more about who s voted for who.
It’s amazing the amount of mistakes that you have with your predictions, you are terribly bad, do not know anything of this! Estonia, Belgium, Lithuania, you predicted last place, and Moje 3 didn’t qualify jajajajaj
It’s amazing the amount of mistakes that you have with your predictions, you are terribly bad, do not know anything of this! Estonia, Belgium, Lithuania, you predicted last place, and Moje 3 didn’t qualify jajajajaj
I thik her song is awfull,but i like her personality and she was demonstrate cofident on the scene of expirenced singer.I think her carsma put her trough,not song!
Please ANOUK LISTEN!!! During her SECOND rehearsal she did such a beautiful twist in her song. After the second CHORUS but before the break she just sings BIRDS……. anyone go back and listen to when she does this because during the actual Semi final she didnt do this and replaced it with some common whaling. PLEASE anouk do exacly what you did in the second rehearsal video and you will wing the whole show. And make the stage a bit more dark and melancholy and some more wind in the hair……you are already by costume so toned down. Make it… Read more »
As much as I like your site, sometimes you are wrong in your judgements of the wiwi jury. Estonia was very good and so was Lithuania and Moldova was mind-blowing. All these were very low ranked by your jury yet they qualified.
Well it is obvious that everything is set for a fraud.Where are all votes gonne from all south european and ex yu countryes???This mathematicly very eaisy to prove.Quality of direct transsmition was pour,everything looks so cheap.Stage is carefully set with cameras for Denmark ,while Moje 3 are coverd so bad from director an cameras that is unspeakeble.It seems that final not going to be watched in suth europe at all.Nordicvision will stay local,this year.
I’m watching the Press Conference and there was a weird moment. The hostess said to Ryan Dolan (Ireland) “want to talk about what you would do if you qualified to the final?”… And he, a bit ashamed, said ‘no’; which left me a bit curious.
What was he going to do?
Thank you very much for your reply!
Hi Jonathan, 1. It means that the countries drew whether the position will be in the first half or the second half of the Grand Final. The exact position will be decided later by the producers of the show (they broke with tradition this year), after the second set of 10 finalists is known. We will let you know the exact running order as soon as it is made public. 2. The exact scores from the televoting and juries will be made public after the Grand Final, in order not to influence the voting on Saturday. We will also publish… Read more »
Hi,
thanks for a great site. I have 2 questions:
When you write “Running order draw: Second half” does this mean their starting position in the final is already known? Where can I find all this info?
Where can I find info about the exact scores from tele voting and juries for the 1st semi-final?
Best regards,
Jonatan