She recently revealed that she’ll be working with Eurovision stage maestro Marvin Dietmann, the genius behind Conchita’s winning performance at Eurovision 2014. And now Croatia’s ESC 2021 singer Albina has teased some more of her plans as she gets ready to set the stage on fire in Rotterdam.
In our 24-minute Zoom interview, which you can watch above, the “Tick-Tock” hitmaker makes it clear she wants to take things to the next level.
“In Rotterdam we will have a bigger stage and more tools to play with, and also greater expectations,” she says. “We have to boost it and we will certainly do that.”
She’s keeping her cards close to her chest, but she did reveal that she’ll sport new threads: “We are changing the outfit, but the main idea — that young, vibrant, positive look — will stay.”
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Albina — full name Albina Grčić — also tells me that the song is about steering clear of toxicity, whether that relates to bad romantic relationships or faceless haters on Twitter.
“When I’m singing this song, I kind of imagine that in the context of toxic relationships in general — not just in a love context. While I was representing myself as a singer years before, I read the comments. I live in a small town, so it’s like a village and everyone has their opinion.”
“But that kind of pulled me down in a way, so now I’m coming around. Now I’m very confident because I have my path, I’m living my dreams and nobody can stop me. I’m surrounded by great people and great professionals, so I’m enjoying every moment of it.”
She embodied this attitude after Croatia’s national selection too, amid a flurry of comments and conspiracy theories about her win.
“All that drama that occurred after Dora didn’t really touch me and influence me,” she says. “I didn’t want to let those comments or that drama or Nina or anyone else ruin my moment. That won’t change. I’m really looking forward to this experience and meeting other contestants. To meet you guys .”
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Albina has decided to make use of the pre-recorded backing vocals in Rotterdam. That’s not because she worries about the mixing, but because she wants to maintain that Albina flair.
“This song is a lot about those backing vocals, so I think we’ll keep that and just have them recorded. I think it’s a better choice, because, by the way, that was me. I was recording those backing vocals! We wanted to keep my vocal there, keep my presence in full.”
Are you excited to see what staging Albina unveils in Rotterdam? Which of the looks from her music video and stage show were your favourite? Let us know in the comments box down below!
Croatia, France, Cyprus, Azerbaijan & San Marino my favourites for WINNER! Good luck to everyone.
Great singers don’t need any back-singers even more pre-recorded.
When eurovision was 100% live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRqhkwTIuU8
OMG how beautiful is she…the most beautiful woman this year.
I watched her a couple of videos when she participated in the voice Hrvatska, her voice is fantastic but I don’t know why she chose that song lol.. the tick tock song is one of the cringiest songs in this year, especially the oh no part makes me wonder If I should stop following the contest
She is soooo cool girl! Beautiful, smart, eloquent and had great great song!
All the best Albina. You are desrved to be in top 10!
My personal number 2 after France!
Croatia is in my heart, I’ve rooting for Albina from the start and I won’t ever remove her from my pack of favorites. Her song is fresh, honest, uplifting… it deserves to be in the GF.
Albina\’s interview was sooo good, she’s awesome and i am rooting for her. Finally, Croatia is sending a modern uptempo track performed by a talented singer.
Croatia is still my favourite entry this year. Albina is on fire and she is coming for the crown!
Well , reading from Eurovision’s official website about the backing-vocals I came across t that: Are there requirements for the content of the backing track? The backing track cannot contain Lead Vocals, Lead Dubs and/or any other vocals that would have the effect of, or aim at, replacing or unduly assisting the Lead Vocals during the live performance on stage. So I think that what Croatian delegation is trying to do having Albina’s backing vocals prerecorded is forbidden! We’re going to see if Albina’s case breaks that rule, even though I think that they’re going to find a solution to… Read more »
Why the downvotes? If you don’t believe me there’s the article:https://eurovision.tv/story/changes-announced-to-ensure-eurovision-comes-back-for-good
Well since her backing track doesn’t contain Lead Vocals, Lead Dubs or vocals that would unduly assist the Lead Vocal, she is not breaking any rules. You tried…
With Lead Vocals doesn’t it mean that it souldn’t be vocals from the Lead Singer or am I wrong again? smh
I just think that rule means that the prerecorded vocals can’t overpower the lead vocal. I don’t think it means that the prerecorded vocals can’t be those of the lead singer.
Could be wrong tho, just how i interpret the rule 😀
You tried, but fall into your own trap.
Read again and next time be carefull when writing how some broke the rule.
So poor standards of you!
Some people here are really bitter… The chorus is the only part of the song where her voice blends with the backing vocals but that’s also the easiest part to sing. Her vocals are actually pretty exposed in more demanding parts of the song. There are multiple songs this year though, where the backing track is supporting the singer throughout the whole song.
tf?
I like her and the song. Hugs and kisses from Russia! <3
All of the sudden, when Croatia is using pre-recorded backing vocals, it is the hugeproblem, while when Tusse uses it in Voices, nobody even talks about it!!!
What ? Melfest use it since ages now. And when transposed to ESC it exposed how some poor singers can win it just because of the recorded voices See Ingrosso, Eric Saade…
We already know now how Voices will sound in may. Exactly like in Melfest, fake and unreal for a live competition.
We ESC fans should NOT VOTE for any country that will use this year pre-recorded voices.and only support the countries that will bring back-singers on stage.
I have new lyrics for Tusse song “When we hear, recorded voices….”
You must be a very bitter person in life. You think Tusse would win Idol if he had poor vocals?
Well, almost all of the countries (if not the majority) is going to use pre-recorded vocals, from Moldova, Greece and Cyprus to Malta, Slovenia, Sweden and Iceland. This is going to be something usual, if it is not imposed only so that they don’t have to bring many people due to covid-19.
But tell me, if they had to bring live the backing-voices, you know that there would be almost no dancers at all? Because at least 3 backing vocalists are needed for a song (for example Slovenia and Russia)
Even if she closes her mouth and everything is sang by the prerecorded track, the song will remain terribly mediocre.
Just like your life I guess.
Delusion, convince yourself.
Dora performance sounds so fake with the lip sync chorus. We should already boycott Eurovision 2021 #bringBackLiveEurovision
we will never boycott Eurovision 2021 so it’s just you and your miserable life
We must be happy to have you to tell us that. Some people are true haters.
You should ashamed, but I guess for that you neef to have some moral compas.
It should be completely and totally forbidden having the main’s singer’s voice in any recorded segment. This is a joke, it’s turning into a playback lip-synch contest.
Absolutely, that’s what I was saying below. Covid-19 is just an excuse to make Eurovision another Melfest that sounds as live as a CD
And if delegations would’nt be abble to bring back-singers then sing alone !! Watch some delegations bring 5 dancers and use pre-recorded soundtrack. So hypocrite.
Well, actually there are strict rules on pre-recorded vocals that you must read them before
Her staging was fine before. She’s a great performer and the song is catchy. Her pitchy voice is holding her back and turns this into a borderline qualifier. I like the song though and hope it qualifies. It’s miles better than Norway, for example, in SF1.
She’s fixing the pitchy notes. For example, she performed Tick Tock at an award ceremony tonight and changed the notes to sound more full, interesting and well-rounded.
Is there a link for that performance?
Knowing HRT, probably not, but I’m not sure. She changed that high note before the first chorus, it sounds really nice imo. The version of the song performed isn’t the one she’s going with for Rotterdam, though.
Unless it gets removed, this is the uplugged jazzy performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOelGoim02c
Her vocals sound a bit strained, imho.
She changes it just to be appropriate for national teather where award ceremony was. Nothing else.
So let me see if I’m remembering correctly: Marvin Dietmann is staging the entries of Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, AND Spain? Has any staging director had a year like this? I think SJB did four in ’17 (Armenia, Australia, Bulgaria, and Georgia) but holy crap, six entries in one year!
Let me see if I can remember who staged multiple entries in a single year.
2016:
Hans Pannecouke: Belgium, Netherlands
Sacha Jean-Baptiste: Armenia, Cyprus, Georgia, Lithuania
2017:
Sacha Jean-Baptiste: Armenia, Australia, Bulgaria, Georgia
Marvin Dietmann: Austria, Germany
2018:
Sacha Jean-Baptiste: Australia, Bulgaria, Cyprus
Hans Pannecouke: Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland
2019:
Sacha Jean-Baptiste: Cyprus, Sweden, Switzerland
Fokas Evangelinos: Russia, Spain
2021:
Marvin Dietmann: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Spain
Sacha-Jean Baptiste: Albania, Switzerland
Fokas Evangelinos: Greece, Moldova
Incidentally, from a little earlier, Fokas can also lay claim to being one of the few staging directors to stage both the winner and the runner-up: he staged both “Believe” and “Shady Lady” in 2008.
Very nice!
It would be great if @William Lee Adams published a list of all artistic directors of those year and their previous best result.
Sacha’s group is doing Georgia too and Sweden I guess?
Source? I have never seen that she is doing Georgia and Sweden this year.
Marvin told me that he will stage 7 Nations in 2021…(Malta maybe)
I am sorry but I would rather hire a director dedicated to an entry or two, instead of someone responsible for 6 (!) entries…. there is so much talent out there
This is so true. And in each artist’s own country.
They’re going to get more jury votes in that way hahaha (no, it’s just a joke, even though it happens)
This one has “the ESC winner” written all over it! Love it!
You have missed the “not just before it
Not a chance HAHA
What ?? Recording back vocals allowed with the main singer voice ?? WTF this is turning into melfest. we want low people delegations because COVID blah blah so we alow recorded vocals and they can’t even make a basic rule that the pre-recorded vocas must be recorded by real vocal singers in the same conditions that it would be live. So disgusting and show they want that fake live shows where only visuals count and no more the singing.
There are certain rules about pre-recorded vocals. You should read EBU’s statement from last year.
And since when you can be your own back singer lol in the real life ? This is just a farce. Eurovision is turning into a playback show.
100%. I’m pretty sure this was lobbied by Swedish delegation.
TIX literally lipsynced his performance, why does this surprise you?
Surprised no. go back to the Norway NF final article comments when i was already saying it was playback. I’m still shocked that even here some people can’t hear the difference between a real live performance and recorded voices. They should stop listening Melfest that is just a parody of a live singing competition and go back watching/listening eurovisions from the 90s/00s to hear how real live sounds.
Cause Norway and Sweden are the same country now ?
Will she be bringing those beautiful dancers with her?
She will! She says in our chat that all of them are coming.
Hooray. They contribute a lot to the energy, and sexiness, of the performance.
As whole new story I suggest a whole new singer who can sing without screaming ? The song is very efficient and catchy but her screams “don’t go don’t go don’t go”… I go right away !
i love that part
Don’t let the door hit you on your way out.
Well, this is the favourite part imo