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Every day, between now and the contest in May, the team from wiwibloggs will round up the latest titbits from the world of Eurovision 2021. We trawl through Instagram, Twitter and elsewhere so that y’all don’t have to. In today’s Daily Digest Elena Tsagarinou takes us behind-the-scenes, Jeangu Macrooy sings with his brother and Blas Cantó teases us with an English verse. But first…

Eurovision news: 22 March

BBC Radio 2 makes James Newman’s “Embers” its record of the week

James Newman’s “Embers” is on the verge of picking up some major radio play. BBC Radio 2 — the UK’s biggest music station — has named the Eurovision song as its ‘record of the week’. Additionally, the station has also added “Embers” to its “A List” alongside tracks from the likes of Justin Bieber and Dua Lipa. James’ inclusion on this list means that his song will be played on a more regular basis across all the station’s shows.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by James Newman (@jamesnewman)

Jeangu Macrooy performs “Something Inside So Strong” with his brother

The Netherlands’ Jeanug Macrooy appeared on the Dutch TV show Matthijs Gaat Door on Saturday evening. But he didn’t sing his Eurovision entry “Birth Of A New Age”. Instead, the Suriname born star performed his version of Labi Siffre’s “Something Inside So Strong”. He was joined by his brother Xillan and the Zo! Gospel Choir.

Montaigne creates skateboarding “sound pack” for Happy Mag YouTube

The “Technicolour” singer recently headed to a skate park — mic in hand — to record sounds for Happy Mag’s “Sydney Sounds” YouTube series . “I chose a skatepark because very recently I started getting into skating because of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 and 2 re-mastered on PlayStation,” she says. “After a few plays on it I was like, ‘Skateboarding is really cool.'” She adds that she hasn’t been skating as much since Eurovision started, but was keen to hit the concrete to grab some sounds — and a bit of practice! (William)

Elena Tsagrinou takes us behind-the-scenes of “El Diablo”

She’s currently in Bulgaria, filming her back-up tape performance for Eurovision 2021. But Elena Tsagrinou gave fans a throwback to the “El Diablo” music video shoot. In the behind-the-scenes clip, Cyprus’ singer shares her excitement as we see her play around with paint and sheets of plastic.

Hurricane film their postcard

Serbia’s “Hurricane” spent the day filming their postcard. Unlike previous years, acts aren’t able to travel to record their Eurovision postcards. So, instead of hopping aboard the next flight to Rotterdam, the trio stood in front of a green screen. They’re also celebrating five million views for “Loco Loco” on YouTube.


Blas Cantó teases “Voy a quedarme” in English

Blas Cantó will sing in Spanish at Eurovision. However, over the weekend he gave fans a taster of what an English version of “Voy a quedarme” would sound like. Writing on Instagram, Blas says “I wrote “Voy a quedarme” with Dangelo Ortega, Dan Hammond and Leroy Sanchez, who has been in charge of giving voice to most of our demos for a few years. Yesterday he sent me the English adaptation of this beautiful song and it made me cry. I’ve always sung in English, and doing it with this story is a dream come true”.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Blas Cantó (@blascanto_es)

Additional contributions from William.

What do you think of “Voy a quedarme” in English? Are you excited to see Hurricane’s postcard? Let us know in the comments.

Read more Daily Digests for Eurovision 2021.

42 Comments
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Robert
Robert
3 years ago

Even though I truly love Voy a quedarme I would love to hear the full version in English too.. Hits me in the heart

Last edited 3 years ago by Robert
Kiki24
Kiki24
3 years ago

Yaayy, super excited for Hurricane’s postcard. I’d like to see what they have come up with since it’s not going to be done in a usual way.
This stands for other entries, as well ?

Last edited 3 years ago by Kiki24
Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago
Reply to  Kiki24

Yeah, if I remember right, all of the acts are using green screen to film themselves, and the organisers will project this footage across different unique locations throughout the Netherlands. It’s innovative and exciting, I agree 🙂

canada_piano
canada_piano
3 years ago

well the spain song sounds even more promising now. it has grown on me a fair bit

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago
Reply to  canada_piano

I imagine Blas might be tempted to sing in English, but RTVE won’t be.

yom124
yom124
3 years ago

In fairness I think tú cancion would have done much better if rtve didnt do literally everything they could to keep it from doing well on grand final night. 2nd in the running order didnt help either

Stian F
Stian F
3 years ago

Wow the English version of the Spanish song sounds amazing. It always helps if one understands the lyrics, and it helps one to connect to the song. The spanish version is good as well, but it doesn’t manage to connect in studio cut as i dont understand the lyrics. It is one of the songs that really have a chance to elevate when experiencing the whole package as its a beautiful song. It just needs perfect vocals, a charismatic singer, a fitting outfit and the perfect staging to go with it and it can surprise everyone and go top10 for… Read more »

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
3 years ago

Damn I actually feel like ‘I made a promise’ would make a stronger eurovision entry. Maybe he can do 50/50 spanish english?

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

That would be a good compromise — it would be nice to see Spain do well and for people to understand the meaning of Blas’ song. I think for people who’ve lost someone during covid, it will strike a chord.

BeepBoop
BeepBoop
3 years ago

“Voy a Quedarme” is a great song, and he will probably record it in different languages just because he wants to, not to suit the taste of Eurovision fans. I always say everyone can have their own opinions, but Blas is getting an unreasonable amount of hate when he is practically doing his thing, being happy about his song, and even people criticise him for that. Is it that difficult to not write how awful you think his entry is on every single post about Spain? Jeez… Also, there are people who indeed LIKE this it, and they are not… Read more »

BeepBoop
BeepBoop
3 years ago
Reply to  BeepBoop

Downvote me all you want, you should really find yourself a job instead of being here being hateful 24/7 towards both artists and fellow fans who like the songs you hate. Music is not that deep, specially enough to say someone is not mentally okay 🙂

BeepBoop
BeepBoop
3 years ago
Reply to  BeepBoop

Being a political journalist does not give you the right to be so mean towards someone who likes something you hate 🙂 And for your information, I have a full on job publishing so… I do not see how that does anything to do with writing mean stuff online. Have a good day! ^^

Amadeus
Amadeus
3 years ago

It’s way worse in English. What a terrible idea whoever came up with that.

Last edited 3 years ago by Amadeus
Eurovision2016>
Eurovision2016>
3 years ago

If he’s the biggest fan of his song, I should be pretty close. I absolutely love it! Spain are always so underrated! They deserved top ten finishes in 2015 and 2018 and would be deserving of a win with voy a quedarme. Eurovision fandom doesn’t seem to have the maturity to enjoy beautiful songs like voy a quedarme. Hopefully the jury and casual viewers can appreciate it much more.

Eurovision2016>
Eurovision2016>
3 years ago

If you didn’t get goosebumps watching blas’ live performance of voy a quedarme, your taste is on the same level as a newborn.

Eurovision2016>
Eurovision2016>
3 years ago

I’m fine buddy 🙂 how are you?

Thorula
Thorula
3 years ago

That explain you like Tu Cancion then. Every newborn needs his Disney song.

BeepBoop
BeepBoop
3 years ago

Rude.

Alex
Alex
3 years ago

well i don’t want to ruin the party but it’s a tradition almost every year that the ESC song gets playlisted by Radio 2 so no surprises here. The surprise would be if Radio 1 (the most popular radio station in UK) had playlisted it…it would’v made the song a hit immediately. this is the problem with the UK, how do you expect Europe to vote for your songs if you doný even support them and make them hits before ESC?

Felix
Felix
3 years ago

The English version of Voy a Quedarme is giving me Amaia y Alfred…

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago
Reply to  Felix

Strange. Tu Cancion doesn’t feel as long as 3 years ago, but it also feels like years and years ago…

Eurovision2016>
Eurovision2016>
3 years ago
Reply to  Jimmy Smit

Time really flies. I literally remember sitting on the sofa watching amaia and alfred performing second in the grand final as if it was yesterday. I was thirteen then…now I’m sixteen. Maybe the pandemic has played a part but I really feel like time is faster than light. It truly feels like yesterday I was watching Eurovision 2018 and 2019 live.

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago

Time certainly can fly—but there’s something unique about events that feel both near and far—I’m aware that this feeling has been amplified over the last year by the pandemic, and that seems to be quite common, but I haven’t come across a good explanation as to why.

Maybe there’s some scientific explanation about how time warps around significant memories or major events — and that so many are experiencing this feeling in part due to the communal, global nature of the pandemic.

Last edited 3 years ago by Jimmy Smit
Leif
Leif
3 years ago
Reply to  Jimmy Smit

I think it’s the fact that something seems from an indeterminable time (long ago, yet somehow not entirely in the past).

But then you’re also able to put a date on it because of an event (or perhaps a release year) and you do the math… and boom! Mind blown. As you grow older this intensifies. It really puts in perspective how much time has actually passed “when you’re not looking”.

eha
eha
3 years ago

Omg english version is so much better!

Eurovision2016>
Eurovision2016>
3 years ago

One of the biggest mysteries ever at Eurovision is how Spain is not the favourite for this Eurovision. The only song that comes close to it in quality is Bulgaria and maybe Cyprus. If Sweden had sent it, we’d have a 2012 situation all over again where we knew the winner even before the shows.

Crystal
3 years ago

I think “Voy a Quedarme” actually has a better flow in English, strangely enough! I’m wondering if they originally wrote it in English and then adapted it into Spanish?

It can be tricky to adapt songs from foreign languages into English, and vice versa. One of the few non-English songs that got adapted into an equally great English version was “Io non che vivo”/“You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me”. Well, it also helped that the ridiculously talented Dusty Springfield made the English version such a classic.

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago
Reply to  Crystal

Sanremo 1965…

Crystal
3 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Yep, it was a finalist at Sanremo, but did not win. The song that did win Sanremo and represented Italy that year, “Se piangi, se ridi” by Bobby Solo, finished 5th at Eurovision (“Poupée de cire, poupée de son” by France Gall won for Luxembourg that year, of course). The story goes that Dusty Springfield herself was in the audience at Sanremo and was so moved by the melody of the song that it brought her to tears. She managed to get a recording of the song, but waited a year before deciding to record an English version. Her friend… Read more »

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago
Reply to  Crystal

Good story! Nice hats by the way, Crystal 🙂

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago
Reply to  Jimmy Smit

Now I’m wondering why clicking on your name takes me to your blog, but clicking on Jonas’ name doesn’t take me to his (yet he has a photo, presumably linked by a WordPress blog).

Crystal
3 years ago
Reply to  Jimmy Smit

Because I enter my blog’s address in the Website box when I post a comment! Simple as that. And thanks for the compliment on the hats!

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago
Reply to  Crystal

Yeah, that’s apparently the only way to get a profile image—but unlike you, most others don’t have a website that opens.

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago
Reply to  Jimmy Smit

I don’t have one. I spent two minutes setting up an account just for Wiwi, but never went back. Maybe I will one day…

Sesilwe
Sesilwe
3 years ago

Wow don’t hate me for this but I think Voy A Quedarme sounds wayyy better in that English version, that was absolutely beautiful

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago

Voy a quedarma has really grown on me, there’s a gentle beauty and poignancy to it. It’s tempting to think about how well Blas would do if he sang in English, and was understood by juries and televoters more widely.

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago
Reply to  Jimmy Smit

20th century juries got a translation in the two official EBU languages, on paper at least…it would be nice if that was brought back.

yom124
yom124
3 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

is there anything to say they dont do now?

Id imagine it would still be kept

Liam Lindsay
Liam Lindsay
3 years ago

This is the first time a UK entry has had such scope on home soil. This is just another tick in the things that went right for the UK this year. UK will finish at least on the left hand side of the scoreboard this year, if not getting a Top 10 finish. Period.

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago
Reply to  Liam Lindsay

The first time in a long time, but not the first time…

Liam Lindsay
Liam Lindsay
3 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

My bad, text got cut off

Alex
Alex
3 years ago
Reply to  Liam Lindsay

Well, the song hasn’t charted on the main Singles chart yet…