Although Eurovision will definitely be going ahead in 2021, it will be very different to what fans usually know. It is still currently undecided whether an audience will be permitted to attend the event, and the amount of on-the-ground press coverage will be drastically reduced. But the team organising Eurovision 2021 are determined to give fans as much content as possible and have now revealed two new online shows that will take place in May, both hosted by Finland’s Eurovision 2013 representative Krista Siegfrids.
Krista Calling: Head behind the scenes of Eurovision 2021
One show, titled Krista Calling, will take fans behind the scenes of everything going on in the run-up to this year’s contest. The Finnish star will be talking to all of this year’s artists on the red carpet and taking a look around the Rotterdam Ahoy arena as it gets ready to host Eurovision 2021.
In a video message on social media, Krista couldn’t hold back her excitement to be involved with this year’s contest:
“Hello Eurovision lovers! Krsita Siegfrids in the house! I’m so happy and excited to tell you that I will be working for the Eurovision Song Contest this year! And this means that you get to join me backstage to meet all the fabulous artists! And I will provide you with amazing behind the scenes material. Everything you want, I got it! So see you in May! Ciao!”
Each episode of Krista Calling will be broadcast on the official Eurovision YouTube channel.
Ding-dong, this is "Krista Calling"! ?
We've got 2 brand new online shows coming to you in May!
Find out all the details here ? https://t.co/f0avGsxd3a pic.twitter.com/gmAJhIjxAm
— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) March 29, 2021
Eurovision Song Celebration: Live-On-Tape
The second online show is Eurovision Song Celebration: Live-On-Tape. This will take place on Saturday 29 May – a week after the Eurovision 2021 grand final. It will showcase all the live-on-tape performances that each of this year’s participants have been recording ahead of the main show in case they are unable to travel to Rotterdam due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Fans will get to see all 39 live-on-tape recordings in full (get ready for a marathon of a show!). Each country’s delegation has also submitted behind the scenes footage from the recordings, which will also be incorporated into the show.
Last year, Eurovision Song Celebration was used as a replacement for the live semi-finals. Instead, two shows were broadcast on YouTube where each of the 41 Eurovision 2020 music videos were shown.
Krista Siegrids will also present Eurovision Song Celebration: Live-On-Tape and guide viewers through the show.
Krista first entered the Eurovision bubble in 2013, when she represented Finland with the song “Marry Me”. In the eight years since, the star has never really left the fan community and has been a frequent attendee of the various Eurovision pre-parties.
The star also hosted Finland’s national final, Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu, between 2016 and 2020. At the same time, she competed in Sweden’s Melodifestivalen in 2016 and 2017. Krista is a true Eurovision fan and no doubt her passion for the contest will shine through in both Krista Calling and Eurovision Song Celebration.
Krista currently lives in Amsterdam with her boyfriend and new baby daughter Lizzy who was born in November 2020. Thus, she will not have to travel internationally in order to host the backstage show in May.
Are you excited for Krista Calling and Eurovision Song Celebration? What backstage info are you hoping to find out? And whose live-on-tape recording are you most looking forward to seeing? Sound off in the comments below!
How come they couldn’t find a Dutch presenter to do it? Krista is talented but Netherlands is hosting Eurovision and Krista is not exactly a Eurovision legend…
Eurofans, the ones who will definitely watch the online shows, know Krista more than the average Dutch presenter.
Online viewer familiarity. 🙂
The first thing to come to my mind as well. Why can’t a Dutch ex esc candidate make this program? Like Marlayne (1999) who is a TV presenter or Esther Hart (2003) who organizes J’aime la Vlie every year on Vlieland?
Fits the #openup theme
She currently lives in Amsterdam. Maybe that’s why they chose her.
Okay so they basically already know that they won’t use the Live on tape videos lol
They do ever since they chose scenario B for the show. Unless someone drops out at the last minute, everyone is set to perform in Rotterdam.
they will be used if any of the performers is Covid positive or needs to go to the hospital or suddenly they can’t fly to Rotterdam, you never know.
Considering that any Eurovision live show content released after 2016 is geoblocked, this would be a great substitute for fans who want to revisit the 2021 show but are unable to.
Good that the live-on-tape performances won’t be all hidden, if everyone gets to perform in Rotterdam. Nice idea from EBU!
I’m glad that all 39 video recordings won’t be wasted if the acts are able to travel to Rotterdam. I’m glad we’ll still see them, it adds an extra layer of content to the show this year.
Strange that Krista is involved with this though, I mean she’s cool but I’m surprised it’s nobody Dutch.
It doesnt make her dutch maybee, but i think she lives in Amsterdam since a couple of years. That may have something to do with it
Possibly.
Could have just been extra Nikkie de Jäger content or something but yeah.
Nikki will be hosting, so she’ll be very busy.
San Marino’s live-on-tape will probably be one of the most intriguing, considering it definitely won’t have Flo Rida, and we’ll get to see Senhit on her own (or with Flo on green screen / AR).
I appreciated Montaigne confirming that she’d reveal her live-on-tape after 22 May, if it wasn’t going to be used. It makes sense for the organisers to make a show out of the concept and reveal them all together officially.
I’m struggling to understand the point of these events. unless the live-on-tape performances have any actual differences from the Eurovision shows, what are they for then?
I mean way too much work has been put in creating them, so it also makes sense to use them for something in the end. Since the actual shows will be way more ”technological advanced” than some of the stages the broadcasters have access to, the eurovision performances will probably look significantly different.
I do believe the broadcasters are allowed to change their staging and such after their live on-tape performances so there will be some differences; plus, if they can do some short behind-the-scenes content as well I think it’ll make for an interesting show. Besides, who doesn’t love even MORE eurovision content?!
They most likely will have differences, some of them major ones.
Sounds fun! I was hoping we’d get the chance to see the ‘live-on-tape’ performances at some point.
Krista, she´s amazing and I missed her at UMK this year.
I do it for you and for you and for you and for you marry me baby… Still remembering her song