Every weekday, 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 Lesley Roy and James Newman go live, TIX teases a costume upgrade and Victoria discusses her staging plans. But first…
Eurovision news: 23 April
Benny Cristo’s costume designer revealed
Benny Cristo is a stylish guy and he won’t be wearing just anything to Rotterdam. The Czech Republic’s Head of Press Ahmad Halloun has revealed that the “omaga” singer will be dressed by fashion designer Jiri Kalfar. Kalfar is known for creating sustainable luxury pieces, which ties in nicely with Benny’s environmental activism. The fashionista will also kit out Benny’s dancers.
Fashion Designer Jiri Kalfar will be in charge of the costume design of Benny and the talented team of dancers joining him on stage. Jiri who creates sustainable luxury pieces has released several collections in the last years including shows in NYFW.
— Ahmad Halloun (@AhmadHalloun) April 21, 2021
Benny introduces us to his animal friends
In other news, Benny also introduced fans to some of his furry friends — notably a magnificent black cat and a small white goat. “ps: they love you, dont hurt em 😶”, he writes.
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TIX teases an upgraded outfit for Rotterdam
You might not have thought it possible, but TIX is about to take his Eurovision outfit a step further for Eurovision 2021. Answering a fan Q&A on Instagram, he confirmed that the costume has been “upgraded”. He already has gold chains, a massive faux fur coat and giant angel wings… so, who knows what he has in store for us. TIX also hinted that the official music video for “Fallen Angel” will drop in the coming days.
Victoria works on her stage show with Marvin Dietmann
Renowned creative director Marvin Dietmann is a busy man at the moment. Last week we saw him with Albina in Zagreb, this week he’s with Victoria in Sofia. He’s there as the Bulgarian delegation put the final touches in place for Victoria’s stage show in Rotterdam. Writing on Instagram, the “Growing Up Is Getting Old” songstress says “28 days till the 2nd semi-final of Eurovision 2021 🤎 I had the opportunity to work on my stage performance for Rotterdam this week with our artistic directors Marvin Dietmann and Dan Shipton and my choreographer Elena Kolarova. Thank you for coming again to Bulgaria.” Victoria, Marvin, Dan and Elena all share their vision in the below YouTube clip.
Lesley Roy and James Newman go live
Ireland’s Lesley Roy and James Newman settled down for a 40-minute chit chat on Instagram live. “Answering questions about tea and having a laugh!”, says James in the live stream’s description.
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Blas Cantó makes it on to the Rocío stage
After performances from France’s Barbara Pravi and Switzerland’s Gjon’s Tears, the hit Spanish documentary series Rocío finally invited Blas Cantó to perform. However, he didn’t perform his Eurovision song. Instead, he delivered a passionate interpretation of a song by Rocío Jurado. And Spanish Eurovision fans will be spoiled because the programme-makers have confirmed that Blas will be back to perform “Voy a quedarme” next week.
Blas Cantó dando paso a Rocío Carrasco cantando una canción de su madre. Que paren la simulación ya #RocioEnDirecto pic.twitter.com/MSH9u9f9Bb
— Eurofans Spain (@Eurovision_ESP) April 21, 2021
Pass the popcorn! Natalia Gordienko heads to the movies
Moldova’s Natalia Gordienko was back in Moscow for the city’s 43rd annual movie festival. Wearing a stunning Alexander McQueen gown, she walked the red carpet alongside her musical mentor Philipp Kirkorov.
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Barbara Pravi works on new versions of “Voilà”
“Voilà” was one of the first songs to be selected for Eurovision 2021. And now, after several months, Barbara Pravi is preparing to shake things up a little bit. Next to a picture of her crouched down on her laptop, with a pair of headphones resting on her head, she writes that she’s preparing a new version of her Eurovision song for the Adriatic online party. She’s also working on a re-orchestrated version of the chanson.
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Are you excited for TIX’s costume upgrade? What about Victoria’s staging? Let us know in the comments.
Lesley and James are so down to earth. Best of luck to them both! A collab between these two in the future is exciting!
Definitely, there is something very warming about Benny. I would really love to see him get to the final.
wow i feel sorry for Natalia having to deal with Kirkorov all the time and not wearing any masks. but at the end of the day, he’s sponsoring her entry so i guess it’s the price to pay… It’s hideous to see them not wearing any masks in Moscow or travelling around Lebanon, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, Greece as if things are normal… Ahmad Halloun is the head of press for Czech R. EurovisioN? isn’t it a bit random? He has no connection with the Czech media, he’s just a Eurovision fan. Czech Republic broadcaster needs to promote Eurovision within the… Read more »
Is it just me or Kirkorov looks more and more like a villain from pixar movies?
You just know there is some big scandal with him that’s going to come out in a few years.
I always get a chill down my spine when I see him. I know that sounds really bad but it’s true.
after escaping Philipp for a short time, it seems that Natalia has been recaptured
TIX …mammouth costume match perfectly…for his Last Christmas I gave you my fur…copy song !
Nice to see Lesley and James sitting down for a little chat,.UK is, after all, our nearest neighbor and it’s a great showing of neighbourly love and solidarity.
Shame we can’t vote for each other though….well we can vote for UK.
Ireland and the UK might be able to vote for each other on Saturday, be optimistic…not that being neighbours is a good enough reason to do it.
If that is how you want to vote, though, don’t forget your other neighbours – actually nearer to you in a different way, sixteen even with the same currency…
Nah I’m just reflecting on life Jonas. I hate block voting.
Though I may give Embers some votes in the final as I genuinely do like the song.
Natalia is going to have to be careful- with not long to go until arriving in Rotterdam it would be gutting to pick up COVID from one of these even and test positive when she arrives!!
Looks like covid does not exist in Moscow.
Dear Natalia
If you keep moving around like this, we probably will not see you live on stage.
Just saying….
Is Russia paying for the Moldavan promotion?
Kirkorov is paying.
Moldova is this “Russian” entry this year xd
Kirkorov is sponsoring just like he does with every entry he is ‘producing’ or ‘promoting’ (Russia 2014, Russia 2016, Russia 2019, Moldova 2018, Moldova 2021 etc)
His newest victim is Moldova, he was involved with the selection in 2018 (met the president of Moldova before the national final while other candidates accused the voting as rigged) and i fear that he”ll be sponsoring Moldova’s entries whenever Russia is not using him for the internal selection (every 2 years).
Petition to have James and Lesley as the Eurovision 2022 hosts, they have such an energy..!
VICTORIA is so gorgeous! I can’t wait to see her on the stage in Rotterdam.
he delivered a passionate interpretation of a song by Rocío Jurado — the protagonist of the series.
Wrong, the documentary is about Rocío Jurado’s daughter Rocío Carrasco.
The wings thing has already been done to death at Eurovision. He’ll lose votes.
NRK needs to say a few words to TIX about wings failing in Eurovision. His style will come off very bizarre and kitsch with Eurovision viewers and they won’t vote for him, especially juries.
I’m guessing TIX’s wings will now be able to flap…
This killed me xD I can’t help but imagine it now.
Not a chance. He’s fallen angel after all
It’s the chains around his ankles keeping him down, though.
Costume upgrade? I’m scared. Just so I’ve said it, having a halo on your head is not an improvement.
Oh come on. It’s so bad it’s actually good. I mean, it works for what it’s meant to be.