She narrowly missed a place in the final of Eurovision 2011.
And on Saturday Bulgaria’s Poli Genova made it clear that the result has made her even hungrier to succeed at Eurovision this time around.
“I was really pleased with my performance [in 2011], but I was disappointed that I wouldn’t sing again,” she told wiwibloggs at the Eurovision Pre-Party Riga. “To be truly honest, this time I want to be three times on the stage.”
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And as she dreamed of her performances in the semi and the final and the winner’s encore segment, she looked absolutely fierce, wearing a red blazer, which she teamed with a monochrome t-shirt and black fisherman pants.
The fire in her clothes carried over to her words and she was brimming with passion and love for BNT for giving her another shot.
“After the successful Junior Eurovision project they somehow trusted me again and gave me this great responsibility and pleasure, a second chance to make something big.”
“This was a dream and now it’s come true.”
Her song “If Love Was a Crime” was a long time coming.
In fact, Bulgaria received a special extension from the EBU to reveal their Eurovision 2016 song. And while Italy was the last country to reveal the final version of their song, it was Bulgaria who was the last to reveal their song title and video.
Was that strategic?
“No, we were just the last ones because we made the song at the very last moment. Sometimes the last are first.”
And in her case they are also totally in love.
“For me the love is absolutely the greatest power. It can conquer all. It conquers evil, the bad things that can happen to us, the power that connected everyone on this planet. You can do whatever you want when you receive love. So the great metaphor with a crime is really cool. I think all of us should be criminals.”
1st time – during the semi final
2nd – during the final
3rd – after the winning performance
Top five, easily one of the best songs this year.
The song has now moved to #3 in my top. It’s very modern, catchy and I love Poli’s attitude.
I met her in Riga and she’s amazing, very sweet and funny.
I hope she does very well in Stockholm, her song is really good and she’s a great singer. Go Poli!
@ct_greece
She’s WAY better than Elhaida. Elhaida last year was appealing only to the Special Snowflake YOLO crowd. Poli’s got way more widespread appeal with her song. She’s definitely gonna sing twice. A third time? Not so sure. I have her fifth, but that’s probably a ceiling.
Sofia 2017
She is a good singer, but the song is unremarkable. No vote from me.
Maybe this year’s Mei Feingold too, but she is in an easy heat.
Poli Genova: This year’s Elhaida, the queen of Awkward. She wants to sing three times?? ROFL
Since she’s in semi final 2, I can easily see her sing twice. But three? Maybe…depends if she can give one awesome performance while the favorites (Russia, France, Spain, etc.) give disappointing ones.