They bring fire and ice at Eurovision year in, year out. And now Sweden and Spain have #cometogether again. Or at least their Eurovision Song Contest 2017 contestants have, as Robin Bengtsson and Manel Navarro have recorded a cover of Tom Petty’s “Free Falling”. 

MANEL AND ROBIN COVER “FREE FALLIN'”

It’s a simple acoustic song and that flavours the clip.

The boys have swapped treadmills and LED screens for a stool and a bar chair. Dressed in matching black shirts, Manel plays guitar through the clip, and the boys channel harmonies that the ladies of OG’3NE would envy.

Often in the performance they’re so in the zone, jamming away together, that they forget to make eye contact with the camera and lose themselves in the music. These boys are artists, y’all.

The impromptu cover shoot took place at a photo-shoot during the Eurovision Spain Pre-Party weekend in Madrid. The duo later performed the song live for fans during the Pre-Party.

The dynamic duo formed their friendship through earlier appearances on the promo circuit, including Israel Calling in Tel Aviv, where, in addition to performing for Eurofans, they also toured historic Jerusalem and planted trees at the Eurovision forest.

About to plant a tree con mi hermano de españa ???????????? @manelnmusic

A post shared by Robin Bengtsson (@robinbengtssons) on

MANEL AND ROBIN ON THE ROAD TO EUROVISION

They might be friends now, but when they step out on the Eurovision stage they’ll be foes fighting it out for votes of millions of Europeans.

Robin has already been busy documenting his intense rehearsals and preparation through his Instagram page.

#readyforkiev #crew @laminalexander @alvaroestrellamusic #kevinfoo & #patrikriber need to get instagram.

A post shared by Robin Bengtsson (@robinbengtssons) on

Manel has also been busy preparing for the Eurovision stage in Kyiv.

Rehearsals w/ Hans Pannecoucke and the guys!

A post shared by Manel Navarro Music (@manelnmusic) on

Together with his band, Manel is seen here with Hans Pannecoucke, who will handle his staging.

Pannecoucke staged “Calm After The Storm” in 2014, and also organised Douwe Bob and Laura Tesoro’s staging in 2016.

He’s got a brilliant track record. Can he work his magic with Manel once more?

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30 Comments
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Tusán
Tusán
7 years ago

You can tell how bad Manel’s management wanted him to go on Eurovision. For me all these stunts are just transparently planned and forced.

Zebb
Zebb
7 years ago

‘The boys channel harmonies that the ladies of OG’3NE would envy’
Poor Og’3nes opposed to cats’ howling. I didn’t see that coming x2.

fikri
fikri
7 years ago

it’s weird seeing manel wearing shirt without floral pattern.

Bella Astrid
Bella Astrid
7 years ago

This is a really cute song and I actually like this! 🙂

Mark
Mark
7 years ago

Why does Robin wear so many turtlenecks? Who is his stylist?

Bella Astrid
Bella Astrid
7 years ago
Reply to  Mark

I couldn’t answer that but he looks sexy in turtlenecks so I have no problem with them!

Ern
Ern
7 years ago

So, is Robin extremely tall?

Or, Manel very short?

Or both?

cheesecake
cheesecake
7 years ago

Perfection. They both slay.

Eve
Eve
7 years ago

Ah, could I just stare for a moment thinking how perfect is Robin ??? 😛 <3 <3

NickC
NickC
7 years ago

Dear Wiwibloggs: I have a suggestion for you: would you consider writing an article about the most successful stage directors/creative directors of the past 20 years in Eurovision? I think they include: Fokas Evangelinos, Sacha Jean-Baptiste, Marvin Dietmann and Hans Pannecoucke. Could you please enlighten us about their backgrounds? And more importantly they will work with which countries this year? As far as I know, Fokas Evangelinos is with Greece, Sacha Jean-Baptiste is with Armenia and Georgia, Marvin Dietmann is with Germany and Hans Pannecoucke is with Spain. Did I forget anyone? Anyway, an article on this would be very… Read more »

MS
MS
7 years ago
Reply to  NickC

Good idé !

Eve
Eve
7 years ago
Reply to  NickC

Sacha Jean-Baptiste was also ”responsible” for Donny Montell performance. Great idea!

oliver
oliver
7 years ago

I love them both! <3
The fact that the hysterical eurodramers hate Manel makes me like him even more and wish that he places very very high!
Robin has a foot in the Top 3 no matter what

RoboESC
RoboESC
7 years ago

Don’t forget Hans Pannecoucke is responsible for the Dutch disaster in 2015 with Trijntje…

Pi
Pi
7 years ago

@Vanuatu You’re wrong. But never mind. Just, take care about all that poison in your mouth. You’re gonna be… poisoned by karma

Vanuatu
Vanuatu
7 years ago
Reply to  Pi

Is that a thread? Dont name karma pls, cause Manel still has to receive votes… Lets see where karma goes….

SnatchedWigs
SnatchedWigs
7 years ago

I don’t like either of their entries, but I’d love to see them in a special kind of “duo”, if you know what I mean ;).

Mattias Sollerman
7 years ago
Reply to  SnatchedWigs

???? ????

Denis
Denis
7 years ago

He means “duo” in a filthy way:)

Vanuatu
Vanuatu
7 years ago

@Hada, what he needs is either a miracle or a time machine XD, cause the moment he accepted being the spanish representant for eurovision 2017, his music career (in sales and income) ended. His record company is going to ship a “very limited” EP just before eurovision with his 4 DIFYL songs + what was supposed to be his new single, but that due to the commercial failure & the huge amount of investment Sony had put on this guy, it wont happen anymore. So they’ll just burn the last they have and bye bye. I preddict a result similar… Read more »

Hada
Hada
7 years ago
Reply to  Vanuatu

Do you think his music career is dead just for being in Eurovision, or because of the controversy around his win?

And I don’t know much about the process in Spain (I’m Latin American), but how much impact did the rude gesture he made have? I’m under the impression that he wouldn’t be as hated if he hadn’t made it, and it kinda sealed his fate.

Héctor
Héctor
7 years ago
Reply to  Hada

Relax! You are too nervous since 2 months ago man, commenting in every news realated to Manel. That’s really bad for your health! Also, the hate won’t allow you to enjoy Eurovision.

Héctor
Héctor
7 years ago
Reply to  Héctor

Btw, my message was intended for @Vanuatu

Vanuatu
Vanuatu
7 years ago
Reply to  Hada

In my opinion is because of a mix of things, but definetly not for being in eurovision. Thanks to entering in Eurovision he is known, when before he was a complete unknown singer. So that was the only nice thing he and his managers did right. But the reason why his career has died (and thats not an opinion, you can just check his sales, only 1 week on the spanish sales top 100 charts, and it was in the position 42, and also that EP with what was supose to be and entire new single (with videoclip, and stuff)… Read more »

M_K
M_K
7 years ago

If you listen closely, you’ll notice that Manel is actually not that good a guitarist (sorry), but since there is no live music in Eurovision, it doesn’t matter anyway. Robin is quite good on this one, actually, I think this is actually more of his style (even though I understand why his record company led him in a different direction).

Vanuatu
Vanuatu
7 years ago

Booooooooooooooring

Hada
Hada
7 years ago

Well, nobody can accuse Manel of not doing publicity. Given that a former contestant had to ask people not to boo him *in his own country*, he needs it badly.

KennyESC
KennyESC
7 years ago
Reply to  Hada

Who is the former contestant you are talking about?

Hada
Hada
7 years ago
Reply to  KennyESC

Barei, during the preparty in Spain.

Robert
Robert
7 years ago

“The boys channel harmonies that the ladies of OG’3NE would envy”

I mean I love this, they sound great together but I don’t think anyone comes close to OG3NE’s harmonies..