Bulgaria is known for having a very lively Twitter profile, but recently, things have got a little too lively. The official Bulgarian Eurovision account — @bg_eurovision — has posted a series of alarming tweets that have fans asking: is Bulgaria leaving Eurovision for real or is this just more Bulgarian twitter hype?
Last night @bg_eurovision posted a series of tweets that seemed to refer to a big project that was ending. Thanks were given to many people involved with Bulgaria at Eurovision. However not all of these tweets made it to the morning.
In a tweet that has now been deleted, the account wrote: “A very difficult day for the whole team of @bg_eurovision. Wishing the best of luck to our young, energetic Project coordinator, one of those creative and strategic minds behind the scenes who worked hard in the last few years for the Bulgarian delegation”.
What’s left on Twitter is a message giving thanks to “Krisia, Hasan & Ibrahim, Poli Genova, Gabriela Yordanova and Ivan Stoyanov, @KristianKostov_ , Lidia Ganeva, all 5+1 members of @EquinoxBulgaria and last but not least our great partners from Virginia Records, Symphonix International and Seven Eight Prod.”
A big gratitude also to Krisia, Hasan & Ibrahim, Poli Genova, Gabriela Yordanova and Ivan Stoyanov, @KristianKostov_ , Lidia Ganeva, all 5+1 members of @EquinoxBulgaria and last but not least our great partners from Virginia Records, Symphonix International and Seven Eight Prod.
— BNT Eurovision Bulgaria ?? (@bg_eurovision) October 12, 2018
Perhaps in response to all the fan worry that had sprung up with the tweets, the account later tweeted, “More information and detailed explanations about the current situation regarding the Bulgarian participation at ESC and the future of the project will be released soon. Until that we won’t comment on any informations from other sources than BNT. Thank you for the understanding.”
More information and detailed explanations about the current situation regarding the Bulgarian participation at ESC and the future of the project will be released soon. Until that we won't comment on any informations from other sources than BNT. Thank you for the understanding.
— BNT Eurovision Bulgaria ?? (@bg_eurovision) October 12, 2018
The @bg_eurovision account then retweeted a @wiwibloggs post of our 10 Reasons We Love Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest — a positive celebration of Bulgaria’s involvement in the contest.
But things got complicated with a tweet from Equinox member JJ. In a since-deleted post, he wrote: “I’m extremely sad and disappointed to hear that Bulgaria is withdrawing from Eurovision. It was one if the few opportunities for the Bulgarian performers….”
Was he misinformed? Or is there something to his message?
This has led many fans to wonder if Bulgaria is withdrawing from Eurovision 2019. One month ago, Bulgaria provisionally confirmed their participation in Tel Aviv. They also said that unlike in previous years, they would not be revealing any information as to how they would select their entry for 2019.
However, since then, broadcaster BNT — like all broadcasters — has had the opportunity to withdraw from Eurovision without penalty.
But other fans are wondering if the tweets are a continuing part of Bulgaria’s social media strategy. The account is known for making dramatic, hype-filled tweets, sometimes with contradictory messages. Some fans feel the social media overhype of Equinox had a negative impact on the group’s result in Lisbon.
Since Bulgaria’s Eurovision comeback in 2016, they have earned a reputation as a power player. In 2016, Poli Genova placed fourth with her uplifting song “If Love was a Crime”. The following year, Kristian Kostov came very close to winning when his “Beautiful Mess” finished second. Earlier this year, the “common framework” Equinox placed 14th with their gothic pop song “Bones”.
What do you think? Will you be sad if Bulgaria withdraws? What should Bulgaria’s Eurovision strategy be? Tell us what you think below!
Krostov was in Eurovision without preselections. Its not fair against the other countries because they have preselections. So I am thinking that Bulgaria shoult not participate.
Yes, that comment makes perfect sense.
Ah, Bulgaria. Or as I’m now going to refer to them, Slovakia 2.
Krostov was in Eurovision without preselections. Its not fair against the other countries becaude they have preselections. So I am thinking that Bulgaria shoult not participate.
As a Bulgarian, I am glad they decided to withdraw. It was published in one of our newspapers. The overwhelming reaction in the comments section was supportive of the decision. Who are you going to ridicule now? It’s your problem. The money can be used in documentaries and TV series instead.
BNT is terrible broadcaster that noone watches other then the old people. They even have 30 min broadcast of news in TURKISH WTFFFFFFI hope they give the rights to other broadcaster like Nova TV that would carry out Eurovision alot better.
I agree that BNT is terrible, but why is 30 min of news in Turkish a big issue for you?
Well lets say BBC have a 30 min broadcast in Turkish , would english people be happy about that? Its english television , not TURKISH! If you want turkish go to Turkey , its that simple.
maybe it’s time for the bulgarian esc team to stop being the attention seeking emo kid?
‘love it like a black hole, everything is dark’
no everything isn’t dark
Knowing BNT’s twitter page, they probably won’t withdraw and it’s most likely social media attention, but if they do withdraw, I will be pretty upset. They’re one of my favorite ESC countries.
It does make you wonder why they never returned to junior eurovision despite saying that they were too late to submit an entry in 2017. Do they have any budget left after hosting 2015?
Could it be that the record labels pay most of the fee and now they are struggling to attract labels willing to pay.
Similar to how Greece was going to have a national selection but because only Panik Records paid the €20,000 deposit they sent Yianna.
Maybe BNT are struggling to find record labels after Bone’s lackluster result.
Bones’ result wasn’t lacklustre. It just didn’t achieve the result they wanted. Their expectations were way too high.
I think they are withdraing for real. Twitter team is more emotional and very often they share inside info and have to delete it after revision from their managment. Anyway it is matter of time before they announce it officialy. Very sad! Bulgaria is one of mu favorite countries.
Pathetic. If you have to be so pathetic about your probably fake withdrawal, have the guts to actually follow through with it.
I’m scared I don’t want Bulgaria to withdraw
Probably desperate measures to attract attentions. BNT is so lame if it turns out like this.
Social media hype, definitely. They won’t withdraw after being that successful in the past 3 years…
They ran out of budget to buy Swedish songs and American singers. Invest in your own artists please, and if you can’t do so, give up on the contest. Nobody benefits from such participants.
The songs they’ve sent in the past three contests has had heavy Bulgarian involvement as Boris Milanov co-wrote all the recent entries plus “Na Inat”.
I guess Ana meant that partly as a sarcasm. Bulgaria’s entry in the past 3 years sounded too generic/”Swedish” and the singers chosen are your typical pop singer (and the involvement of American singers in 2018, budgets are flying).
That would be a strange assessment for those songs. “If Love Was a Crime” and “Beautiful Mess” have that sort of local flavor that most Swedish entries have been lacking as of late. “Bones” meanwhile is a little too modern than the average Melfest entry.
local, while in english? we have to laugh…
is kpop big in bulgaria, or even simon cowell’s messy boy-bands?
You have to listen to those songs to know what I meant when I said the’ve added something “local”. It’s more than just about the use of language as a medium but the over-all production as a whole.
Maybe it’s a strategy in an attempt to win Eurovision 2019
Think about it:
Ukraine withdrew from 2015 and won 2016
Portugal withdrew from 2016 and won 2017
Israel “withdrew” (simply changed broadcaster but fans thought Israel is withdrawing) and won 2018
Of course, 1944, Amar Pelos Dois and Toy are great songs who deserved to win, but maybe the hype of a country which we nearly lost, gave them the last push apparently *maybe* needed in order to win Eurovision recently?
I hope Bulgaria will compete and give us another masterpiece <3
Russia withdrew in 2017 and flopped in 2018. You can’t base your choices on superstition.
You need a good entry as well :3 I wrote that
It’s for a different cause, though. Russia was already on participation at that time. A pointless point, I would say.
I dunno mind… I think this could be a withdrawal! Why would the member of Equinox tweet something similar too (probably to then get told off for spilling the beans before an official announcement). Surprising but maybe it was costing too much money for what is a relatively small broadcaster?
I can not imagine a situation where Bulgaria is the country that has the biggest progress in the history of the Eurovision to resign from the participation I hope that the situation will clear up and TV BNT will confirm participation in Tel Aviv 2019
Happened to Russia in 2017, also not out of their own volition
I dont think they are withdrawing, but its very sad to hear that all eurovision team is changing. They managed to achieve great results for a country with zero sucess in the contest.
We need a statement but one of equinox’s member said in his tweets that it’s true and it’s because of financial reasons. Our French site said BNT is facing a politic of austerity and last september they launch a new logo + they reorganize the 4 BNT channels so it’s a possibility. Maybe they can find a solution with UER. Hope they can find a Way!
“Withdrawl” is nowhere near pretentious enough for BNT’s Twitter account. Rather, they should call it a “conscious uncoupling” from participation.
I think (and hope) that Bulgaria will take part in Eurovision 2019 after they will solve their issues. 🙂
That Twitter account is such a drama queens, they only want attention
They are not withdrawing lol
Exactly. I don’t think they’ll withdraw. As always they want more attention.