Get ready to throw some shapes: Israel Hayom has revealed the concept of the Eurovision 2019 postcards for Tel Aviv. The general theme, as they describe it, is Everybody Dance Now!
The idea is to travel with the 42 participants while they dance in a variety of styles — including hip hop, ballet, parkour, modern dance and more. They’ll do so throughout Israel’s varied landscapes. Sources tell wiwibloggs that the contestants’ shoes will play an important role, and will be used to symbolise a transition from the real world to the magical realms of Israel. We’re preparing ourselves for lots of close-ups of sneakers, pumps and stilettos!
Contestants who aren’t natural dancers needn’t worried: They’ll be supported by professional dancers who will make them look amazing. Among the dancers reportedly involved is Stephane Lager. He’s a model and hip-hop dancer and a son of immigrants from Togo who has become one of Israel’s leading dancers and celebrities. He’s also a symbol of acceptance of foreign workers — a hotly disputed topic in Israel. Lager recently participated in Israeli Ninja.
Other names include Ana Aronov, a dancer and dancing teacher who became known to the Israeli public after her participation in Dancing With The Stars. She’s originally from Kyrgyzstan and immigrated to Israel when she was a child.
The Israeli Ballet, the Israeli Olympic Artistic Swimming Team and the Bath Sheva Dance Company have also been approached by KAN and to participate in the postcards. According to Israel Hayom, all contestants will arrive in Israel during February and March and will be filmed in different locations showcasing Israel, some of which have already been decided. They include:
- Mount Hermon, Israel’s highest mountain in the Golan Heights
- Eilat, Israel’s most southern city which is known as the Israeli Riviera, and which borders both Jordan and Egypt
- The ancient port of Caesarea
- Masada and the Dead Sea
We discuss some of Israel’s most beautiful cities
Eurovision postcards
The postcards have become an integral part of the show and they are no longer only “time wasters” to allow technicians to prepare the stage between each entry. In recent years, their focus has been on the artists while they visit different locations in the host country and it looks as if KAN is going to continue this trend.
When Israel hosted the song contest in 1979, the postcards featured typical stories or usual stereotypes of the participating countries un a humorous way. In 1999, stories of Jewish culture were animated and merged with real actors and artists.
Eurovision 2019 postcard production
“Gustavo Productions” will produce the postcards after OG Hafakot, which had originally won the tender, withdrew in December because they didn’t feel they would profit given the budget.
Two pilots have already been submitted and approved by KAN. Pænda from Austria is reportedly the first artist to arrive in Israel to shoot her postcard — at Hermon Mountain. But this has been rescheduled due to bad weather conditions.
What do you think about the concept of the postcards? Share it in the comments section below.
I really like this idea! It’s something different! I think if people in Israel are known for sth it’s for partying and dancing. Looking forward to watching them!!
Will each dance style match the singer’s persona or quite the contrary? A rock singer trying ballet moves or an opera-pop one dancing to reggaeton, for example?
What a great idea! Somebody once said – shake whatcha mama gave ya, this couldn’t be more accurate 😀
Is this Eurovision Dance Contest?
Btw, my favorite postcards ever were Eurovision 2009. So original!!!
Best from Spain
They just need to go back to “making your own flag” postcards. That was the year I found postcards the most interesting
That year was undoubtedly the best of all time, but I think it’s good that they switch it up every year! The same thing over and over again gets boring quickly. The “Everybody Dance Now” theme seems like it will be the best theme in a while 🙂
I sort off wish they were more bold and creative with postcards. So far no one is better than 2014, now that was creative. All after 2014 have been quite boring!
Dancing Postcards? Sounds funny, it should work good enough. And when Italy wins, RAI can call me, on one boring day I designed a whole concept for a Rome contest.
Off-topic- A friend has just send me this message: Rumour says Markus Riva has been seen on the San Marino embassy on Riga asking how to get the nationality :-p
Is he becoming a meme now?
I’ve been trying to figure out the same thing.
Quite like this idea for the postcards, really showcases the country and the performers rather than just the performers.
Hosting Eurovision should be an advertisement for for the country. Showcasing the towns, cities, landscape, food, culture and traditions of the host nation. Is that not the whole point behind wanting to host it??
I enjoyed Portugal 2018 and Austria 2015 specifically. The Scandinavian/Nordic countries don’t seem to do it when they host and it kind of just makes ESC feel like another singing competition when they do.
Well how many times before have Portugal and Austria arranged the contest and when was the last time? Norway Sweden and Denmark have already showed off their countries from before. We can’t use the same postcards everytime – just imagine the complaints from u socalled fans then!!!
I get what you’re trying to say, but not a single one of those countries has had postcards this decade that took place in the host country.
Whenever Norway, Sweden or Denmark hosted this decade, the postcards where always outside the country. Celebrating people from other countries is great but don’t forget about your own culture and national identity.
Germany 2011 was a great combination of celebrating the multiculturalism of ESC and the host country, but with a distinctly German feel, showcasing their towns and cities, and culture.
this just makes me want to see Hatari represent Iceland even more lmao. I wonder what kind of dancing they would do.
I can already envision them headbanging on top of Mt. Hermon or something. Now that’s a fun mental image 😀
Just saying: I love you guys! And I love Eurovision! I love seeing people get excited and dance and sing and #cometogether because that’s what the whole world should be like. I want everything to be as joyous and happy as Eurovision, and thank you guys for being devoted to seeing it reach its full potential.
Can’t wait to see Serhat!
perfect for Conan and his dancer
*Imagining Darude dancing along with Sebastian and later makes people to dance in Eilat or Tel Aviv*
Oh I’m gonna sit in the corner cuz some random eurotrash told my country to be ashamed.
Let me guess, Irish?
Don’t bring Ireland into it please over someone’s personal opinion. Thanks.
Dear , your country brings itself to that topic every single time.
Along with many other countries. Stop singling out one country and attacking them for having different views. We are coming to Tel Aviv to participate peacefully in this contest and have absolutely no contempt for Israeli people. Politics and opinions aside.
Speaking of, what’s going on with Ireland? Aside from the (false) Niall Horan speculation, it’s been radio silence.
They’re the only country that hasn’t even given a vague hint about their performer or when they’ll be unveiled. Guess we’re waiting ’til March 12th!
One more reason to shoot the postcards there.
Now that’s what I call an interesting idea! And dance is such a great way to showcase singer’s personality – whether he/she’s shy or self-confident, calm or energetic, serious or funny. Unless it’s gonna be randomly chosen, than we can see Tulia trying to dance hip-hop. We’ll see if Israel turns out to be “Land of 1000 Dances”.
Tulia’s the one I’m looking forward to the most. Their whole thing is the fact that they stand still when they sing. Maybe they’ll make that the joke? Like people will be dancing around them while they just stare at the camera?
(Speaking of: another site – starts with Euro, ends in Voix – said they’ll probably be singing Pali Sie after all, and they’re just deciding which language it’ll be in. Don’t quote me on it, though)
Another fan of site ending with Voix and starting with Euro I see! I’ll add some information from Polish sites – it’s said they were considering two songs – one probably being “Pali Sie” – now the song was already chosen, but the band doesn’t want to tell what it is. Tulia stated they want to sing in Polish, but they will do what producers say. They said they would like their performance to be like “Sama” from 1995 (one of my favourite Eurovision songs btw). The performance is going to be directed by Konrad Smuga, responsible for “Flashlight” and… Read more »
It’d be a really cool choice. Sama was very much ahead of its time.
It’s a very reliable site, usually the one I trust the most regarding Eurovision news. Wiwi I love, of course, but it can be more speculative at times.
I consider wiwi fun but gossipy at times. Doesn’t dampen my enjoyment of the site.
Definitely. Wiwi gives you the attitude, EV gives you the facts.
Haha this will be funny. Can’t wait to see Zala&Gasper’s, Elliot’s and Serhat’s dance moves
Eliot could be good. I don’t know him that well so I can’t tell if he’ll dance like Loïc or be static like Blanche.
I think he’s more Blanche haha, but yeah ge may be good!
In which case, I’m ready for some delightful white guy dancing.
How cute would it be to have Kobi dancing with Netta and her dancers? Also dancing like chickens xD
It’s a nice idea overall, well done 🙂
I was hoping for some creative postcards since, frankly, they’ve always been pretty much the same since 2015.
Kinda? Sorta? Been an even split since then of showing off the country somehow (2018 and 2019) and showing the competitor at home (2016 and 2017). My favorites are the ones that show the competitors exploring the country since it’s the best of both worlds. Ones like 2004 or 2012 are boring cuz they’re basically just travelogues. Ireland was the one who really pioneered the idea of sending the contestants out into the country, and theirs (I’m thinking 88 and 93-95 specifically) are some of the most fun.
Then again, my favorites are the ones from 2014. So creative.
Good and fun concept. I like it.
Israel’s always killed it with the postcards. The ones from 79 are still funny. (God, Monaco and Luxembourg were still in the game back then. How times change.)
It’s gonna be funny for a lot of them. Sure, Sergey and Tamta probably won’t have any problems, but it’ll be funny to watch Tulia or Duncan Laurence try and shake their groove things.
I found them based on stereotypes and a bit offensive, for some Nations.
That’s the joke. I can’t think of a ton I’d call super hurtful. (Monaco holds car races! Irish people jig! Austrians waltz! Would people really get offended by those?)
feeling bad for all stiff male contestants who can’t dance right now xD , Sergey will slay this though.
… the budget. I’m really sorry but all I can think of was all the budget to hire those dancers to teach them.
Was there any post about Toy using music from other song? I mean it’s interesting, rights. You have posts about Saara Alto’s iceskating but nothing about so huge controversy about past winner…?
Right here:
wiwibloggs.com/2019/02/07/white-stripes-jack-white-officially-listed-composer-toy/232720/
wiwibloggs.com/2018/07/03/not-your-toy-universal-music-threatens-nettas-songwriters-over-alleged-white-stripes-rip-off/224504/
Dawid, you have to try harder or else they will expel you from troll school.
Thx Will/Skiwalko :* No idea how have I missed it.
Btw, I couldn’t find it so i asked a question – got minuses for ASKING. Then M_K comes here, insults me and gets pluses for this. Should i ask why or this is just these comments work? I’m new here.
If you are actually new here, then apologies from M_K are necessary. What has happened is a defensive reaction from fans to the recent trolling of certain people on this site. The fans have come to expect criticisms such as “your site didn’t cover this”, and it is beginning to irk some people. It’s not personal, at least, I hope it is not personal.
Thx for explanation Purple 🙂
Cupcake, that’s just misunderstanding though. Nothing odd with “additional” posts if major news are indeed covered. I have nothing against Saara or anything like that if someone got it wrong. It’s just an example.
I think I’ll give up with commenting though. I don’t like being insulted for no reason.
Don’t give up commenting, Dawid! Sometimes I get downvotes as well, sometimes upvotes, it differs at every time, but this does not change my opinions or my fun on this website (although people don’t like the fact that I adore Kate Miller-Heidke lol ^^)
The people probably didn’t minus your question but the silent reproach in your following sentence regarding Saara Alto and Netta
I can already see them forcing Roko to dance ballet while wearing his wings XD
Creative. Well thought-out. There will no doubt be some artists who can’t dance, but never mind. 😀
Also, dare to mention Iran’s anti-dance laws?
stefane to next euro-vision as a singer… pls
There is a certain Croatian dancer/popstar called ENDI.
I just thought I’d mention him. 😀
Nice idea. It already gives me positive vibes!
In other news: Croatian fans not only voted en-masse for “The Dream” in yesterday’s poll, but they also have hijacked the comment section too! They just copy paste the same message: The dream is amazing, Zagreb 2020. (So appalled…)
Its not “Croatian fans”, its Jacques machinery…how do you think he won in the first place?
Nice idea. It already gives me positive vibes!
In other news: Croatian fans not only voted en-masse for “The Dream” in yesterday’s poll, but they also have hijacked the comment section too! They just copy paste the same message: The dream is amazing, Zagreb 2020. (So appalled…)