Every day between now and the grand final in May, the team from wiwibloggs will be rounding up the latest titbits from the world of Eurovision 2019. We’ve trawled through Instagram, Twitter and elsewhere so that y’all don’t have to. This is the Daily Digest for Saturday 13 April.
All change for KEiiNO
KEiiNO were in Latvia’s Riga last night for the city’s annual Eurovision PreParty. In the press conference beforehand, the three-piece confirmed that they’re changing all aspects of their stage show for Eurovision. Fans already knew that the six-person rule would eliminate many of the dancers, but Alexandra, Fred and Tom say that it will be an entirely new show with new costumes. Nothing will be the same! As we mentioned in yesterday’s digest, the band have also released an acoustic version of “Spirit In The Sky”. We neglected to share the link, so here you go. (Padraig)
No change for Carousel
Latvia’s Carousel are taking the opposite approach and are keeping almost everything as is. Also speaking at the Riga PreParty, the group suggested that at most there will be a few tweaks to their costumes and perhaps some added choreography. (Padraig)
Posted by Eurovision Club Latvia on Friday, April 12, 2019
Acoustic Anna
We didn’t hear much from Anna Odobescu in the immediate aftermath of her O melodi pentru Europa victory. But preview party seasons seems to have injected some life into the Moldovan’s promo campaign. She ended a week of chatshow appearances by releasing an acoustic rendition of “Stay”. (Padraig)
Mahmood interviewed in Israel
During his stay in Tel Aviv, Mahmood was interviewed by local broadcaster KAN for the evening news. Israeli journalist Shani Nachshon sat with the Italian Eurovision representative for a well-rounded chat starting with his victory in Sanremo, which sparked controversy even from national political parties. The singer said he respects the opinion of the Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini − who tweeted support for Ultimo’s “I tuoi particolari” − “Because it was based on his musical taste”. The performer also explained the meaning of his autobiographical song, which includes a line in Arabic. Mahmood is proud to represent a symbol of culture that unites. The singer was pleasantly surprised by Tel Aviv, which he considers a mix between New York and Cairo. (Cristian)
Too late for a music video?
Sweden always goes all out when it comes to onstage visuals. But the country is often hit and miss when it comes to making music videos for Eurovision. This year, at least, it looks like we’ll have one. On Friday, John Lundvik shared a snap from a music video shoot in Stockholm’s Chicago Swing Dance Studio. We don’t learn much save that John is wearing black and white and standing before a stage curtain. (Padraig)
Serhat rehearses
He’s the Turkish TV personality representing San Marino for a second time. However, Serhat’s vocal rehearsals are currently ongoing in Frankfurt, Germany. From pics released yesterday, we can also see that the “Say Na Na Na” crooner is well stocked up on juice, water and fruit. Serhat’s backing team will be Chantal Hartmann (pictured), Sebastián Millepied, Inés Voha, Giulia Wahn and Frank Monatik. (Padraig)
Cover girl Jonida
Slowly but surely, Eurovision is starting to take over the newsstands of Europe. Albania’s Jonida Maliqi is the latest to grace the cover of a glossy mag. She can be seen flaunting her assets on this month’s Elegance. The publication teases life and musical confessions, Eurovision and surprises. (Padraig)
Hatari reveal national tour dates
After their Eurovision participation, which could result in one of the most controversial victories in the history of the competition, the techno punk rock band Hatari will return to Iceland for a tour. And we are sure the love of fans will prevail! The BDSM musical ensemble will perform in Reykjavík on 23 May, in Akureyri on 24 May, in 25 Ísafjörður, in Reykjanesbær on 29 May and in Vestmannaeyjar on 30 May. (Cristian)
https://tix.is/is/event/7919/hatri-mun-sigra/
Posted by Hatari on Wednesday, April 10, 2019
ZENA FC
She’s arguably entering the World Cup of music, so it’s appropriate that ZENA has the backing of one of Belarus’ biggest and most successful football teams. Yesterday, the “I Like It” singer was fully kitted out in FC Dynamo Brest gear as the club’s management presented her yet more gifts. They’re the reigning champions of the country’s domestic cup competition, so ZENA will be hoping some of their success rubs off. (Padraig)
D mol’s Rizo hits the gym
Unlike numbers from the likes of Spain or Switzerland, Montenegro’s “Heaven” doesn’t give D mol much opportunity to show off their athleticism. And perhaps it’s a missed opportunity? Because band member Rizo Feratović has been sharing some gym progress pics, and we definitely think he’d be up for some high-intensity choreography. (Padraig)
Additional contributions from Cristian.
Oh man, If KEiiNO manage gift us with beautiful staging, they could do so well…
Does anyone here speak Egyptian Arabic?
I worked as an Arabic-Hebrew translator and I gotta say “waladi” doesn’t sound right to me.
“walad” is “kid, child”. equivalent to the Hebrew word “yeled” (as in “yeladim ka’ele” – kids like these)
but I know that when you want to say “my son”, at least in Palastinian/Syrian/Lebanese arabic you must say “ibni” and not “waladi”. it almost sounds unidiomatic for me.
Does someone knows if this is acceptable in Egyptian arabic? I know for sure they say “ibni” as well and not “waladi”
nice song BTW.
I don’t really know that much about Egyptian dialect, but for example in Moroccan dialect “wldi” is often used as “my son” and you can hear parents calling their sons “wldi”. So it is probably the same in Egyptian.
Mahmood said the translation of “waladi waladi habibi ta’aleena” is “my son, my son, darling come over here” and it was a sentence his father used to said to him when he was a child…. a sweet memory ?
Actually its
waladi waladi habibi ta3al hena – my son, my son, my dear, come here.
In Palastinian Arabic they would say – Ibni, Ibni, habibi Ta3al la-hon
It could be that waladi is acceptable in Egyptian Arabic (I’ve actually heard a lot of it when I worked as a translator) and I know that even in Egypt they say ibni and not waladi
This is why I asked. it always sounds strange to me.
Not that it really matters, but from what I’ve been seeing about the Euro Jury results, the juries don’t seem to be keen on Italy. I think it’s maybe because of the rap sound in it. Reminds me of Origo, great song loved by everybody, but penalized by the juries for no reason.
Hope that doesn’t translate in the real contest.
Well not everyone likes flat melody in a song. If you look at the chords to Soldi, it has the same pitch throughout the song. No variation, no high or low tunes, just middle all the way. I don’t like song like this (flat songs like Italia, Danmark and Latvia is sending to ESC this year) A lot of people from Italy are hyping this song up on YouTube etc. To bad they can’t vote for it in ESC final
So you need to scream like a dying goat to get the jury points? I mean… Calm After the Storm and Amar Pelos Dois don’t have much variation either, but did well with them.
DDD I think that you have some problems with your ears. Mahmood’s song has very distinct musical parts, it is not flat. Probably you think he’s a great contender of your favorite song and so you try to underrate it. The President of giuria d’onore in Sanremo festival, Mauro Pagani, who is one of the biggest Italian musician, talking about Soldi (this jury since the very first night of the competition gave the first position to Mahmood, who at this time was almost unknown ) said “Soldi had three parts really different and all very strong and very well dosed.… Read more »
Well I doubt that they will even all six go butt naked…
Mahmood probably can’t speak English that’s why he’s speaking Italian on Israeli TV. Ewww i was hoping for some English interviews with him tomorrow 😐
he speaks English very well, but abroad he likes them to speak Italian
Mahmood seems as a cool guy…
Regarding Norway: from the beginning I dont find the song either amuzing or even old-dated charming.
I cant connect with them, song or their performing which is beyond average.
I am sorry Norway, but its my 1/10
Talking about average. The staging of Mahmood is not average, it is borring/nothing. The melody is flat, no variation throughout the song (same as Danmark and Latvia no variation in the melody). But hey! if you like this kind of flat melodies, good for you ??. Thank Good for different music taste, Norway has good vocals, good staging, good message in the song, catcy melody with variation (different pitches throughout the melody).
Talking for Mahmood that has flat melody (and no staging) is nonsense….why he needs good staging when he has audiences that claps… there are no better interaction….and at the same time saying Norway has good vocals, noooo way…
if something is catchy doesnt always means is good.. Malta is catcy, but Norway is one big not.
Just take a look at the chords to Soldi it’s flat, no high or low tunes, just middle all the way. The chords don’t lie, so you can say no it’s not flat AS much as you like, it doesn’t make it true. If you think Keiino has bad vocals you don’t know anything about vocal skills. Just listen and smart people will SEE you’re Bull Shit, https://youtu.be/x0TzHXSmavo
I guess you don’t believe in spirit animals’ existance…
Faaaling I’m in heaven faaling 😀
I really tried to enjoy the accustic version of Stay but I can’t. I am craving grapes now, thanks Serhat.
KEiiNO also said in an interview while in Riga, that they will give up on dancers, but bring backing vocalists, in plural. So, there gonna be at least two backing vocalists. One spot may still be free for something else (an instrumentalist, a drummer ?)
Also, their outfits are still in process of designing now, by a Norwegian designer.
That’s interesting, thanks for sharing.
I’m scared they might go gimmicky. That would just ruin so much good chances.
About KEiiNO (what does that mean anyway? NO for Norge?) I don’t want to see those wigs and dancers. I want to see great interaction among the three of them, spirit animal projections, the Northern Lights, and drums.
How many “I”s are there in Rizo’s instagram username? For research purpose, obviously.
Here’s the link
https://www.instagram.com/rikiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Thank you! <3
go away, you are a joke
Ma do nn a is dirt in every way. She has no decency. Is so embarrassing.
How gorgeous is Jonida Maliqi? I can’t even
Btw Mahmood interview is wonderful
YES RIZO Yaaaaaas
Conan is my man but Mahmood is hot! 😀
Yaaaas Mahmood
Hatari is gay version of Lordi.
klemens at least isn’t gay. he has one child and another on the way.
Oh god ! I do hope Norway won’t bring the wigs on stage !
The first thing I thought when I read ‘outfits’. Oh dear, oh dear. The song is so good, but the music video is so awful. Get it right, Norway! Please!
Relax, Keiino have said the wigs will not be on the ESC stage
They will go full joke act.
I love the wigs, they represent the song message..
Firstly, the ears represent spirit animals theme.
Secondly, they wanted to portray them in more retro way, like animals used to be portrayed in movies of 70s, especially in the movie “Rock’n’Roll Wolf”. Not only bcs they lacked money for more modern kind of make-up and costumes (that too), but also bcs that particular movie was and still is extremely popular among Norwegian people, and can be already named kind of tradition.
I tried to answer your question, but my comment was deleted, I can’t see it anymore, so just watch their interview here I hope you’ll get it https://youtu.be/HjSEY472chA
Keiino acoustic is better than with studio instrumentals 🙂
Moldova has a vocally decent love song, much much better than their 2016 effort of a ”serious” song in Falling stars which they turned into a meme with astronaut dancer and Lidia’s weak vocals
anna is a good singer, i followed moldova’s national final and the eventual top 2 was my top 2 favourites, when no one was that interested i watched it and it was a nice national final with fair voting by both juries and televoting
Rizo blowing us all away we-
I cant wait for interview with Mahmood on wiwi, what an amazing artist and charming guy!
Here is short but cute interview with Duncan, he said he would want bring his boyfriend to Tel Aviv…. omg 😀
https://youtu.be/giKrEP4DOjQ
I hope Mahmood does too and they will have a foursome
why would you even say that?
Tomorrow he’ll be attending London Eurovision Party 😉
I know, i want a pic of my two kings together in London, Mahmood and Duncan 😀
And would be so cool if they sing each other songs lol
Too bad Conan will not be there…
Aww, Duncan is so sweet in interviews…
I wanna sniff Mahmood’s draws so bad y’all 😛
Again, what the actual hell goes through your mind when writing these comments?
I hope Norway’s staging will be like their videoclip 😀 Not that i think it will help the song, but at least its fun to watch.
So, ppl dont like fun? :-/ why ya’ll so serious 😀
Not many people are keen on the wigs and a lot of people hope that the group will interract on stage a bit more…
I liked the wigs personally, but I don’t think they should bring them to the stage as it could turn the performance VERY gimmicky, which isn’t r e a l l y what the lyrics of the song are trying to get at…
“I got used to feeling naked”
– Rizo, D-mol 2019
and Beast mode 😛
Suddenly im voting for Montenegro
I’m glad KEiiNO are changing their staging for Tel Aviv, because I thought the staging at MGP was a bit weak. Let’s just hope that staging for Tel Aviv is stronger than Norwegian entries usually are at Eurovision (although if the last two years are anything to go by, it will be).
Jonida be looking like a Jojo character !
/revision/latest/top-crop/width/240/height/240?cb=20110323233930 )
(really I found a pictures where they have the same pose
That pose has an actual name: “The Dysmenorrhea”. Like seriously: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvnyjPOzPc8
Tell please how you post pics on this site? Thanks
just copied the pic link
Okay Rizo is in the contender list of ENTMM!