Eurovision 2020 was cancelled on 18 March as a direct result of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are the reactions and statements from the 18 acts competing in semi-final two.
Austria’s Vincent Bueno
Thank you to all of you! Your support means the world to me. I’ll keep you posted for new music ❤️ TIL THEN stay safe. I love you guys.
View this post on Instagram
Czech Republic’s Benny Cristo
Just found out that EUROVISION 2020 has been canceled. I completely agree with the stand @eurovision team took, as the safety of people all around the world should be the only thing that matters right now. Wish you all the best of health and thank you for the tons of love and kind words that were sent my way till now. Here is a couple of moments from my trip to Africa edited by @tomkasal to the new revamped mix. Thx dancers @jamalthekingdancer and @joerastus for an incredible energy input 🚀 Big thx to @osama_verse supersonicafrica @tugimlamba @taiotriiipper @matswaller @brooklyn__83 @homes.yk special thx to @thevillagecreativegroup_ke for creating a hub where I met so many amazing people on this trip 🙏🏾 #kemama #africarevamp #bennycristo @eurovision 2020
View this post on Instagram
Estonia’s Uku Suviste
Uku confirmed that he is taking part of Eesti Laul 2021! He was offered the semi-final spot on Ringvaade, which he confirmed at the spot! Other semi-finalists will be announced the same way as usual!
(Oh, he has to write the song first..😊)
View this post on Instagram
Greece’s Stefania
Stefania spoke in Greek to her fans on Instagram stories.
Iceland’s Daði og Gagnamagnið
Eurovision 2020 has been cancelled.
It’s disappointing as I was really looking forward to performing in Rotterdam with Gagnamagnið.
The support has been overwhelming and many new opportunities have presented themselves.
I am really excited for the future.
Thank you so much! <3
View this post on Instagram
Moldova’s Natalia Gordienko
Quarantine prison. Eurovision is postponed.
⠀
I received an official letter from the organizers announcing that this year the competition will not take place. How it will be further and in what format – it is still under question.
⠀
I support the decision of the organizers, because it is nothing more important than the health of the people. Also, I’m sorry we have what we have. But, I’m not in the mood to stay unwell. Take care of your loved ones!
⠀
I embrace you virtually (because for the moment we keep the social distance)!
View this post on Instagram
Poland’s Alicja
My dears! The worst-case scenario just came true and this year’s Eurovision in Rotterdam has been cancelled. We all know the reason. Health is the most important, so let’s take care of it as well as we can! Right now I’m returning to the studio to record new songs and I will keep you posted. Kind regards and I just want to hug you all in these difficult times! Stay tuned! -A
Posted by Alicja Szempli?ska on Wednesday, March 18, 2020
San Marino’s Senhit
I am very sorry. As you know, the @eurovision 2020 has been cancelled. A painful but inevitable choice for our health. But the music stays and, nowadays, it can give us the strength to go on. #Freaky is a song to celebrate life, freedom, love in all its forms. Today, more than ever, we need to feel close to each other, to dance and to smile. Nevertheless, do not stop doing that. 🌈
For this reason, in the next few days, I will share with you the choreography of #Freaky that I made together with @lucatommassinireal “cause life goes by too quickly now not be freakin up”. 😎
View this post on Instagram
Serbia’s Hurricane
Our dear ones, On this occasion we are sending you an official announcement that this year’s Eurovision has been cancelled.
We are very sorry that the competition was cancelled, but these are prevention measures and decisions of the competent authorities. We were preparing as if nothing was happening, but following the decisions of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, we stopped with preparations and today received official information that Eurovision was cancelled. There is nothing we can do but respect. Of course we are disappointed not only with the Eurovision cancellation but with the whole situation that has plagued us. We hope to end this agony as soon as possible.
Thank you for your support! ❤ #hurricane #hastalavista # eurovision2020
View this post on Instagram
Albania’s Arilena Ara
These are a few seconds cut out from an intensive month in LA, while working for “Fall from the Sky”. I can not describe how proud, greatful and happy I am for each moment, not only me, but each one of us has put into this song. All the dedication, the passion, love and emotion we put into it. This is my definition of happiness!
Thank you for all your love and support! You make each effort worth!
P.S Nothing is more important than your health.
Please, Stay Home! Stay Safe💙
Sending all my love. God Bless each and everyone of you!🤗
View this post on Instagram
Armenia’s Athena Manoukian
My dear all. In life you must know that everything happens for a reason. And in my experience, when something goes wrong or not as scheduled, ALWAYS something better and bigger comes after. That’s what I also believe now. Whatever happened, happened ONLY for good. And time will show. I keep that I met amazing, precious and unique people, my team, my Armenian family❤ They worked so hard and they TRULY believed in me. This is the biggest gift. Be patient, NEVER give up and remember that after rain ALWAYS comes the rainbow. In the end our work will be rewarded no matter what. Love you always and thank you for your love and support from the bottom of my heart. Please take care of yourself. The best is yet to come. We’ll be back stronger.
Your Athena💎🇦🇲 #StayPositive
View this post on Instagram
Bulgaria’s Victoria
Tears Getting Sober is a project that means the world to me as an artist and to the great team behind it. I understand and respect this necessary decision but I also believe we, the 2020 #Eurovision artists, should be allowed to perform our songs in 2021. #iCardEurovisionBG #OpenUp @eurovision @eurovision.bg 🇧🇬
View this post on Instagram
Denmark’s Ben & Tan
Noooooooooo… 😢 #eurovision #cancelled #sayno
View this post on Instagram
Finland’s Aksel
Aksel shared the cancellation notice in his Instagram stories. He then spent the afternoon with his dog, writing “we just chill k?”.
Georgia’s Tornike Kipiani
In my opinion, the European management has made a very kind and correct decision.
???? ?????, ?????? ????????????? ?? ????? ?????????????? ????? ?????????? ???????????. #?????????????????????? ???
Posted by Tornike Kipiani – ??????? ??????? on Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Latvia’s Samanta Tīna
Samanta spoke to her fans in her Instagram stories:
Hi everybody. As you already know, the sad news that the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam is cancelled for this year. And unfortunately, we’re not going to meet in Rotterdam. So, I’m really sad about that. But I just want to tell a big thanks for all the support around Europe. We’re still breathing.
Portugal’s Elisa
Given the current situation, Eurovision’s production decided to cancel the show that would take place in May. We are very sorry, but we know that everyone’s health is what matters. Take care!
View this post on Instagram
Switzerland’s Gjon’s Tears
Eurovision is cancelled. I need time to understand what is happening now with the situation and with my song! Just take care of yourself and of your family. Thank you for your support and I wish I will see you in 2021 after my delegation’s and EBUs decisions. (via Instagram stories).
What a sad mess all around. I’m with Victoria. Why should artists have to start from scratch when they already worked so hard on the songs they just released? So what if the songs have been around a while when the contest finally airs? When I hear songs from the 2019 competition I don’t think to myself, “Man, that tune is soo dated. Next!” We’re not talking about a five or ten year gap – just one! The artists can still make new music between now and then, but many of these entries are so good. Let them keep them!… Read more »
If i was an artist like Victoria for Bulgaria or the swiss Guy i would have cried for 2 weeks then tried to write a better song for 2021, it Will be hard but i would try, if i was the icelandic Guy or the the mamnas i would send in another song for 2021.
My heart is with Mammas, Vicky & Uku! Hugs to all of them! Senhit as well. To lose such great songs is bad 4 Euro. Also Gjons tears. Hopefully more broadcatsrs chose the same artists. they deserve to go. Not to participate in NFs again. they already earned their right to go!
Victoria the loudest elephant in the room. Sis calm down, your song was L I T E R A L L Y a Billie Ellish rip off. Both your image and the song had Billie Ellish written all over it, it was just impossible listen to it without thinking about that specific artist. Everybody knew that it’ll be veeery Billie Ellish months before even hearing the song, and your team didn’t even bother to avoid it. Seriously where is the originality? For that reason i hope you’ll come up with a new project next year that will showcase VICTORIA not… Read more »
Wrong
There are two things a person cannot hide – cough and stupidity.
Just two?
I agree with you
It seems most internally selected artists will be able to return but the countries with long established national finals don’t want their artists to return 🙁
I think all the artists should participate for 2021 but, as much as I liked many of the songs, I think new songs would be better.
All the songs are out and we’re listening to them. In a year they may seem older, less hyped. Plus if some artists have new exciting songs and some keep the the year old songs, we may be more excited by the new.
Songs are still new when Eurovision happens, it is part of the excitement, I think.
Ok, let’s look at the bright side. Benny Cristo now has time to put out a couple more revamps of Kemama.
I WANT TO SEE EVERY SINGLE ARTIST AND THEIR SONG SELECTED THIS YEAR AT EUROVISION 2020 ITS SO CRUEL TO RIP THEIR TICKETS TO ROTTERDAM AWAY NEXT YEAR. JUSTICE FOR MAMAS AND I HOPE TO SEE ARILENA, EDEN, ULRIKKE, ATHENA, EFENDI, HURRICANE, SAMANTA, SANDRO, BEN AND TAN, DESTINY, GJON, ROXEN, VICTORIA, MOLDOVAS SINGER AND THE REST OF THEM AT EUROVISION 2021
Ben & Tan lol “#sayno”
i honestly feel for samanta and it would be a shame if she ended up not representing latvia after being selected (she failed to win nf 5 times). fingers crossed ltv lets her do her thing.
She has been revealed to represent Latvia in 2021
That still hasn’t been officially confirmed.
I Love albanian attitude, like she dont give a f…. about that she is not going to ESC …
And hopefully Hasta la vista will stay far.for Hurricaine so cheap song damn
She might you never know. We don’t know yet and I really hope she goes to Eurovision
Learn to write proper English. You must be Albanian yourself.
Learn to accept that everyoneq has different taste ….I am not from albania or any balcan country
You guys, Victoria doesn’t want to take part with same song only cause she is leading the odds. She put her heart in this and it’s like watching her dream break. The other problem is that the sponsor of Bulgaria left the team, so they are alone now again. Pretty much the same song or no Bulgaria at 2021….so support them.
Victoria has other songs to choose from. It’s not about the artist or her new/old song anymore. Without a sponsor Bulgaria has no other option but withdraw. The whole cancellation fiasco is especially devastating for them.
Man, Benny did three re-vamps only to get the boot..
That’s harsh!
I like how Victoria wasn’t vague and took a stance.
wonder why….
As if she was going to win with that Billie Ellish rip off… in a strong year she wouldn’t even make the top 3
Thank you Padraig! <3
Gjon and Victoria must have felt so heartbroken. You can clearly see from Victoria’s post about participating with the same aritsts and songs. I’d too, if I was leading the odds.
That would probably be the least situation I’d want to be if I was an artist.
I want to believe that real artists don’t care about the odds and that odds are not point of Eurovision, but hey, maybe I am wrong…
I have heard Iceland twice already on the radio in Belgium so we can say they really had something going.
I believe Iceland would have won.
So painful Gjon’s post. I feel he really poured all his and soul and sense of wonder in that song. Cannot imagine having to sit down to write a new one
Translation of Alicja’s post:
“My dears! The worst-case scenario just came true and this year’s Eurovision in Rotterdam has been cancelled. We all know the reason. Health is the most important, so let’s take care of it as well as we can! Right now I’m returning to the studio to record new songs and I will keep you posted. Kind regards and I just want to hug you all in these difficult times! Stay tuned! -A”
Thank you for translating.
Thank you Skiwalko! I’ll update the post 🙂
At this point I’m just hoping they all get to go next year with new songs.
I can feel Victoria’s frustration in that comment. She poured so much into that song for such a long time only for… what? For it to never be shared on the stage with the huge audience it was made for? It’s the same for all the artists I’m sure. We already have countries confirming they won’t even send the same artist, let alone the same song. It’s just not right
Natalia really shouldn’t have posted that picture…. that’s just kind of insensitive….
‘corona virus is nothing’
Poor Benny
He had to go through so much hate and it’s all.for nothing lol
Hope he represents then with a rerererevamped song
He will with Kemama, cause who cares about cheap haters :* ?
So sad for the artists that won’t be returning to the contest next year, or for those that had THE song they wanted and who may never be able to have another one on the same level. Some are taking part in national selections every year and even after winning they can’t take part of Eurovision on the main stage
And as I feel sorry for him, I also find it quite ironic for Benny who struggle that much to have his final revamp uploaded and then seing Eurovision is cancelled
Probably for the best. Maybe he could create a better song for next year if he wants to return.
I hope Gjorn’s Tears will get a second chance to participate, and considering he is an internally selected act, he might get that chance. I feel bad for artists who won the national finals and may not be able to attend the 2021 contest unless they go through the process again or if they will be internally selected as well.