Have you ever cleared your plans so you could attend a party or event only to be disinvited afterwards? Well then you might identify with a recent Instagram post from Eurovision 2009 winner and Fire Saga cameo star Alexander Rybak.
On Wednesday the singer-songwriter uploaded a series of black and white photos of him submerged in a bathtub and covered in suds. He looks downcast and potentially annoyed, angry and irritated — emotions you’ll understand after reading his caption, which reads as a dialogue between Mr. Rybak and Eurovision organisers.
Eurovision Rotterdam: “We want you in the interval act in May.”
Me: “That’s wonderful! Please give me a week to check the dates with Columbia College”
Eurovision: “Whatever, hurry up”.
Me one week later: “I’ve cleared the dates, I’m ready!”
Eurovision: “F*ck off we asked somebody else”
😫 I mean, don’t you just get BITTER sometimes?😭 #eurovision #bitter #mood
View this post on Instagram
His fans rushed to show him support in the comments section of the post. The most voted for comment comes from a user called @theisraelirybaker: “Eurovision without Alexander Rybak is not a Eurovision for me. I literally wait for it to see you.”
Another user named @jacqueline.schulz_ wrote: “Oh no, this is sad and mean! You must have been looking very forward to that. But don’t stay bitter or sad because of that. Who knows? Maybe there are some better plans ahead of you at this time? Or maybe you will be protected from something? There is always a reason for decisions like these. Free yourself from bitterness, there are so many reasons to be grateful and happy for you are a blessed man!”
Of course, we’re only hearing half of the story. Eurovision organisers haven’t responded to his Instagram post. As is the case every year, producers want to keep their cards close to their chest and reveal the final and confirmed details of their plans as close to the show as possible.
Regardless of the reasons behind the decision, Alex will understandably be annoyed. As we reported back in August, Alex has enrolled at Columbia College in Chicago to pursue an MFA in composition for the screen. Balancing his work as a student and professional musician — across a vast ocean! — will surely involve a lot of juggling of time and responsibility.
“Long have I dreamed of writing film music,” he wrote on Insta over the summer. “2 years ago, I decided to make that dream a reality! It has been a long and hard process, but now I have found the very best place: This year I’m starting master studies at Columbia College in Chicago, to become a composer for the screen!”
The university describes the course this way on its web site: “The MFA composition program covers composing for all genres of film, TV, video games, and augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR). Beyond the art of dramatic scoring, you’ll master rapidly developing technical industry standards in media music production and gain hands-on experience with everything from programming cutting-edge digital instruments to conducting professional live musicians.”
Are you sad not to see the Norwegian king of the violin and fiddle at ESC in 2021? Who do you hope is in the interval? Let us know down below!
I think the intervalo acts this year should be somw of the artists that could not compete last year
Sad. I hope Alexander is okay. Sometimes I wish people could be allowed to just express emotions publicly without articles being created about it.
Rybak, one of those winners that outside the bubble has 0 presence.
The lack of presence does not mean lack of talent. I find him to be a really talented artist and I like his work.
The crazy things he do just for our attention
Ummm im not buying this at all… it’s just a half of the story, or maybe it’s just a misinformation from Rybak…it reminds me of that spoiled episode when he competed at that Belarusian preselection with ghat cheesy “Milky” girl band, and didn’t win, how he reacted was totally disproportionate
#Triggered!!!!
Why does Eurovision always look to the past to fill 10 minutes these days. Move forward, show what talent your country has. Don’t be stuck in the past.
personally I’d prefer to see a “Those we have lost in the past year” section as it would honour their legacies.
FIRED!!!
It’s not important how many interval acts Alexander Rybak was performing. The fact is that he was invited, so he was interesting to the organizers, and we shouldn’t blame him because of that. He was invited last year too, and he was just supposed to confirm his arrival next year. Of course, we don’t know the whole story, but from his side, it looks quite disrespectful.
Whether you like Rybak or not, it’s nasty to invite someone, have them confirm and then disinvite them. It’s disrespectful and I have to say that I am really looking forward to the explanation of organizers, provided they’re respectful enough to bother with one.
I would love to know where he hides his Fountain of Youth so that I can drink from it too, sooner rather than later.
Even though he’s already been an interval act multiple times, the way he was dismissed is still quite rude (if it really went like that).
As much as I think “Fairytale” is a iconic winner I don’t think there is any harm in him missing out on another interval performance. Both him and the song overexposed, a break is nice.
There are other winners from the naughties I rather want performed, like Sertab or Ruslana or Helena Paparizou. Even Olsen Brothers would have been great to see.
I’m not sad. Rybak, Mans, Conchita, Verka and Gali Atari were all invited back more than enough for me and if I’m not gonna see any of them again in the ESC in the future, I’ll be fine with it. ESC has a possibility to dive into the past and bring someone like Sara Tavares in 2018. That’s more like it for me. Even from the most recent contests there were many talented singers who would be amazing additions.
That being said, if he’s honest about the fashion of that communication, then “Eurovision Rotterdam” doesn’t look good.
I hope Gigliola Cinquetti, Lenny Kuhr, Sandra Kim, plus Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan all make their planned returns – none of them are the usual faces…
Absolutely! That would be stellar. I guess Teach-In will represent winners of 1970s?
I mean that sucks, but it’s not like he hasn’t already appeared in multiple interval acts (2012 and 2016)
Can’t wait for a new winner so we get a new host broadcaster. Love the Netherlands, love the country, love the people, don’t love Nos/Tros
What are your criticisms except for not handling this cancellation correctly?
Twice insisting on hosting in a 2nd tier city rather than the main city shows Eurovision disrespect. Even Sweden went to Stockholm 2nd time round not back to Malmo.
Also the ugly logo for 2021 (2020 was unique, 2021 is like a chinese knock off)
Also I’m not sure if this NOS/TROS or EBU, but reusing the same semi allocations.
Why don’t you think that non-capital cities or non-“Main” cities deserve to host? Personally, I think it’s great that Eurovision is being held in new places and giving those cities the international news coverage they deserve. Amsterdam is famous the world over – now we have the chance for people to learn more about Rotterdam. Likewise, cities like Manchester, Hamburg, Cologne, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Barcelona, Cluj-Napoca, Gdansk would all make fantastic host cities, despite not being the biggest in the country. Also re-using the same semi-final allocation is a very respectful choice for the fans who already bought their tickets.… Read more »
Ok it’s 2021 soon, he won in 2009. There are plenty of more winner artists to invite as an interval act this year that would do a good or even better job for sure. Sorry Rybak
His role was to represent the 00’s decade. Literally the most recent winner there is from that decade.
Get someone like Sertab Erener or Elena Paparizou and everybody will be happy anyway.
Definitely agree!! Sertab and Helena would slay together.
Alexander Rybak is a legend of Eurovision, my heart is bleeding from upset, when I read about Alexander … it was a shock! How to replace him with someone else, as if he were a second-hand artist ?! He’s an Eurovision Icon, however … I think he’s nervous, frustrated, hurt deep down … artists suffer a lot when they are brutally rejected. This wasn’t fair for him. I hope the organizers realize that they made a mistake and re-invite him.
He has all my support, from far away Romania
It’s been 11 years… maybe time to stop milking it?
It wasn’t my personal favourite but I’ll admit it has had a huge lasting appeal. But does that mean we need to have Rybak as the interval act every year now? I loved his cameo during Love Love Peace Peace and it’s great to see him pop up now and again, but other winners and performers have “earned it” too.
Well from how he’s reacted, I’m assuming future organisers won’t be keen to invite him back again! #Byeeee
Are you saying, you would sit quietly an let people treat you bad? I would’nt!! If people play me like that, I’d get annoyed and speak up. It shows little professionality from the organization side. And now some people are criticizing him for speaking up (or venting the irritation) on HIS OWN instagram page. What is wrong with people???
They were/are having a winner from every decade, except the 1950s. He was representing the 2000s.
I would love to see Sertab and Loreen as an interval act.
No thank you…
Come back as a contestant; oh sorry, he already has! Same message to Serduchka and Zelmerlow.
I would tend to agree about Måns Zelmerlöw but Verkha only returned the second time Kyiv hosted if I remember correctly?
They both returned in Tel Aviv…
You’re right – my mistake!
His role was to represent the 00’s decade. Literally the most recent winner there is from that decade.
Quite sad for him to publicize this like this.. Still like him though.. I bet they just wanted an answer to plan things..
If people would play me like that, I’d get annoyed too as an artist. It shows little professionality from the organization side. This is just his way of venting the irritation of the moment.
And on his personal page. Where else if not there