Eurovision 13 April

Every weekday, between now and the contest in May, the team from wiwibloggs will round up the latest titbits from the world of Eurovision 2021. We trawl through Instagram, Twitter and elsewhere so that y’all don’t have to. In today’s Daily Digest Poland’s songwriters reveal “The Ride” was originally intended for Melodifestivalen, Daði og Gagnamagnið film a lyric video and James Newman whips up Dutch delicacies in the kitchen. But first…

Eurovision news: 13 April

RTVE shares a behind-the-scenes of Blas Cantó’s backup performance

Blas Cantó and the Spanish team have explained the process behind recording his Eurovision backup tape. Consistent with the EBU’s requirements, Spain used a one-hour time slot to record the performance in three attempts. The behind-the-scenes video suggests that there aren’t any big changes from the national final. As Eurovision-Spain reported on late February, the recording took place two days after the Spanish selection show. However, Blas says that “[with Marvin Dietmann] we keep changing and imagining things. We know that if we can go to Rotterdam, everything will be bigger but with ideas that we could not show in the backup. The song will reach its maximum expressivity in the Eurovision stage.” (Jordi).

Four more acts for #ESPreParty

Uno, dos… cuatro new acts will join a lineup of already seventeen confirmed artists for next week’s #ESPreParty. Albania’s Anxhela Peristeri, Cyprus’ Elena Tsagrinou, Romania’s Roxen and Austria’s Vincent Bueno are not missing the fun and will sing on 24 April. As Eurovision-Spain confirmed in March, the event will be streamed on YouTube (Jordi).

Montaigne performs “Technicolour” live in Melbourne

Ahead of Eurovision 2021, Montaigne performed her entry “Technicolour” at a live gig in Melbourne. Australia allows indoors concerts with some Covid-safe requirements, so Montaigne took the opportunity to perform in front of her growing fan base. While the live gig filmed by a fan doesn’t offer the same sort of technical set-up as a Eurovision performance, it does still offer fans an opportunity to experience more of the “Technicolour” magic. (Robyn)

TIX turns 28

Norway’s TIX celebrated his 28th birthday in his hometown Oslo yesterday. On Instagram, the birthday boy wrote: “Birthday boy is not like all the other boys. IT IS MY DAY”. Happy birthday! (Renske)

 

Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram

 

Een bericht gedeeld door TIX (Andreas Haukeland) (@tixmusic)

Natalia Gordienko unmasks her ice cream dancers

In the music video for “Sugar”, Moldova’s Eurovision 2021 entry, four ice cream cones dance along with songstress Natalia Gordienko. In an Instagram post, the superstar gave fans a glimpse of the faces beneath the cones. Beneath the sweet treats are four female dancers from the Freedom Ballet. (Renske)

 

Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram

 

Een bericht gedeeld door Gordienko Natalia (@natalitsa)

Jendrik shares live-on-tape pics

Germany’s Jendrik has shared a picture from the recording of his backup performance in Lithuania’s capital Vilnius. The “I Don’t Feel Hate” singer wrote on Instagram: “Shooting the Live On Tape Back-Up Video was such fun!! Imma spam u probably with pics over the next few days cause why not☀️ #idontfeelhate”. (Renske)

 

Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram

 

Een bericht gedeeld door Jendrik Sigwart (@mynameis_jendrik)

Hooverphonic announce new album

Belgium’s trip-hop trio have revealed the details for their 17th studio album. Hidden Stories will be Hooverphonic’s first LP since 2018’s Looking For Stars, and their first with Geike Arnaert since 2007’s The President of the LSD Golf Club. The 10 track record will come out on 7 May. It will include “The Wrong Place”, but their 2020 effort “Release Me” does not feature.

 

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A post shared by Hooverphonic (@hooverphonicoff)

James Newman joins Rylan in the kitchen

“Embers” crooner James Newman joined the BBC’s semi-final commentator Rylan in the kitchen for a little taste of some Dutch culinary delicacies — “oily balls”, according to Rylan. Cook Rustie Lee whips up the desert while James and Rylan have a general Eurovision chit chat. The TV host also reveals his “Famous Eurovision Five” — Cyprus 2018, Israel 2018, Austria 2014, Sweden 2015 and Iceland 2020.

 

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A post shared by bbceurovision (@bbceurovision)

Daði og Gagnamagnið film lyric video

Iceland’s Eurovision 2021 stars shared their official music video late last month. And recently Daði and Árný returned to the scene of their epic giant robot vs giant monster battle. In some behind-the-scenes shots shared on Instagram and Twitter, they revealed that they’re working on a new lyric video for “10 Years”.

“The Ride” was originally intended for Melodifestivalen…but missed the deadline

Joakim Övrenius, Clara Rubensson and Johan Mauritzson — three of the songwriters behind “The Ride” — had an interview with Poland’s Dziennik Eurowizyjny. They talk about how the song came to be, from their inspiration to how it ended up in Poland. Interestingly, they reveal that they originally intended to submit the song to Sweden’s Melodifestivalen as a vehicle for Clara (not to be confused with Clara Klingenström or Klara Hammarström). However, the song wasn’t ready in time to meet the Melfest deadline, so it was never sent to SVT.

Additional contributions from Robyn, Renske and Jordi.

Will you watch the “10 Years” lyric video? How would “The Ride” have done at Melodifestivalen? Let us know in the comments.

Read more Daily Digests for Eurovision 2021.

38 Comments
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Grft
Grft
2 years ago

Montaigne is nailing the high notes. But this is a challenging song to sing live and she still has trouble with the pre-chorus, it doesn’t sound so good. It’s sad because she’s a fantastic singer and the song is dope.

canada_piano
canada_piano
2 years ago

and now, a message to the bbc:

STOP putting James in these uncomfortable situations. its so obvious that he felt out of place during the whole cooking show thing. do at least SOME promo for embers because right now, nobody apart from fans know what it is. and finally, stop RIDICULING the contest. I actually dont think you take eurovision seriously in the slightest and that makes delusional brits despise it for its “trolling and political nature”

Last edited 2 years ago by canada_piano
canada_piano
canada_piano
2 years ago

im sorry but for me australia is last…

i think that the entire song has such a weird production and instrumentation and i REALLY dont like the pre chorus, its just so cringey… i also dont think that her voice suits the song. the thing that really turns me off is the melody

the only thing that might save it for me is the staging but it will be different to the cricket one and the one in this post

Last edited 2 years ago by canada_piano
Ashton Schier
Ashton Schier
2 years ago
Reply to  canada_piano

we get it you dont like hyperpop

canada_piano
canada_piano
2 years ago

wiwi jury is coming i saw on another post

canada_piano
canada_piano
2 years ago

same i just find the chorus so addictive. poland is my 14th place this year lol

Jake
Jake
2 years ago

I don’t know what the Covid protocols were in that concert, but 6 feet apart rule is not enough for that voice and my ears…YIKES…thank god for this year’s backing track allowance

Kristian
Kristian
2 years ago
Reply to  Jake

Noooooooooooooooo , I’ma im a

Jake
Jake
2 years ago

At some point, they are just gonna call Eurovision Song Contest the Melodifestivalen Reject Pile Contest. I actually think this year it hasn’t been that bad a year as we’ve seen in the past. But let’s be real…if Je Me Casse and Adrenalina were part of Melfest–the eurofans would be all down on them like they seem to be on many Melfest songs that are not sung by Dotter 🙂

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
2 years ago

So this year, Poland have taken a song that wouldn’t have gotten out of a Melodifestivalen heat and given it to a friend-of-the-network, TV presenter to sing?
How do you expect Poles to be proud of their ESC entry when this is what you’re giving them to get behind?

….bring back Tulia.

Alex
Alex
2 years ago

It is so awkward to see Natalia doing something that it feels like it’s not herself and she is kinda forced to change her style (cough, Kirkorov). Why do they make James feel so awkward with those sausages and oily balls situation? How is this related to Eurovision and Netherlands? Another attempt to ridicule Eurovision instead of taking it seriously. Also, where is the promo for Embers? How hard is it to book James a few promo slots on national TV and radio to let everyone know of the song? Nobody knows James or/and has heard the song which is… Read more »

Roman
Roman
2 years ago

I like it as well. It’s catchy.

Ethan1994
Ethan1994
2 years ago

I wonder what Eurovision would be like if they had a nationality rule with both artists and songwriters. I wish they would trial that, just once.

Pancake
Pancake
2 years ago
Reply to  Ethan1994

Not gonna happen in a million years and let’s keep in that way.

Ende
Ende
2 years ago
Reply to  Ethan1994

Imagine one day, Sweden is the only country sending a song not produced by Swedes…Mindblowing

Alex
Alex
2 years ago
Reply to  Ende

actually imagine if they bring back the rule for national languages, Sweden will never allow it!

Jonas
Jonas
2 years ago
Reply to  Ethan1994

That’s mostly the way it was for the first four or five decades.

Jonny
Jonny
2 years ago
Reply to  Ethan1994

This rule is unfair to small countries

Darren
Darren
2 years ago

If the juries are professional and impartial then they really shouldn’t, but history has proven that they probably will.

And that’s coming from someone who actually likes Australia this year, but every live performance I’ve seen of Montaigne singing “Technicolor” has been pretty bad.
Getting strong NQ vibes from it actually. Studio version is good though but live version worries me.

Sabrina
Sabrina
2 years ago
Reply to  Darren

The weird thing is that Montaigne seems to deal better with some more challenging notes than the ones with she’s struggling. I really hope she nails it when the time comes, but I’m worried too.

Grft
Grft
2 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

Same, I find it really weird that she is nailing the high notes at the end and not the per-chorus. I hope she can work on that.

Trina
Trina
2 years ago

The Poland story really sets my teeth on edge. Basically the Swedish team and the Polish broadcaster saying, “You guys got one of Sweden’s cast-offs! How lucky are you!” How disgustingly patronizing, and disrespectful to Polish artists. I realize I am probably overreacting, but I do not like this.

Dawid
Dawid
2 years ago
Reply to  Trina

Yeah, basically they forgot to prepare anything. They called their employee and made him perform a song they bought last minute. Honestly, wouldn’t be surprised if they would withdraw in 2022 if Poland doesn’t qualify and blame rest of Europe for it, like Hungary did.

Dawid
Dawid
2 years ago

I feel like that “GAY” t-shirt was made especially for TVP xd It wasn’t a secret that it’s made for Melodi, right?

Kristian
Kristian
2 years ago

I don’t mind the song. The transition between the verses and chorus is jarring . The chorus I’m not a fan of but the verses I really like. Well I don’t think it’s going to be a televote qualifier but the juries will give points to someone right !!?

Hannie
Hannie
2 years ago
Reply to  Kristian

I agree. I’m gonna make the bold statement that most countries, maybe besides Sweden, would be certain NQs with that song. And I’m sorry to be mean like that, but it would be so, so unfair to the other great songs in that semi if it made through just because it’s Australia.

EurovisionBenny_AUT
EurovisionBenny_AUT
2 years ago

No fewer than three countries send songs to Eurovision this year which were originally intended for Melodifestivalen – Malta, San Marino and Poland. Where is the uniqueness, the authenticity, the identity? Why do countries bother to submit rejected entries from different countries?

In my view, Eurovision shouldn’t continue like this. The competition stagnates this way. Creative songwriters from the competing countries, also small ones, should be given a chance.

Kristian
Kristian
2 years ago

Yup , the polish song is not worth rejecting the previous years entrant for. They should have selected Alicja with one of her songs.

Kristian
Kristian
2 years ago

What’s oliebollen ?

Kristian
Kristian
2 years ago
Reply to  Kristian

Ah , the balls , lol

Koen
Koen
2 years ago
Reply to  Kristian

Haha, reminds me of a scene from Lucifer where Lucifer explains what oily balls are to Chloe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO7FJXbQ5ys&ab_channel=NicoWiersema

Denis
Denis
2 years ago

Neither Malta nor San Marino were intended for Melodifestivalen though. Not everything Swedish is rejected from Mello, sometimes you can just buy a song. I believe Senhit simply asked Swedes to write for her and Je Ma Casse was shipped around until Destiny found it and bought it..

Jake
Jake
2 years ago
Reply to  Denis

Hasn’t Dinah Nah already admit that laid down voices on a track from this year’s ESC for Melodifestivalen that is not tops of odds that did not get through. The only options being Malta and San Marino and San Marino seems to be a bit of copy and paste of Suzy P’s Moves with new English-language lyrics and a more ethnic instrumentation–which leaves Je Me Casse as the only other option.

lol
lol
2 years ago
Reply to  Denis

Destiny is amazing and the song is great. I dont get all this hate towards Destiny, its all because shes at the top of the odds when they don’t even mean anything until rehearsals. Je Me Casse probably won’t win but its a very good entry nonetheless

Kristian
Kristian
2 years ago
Reply to  lol

There is no hate towards Destiny. Calling a song bad or not good has got no repercussions on the performer who had no say in choosing the song. It’s “hate” on the broadcaster and their strategy of deceit in everything.

Kristian
Kristian
2 years ago

So you’re saying the song Dinah claimed to have entered was Adrenalina ? Any source Robyn ?

Kristian
Kristian
2 years ago
Reply to  Kristian

Ah , the shade , lol . I get it now. It was for Destination Eurovision . Lol

You’re good Robyn . Too good , that’s why you’re my favourite 🙂

Jeriswani
Jeriswani
2 years ago

The problem is brought songs tend to do well etc Eurovision. Why would they stop when people keep rewarding them for doing so? The lack of diversity in the music in Eurovision is definitely a huge problem the audience/jury takes some of the blind for this.