A few weeks have passed since we all enjoyed the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in the Netherlands. While the focus was undoubtedly on the songs and the performances, the show had other key markers and highlights — from the intervals to the iconic voting segments.
Another small but important part of the show every year is the series of little videos played right before each performance. The official Eurovision channel uploaded these so-called postcards a couple of days ago. And now it’s time for you to vote for your favourite postcard of Eurovision 2021!
Postcards introduce the artist to the viewers at home and offer small insights into the artists’ personality and life. At the same time, they give the stage crew enough time to put stage props into place, as you can see in our video below. Whether it’s blowing up a colossal inflatable moon or rolling in a green-screen staircase, a lot happens during the postcards. And, of course, the postcards also let the host country show off their scenic delights, which was an easy task for a country like the Netherlands.
The Eurovision 2021 production team came up with a unique concept. Due to the ongoing pandemic, artists were not able to travel to the Netherlands to shoot their postcards (as is usually done in the run-up to the contest). Instead, two tiny houses traveled all over the country, visiting some of the most iconic and beautiful locations. Apart from the stunning shots, these houses also included furniture and other items that carry a special meaning for each artist. To end each postcard, the artists were beamed into the tiny houses as if they were present at the alluring location.
Eurovision 2021 Head of Show Gerben Bakker explained the concept in more detail:
“The house is a central theme, precisely because our living rooms have never been more important than this year. And at the same time, we open up our home to the rest of the world. And for these tiny houses, we are looking for unique locations in the Netherlands; the most beautiful and special places in our country that we can portray spectacularly.”
In case you missed any of them — or simply want to relive the magic — you can find all 39 postcards in the playlist below. It starts with Cyprus.
Eurovision 2019: All postcards playlist
Every one of these postcards is special in its own way. For instance, we see Daði og Gagnamagnið’s signature dance performed inside a skate park in Amsterdam and Spain’s Blas Cantó enjoying time with his dogs Leo and Tirma in the sand of Doornspijk. Some artists chose to show their sporty side — as with Tornike Kipiani boxing and Uku Suviste on the racetrack at Zandvoort. Still others dove into their everyday life — as with Jeangu Macrooy drawing next to the lighthouse of Ouddorp and James Newman frying two eggs on an island near Gasselte.
So what were your favourite postcards of Eurovision 2021? Which one showcased the most beautiful location to you? Which artist impressed you the most in their tiny house? And which postcard had the best overall effect? It’s up to you to decide how to vote…but please do vote. Your voice matters!
[polldaddy poll=10850729]Please also share your thoughts about the postcards in the comments section below. How do you like the postcard concept compared to those from previous editions? And what ideas do you have for the future?
Postcards this year were really boring and forgettable. I love Netherlands and the Dutch people, great organisation but they could have showed us more of the Dutch beautiful landscapes and less of the artists’s images and videos from past performances. I think the concept was good but it failed in execution. Since they could not invite the artists to film them in the country, then they should have just promoted their own country with some references to the country presenting each song.
I like the theme music of postcards a lot ,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS_zdTnAJNs
especially the part after 3:56
The best postcard has to be Portugal’s, for featuring a Lettera 32 Typewriter from the 1970s <3
I have a Lettera 32 in my small collection. It’s a fantastic typer. <3
As a local person I was really looking forward to see what my country would do with these postcards. I thought the general idea was nice enough: the tiny house and off the beaten track locations. But the execution could have been better as the visuals remained too much in one place. I missed seeing people in these locations. The biggest problem was that they were filmed in March or something, so the weather was very grey and the trees were bare. Posbank (the nature area shown in Ukraine’s postcard) is amazing in summer, just google it… but it doesn’t… Read more »
I was pretty disappointed with the locations they chose. I´ve visited many of the chosen places, and I could think of better spots from those locations for most of them. Schiermonnikoog is a beautiful island, but they placed the house in what looked like more or less an ordinary puddle. Or Maastricht, which is arguable the loveliest medieval city in the country, where they placed the glass house in the middle of a modern bridge. Giethoorn is a unique little town, but you´re not be able to tell that from the spot they chose. Then there were things like an… Read more »
honestly, no postcard has marked my memory this year. It seemed shorter than usual, couldn’t really see the landscapes with the little house in the middle, nor the contestants, who appeared at the last second.
I voted for Portugal, as I have very fond memories of Delft and I’m happy to see it featured. I liked how they were trying to hitch a ride too.
Kinda funny that Germany’s postcard featured Scheveningen, as during the war that was a password for Dutch solders- and any German spy could be found instantly as there is no way they could have pronounced it!
Spain’s was the only one that i sort of remembered and that’s only because of the dogs
The Dutch put on a good show but the postcards were really drabby. They were all equally uninteresting and visually unappealing.
And don’t give me the “It’s just because of COVID19” routine, they could still come up with good concept and execution.
Breaking news in the United Kingdom you can only travel to countries that gave you points in the Eurovision Song Contest haha
Serbia because somehow it’s the only one I distinctly remember xd
The postcards were probably the only lacklustre thing about this year’s contest organisation wise to be frank.
I looooved the show … except for the postcards. They were really lackluster and the green screen parts didn’t look good.
Spain!
Cause of the puppies of course 😛
I’m sure everyone voted for their country.
I don’t remember any of them lol
Postcards were super boring this year, but let’s say it’s because of Corona so it’s ok.
The postcards were weak this year. I don’t remember even one.
Maybe others will say it is because of the situation, but I still think they could have been more creative.
none, unfortunately. worst postcards since 2015
In Serbian postcard they did not get the Arabic script right… It hurt my eyes and I bet it annoyed Sanja, too.
When I read an idea about postcards I was so excited and it sounded so good, but in reality….sucked. Probably one of the worst Postcards ever 🙁 Such a shame.
I think the worst postcards were in 2012, where they didn’t even include the artists in any way. It was just like watching some Trivago commercial non-stop!
I agree with your point. The 2012 ones were showcasing the Azerbaidjan culture (places, stuff like that), but they weren’t really personalised and seemed rather bleak.
You don’t have to incorporate the artists for the postcards to be good.
The Azeri postcards were boring and uninspired, but the previous year the Germans gave us some of the best postcard in the recent decade IMO, and they didn’t show the artists either. It’s all about creativity and talent.
I can agree to that, I actually watched some postcards from previous years and the best way to do a postcard is to include the participating country or artist in some way into it. But this concept came around 2008 onwards where some element of the country or artist was included.
I think Russia’s postcard this year looks the best. Unlike the rest, it tells a story and doesn’t look too superimposed.
Serbia, I guess. can’t really remember most of them tbh…
Wow, I don’t remember a single one. :I
You should have included “None of the Above” – the true winner. I know they had an issue because people couldn’t travel, but I think this horrendously boring idea was the one they had for 2020 also. Awful!
You can look up what the idea for 2020 was.
None.
The postcards were boring and dull this year.
Expected more.
And hopefully next year, we won’t have artists in postcards. Enough with that trend. OR make them as in Israel 2019.
The postcards sucked. The panedmic really ruined any chance they had at making something special.
The postcards this year where so creative! Considering it probably wasn’t the original idea back in 2020, I do think the pandemic really made them think outside of the box (or house) for the postcards.
Showing stunning and beautiful landscapes of the Netherlands (many people don’t venture further than Amsterdam, so it’s nice to see elsewhere in the country) while also showing the artists background and personality.
The postcards of 2021 are among my favorites ever.
Sweden, Ireland, North Macedonia, Italy and Iceland where standout postcards for me.
I loved this year’s postcards, they were quite moving.
It made me very happy to see my city be represented in a post card. Never in my life thought that would happen
I loved Hurricane’s little choreography, so my vote goes to them! 🙂
Have very fond memories of visiting the Evoluon in Eindhoven, so San Marino gets my vote.