Your daily Eurovision 2023 news bulletin has landed. In the build-up to this year’s song contest kicking off in Liverpool, the team here at wiwibloggs is bringing you all the latest updates from the Eurovision world.
In today’s daily digest, Mia Nicolai receives a special message from her childhood hero, and Loreen meets a British drag legend. But first…
Eurovision 2023 news round-up: Tuesday 18 April
TuralTuranX go busking in London
Off the back of their performance at the London Eurovision Party 2023, Azerbaijan’s TuralTuranX stuck around in the British capital for a spot of busking. The Baghmanov twins bumped into London street performer Jordan Carvalho, teaming up for a rendition of James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful”.
View this post on Instagram
Monika Linkyte performs surprise gig in Soho
The pre-party circuit may be over, but the class of Eurovision 2023 isn’t done. Lithuania’s Monika Linkyte stayed in London after the London Eurovision Party and performed a small setlist at Soho’s Ganton Arms pub tonight.
lovely London people, if someone is around Soho tonight, Im gonna play some new stuff and #eurovision song at Ganton Arms tonight 8pm ? seeeee yaaaaaaaaa
— Monika Linkyte (@MonikaLinkyte) April 18, 2023
Alexander Rybak sends Mia Nicolai special personal message
Dutch Eurovision 2023 songstress Mia Nicolai has made it no secret that Norway’s Alexander Rybak was her childhood idol. The violinist was a true inspiration for the “Burning Daylight” singer. As a surprise, the podcast Songfestival Troubadours surprised her with a special personal message from the “Fairytale” star. Mia burst into tears during the podcast. She said: “It makes me cry! (…) It is so special when you as a child dream about something… And especially then, I had a difficult time. I was severely bullied. And that was such a hope I got from [watching Eurovision 2009]. That’s why it is touching me. I took so much hope from watching videos of him. It took an important role in my life.” (Renske)
Loreen continues press tour in the UK
She touched down in London for the final pre-party of the Eurovision season on Sunday, but Loreen’s not done yet. The hot favourite to win this year’s competition is Liverpool is keeping the hype going by embarking on a press tour of the UK. Today, she talked to Fleur East on Hits Radio UK, and filmed some content with internet legend and drag extraordinaire Bailey J. Mills.
Victor Vernicos reveals his favourite Danish Eurovision entries
Greek-Danish superstar Victor Vernicos is celebrating his roots today as he revealed his top five favourite Danish Eurovision entries of all time. Fifth place went to “Never Ever Let You Go” by Rollo & King, fourth place to “Vi Maler Byen Rød” by Birthe Kjaer, third to “Dansevise” by Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann, second to The Olsen Brother’s “Fly on the Wings of Love”, and first to Emmelie de Forest’s “Only Teardrops”.
@victorvernicos 🇬🇷🇩🇰 JEG ELSKER DIG DANMARK 🇩🇰🇬🇷#eurovisiondenmark #eurovision #denmark #danishmusic ♬ original sound – Victor Vernicos
Additional reporting from Renske ten Veen.
If anyone is wondering CONNOLLY from the Irish pre-selection just released the final version of midnight summer night
Oh I assumed the first one, especially with San Marino unable to provide a televote.
The second one is strange but also, last year especially, the amount of people who, sorry but, b*tched about the aggregate scores being used in the semis and the final because “oh you’re just assuming they’d vote like that, its not authentic” and furthermore there preferred results being the televote, I can kind of see where that one came from too.
They don’t need the UK to finish second this year
Looks like it was a busy day for everyone
wow Loreen did some serious promo. Hits Radio, BBC Radio 2, Gig at Heaven… busy !!
I mean, I think its been more evident than in previous years that several acts are having to deal with backlash, either from being selected and/or incompetent live vocals. I think in many of these cases, people should be able to separate a dodgy performance from their overall impression of the song as, especially in pre parties, it mightn’t be indicative of how it’ll do at esc. (this especially pertains to songs people like the studio version of but not the live version). If people are unhappy with the act that has been selected (and tbf I think that could… Read more »
Several? I’ve seen most acts receiving hate to some extent, but I agree, this feels discouraging
Yeah several, from what ive seen and there could be more:
Gustaph -Belgium
WIld Youth – Ireland
Joker Out – Slovenia
Piqued Jacks – San Marino
Blanks – Poland
Theodor – Romania
Mae Muller – The UK
Vesna – Czechia
Let 3 -Croatia
Alika – Estonia
Tvorchi -Ukraine
Mia and Dion – The Netherlands
Teya and Salena -Austria (tbf, that was mostly the leaked version)
Aij? -Latvia
Victor – Greece
TuralTuran -Azerbaijan
Like they’ve all gotten varying levels of criticism and negativity, but a good few of these have had some pretty nasty stuff said about them.
I’d add Norway (alleged autotune and plagiarism), Finland, Sweden, UK (bc BBC chose Mae instead of Rina or Birdy, even read some antisemitic remarks against Mae xd) too. I understand “several” as any amount up to 5 units, but I might be wrong tho
I’ve seen mostly positive reactions to most of these artists and their performances. Are you sure you mean hate or just negative opinions? Because it’s okay to dislike an act, song, performance whatever. It’s a competition at the end of the day. Negative opinion isn’t hate.
Well saying stuff like “I hate this song” or “they should have sent this song” or even “people only like it because of artist/country” is not critique. Criticism is having valid opinions and saying why you do not like something. Anything else is just being negative for no reason and is disrespectful both for the people who actually enjoy the songs and for the artists who are working hard to create something people enjoy..
If you have nothing nice to say, then just say “I wish them well” and move on!
“Greek Danish superstar” lol no one knows him
This comment is exactly the sort of comment that we’re trying to discourage. Be positive!
Your comment is exactly what I am trying to discourage. If there is nothing but positivity, there is no challenge, learnig or growth. If we were all like you, no one would be told nothing bad and everyone would assume that they are perfect just the way they are. And in reality, we all know that’s a fantasy.
They’re just providing a caption. Maybe “upcoming star” would’ve been more suitable seeing as he’s only 16 but honestly, its not that deep.
Relax, it’s just a comment
Says the one with zero hits
You’re right, but chill, it’s just a caption
I do find it odd that wiwibloggs has not yet written about the crisis in the netherlands delegation and in the netherlands about Mia nicolai and Dion Cooper. And also the yet intense criticism from the dutch media and social media. After the pre party in madrid and in Amsterdam and the very poor performance the dutch entry. Wiwibloggs doesn’t have to go along as far as I am concerned with killing off the whole Dutch entry but actually naming what is going on in the Netherlands that a entry, even innour bad years. Really has never received as much… Read more »
My country too is under a big polemic esc related, and as these polemics, critics, rumors and fake news are totally useless but hurt the artists, so I think Wiwibloggs is making the right choice to not report that and to not insist, no need to pour oil on the flame, the artists don’t need that.
Yeah, it does seem intense alright. I’m guessing they either won’t write about it or theyll include it in a daily digest like this, seeing as they haven’t really dedicated an article to the backlash other artists received other than San Marino.
It was included in last night’s.
It’s important to note that many Wiwibloggers volunteer their time devoted to Eurovision coverage.
They can only do so much in getting to report things related to the contest that are happening elsewhere.
Fortunately, Wiwibloggs is not the only fan media outfit thay exists as many other will pick fill in the blanks.
I’m not sure they’ll cover the topic in depth, they normally post the entries on their spare time, so, can you tell me more about this? I’m pretty curious bc it looks like something unprecedented
Well a close friend of mine heard William say at Eurovision in Concert in Amsterdam that hé thinks Mia is very arrogant so there’s maybe/probably no interest to do so.. Just saving,
Because everyone wants to be oh so positive