Martijn, Author at Eurovision Universe

Malmö Messages: From Norwegian mystique to Joosts mystery

The Norwegian group Gåte also had their second rehearsal this afternoon. The posted photos underline again what we have already seen from this band. In an environment that would not be out of place in a book by Stephen King or Thomas Olde Heuvelt (read his Hex, it fits perfectly), singer Gunnhild Sundli is performing the song Ulveham. The band members are a short distance away. Currently, the Norwegians are 11th with the bookmakers. And finally, for the Netherlands, Joost Klein. Even at the previous rehearsal, the rumor mill was churning: this would not be it. Influencer Appie Mussa is still in his bird suit, but those who look closely at today’s photos cannot miss it: they emit none of the energy we know from Joost, and certainly not what fits with “Europapa.” There should not be much deviation from the final act anymore. But that Joost is not showing his true intentions to the public will surprise no one. Currently, Joost is 5th with the bookmakers.

Malmö Messages: microphones, fire and circles

San Marino is represented by Megara. This morning, a discussion arose around the rehearsals: it was a missed opportunity not to have the group rehearse at 11:11, since that was the title of the song. Little has changed since the first rehearsal. Pink and black are still the colors, including of the graphics. Expectations are low: a 35th place in the odds. Georgian Nutsa Buzaladze is surrounded by a lot of fire. What else can you expect with a song called “Firefighter”. She is mostly standing in a circle with, of course, a red background. The circle seems to depict the sun. Here too, few changes compared to the previous rehearsal. Georgia is currently 18th at the bookmakers and seems set to break the curse of not reaching the finals. Belgium rehearsed third today. We already know the act: Mustii stands in a circle of microphones, dressed in a white, gem-studded outfit. At one point, he steps out of the circle and removes his blouse. It now seems as if he continues singing with a bare torso, but his torso is also adorned with gemstones. The criticism of Mustii’s singing has by now subsided, and we are curious to hear how it will sound today when the video comes out on Youtube. Belgium is currently 12th with the bookmakers. Some things only become apparent when more photos are released. 5miinust x Puuluup make clever use of the available cubes. There is a lot of attention to the instruments used during Estonia’s act. Estonia is currently 21st with the bookmakers. It will be close whether the Estonians make it to the final with (of these) narcotics we (certainly) know nothing. EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Also, little news to report from Israel, although now we see different colors of lighting in the photos: blue and yellow. The clothing is still white and Eden Golan stands in a glowing circle singing her song Hurricane. The song is one of the few ballads in this year’s festival. The bookmakers expect an 8th place.

Malmö Messages: The Big Five plus Sweden

We haven’t heard from the big five plus Sweden yet. Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the host Sweden automatically qualify for the final. They had their rehearsal tonight. The United Kingdom was the first to rehearse. If you think you have ended up in the locker room of a boxing match; this is still the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Olly Alexander is wearing red pants and a white shirt. His hands are taped up. Around him are a number of dancers in red shorts and with bare chests. According to eurovision.tv, the camera moves in such a way that it seems as if the room is spinning. It could make you “Dizzy”. Isaak, representing Germany, appears to be in a very luxurious living room while singing his song “Always on the run”. We see a fire pit, lots of flames, and the cube coming down again. Isaak himself is dressed in black and is flanked by four backup singers; live singing matters here too. Marcus and Martinus are performing “Unforgettable” for Sweden. And as usual, the Swedes have the exact same act on stage as they did during Melodifestivalen. The twins are dressed in blue and black. On the LED screens behind them, and on the cube above them, many colors and patterns are visible. Occasionally, the title of the song also appears. The act is the same, but huge. The contestant for France, Slimane, is dressed in white during his “Mon amour”. He starts lying down and sings the first part of the song on his knees. Later, he stands behind the microphone and steps away from it to sing the last piece a cappella. The smoke machine does its job. The Spanish duo Nebulossa rehearsed next. Their song “Zorra” starts from the cube, which is now not hanging but has come all the way down. Mery is wearing pants with wide legs and a blouse with large puff sleeves. The red sofa, which Mery also was standing on during the national final, has come along to Malmö. There is smoke on the floor throughout the performance. Angelina Mango will perform for Italy in a red dress. On her arms and legs, we see some sort of plant images. The four dancers emerge from four large cubes to lift Angelina. She stands among them in front of a large throne made of branches. The whole scene is set against a backdrop of a sort of forest with bare trees. In short, there will be much to see during “La Noia.”

Malmö Messages: another outfit and a lot of folkore

Austria: Here too, we have a different outfit. Kaleen was already wearing a swimsuit before, but the current one shows much more skin (read: flesh-colored bodysuit). The color is now silver. She is also surrounded by a group of four dancers. This act too is mainly focused on dance, with singing possibly taking a backseat. But we will only find out during the public rehearsals. Austria is ranked 14th at the bookmakers. Denmark: Little has changed in the Danish act compared to last time. Saba is still singing her ballad in a white dress. Like a real Sandman, she scatters sand. She is ranked 22nd by the bookmakers. Who knows, maybe she will break the negative spiral of not reaching the finals. Armenia: Armenia will actually be represented by a duo, which is not visible in the act. There is a lot of movement and several musicians have joined Ladaniva. A lot of cheerfulness is visible. And take note: you are not drunk, you really see the duo multiple times, displayed on the LED screens. The bookmakers give Armenia a 17th place. Latvia: We could now say that Dons’ hair is different from the last rehearsal, but that would be trivial. What we see in the photos is virtually the same as what we had seen two days earlier: Dons in blue in a circle, calmly singing his song. He is currently ranked 27th by the bookmakers. It will be a close call for Latvia whether Hollow will make it.

Malmö Messages: outfit changes and odds changes

We are once again following the rehearsals. The countries performing in the second semi-final are now rehearsing again, but not all of them. Because at the end of the afternoon and the beginning of the evening, we will see and hear the big 5 and Sweden. Malta: We talked about a swimsuit in Sarah Bonnici’s previous rehearsal. She still sings her song ‘Loop’ in a swimsuit, but now she has covered her arms and upper legs with silver. She hardly touches the ground, as she is continually lifted. There is hardly any betting on Malta: the island ranks last in the odds. Albania: Besa is wearing a very different outfit than in the previous rehearsal: a dark suit adorned with gemstones. They seem to reflect the colors of the rainbow. Three dancers flank her, along with two backing vocalists! Albania still presents some live music, apart from the singer. It does little to help Albania. Titan is given a 31st place in the odds. Greece: Marina Satti is one of the bigger names in Greece. Dance also predominates here, as far as we can assess. We can trust in it that Marina Satti can put on a dazzling show. Greece seems to be becoming a sub-top contender with an 8th place from the bookmakers, but maybe there’s even more in store for Marina & co. Switzerland: Nemo has lost their first place in the bookmakers’ rankings today. Their singing talent could not be the reason, as was evident during Eurovision in Concert in April, when we heard ‘The Code’ live. In the new photos, Nemo is still wearing the feather suit and performing their balancing acts on the revolving platform. There are also new photos where Nemo is wearing exactly the same suit that Céline Dion wore when she won Eurovision. Czech Republic: The Czech song deals with a pedestal, but here in Malmö she is not standing on one. However, we see a lot of flames around Aiko. That’s a good thing, because both she and her dancers are dressed entirely in black. And this while the act is about the very last stage of grief: acceptance. Currently, the Czech Republic shares a 31st place with Albania among the bookmakers.

Malmö messages: from rainbows to proud Eurovision fans

Azerbaijan: Fahree and Ilkin Dovlatov represent Azerbaijan. In the photos that have been released, it becomes even clearer that hands play a leading role in “Özünlə Apar”, the song Azerbaijan is sending. For the first time, the Azerbaijani language can be heard at the song contest, albeit in a few lines. The entry doesn’t impress much; bookmakers place it in 34th position. Australia: Many people were curious about how Electric Fields would perform their song “One Milkali (One Blood).” Lots of color, lots of instruments including a didgeridoo, and Zaachariaha wearing a white dress on which a rainbow is projected. Since the first rehearsal, Australia has been climbing in the bookmakers’ rankings. They now predict a 25th place for the country. Portugal: We’ve seen masked men before today. The Portuguese singer Iolanda is surrounded by them. Although these gentlemen bear a striking resemblance to beekeepers in their attire. But in Portugal, of course, it’s about the song and the music, as Salvador Sobral intended. Iolanda is unlikely to match Salvador’s success. Currently, bookmakers even predict her to reach 33rd place. Luxembourg: How proud Eric LeMan must be! This Luxembourgish Eurovision fan has hoped for years that his country would return to the festival, and his wish has come true. Of course, he was involved in the auditions himself. Tali represents Luxembourg with an energetic entry. It’s all about dance with “Fighter.” Tali is getting warm from it. Who knows, Luxembourg might make it to the final. However, the bookmakers are skeptical and place the country in 30th position. And in the end, we have a small update from Finland. We spoke to windows95man. “We’re still figuring out what we want to do with the pyro, as last rehearsal we used too much, but this time we used too little” We think he doesn’t want to burn his socks again.

Malmö Messages: party animals, tradition and strong women

Croatia: For a long time, Croatia was the number one with “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” according to the bookmakers. Now he’s in second place. The story is known: the song tells about young people leaving Croatia to find their fortune elsewhere. This is depicted by someone walking with a suitcase. The whole group wears traditional clothing. Baby Lasagna has not been praised for his singing talent so far, but that doesn’t seem to harm him. Split or Zagreb next year? Iceland: The friendly Hera Björk, who kindly spoke to us a few days ago, is back. With flair and enthusiasm, and without us having to worry about her vocals, she stands on stage. However, we do have a concern: the song. It doesn’t seem to make much of an impact yet. While Hera easily made it to the final in 2010, the odds currently give her a 29th place. The final seems far away. Slovenia: Many bodies around the Slovenian Raiven as she sings her Veronika. The dancers, all in bodysuits and with a lot of nudity, portray the story of this strong woman with her. Vocally, everything is well. But whether the beautiful but sad story of Veronika will be understood? We hope so! With a 19th place, the bookmakers are positive for now. Finland: What Käärijä can do, Windows95man must have thought he could do too. We have our doubts about thát, but what he and his companion Henri Piispanen definitely succeed in is throwing a party. With the blurred Windows95 logo, the underwear, and the way too short 1970s jeans, the entry stands out. “No rules,” sings the man who follows the rules perfectly. Moldova: We don’t understand it. Why wasn’t Natalia Barbu, who sings her “In the Middle,” allowed to bring all her look-alikes from the national final? Now she has added everything: butterflies, blossoms, wings, a violin… but she stands there alone. In 2007, she had to pay for her trip if she didn’t make it to the final. She did make it, but hopefully, she doesn’t have such a deal with the Moldovan broadcaster again. The bookmakers have her at 36th place.

Malmö Messages: dancing, ballads and demons

Based on the posted photos, we can still share some details about today’s rehearsals. Cyprus: Not much seems to have changed compared to last time. The Cypriot song is mainly a dance act. The singing seemed to be of secondary importance at least. Cyprus once scored a 2nd place with Eleni Foureira in 2018. Whether Silia Kapsis can achieve the same is a big question mark. At the moment, the bookmakers predict a 23rd place for “Liar.” Serbia: Thunder and lightning and rocky landscapes during Teya Dora’s performance. In her song about Ramonda, she sang well before, and we have no reason to believe it’s different now. It was Marija Šerifović who once won for Serbia. Now, with a 24th place according to the bookmakers, it might be a bit more complicated. Lithuania: Especially the cheerfulness of the song and Silvester’s charisma are winning over many hearts. The lighting is still red and blue. The masks (or rather a kind of oversized hoodies) of the background singers are more noticeable now. The bookmakers predict a 16th place. Ireland: If you’re into witchcraft and demons, you’re in the right place. Bambie Thug is surrounded by candles, forming a sort of witches’ circle around her. The white-painted face with black remains the same as during the previous rehearsal. Her hair is styled as if they are two horns. The demon on stage is now much more heavily made up. With her song “Doomsday Blue,” Bambie Thug is currently in a good 9th place according to the bookmakers, something Ireland could only dream of in recent years. Ukraine: Jerry Heil wears a train that she drops, while Alyona Alyona wears a white coat. With Teresa & Maria, they once again manage to make Ukraine one of the competitors to beat. Sitting on the ground or standing back to back, the two ladies deliver their song with strong vocals. It’s no surprise that the bookmakers currently predict a fifth place for them. Poland: Pointed shoulders are not reserved for Joost alone. Polish Luna also has them as she sings “The Tower.” Additionally, she is followed by three demons (there they are again). However, the pop tune she brings might be just a bit too average to score high. The bookmakers, at least, are not too enthusiastic, giving her a 28th place. in collaboration with Eurovision Artists

Malmö Messages: interval acts announced

Sertab Erener Several famous singers from Eurovision will perform as interval acts at the Eurovision Song Contest. SVT, the Swedish broadcaster, announced two of these performances for the Semi-Finals. In the First Semi-Final, Benjamin Ingrosso will sing some of his recent songs. In the Second Semi-Final, three famous Eurovision winners – Helena Paparizou, Sertab Erener, and Charlotte Perrelli – will lead a big sing-along. People at home can also take part in this sing-along. Keep an eye on Eurovision’s official channels for an update on how to do so. Benjamin Ingrosso represented Sweden in 2018 with “Dance You Off” and since then, he’s become even more popular. He’s excited to perform in Malmö and hopes everyone enjoys his show. Benjamin Ingrosso, photo: EBU/Andres Putting The Second Semi-Final will have a special moment where people at home can join in singing classic Eurovision songs with Helena Paparizou, Sertab Erener, and Charlotte Perrelli. Helena Paparizou, who won for Greece in 2005, is thrilled to be back on the Eurovision stage after many years. Paparizou lives in Sweden, took part in Melodifestivalen and also represented Greece in 2001. Helena Paparizou Sertab Erener was the 2003 Eurovision winner, representing Turkey. Charlotte Perelli won in 1999, but also participated in 2008. We saw the latter hosting Eurovision In Concert, the preparty in Amsterdam, last month. in collaboration with Eurovision Artists

Malmö messages: Good morning from a sunny Malmö

Good morning from sunny Malmö. We from the Eurovision Universe team have now come together. Over the past few days, you were accustomed to us regularly providing you with updates on the rehearsals. We did this with the help of the eurovision live blogs. Last evening it became clear that there will be no live blogs today. We will keep you informed of all the news, but it will be in a different format than in the past few days. So, make sure to keep an eye on the site!