Eurovision 2023: Stand-in rehearsal clips are leaked!

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It has already been two months since the 67th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. 37 performers stepped on the stage of the M&S Bank Arena giving it all and representing their countries in the biggest song competition in the world, after months of intense preparations.

The impressive stage performances that they pulled off were first tried on the Eurovision stage a few days before their arrival through simulations, known as stand in rehearsals. Stand in rehearsals are usually executed by local artists and performers so all participants can know in advance the television result of the performances. On a later stage, they have the opportunity to ask for changes during the technical rehearsals executed by the representatives themselves.

Each year we have the chance to take a look in these performances and compare this preparatory work to what we actually saw on the TV show. For example, last year we had the chance to see how some performances would look like if there weren’t the technical problems regarding the “sun” not being able to turn around.

This year, 7 videos of stand in rehearsals have leaked so far and they are the following:

  • Switzerland

  • Israel

  • Serbia

  • Portugal

  • Italy

  • Finland

  • Cyprus

There were obviously some changes made to performances. The dance break on the Israeli performance obviously changed and Portugal finally decided not to use the led screens.

What do you think of these stand in rehearsals? Stay tuned on EurovisionFun for all news regarding Eurovision Song Contest!

Greece: Antigoni reveals one of the songs she submitted for Eurovision 2023!

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Antigoni was one of the artists who submitted their entries to ERT for Eurovision 2023.

Earlier today, the singer posted part of one of the songs she submitted to the ERT selection process for Eurovision 2023 through her personal instagram account.

The title of the song is “Nervous” and it combines the modern pop sound of the artist with traditional Greek elements such as the bouzouki that we hear in the song’s instrumental.

According to exclusive information she shared with EurovisionFun, the song was written by Antigoni, Connor Mullaly and Amira El-Shafie in her sister’s room during a writing camp early last summer, produced by Seik Beats and Trey Qua, and it’s about a true story of a boy who made her feel nervous!

She also states that it was the first track she decided to submit for the Contest as, as she says, it has that Greek-Cypriot flavour and some Greek lyrics at the beginning!

However, she adds that they then wrote another song which she liked even more and it was the one she wanted to win as, in her opinion, it fits perfectly in the Contest and she will try to submit it again in the selection for Eurovision 2024!

Below you can listen to the snippet of Nervous that was shared by Antigoni and will be released on July 11th:


What is your opinion about Nervous? Would you like to see Antigoni on the Eurovision stage? Let us know in the comments below!

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Ukraine: A Discussion about Eurovision 2023!

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The Ukrainian team has reflected on their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, which was hosted by the United Kingdom on their behalf.

Led by Oksana Skibinska, Head of the Ukrainian delegation, and Herman Nenov, Creative Director of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 for Ukraine, the team discussed the contest’s impact, the selection of interval acts, and their objectives in an interview with Anna Tulyeva, host of the Eurovision Ukraine video blog?

 

Did everything work out the way you planned?

 

The ideas and messages I wanted to convey were conveyed. The result is good, and a lot of people, in particular Eurofans, in my opinion, were satisfied. This year’s Eurovision was the best presentation of Ukraine among all three Song Contests organised after our victory in the contests (2005, 2017 and 2023). It was during this Eurovision that there was “the most Ukraine” and Ukrainian artists for all years, despite the fact that we were already the host country of the competition twice. Regarding the interval acts, I want to say that each of the Ukrainian artists invited by us this year carried a certain truth about our present. There were no random people there. I was against showing the same artists, and the same assets of ours a third time. We had the task of showing different musical directions of Ukraine.

 

 

Tell me, what ideas were included in the interval acts? How were they created?

 

All the ideas were determined by December, we went to the Christmas holidays already having a road map, and from January we started negotiations with artists and the realisation of the production. All performances were thought out in the moments of the most violent attacks. Alyosha’s performance was invented in a bomb shelter. The first idea came to me during the period of missile attacks. I was in the shelter and I witnessed a conversation between a girl and a boy, they were talking about the fact that they cannot, unfortunately, now hug and be together to support each other. It touched me and became the impetus for the first Semi-Final interval act. For me, all interval acts had to be honest, because ideas were really born in super extreme conditions. We were looking for such artists – as honest as possible.

 

Tell us about your collaborations. Who did you enjoy working with the most?

 

In general, I am just humanly grateful for the way the BBC team treated us. They didn’t just ask, “How are you there?”, but they were really worried when we had shelling. Speaking of Ukrainians, the best collaboration for me was with the Big Brave Events 1+1 media team. In general, it was a very large international collaboration with the creative team of the competition, 1+1 media and director Tim Van Someren , a world-famous director who created commercials for the Olympic Games. Tim came up with the British part, I came up with the Ukrainian part, related to the subway and the journey of the Kalush Orchestra. This idea was very important for us, for the entire Suspilne team. You understand when in Britain, people can hold festivals, gather for events – people in Ukraine spent many months of their lives in the subway, gave birth there, sang songs, hid from rocket fire. The National Selection and other cool Ukrainian creative projects took place there. The 1+1 team, which was responsible for the production of the Ukrainian part, also added their cool ideas: with Maria Prymachenko, with Banksy. Despite the large number of co-creators, we turned out a very coherent work.

 

What is Eurovision 2023 to you? If you could put your opinion into one short sentence, what would you say?

 

Oh, I can’t be brief about this Eurovision. First, for me this is probably a historic event in my life. I am very grateful for this honour, it is an experience I will never forget.

 

How was this year’s Eurovision Song Contest? How do you feel about it now, after the end of the competition?

 

It was a unique Eurovision, it cannot be compared with any other. It took place in unprecedented conditions when one country held a competition on behalf of another. And at the beginning, perhaps no one understood what “on behalf of Ukraine” means. It took almost a year for this understanding, in fact, the preparation lasted from October to May. There were precedents when one country won and another hosted. Our case is unique, because from the beginning, when Great Britain took on the obligation, the BBC clearly stated: “We will do this Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine.” The same words of Sam Ryder that it will be a Ukrainian party in Britain, a Ukrainian holiday. What kind of holiday can be when people die in Ukraine? It was one of the key issues for us – to find a balance and keep Eurovision in a way that people enjoy watching.

 

It was a unique Eurovision. Has your perception of the competition changed after this year?    

 

Eurovision is a big venue, a powerful platform. It is more than a competition, and this year’s Eurovision proved it. In unique circumstances, the circumstances of the war in Europe, Eurovision became the place where 37 countries united around common values. Ukraine’s victory in 2022 had great symbolism and meaning, Ukraine needed this victory for moral elevation, for understanding that we are not alone. This year, the Eurovision Song Contest was a victory for us, something Ukrainians can be proud of.

 

You can watch the full interview on Ukraine’s Eurovision YouTube channel:

 

 

Source: eurovoix

 

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France: Loreen comments on La Zarra’s controversial gesture!

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It’s already a month since the Final of this year’s contest took place, but artists, still have a lot to say.

Something that people are still talking about, is the controversial gesture of the French representative, La Zarra; namely the hand gesture she did facing the audience during the live show, after receiving 50 points from the televote.

What is more, France Télévisions seems to be dissatisfied with the final result and France’s place on the scoreboard, but also La Zarra’a exclusion from various festivals and concerts.

According to French press, La Zarra was not able to reclaim the public’s trust. She had many of her concerts canceled in the previous weeks due to lack of audience, while on the same time, many radio stations have stopped playing the French entry.

Eurovision 2023 France: France Télévisions condemns La Zarra’s attitude after the Grand Final!

Eurovision 2023 winner, Loreen, was also asked about La Zarra’s gesture, with the first, supporting the French representative:

In an interview at “Le Parisien”, she said:

“La Zarra is very proud and hard working. I feel like she’s a girl who fought to get this far. I think her gesture is connected to a frustration: we work so hard for Eurovision and we don’t always achieve what we expected. It’s win or lose. You can never really prepare for it. She may have had a feeling of great disappointment at that moment.”
We remind you that La Zarra has stated the following about her gesture:
“You have to understand that although I represent France, I also have a culture and it is a bit genealogical. It’s not a negative gesture, it’s a frustration gesture that we use between friends.”
La Zarra represented France in Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool, with her song “Évidemment” and ended up in 16th place of the Grand Final:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOtQJ4o-HoA

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Source: Le Parisien, voici.fr

Spain: Blanca Paloma’s participation costed RTVE an all-time high of 800.000 euros!

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Eurovision 2023 is over and it is time for the national broadcasters to review their participation costs. Spain after last year’s huge success in Eurovision with Chanel and an extraordinary 3rd place, invested in Eurovision 2023 more than it has ever done before.

Specifically, the participation costs for 2023 were planned to amount to 732.940 euros, a budget that was not adhered to and rose to 810.978,22 euros, a 10,65% increase.

The internal expenses costed 149.728,71, instead of 73.547,09 euros that were estimated at first. The external expenses, which also included travel and accommodation costs rose to 661.249,54 euros.

The above-mentioned costs included the participation and transmission fees, as well as the production of the videoclip, the stage performance and personnel costs.

It is indeed a much higher budget spent in comparison with the past editions and actually the highest ever recorded, with the participations of Chanel(2022) and Miki Núñez(2019) following.

No matter the interest and the high budget spent by RTVE, Blanca Paloma did not manage to repeat Chanel’s success and instead finished last in the televoting and 17th overall.

Regardless the Spanish fans’ disenchantment, the Grand Final of Eurovision 2023 noted the highest ratings since 2011 and there seems to be no criticism from the Spanish press to RTVE, because of its policy to allocate huge funds to many of its programs and Eurovision having a much wider audience and TV ratings than those.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw6qPWhjevk

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Source: 20minutos

Eurovision 2023 Finland: Käärijä’s Tallinn concert featured a voodoo doll and claims about Loreen!

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As Käärijä progresses with his Northern European tour after his Eurovision success,lots of peculiar happenings surround his concerts.The singer’s performance in Tallinn’s Flex Fest some days ago was a huge success and the audience was left in awe.

At some point during the concert,the singer reportedly asked the audience if they had watched Eurovision and what they thought about Loreen winning the contest.The infamous question was followed by a deathly silence,with a couple of people among the audience booing the singer.It is said that Käärijä’s satisfaction with the audience’s response was more than evident.

Later on,a fan threw a voodoo doll to the singer that was dressed just like him,with the audience going mad and dancing to the rhythm of “Cha cha cha” in the end of the concert.

Käärijä represented Finland in this year’s Eurovision with his song “Cha cha cha”,which won him the 1st place in the televote and the 2nd place overall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6rS8Dv5g-8

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source:bublik

Eurovision 2023 United Kingdom: Host city Liverpool honored with Unesco music city award!

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Liverpool,the host city of this year’s Eurovision,is the recipient of its first ever Unesco Music City Award.

The Liverpool Unesco City of Music Award is attributed to the team behind this year’s Song Contest,whose contribution left an indelible footprint upon the local music scene and culture.

The host broadcaster BBC and the events’ organizers were given the award at a ceremony at Liverpool Town Hall,with the Grand Final being reportedly the most-watched Grand Final in the UK’s history ever.

Liverpool’s cabinet member for culture, Harry Doyle, said:

“We were never in doubt that the BBC would stage an incredible show at the arena – and the record-breaking viewing figures are testament to their achievements – but what is really special is how they, and the EBU, embraced the city, they got to know our story and our heritage and they helped us showcase the very best of Liverpool to the world.”

Mayor of Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, added:

“Home to more number one hits than anywhere else, it’s safe to say that Liverpool wouldn’t be Liverpool without music – and music wouldn’t be music without Liverpool.While few places can claim to have made such an impact on world music as we have, I think the real reason we came out top in the race to host Eurovision was because, quite simply, nowhere else can throw a party quite like us.”

The UK in this year’s Contest

The United Kingdom was this year’s host for the first time in 25 years.Mae Muller defended her homeland with her entry “I Wrote a Song” which earned her the 25th place in the final scoreboard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvJEE2ryCRQ

Source:BBC News

The Netherlands: Daniël Dekker critiques AVROTROS and the selection process for Eurovision 2023!

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Daniël Dekker, radio presenter and former member of the Dutch selection committee for Eurovision, spoke to Story magazine and critiqued AVROTROS for the Dutch Eurovision 2023 entry!

The radio presenter was part of the selection committee that brought great results for The Netherlands over the last decade, including a victory in 2019. He is not a part of the jury ever since, and he expressed his disappointment with the selection of Mia & Dion by the broadcaster for Eurovision 2023.

“In my time, it would have been unthinkable that those same artists would only perform at a pre-party, like in Barcelona, for the first time. We knew that artists as Anouk, Waylon, Ilse DeLange and Trijntje Oosterhuis could sing. But you also want to hear them perform the song. And with Duncan, who was less known to us, I went into the studio. Ilse, who mentored him, was there too. When I heard him sing “Arcade”, I knew that it was good. More than good.”

Mia & Dion was the first Dutch act that failed to qualify in almost a decade. Daniël expressed his disappointment by the way they were treated by local media, stating that no other artist in the future should have to deal with such media coverage.

Despite AVROTROS’s efforts to work on vocal problems that Mia & Dion faced, even having the former winner and composer of “Burning Daylight,” Duncan Laurence as their mentor, Mia and Dion failed to secure a ticket to the Grand Final, finishing in 13th place in the first semi-final with only seven points. Moreover, the country’s non-qualification also had an impact on viewership, marking a significant decline compared to 2022.

A selection method for the Eurovision 2024 entry is yet to be decided, while the return of a national final to select the Dutch entry will be discussed, with many people including commentator Cornald Maas being against this selection process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XAsam043OY

Source: Story

Fans shipping for Käärijä/Bojan continues as the BFFs visit Finland!

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Käärijä and Bojan became friends during their Eurovision journeys.  The couple fans like to “ship” the most during Eurovision 2023 keep giving fanservice to the avid viewers.  And the fans are enjoying the content.  Based on the figures, social media has exploded during Bojan’s visit to Helsinki where he shared the stage with Käärijä and he even joined him during the “piggy train” dance

Böörijä

Fans have enjoyed so far the “shipping” between Käärijä and Bojan from Joker Out.  In fans circle shipping means pairing together two characters from reality or fiction and speculating about the possibility of them being a real couple.  The fans have coined the term “Böörijä” to refer to the friendship between Käärijä and Bojan Cvjetićan.

Both Käärijä and Bojan have contributed to the shipping publishing videos on Tiktok and Instagram of them teasing the fans.  In a recent Tiktok video we can see Käärijä and Bojan pumping a flamingo in a suggestive manner.  On an instagram story Käärijä and Bojan are watching Twilight together.

“This is you and me” Käärijä comparing himself and Bojan with Bella and Edward from the Twilight saga

The reaction from the fans has been positive.  Fans have liked this type of fanservice so far and have contributed creating their own video compilation of the fictional couple and even making fanfics.  According to Archive of Our Own, fans have created more than 190 Käärijä/Bojan fanfic stories.

It is important to point out however, that shipping between celebrities is a common practice that helps get engagement from the fans as a publicity stunt.  For instance, manager Gregor Zalokar shared a lot of the content created between Käärijä and Bojan.

 

Whether the Käärijä/Bojan bromance is a publicity stunt or not, the shipping helps the career of the lead singer from Joker Out and the Finnish rapper.  Just to cite an example, Joker Out has its most listeners in Helsinki according to Spotify stats.  Therefore, we can expect that the couple will continue giving their fans more fanservice.

Joker Out will announce their tour dates soon.  One can only speculate if Käärijä will have a special appearance during the Slovenian band tour!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LXlPviGiWc&ab_channel=EurovisionSongContest

Source: Yle

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Romania: Theodor Andrei speaks out against TVR and shares his experience in the contest.

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Theodor Andrei represented Romania at Eurovision 2023 with the song “D.G.T. (Off and On)” however he did not make it to the Grand Final.

During an interview with Romanian artist The Watcher, for the YouTube series Fără Perdea, Theodor said that as a big fan of the contest, he was excited to perform on the Liverpool stage. However, he spoke about how his dream slowly but surely turned into a nightmare due to his partnership with Romanian national broadcaster TVR.

Theodor explained how he had been thinking about taking part in Eurovision for several years, trying to find the right song. He confessed that hearing thousands of voices singing the Romanian lyrics of “D.G.T. (Off and On)” during the Eurovision pre-parties in Amsterdam and London remains one of his favourite achievements of his career so far. But he then claimed that TVR, which is responsible for the Romanian delegation at Eurovision, turned his dream into a nightmare.

Theodor Andrei speaks out against TVR.

In Selecția Națională, the selection show for Eurovision in Romania, Theodor participated by presenting an original set he designed himself. He had the intention to modify and improve it for Eurovision, however TVR seems to have rejected all the ideas and suggestions he submitted. The set he presented in Liverpool was designed exclusively by the TVR team, as seen by the viewers. It is also claimed that the broadcaster imposed a slower revamp of the song “D.G.T. (Off and On)” on Theodor, which did not meet his wishes and ideas.

According to Theodor, the budget given to TVR for Eurovision was not properly utilized for his entry, and TVR also refused to fund a music video for his song. So he decided to create a self-financed video. However, this caused further tensions between him and the national broadcaster. Theodor claims that TVR banned him from publishing it and even threatened him and his family. The music video was a success and sparked criticism against TVR.

So far, Romania’s national broadcaster has not responded to Theodor’s accusations.

Theodor will appear in London in July for a concert organised by Platform ’96. Theodor will perform at Stage 002 on 28 July. The event will take place at The Water Rats, a renowned venue steeped in musical history. Bob Dylan, The Pogues and Oasis performed their first concerts at this venue. Theodor will be joined on stage by British alternative rock band Glass Bridges and London-based rock band Minerva.

Source: wiwibloggs.com

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