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Eurovision 2022: The spectators at the Pala Olimpico must wear a mask!

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Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza announced on Thursday (April 28th) that the use of the mask will be mandatory indoors until June 15th.

The rule states that the use of the FFP2 mask is mandatory on public transport, in cinemas, in theaters and in all sporting events and competitions that take place indoors to reduce the risk of high transmission of COVID-19 infections.

In restaurants, malls and shops the use of a mask is not mandatory but is recommended.

This means that accredited journalists and the public should wear FFP2 masks during their stay inside the Pala Olimpico.

Stay tuned at Eurovision for all the updates!

Source

Estonia: Minimal Wind ft. Elisabeth Tiffany Test Positive for Covid-19

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Minimal Wind ft. Elisabeth Tiffany will not be performing live in Semi-Final Two of Eesti Laul after a positive COVID-19 test.

Minimal Wind ft. Elisabeth Tiffany will not be able to perform live in tomorrow’s semi-final but will still remain in the competition. The music video for their song “What To Make Of This”, which was shown during the quarter-finals last month, will be shown in place of a live performance.

In order to stop the spread of Covid-19, all of the artists must do a rapid test before entering Saku Suurhall. Any artist that tests positive will not be allowed to take part in the live broadcast.

The second semi-final of  Eesti Laul 2022 will take on February 5, and will be hosted by Maarja-Liis Ilus and Priit Loog. Fans will know Maarja-Liis Ilus for having represented Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1996 and 1997. Priit Loog is an actor on stage, television and film. The semi-finals will be held without an audience.

Semi-Final 2 – February 5
  1. Jyrise – “Plaksuta” (Clap)
  2. Maian –  “Meeletu” (Crazy)
  3. Boamadu – “Mitte kauaks” (Not for long)
  4. Evelin Samuel – “Waterfall”
  5. Black Velvet – “Sandra”
  6. Púr Múdd & Shira – “Golden Shores”
  7. Jaagup Tuisk – “Kui vaid” (If only)
  8. Minimal Wind ft. Elisabeth Tiffany – “What To Make Of This”
  9. STEFAN – “Hope”
  10. Anna Sahlene – “Champion”
The five artists that already advanced to the grand final are:

The Grand Final of Eesti Laul 2022 will take place on February 12 in Saku Suurhall. The winner of the final will represent Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Estonian entry to Eurovision 2022!

Image Source: Erki Pärnaku  | Source: ERR

Estonia: Merilin Mälk positive to Covid-19 – She will compete with the Music Video!

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Eesti Laul 2022 continues tomorrow with Semi Final 1. However, a short while ago, the Estonian broadcaster announced that Merilin Mälk, who was set to compete in the First Semi Final, was diagnosed with Covid-19 and therefore will not be able to perform live tomorrow. Thankfully, she will be able to compete, with the music video of her song presented instead. The same will happen for Elysa, who was also diagnosed with Covid-19 earlier.

Tomorrow’s semi-final will feature the following artists:

1. Elysa – “Fire” (music video)
2. Helen – “Vaata minu poole”
3. Andrei Zevakin feat. Grete Paia – “Mis nüüd saab”
4. Alabama Watchdog – “Move On”
5. Merilin Mälk – “Little Girl” (music video)
6. Stig Rästa – “Interstellar”
7. Triin Niitoja ja Frants Tikerpuu – “Laululind”
8. Kaia-Liisa Kesler – “Vaikus”
9. Elina Nechayeva – “Remedy”
10. Ott Lepland – “Aovalguses”

The two semi-finals of Eesti Laul, following the four heats which were completed in November, will take place on February 3 and 5 at the Saku Grand Hall. In each semi-final 10 artists will compete for 5 tickets leading to the grand final on February 12.

Below you can listen to Merilin’s entry, Little Girl:

Image source: Siim Lõvi / ERR

Stay tuned to Eurovision Fun for all the latest news regarding Estonia’s participation in Eurovision 2022!

Estonia: Elysa positive to Covid-19 – She will compete with the Video Clip!

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Eesti Laul 2022 continues tomorrow. The four heats were completed in November, and now the two semi-finals, which will take place on 3 and 5 February at the Saku Grand Hall, are next.

In each semi-final ten artists will compete for the ten tickets leading to the grand final on 12 February.

Tomorrow’s semi-final will feature the following artists:

1. Elysa – “Fire”
2. Helen – “Vaata minu poole”
3. Andrei Zevakin feat. Grete Paia – “Mis nüüd saab”
4. Alabama Watchdog – “Move On”
5. Merilin Mälk – “Little Girl”
6. Stig Rästa – “Interstellar”
7. Triin Niitoja ja Frants Tikerpuu – “Laululind”
8. Kaia-Liisa Kesler – “Vaikus”
9. Elina Nechayeva – “Remedy”
10. Ott Lepland – “Aovalguses”

However, a short while ago, Elysa, who is one of the favorites to win, announced through her personal Instagram account that she was diagnosed positive for Covid-19. Nevertheless, she will compete as normal, and in place of her live performance the video clip will be presented.

No description available.

Below you can listen to Elysa’s entry, Fire:

Image source: Erki Pärnaku ERR

Stay tuned to Eurovision Fun for all the latest news regarding Estonia’s participation in Eurovision 2022!

Norway: Subwoolfer won’t perform during Semi-Final 3 of MGP 2022!

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Subwoolfer will not appear in the Third Semifinal of the Melodi Grand Prix 2022 this Saturday due to a positive test on Covid-19. The Subwoolfer is now the betting favorite to win the Melodi Grand Prix 2022 and is competing with the song “Give That Wolf A Banana”.

Subwoolfer confirmed the diagnosis of Covid-19 via NRK statements:

“On our journey of discovery around the earth, we met a creature called omicron!”

Subwoolfer, who are already qualified for the final, will perform during one of the remaining semi-finals. NorthKid, who were due to perform in Semi-Final 4, will perform this week instead. Band member Bilal Saab commented:

“It came on very abruptly. There is quite a lot to be done in relation to the stage show, mostly rehearsing of the song which we now have one week less to work on but as they say: ‘The show must go on’ “.

This is not the first instance of Covid-19 within Melodi Grand Prix this year. Frode Vassel, who advanced to the final from the first semifinal of the Melodi Grand Prix, tested positive for Covid-19, a few days after the end of the semifinal.

Stig Karlsen, head producer of MGP, made the following statement:

“We are working hard to keep this year’s production afloat, but the audience should know that nothing stops Melodi Grand Prix, not even a pandemic.”

The schedule for the remainder of Melodi Grand Prix 2022 is as follows:

  • January 29 – Semi-Final Three
  • February 5 – Semi-Final Four
  • February 12 – Second Chance Round
  • February 19 – Grand Final

source: NRK

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news related to Norway’s participation in Eurovision 2022!

Spain: Rehearsals or Video Clips to be Used if Artists Test Positive for COVID-19!

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Three different scenarios have been announced in case an artist tests positive for COVID-19 at Benidorm Fest.

In a recent article, RTVE unveiled the contingency plan in case a competing artist turns out positive before appearing in the upcoming Spanish selection process Benidorm Fest.

The producers, Boomerang TV and the broadcaster, RTVE, have come up with three different scenarios to ensure that every song and artist will be able to compete in this year’s Benidorm Fest.

  • The first scenario is that if the artist has already completed his first rehearsal, it will be broadcast during the live show instead of a live performance.
  • Second, if the artist comes out positive before his first rehearsal, then the official music video for the song will be played.
  • The final scenario is that, if there is no music video, the song will be played with montage of images and photos of the artist.

It was announced by Eva Mora, head of the Spanish delegation, that it was not possible to produce live performances, such as those created for this year’s ESCZ selection process and the expected process of Northern Macedonia, due to lack of time.

The Benidorm Fest will be held with two semifinals on January 26 and 27, leading to the Grand Final on January 29. The songs and the artists have been revealed and the order of the two semifinals has also been decided and announced.

The voting:

Only eight artists will make it to the grand final of the Benidorm Fest. The result will be done through a mixed voting system between a professional jury (national and international), televoting and a poll jury:

  • 50% of the grade will correspond to the professional jury consisting of five experts (three of Spanish nationality and two, international).
  • The remaining 50% will be in the hands of the public (where 25% will be by phone and SMS and the remaining 25% will be selected by a poll jury).
  • The artists will be given a phone number and as soon as everyone completes the show, the hotlines will be open for voting. The voting period will be approximately 15 or 20 minutes and the presenters, Alaska, Inés Hernand and Máximo Huerta, will be responsible for the announcement.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all news regarding Benidorm Fest and the spanish representative at Eurovision 2022!

Source: RTVE

American Song Contest: The premiere of the competition has been postponed to March 21!

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The American television network NBC changed its program in the middle of the season, pushing back the premiere of the American Eurovision song contest in a month, from the previously announced Monday, February 21 (8-10 pm) on March 21. The show America’s Got Talent: Extreme, which made headlines last fall when a contestant was badly hurt in an on-set accident.

According to sources, the decision to delay the American Song Contest is made due to concerns about Covid-19 concerns amid the current Omicron surge as the series consists of live shows whose logistics could be difficult in the current wave of rampant infections nationwide.

The new date for the final of the first American Song Contest  seems to be on Monday May 9th, after the semifinals that will last eight weeks.

Behind the American Song Contest are American and Swedish producers – including, as we know, Christer Björkman, who successfully produced Melodifestivalen in Sweden for a long time until 2021. Entries from all the 50 States, Washington D.C., and the 5 Territories will be allocated into three qualifying rounds. The qualifiers will then proceed into the semi-finals and lastly those who will manage to get into the Grand Final will have to compete for the people’s vote to be crowned as the “Best Original Song” of America.

‘American Song Contest’ is executive produced by Audrey Morrissey, Anders Lenhoff, Christer Björkman, Peter Settman, Ola Melzig, and Gregory Lipstone alongside Propagate’s Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens.

The series is produced by Propagate in association with Universal Television Alternative Studio, a division of Universal Studio Group.

So the American Song Contest is officially here! What do you think? Will it has the success of Eurovision? Tell us in the comments.

Source: deadline.com

Vaccine Hallelujah! Mr. Lordi got fully vaccinated against covid

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Mr. Lordi took his second covid-vaccine in Rovaniemi, Finland.  The lead singer of the band Lordi and 2006 Eurovision winner got fully vaccinated in a public event.  The aim of this public event was to encourage more people to get their two doses of the vaccine.

Mr. Lordi was not the only Finnish celebrity participating in this campaign.  Santa Claus also announced that (due to his age) he had taken the second shot of the covid vaccine.  According to Markku Broas, Chief Physician of Infectious Diseases of the Lapland Hospital District (LSHP) the event was a success.  The number of people who attended the event to get their vaccine, in particular young people increased after the event.

They put a big needle in my arm, and that’s exactly why I came here. This was my second vaccine dose

Mr. Lordi also reflected on the effects of the pandemic.  Because of the ongoing pandemic Mr. Lordi “can no longer recall” how many times his band had to postpone or cancel tour dates.  However, he has been productive during this time.

Lordi has been working in Rovaniemi, Finland.  The Eurovision winners have recorded seven albums during the epidemic.

Source: Yle

Eurovision 2021: No COVID-19 infection was detected in the first mass event tests in the Netherlands!

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Pilot mass tests in the Netherlands began a few weeks ago, of course under strict health protocols and safety measures. In this first test that involved a theatrical performance, with 500 spectators present, as announced today, there was no case of COVID-19 detected.

The news was happily published on social media by the executive producer of this year’s Eurovision song contest, Sietse Bakker. Of course, as he says, this means absolutely nothing, but it is a first optimistic step for the whole field of mass events and of course Eurovision 2021 itself.

The Dutch Ministry of Health, since last year, had announced the holding of a series of pilot mass events, in order to investigate whether there is a spread of coronavirus in these events, when they take place under specific safety measures of the attendees.

The first pilot test took place in a theatrical performance, which was attended by 500 spectators. Of course as you will see in the photos that follow, everyone wore masks etc.

Of course, as Sietse Bakker rightly states in his post, although the above is a very positive development, it is the first step for holding mass events during the pandemic, and of course this also concerns the Eurovision song contest.

The Dutch will continue the pilot events until mid-March and any conclusions will be used and evaluated, in the decision of the government and the organizers, in the presence or absence of the public in May, at the Ahoy Arena.

The Test Schedule:

February 28: football match (1500 spectators)
March 6: dance event at Ziggo Dome (1300 attendees)
March 7: concert at the Ziggo Dome (1300 spectators)
March 13: dance festival (1500 attendees)
March 14: pop festival (1500 attendees)

In early March, the EBU and the Dutch organizers will announce the scenario according to which the 65th Eurovision Song Contest will be held. In other words, we will know if the artists will compete live on stage or through the recorded live on tape videos. Any decisions regarding the presence of the public will be taken later, specifically until April 15.

The course of the pandemic in the Netherlands, but also the latest news from these pilot trials at mass events, leave many smiles of optimism, for a contest, which at least in terms of artists, it will be with them competing and singing on stage and not through videos.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news related to the Eurovision 2021 song contest!

Eurovision 2021: Sietse Bakker “reveals” how the contest will be held | Will there be any audience?

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A literally last minute news. In a recent TV interview in the Netherlands, the executive producer of Eurovision 2021, Sietse Bakker, essentially reveals how the contest will take place.

According to Sietse Bakker, the primary concern of the organizers is to bring all the artists and delegations to Rotterdam in May.

Our priority is to bring all artists and expeditions to the Netherlands. If there is no other option, then the contest should be held without an audience.

Sietse Bakker, however, did not rule out the possibility of seeing the audience on the stands of the Ahoy Arena, he simply shifted the decisions for the presence or not of the audience in the arena for April!

Let’s postpone the decisions for the audience for later. Until mid-April.

Once again, the executive producer of Eurovision 2021 stated that the announcement of the scenario based on which the 65th Eurovision Song Contest will take place, will take place by mid-February.

The above means that the worst case scenario currently being considered is C, with the live presence of all the artists who can travel to Rotterdam and the absence of the audience. Apparently we will be late to find out if we finally see the colorful mosaic of fans in May at the Ahoy Arena.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments related to our favorite contest!