Pr emier SAPERE AUDE
Vol. 1
JUNE, 2021 ROTTERDAM ISSUE
Special acknowledgment to EBU and the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 Communications Team for this issue. - PMPH
IN THIS ISSUE
Rotterdam. Known to the world as Europe's largest seaport. The city has constantly been the cradle of discoveries and exciting developments, not only in trade and commerce but also for international events. Rotterdam Ahoy, the legendary venue and home to the recently concluded Eurovision Singing Contest 2021, has been a world-class venue offering infinite possibilities since 1971. Masters when it comes to creating events you won?t soon forget. Here you can dance, conduct business, sing at the top of your lungs, quietly enjoy yourself, and of course, cheer on others. At Rotterdam Ahoy, you live in the moment. It stands for an unprecedented past and an inspiring future. 2021 marks the 50th year of Rotterdam Ahoy, the more reasons we have for celebrating as we dedicate our June issue to Europe through a post-event issue of the Eurovision Singing Contest. And for those who are wanting to know the history and what ESC means to Europeans, this is your key to your cultural immersion.
ABOUT THE COVER Our cover is another brilliant creation of Florian Wieder, the Creative Producer and Production Designer of the Eurovision Singing Contest this year. His set design shows the connection between the sky, the sea and the land. The horizon is the link between these elements and that horizon works as a window that opens the world of Eurovision 2020-21. The floor plan of the decor was inspired by the canals and bridges that connect land and water in the Netherlands. With this design, they have brought the artists as close as possible to the public.
The Eurovision Song Contest history began as the brainchild of Marcel Bezenc?on of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union). The Contest was based on Italy's Sanremo Music Festival and was designed to test live television broadcast technology limits. The first Contest was held on 24 May 1956, when seven nations participated. With a live orchestra, the norm in the early years, and simple sing-along songs on every radio station, the Contest grew into a true pan-European tradition.
Marcel Bezençon, the founder of the Eurovision Song Contest. © Unknown
In the beginning, it was obvious to the participants that they should sing in their country's national language. However, as the Swedish entry in 1965, Absent Friend was sung in English, the EBU set stringent rules of the language in which the songs could be performed. National languages had to be used in all lyrics. Songwriters across Europe soon tagged onto the notion that success would only come if the judges could understand the content, resulting in such entries as BoomBang-A-Bang and La La La. In 1973, the rules on language use were relaxed, and in the following year, ABBA would win with Waterloo. That freedom of language rules would be soon reversed in 1977 to return to the apparent permanent status in the 1999 contest.
Th e vot in g syst em s u sed in t h e Con t est h ave ch an ged t h r ou gh ou t t h e year s. Th e m oder n syst em h as been in place sin ce 1975. Vot er s aw ar d a set of poin t s f r om 1 t o 8, t h en 10, an d f in ally 12 t o son gs f r om ot h er cou n t r ies ? w it h t h e f avor it e bein g aw ar ded t h e n ow -f am ou s t h ose poin t s. Hist or ically, a cou n t r y 's set of vot es w as decided by an in t er n al ju r y, bu t in 1997 f ive cou n t r ies exper im en t ed w it h t elevot in g, givin g m em ber s of t h e pu blic in t h ose cou n t r ies t h e oppor t u n it y t o vot e en m asse f or t h eir f avor it e son gs. Th e exper im en t w as a su ccess, an d f r om 1998 all cou n t r ies w er e en cou r aged t o u se t elevot in g w h er ever possible. Now adays, m em ber s of t h e pu blic m ay also vot e by SM S. Wh ich ever m et h od of vot in g is u sed ? ju r y, t eleph on e, or SM S ? cou n t r ies m ay n ot cast vot es f or t h eir ow n son gs.
Expan din g w it h Sem i-Fin als Th e en d of t h e Cold War in t h e ear ly 1990s led t o a su dden in cr ease in n u m ber s, w it h m an y f or m er East er n Bloc cou n t r ies qu eu in g u p t o com pet e f or t h e f ir st t im e. Th is pr ocess h as con t in u ed t o t h is day, w it h m or e an d m or e cou n t r ies join in g. For t h is r eason , in 2004, t h e Sem i-Fin al f or m at w as in t r odu ced by t h e EBU, w h ich t u r n ed in t o t w o Sem i-Fin als f or t h e Eu r ovision Son g Con t est in 2008. All cou n t r ies, except t h e 'Big Five' ? Fr an ce, Ger m an y, It aly, Spain , an d t h e Un it ed Kin gdom ? t oget h er w it h t h e h ost cou n t r y, m u st be in a Sem i-Fin al t op-10 t o qu alif y f or t h e Fin al. Af t er m or e t h an 65 year s, t h e Eu r ovision Son g Con t est is on e of t h e w or ld's biggest live TV en t er t ain m en t spect acles.
65 years and count ing In 2015, the Eurovision Song Contest celebrated its 60th anniversary. The BBC hosted a grand anniversary show in London, featuring over a dozen former participants. And to honour the country's Eurovision Song Contest commitment for over 30 years, the organisers admitted Australia to participate for the first time ever.
Photo Credit: Abba:The Complete Recording Sessions page
In 1973, t h e r u les on lan gu age u se w er e r elaxed, an d in t h e f ollow in g year , ABBA w ou ld w in w it h Wat er loo f or Sw eden .
Som e Du t ch ESC Hist or y Th e f ir st son g ever h ear d in t h e Eu r ovision Son g Con t est w as Jet t y Paer l?s ?De Vogels van Hollan d?in 1956. Th e Net h er lan ds w as t h e f ir st cou n t r y t o h ave t w o w in s u n der it s belt . Cor r y Br ok k en w on w it h ?Net Als Toen?in 1957 an d Teddy Sch olt en t ook f ir st place w it h ??n Beet je?. Th e Du t ch w in n er in 1975, Din g-A-Don g, w as also t h e f ir st son g t o be per f or m ed t h at year . An d t o t op of f t h ese ?f ir st s?: Du n can Lau r en ce?s w in n in g son g ?Ar cade?w as t h e f ir st w in af t er t h e Eu r ovision Son g Con t est in t r odu ced t h e n ew w ay of pr esen t in g t h e vot es.
Photo Credit: ESC
Open Up The 2021 Eurovision Song Contest branding is derived from last year?s style, with some familiar colors and shapes, but with a new outlook. In 2020 they focused on the contest?s history, creating the branding around the number of years countries participated. This year we focus on the original goal of the Eurovision Song Contest: unite all countries and celebrate with music.
The new data-driven logo designed by CLEVER°FRANKE visualizes all participants coming together in Rotterdam, Europe?s beating heart for this year?s Eurovision Song Contest. All parts of the symbol are made up of two colors of the flags of the participating countries. The country?s position is determined by the angle and distance from its capital to Rotterdam. MediaMonks joined the design team and added a new design system called the Track. It expands the flag-colored beams of the symbol to an ongoing pattern. This makes them look & feel more dynamic and suitable for all branding elements, from social media to merchandise and from city dressing to the spectacular shows. Why is ?Open Up?the theme? Open Up reflects what the Netherlands and its inhabitants stand for; a country with an open outlook to the world, where they speak their minds, with respect for each other. A theme that reflects the spirit of our times. With the slogan 'Open Up,? they warmly invite people to open up to others, to different opinions, each other's stories, and of course, to each other's music. Even though this slogan was conceived pre-pandemic, it turns out to be more relevant than ever: we're all desperately longing to Open Up... again. As long as we are connected by music, there are no boundaries.
Rotterdam: The Architecture
The Eurovision Song Contest is organized yearly by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), together with the Host Broadcaster and some 40 Participating Broadcasters. The contest is overseen by the Reference Group on behalf of the Participating Broadcasters. Each Participating Broadcaster is represented by a Head of Delegation.
e Capital of the Netherlands Rotterdam: The Architecture
All heads of delegation in Tel Aviv during the HoD meeting for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019. Photo Credit: STIJN SMULDERS
Rotterdam: The Architecture
The European Broadcast ing Union The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is the world?s leading alliance of public service media (PSM). They believe strong PSM is at the heart of democratic societies and are committed to championing and upholding its unique value at both a national and international level. They represent 116 member organizations in 56 countries in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East and have 33 associate PSM organizations in the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Australasia. EBU members operate almost 2,000 television, radio, and online channels and services and offer a wealth of content across other platforms. Together, the members reach audiences of more than one billion people worldwide, broadcasting in more than 160 languages. Th eir cam paign f or a su st ain able f u t u r e f or pu blic ser vice m edia pr ovides w or ld-class con t en t f r om n ew s t o spor t s an d m u sic an d bu ilt on t h eir f ou n din g et h os of solidar it y an d cooper at ion t o cr eat e a cen t er f or lear n in g an d sh ar in g. Their business arm, Eurovision Media Services, enables media organizations and sports federations to maximize their content value by producing and delivering relevant sport, news, and culture/entertainment content to the right audiences at the right time. Theemploys Erasmusbrug (Erasmus Bridge), and unveiled in the late 1990s. the resembles aatwell-shaped female in EBU 430 staff (permanent temporary positions) of bent over pylon 40 nationalities their headquarters leg. Less sexist viewers however might recognise elegant swam in the pylon which Moscow, explains itsNew nickname, Geneva and other worldwide branches and an subsidiaries (Beijing, Brussels, York, the Rome, Swan. Named after the famous Rotterdam Renaissance humanist Desiderius Erasmus ? yes, as in the Erasmus Singapore, and Washington DC). scholarships ? the 802m long bascule bridge was built to connect the regenerated Kop van Zuid Rotterdam Discover more about the EBU on www.ebu.ch. neighbourhood with the city centre.
e Capital of the Netherlands Rotterdam: The Architecture
The Erasmusbrug (Erasmus Bridge), unveiled in the late 1990s. the bent pylon resembles a well-shaped female leg. Less sexist viewers however might recognise an elegant swam in the pylon which explains its nickname, the Swan. Named after the famous Rotterdam Renaissance humanist Desiderius Erasmus ? yes, as in the Erasmus scholarships ? the 802m long bascule bridge was built to connect the regenerated Kop van Zuid Rotterdam neighbourhood with the city centre.
Europe welcomes Martin Österdahl, the new Photo Credit: Harold Wijnholds Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor
Martin Österdahl, a senior TV executive with 2 decades of experience, has been appointed Executive Supervisor for the Eurovision Song Contest and Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Martin was Executive Producer for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013 and 2016 when the event was hosted by Swedish EBU Member SVT in Malmö and Stockholm and was a member of the Reference Group between 2012 and 2018. The decision was made by the EBU Director of Media Jean Philip De Tender together with the Chair of the ESC Reference Group, the Contest?s governing board, ZDF?s Dr. Frank Dieter Freiling. ?Martin is the perfect candidate to continue and build on the exceptional work done by Jon Ola Sand over the past decade,? said EBU Director of Media Jean Philip De Tender. He continued: ?The Eurovision Song Contest has been transformed under Jon Ola?s guidance, setting new standards in world-class television production. Martin is a great creative talent and has invaluable experience from his work as Executive Producer of two exceptional Contests and numerous other successful entertainment shows. He is an excellent leader and storyteller, which is core for us to work closely with EBU Members to develop and grow the world?s largest live music event in the next decade and beyond.?
Rotterdam: The Architecture
Jon Ola will return to his native Norway to begin a new role at the head office of Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. Photo Credit: Thomas Hanses
"I've been working alongside Martin Österdahl for many years. First at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013 and then again in 2016 and the ESC Reference Group, Martin was a valued member for 7 years. I'm confident that the future of the Eurovision Song Contest is in very capable hands and that Martin is the right person to take this incredible show to the next level.? - Jon Ola.
The Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest oversees the preparation and organization of the event on behalf of the EBU. Together with their team, they provide the main point of contact for over 40 participating EBU Members and are in charge of the operation on their behalf, ensuring the Song Contest is delivered annually by the Host Broadcaster in accordance with the ESC rules.
The Eurovision Reference Group 2019 Photo Credit : EBU
Th e Ref er en ce Gr ou p is t h e Execu t ive Com m it t ee f or all M em ber s; it s pu r pose is t o con t r ol an d gu ide t h e Eu r ovision Son g Con t est . The Television Committee establishes the Reference Group, and its tasks include: approving the development and future format of the ESC; securing the financing of the ESC; modernizing the brand and raising awareness of the ESC; overseeing the yearly preparation by the Host Broadcaster. The Reference Group meets 4 to 5 times each year on behalf of all Participating Broadcasters and is required to take decisions in the general interest of the ESC. The Reference Group is composed of the following members: The Chairperson; 3 elected members from among the Heads of Delegations; 2 Executive Producers from previous host countries, as well as the Executive Producer of the current Host Broadcaster; Up to 2 invited members based on competence and experience The EBU Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor
The Eurovision Reference Group Ch air per son Dr . Fr an k -Diet er Fr eilin g Dr. Frank-Dieter Freiling from Germany is the Chairperson of the Reference Group of the Eurovision Song Contest. He has been in the field of media since 1987, when he started as a freelance journalist for the prestigious Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Over the last few years, he has been involved with international relations in the German broadcaster ZDF as the Director of International Affairs since 2000. ZDF is not a participating broadcaster of the Eurovision Song Contest in Germany (ARD/NDR is). It was considered an advantage to have a neutral Chairperson when electing him in 2009. M em ber s Ayala M izr ach i (Depu t y Execu t ive Pr odu cer 2019) Ayala Mizrachi works for Israeli broadcaster KAN. Car la Bu galh o (Execu t ive Pr odu cer 2018) Carla Bugalho from RTP was the Deputy Executive Producer/Show Producer of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest and joined the Reference Group following Portugal's victory. David Tser u n yan David is the Armenian Head of Delegation for the Eurovision Song Contest and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. He is a producer at Armenian public broadcaster AMPTV. He is also part of the Steering Group of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. In ge van de Weer d (Execu t ive Pr odu cer TV 2020) Inge van de Weerd has been working at NOS since 1995 and, for more than 10 years, has been Executive Producer on NOS productions for Prince's Day, parliamentary elections, and National Commemorations. She was also involved in major national events such as the Royal Wedding of Willem-Alexander and Maxima and promotions for Giro555. From 2007 to 2009, she acted as Head of Delegation for the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest. Rach el Ash dow n (appoin t ed m em ber ) In the BBC Entertainment Commissioning, Rachel works where her projects include the Eurovision Song Contest selection show and several BBC1 Saturday night Entertainment night series, including All Together Now. Before joining the BBC, she was a freelance Executive Producer specializing in Entertainment Series and Events. Rachel was appointed to become a member in 2018. The Reference Group has the ability to invite up to 2 extra professionals to join the group.
Sin ce 2008, t h e w in n er of t h e Eu r ovision Son g Con t est t ak es h om e t h e icon ic glass m icr oph on e. Th is t r oph y is a cu st om design specially cr eat ed f or Eu r ovision . Th e u n iqu e h an d-m ade piece of ar t in t h e sh ape of a classic m icr oph on e is m ade of solid, t r an spar en t glass w it h san dblast ed an d pain t ed det ailin g.
Ret o Per it z (elect ed m em ber ) Reto Peritz works for Swiss broadcaster SRF and serves as Head of Delegation. Aleksander Radic (elected member) Aleksander Radic has been involved with the Eurovision Song Contest for many years in the Slovenian delegation. He worked at the Slovenian EBU Member RTVSLO and was re-elected for the second time to the Reference Group in 2017 for a 2-year term. Yu val Coh en (Cr eat ive Dir ect or 2019) Yuval Cohen from Israel has rich experience developing, editing, and directing leading television productions and live events. Serving as Head of Programmes and Development in recent years at Channel Ten (10), he is a valued professional who has been in charge of the Israeli adaptation of The Voice (as Chief Director and Editor), has edited Dancing with the Stars for 3 years, made the Israeli Eurovision National Selection in 2010 (Harel Skaat) on Channel 2 (Reshet), and has worked on a variety of live tv events. In addition, Cohen previously served as Reshet's Editor in Chief for a variety of productions and genres, including drama, entertainment, and reality programming, and has served as the Chief Editor of Gil Productions, an Israeli private leading production company, where he also directed and edited the highly successful docu-reality Baby Boom. M ar t in Öst er dah l (EBU r epr esen t at ive) Martin Österdahl from Sweden is the Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest. He superseded Jon Ola Sand, who was the Executive Supervisor from 2011 to 2020. Österdahl was previously Programme Director and Commissioner of Entertainment & Sport at SVT, where he was responsible for many of their highest rating primetime shows and supervising live productions such as The Nobel Prize Ceremony and 2010 Royal Wedding. He has extensive international experience in the music and media industries, having also worked in the UK, Russia, the USA, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway. Martin has written novels that have been translated into 10 languages. His non-fiction work includes management literature on project leadership. --
2020 and 2021 Execut ive Producer Siet se Bakker looks back and forw ard Th e cor e t eam f or t h e Eu r ovision Son g Con t est 2021 w as an n ou n ced in M ay. Ju st lik e last year , t h e cor e t eam con sist s of t w o Execu t ive Pr odu cer s an d t w o Depu t y Execu t ive Pr odu cer s. We sh ar e t h is in t er view post ESC w it h Siet se Bak k er , on e of t h e Execu t ive Pr odu cer s, t o per spect ive w h at w en t on du r in g t h e 2020 'Eu r ovision : Eu r ope Sh in e A Ligh t ' an d pr e Eu r ovision 2021. Premier Magazine Philippines shares this interview from the official Eurovision Song Contest website. Sietse Bakker has been reappointed as Executive Producer. Inge van de Weerd has chosen to resign as Astrid Dutrénit, who has worked at NOS since 2003, will fill the vacant position. Dutrénit graduated from the School of Journalism in Bordeaux and the Institut Francais de Presse in Paris. In the Netherlands, she followed a Master Film & Television at the UVA in Amsterdam. As a Senior Producer, she has been production responsible for major events in recent years, including ten years for the programs around the Tour de France, the European Athletics Championships (2016), and the Sports Gala (2011 - 2018). In addition, in her work at the NOS, she has frequently collaborated with the EBU. Emilie Sickinghe (AVROTROS) and Jessica Stam (NOS) have also been reappointed as Deputy Executive Producers. We met with Sietse Bakker to reflect on the contest's cancellation, talk about 'Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light,' and find out what to expect for Rotterdam 2021. Executive Producer and return to the NOS Events department, which will have a busy year ahead. On M ar ch 18, t h e Eu r ovision Son g Con t est 2020 w as can celed. Can you t ak e u s t h r ou gh t h at day an d w h at h appen ed beh in d t h e scen es? We knew the EBU's decision to cancel the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 would likely come that day, so we were prepared. It was still tough because we had to inform our team? a tough message to bring to people who had worked on it for so many months. Especially since, due to the social distancing measures already in place, people were working from home. So we chose to bring across the bad news more personally via a video message. You an d you r t eam w er e w or k in g lon g days an d exper ien cin g t h e r oller coast er t h at is t h e lead-u p t o Eu r ovision w h en su dden ly it cam e t o a h alt . Wh at w as t h e im pact of t h e can cellat ion on you an d you r t eam ? I think it has been hard on everyone, but at the same time, we all realized that the world was, and in many ways still is, in a pretty rough place. Our drama was relatively small compared to other things that are going on. When we decided to produce Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light, part of the team quickly shifted gears from sadness to positively looking forward, eager to make something special.
Can you t ell u s m or e abou t t h at ? A lot of f an s w er e lef t w on der in g w h y t h er e w asn't a com pet it ion in 2020. One of the first considerations we had was obviously about the 41 artists that would have taken part. They put their heart and soul into their performance. They were going to have what may have been the most important 3 minutes of their career on that stage, and that dream was suddenly falling apart. We knew we had to find a way to honor them all in one show, which we ended up doing with Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light. We did ask ourselves whether we could still do some competition and talked about that at length with the EBU. But in the end, a competition comes down to fairness and creating a level playing field, which you do best by putting all of the performers on the same stage with the same possibilities in terms of LED content, cameras, and special effects. You cannot possibly create that by letting contestants perform alone from a studio in their own country or by comparing music videos. It is not a fair competition, and it's not the competition the artists signed up for.
Astrid Dutrénit joins the Eurovision 2021 core team as one of the two Executive Producers ; Photo Credit: NOS / STEFAN HEIJDENDAEL How did Eu r ovision : Eu r ope Sh in e A Ligh t com e t oget h er in ju st 7 w eek s? Wh at w er e som e of t h e ch allen ges you f aced w h en cr eat in g it ? The idea to do it was already there, I think, 2 days after the cancellation. We brought it to the EBU, and we were ver y h appy that so many broadcasters, including the 41 participating broadcasters of the 2020 Contest, decided to show it on TV. It was tough to produce the show. People couldn't produce TV as easily as normal, considering the strict social distancing policies and often working remotely. We had to find a big studio large enough to produce the show while respecting the regulations. Luckily we had Studio 21 right here in Hilversum, just around the corner from our office, which was perfectly suitable for an event like this.
You m ade a pr ogr am f or all of Eu r ope, bu t t h e Covid-19 cr isis im pact ed each cou n t r y so dif f er en t ly. Wit h t h in gs so u n clear an d u n k n ow n , h ow did you appr oach t h e pr oject w it h t h is in m in d? When we started the process, we had 2 major challenges. First, we didn't know what Europe would look like on May 16: Would the situation get better? Would it get worse? And we didn't know what the situation was going to be like from country to country. Some countries got hit very hard by the coronavirus and the measures to contain it. Other countries were hit as well, but not as hard as, for example, Italy or Spain. We thought it was important to find a tone of voice that would suit all countries that would broadcast the show, regardless of what the world would look like that day.
In t h e en d, t h e sh ow w as in cr edibly w ell-r eceived! Wh at w as you r per son al h igh ligh t of Eu r ovision : Eu r ope Sh in e A Ligh t ? For us, as a team, we enjoyed producing every minute of the show. We really enjoyed producing the performance of Love Shine A Light, together with the participants of 2020 and, fortunately, Katrina and her dog at the end. We also really enjoyed creating the light a landmark item, for which we asked broadcasters across Europe to light up famous landmarks in their countries. We also asked the musicians of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra to play, all from home, a beautiful orchestral performance of Love Shine A Light. For us, that was truly remarkable because that piece really gave us that sense of European togetherness the Eurovision Song Contest always creates. A highlight for many fans was the announcement of Rotterdam 2021. Wh en did you m ak e t h e f in al decision t o h ost t h e Con t est ? Actually, the decision was taken only a few days before the announcement! Fortunately, the City of Rotterdam confirmed very early on they were eager to host it again. They also made available the financial resources and the Ahoy venue, where the Contest will take place. We also had a lot of homework to do to come to that decision: To secure the budget, gather the team and our key suppliers... Above all, we had to consider whether we could hold the Contest no matter the circumstances next year. Together with the EBU, we will use the next few weeks and months to prepare all sorts of scenarios in detail. The final decision, which had to be taken by the NPO board, was taken just a couple of days before Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light, and we thought that the live show was a natural moment to announce it.
Th e Con t est w as can celed qu it e lat e in t h e pr ocess. How does t h at af f ect t h e year ah ead? Because the Contest was canceled in mid-March, a lot of the work was already done. A lot of it was even presented during the Heads of Delegation meeting the week before. Think of building the team, finding the best suppliers, building the stage, the overall creative concept, the branding, the slogan; that's all been done. In the next few months, we will think of which of those elements we want to take with us to 2021 and what we want to rethink. We want to make a show that fits with the spirit of 2021, and we want to surprise people again! Can w e expect t o see t h e sam e slogan in 2021? Whether we will use Open Up as a slogan for next year is yet to be decided, but it feels very relevant, especially in these times. I'm actually curious what readers think from home - maybe you can let us know in the comments: Should we keep Open Up, or should we try something different? Wh at does t h e can cellat ion of 2020 an d t h e an n ou n cem en t of 2021 m ean f or t h e cit y of Rot t er dam ? The first time I came to Rotterdam after they applied to be the host city, they told us a story from 80 years ago when the city was destroyed in a bombardment. They recalled that they gathered the best architects to rebuild their city center and rethink what it would look like in just a matter of days. And while I don't want to compare that at all, it does show that Rotterdam has a remarkable ability to get back up when times are tough. And that was reflected in their commitment to the Contest when they applied last year and when it got canceled. It would mean a lot to Rotterdam to host this Contest - they're incredibly eager, and I know they cannot wait to welcome the delegations, press, and fans to Rotterdam next year. M an y f an s m ay be w on der in g: Am I able t o at t en d t h e Eu r ovision Son g Con t est in 2021? Wh at is you r r espon se t o t h at ? I think the last few months showed us that it is tough to predict the future. Who would have known that we would end up in this situation just half a year ago? It's also hard to predict what the future will be like, but we are optimistic. We will work hard in the next few weeks and months, together with the EBU and the City of Rotterdam, to develop scenarios to make sure that next year there will be a Eurovision Song Contest! What the Contest will look like is almost impossible to say. Still, I can say this: At the heart of the Eurovision Song Contest are music, the artists, the fans, the interaction between them and, whatever the situation is like next year, we will find a way to make that interaction happen. And, hopefully, we will be able to get everyone to Rotterdam to make the Eurovision Song Contest better than ever and celebrate stronger than ever. Let 's t alk abou t Jon Ola San d, t h e Execu t ive Su per visor of t h e Eu r ovision Son g Con t est . How w as you r collabor at ion w it h h im an d t h e EBU over t h e last year an d, especially, over t h e last f ew w eek s? It's been a great collaboration since the Netherlands won the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv. He's been very supportive of us all along and has visited us many times. I've been on the phone with him several times a week, and he has been particularly supportive over the last few months as it got tough. At the same time, we felt sorry because we knew that this would be his last year at the Eurovision Song Contest, and it would have been great to give him a spectacular Eurovision Song Contest as sort of a goodbye gift. Circumstances made that difficult, but we hope that Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light was a worthy goodbye for him. We'll definitely miss him, and we wish him all the best in the future.
The Producers of ESC20/ 21 : Above: Sietse Bakker - Executive Producer; Astrid Dutrénit - Executive Producer; Emilie Sickinghe - Deputy Executive Producer; Jessica Stam - Deputy Executive Producer - Photo Credit: STIJN SMULDERS
Th is is t h e on ly Eu r ovision Son g Con t est t h at h as 2 year s of pr epar at ion t im e. To w h at ext en t is t h at advan t age, an d h ow w ill it im pr ove t h e sh ow f u r t h er ? As a public broadcaster, when you win the Eurovision Song Contest, you want to make the best Eurovision Song Contest ever. You want to do better than the previous year. So to have 2 years to prepare for the Contest feels like an advantage, but what that advantage will bring us is impossible to say now. I can answer that question next year, hopefully! I know this: A lot of work has been done, and a lot of knowledge has been gathered. We have learned a lot over the last year, but I also know that the year ahead will be challenging. We have to work out different scenarios; we have to think of how we can make the Contest happen no matter what. So it brings with it new challenges, but the ambition to make it happen and make the best Contest to date, that ambition is definitely still there.
Meet the Hosts
The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 will be hosted by Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley, Jan Smit and Nikkie de Jager (better known as NikkieTutorials). Chantal Janzen is a famous actress and presenter, Edsilia Rombley a presenter, singer and two-time Eurovision participant; Jan Smit is a successful singer, presenter and Eurovision commentator for the Netherlands and Nikkie de Jager is a professional hair & makeup artist and beauty guru with over 13 million subscribers on YouTube. ?When deciding on hosts, we first and foremost chose 4 people with a great deal of stage experience. Three of them also happen to have started their career as singers,? says Sietse Bakker, Executive Producer Event of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 will be hosted by Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley, Jan Smit and Nikkie de Jager (better known as NikkieTutorials). Chantal Janzen is a famous actress and presenter, Edsilia Rombley a presenter, singer and two-time Eurovision participant, Jan Smit is a successful singer, presenter and Eurovision commentator for the Netherlands and Nikkie de Jager is a professional hair & makeup artist and beauty guru with over 13 million subscribers on YouTube. ?When deciding on hosts, we first and foremost chose 4 people with a great deal of stage experience. Three of them also happen to have started their career as singers,? says Sietse Bakker, Executive Producer Event of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 will be hosted by Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley, Jan Smit and Nikkie de Jager (better known as NikkieTutorials). Chantal Janzen is a famous actress and presenter, Edsilia Rombley a presenter, singer and two-time Eurovision participant, Jan Smit is a successful singer, presenter and Eurovision commentator for the Netherlands and Nikkie de Jager is a professional hair & makeup artist and beauty guru with over 13 million subscribers on YouTube. ?When deciding on hosts, we first and foremost chose 4 people with a great deal of stage experience. Three of them also happen to have started their career as singers,? says Sietse Bakker, Executive Producer Event of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.
Rotterdam made it
The host city of Eurovision Singin
Rotterdam is a young, dynamic metropolis that keeps developing rapidly. Here you will find sparkling skyscrapers, an impressive port, hip restaurants, food markets, renowned museums, and many surprising hotspots and initiatives. It is considered the most modern city in the Netherlands. Internationally renowned for their passion for innovation and unpolished charm.
happen
ng Contest 2021
Well known for its port, which is the largest in Europe, Rotterdam has seen many changes in recent years. New icons now grace the city?s skyline, including The Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, De Rotterdam and the new Central Station. Amidst all those imposing high-rise towers, creative entrepreneurs blazed new trails, pioneering an exciting cultural environment that has been widely acclaimed in the international media.
Rotterdam: Architecture Ca
The Erasmusbrug (Erasmus Bridge), unveiled in the late 1990s. The bent pylon resembles a well-shaped female leg. However, some viewers might recognize an elegant swan in the pylon, which explains its nickname, the Swan. Named after the famous Rotterdam Renaissance humanist Desiderius Erasmus ? yes, as in the Erasmus scholarships ? the 802m long bascule bridge was built to connect the regenerated Kop van Zuid Rotterdam neighborhood with the city center.
Photo Credit: Harold Wijnholds
apital of The Netherlands
The great diversity in people, their dreams and ambitions, makes Rotterdam a city rich in subcultures. It has shaped their art scene, food culture, nightlife, streets, neighborhoods, and the entrepreneurial spirit of the business community. In Rotterdam, this diversity comes together to create a unique urban vibe and experience not to be missed. A progressive city full of new, challenging initiatives, Rotterdam?s dynamics invite you to discover the city again and again.
The largest building in Europe, De Rotterdam This skyscraper is meant as a ? city within a city. And yes, it is spacious enough to fulfill that intention. At the same time, 5000 people live and work in it. Therefore this vertical city is the most densely populated part of the Netherlands. De Rotterdam is located on the south bank of the river Maas. As Europe?s largest building, it can hardly be missed.
"The first time I came to Rotterdam after they applied Rotterdam: Architecture to be the host city, they told us a story from 80 years ago when the city was destroyed in a bombardment. They recalled that they gathered the best architects to rebuild their city center and rethink what it would look like in just a matter of days. And while I don't want to compare that at all, it does show that Rotterdam has a remarkable ability to get back up when times are tough." - Sietse Bakker, Executive Producer - Eurovision Singing Contest 2020 - 21
De Rotterdam Building , Modern Dutch art Besides office spaces, the 44-story building contains residential apartments, restaurants, and cafes. Thenhow Rotterdam hotelis also part of it. In 2014, it was awarded as?Best tall building in Europe?. The Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) praised the new building for illustrating the ?experimentalism of modern Dutch art.? And because? its mass is broken down into three interconnected mixed-use towers.? Robust but not bulky, so to say. De Rotterdam is an OMA/Rem Koolhaas design. Although this leading international architect firm operates all over the world, this was a so-called home match. Koolhaas designed these three glazed towers for his home base. The city where he was born.
Photo Credit: Harold Wijnholds
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Rotterdam embraces experiments of all kinds: nearly everything is possible here. There?s a rooftop city garden and a music festival at the docks. And how about an exclusive rooftop bar or a brewery in an old warehouse? Do you want to visit a floating farm? Or rather an old swimming pool magically transformed into a laboratory of the future where you can eat oyster mushrooms cultivated on coffee grounds? They are exciting places that show how Rotterdam is developing into a resilient city and society by constantly anticipating the future.
Symmetric Cube House. Built in the early 1980s by Piet Blom, the bright yellow Cube Houses make for a quirky architectural gem. Envisioning the Cube Houses as trees, he called the collection of buildings the Blaakse Bos. Blaak being the Rotterdam neighbourhood they?re located in and bos meaning forest. Home to creative and open-minded residents, the collection of Cube Houses consists of 38 homes and a hostel. Photo Credit: Adrien Milcent
The Red Apple is accentuated in Rotterdam?s skyline by its ?red striped?façade pattern. The tower reveals the red bands as vertical lines which decrease in width towards the top to support its slender appearance. Horizontal layers define the block building. The red bands are formed by aluminum panels which gain their color through anodizing without any other color treatment. In the tower, they contain the load-bearing structure of the façade and adapt in width to the increasing load towards street level. The lifestyle concept and interior have been developed in cooperation with designer Jan des Bouvrie. With a great diversity of residences in intimate urban surroundings, The Red Apple satisfies the demands of modern lifestyles. Photo Credit: Dylan Leagh
Rotterdam is a city that combines bold statements about architecture, urban development, and design with radical grass-roots projects. Enjoy a saunter around the Markthal, the spectacular indoor market that is a feast for both foodies and architecture aficionados. Or lose your way in one of the many old dockland areas that will hopefully soon be home to a lively nightlife again, such as the Katendrecht peninsula.
Market Hall, Rotterdam, Netherlands Photo Credit: Mike van den Bos
At a historical location at the Binnenrotte, next to Blaak Station and the largest weekly open-air fresh food and hardware market in Rotterdam, the first covered market of the Netherlands was realized. Markthal includes a huge market floor on the ground floor under an arch of apartments. Its shape, its colorful interior, and height turn Markthal into a unique spectacle. Unique is not only its shape and size but especially the way the different functions are combined. The combination of an apartment building covering a fresh food market with food shops, restaurants, a supermarket, and underground parking is found nowhere else in the world. Sustainability Markthal received a BREEAM Very Good certificate. The building is connected to city heating and a thermal storage system underneath the building, which will also heat and cool several adjacent buildings in the surrounding area. The various functions in the building can exchange heat and cold energy use.
The Witte Huis or White House is a skyscraper and built in 1898 in the Art Nouveau style. The Europe when it was built. The building is listed 10-story building at the time at an unprecedent and includes two thick interior walls to increas not a significant construction material due to Rotterdam to survive the German bombing cam Photo Credit: Mike van den Bos
in Rotterdam, Netherlands, inspired by American office buildings building is 43 m (141 ft) tall, with 10 floors, and was the tallest in d as a Rijksmonument. The architect W Molenbroek designed the ted height in Europe. It is constructed from iron, steel, and cement se strength. Unlike many other contemporary buildings, wood was o the fear of fire. It was also one of the few buildings in central mpaigns of World War II.
Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam Design: MVRDV, architects Location: Museumpark, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, the first publicly accessible art depot in the world designed by MVRDV, has completed construction. Located in Rotterdam?s Museumpark, the depot features a new type of experience for museum visitors: a sturdy engine room where the complete collection of 151,000 objects is made accessible to the public.
In addition to the various storage and care areas, the depot has a restaurant and an award-winning rooftop forest. The construction completion paves the way for interior furnishings and the long process of moving the museum?s complete collection into their new storage facility.
Photo Credit: Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen © Ossip van Duivenbode
A few years in a row, inhabitants were allowed to present energizing projects. Projects that enrich the quality of Rotterdam urban life. Each year, the town council promised a financial contribution for the best proposal. The ?Luchtsingel?(translated:?elevated walkway?) came out as a favorite among locals. This eye-catching structure got 48% of the citizen?s votes. The winning project came from architects collective ZUS, Zones Urbaines Sensibles. They believe every place has the potential to become thrilling and unique. Their proposal was focused on the revitalization of a forgotten Rotterdam urban area. A central part of the city that for years was dominated by neglection and vacancy. Before the election, the Luchtsingel was already in progress as a crowdfunding project. Individuals and companies bought shelves to support this initiative. Those planks were actually used in the final construction, with the names of the sponsors notable engraved.
It is hard to capture the full flavor of Rotterdam in words alone. This is a city of frontrunners, pioneers, and people with the courage and the will to drive change. As such, it is always on the move, always evolving, even as you read this. That makes Rotterdam a city you have to explore and experience for yourself. Bold, lively, diverse, and constantly reinventing itself. An international city with an open culture where everyone is welcome. A safe and accessible city for tourists where almost everyone speaks English. The compact city center makes it easy to get around on foot or the excellent public transport system. Rotterdam?s strategic location means it?s literally connected to Europe and the world.
In the meantime, the Luchtsingel walkway has become a place of interest itself. The yellow walkway is a real attraction for citizens and tourists. Thousands of people have already photographed it.
New York-inspired architecture About thirty years ago, Dutch architect Abe Bonnema designed a multi-tenant urban retreat. His design was clearly inspired by the innovative architecture of metropolises like London and New York. Until 2009 this ?glass and steel construction?was the highest office building in The Netherlands. Recently, the lower four floors have been completely reshaped. After serving as a home base for insurance company Nationale Nederlanden, nowadays, the Delftse Poort building also offers various facilities to entrepreneurs and visitors. Exactly like architect Bonnema intended, right from the start .A signature city icon of glass and steel. Delftse Poort building is located right in the heart of Rotterdam.
The Euromast was built in 1960. It was intended as a public attraction in honor of the first World Flower Exhibition. Architect Huig Aart Maaskant provided this Floriade tower with a replica of a ship?s bridge, where people could experience navigation of a sea-going vessel. This part of the tower was fixed at 32 meters. The crow?s nest, steel construction of 240,000 kilograms, was first assembled at the foot of the mast. Then it was reconstructed to its current position at 96 meters. From the start, the Euromast was a public attraction at height and a maritime landmark for the international seaport of Rotterdam.
The Eurovision Song Contest may have been canceled for 2020, but that doesn?t mean Europeans didn't have cheesy pop fun. Netflix has released the film ?Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga? in June 2020 to keep the spirit light. The trailer, in fact, was actually just the song ?Volcano Man? from the then-upcoming film, but the tongue-in-cheek style will give you an idea of what to expect. The film stars Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Pierce Brosnan, Dan Stevens, and Demi Lovato. To date, Netflix is currently airing the film as they ride on the hype brought about by the success of the ESC2021 last May 2021.
Pu blic br oadcast er s f r om 41 cou n t r ies par t icipat ed in t h e Eu r ovision Son g Con t est w h en t h e w or ld?s biggest live m u sic r et u r n ed last M ay. Follow in g t h e can cellat ion of t h e 2020 even t , t h e 65t h Con t est , or gan ized by t h e Eu r opean Br oadcast in g Un ion (EBU) an d it s Du t ch M em ber s NPO, NOS an d AVROTROS, w as h eld at Rot t er dam ?s Ah oy Ar en a on 18, 20 an d 22 M ay 2021.
M ar t in Öst er dah l, t h e Execu t ive Su per visor of t h e Eu r ovision Son g Con t est , said bef or e t h e gr an d f in al: ?We ar e gr at ef u l f or t h e com m it m en t of t h e 41 par t icipat in g br oadcast er s in h elpin g u s br in g t h e Eu r ovision Son g Con t est back in 2021. We h ave t h e sam e lin eu p of cou n t r ies t h at w ou ld h ave com pet ed in 2020, an d w e ar e t h r illed t h at t h ey h ave r et u r n ed. Toget h er w it h ou r h ost br oadcast er s, w e ar e developin g t h e 4 dif f er en t scen ar ios an d m ain t ain in g a dialogu e w it h all par t icipan t s. Th e t eam f r om NPO, NOS, an d AVROTROS ar e w or k in g h ar d on en su r in g t h e Eu r ovision Son g Con t est w ill pr ovide t h e excit em en t an d in n ovat ion expect ed by over 180 m illion view er s, despit e t h e ch allen gin g cir cu m st an ces.?
Elena Tsagrinou The glamorous and multi-talented Elena Tsagrinou is one of the most recognizable pop stars across Greece and Cyprus, has Europe dancing the night away with her massive banger 'El Diablo'! All about Elena: https://eurovision.tv/participant/elena-tsagrinou-2021 El Diablo: https://youtu.be/mk4amZlPa4g
Albania's Anxhela Peristeri is not only an established singer but a songwriter and model too! After finding success in X Factor Greece, Your Face Sounds Familiar, and Kënga Magjike, Anxhela won the Albanian ticket to #ESC2021 with the dramatic ballad 'Karma'! https://eurovision.tv/participant/anxhela-peristeri-2021 Karma: https://youtu.be/Q4D_RfEFwd4
Eden Alen e Eden Alen e?s r oot s st r et ch f r om h er bir t h place, Jer u salem , t o h er m ot h er ?s h om e cou n t r y, Et h iopia. Sh e's n o st r an ger t o big TV sh ow s, h avin g t ak en par t in bot h Th e X Fact or an d Th e Risin g St ar ...oh , an d sh e w on bot h ! All abou t Eden : h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / eden -alen e-2021 Set M e Fr ee: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ 9n ss3Fsr gJo
Hooverphonic Going strong for 25 years, Belgian band Hooverphonic has blurred the lines between symphonic soundscapes and highly infectious pop tunes. Their music has been put to good use in movies, television shows, and commercials across the globe, so you've likely heard some of their work already! https://eurovision.tv/participant/hooverphonic-2021 The Wrong Place: https://youtu.be/0EQyG1Yjlgw
Dest in y w on t h e Ju n ior Eu r ovision Son g Con t est f or M alt a in 2015. Sin ce t h en , it 's been h er am bit ion t o appear on t h e r egu lar Eu r ovision st age an d br in g an ot h er t r oph y h om e f or t h e islan d n at ion ! For #ESC2021, Team M alt a em bar k ed on a m ission t o cr eat e a m oder n u pt em po w it h t h at f eel-good f act or , an d t h e dan cef loor f iller 'Je M e Casse' r esu lt ed. All abou t Dest in y: h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / dest in y-2021 Je M e Casse: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ PQKiHr 5qEf A
Open Up t o M an izh a an d h er ar t -pop st yle of m ixin g ban gin g beat s w it h social com m en t ar y an d an u n com pr om isin g DIY et h os. M an izh a bak es in st r on g social m essagin g abou t self -love an d body posit ivit y; w om en?s an d ch ildr en?s r igh t s; an d n at ion al, cu lt u r al, an d sexu al iden t it y; an d above all else, t oler an ce. ? ? M or e on M an izh a: h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / m an izh a-2021 Ru ssian Wom an : h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ l01w a2Ch X64
Fou n ded in 2010, Por t u gal's Th e Black M am ba t r aver ses a u n iver se of dif f er en t st yles, in clu din g blu es, sou l, an d f u n k . Lead sin ger Tat an k a w r ot e 'Love Is On M y Side' f ollow in g an in spir at ion al t r ip t o Am st er dam an d is excit ed t o see t h e son g t r avel back h om e t o t h e Net h er lan ds. All abou t Th e Black M am ba: h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / t h e-black -m am ba-2021 Love Is On M y Side: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ 2h Alp3Kh sn k .
As w it h m ost t r opical cyclon es, Ser bia's Hu r r ican e w as f or m ed in t h e Car ibbean , w h er e m em ber s San ja Vu ?i?, Ivan a Nik oli?, an d Ksen ija Kn e?evi? m et in 2017. Th ey say t h eir #ESC2021 son g celebr at es t h at w e'r e all a lit t le bit loco som et im es, an d h ow best t o r epr esen t t h is t h an w it h a m u sic video set in a disco ju n gle t eem in g w it h glit t er balls an d bat h t u bs? All abou t Hu r r ican e: h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / h u r r ican e-2021 Loco Loco: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ FSTM z-_k bVQ
He's a m u lt i-plat in u m sellin g, Br it Aw ar d-w in n in g, an d Gr am m y-n om in at ed son gw r it er ! Open u p t o Jam es New m an an d 'Em ber s,' h is Eu r ovision 2021 son g f or t h e Un it ed Kin gdom All abou t Jam es: h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / jam es-n ew m an -2021 Em ber s: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ BM DGTsa_Qq0
St ef an ia is a Gr eek -Du t ch sin ger , act r ess, an d You Tu ber , w h o h as been per f or m in g sin ce a ver y you n g age w it h a h ear t bor n in n eon ligh t s. Sh e'll r epr esen t Gr eece w it h t h e 80s-in f lu en ced Last Dan ce! All abou t St ef an ia: h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / st ef an ia-2021 Last Dan ce: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ Er 06NBWo4bs
Sw it zer lan d's Gjon M u h ar r em aj h as dedicat ed h is sou l t o m u sic sin ce h e w as lit t le, bu t h e also h as a passion f or an t iqu es an d t h eat er . His st age n am e w as bor n w h en h is r en dit ion of Elvis Pr esley ?s Can?t Help Fallin g In Love Wit h You m oved h is gr an df at h er t o t ear s. ? ? h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / gjon s-t ear s-2021 Tou t L Un iver s: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ bpM 6o6UiBIw
Daði og Gagn am agn ið! As an ar t ist w h o en joys obsessin g over an d dissect in g t h e in t r icat e cr af t of t h e t h r ee-m in u t e pop son g, Daði Fr eyr is a k een st u den t of t h e f ascin at in gly diver se an n u al explosion of pop t h at is t h e #Eu r ovision Son g Con t est . h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / dadi-og-gagn am agn id-2021 10 Year s: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ ORDK1XQToAY
Blas Cantó After so many near misses, Spain's Blas will finally get his time to shine on the #Eurovision stage this month! Talking about his big moment, he said, "I dreamt of singing in the Eurovision Song Contest since I was a child." ? ? All about Blas Cantó: https://eurovision.tv/participant/blas-canto-2021 Voy A Quedarme: https://youtu.be/qb5FXBwSx44
Nat alia Gor dien k o! M oldova's " Su gar Lady " is n o st r an ger t o #Eu r ovision , r epr esen t in g h er cou n t r y in 2006 alon gside Ar sen ie Todir a? (on ce of boyban d O-Zon e, f am ed f or t h eir sm ash h it Dr agost ea Din Tei)! Now , 15 year s lat er , sh e's back f or an ot h er slice of Eu r ovision cak e w it h h er sw eet sym ph on y Su gar ! All abou t Nat alia: h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / n at alia-gor dien k o-2021 Su gar : h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ 1zvn svxA3t o
Som e m u sician s spen d year s sear ch in g f or t h eir sign at u r e in st r u m en t , bu t Jen dr ik f ou n d h is in t h e h an ds of h is lit t le sist er , w h o?d r eceived t h e t in y f ou r -st r in ged lu t e as a bir t h day pr esen t . Fast f or w ar d, an d n ow h e's t ak in g t h e h at er s dow n w it h h is son g f or Ger m an y at #ESC2021! All abou t Jen dr ik : h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / jen dr ik -sigw ar t -2021 I Don't Feel Hat e: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ ydgxZn HFLi4
VICTORIA's dist in ct ive voice an d st yle posit ion h er as on e of t h e m ost pr om isin g n ew ar t ist s in Bu lgar ia. Her #ESC2021 son g 'Gr ow in g Up Is Get t in g Old' t ells of a jou r n ey t o self -im pr ovem en t by r evisit in g you r r oot s an d t h e places you f eel saf e. Bio: h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / vict or ia-2021 Gr ow in g Up Is Get t in g Old: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ qM NxCzu EdVM
Blin d Ch an n el! Havin g h on ed t h eir cr af t on t h e Fin n ish u n der gr ou n d scen e, t h e ban d believes t h e t im e h as f in ally com e f or t h em t o br in g t h eir br an d of " violen t pop" t o a global st age. An d w h er e bet t er t o " t u r n it u p t o 11" t h an #ESC2021?! All abou t Blin d Ch an n el: h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / blin d-ch an n el-2021 Dar k Side: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ cIvaeu 6Oxzc
Th e Roop! Lit h u an ian pop/ r ock cr ossover ban d, Th e Roop h ail f r om Viln iu s an d h ave m ade w aves acr oss Eu r ope w it h t h eir dist in ct ive par t y vibe an d a k een eye f or an icon ic dan ce m ove or t w o. M or e abou t Th e Roop: h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / t h e-r oop-2021 Discot equ e: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ 0r sUJWSw b0c
Go_A Go_A is an elect r o-f olk lor e ou t f it specializin g in t h e m oder n r et ellin g of t r adit ion al Uk r ain ian st or ies passed t h r ou gh m an y gen er at ion s by w or d of m ou t h . All abou t Go_A: h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / go-a-2021 Sh u m : h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ U7-dxzp6Jvs
Bar bar a Pr avi Cu lt u r al diver sit y an d open -m in dedn ess lie at t h e h ear t of Bar bar a?s edu cat ion an d et h os an d ar e im por t an t f eat u r es t h at u n der pin h er ch ar act er . Sh e descr ibes h er #Eu r ovision en t r y 'Voilà' as a st or y of h ope an d af f ir m at ion of you r self . ? ? h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / bar bar a-pr avi-2021 Voilà: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ -9t _Sw PN31s
Ef en di Azer baijan's Ef en di spen ds m ost of h er f r ee t im e w alk in g h er pet dog M in i ar ou n d t h e bou levar d an d also h as h er h an ds f u ll w it h t w o bad-m an n er ed par r ot s, Ch ip an d Dale, t h at ar e com plet ely u n t r ain able an d sw ear a lot . It t ook f ive at t em pt s f or Ef en di t o r epr esen t Azer baijan at Eu r ovision , an d sh e'll f in ally see h er dr eam com e t r u e in Rot t er dam n ext m on t h ! All abou t Ef en di: h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / ef en di-2021 M at a Har i: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ HSiZm R1c7Q4
An dr eas Hau k elan d, bet t er k n ow n as TIX, is on e of Nor w ay 's m ost popu lar ar t ist s. In 2015, t h e sin ger -son gw r it er h ad h is f ir st br eak t h r ou gh w it h t h e Sjeik en , w h ich becam e a par t y an t h em f or t h at year ?s ?Ru ss.?TIX t h en m ade a n am e f or h im self by co-w r it in g Ava M ax?s Sw eet bu t Psych o, w h ich becam e t h e m ost played son g of 2018! All abou t TIX: h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / t ix-2021 Fallen An gel: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ bp2k f h u v8ZU
Open u p t o Th e Net h er lan ds' Jean gu M acr ooy! His #ESC2021 en t r y, Bir t h Of A New Age, t ells a st or y of r esilien ce an d t h e daw n of a n ew er a. Th e son g is in spir ed by an old Su r in am ese sayin g: ?M i Na Af u Sen si, No Wan M an E Br ok o M i,?w h ich lit er ally m ean s: ?I?m h alf a cen t , you can?t br eak m e. All abou t Jean gu : h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / jean gu -m acr ooy-2021 Bir t h Of A New Age: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ p4Fag4yajxk
M ån esk in is a cr it ically acclaim ed ban d f eat u r in g vocalist Dam ian o, bassist Vict or ia, gu it ar ist Th om as, an d Et h an on dr u m s. Sin ce m iddle sch ool, t h e ban d h as k n ow n each ot h er an d t ak es t h eir n am e f r om t h e Dan ish w or d f or ?m oon ligh t ?t o t r ibu t e t h eir bassist Vict or ia?s h om e cou n t r y. All abou t M ån esk in : h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / m an esk in -2021 Zit t i E Bu on i: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ 9m L6Cm k g2_A
Tu sse Tou sin M ich ael Ch iza, bet t er k n ow n as Tu sse, is a Sw edish sin ger w it h Con golese r oot s w h o book ed h is t ick et t o #Eu r ovision w h en h e w on 'M elodif est ivalen' by a lan dslide w it h h is pow er f u l son g Voices. h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / t u sse-2021 Voices: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ 5P1u eI9j6gk
Open u p t o t h e M ost Ser en e Fr eak y Qu een ! Bor n in Bologn a t o Er it r ean par en t s, Sen h it com bin es h er Af r ican r oot s w it h It alian st yle an d a Eu r opean elect r o-pop at t it u de! Sh e r et u r n ed t o #Eu r ovision f or San M ar in o w it h h er m assive ban ger , 'Adr en alin a'! All abou t Sen h it : h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / sen h it -2021 Adr en alin a: h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ eRAN7AzEKak
Open u p t o t h e m u lt i-t alen t ed m u sic su pr em o Vin cen t Bu en o! In spir ed by h is f at h er ?s per f or m an ces f r on t in g a local r ock ban d, Au st r ia's Vin cen t lear n ed t o play t h e pian o, gu it ar , dr u m s, an d bass all by 11! Bu t h is m u sical t alen t s don't en d t h er e! His h ear t br eak in g #ESC2021 son g 'Am en' sh ow cases h is im pr essive vibr at o an d t en or vocal r an ge t oo! All abou t Vin cen t Bu en o: h t t ps:/ / eu r ovision .t v/ par t icipan t / vin cen t -bu en o-2021 Am en : h t t ps:/ / you t u .be/ 1sY76L68r f s
Vincent Bueno has unveiled 'Amen' at the Eurovision Song Contest and performed in the first half of the second Semi-Final. The track premiered on Austria?s Ö3-Wecker radio show, and now the video is available to watch on the official Eurovision YouTube channel. Although he didn't make it to the Grand Finals, his European fans could never be prouder to have him represent his home country of Austria. Speaking about his entry song Amen, Vincent says: ?We have used the past year professionally to find the perfect song at national and international level and among my own songs - and in the end, we were sure that Amen is exactly that song. The song found me. At first glance, it's about a dramatic relationship story, but for me, it's primarily about this inner struggle with your own strengths and weaknesses that everyone knows, which leads to a bright future." ORF (the Austrian broadcaster) had high hopes for the entry, as their Program Director, Kathrin Zechner, reveals: "It is his powerful empathy that makes Vincent Bueno so special ? he has touched Europe with his song Amen, and with his charisma and his incredible abilities. He will ensure moments that are as moving as they are unforgettable at the Eurovision Song Contest.? About Vincent Bueno Vincent began to make music at the age of six and accompanied his father, himself a musician, to his performances as a child. In 2003 he decided to turn his passion into a profession and began his training in musical theatre at the Vienna Conservatory. Bueno was introduced to the Austrian public through the ORF talent contest Musical! The Show in which he emerged as the winner. Vincent was able to gain Eurovision experience in 2017 as part of Nathan Trent?s team in Kiev. Had the 2020 Contest gone ahead, Vincent would have performed his entry Alive. Returning to his family?s Ilocano roots, Vincent took part in the Philippine television show All-Star Sunday Afternoon Party XV in 2010, experiencing enough success to secure a record contract before returning to his native Austria.
Måneskin Zitti E Buoni
Eurovision Song Contest 2021 Champion! Måneskin is a critically acclaimed band featuring vocalist Damiano, bassist Victoria, guitarist Thomas, and drummer Ethan. Since middle school, the members had known each other but didn?t establish the band until 2015, when they brought together their musical influences, from rock and rap to reggae, funk, and pop. They took their band name from the Danish word for ?moonlight?to tribute their bassist Victoria?s home country. In 2018 the band released singles Morirò da Re and Torna a casa ahead of their first chart-topping studio album Il Ballo Della vita. Their success continued the following year, selling out 66 gigs and shifting an impressive 140,000 tickets for shows in Italy and Europe. Their second album, Teatro d?Ira ? Vol. I was released in March and have already seen mammoth streaming numbers ahead of their first Italian tour scheduled for Spring 2022. Måneskin wrote the winning song, which finished the night with 524 points, 25 points ahead of 2nd placed France, represented by Barbara Pravi singing ?Voila.? Switzerland?s Gjon?s Tears with ?Tout L Univers? finished in third place. Italian EBU Member RAI has won the 65th Eurovision Song Contest with their 3rd win for Italy, who last triumphed in 1990.
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Pr emier
Vol. 1
SAPERE AUDE
JUNE, 2021 ROTTERDAM ISSUE
Måneskin