May 10, 2024

🇳🇱 Malmö Messages: Joost Klein did not rehearse

photo: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett During the first dress rehearsal this afternoon, the Dutch entrant Joost Klein did not perform. He was present during the opening. After Luxembourg performed, Joost’s keyboard was brought on stage…. and brought off. Instead, the Israeli contestant Eden Golan, who is 6th in line right after Joost, performed. The EBU released a statement: We are currently investigating an incident that was reported to us involving the Dutch artist. He will not be rehearsing until further notice. We have no further comment at this time and will update in due course. No decision seems to have been made yet. Footage of Joost of last evening’s semifinal was shown during the rehearsal.

In the spotlight: Slimane

Tomorrow, the big final of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in the Malmö Arena. 26 countries compete for the win. One of them is Slimane , representing France But who is Slimane ? Let’s give him a spotlight. Slimane Nebchi was born on 13 October 1989 in Chelles, Seine-et-Marne, France. He is of Algerian descent through his grandparents, who migrated to Paris from Biskra and Ghazaouet. He attended Lycée Jehan de Chelles, and moved later to Les Lilas, a suburb of Paris. Career He started uploading covers to YouTube in 2009, and soon took part in several music competitions such as Nouvelle Star in 2009 and X Factor in 2011. In 2016, at the age of 26, he auditioned for season 5 of The Voice: la plus belle voix. All four judges turned their chairs. On 14 May 2016, he won the title with 33% of the public vote. After this win, his career took off; with 2 million albums sold, 5 Music Awards, 2 billion worldwide streams, 7 million followers on social media and a Victorie de la Musique to his name. Participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. In November 2023, was announced that he would represent France in the Eurovision Song Contest. Given his origins, quite a few people were against this. He chooses not to comment on this, and says himself: ‘Every day I “enjoy” at least one person who thinks that someone like me should not represent his country. But nowadays I can laugh about it, I think it’s so sad.’ The song The song was written in 2022 during a music tour. According to Slimane, the song to him is a “love letter to European hearts”, in line with much of Slimane’s music, which is mainly based on love. Slimane sees “Mon amour” as his first date with the viewer. And from that perspective, his final question to all of us is: “Do you love me… Or not?” What is your answer? Photo: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett

In the Spotlight: Angelina Mango

Tomorrow, the big final of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in the Malmö Arena. 26 countries compete for the win. One of them is Angelina Mango, representing Italy But who is Angelina? Let’s give her a spotlight. Angelina was born on April 10, 2001 in Maratea, in the South of Italy. Angelina comes from a musical family. Her mother, Laura Valente, was the singer of Matia Bazar; she joined the band in 1990, after their Eurovision participation (1979) and after their mega hit Ti sento (1985). Her father, Giuseppe Mango (or simply Mango), was a popular singer in Italy. After the early death of her father, the family moves to Milan, her mother’s birthplace, in 2016. Together with her brother she was part of a cover band, which was the start of her musical career. Career On November 13, 2020, Mango released her debut single “Va tutto bendo” (Everything is okay). In 2022, she signed a recording contract with Sony Music. On May 12, 2023, Angelina released the EP “Voglia di vivere” (The will to live). The EP debuted at number two on the Italian charts. On October 6, 2023, she released the single “Che t’o dico a fa” (What do I tell you), which reached the second place on the Italian charts. San Remo Festival Where her father once started, just before his breakthrough in the eighties, Angelina shines this year: in San Remo, the Italian music festival of which the number one goes to the Eurovision Song Contest. She brings a tribute to Giuseppe; she sings his hit “La rondine” (The Swallow). She wins the festival, and confirms to represent Italy with the song “La noia” (Boredom). The song The song tells about the difficult time after the early death of her father, but that we must not be afraid of boredom: it must be welcomed, it is important, as are all the feelings that bring us down, deep down. There is always an upswing. Will she be able to win the festival? It is absolutely possible. Tomorrow, we will know. Photo: EBU/Alma Bengtsson