Eurovision 2021

Road to Rotterdam: Austria

Vincent Bueno is not a newcomer at the Eurovision Song Contest either. In 2017 he was a backing vocalist for Nathan Trent. He was not new then. In 2008 he took part in the talent show “Musical! Die Show”. His first album was a success in 2009. A year later he also made his debut in the Philippines.In 2020 Bueno was selected to represent Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest. As we all know, things turned out differently. He got a second chance and will sing the song “Amen” this year. photocredits: ORF

Road to Rotterdam: Greece

A Dutch singer is participating for Greece this year: Stefania Liberakakis, who has a Greek father but in fact lives in Utrecht. Stefania took part in The Voice Kids, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest and the television series “Brugklas”. In 2020 she was chosen to represent Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest and presented the song “Supergirl”. The Greek broadcaster renewed confidence in Stefania immediately after the cancellation of the contest. This year she sings the song “Last dance”. Stefania is also on the jury for the election of the best Dutch Eurovision song.

Decision about Eurovision with audience on april 28

The Eurovision Song Contest without or with an audience: on April 28, the organization will hear whether the Fieldlab tests can continue for the nine shows. With more than nine hundred occupied intensive care beds, the government wants those tests to be canceled, so things are getting exciting for the organization in Ahoy. “Every day at 3.20 pm I’m looking at the so-called corona-dashboard very nervously with a number of people”, executive producer Sietse Bakker tells newswebsite NU.nl. “Of course not only because of the Eurovision Song Contest, but also because we are all concerned about the situation in the country. At the same time we can also relax, which many people are happy with. We will really have to keep a careful eye on it in the coming weeks. . “ 3,500 people per show could be present under strict conditions, but then the number of ic-beds in use should not increase further. At the time of writing, 839 people are in intensive care (ic) and the organization still has a week to go before a decision has to be made. Bakker hopes that the Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place anyway, will at least provide some relief. “If you look at what has happened to us in the past year: closing society was ‘easy’, keeping it locked is complicated, but unlocking it is a devilish dilemma: who can go first? I’m glad I don’t have to make a decision about that. That will inevitably lead to social discussions and I hope that we can connect with the Eurovision Song Contest, because that is what the Eurovision is all about. ”

Road to Rotterdam: Czech Republic

Benny Cristo’s real name is Ben da Silva Cristovão. That does not sound very Czech indeed. Benny Cristo is the son of an Angolan father and a Czech mother. In 2009 he was one of the finalists of Česko Slovenská SuperStar., The Czech / Slovak version of Pop Idol. He has now released three albums and had a big hit in 2019 with “Aleiaio”. A year later his song “Kemama” was selected to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. After the contest was canceled, the Czech broadcaster again chose Benny Cristo. For the contest in Rotterdam he wrote “Omaga”. photo: instagram

Road to Rotterdam: Estonia

Uku Suviste was supposed to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest last year. Because the contest was canceled, he could not perform his song “What love is”. The Estonian broadcaster did not immediately show confidence for the 2021 contest. Suviste simply had to participate in a national final with no fewer than 20 songs. He managed to win it with “The lucky one”.

Australia: not on site in Rotterdam

This morning, EBU announced that the Australian delegation will not be able to fly to Rotterdam for the Eurovision Song Contest. Due to the situation around COVID19, Australian participant Montaigne can not perform her song “Technicolour” live on stage in Ahoy. Instead, the live-on-tape recording of the song will be shown during the first semifinal, and depending on the results maybe again in the final. In an earlier stage, Sietse Bakker, executive producer of the Eurovision Song Contest, already stated that it would be difficult to get the Australian participant in Rotterdam. In an interview with eurovision.tv, Montaigne expressed that this does not make her very sad. “I have the preternatural ability to let go of opportunities that don’t come through. Like water off a duck’s back.” She will, however, keep on campaigning for the song. The fact that she will not travel to Rotterdam gives her the opportunity to follow the voting with her dearest friends and family.

Road to Rotterdam: San Marino

Senhit, who will represent San Marino, her real name is Senit Zadek Zadek. She is from Italy but has Eritrean roots. In 2011 she did not make it to the final, and last year no one gave a nickel for her chances. It was different when she released “Adrenalina” this year. The American rapper Flo Rida featured the song. It is not yet clear whether he will also be on stage with her in Rotterdam. The intention to do so is there. Who knows, this is going to be the highest scoring entry ever for San Marino.

Road to Rotterdam: Malta

Who says Destiny, says Eurovision. In 2015 she won the Junior Song Contest. In 2019 she gave vocal support to Maltese candidate Michela at the ESC. No one had any doubts that Destiny would win X-Factor Malta 2020, and with this victory the ticket to the Eurovision Song Contest. For the contest she got the song “All of my love”, but the Eurovision Song Contest was canceled. Malta chose to send Destiny on the road again, this time with “Je me casse”. This song is, at this moment, the hot favorite with the bookies.Anyone wondering how Destiny Chukunyere got such a non-Maltese name: she has a Nigerian father. Her life does not only consist of song contests: in 2017 she participated in the talent show Brittain’s Got Talent and came sixth there.

Road to Rotterdam: Ukraine

Go_A is an electro folk band from Ukraine, consisting of Kateryna, Taras, Ihor and Ivan. In December 2012 they made their first song. It took a while before they could release their first album, but it happened in 2016. The group also released four singles.Last year Go_A won the Ukrainian preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest with “Solovey”. After the contest was canceled, the Ukrainian broadcaster announced that they wanted to work with the group again. “Shum” was chosen out of three songs.

Road to Rotterdam: Azerbaijan

Samira Efendi, as her full name is, was supposed to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest last year. She was singing about a strong woman, “Cleopatra”. The song she sings this year is an extension of the subject. It is about the Dutch master spy Mata Hari. Someone has sung a song about her before. In 1976 Anne Karine Strøm did. She received an honorary medal from the municipality of Leeuwarden, where Mata Hari came from. Efendi has heard nothing so far from the municipality of Leeuwarden, but who knows, maybe it will come. photo: instagram