After greater than per week of rehearsals, two semifinals and 53,000 COVID-19 exams for followers, employees and performers, the Eurovision Song Contest that was canceled final yr due to the pandemic goes dwell Saturday in entrance of three,500 followers and a worldwide tv viewers.
While the massively fashionable music pageant that oozes flamboyance is seen as a major step towards a post-pandemic return to dwell leisure, not everyone managed to keep away from the virus.
The fashionable Icelandic band Dadi og Gagnamagnid with their kitsch dance strikes and inexperienced leisurewear are within the closing, however can’t carry out dwell as a result of one member examined optimistic. Instead viewers will see a recording of one of many band’s costume rehearsals.
Maneskin from Italy carry out throughout rehearsals on the Eurovision Song Contest at Ahoy area in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Friday, May 21, 2021. (Photo: AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
“The point was to go and actually experience how it was to compete in Eurovision and that’s just really not happening,” lead singer Dadi Freyr stated from isolation in Rotterdam.
While the leisure world has modified within the pandemic, the Eurovision closing system acquainted to its worldwide legion of followers has not. The occasion is being hosted as regular by the final winner, the Netherlands, besides that it received in 2019.
After acts from 26 nations carry out their songs Saturday evening, they’re awarded factors by panels of music business specialists in every competing nation and by members of the general public voting by telephone, textual content message or through the competition’s app. The winner takes house a glass microphone trophy and a possible profession increase.
The two favorites amongst bookmakers couldn’t be extra completely different. One is Maneskin, an Italian band whose mix of funk and rock channels the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The different is Barbara Pravi, a French singer whose type harks again to Edith Piaf.
Pravi’s music “Voila,” is a restrained ballad, however there’s nonetheless loads of the over-the-top spectacle that has turn out to be Eurovision’s trademark.
Norway’s singer Andreas Haukeland, whose stage title TIX is a reference to rising up with Tourette syndrome, sings his music “Fallen Angel” in a pair of big white wings whereas chained to 4 prancing devils.
Dadi og Gagnamagnid from Iceland carry out through video hyperlink throughout rehearsals on the Eurovision Song Contest. (Photo: AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Cyprus’ Elena Tsagrinou is flanked by 4 dancers in skin-tight purple costumes as she performs “El Diablo,” a music that has ignited protests amongst Orthodox Christians on the Mediterranean island, who declare it glorifies satanic worship. Tsagrinou says it’s about an abusive relationship.
San Marino has enlisted the assistance of U.S. rapper Flo Rida to hitch performer Senhit in her bid to win the title for the primary time for the tiny city-state surrounded by Italy.
Members of Iceland’s entry are hoping to be allowed out of isolation to observe the ultimate at Rotterdam’s Ahoy Arena.
“I don’t see why we shouldn’t, because we’ve been quarantining for a week and we all tested negative except for one member,” Freyr stated.