Day four in the workroom is brought to you by… singing. Lots and lots of singing. You’d think after having just run through their song 3-5 times in a row on the main stage, the performers would welcome a break when it came to the press conferences, but many of today’s competitors take the opportunity to turn their meet & greets into impromptu acoustic sessions. If nothing else, it’s a good way for the less popular entrants to kill a few minutes when the questions threaten to dry up…
The second half of this semi final is packed with front-runners and fan favourites, making this the longest but most energised rehearsal day so far. Israel may not have had much luck in the contest lately, but their entries always arrive with a sizeable contingent of fans and local media, and their press conference quickly packs out. Despite the obvious groundswell of support, 16-year old Nadav Guedj isn’t the most illuminating interview – he likes parties, tattoos and Usher, and that’s about as much as we get out of him in his 20 minute session.
Nadav Guedj – Israel’s Golden Boy discusses his musical influences.
Photo: Derek Sillerud
Aminata from Latvia is a tiny, strikingly beautiful young woman who carries the same quiet composure and air of self-possession into the interview room that she displays in her stage show. She reveals that she prepares for her live performances by going away and hiding in dark corners, which sounds a lot more sinister than she probably intends. She also provides the first musical interlude of the afternoon with a full-length acoustic performance of her entry. The sheer power of her voice coming from such a petite frame proves even more remarkable up-close.
Latvia – Aminata leads an impromptu singalong.
Photo: Derek Sillerud
There’s more music from Azerbaijani entrant Elnur, who treats us to a mix of classic Turkish folk and – somewhat improbably – the hits of Sertab Erener. Speaking through an interpreter, he impresses the room with a sincere and thoughtful tribute to his musical icon Freddie Mercury, which he elegantly ties into a plug for Austria’s upcoming Life Ball for HIV research and awareness.
Elnur from Azerbaijan left the glittering angel costume on the rack this year.
Photo: Derek Sillerud
Iceland’s Maria Olafs seems a little nervous and overwhelmed during her interview, though she’s reportedly taken ill shortly afterwards so it’s possible she simply wasn’t on top form today. In the brief time we have with her, she sings an acoustic version of her entry (naturally) discusses her childhood role in a Reykjavik production of ‘The Sound Of Music’ and admits she has no idea how Iceland would cope with the demands of hosting a Eurovision. “Maybe outside?”
Maria Olafs – don’t ask her where Iceland would host the thing if she won…
Photo: Derek Sillerud
Predictably enough, the biggest press conference of the day by far is reserved for Sweden – who are running 20 minutes late due to technical problems during their rehearsal. If the journalists are bitter about the Swedes inadvertently elongating what is already set to be a near-12-hour day, they don’t show it, and the room quickly fills to capacity. Måns is a smooth operator, diplomatically defusing any questions that suggest a Swedish victory is more or less in the bag at this point (of which there are many) and delivering measured, thoughtful answers throughout. It’s not the most spontaneous meet and greet of the season, but there’s real star quality on display here of a kind I haven’t really picked up on in any of the other artists so far.
Conference or Coronation? Bookies favourite Måns Zelmerlöw from Sweden turns on the charm.
Photo: Derek Sillerud
As the Swedes leave the building, the conference area empties as quickly as it filled up, and poor Melanie René from Switzerland faces a sparse and relatively unenthusiastic crowd. Thankfully she’s in good spirits after a strong rehearsal, and having studied in the UK for several years she’s very fluent in English, leading to a bubbly interview that quickly wins over what remains of the room. She also wins major points for a note-perfect rendition of Celine Dion’s Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi, proving there’s no situation that can’t be improved by knowing your audience…
Mélanie René from Switzerland knows her Celine Dion…
Photo: Derek Sillerud
If Måns Zelmerlow is the poster boy of this year’s competition, Cypriot John Karayiannis may well cater to the geek chic demographic. As affable and unassuming as the Swedish entrant is polished and self-assured, where many other contestants talk about their side projects in musical theatre and TV presenting, the bespectacled 21-year old admits his greatest non-musical achievement to date is forming a high-ranking guild in popular RPG World of Warcraft.
John Karayiannis – Level 10 Warlock with Shield of Myrthos seeks adventurous, open-minded Elf Princess for orc slaying, mutual spellcasting and long walks in the enchanted forest.
Photo: Derek Sillerud
In contrast to the numerous showmances present in this year’s contest, the Slovenian entrants are a genuine married couple, and they have an easy, down-to-earth intimacy that helps make for a charming interview. In fact, their relationship is so relaxed that they’ve forgotten to bring their wedding rings with them to Austria, but neither of them seem to mind much.
Love and marriage… Slovenia’s Maraaya are a couple on and offstage.
Photo: Derek Sillerud
Singer Marjetka Vovk explains that her trademark onstage headphones – which have been de-branded in accordance with the anti-endorsement rules of the contest – help her to relax her nerves on the stage, and reveals that the only reaction her eldest son had to her victory in the Slovenian national final was criticising her ugly dress. Given that she appears to have brought the exact same ensemble to Vienna, she clearly doesn’t put much stock in his eye for high-end fashion.
Even before factoring in the Swedish delays, it’s another long day in the press centre, so it’s nice to once again finish on a feelgood note. Poland’s Monika Kuszyńska got one of the biggest reactions in the hall for her beautifully staged performance of ‘In The Name of Love’, and she’s rapturously received in the press centre. She sets the tone with a nicely judged quip that instantly addresses the potential elephant in the room that is her disability (“I’m the only contestant to get my own lift!”) and congratulates the Viennese team for their sterling work accommodating the practical challenges of hosting a wheelchair-bound performer at the contest. Whether discussing her forthcoming album, learning to sing again after becoming paraplegic or she and Conchita Wurst’s shared admiration for author and motivational speaker Les Brown, she’s direct, eloquent and uplifting throughout her Q&A, surely winning a lot of new fans among the assembled journalists.
Poland’s Monika Kuszyńska ends the day with grace and humour.
With all the semi-finalists now having had the opportunity to run through their performances on the main stage, tomorrow sees proceedings shifting up a gear, with a second round of rehearsals for all of the artists in the first semi-final, and of course a full complement of press conferences to follow. For the sake of brevity (and my own sanity), I’ll probably start to focus less on individual interviews and more on highlights and general reflections during this stage. Will Loïc Nottet be able to keep his Jessie J impulses in check? Can anyone up their game enough to overshadow Georgia’s warrior princess? And has Trijntje Oosterhuis bowed to public opinion and ditched that hideous dress? Answers to all these questions and more in tomorrow’s missive (possibly).
That was a really good read. I do not like Nadav Guedj. We’re not being told the truth about his age. Sixteen year-olds don’t have frowns and tattoos like that, and the fact that he was evasive in his press conference makes me doubt him even more.