Joost Klein is a creative artist and used to having a free hand in his performances. But the Eurovision Song Contest has a lot of rules and that is quite difficult for him.
“Er is vaak vanaf hoog af tegen mij gezegd, vooral tegen Gover (Meit, creative director, red.): ‘Please, laat Joost niks veranderen'”, vertelt Klein zaterdag vanuit Malmö aan NU.nl.
Afgelopen week heeft de artiest twee dagen repetities gehad om zijn Europapa te finetunen voor het Songfestival-podium. Waar Klein normaal gesproken gewend is de controle te hebben over alles wat er gebeurt, moet hij nu veel meer op anderen vertrouwen.
“Het is een gek proces, waarin ik echt met de harde hand leer dat als je alle controle loslaat, je de controle terugkrijgt. Het is heel lastig”, zegt de artiest.
“Het is heel erg wennen. Ik ga niet voor je liegen, het is niet het makkelijkste. En ik snap dat het voor de buitenwereld misschien maar drie minuten aan show is. Maar wij met z’n allen, met een team van at this point bijna honderd man, zijn daar echt al een jaar mee bezig.”
Joost Klein explains why there is a blue bird in his show
‘I expected a cake, but it’s a bag of chips’
The European Broadcasting Union has a lot of rules for a performance at the Eurovision Song Contest. Now that he has had his first two rehearsals, Klein is not allowed to change any major things.
“I believe 100 percent in the concept. In the art that we have created and will create. But I have to admit that so many rules also take a mental toll on myself. There is a lot involved that the audience does not know.”
Klein continues: “You shouldn’t know all that. But I’m getting to know it now. And that makes it a different story. I expected some kind of cake, but now it’s just a kind of bag of chips.”
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‘I’m no longer allowed to use my phone’
He finds it quite complicated that after seeing the photos of the rehearsals there are also negative reactions and Klein drops out of the bookmakers.
“I’m not allowed to use my phone anymore. It’s just very strange. I try to remain myself. So far I don’t really care about it, but I would be lying if I said I don’t care about it. But I am here with the best intentions, also for the Netherlands and not just for myself.”
“I dare say: we make art. And we are now putting it in the Eurovision gallery. Whether it all fits in there, we will see on the ninth and eleventh. And I just hope that the country still has some love left somewhere. for me. And if not, then don’t watch. I’m not the channel boss.”
Tags: Joost Klein learn live Eurovision Song Contest rules Takes mental toll Eurovision Song Contest
