A contrary, cheerful energy bomb. That is the extremely energetic performance of ‘Europapa’ by Joost Klein. On Wednesday afternoon, during the second semi-final, the European press in an empty hall, and in the evening the audience in a full Malmö Arena, could see for the first time how the Dutch act will finally perform on the Eurovision stage on Thursday evening. The artist is not used to the many rehearsals that the international song festival holds for all television shows, Klein said in recent days. After so many exercises, Klein tried diligently to retain “the raw emotion” in his song – the art he wanted to “hang in the gallery called Eurovision.”
Klein combines childlike innocence with the grotesque in his performance. “Going into the 90s with a TikTok brain,” he previously described. It was already clear that the big blue bird (Appie Mussa), which represents Joost’s inner child, would remain on stage. This also applies to his companion Stuntkabouter who ‘symbolizes the music purist’. Both are standing at music terminals that look like the back of an old Cadillac. And the two dancers in tracksuits on either side of Klein bouncing around the stage from previous rehearsals have also remained in the final form.
The question was what kind of visuals he would present on the gigantic LED screens. In the end it won’t be anything big or spectacular, but the energy comes across in abundance. The opening shot of Klein’s face in a large white cross was a surprise. It’s also nice how he dances on a spinning globe. The pictures of European dishes that we saw earlier have remained, the words ‘Euro’ and ‘daddy’ sing around several times, the cheap toy piano from his happy hardcore sound zooms out from under him and behind Klein a number of gamboling dancers can be seen.
The performance during this rehearsal highlighted how much Joost Klein’s performance is an ode to his deceased parents. Their silhouette stands out. As well as the intimate little moment after all the happy hardcore violence. The sensitive outro in which Klein looks into the camera and addresses his father is subtitled in English. The handwritten text at the end reads: “From: me. To: my parents.”
Will it be difficult for Joost Klein or is a final place at the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday possible? Below are all fifteen other entries against which the Frisian artist will compete on Thursday evening in the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest. Think of an irresistible Swiss all-rounder, tasty Greek reggaeton with a touch of sirtaki folklore, Albanian female empowerment and sickly sweet Spanish-language rock.
1
Malta: Sarah Bonnici – Walk
The kick-off is quite harmless: Malta, just like Cyprus in the first semi-final on Tuesday, comes with a dance number full of tight, challenging choreography. Sarah Bonnici, from the Maltese island of Gozo, sings a thinly pumped-up song full of yearning and heated beats. She can sing well, she has a catch that can score, but ‘Loop’ has little else to it.
2
Albania: Besa – Titan
Reaching the final is certainly not a foregone conclusion for Albania. The hit singer Besa from Fier, who is very popular in her own country, is preparing herself, dressed as her own Avatar character. She succeeds, after all, she has an “unbreakable armor around her heart,” she sings. But that song ‘Titan’; it has exactly the same meaning as hit song ‘Titan’ by Sia. Female empowerment plus pointy shoulder pads, like someone else tonight.
3
Greece: Marina Satti – Zari
“Ta, ta, ta, ta, ta…” There’s a good chance that this one catchy hook will still stick in your head for a while. Marina Satti comes with a cheerful, contemporary cocktail: a touch of sirtaki folklore in a Rosalía-like sound with bouncing reggaeton beats. It is as catchy, brooding as it is experimental; She also looked at the camera on stage away from Rosalía, and will definitely appeal to a young target group. Well done and hopefully through to the final.
4
Switzerland: Nemo – TheCode
One of the top favorites. Singer Nemo, in one bizarre feather outfit after another, delivers a wrenching account of their non-binary coming-out (“I went to hell and back, to find myself on track“) far above. His high screams are full of intensity in a cleverly constructed mix of pop, rap and opera. Meanwhile, Nemo lies, turns and slides on a kind of inclined turntable. An irresistible appearance and an extraordinary voice – especially on those high notes.
5
Czech Republic: Aiko – Pedestal
Finally some guitars again; and do we hear an Olivia Rodriguez-like chorus there? Aljona Sjirmanova-Kostebelova, or the Russian-Czech singer Aiko, is a little more edgy than the other singers with their polished notes. Independence also predominates in her song. There can be no misunderstanding between four dancing lookalikes: “I will be loving myself more.” Not a high flyer, but fun.
6
Austria: Kaleen – We Will Rave
There are the nineties again, get out your glow sticks. Kaleen does her best to evoke the atmosphere of a rave party from that time in a short time, with a touch of Mr. Vain by Culture Beat. The lyrics are meaningless, the beat pulsates, the easy melody disappears in a big synth crescendo, while the strobos flash and lasers draw clean lines. Well, let’s party and forget.
7
Denmark: Saba – Sand
Sand on your sandwich, sand in your hair… Love is a trampled sand castle, and there is sand everywhere in Denmark’s act. That in itself is a surprising effect, but it distracts from the musical performance of the Ethiopian Saba. Yeah, she’s just standing there, high and dry. Sand!! But she is a surprising outsider with a powerful voice and, as an expert by experience – she often talks about it – she knows how to convey the feeling of losing control.
8
Armenia: Ladaniva – Jako
The duo Ladaniva, consisting of the Armenian singer Jaklin Baghdasaryan and the French multi-instrumentalist Louis Thomas, and their band are typically such a joyful Eurovision act in the folklore pop category. Super cheerful, light, it goes in all directions and rains influences. Jako turns out to be just the nickname of singer Jaklin, you could consider the song as an ode to her individuality. The energy is good, it is modern, authentic and extremely danceable.
9
Latvia: Down – Hollow
Do you remember the rock band Live with singer Ed Kowalczyk? This is the same heavy emo ballad. The tormented soul vents his heart with clenched fists, while dark clouds gather. Musically, everything stacks up predictably with quite swollen chords. Let’s say: intense for the enthusiast.
10
San Marino: Megara – 11:11
The Spanish-language candy pink rock of the band Megara is certainly not a bookmaker’s favorite. For weeks, San Marino dangled at the bottom of the lists. And for good reason. It is sugary sweet rock, including pink confetti and the semi-spiritual message also comes with a pink dove of peace. It won’t happen here in the Malmö Arena. Time to pour some more.
11
Georgia: Nutsa Buzaladze – Like a firefighter
Oh, Georgia, what a hassle this is: there is a lot of fire and crawling on the ground. And a lot of shouting. And hey, there comes the metaphor of the resurrected phoenix again, a Eurovision classic since Conchita Wurst won ten years ago. An unoriginal entry that looks like everything, but really has nothing of its own that sticks.
12
Belgium: Mustii – Before the Party’s Over
Singer Mustti (Thomas Mustin) is the next in line of really nice Belgian entries for a number of years. With his steamy video he noticed. But he has also come up with an attractive theatrical form live: surrounded by microphones, he makes sure he is heard. His charged “Before the Party’s Over” is a tearjerker with goosebumps in the final minute with a chorus of fans. If Mustti can keep his notes, this is strong.
13
Estonia: 5Miinust x Puuluup – (Nendest) Narkootikumidest Ei Tea Me (Küll) Midagi
First something positive. Estonia sings in its own language and there is a kind of party atmosphere. There are plenty of examples of how a lousy dance at Eurovision can go quite far. But this eclectic collaboration between the domestically acclaimed Estonian pop group 5Miinust and the ‘zombie-post-folk’ duo Puuluup remains mysteriously flat.
14
Israel: Eden Golan – Hurricane
It is the most criticized participation of this Eurovision Song Contest, but certainly not because of the performance, which is downright aesthetic. In a very high ring that lights up beautifully, 20-year-old Eden Golan sings between five dancers. She is a vocal standout in a fairly average pop ballad. Disaster presents itself from the first seconds with claps of thunder. Then Golan sings how she has to brace herself, how she dances in the storm. She can really use her voice. Especially towards the end she delivers a few high screams, after which she softly belts out the song in Hebrew.
Also read
It remains remarkably quiet around the Israeli Eurovision entry Eden Golan
15
Norway: Gåte – Ulveham
The recurring nature theme, in this case a dark forest. A girl transforms into a wolf at the hands of her nasty stepmother. The band Gåte brings its ancient fairy tale story to folk rock and lights along with symphonic metal with all strings. The Norwegian Rybak on violin is included as an extra. The mystical atmosphere is beautifully Scandinavian.
16
The Netherlands: Joost Klein – Europapa
Are you mainly waiting for ‘Europapa’? Joost Klein is the last to speak – which is good because then it will remain in the minds of the viewers from the sixteen participating countries voting tonight.
To share
Email the editor
Tags: Joost Klein face semifinals Eurovision Song Contest
-
