And, are expectations met?
As true Eurovision fans, the Glamial editors have been eagerly looking forward to this day: this afternoon Joost Klein’s first rehearsal took place in Malmö. This finally gives us an idea of what his performance will look like next week.
Joost Klein, dream big!
Joost, born and raised in Friesland, wasted no time last year: he had to and would represent the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest. After a months-long campaign, the decision was finally made when Avrotros announced that Joost would indeed leave for Malmö, Sweden, on behalf of the Netherlands.
It has now been a number of months and not a day goes by without someone in the editorial office walking through the office humming Europapa. As far as we’re concerned, the song obviously gets a lot of points, but the live performance? That remained a strictly kept secret. Until now!
Rehearsals
Rehearsals for the music festival, which will take place next week, are in full swing. The artists who were allowed to compete in the first semi-final had their turn this weekend. Yesterday and today the candidates from the second semi-final took center stage, including our Joost. It was his turn last this afternoon.
The European Broadcasting Union, the major organization behind the annual event, shared a set of images from this rehearsal via their official site. And they are certainly special, to say the least. In addition to the well-known dance steps, we see a chicken suit, an EU flag, and a gigantic enlarged plate of currywurst.
Image: EBU via Eurovision.tv
Not happy
When he left for Sweden yesterday, Joost was critical of the sharing of the rehearsal images. “Well, look, you’re not going to film a magician’s rehearsals, are you?” he told NU.nl at Schiphol. According to the singer, we can at least expect ‘magic’ during his performance.
Gover Meit aka ‘Donny Ronny’, the Creative Director, already created high expectations. “I have seen the act hundreds of times now and it continues to touch me,” he told the press at Schiphol. “I suspect that other people will also have a lump in their throat during the live performance.”
With this first sneak peek, the Glamial editors don’t immediately have a lump-in-the-throat moment, but that may come later. Perhaps Meit was referring to choking on the meter-high currywurst that can be seen on the displays, who knows. We wait patiently until the supreme moment really arrives.
Big news for Nikkie
By the way, we can’t believe our luck in terms of Eurovision news today. Earlier in the day it was already revealed that none other than Nikkie de Jager will be allowed to hand out the points on behalf of the Netherlands during the grand final this year.
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Extra fun: the twelve points on behalf of the Netherlands are awarded from Leeuwarden – the home base of none other than Joost Klein. Nikkie clearly cannot hide her enthusiasm in the video. And don’t blame her!
Source: Eurovision World, NU.nl, RTL.nl | Image: EBU via Eurovision.tv
