READY: Norwegian Andreas «TIX» Haukeland (28) has been in the Netherlands for several days. Here he is at the dress rehearsal before the final. Admission from this test, which was on 17 May, is assessed by the professional juries. Photo: EBU
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ROTTERDAM (VG) Reporter and ESC expert in Swedish Aftonbladet thinks the stage show to Norway may seem excessive to some, but that Eastern Europe will love it.
Just updated
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If we are to believe Torbjörn Ek, the Swedish ESC expert, Andreas «TIX» Haukeland (28) has good chances in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest (ESC). He likes this year’s song from Norway.
VG meets him at the arena in Rotterdam a few hours before tonight’s semi-final.
– TIX has done very well in the dress rehearsals. Yesterday he took off his sunglasses on stage and that did something with the whole show. We got closer to him, and that is important, says Ek to VG.
On Tuesday night, TIX Norway will represent in the first semifinal of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest with the song «Fallen Angel». Swedish “Tusse” is also fighting there with the song “Voices”. 10 of 16 entries in the semifinals go on to Saturday’s final.
– I think Sweden will vote for TIX because he has a good song, but I do not think Norway gets 12 points from us. Maybe eight points. Many in Sweden will probably be a little confused by the stage show and wonder if it is nonsense or serious. In Sweden, we would say that it is excessive and a little too much, says Ek.
– Eastern Europe will like him
Ek has worked with the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) for 14 years and thinks this year’s contribution is one of the better Norway has sent in recent years.
– I think countries in the south and east of Europe will like the show for TIX. They are more used to very grandiose expressions, even to songs with serious messages. More people in Eastern Europe will like him.
How the rest of the world reacts to the song:
Miss the Norwegian version
The Norwegian version of “Out of the Dark” ended up in first place VG-list – the Englishman, «Fallen Angel», got third place as best position. The Swedish expert believes that the Norwegian had also worked well in Europe.
– It is sad that he does not sing in Norwegian. With the language change, it feels a bit like the song changed genre, says Ek.
At the time of writing, TIX is in 15th place on the odds for the entire competition, according to Eurovision World.
– “Out of the Dark” is a modern pop song in Norwegian. “Fallen Angel” is more of a Westlife ballad. It’s not bad, I like Westlife. But it’s a completely different way of describing a song. It’s something else.
How TIX responded to corona questions:
In the press program, TIX is sold as Norway’s largest pop artist, who has also established himself as an international songwriter. The fur coat, headband and sunglasses have become a symbol of inclusion, it says in the program.
I think TIX is dependent on making the TV viewer familiar with the story behind the song so that they can vote for him. He says it can be crucial for TV viewers to understand the seriousness of the show.
– I think TV viewers will vote for TIX further in the final, it is difficult to say with the juries. Neither Sweden nor Norway are top favorites in this year’s competition, says Ek.
The points in the ESC are decided with a combination of telephone votes and national professional juries, both of which count for 50 per cent of the total points. The national professional juries consist of five people with connections to the music industry.
– The first semifinal, where Norway and Sweden are fighting to get to the final, is the most difficult. Thank goodness that Norway and Sweden are together in this final, then we can vote for each other.
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