Gover Meit thinks that viewers of the Eurovision Song Contest next month when it is the Netherlands’ turn will see something that has never been seen before during the event.
“It will be a new form of the moon landing. It has never been done before,” said the theater maker, who will go to Malmö as creative director, on Saturday in Shownieuws.
“People are not going to believe that this is physically possible,” he continued, without going into details about Joost Klein’s act. Gover is a good friend of the Dutch entry and can also be seen in Europapa’s video clip. He probably won’t be on stage himself. Gover Meit says he is needed “behind the scenes”. “It’s also nice for people that they don’t have to look at me all the time.”
Joost previously said that something awaits the Eurovision Song Contest that “has never happened before”. “It’s just going to be one big party,” he said. Source: Shownieuws.nl
Joost Klein has risen again at the betting offices. His Eurovision Song Contest song Europapa has been in third place since Friday.
When the artist released the song on February 29, he was still somewhere around twentieth place in the list of participating countries. Now he only has to pass Croatia and Switzerland to the number one spot.
According to the betting offices, the chance that Klein will win the song festival is now 11 percent. Previously this was only 5 percent.
The increase follows after Klein posted a photo and a video with the Finnish Käärijä, one of the favorite artists of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, on Instagram on Wednesday. Source: nu.nl
The Swedish city of Malmö will tighten security measures during the Eurovision Song Contest, you can read on the host city’s website. The measures follow criticism of Israel’s participation and possible protests against it.
“The city, the organizing broadcaster, the police and everyone else involved are doing everything they can to ensure that the event runs safely,” the message reads. “We are taking safety measures throughout the city, with a strong focus on the central locations of the Eurovision Song Contest.”
Police deployment will be increased in and around the city. Bags are also not allowed to be brought to the event. “We have to look out for each other and help each other. That is why it is especially important that everyone follows the instructions of the municipality of Malmö and other authorities.”
Israel’s Eurovision participation has been criticized for some time. Israeli forces have been active in the Gaza Strip since the attack by Hamas on October 7. Thousands of civilians have already been killed. According to critics, Israel therefore does not belong in the Eurovision Song Contest. Organizer European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has repeatedly emphasized that the Eurovision Song Contest is a “non-political event”. Nevertheless, Russia has not been welcome since 2022 due to the invasion of Ukraine.
The Eurovision Song Contest lasts from May 7 to 11. Israel is participating this year with the song Hurricane, sung by singer Eden Golan.
Joost Klein participates on behalf of the Netherlands with the song Europapa. He will play in the second semi-final. The artist was asked earlier this week by Nasrdin Dchar, Najib Amhali and Ramsey Nasr, among others, to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel’s participation. “Unfortunately, it’s too big of a dilemma to pass on to a little harlequin like me,” he responded. Source: nu.nl
The song Europapa from our Dutch Eurovision Song Contest entry Joost Klein remains immensely popular, also among bookmakers. The song fluctuated around 5th place and was briefly in 4th place, but is now more firmly in that position after the top three songs.
Joost Klein increases his chances of winning and rises one spot at the bookmakers. He is now in fourth place on the list, ahead of only Italy, Croatia and Switzerland. This means the song remains undeniably popular.
It was previously announced that more than three-quarters (79 percent) of the Netherlands believe that Klein will make it to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest. In December last year, only half of Dutch people thought that would work, and even at the beginning of this month that percentage was still 59 percent. Source: Hart van Nederland
Joost Klein gave Eurovision Song Contest fans a preview of what he wants to achieve in Malmö on Saturday evening in AFAS Live in Amsterdam. “Tonight is definitely in the cookie recipe, but I’m not going to show the cake yet.”
28 of the 37 participating artists performed their songs to the audience in AFAS Live during Eurovision in Concert on Saturday evening. The sold-out pre-party of the Eurovision Song Contest attracts fans from all over the world and is seen as one of the benchmarks for bookmakers.
Joost Klein ends the evening with his Europapa. He tells nu.nl in advance that this evening should really be seen as a small foretaste. “We will taste that real cake on the ninth and eleventh.”
Just under a month before he will take the Eurovision stage for the first time, Klein is busy preparing. “Dancing, or singing, or training, or psychological conversations. It’s maintenance on all sides. It’s like MOT every day. I see myself as a car.”
It is hard work and although Klein is looking forward to the Eurovision Song Contest, he is also already thinking about what comes next. “I’m busy with the real moment. But secretly to protect myself, I also look forward a bit. I try to live in the moment, but for the person I am and the rules in my head I have to do that (looking ahead).”
Real enjoyment is not always easy for the singer, who has always been open about the mental problems he encounters. “It’s harder than I thought. But I’m so passionate about this. There’s so much passion, so much time, so much effort, and money. There are dozens of people working on this every day. Enjoyment gets through it sometimes, but is not the goal. The goal is to do the very best.”
“I actually enjoy being on stage the most. That’s where I feel at home,” says Klein, who effortlessly captivates the audience on Saturday evening. “I feel great, thank you for this therapy session.” Source: nu.nl.
Joost Klein understands “the pain” of the people who asked him in an open letter to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest because of Israel’s participation, despite the war in Gaza.
“Unfortunately, it is too big a dilemma to pass on to a little harlequin like me,” Joost said to the press present at AFAS Live in Amsterdam prior to Eurovision in Concert. “If I were a world leader, I would have done something a long time ago, I hope.”
In any case, the singer does not plan to skip the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden next month. “No, I have already booked. I have already signed contracts. The transfer will continue.”
Actors Nasrdin Dchar, Najib Amhali and Ramsey Nasr, among others, signed the open letter to Joost. For Eurovision in Concert, the largest Eurovision pre-party, there will be a demonstration by the pro-Palestinian organizations BDS Netherlands and Rotterdam Palestine Coalition. Source: nu.nl
Durch artists Najib Amhali and Nasrdin Dchar have called on Joost Klein to withdraw from his participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Over 250 people with a creative profession signed a letter calling for a boycott due to Israel’s participation.
“While preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest are in full swing, one of the participating countries, Israel, is carrying out a genocide of 2.3 million Palestinians,” the letter reads. Ramsey Nasr, Walid Benmbarek, Jerry Afriyie and Tofik Dibi also signed the letter.
The writers refer to Klein’s Eurovision song Europapa, in which he quotes his father. “It’s a world without borders,” Klein sings. “Your father’s utopia does not exist for Palestinians,” the letter writers respond. They “emphatically” ask Joost to consult himself about his participation in the event, which will take place in Sweden in May.
“The horrors in Gaza touch us deeply,” AVROTROS, the broadcaster responsible for the Dutch participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, responds to the call. “We also hope that there will be an immediate end to the suffering. But the Eurovision Song Contest is an apolitical music festival and not a competition between the governments of countries. This is therefore not the place where this deep-rooted conflict can be resolved.”
The pro-Palestinian organizations BDS Netherlands and Rotterdam Palestine Coalition are organizing a demonstration on Saturday just before Eurovision in Concert in Amsterdam’s AFAS Live. During this pre-party, 30 of the 37 participating countries will perform with their entry. The Israeli delegation is not present. The organization of the demonstration consists of Dutch volunteers and is not linked to the EBU, which organizes the Eurovision Song Contest. The organization previously announced that it feared reactions to the Israeli entry Eden Golan if it came to the concert.
The demonstration will take place on Saturday from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM on the square between AFAS Live and the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam. A similar event was also demonstrated in London last week. In several European countries, artists are being called on not to participate in an event where Israel is also welcome. Source: nu.nl
Joost Klein is the last to perform during the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest. The singer, who represents the Netherlands with the song Europapa, is competing with fifteen other countries for ten final spots.
The running order was presented on Tuesday evening by Eurovision Song Contest organizer EBU. Previously, it was determined by drawing lots in which semi-final the countries would participate and whether they would perform in the first or second half of that semi-final. The precise order must ensure a show that is as varied and attractive as possible.
The Netherlands will compete against Belgium, Israel and Greece in the second semi-final on Thursday, May 9. Croatia and Ukraine, who are the big favorites according to the bookmakers, will play in the first semi-final on Tuesday, May 7. Joost is currently in fifth place among the bookmakers.
Joost’s Eurovision Song Contest entry is already a big hit. Europapa has been in first place in the Dutch Spotify charts since its release. Never before has a song been streamed so much in the Netherlands in 24 hours. Europapa is also in the charts in Belgium, among others.
The Eurovision Song Contest will take place this year in the Swedish city of Malmö, due to Loreen’s victory with the song Tattoo. The singer won for the second time last year, after having already collected the most points in 2012 with Euphoria. The final of the Eurovision Song Contest is on Saturday, May 11.
Europapa, the song with which Joost Klein will compete in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, is a tribute to his father. The song also features Paul Elstak.
“It is a letter I wrote to my father,” Klein told about Europapa in a special broadcast of De Avondshow met Arjen Lubach on Thursday. Klein previously told NU.nl that he grew up with the Eurovision Song Contest. Together with his parents, he always watched it at a young age.
The song, which has clear gabber influences, ends with an ode to his parents. The song then slows down in tempo and the singer addresses his father directly. Klein’s parents both passed away when he was young.
“My papa and my mama are forever my heroes,” he sings at the end of Europapa. “Rain on the window and I stood at the window crying. Darkness far too early, it’s winter in spring. ‘I miss you every day,’ is what I secretly whisper. You see dad, I listened to you.”
“It’s a very surreal feeling. I think it’s really fat that I get to share the art I made with my friends now,” the 26-year-old Klein told us. Besides Elstak, the music video also features rapper Donnie, René Froger and S10.
“The Eurovision performance will be a full circle experience of turning sadness into euphoria,” the artist said of his performance in Malmö in May. “When people see my act, the first reaction should be: what is happening here? To then touch the viewer anyway. An invitation to dive deeper. At first glance it looks like a very happy act, but once past that, blood, sweat and tears lie.”
The title of the Song Contest song had been known for several weeks, but neither Europapa‘s lyrics nor its subject matter had been known yet. Klein announced on the talk show. Lubach and Klein have known each other for years, the presenter told at the start of the show.
Klein will be in the second semifinal of the Song Contest on Thursday 9 May. He will then compete against Belgium, Austria and Greece, among others. Ten other countries will then have already qualified for the final which is on 11 May.
This year’s Song Contest will be held in the Swedish city of Malmö, after Loreen won the event for the second time last year with Tattoo. The first semi-final will take place on Tuesday 7 May. Source: nu.nl.
Joost Klein will represent the Netherlands during the Eurovision Song Contest next year. The selection committee chose his song from more than six hundred entries.
“There were many entries from all kinds of genres, but in our opinion his entry has the greatest hit potential,” says Twan van de Nieuwenhuijzen, chairman of the selection committee.
“You hear his well-known combination of party and nostalgia in the song. We think that Joost will put on a great act with his creativity and positively surprise the Netherlands and Europe.” The song with which Klein will go to the Eurovision Song Contest will be announced at a later date.
The selection committee did not unanimously go for Klein. Nevertheless, everyone supports the choice, says Van de Nieuwenhuijzen. “Choosing between the last five potential entries was extremely difficult. But Joost has a song that we really think has the potential to do well throughout Europe. That was the deciding factor. And he is also someone who very nice and good in a very infectious way.”
Klein sees a dream come true with his participation: “I used to watch it every year with my parents, glued to the TV. It is an honor that I can represent the Netherlands and I will do everything I can to achieve the best result.”
The 26-year-old Klein, who releases his music under his first name Joost, makes a mixture of pop, happy hardcore and pop punk. He is best known for his song Friesenjung, which has been listened to more than 100 million times on Spotify. This song also caught on in countries such as Belgium, Germany and Austria.
Last summer Klein performed on the main stage of Lowlands, among others. He also performed at Pinkpop and gave two sold-out concerts at AFAS Live.
A total of about six hundred songs were submitted, broadcaster AVROTROS reports. A special selection committee listened to this. Krezip singer Jacqueline Govaert, Eurovision Song Contest expert Cornald Maas and radio DJ Sander Lantinga, among others, helped decide on the artist and the song.
The Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Sweden in 2024, because Swedish singer Loreen has won the music festival for the second time this year. In Liverpool she won with her song Tattoo. Eleven years earlier she was allowed to take the trophy home thanks to the song Euphoria.
The Netherlands is competing against 36 other countries, it was announced earlier this month. Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Italy, among others, are participating in the 68th edition.
The final of the Eurovision Song Contest will take place on May 11, 2024. The Netherlands must first qualify for this during one of the semi-finals. These will take place on Tuesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 9.
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