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2003 Geoff Harrison / The Eurovision Database. Not to be reproduced
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Of course we got into the Mayor's party and ate plenty of good food
and saw quite a few of the performers. Alf Poier was posing with
other people with his strange hat; there was Mando looking so very
different, and Slovenia's Karmen Stavec posing with some some Dutch
magazine. She told me she wasn't at bothered now about last year's
failure to be at Eurovision - "It wasn't meant to be".
After the party a few drinks were taken at the Reval Hotel Latbija
where many of the performers are staying. I was impressed by
Iceland's Birgitta with a large glass of beer in her hand. Lasted her
all evening, though.
Today (Tuesday) was very much the day of Tatu. In driving rain
they came by car from the station to Hotel De Rome, and were through
check-in much faster than I have even been. Every
photographer was disappointed.
Up at the Press Centre they caused a stir by coming into the press
cafeteria. The performers have their own, but Tatu came in and
proceeded to have a meal surrounded by burly guards, and a lot of
photographers. They ignored all of them, and left after only a few
minutes. Their rehearsal this afternoon was rather poor. There's a
backing singer who seems to be doing all the singing for dark-haired
Julia. The last performance wasn't up to much visually, but was
almost up the recorded version in the video. They are using the
original mix rather than the thin one on the compilation CD.
 Their
press conference was funny, or maybe just mad!
Asked why a successful duo needed Eurovision, flame-haired Elena
Katina said, "We came for you". This set the tone, as the
girls doodled hearts on pieces of paper occasionally looking up,
always looked over by their mentor and manager Ivan Shapovalov.
"What do you think of the German participant?", "We
have never seen or heard of the German participant". They were
asked if they were ready to shock or do anything sexual on
Saturday. "Don't be afraid, stay calm", was Julia Volkova's
answer. (The title of their song). Asked if the stage, sound were OK,
she added it was all awful. After a booing session, Elena said it'd
be better next rehearsal. They stormed out with no photo session
straight afterward. They came over as spoiled brats needing
sorting-out, but that is just what they wanted! Look how much room
they got here. Tatu are still the ones to beat.
As I write Nicola from Romania is rehearsing in a red costume, and I
am getting ready to go to the presentation in the old town from
F.L.Y. from Latvia at 8pm. See you again soon. |
Hello
from Riga!