Junior Eurovision Rehearsals Day 2: First rehearsals for the second set of 10 countries
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Junior Eurovision 2021 rehearsals in Paris progressed to Day 2 with the rest 10 out of the 19 competing acts taking the stage to rehearse their entries for the first time in La Seine Musicale, the concert hall that will host this year's Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
Namely Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Albania, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Serbia, Russia and France were the countries that had their first rehearsals in Day 2.
Let's go and see one by one the nine countries that took the stage and did their first rehearsal of their entry:
Azerbaijan
First to take the stage was Sona Azizova from Azerbaijan who will be performing 14th in Sunday's Live Show. Sona will be singing 'One of those Days'
Sona appeared alone on the stage and places herself in the middle of it. She wears a long satin white gown that features jewels on the top part of it and sleeves. The staging is minimal and the backdrops is dominated by blue with rays of white light. Sona doesn't need anything more to showcase her vocal skills and proves how to handle a big stage.
A few words for Sona Azizova
Sona was born in Baku, Azerbaijan but has also spent parts fo her life in Romania and Serbia. Besides singing she likes playing the piano and gymnastics. She has takes part in several competitions represeting Azerbaijan, whilst earlier this year she took part in the first season of The Voice Kids Azerbaiajan in 2020 and achieved to finish in second place.
She was internally selected by iTV marking Azerbaijan's fourth participation in the contest. The song 'One of those days' has been written and composed by Maria Broberg, Francisco Faria, Martin Wiik and Hampus Eurenius. Javid Shahbazbayov and Sona herself contributed also in the composition of the entry.
Bulgaria
Second to take the stage today was the duet Denislava & Martin from Bulgaria, who will be performing 6th in Sunday's Live Show. Denislava and Martin will be singing 'Voice of love'.
Denislava and Martin showcase on stage what the song titles is all about: Voice of love! They begin to sing in a triangular shaped tent, while their shadow is projected on the front side of the tent. Then they come out of it, both dressed in white and deliver the rest of the song with a backdrop full of warm sparkling lights dropping.
The duet delivers the song bringing the warmness and sensitivity the song title indicates. Good job for team Bulgaria!
A few words for Denislava and Martin
The two of them have been performing and working together as an artistic duo for the last four years. They have both graduated from one of the best musical schools in the country, Sarandev Studio in Dobrich. Having started singing from the age of 5 they have taken part in several music festivals and therefore have already experienced big stages and audiences.
Denislava is 12 years old and love animals for which she spends part of her free time besides her friends. Marti is 13 years old, also loves animals but as he has stated enjoys even more reading books.
Albania
Third to take the stage today was Anna Gjebrea from Albania who will be performing 11th in Sunday's Live show. Anna will be singing the song 'Stand by you'.
Anna is travels us all back in time in the years of school! The Albanian hopeful delivers her entry accompanied by four dancers and all fo them are dressed in school uniforms with a the Albanian double head eagle used as a tie.. Desks props and boxes make up a school scenery. Anna is using the same scene as in her official music video of her entry which is filmed in a school class.
Nice performance that brings back that nostalgia of the innoncent school days of the past even to the older ones!
A few words for Anna Gjebrea
Anna Gjebrea is a twelve-year-old singer from Tirana, Albania. Her father is Ardit Gjebrea who is the Producer of Kënga Magjike, as well as the host of E Diela Shqiptare. She reached the Junior Eurovision stage after winning the Albanian selection.
Ukraine
Next up on stage was Olena Usenko from Ukraine. Olena will be performing 12th in Sunday's Live show and will be singing the song 'Vazhil'.
Olena brings the house down with her amazing vocals!! Wearing dark orange colored trousers with a short black jacket on top she delivers her song alone on stage showcasing her vocal skills. Augmented elements on the stage floor along with the light effect on the backdrop make her performance even more impressive.
A few words Olena Usenko
Olena has already a wide experience of big stages with wide audiences. Along with her performances on several stages she often upload music videos showcasing her vocal skills in her personal Youtube Channel.
She reached the Junior Eurovision stage in Paris after winning the Ukrainian national final in which she achieved to top both voting receiving the most points in the public and jury voting.
North Macedonia
The rehearsals went on with the group Dajte Musika on stage for their first rehearsal of "Green Forces". Dajte Musika will be performing 18th in Sunday's Live show.
The member of Dajte Musika take the stage wearing casual clothes. While the two boys, Miha and Filip are performing with handheld microphones the two girls, Kristina and Anastasija, are using headsets. On the background LED screens display images of the environment similar to those that we see in the music video of the song, outlining the negative consequences human behaviour has cause to it.
A powerful performance by Dajte Musika that conveys the message of environmental consciousness and hope for a better future for planet earth.
A few words for Dajte Muzika
Dajte Muzika is one of the most popular TV programms for children in North Macedonia, the main protagonists of which are a group of very talented actors and singers who in a short time became idols for the younger generation, having already released more than 80 songs and two albums within the framework of the show. This marks the first group that will be representing the country in its Junior Eurovision history and this year's first competing group.
The group was internally selected by the country's natioanal broadcaster and consists of two boys and two girls. Namely Kristina, Ansatasija, Miha and Filip are the acts to deliver "Green Forces" on the JESC 2021 stage.
Kazakhstan
The rehearsals got back on track after lunch with the the two hopefuls from Kakakhstan Alinur Khamzin and Beknur Zhanibekuly who will be performing 10th in Sunday's Live show. The Kazakh duo will be singing “Ertegı älemı" (Fairy World).
Alinur and Beknur take the stage wearing both silver and purple clored outfits. Their performance unfolds in an underwater scenery with a big silver dolphin going around them. They deliver their song standing side to side impressing with their powerful vocals.
Alinur Khamzin was born in the city of Oral, Kazakhstan. Besides singing, Alinur plays the piano, robotics and chess. He has participated in several competitions among which, The Voice Kids 2018, Slavianski Bazaar 2021 and the Baqytty Bala (“Happy Child”) 2021 competition.
Beknur Zhanibekuly was born in Astana (now named Nur-Sultan), Kazakhstan, but is living now in Strasbourg, France. Despite being born with phocomelia, the fact hasn't discouraged him from followings his passion for music and singing.
The two fo them competed in the Kazakh national final finishing both in first place in a tie with 30,5% of the vote each. Then the jury along with the composers involved decided to send both of them to Paris.
Armenia
The rehearsals moved on to the next delegate coming from Armenia, Malena Fox, who will be performing 9th in Sunday's Live show. Malena will be singing 'Qami Qami'.
The young talented Armenian act took to the stage dressed in a silver shiny disco ball style jackets combined with high sliver spacy boots. She is accompanied by four dancers on stage two females and two males, dressed in pink and blue shiny silver outfits that match her own clothes.
Team Armenia impresses with an oustanding choreography and strong vocals .
A few words for Malena
Maléna Fox is a 14-year-old singer from Armenia. Since early 2020, she has teamed up with the small record label TKN based in the capital city of Yerevan.
TKN was founded by record producer tokionine who was behind the compisition and co-wrote her cancelled Junior Eurovision 2020 entry, "Why". He previously produced “Walking Out”, Armenia’s Eurovision 2019 entry performed by Srbuk.
Maléna has also released on her Youtube channel two cover videos. One is of “Broken Clocks”, originally performed by American singer SZA. The other reelase is a stripped-back mashup of a number of hit R’n’B songs, including Drake’s “Hotline Bling” and The Weeknd’s “Heartless”.
Taking into account her work so far she seems to favour R’n’B songs as an artist.
Serbia
The rehearsals continue with the delegates from Serbia, Jovana and Dunja who will be appearing 17th on stage in Sunday's upcoming live show. The two fo them will be performing the song “Oči Deteta (Children’s Eyes)”.
The Serbian hopefuls appeared on stage wearing frilly outfits, two dresses with the characteristic tulle. Οne is pink and looks like a dress, the other is blue and is like cropped wide pants. All of that stylish outfit is combined with a black beret on top.
The harmony between them is there and they deliver wonderfully their song!
A few words for Jovana Radonić and Dunja Živković
Jovana Radonić was born on January 19, 2011. years in Novi Sad. Even as a very young child, she showed an affinity and talent for music and movement. She had her first public appearance at the age of four, and the following year she participated in a television music competition in which she won second place.
Since then, she has been collaborating with piano and singing teacher Ana Frlin, who continues to lead Jovana through elementary music school, where she is currently a third-grade piano student, and as a music school student she won a special award at the Isidor Bajić festival in solfeggio. Since 2020, he has been studying singing with Professor Petra Leona Matiša as part of "La La Studio".
Dunja Zivkovic was born on July 22, 2010. years in Novi Sad. From an early age, she showed interest and love for music, so from the age of three she attended the music workshop "Do Re Mi" in Novi Sad, where she was immediately noticed, performing as a soloist, but also with the band of the same name.
In April 2019, at the competition of schools in the region, Dunja won the first place in her category. She is a third grade student at the elementary music school "Isidor Bajić", piano department, in the class of prof. Dunja Crnjanski and the fifth grade of the elementary school "First Vojvodina Brigade" in Novi Sad, and also attends the singing school "La La Studio" in Novi Sad in the class of professor Petra Leona Matisa.
Russia
It was Russia's hopeful, Tanya Mezhentseva turn to rehearse for the first time. Tanya will be appearing 7th in Sunday's Live show performing the song 'Mon Ami'.
This must have been the most spectacular show of the day, with Tanya however using playback vocals for medical reasons, as explained. The staging fetures bicycles, fireworks and a circus hoop that we have already seen in the music video and which lifts the Russian delegate up over her four dancers. Besides the absence of vocals all the rest adds up to a remarkable arrangement.
A few words for Tanya Mezhentseva
Tatyana (Tanya) Mezhentseva was born on December 9th, 2009 in Moscow. She has been singing since the age of 4 and her music skills go beyond singing as she also knows to plays piano and flute. Also she dances, and does aerial gymnastics.
Tanya is returning on the Junior Eurovision stage for a second time after her participation in Gliwice-Silesia at JESC 2019, as member of the duo with Denberel Oorzhak performing the song A Time For Us , which finished in the 13th place with 72 points.
France
Last but not least to rehease for the first time today was the host nation's representative, Enzo. The French delegate will be performing 'Tic Tac' in Sunday's live show appearing 13th on the stage.
Enzo took to the stage dressed all in white clothes with a sparkling dark gold blaser above them. A spectacular show unfolds on stage featuring a big pocketwatch on the backdrop and a huge golden staircase that leads Enzo and his dancers to a higher level. The French organisers have done a marvellous job for their representative on home soil.
A few words for Enzo
Enzo Hilaire, a big football and Mbappé fan, has been singing since he was little. A Year 7 student at Discovery College, Enzo started singing when he was just two-years-old and hasn’t stopped since.
Enzo was born in France to Francois, a pilot, and Moroccan-French mum Fatima, but landed in Macau at six months, living there until the family relocated to Cheung Sha when he was seven.
Though he got distracted by football at age six (his second career choice), a few years back, he discovered rap thanks to his brother who made him listen to Eminem and other rappers. And as the young boy wants to be like his brother, he also begins to sing and rap. For him, rap is “crazy” because he can jump anywhere, let go.
The casting team of The Voice Kids France spotted him on YouTube and invited him to a Skype audition, where he won his ticket to ‘the blinds’ in Paris. In his blind audition he impressed Soprano who turned round with Enzo joining her team and achieving to make it to the finals. Enzo made it all the way to 2020 The Voice Kids finals on October 10.
Rehearsals tommorow go in Day 3 at La Seine Musical with the first set of countries taking the stage again for their second run of rehearsal.
News Source: Junioreurovision.tv
Images: Andres Putting/EBU
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