Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen stepped in front of the media at the opening of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen stepped in front of the media at the opening of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Two days before the first semi-final, the duo stated that the training went well. Parkkonen stated that the first day was about getting to know something new, but the second time, according to him, everything was fine.
In front of the media, the duo praised the fact that Lampenius gets to play the violin on stage, miked and in real time. The EBU gave the violinist an exception earlier this week. Usually, only the vocal parts are performed live, while the sound of the instruments comes from the tape.
– It will be two hundred percent better than our show when we get to perform both of them live, Parkkonen said.
– I have told a few people to think that this is a duo and written for a woman and a man as a duo. Think of the situation as if we were on stage and I was playing live, but Pete had to do all the answers as playback, Lampenius thought.
Lampenius said he was happy when he heard about the exemption.
– I thought that now we really get to do this number as it was written and intended. But I didn’t expect it like that, because it hasn’t been allowed to do that for many years. It was better to keep it like, well, nothing will come of it, Lampenius stated.
Lampenius said that he personally has not received any comments in which the decision to play the violin while miked and on stage would have been perceived as unfair.
– I just saw something on social media, Lampenius said.
Lampenius believes that instruments should be played more widely on stage in the future.
– Why would they just suddenly give me this permission right when it’s written that this is a duo? I sing through my instrument, so of course it should be live. Rybak should also have been allowed to play live, Lampenius said.
Parkkonen gave Eurovision a tip.
– If they want to make it easier, there could be two stages. One could do live and the other could do non-live, Parkkonen said and made Lampenius jump at the idea.
Pete Parkkonen and Linda Lampenius take the stage in the first semi-final. Reuters
No pressure
Lampenius and Parkko are considered the pre-favorites of the wise men. For example, the flamethrower has been the clear number one in betting statistics.
However, there is no pressure on the duo.
– It motivates us tremendously and of course we are grateful that people like us. It’s a great thing and it makes you feel warm. It makes us put our hands in the ground more and go make this show as good as we can, Parkkonen said.
Will you win?
– The people decide, Parkkonen stated succinctly.
– We have already won here. We know we’ve done everything we can. We have practiced as much as we can and now we will get the live violin. We cannot do more, Lampenius said.
Lampeniuk and Parkkos were also asked if there is something exciting about the show.
– Every single step, jump, pirouette, fire, fall of the violin. Everything, Lampenius laughed, stating that excitement motivates him.
Lampenius and Parkkonen identified the people and the music as the best moment in visu so far.
– I have been able to meet great people here. Vienna is an incredibly beautiful place. Sen has learned that it is not worth coming here for a couple of days. Yes, it’s worth staying here for a week, Parkkonen said.
– And apparently it’s nice to go jogging here, Lampenius said.
– Yes. And good golf courses, Parkkonen stated.
