One more week to wait and then Lisa Harms will represent ‘our Drenthe’ at the Regional Song Contest in the Stadsschouwburg in Utrecht. Today the participants could already try out a foretaste. During a press conference, all candidates explained their ambitions and were unanimous about the added value of the Eurovision Song Contest.
A mix of cultures and regional languages was represented at the introductory shelling. A soft one g from the South, possibly from the North, but not a single dissonance.
“For me this is a very great honor,” beams Emmy Akkermans, the Limburg representative. “I think it’s fantastic that I can do this and I’m really looking forward to it. Music is very important to me and has helped me a lot with become open in life. It is an honor that I, and together with everyone, can do this.”
The ‘own’ and sjoene The Limburg dialect is characteristic of the province, Akkermans knows all too well. “Regional language is very important. It is very unique in a certain way,” she appreciates.
Melissa Pander, the Frisian of the Eurovision Song Contest, adds. “I think this is very important. I think it is important that there is a lot of attention for regional languages and dialects in the Netherlands.
Stefina, who will present the final of the Regional Song Contest on Saturday: “It will be great fun. This is a way to give regional language a stage. And Drèents is beautiful, so why not?”, she believes Harms will have good chances.
If you want to follow the Regional Song Contest, you can watch RTV Drenthe next week. The final will be broadcast live on Saturday, November 4.