The Eurovision Song Contest kicks off tonight in Liverpool with the first semifinal, where the Netherlands will also perform with the much-discussed Mia and Dion. The biggest Eurovision connoisseur from North Holland, Katja Zwart from Zaandam, is there and has already seen the show last night. “It bursts off your screen,” she enthuses.
“Liverpool breathes the Eurovision Song Contest,” Katja from Zaanstad tells NH Radio this morning. “England has not been allowed to organize it for years. The last time was in 1997, because that is because they have had very poor results in the past 24 years.”
Spectacular show
Katja was already allowed to attend the show for the jury last night. “Well, I just bought a ticket,” she laughs. “And I can tell you it will be fantastic. BBC is known for its spectacular shows. You can leave that to the BBC. Fantastic!”
The Ukrainian flag and colors are also prominent as Ukraine was last year’s winner. Because of the war there, the Eurovision Song Contest is being organized in England.
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Mia and Dion to the final?
Katja has been a big fan of the Eurovision Song Contest since childhood. So a real connoisseur. She is not very enthusiastic about Mia and Dion: “I think it’s a difficult song. It’s a ballad and that’s not right in your head. The housewife from Lisbon sees it for the first time tonight. And will she like it? There is it about.”
The act sounded great last night and Katja gives the director great compliments. “Dreamy setting… You will see it tonight. It looks really beautiful.” Still, Katja is afraid that the Netherlands will not make it to the final: “It’s all about tension. After Mia and Dion’s performance tonight, Finland comes and it is tipped as a favorite. I would go wild in my hotel room on this number from Finland.”
The first semi-final can be seen on TV tonight at 21:00.