Edsilia Rombley, Dutch hopeful for the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, gave an interview and press conference this weekend with Belgian site 12points.tv in her one and only official promotional activity before jetting out to Finland next week. In the interview, she shares some of her stage plans for the big night, and talks about her feelings on returning for The Netherlands, nine years after coming fourth at the Birmingham contest of 1998.
So firstly, the big question: why has Edsilia not embarked upon the kind of mammoth tour of Europe which 2006 Dutch hopefuls Treble undertook? "We wanted to make use of this time to arrange everything well for Finland", she explains. "I want to give my all in Finland, and maybe there we'll do more promotion as it will be the centre of everything."
Making more of it
Instead of travelling the continent, Dutch concentration has been centred on preparations and rehearsals. The choreography for the song is complete, and intensive rehearsals are already well underway for an unforgettable Dutch show. Edsilia pointed out that Dutch entries to date have been lacking something of the 'show' ingredient, and this year the team are set to change all that. "We had a couple of 'shows', but not really 'show' shows. Now we're making a little bit more of it. Not too much – we haven't had much time or money, but we're trying to make the best with the little that we have." To perform the show, Edsilia's dress is being designed especially for the contest, although the designer will not be able to accompany the team to Finland.
Handsome – sexy – gosh!
There will be four female dancers and one "handsome, sexy – gosh!" guy on stage with Edsilia – "I wish we had more", she explains, feeling a little limited by the six-on-stage rule. She will, however, be taking a very active role herself, and fans can expect quite an energetic display.
The fact that this year will include a semifinal makes it a very different experience for Edsilia. Although she came fourth at the 1998 contest, she assures fans that there is no extra pressure this year. "That's there – that's in my pocket, no one can take it away from me. It's printed in the books! This is new, that was nine years ago." She does admit that the goals of competitors have changed since then: "Nine years ago, the goal was to get in the top five, but now the goal is to get to the final. In Holland, we're getting a little depressed as we're not scoring that well!"
A Eurovision thang
The Netherlands' entry was touch-and-go for a while, after a string of bitter disappointments in recent years, and Edsilia jumped at the chance to keep the Dutch ball rolling. "I was in a good mood when they asked me and I said 'let's go for it!'. They almost didn't send anyone as they were a little sad about everything. I said no – we have to do this thing, it's a Eurovision thing – it's about bonding!"
So what about the competition? "I've seen everything once – all 42 songs!" she explains, but admits that it's a little difficult to remember everything after a single listen. "But I'll check it all out when I'm in Finland. I heard a lot of good songs, so it's going to be tough. I heard a lot of rock music, but not a real pop song. And that's what we've got – a real pop song."
Edsilia treated the team to an open-air, acapella version of her entry On Top of the World before concluding the interview. You can watch it for yourself below, and read more about the event at partner sites belgovision.com and 12points.tv .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtcOFuM2gVI
