Gives voice to TVE to the Eurovision Song Contest, which celebrates its first semifinal tonight
For the seventh year in a row, journalist Julia Varela (Pontevedra, age 40) has co-hosted the Eurovision broadcasts for TVE with Tony Aguilar. The RNE afternoon announcer (‘Tarde lo que late’) is the female voice of the festival’s first semifinal, which will be broadcast on La 1 tonight from Turin from 9pm, deciding which ten countries will advance to the final on Saturday. . The Spanish representative, Chanel, has already guaranteed her place as part of the so-called ‘big five’.
-How do you feel when the month of the Eurovision Song Contest arrives?
-This is my seventh year in the Eurovision Song Contest and always, when these dates arrive, I kind of feel like halfway through the year. I have certain nerves, but with the passage of time I have already naturalized it. The ‘Euro fans’ often say it: the year starts and ends with Eurovision.
-Is it different every year?
-Obviously there are things in common, especially for my job which is as a commentator and similar to other years. There is some preparation work, a script, but it is clear that the gala is different every year. Each country infuses its style into Eurovision and does so in its own way.
-Eurovision changes much from one country to another?
-In what’s important, no. Eurovision as an organization advises the countries when it comes to scripting and staging of the galas. The dynamics of the competition are always the same, but each break of each gala depends on the country trying to imbue its style, its culture and folklore. But the Eurovision organization keeps an eye on everything, because it has to be a program that contains emotion.
-He told Chanel at parting that commentators from other countries told him that Spain was very well positioned.
-What strikes me about comments from other colleagues who come to me, such as Portugal or Germany, is that they like the song. They make you want to move and dance and print a lot of joy and fun. It is a very complete show. This year, Eurovision has no other choreography as good. That is appreciated and people love the subject. Everyone will defend their own, but in general the comments between the countries are positive.
– Do you dare to predict a position for Chanel?
-I think it is certain that we are in the top ten. The algorithm says between fourth and ninth place. The bets, at this point and after rehearsals, have placed Chanel in fifth place. I don’t think it’s risky to say we’ll finish in the top ten and that would be good for Spain. Competing in the ‘top ten’ would be very positive, but you also have to take the uncertainty of the competition into account. That’s the nice thing, that sometimes there are surprises.
-We won’t set expectations too high, shall we?
-The bookmakers tend to be right. I also don’t like to tune too much until I see the rehearsals and the performers on stage. I know a song works when I see it there, from the booth. In Eurovision Song Contest it usually happens that many songs, which arrive with high expectations, then empty with rehearsals and others, more discreet, are that dark horse that suddenly surprises. It happened to Conchita Wurst. We’re going to wait.
-How is the day to day in Eurovision week?
-The work of the commentators started yesterday, Monday, the rehearsal day for the first semi-final. They give us the data and tell us how the program is going to be. The commentators also rehearse with a script, which we have been doing since Madrid, but which we are perfecting there. And the next day, more rehearsals, the semi-finals and the final. It’s a non stop. I hardly ever see the city I’m going to, I take a little walk but don’t rest at all, because there are three very big galas.
-Since when do you listen to the Eurovision songs?
-When the festival ends, we’ll take a few months off and then we’ll start over. At the beginning of the year the finals of each country start and we are very aware of everything because that way you already know a little bit of what you will be dealing with and what you will be commenting on. Eurovision is a year-round job and more for television.
-What’s your favorite song this year?
-Spain of course. I also really like the song of Italy and Ukraine, which is the first in the bets and has everything to win this year because of the war situation in the country. Televoting can help you. I also love Sweden and the UK, and I think there will be surprises when the moment of truth arrives on stage.
– Do you think the war in Ukraine can somehow sneak into the festival?
-Eurovision is not a political festival. Russia has been driven out by the war, but it is inevitable that the battle will not be affected by an invasion that stands at the gates of Europe. It’s going to creep in, because Eurovision was born precisely in response to the Second World War.
-Eurofan was born or made?
– I think it’s done. I’ve watched Eurovision since I was a kid, but to become a Eurofan you have to document yourself and you have to experience the festival all year round.
-Do you have time during your work during the broadcast to go to the toilet or, for example, to snack on something?
-Normally, television booths are raised on scaffolding or areas with two flights of stairs. During the live gala it is very difficult to go to the toilet. And we don’t eat anything for dinner, we just eat a little bit before or after. We are not hungry with emotion. It’s three super-intensive hours for the commentators.
-And do you care for your voice in a special way?
-I try to sleep reasonably well and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. I try not to go to the Eurovision parties because the voice takes a lot of effort and it is the working tool we have. If you no longer have a voice, how am I going to respond?
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
