Pernilla has been nowhere in sight but today she is in the cover of Metro, Iltalehti has an interview and she made it to the YLE TV-news as well so something is happening prior to her depart for Baku later this week where she will be on the stage of Crystal Hall on Sunday for the first rehearsals and will also have her first press conference. She will travel there with her family; on the other hand the song is written by her brother and dedicated to her mother, so it's very fitting. She will leave her newly found boyfriend home though. During this spring since winning UMK she has been practicing her singing, performance, hair, make up. She promises a warm, intimate and down-to-earth performance by her and her cellist who will be alone on stage without the dancer. Main focus will be, besides Pernilla herself of course, her jade green long dress designed by Katri Niskanen. She also admits being rather nervous and exited about leaving but mainly because everyone's asking about it! She also hopes to make herself familiar with the huge stage in the rehearsals and just to forget all the millions of watchers all over the world.
She also tells she has met with Axel Ehnström aka Paradise Oskar a few times and he has given her good hints how to deal with it all, or: "Be yourself and enjoy the experience! Many people will want to advice you but don't need to listen everyone!" They know each other and even have been in the same school class at some point.
She also recalls Amsterdam's Eurovision in concert as a great event. She said she was very nervous there, too, but when the other singers came back stage telling the audience is just great she relaxed and once on stage when people sung along she felt very good. She also got a lot of support from fans and other artists there, so she feels pretty confident. She also remembers fondly how nice it was to get to know some other artists there.
But how she thinks she will do in Baku? "I will go and do my best, that's all I can do. Then we will see how far it takes me, I'd love to reach the final but you never know". Now isn't that an athlete's answer? She also names Sweden as the one to beat and likes also Cyprus and Russia.The Russian grannies seem to be this year's Lordi-like phenomenon and Pernilla admits she never believed in Lordi's chances. "They proved everything is possible and indeed, if I won UMK, everything IS possible" she laughs!
She seems to be more nervous about the long flight than the performance itself as she doesn't like flying and this is her first long trip to some exotic place. But she has studied some local things and has a stock of suitable scarves with her so she can cover her shoulders if and when she has some time to do sightseeing.
In conclusion she says "Eurovision can't be but good to any artist as an experience. There's only to gain!" Amen to that!
Comments