After this year’s Eurovision season we are adding new members to our team and today you have the opportunity to meet our newest member: Elleke from The Netherlands.
Your first Eurovision memory?
My first Eurovision memory is being allowed by my parents to stay up late as a little kid to watch all the acts perform in 2006. Usually I was asleep before they announced which acts went through in the Semi-Finals but it was always great fun. I also vividly remember watching Alexander Rybak win in 2009 with his song Fairytale.
Your Eurovision journey?
I have watched the show ever since I was a young girl but really became a fan in 2009 when Alexander Rybak won. After that year I watched the shows religiously. Through one of my best friends I heard of this thing called ‘preparties’ and we went together to the one that is called Eurovision in Concert. This one is hosted in Amsterdam and I attended it for the first time in 2015. After that year I have been to all of them and I really love the energy this preparty has. In 2021 I finally had the opportunity to go to the real thing when Eurovision was held in Rotterdam and hopefully I can attend Sweden 2024 as well!
Why is Eurovision special to you?
First of all, because it truly unites Europe and showcases a variety of different music styles and each country’s heritage. It is an amazing way to get to know new music and artists, I otherwise would not have discovered. I have also made some of my best friends through the preparties and I can truly not imagine my life without them now!
What attracted you to ESCXTRA?
Since Eurovision has been a huge interest from me for so long I felt that it was time to take a next step in my Eurovision journey and join ESCXTRA. I already knew a few friends who write for this website and they convinced me to apply as well and here we are! I also study languages and culture so writing for this blog felt like a good combination of my two passions!
Your top 5 Eurovision songs of all time?
5) J’aime la vie – Sandra Kim (Belgium 1986)
4) Shum – Go_A (Ukraine 2021)
3) Dark Side – Blind Channel (Finland 2021)
I really love this song because I have listened to this band for a while before they were chosen to represent Finland in 2021 and they quickly turned into becoming my favourite band ever! It is also a great song to scream a long with when you need to let go of some negative energy!
2) Fairytale – Alexander Rybak (Norway 2009)
I really like this song because it is the first Eurovision winner I vividly remember so it has good memories attached to it!
1) Heroes – Måns Zelmerlöw (Sweden 2015)
I love this song because it is a banger and Måns Zelmerlöw is one of the first Eurovision artists I have met and saw perform live!
