This Saturday, the final selection will be made as to which artist will represent Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. Our colleagues from RTL Infos followed the eight contestants behind the scenes during their final day of preparations.
The wait has finally come to an end. Tonight at 8 pm, the eight finalists will perform one last time before the jury to decide who will be representing the Grand Duchy for the first time in thirty years this May.
After months of hard work, the eight candidates - CHAiLD, Angy & Rafa Ela, Krick, Joel Marques, One Last Time, Edsun, Naomi Ayé, and Tali - took to the stage on Friday to put themselves to the test ahead of Saturday night.
Joel Marques enjoyed these rehearsals "as if it were tomorrow (Saturday)". His secret: "I closed my eyes and imagined a full house. I do it mentally to prepare myself".
Krick admits that "it wasn't too good because it was the first time [she] had tried singing with earphones. It wasn't comfortable, but it got better over the last rehearsals". She is confident about her performance on Saturday night, and is banking on her authenticity: "I'm going to be myself. I'm going to be myself," she says in her soft voice and with a big smile.
CHAiLD admits that on the morning of the show, his heart was "beating at 100". All this adventure, these final preparations under real conditions, "it's exciting, we're nervous", he says.
"It was very emotional. It was incredible. I had tears in my eyes", Tali says. On stage this Saturday night, she'll be going all out to her heart's content, with a constant thought for her grandfather, with whom she was very close and who passed on the Eurovision fever to her.
Several surprise guests will accompany these new stars tomorrow. One of them is Aleksander Ribak, the Norwegian singer, composer, violinist and actor who won the Eurovision Song Contest for Norway in 2009 with his song Fairytale.
16 cameras to capture every detail
In total, "there are around 150 technicians here, including some thirty from Rockhal", explains Tom Weber, head of the technical department. He takes us backstage and explains the immense machinery that has been in place since last Saturday: "To light this 120 m2 stage, we have installed 250 remotely-controlled robotic spotlights, five lines of screens on the floor and screens all around the stage to create effects of fire, sparks, and so on. 16 cameras will film the stage".
Everything was readied on Friday evening, although the last of the special effects will be activated at noon on Saturday to prepare the artists who will be rehearsing in costume on the main stage.
Backstage, they will be living the Eurovision evening in the "Green Room" on the third floor of the Main Hall, opposite the stage. From their seats, they will be able to see the performances of all the other candidates via the four screens that have been set up and discover the name of the contestant who will go on to Malmö.
They all dream of seeing their name on the screen. "I'm living my dream" and thanks to Eurovision "there's a chance of achieving my dream a little more quickly", CHiLD says.
Watch the final tonight!
Don't miss tonight's grand final live on RTL Today, with english commentary by Today Radio hosts Melissa Dalton and Sarah Tapp.
And remember, you will be able to vote for your favorite contestant!
Stay tuned to RTL Today and Today Radio throughout the day for more cool stuff about the show.