The Spanish representative Chloe Dela Rosa has infected a euphoric audience with energy in the general rehearsal of the XXII edition of Junior Eurovision 2024 which, for the first time in history, will host Madrid’s Caja Mágica this Saturday, November 16. “It’s for you, Lola”said the host at the end of her song, referring to the artist who gives her name to the proposal from Spain, Lola Flores.
Before the little girl left the stage of the Caja Mágica, the audience did not stop whistle, clap and chant his nameencouraging the artist. Thus, Like Lola It was sung both on stage and in the seats because the audience accompanied the nine-year-old “singer” in each verse and cheered her on at the end with loud applause.
Around 7:00 p.m. this Friday, the general rehearsal began with a joint performance by the seventeen participants of Junior Eurovision 2024 under the motto Let’s bloom. Then, it was the turn of the Italian contestant Simone Grandewho has thrown his own pajama party on stage with a performance, Pigiama Partywhich has taken the public by storm.
When the attendees were already animated, Anabelle Ats of Estonia has defended its Tänavad. Albania has followed with Nikol Cabeliwhich has lowered the heart rate of the little ones with the ballad Vallezoj; unlike Armenia with Leowho raised them again while singing Cosmic Friend. Maria Pissaridesfrom Cyprus, has brought the reggaeton of his Crystal Waters to the brilliant Junior Eurovision stage together with her four dancers who accompanied her with an energetic dance between flames of fire coming out of the ground.
Among the attendees there were many families like that of Carla, 48 years old, who attended the event with her two daughters, ages six and nine, and some of the little ones’ friends. “They were excited and the truth is that coming to see the rehearsal before the official gala seems to me a good plan to do with them,” explained the mother.
In that sense, both minors and adults have drawn their flags, scarves, t-shirts or even baseball caps Spain and they have come to the Madrid venue with their faces painted. There have also been some attendees with flags from Ukraine, Italy or Portugal. Less ardent has been the Frenchman’s proposal Titouan that has made the public emotional with the first part of Comme Ci, Comme Ça. After the ballad, the contestant from France earned the cheers of those present with his raspy voice and presence on stage.
When it was North Macedonia’s turn with Anna & Aleksejwhich they have sung Marathonseveral attendees close to the stage greeted them with shouts of encouragement. He then sang all together the polish Dominic Arim -who also cheered on the track seconds before starting-; To my mom has been the song that has defended Andria Putkaradzefrom Georgia; the german Bjarne has sung Save the best of us; and Netherlands has closed the first part of the rehearsal with the voices of the four members of Stay Tuned and his Music. A performance that made the audience dance and in which the little artists changed costumes up to four times.
On the screens of the Caja Mágica, and before each performance, images generated with artificial intelligence that portrayed the participants in different scenarios. Furthermore, the artist Abraham Mateo He performed this Friday with his Maníaca, as will also do it this Saturday.
From San Marino with Come noi the four artists from have also sung Idols SM; the ukrainian Artem Kotenkowho has received many shouts of encouragement, has acted with Hear me now; Portugal has done it with Hopein charge of Victoria Nicolewho has won the applause of the public with his verses in Spanish; Ireland with Enya Cox Dempsey has defended Le Cheile with a lively staging; and Malta has closed this rehearsal with the performance of Ramires Sciberras, Stilla Ckejkna.
“Junior Eurovision was not going to be less”
The “junior” nature of the competition has not prevented many young people from attending the event. They were around thirtyas is the case of Álvaro, who has arrived at the Caja Mágica with several friends who have traveled from Toledo to support the Spanish company. “We are Eurovision fans and in that format. So, Junior Eurovision was not going to be less. “We have come to encourage Chloe,” he said. Before finishing the rehearsal, there was time for online voting of each country, which has placed Georgia at the top and as a possible winner, while Spain has been in 10th place.
Thus, everything is prepared for the final this Saturday, November 16, of the children’s contest, a gala that will be presented by Ruth Lorenzo, Marc Clotet and Melanie and will feature comments from the DJ and radio host, Tony Aguilar and the presenter of TVE, Julia Varela. This edition, organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Spanish Radio Television (RTVE), is broadcast again on Saturday after being held on Sunday for eight years.