GERMANY: The Big 5 countries of the Eurovision Song Contest - Spain, Italy, Germany, UK and France - cast aside any competitive feelings during a sunny trip down Germany's Rhine river

Record ID: 643743

  • Title: GERMANY: The Big 5 countries of the Eurovision Song Contest - Spain, Italy, Germany, UK and France - cast aside any competitive feelings during a sunny trip down Germany's Rhine river
  • Date: 12th May 2011
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH ENTRY, AMAURY VASSILI, SAYING "It is great for France to be favourite because they haven't been for fifteen years so this gives me extra motivation to win. I will do my best."
  • Embargoed: 27th May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany, Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA67NBC8ABUGV512ABNE29S77EU
  • Story Text: There was a festive mood and the sun was shining as the Eurovision Song Contest's so-called "Big 5" musicians kicked back and enjoyed a boat trip down Germany's river Rhine on Wednesday (May 11).
    With just three days to go until the groups from Spain, Italy, Germany, France and the UK join another 20 countries in the final of the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest, the participants were, for a couple of hours, able to relax and forget any competitive feelings towards each other.
    The two-hour boat trip gave the competitors the chance to get to know each other, and their songs, with each act taking to the stage for a short set.
    UK entry, boy band Blue, said that, after a long break from the music industry, they see the Eurovision Song Contest as an opportunity for a successful comeback.
    "It's a fantastic singing competition to be a part of. We've been away from the business for six years as a group so when the BBC approached us, we looked at the facts and figures and from a business point of view, it worked in our favour. As i said there are 125 million people, we've sold so many albums around Europe and number ones here and there so it was inevitable for us to come back and do something on a bigger stage and show the people in Europe and the UK that we're back," singer Antony Costa told Reuters TV.
    His band-mate, Lee Ryan, said he hoped that their fans from years back would stay loyal and help them to win for the United Kingdom.
    "We hope the fans get behind us and even old fans who have probably moved on with their lives from supporting us and grown up and settled down and married and had kids. Whatever has gone on in their lives. Hopefully they will support us and pick up that phone and help us," he said.
    So far France appears to be the big favourite according to several online betting agencies and media reports.
    21-year-old tenor, Amaury Vassili, who will be singing a classical number at the final, said he was making the most of every opportunity coming out of the contest.
    "I feel really good. I am very relaxed at the moment. It's a lovely moment. I'm on a boat, we are all together, the Top 5 and it's very nice. The Eurovision itself is gigantic and you have to make the most of it because it only goes on for a week so I am making the most of it," he told Reuters TV, adding "It is great for France to be favourite because they haven't been for fifteen years so this gives me extra motivation to win. I will do my best."
    At the end of the boat tour, all of the artists, including those from Spain and Italy, took to the deck to sing "Always look on the bright side of life" together. But whether or not there will still be quite such a friendly atmosphere between the acts closer the final, remains to be seen.
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