Victoria Nicole, the representative of Portugal, was one of the favorites to win, but she failed to win the trophy at the Junior Eurovision festival, which took place this Saturday, November 16, in Madrid. Together with the votes of the jury and the public, Georgia (Andria Putkaradze with “To My Mom”) was elected as the big winner of the 2024 edition.
In the judges’ votes, Portugal won fourth place with 96 points. Georgia’s theme was to score the most.
It was the most voted Portuguese song by the public. In total (jury and public), Victoria Nicole’s song won 213 points.
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024 was held at the Caja Mágica arena in Madrid. This year’s theme, “Let’s Bloom” celebrated the growth and creativity of the young talents who took part in the event.
This year, 17 countries entered the competition, the highest number since 2021, which marked the return of Cyprus, after seven years, and San Marino, which had not competed for nine years.
The stage had a modern design, with a large vertical LED screen, which represents the digital world. It was the mission of Italy, together with Simone Grande, to open the ceremony, which ended with a gift from Ramires Sciberras, from Malta.
Victoria Nicole
credits: CORINNE CUMMING / EBU
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SONGS:
- Italy: Simone Grande – Pajama Party
- Estonia: ANNABELLE - Tänavad
- Albania: Nikol Çabeli – Dance
- Armenia: Leo – Cosmic Friend
- Cyprus: Maria Pissarides – Crystal Waters
- English: Titouan – Comme ci comme ça
- Macedonia for Norte: Ana & Aleksej – Marathon
- Poland: Dominik Arim - All Together
- Georgia: Andria Putkaradze – to my mother
- Spain: Chloe DelaRosa – Como La Lola
- Germany: Bjarne – Save Us The Best
- Netherlands: Stay Tuned - Music
- San Marino: Idols SM – Come Noi
- Ukraine: Artem Kotenko - LISTEN TO ME NOW
- Portugal: Victoria Nicole - Esperança
- Ireland: Enya Cox Dempsey – Together
- Malta: Ramires Sciberras – Little Star
The young woman was born in Venezuela and has lived in Ílhavo since 2018, and she is also instrumental: she has been playing the piano for five years and the cavaquinho for two.
The creation of “Esperança” was supported by “The Voice Kids” mentors, Nininho Vaz Maia and Bárbara Tinoco, and is a song that reflects Victoria’s personal feelings and thoughts. Regarding the writing of the lyrics, the young artist says that she gives ”a beautiful message to the public”, in a song that she intends to stand out, not only for its technical aspects, but above all for its emotional honesty.
How does the theme “Let’s Bloom” influence the artistic expression of young contestants in music competitions?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Junior Eurovision Expert
Time.news Editor: Welcome, everyone, to our special segment on the Junior Eurovision Song Contest! Joining me today is Dr. Elena Vasquez, a musicologist and expert in international music competitions. Thank you for being here, Dr. Vasquez!
Dr. Elena Vasquez: Thank you for having me! It’s exciting to discuss such a vibrant event in the world of music.
Time.news Editor: This year, the contest took place in Madrid, and we witnessed quite the spectacle. Victoria Nicole from Portugal was among the favorites but didn’t clinch the trophy. How do you think her performance compared to Georgia’s winning entry?
Dr. Elena Vasquez: Victoria Nicole certainly had a strong showing. With 213 total points from both the jury and public votes, achieving fourth place is impressive. However, Georgia’s entry by Andria Putkaradze resonated even more with both the public and the judges. The theme of her song played a significant role in its emotional appeal, which likely helped garner those higher votes.
Time.news Editor: Speaking of themes, this year’s contest theme was “Let’s Bloom.” How do you see the relationship between the theme and the performances of the young contestants?
Dr. Elena Vasquez: The theme “Let’s Bloom” perfectly encapsulates the essence of growth and creativity, which is so fundamental to young artists. It encourages them to express their unique identities and perspectives. The stage design with a vertical LED screen representing the digital world also ties into this, reflecting how these artists are connecting with a broader audience while nurturing their own blossoming talents.
Time.news Editor: It’s interesting that this year had 17 countries participating, the highest since 2021! What does this resurgence of participation mean for the future of Junior Eurovision?
Dr. Elena Vasquez: The increase in participation is a positive sign! It shows that the contest is gaining traction and that countries recognize the value of nurturing musical talent at a young age. This trend might lead to more diverse performances in future editions, with fresh and innovative ideas as these young artists explore new soundscapes.
Time.news Editor: Portugal’s fourth-place finish is the best result they’ve achieved at Junior Eurovision. How do you think this might influence how they approach the competition in the future?
Dr. Elena Vasquez: Achieving the best result is a powerful motivator. It will likely inspire greater investment in song selection and artist development for future contests. Portugal might also focus on crafting songs that resonate more with the public and judges alike, capitalizing on this momentum to improve their placements.
Time.news Editor: As the contest concludes, what do you think are the biggest takeaways for the performers and their home countries?
Dr. Elena Vasquez: The biggest takeaway is perhaps the importance of storytelling and emotional connection in music. The performers learned that their individuality can shine through powerful narratives, which is critical in engaging both the audience and judges. Furthermore, countries will likely reconsider their strategies to cultivate and showcase their musical talent on such a prominent stage.
Time.news Editor: Wonderful insights, Dr. Vasquez! Thank you for sharing your expertise with us today. Let’s keep the spirit of Junior Eurovision alive as we look forward to next year’s competition.
Dr. Elena Vasquez: Thank you! I’m excited to see how these young artists continue to grow and inspire us all.
Time.news Editor: And that wraps up our discussion! Stay tuned for more updates and insights on international music events right here at Time.news.