Birgit Õigemeel to Estonians: be positive!

Photo: Mihkel Maripuu / Postimees

Postimees asked Birgit Õigemeel about her feelings, headed to the Eurovision stage tonight.

What worries you most?

The voice… that it would last and all would work, vocally. I’m a little worried about walking and moving in the dress I’m performing in, lest I stumble. But I have managed, so far, haven’t fallen over. So: the only worry is the voice.

What might happen with it, then?

It just gets tired real easy: all these interviews, the noise all around, talking loud all the time… Singing is secondary, when it comes to the voice getting tired. My main task is to spare the voice and keep silent. (Laughs.)

What is the atmosphere, backstage?

We have a dressing room of our own, and during rehearsals, it has been pretty peaceful there, as the delegations have been there at differing times. Only on Monday, the initial play-through of all songs, that backstage was crowded.

Otherwise, we’ve heard only practising from the dressing rooms next to us. We also have snacks there, tea, honey.

Once Eurovision is over, what do you think will be the main benefit you reap, for yourself?

My main expectation indeed was to get unto a platform of this calibre. Never heard the vocals’ sound as good as here. I also wanted to see how the Eurovision thing goes.

Has it met your expectations?

Yes, it has. Even if, as we have heard, it is way more modest compared to what happened in Azerbaijan. Ott Lepland told me how he had to ride in a police-coloured BMW… nothing like this, here. It’s all European-like and that makes it easier for me to be here. People are very nice – maybe that’s a difference from us, back home. Everybody just loves you here in Sweden, all the time.

What’s your message to the Estonians, before semi-finals?

It’s not a message, it’s a plea: be positive! For, even via the invisible energy, good thoughts will reach me and I hope there will be more of such. Then, I’ll be positive also.

For me, what matters most is the presentation – not to shame my people. More than anything, I hope Estonians will be with me.

I’m happy to know my friends in Kohila will be cheering me on, that sure helps. But Mom and Dad will come all the way to Malmö.