escYOUnited
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Czech Republic CZECH REPUBLIC 2020 - Benny Cristo - Kemama
- Thread starter escYOUnited
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nofuxCZ
Well-known member
I don't think our NF was that bad this year, but Jan definitely exaggerated a bit for sure, so it's possible he's exaggerating now as well. 
Anyway, he said that while he linked an interview he gave to one Czech magazine. I'm too lazy to translate all of it so here's a little summary:
He mentions that after our first success in 2016, they became a bit arrogant and thought they "know" how to do Eurovision.
In 2017 that backfired - not because of Martina Bárta but mainly because they tried to push her into something she didn't want. They realized that authenticity is one of the most important things so they are looking for good songs and artists which would have connection to what they sing, nothing artificial.
Jan says that winning Eurovision is not their goal, it's their dream. They would be stoked if it happened but it's not their primary goal - the goal is to put Czechia on musical map of the world.
He mentions that few years ago they had big troubles to get Czech artists or Czech songwriters into Eurovision.
For 2020 they received about 70 Czech songs while 4 years ago it was just 8.
One of the ESC team successes is that they managed to turn the opinion of many singers and producers about Eurovision - few years ago the singers thought that ESC is a bizarre project everyone is laughing at and thus if they participated, people would be laughing at them as well. Now they view it as a big opportunity for them and their careers.
Some NF tidbits he mentions:
- Finalists will be revealed in January, most of them are young
- Combination of well known faces and total newcomers
- Male and female singers and one band as well
- All 8 songs are of different type, slow, mid-tempo and uptempo as well, but most of them are mainstream sounding. One of the songs is totally different
- They are working on the final versions of the songs and the stagings
- As per voting, there will be international juries. For televote, they would like every voter to vote for 3 songs, but are not sure if it is possible technically yet
Anyway, he said that while he linked an interview he gave to one Czech magazine. I'm too lazy to translate all of it so here's a little summary:
He mentions that after our first success in 2016, they became a bit arrogant and thought they "know" how to do Eurovision.
In 2017 that backfired - not because of Martina Bárta but mainly because they tried to push her into something she didn't want. They realized that authenticity is one of the most important things so they are looking for good songs and artists which would have connection to what they sing, nothing artificial.
Jan says that winning Eurovision is not their goal, it's their dream. They would be stoked if it happened but it's not their primary goal - the goal is to put Czechia on musical map of the world.
He mentions that few years ago they had big troubles to get Czech artists or Czech songwriters into Eurovision.
For 2020 they received about 70 Czech songs while 4 years ago it was just 8.
One of the ESC team successes is that they managed to turn the opinion of many singers and producers about Eurovision - few years ago the singers thought that ESC is a bizarre project everyone is laughing at and thus if they participated, people would be laughing at them as well. Now they view it as a big opportunity for them and their careers.
Some NF tidbits he mentions:
- Finalists will be revealed in January, most of them are young
- Combination of well known faces and total newcomers
- Male and female singers and one band as well
- All 8 songs are of different type, slow, mid-tempo and uptempo as well, but most of them are mainstream sounding. One of the songs is totally different
- They are working on the final versions of the songs and the stagings
- As per voting, there will be international juries. For televote, they would like every voter to vote for 3 songs, but are not sure if it is possible technically yet
It's possible in our app. We have 5 votes and we can distribute them how we want.
ps. Hope to see another Czech representative at Vidbir.
Preuss
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I've got a feeling that the Czech will put forward a great final! Mikolas Josef was great, and so were Lake Malawi although I'm not that big fan of a song. Albert was so charming and I thought the staging was great and really worked and they deserved more from the public. I will never understand the recap they chose though, it was a total miss!
Ritararita
Active member
I don't know what the heck happened, but all of sudden, our beloved "hipster-in-Chief" Jan Bors announced that he leaves ČT. 
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I don't know what the heck happened, but all of sudden, our beloved "hipster-in-Chief" Jan Bors announced that he leaves ČT.
Maybe he's going to work for the EBU instead?
HayashiM
Veteran
I don't know what the heck happened, but all of sudden, our beloved "hipster-in-Chief" Jan Bors announced that he leaves ČT.
He also confirms in the comments that that means he should be no longer involved in Eurovision as a HoD. This is quite weird. He writes that it is his own decision and that he has been feeling like moving on for quite some time. His other interviews etc. certainly didn't give me such impression.
I think either he got some really exciting offer somewhere else (much more likely), or he got sacked (I see absolutely no reason why he should be though) and now acts this way to save face.
Either way, I hope he is right and our Eurovision team remains strong anyway, otherwise we could quickly get screwed and become a NQ country again...
HayashiM
Veteran
Maybe he's going to work for the EBU instead?
Is replacing Jon Ola Sand too much to ask? At least
would finally get some reasonable running order Just kidding of course
Ritararita
Active member
We need him in ČT, not in bloody EBU. But yes, replacing Jon Ola Sand crossed my mind for a second too. He doesn't seem to be angry and his whole post is basically one big liebesbrief to ČT, so it doesn't look like he was fired. Well, I wish him all the best, but I am really, really worried now who is going to replace him... and start from the zero, in a way.
We are like Sisyphus of Eurovision.
But yes, replacing Jon Ola Sand crossed my mind for a second too. He doesn't seem to be angry and his whole post is basically one big liebesbrief to ČT, so it doesn't look like he was fired. Well, I wish him all the best, but I am really, really worried now who is going to replace him... and start from the zero, in a way. We are like Sisyphus of Eurovision.
Diego
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His departure is so strange. Weeks ago he was giving an interview to the ESC channel on YouTube, recently he was interviewed by a Czech magazine about how the preparation for the national final is going. I think he must have received some pretty compelling job offer.
Now I am very apprehensive about how the Czech Republic will proceed. I hope the new HoD will continue with the recent excellent results.
Now I am very apprehensive about how the Czech Republic will proceed. I hope the new HoD will continue with the recent excellent results.
BorisBubbles
Veteran
I foresee no problems if the songs are as good as Bors claims them to be. We'll see whether his successor has the same brilliant panache.
nofuxCZ
Well-known member
I was shocked when I read that earlier today. Especially after reading his recent interview, it didn't seem like he would be quitting at all.
I am not worried about our 2020 participation, after all he was leading the preparations until now.
I hope the team can continue in the good work he started. We owe him so much, he lifted us from the darkness - 75% qualification rate - one Top 10 and one 11th place - that's impressive.
I am not worried about our 2020 participation, after all he was leading the preparations until now.
I hope the team can continue in the good work he started. We owe him so much, he lifted us from the darkness - 75% qualification rate - one Top 10 and one 11th place - that's impressive.
HayashiM
Veteran
Well there's no chance he would've been offered Jon Ola Sand's job directly, as that is advertised on EBU's career webpage with a closing date of 14. 11. 2019. (I had no idea jobs like these could be posted on a career webpage ).
But that was just my wishful thinking anyway.
(man that full stack developer post at EBU looks great, I wish I could just move to Madrid on a whim... )
). But that was just my wishful thinking anyway.
(man that full stack developer post at EBU looks great, I wish I could just move to Madrid on a whim...
) 
HayashiM
Veteran
Ritararita
Active member
No official info from ČT yet, but according to this FB post of Eurocontest.cz, new HoD will be Cyril Hirsch. He was Head of Production aka money-keeper of this year, he is also Head of Production of StarDance (cz version of Strictly Come Dancing) and he used to be a drummer in several indie bands.
HayashiM
Veteran
As there is apparently never enough of bad news, no TV national final for Czechia in 2020. We keep the online format we have been using for the last two years.
The reason given is "there is no way we get to achieve the quality level we have imagined, so it is better not to get into it yet". Based on the comments section, Jan Bors only left after the decision had been made.
Let's focus on the positive: at least we are still taking part in the contest itself!
The reason given is "there is no way we get to achieve the quality level we have imagined, so it is better not to get into it yet". Based on the comments section, Jan Bors only left after the decision had been made.
Let's focus on the positive: at least we are still taking part in the contest itself!
HayashiM
Veteran
Some more info:
- an original music video will be produced for each participant
- in addition, we will get "postcard" videos introducing each participant
- important dates: 6. 1. candidates revelation, 13. 1. - songs revelation and start of the voting, 26. 1. - end of the voting, sometime during the week after that - winner announcement.
- there are rumours in the comments (with no proof) that one of the 8 finalists has dropped out
- an original music video will be produced for each participant
- in addition, we will get "postcard" videos introducing each participant
- important dates: 6. 1. candidates revelation, 13. 1. - songs revelation and start of the voting, 26. 1. - end of the voting, sometime during the week after that - winner announcement.
- there are rumours in the comments (with no proof) that one of the 8 finalists has dropped out
HayashiM
Veteran
I find it quite possible an already promised budget had been cut and Jan Bors left as a result, but I guess we will never know...
Etanna
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so they've been working on a national final for 10 months or more, they have artists send in songs with the promise of performing on the national tv, they promote it in interviews and stuff and then 2 months before the show the HoD suddenly leaves and there's no TV national final? Seems fishy :/ I hope there aren't some big problems behind it like a conflict between the delegation and the TV itself or something.
Anyway, I find this to be rather unfair to the selected artists. Hopefully, the national final will be done with dignity and a higher budget than last year. It would be kind of sad if they had been promised a performance on TV and all they would get would be a busking performance in a metro vestibule.
Anyway, I find this to be rather unfair to the selected artists. Hopefully, the national final will be done with dignity and a higher budget than last year. It would be kind of sad if they had been promised a performance on TV and all they would get would be a busking performance in a metro vestibule.
OMG, it's low-key a mess, right? I was so looking forward to the show, something unexpected must have happened to change their plans so suddenly like that.
I hope the online NF will be promoted for a broader audience to get involved in it, because I'm not sure I want to re-live a battle between fanbases and eurofans like this year, especially if some participants are significantly more famous than others.
I was so looking forward to the show, something unexpected must have happened to change their plans so suddenly like that.I hope the online NF will be promoted for a broader audience to get involved in it, because I'm not sure I want to re-live a battle between fanbases and eurofans like this year, especially if some participants are significantly more famous than others.