After months of preparing, Cornelia Jakobs has landed in Turin for the Eurovision Song Contest.
On Thursday, she takes the stage to compete for a place in Saturday’s grand final.
To Expressen, the artist spoke about the phone ban, the support on place from both best friends and boyfriend and the feeling of being one of the competition’s big favorites.
– I understand that now it’s expected that I’ll eventually win here, says Cornelia.
It has been almost two months since Melodifestivalen victory. When Expressen talks to Cornelia Jakobs, 30, she’s sitting in her hotel room in Turin, where preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest are in full swing.
– There’s so much love and energy. It doesn’t really feel like a competition. I met Chanel (Spain’s contribution) down in the lobby and it just feels like a school trip type. I think that is really nice, says Cornelia.
On Thursday night, she takes the stage in Turin during the second semifinal and hopes to qualify to Saturday’s grand final.
“Hope people still vote”
But even before the start of the competition, Cornelia is one of the big favorites to take it all home.
– So far it has felt like such a compliment and I feel very honored and just grateful and happy that my artistry has reached outside Sweden as well. I have received such incredibly nice treatment and support from all possible angles, she says and continues:
Do you feel any pressure to be a favorite?
– I understand the pressure, but I doesn’t feel it and it’s really nice. I understand that now it’s expected that I will eventually win here and you know nothing about that until you’re there. Voting you never know anything about in advance, it has happened before that favorites haven’t won or even reached the top three.
But it also comes with some concern.
– I hope that people don’t think that “we don’t need to vote for her because she is the favorite so I vote for my number two”. Hope that people still vote.
During Melodifestivalen, Cornelia left her phone to avoid thinking about opinions, comments and odds lists.
Before the semi-final, she does the same, a trick to be able to focus.
– Most things are really nice stuff, but that’s exactly what you don’t want to be reminded of, the whole world outside. I think it’s positive to feel that you’re in a bubble, to take in that there are 200 million people watching and how big it’s. It can be damn difficult and can take away the focus from what I have to do. It’s better that I feel that here we’re in our little bubble and not be so reminded of the world outside.
Forced to cancel
In addition to the photo break, Cornelia has also had to take a talk break. On Tuesday, the artist canceled all her interviews to rest her voice.
– There’s so much talk and just talking is what takes the most of the voice. After that long carpet (Opening ceremony) that I did on Sunday and then it was press day the day after, it was damn much so I felt extremely tired and then it was better to just take a day where you are completely quiet and come back, says Cornelia Jakobs.
– So far there was no danger but it is unnecessary, you want to be “fit for fight” when it comes.
The family will travel to Italy
In addition to the great support from fans around Europe and the world, Cornelia Jakobs also has a lot of support on place in Turin and it’s not just anyone. Her best friend Isa Molin and boyfriend David Zandén, who have been involved in writing “Hold me closer”, are by her side during the hectic days in Italy.
She took with her another best friend too.
– I even have two best friends with me, Celia Caap, who’s creative director and helps me with everything that has to do with creative. So I have Celia, Isa and David, says Cornelia and also pays tribute to the rest of the team that is with.
As if that were not enough, the family will also travel down and be on place.
– There are 17 people coming. It’s mostly family, there are two friends, but otherwise it’s my immediate family and my mother’s family, “the Skåne family”.
Translation and Subtitles by: Cornelia Jakobs Online