Luxembourg did not qualify for the Eurovision Song Contest final this year. The disappointment was particularly strong for Eva Marija, who gave her all during Thursday’s performance but ultimately fell short.
Taking to the stage as starting number 4, Eva Marija performed her song "Mother Nature" at the Wiener Stadthalle on Thursday evening during the second semi-final of the ESC.
Although the Luxembourger’s performance fully met expectations – and she sang, in her own words, with all her heart – it ended in disappointment. Shortly after the results were announced, the singer appeared emotional but looked back on her performance with pride. "I really gave it my all. I sang with all of my heart. I am proud of myself and can’t wait to see what the future has for me," she said.
Dave Gloesener, head of Eurovision at RTL, stated that the performance on Thursday was strong and that Eva Marija had given it her all. He added that, ultimately, the team was proud of the performance. Gloesener referred to the singer’s own comments after the semi-final, particularly her statement that she was sad not to have brought Luxembourg into the final. He stressed that she should not feel sad, but rather proud of her efforts and what she had achieved.
Asked why Luxembourg did not qualify, Gloesener replied that, in hindsight, there are always things one could have done better. However, he also acknowledged that the semi-final featured very strong competitors. In the end, not everything can be controlled, Gloesener said. While the failure to qualify is certainly disappointing, he noted that this is simply part of participating in a competition.
Gloesener was also asked about the staging, which was deliberately kept simple at the artist’s own request. He said that the delegation was well aware of what the large ESC stage is capable of, but chose to remain authentic – something he believed was also important for the song. In Gloesener’s view, "Mother Nature" is not a song that lends itself to elaborate staging with pyrotechnics and sound effects.
