21 July 2009
By Asterope Lazarides
http://www.tovima.gr/default.asp?pid=2&artid=279467&ct=4&dt=21/07/2009
«ALEXANDER RYBAK: I get paid, just to do what I love».
[What names did the Greek telereporters call him before the ESC?] Anti-Greek?, Detestable?, Rude? Antisocial? Well, they were all wrong! These ignorant “wannabe” eurovisionologists tried to present Alexander Rybak as a monster, but his press conference at the house of the Norwegian ambassador yesterday proved just the opposite!
Our country was included in his pan-European tour for the promotion of his new album, “Fairytales”. This year’s Eurovision winner thanked the Greek audience for the 10 points it contributed to his record victory. He also praised the Greek division of Universal Music Corp. «I have signed contracts with 22 countries, but only here the company treats me like a human being, not like a product. They contacted me even before I won the Norwegian national contest».
The bad image some local media arbitrarily tried to build [= they were only 3-4 individuals carrying out that, actually] gave its place to the bright new image of a 23-year old boy with an amazing sense of humor, sharp mind and magnificent voice. We had the chance to check this, when he performed a song for us, with his violin.
Alexander composed «Fairytale», as he was looking at a magnificent Norwegian landscape on a mountain. Luckily, he had his violin with him. As everybody knows, this song was inspired from his ex-girlfriend, who broke up with him. But instead of feeling sorrow, Alexander was creative enough to turn his pain into a melody, which became a pan-European hit. What a nice way to overcome a painful love affair.
As for this famous girl, she doesn’t share the passion Europe has for Alexander Rybak. «She didn’t call me after my victory. I wasn’t expecting to call me. She has changed a lot after we broke up. The greatest evidence is, that after I won the contest, she sold our photos to make money. But I don’t care! I have this song, and thousands of people send me letters, telling me that I made them proud, because they had similar experiences».
He was equally disarming, when journalists started “bombing” him with questions regarding Sakis Rouvas. «When we say “I am friend with someone” in the showbiz, we mean that we have just shaken our hands. Therefore, yes, I am friend with Sakis». He did not pretend to be prude. He said that he enjoys his huge publicity. But he also knows that someone newer could take his scepter, therefore, he already plans for the day after tomorrow. Writing music for a movie is among his plans. But until then «I am paid a lot of money, to do what I like to do. And that’s a precious privilege!».
He is also very proud, because, according to statistics, he caused an increase for violin and traditional dances lessons in Norway. «We would like to show that classic sounds can still be mainstream, and I think we have achieved this».
The 2010 Eurovision will be hosted in Olso, on May 29, in one of the largest closed stadiums in the country. It was build at the location of the city’s older airport. It has a capacity of 23,000 seats and, as the kind ambassador pointed out: «we will not copy Russia. We are not as big as them. We don’t want to prove anything more than what we are». So, rendez-vous in Norway!
