Day 2 in Rotterdam: Rehearsals, rehearsals
The second day of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest is in full swing. On today’s plan were: Cyprus, Norway, Croatia, Belgium, Israel, Romania, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Malta, a bit more three more than yesterday. The first impression is that some of the singers had problems to find the right tones, a lot of camera settings were not correctly executed. But it’s nothing to worry about as it is the first rehearsal for all the participants.
The first run of the 30 minutes rehearsal time, will not be shown to anybody, as the singers need to orientate on stage and to get familiar with all the screens, cameras, floors. Some of the participants, who have already been on stage did not even see their own background, while on stage.
In the viewing room right after the stage performance, the delegation is able to double-check all details, which lead to improvements and modifications. But major changes are nearly impossible, only small changes can be arranged to close to the contest. The delegations align with the production team all possibilities of the stage and what the delegations would like to have.
Cyprus
Elena is wearing a short silvered dress with shining stripes, glittering high heels and assembled four female dancers around her. Everything appears red and a big folding mirror appears in the background. The entire setting is very sexy and reminds strongly to the performances of “Fuego” and “Replay”, so at the end there is nothing really new for the Eurovision fans. Maybe for the people in front of their TV screens, who are not that into Eurovision, they will not notice that this is similar to older Cypriot entries.
- Good choreography, sexy and well sung, but nothing new
Norway
In this rehearsal from TIX, there is nothing, what is striking new, compared to the performance in the Norwegian final. The white feather mantle is a bit longer, his jumpsuit is blinking even brighter in silver colours, the clouds are flying faster, but that’s more or less everything. The performance looked great, the four devil dancers surrounded him on small plateaus and also orbit around TIX, the perspective from the camera at the ceiling makes it really looking great.
- A solid rehearsal, nothing really new
Croatia
It’s another sexy performance in this semi-final 1. Albina was wearing a tight outfit in silver, which seems to be the colour of the year. Together with her four male dancers – also in silver – it seems to be a space patrol in a science fiction movie. The colours pink and blue are dominating, there is a wind machine and hologram effects. The transparent LED wall is also in use, this means that Albina and her dancers are not using the main stage, but the smaller one on the side. For the TV spectators it will probably not be a big difference. There were also some crooked notes, but hopefully it will not happen next time.
- A dance show in a silver space look
Belgium
The group Hooverphonic is no stranger on big stages. So the rehearsal seemed not to be a challenge for them. They have also added a drummer and a background singer with a clamp ring. All the musicians have been allocated on different stands with carpet, only the lead singer Geike stands in the middle. It all appears like a sophisticated concert in a jazz bar, everything is black, even the LED screen in the background. But it gives an adult impression. Geike’s voice was excellent.
- Club atmosphere, all in black, good voice
Israel
There were very high expectations everywhere, how will the stage show be for Israel? But there was a quite plain stage show, just a bit neon colours with the shape of Eden Alene and a modern dance choreography with five male dancers. Compared with the extraordinary video-clip, the live stage show disappoints a bit and there is no wow-effect, a bit boring though. The trick dress is nothing new in the Eurovision, later she is wearing a black knit dress. At the end Eden Alene is being handed an extravagant hairpiece, which should be a crown, she added in the meet & greet.
- No wow effect so far, many camera settings are not perfect yet
Romania
In the beginning there are people laying on the floor and Roxen appears. With her lilac hair and her jogging suit everything appeared a bit bored and unenthusiastic, let’s hope that this is not the outfit for the live show. Later the floor screen turns around like a swirl, this is the best shot of the entry. Of course, the song is about amnesia, and the story will be told that she struggle with her inner self. Then the sun rises and everything dissolves in favour. Vocally there is room for improvement and the performance does not impress.
- A languid atmosphere, still room for improvements
Azerbaijan
Vocally one of the best performances of the day! Efendi and her sexy background dancers really had a great rehearsal. Optically, it’s the atmosphere of an oriental place, somewhere in the East with hypnotic elements and singing, a big snake appears. The dancing is very well made, even if the background singers seem to be a bit too tall for Efendi when bending over each other. The oriental touch also becomes stronger, when the interlude comes and the arms forming figures. The fast part at the end of the song is flashy and let Efendi enjoy the atmosphere to the fullest. Nevertheless, the stage appears a bit empty.
- A very strong performance, best voice of the day
Ukraine
The Ukrainians have brought their own little stage to Rotterdam. Naked trees surround the lead singer Kateryna, where the band plays. The outfits are a bit crazy, transparent rain jackets and Kateryna was wearing a kind of green feather stole. The song has been amended slightly, it’s faster from the beginning and gets even faster that in the original version. This is definitely something to watch and dance. The LED screens are overburdened with dance animations. From the point of singing qualities, equally strong like Efendi from Azerbaijan.
- Faster than ever, funny and impressing
Malta
The last song of the semi-final 1 with the highest expectations came with quite a plain stage. A podium in the beginning let Destiny and her four female dancers perform, later that prop will not be used anymore and in a way it distracts from the show. All of them are dressed in pink, almost too much pink and yellow everywhere, sometime she screen is divided into three parts horizontally. The pink illuminated boxes look good. The outfit with the short skirt for Destiny is probably not the most advantageous. The entire act looks like an animation movie.
- Too much pink and unused props, but solid
