The dress rehearsals are in full speed going on. Everything must happen to plan, but unforeseen situations, like technical issues, personal issues, etc. must be included in a live show like this. We have followed the dress rehearsals and we can admit that there is going to be a great and entertaining evening with lots of sweet Eurovision memories.

In the opening sequence shows a lot of parts of the Netherlands and laser-like rays going from place to place, a little bit like beaming at Star Trek. Then Duncan Laurence is opening the stage with his song “Feel Something”, the stage is looking fantastic, everything red and it shows the capability of what could be created.

Then the four hosts Edsilia Rombley, Chantal Janzen, Nikkie de Jager (Nikkie Tutorials) and Jan Smit welcome the audience in the Ahoy Arena as well as the TV spectators all around Europe and Australia. Funny to see that Nikki is the tallest person and the others seem to be very small.

After the short introduction the first song is about to start. This year the postcards show tiny houses, which are placed in the most interesting locations all over the host country. These houses should give a little impression of the story and personality of each country’s artist. There have been over 750 suggestions for locations received. This is a great idea, by the way the Eurovision postcards have been invented in the Netherlands, the Dutch broadcaster NOS has used them for the first time in 1976 in The Hague.

The bridge between postcard and stage show is illuminated in light rays in the colours of the country. It’s great to see that there is a live audience in the Ahoy Arena. A bit strange after all the months of lockdown, life comes back. A bit irritating is that the audience sits close together and there are no mask anywhere. Everybody in the Arena should have been tested negative beforehand.

As main interval act there is “The Power Of Water” by Thekla Reuten and Davina Michelle. Water plays a major role in the Dutch’s everyday life, it’s about resilience and importance of it. There is threat and blessing at the same time. Interesting to see that dikes and locks are so important for the Dutch. It’s a visual spectacle combined in a video and on stage.

After the song presentations there is a bit nostalgia coming, Johnny Logan, who could win three times for Ireland (two times as a singer one time as a composer) is walking around a tiny house and thinks back of the good old times, then Anne-Marie David, Katrina, Eimear Quinn, Lenny Kuhr and Marie Myriam also share their memories.
Later on Nikkie Tutorials is also mentioning the big and worldwide success of Duncan Laurence winning entry “Arcade”. After the ESC 2019 “Arcade” has been downloaded and streamed millions of times even outside Europe.

The applause is a bit weird as there is the natural applause from the audience and additional from tape. That sometimes does not match, when people in the arena do not applaud, while the artificial applause is overflowing.

All in all, it’s a wonderful Semi-Final 1 with Eurovision memories, new ESC music and an exciting qualification announcement. The exact details will be published after the Grand Final.

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Author: Bernd LemmermannEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Public relations, Editor, Journalist

About me:
As one of the founders of eurovisionlive.com I am responsible for the interviews with the singers and the editorial content. My passion for the Eurovision Song Contest exists since my early childhood. The exotic music, different cultures and languages have given a lot of inspiration to me. Since my very first ESC in Dublin 1994 I particularly appreciate the get together and friendship of all the nationalities and Riverdance was a thrill!