Welcome to the live blog of the jury rehearsal of the second semi final. This is the moment of truth for another bunch of participants hoping to make it to the final. Tonight, they can make a first step and I’ll be here to praise and bitch about anything I see. Buckle up - and let’s get started!
Shocker, EBU intro is still the same.
Opening
We see one of the hosts backstage pretending everything is organized and we’re all set to go. Why don’t you fix the sun if everything’s so well-organized, eh? Opening on stage consists of various lush Italian men in suits dancing.Very cheeky. People in green cat suits joining now and I’m not sure why because there seem to be no special effects.
Hosts (minus one) walking in and welcoming everyone (and the four excited fans in the audience). Laura Pausini looks better than during the first semi. The other hosts now notice the one host who made sure everything is well-organized is now back from his well-organizing.
The other hosts have now been impressed by Mika’s French and we’re off to go. And so ESC has begun.. again?
Finland
Lead singer still has a huge forehead and going for that Chucky look. Singing is solid. Not too keen on the stage that has been filled with huge balloons. Overall the basic “look at us being rocky” vibe. Should probably qualify.
Israel
Yas, gurl. Opening has a runway show vibe. Graphics on the floor and the use of props is rather slick. Dancing is on point. This brings much needed fun to the stage, especially after Finland. If Israel was in last night’s semi, this would’ve made it. I suspect it might struggle tomorrow night.
Serbia
Brilliant or bizarre? I’d say brilliant, but I was wondering how they’d translate the brilliance on screen. The answer: the lyrics are subtitled. Despite that, will the audience get the meaning in between grabbing snacks (nom nom) and drinks (a dry white wine please) though? If not, I’m afraid people will tend to get bored easily.
Azerbaijan
I see Azerbaijan has copied Farid’s stage choreo, removed the transparent cage and purchased stairs. There’s nothing wrong with the staging, but there’s also really not that much that makes it stand out. It’s all a bit impactless. Vocals are solid and should receive a fair share of points from the juries tonight.
Georgia
On par with the awfulness they brought to Rotterdam, but at least Tornike was easy on the eyes. Oh right, eyes.. eyes, mouths and possibly other body parts are part of the graphics projected on the LEDS. But of course you knew that already because this is the gazillionth rehearsal. To me this is as hopeless as Bulgaria was yesterday.
Malta
First impression: gorgeous staging, Emma looks stunning. But at the same time: oy, shaky vocals. It’s a pity because I think the song has potential to do better than it’ll probably do. Shaky went to terrible real bad in the meanwhile. It sounds like they’re only making use of the on track backings, while she probably could’ve used the help of some singers om stage as well. I’m afraid this is a non-qualifier. Unless they paid the juries a little extra of course.
Small break
Did I say Laura looks good? Haha, silly me. We’re getting some information about the San Remo Festival now and some cringe lines from the hosts.
San Marino
This is so pretentious and ridiculous it becomes amazing. Achille brings the Måneskin appeal without the song or talent. The staging is everything every average Eurovision viewer expects from Eurovision; glitter, glammer and pyro. This will do really well in televoting, I imagine. Crazy thought, could this go Top 10 on Saturday? He sounded solid too.
Short break again, before we move on to Australia
I was expecting quite a lot going by the fact this is pretty high up in the odds, but I find it a tad.. irritating? I’m not buying the fashionable look, the song is mediocre at best and his endless whaling makes you forget the nice features there are to this performance real bad and remember. Juries will probably save this, but I doubt many people will pick up their phone for this. Marija Serifovic ain’t winning again this year.
Cyprus
Dodgy vocals and she seems to be off from the track a little in the beginning. Ouch. Nice prop, but really doesn’t add anything to the performance. A complete waste of a great song. She completely blands into her prop which makes her stand out even less. There’s as much charisma on stage as there are visitors in the audience. Emma’s vocals sound fine now.
Ireland
A nice surprise after the Irish screw-up of last year. Is it unique and total awesomeness? No. It *is* a very welcome breath of fresh air after the line-up we’ve seen so far. Vocally solid’ish. She could really use some help from backings. I’d say this has a good chance to make it into the televoting Top 10. I’m afraid all in all the juries will keep this out of the final though.
North Macedonia
Anyone who’s followed the news around her can’t help but feel sorry. I’m a little confused here.. she sounds bad? Is she purposely not making a proper effort? I thought she was a better singer. I’m a little baffled. She better asks for political asylum in her last sentence.
Estonia
Stefan is looking very lush and sounding very stable. The staging is sufficient, nothing too special, but it’ll do the trick. Pretty safe qualifier, I’d say. He’s actually the first one who manages to hype up the audience.
And yet another break, Mika is going on about alarm clocks for some unapparent reason.
Romania
Romania brings some much needed fun to the line-up, although it’s surprisingly tame. Vocals aren’t great and therefore I’m afraid the juries will bury this. As a Eurovision fan though, I’m really digging this and hoping the televoters will pick it up.
Poland
I can see why this allegedly received so many applause from within the press centre. The staging is well done, although it has some really rough parts of incredibly cheap on-screen graphics and effects. My problem with this isn’t so much the staging or the song, but rather him. He has the charisma of a sandwich and hardly ever makes a connection with the camera. I suppose this will qualify, but no freaking way this is coming anywhere near winning.
Montenegro
First impression: gorgeous staging and Vladana looks beautiful as well. If she sounded anything like on the studio this was a sure qualifier. Now, with these vocals, it’ll be tough, but not as unlikely as the current odds might suggest.
Belgium
From the very first few notes Jérémie shows he’s vocally very capable. Capable is how I’d describe the staging as well. I can’t really find anything wrong with this apart from the fact it’s all a bit repetitive and therefore boring. A few notes off towards the end as well in his eagerness to vocally impress. I’m fearing for Belgium’s qualification.
Sweden
Whatever you saw at Melodifestivalen. Flawless. The first real contender for victory on Saturday. Head and shoulders above anything else.
Czech Republic
I was afraid this would be this semi’s Austria, but the staging is slick, her vocals are much more stable and the song definitely belongs in the Top 10 here as well. Qualifier.
Going through to the final:
🇫🇮 🇷🇸 🇸🇲 🇦🇺 🇪🇪 🇵🇱 🇲🇪 🇧🇪 🇸🇪 🇨🇿
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