day 1 – Loïc is in the place – we are too !

Well… Here we go !

First technical rehearsals of the semifinalists. Moldova is opening the ball but obviously, Loïc is the one Ethan is looking forward.

Moldova
 

 
Aïtor : It’s a pitty Eduard forgot to visit the hairdresser… he was much more cute in the Ukrainian national finals. Concerning his performance : if you like the leather, maybe this is for you. About the stage : it looks small and those lightning tubes take a too big place. Anyway, it is beautiful on the TV screen. Note : they have only broadcast the last rehearsal, it’s difficult to give further information…

Ethan : There’s still a lot of work… Eduard is surrounded by cops you might expect in a low-end porn. The least we could expect from the Ukrainian delegation… Sorry the Moldovan delegation. The stage does not work on the screen as I thought it would, but we’ll see how it gets “alive” through the 40 tracks. A camera located above the stage provides beautiful images.

Armenia
 

 
Ethan : Mournful ! 3 endless minutes. 6 guys shouting together, but failing to form a group. 2 of the girls really seem to take it very seriously, which adds to the ridiculous side of the whole thing. In a word : mismanaged. I’m gonna now visit the press center’s smoking area…

Aïtor : It doesn’t work (for me…). The blond girl looks terrified, we can even see sweat traces in her underarm!!! And there is one of the male singers with a double-sleeve suit… some might love that…
Anyway, the apricot tree (do you remember 2010?) is back on the stage (on the back screens). And the drawings in the floor screens are great. Some of the people around me like the thing, but for instance I don’t see Armenia in the final this year.

Belgium
 

 
Ethan : He’s the one! This is The song of the year, the rehearsal we got to see today is not that cheerful, but has the potential to be. The lighting and video background are very good, as Loïc’s choreographed parts. The only real problem for me is the staging of the backup singers, theirs movements (I point – you look at) are senseless and are a disservice to the whole act.

Aïtor : Due to some technical issues, it is difficult to watch the complete act from Belgium. But Loïc’s vocal performance is outstanding, I love it! The group performance, however, is not ready yet… I guess they will manage, this is just their first rehearsal : I’m pretty sure Belgium is the final!

The Netherlands
 

 
Ethan : Bursts of laughter in press center… Talking about a plunging neckline to describe Trijntje’s dress, is not enough to describe the thing. And please hide that hole in the shape of a star on her right buttock ! Nevertheless, the Dutch have prepared their first rehearsal… Aside from dresses (the chorus ones aren’t better…) and that veil thing at the beginning of the song, it’s still not bad.

Aïtor : Barbara Dex !!! I still remember how THE dress destroyed any chance of a good ranking for Lydia (Spain 99). I hope that Trijntje has any other thing in her luggage … otherwise she might ask Ruth Lorenzo, who managed to find a dress just 48 hours before the final in 2014 …
That is: I do NOT like the Dutch clothes! Even those from the choristers … it’s a piece of nonsense!
OK, I’ll try to say something positive: the “Trini”, (a familiar name given by the Spaniards to this amazing singer) sings very well, better than in the studio version. So she still can hope for a qualification!

Finland
 

 
Ethan : Gott sei dank – it lasts only one minute twenty ! Rock realization that actually suits that long Finnish cry, which hopefully, will remain in its semi – but it would be a surprise.

Aïtor : I don’t understand why this song is so high in the bookmakers… If it ever went through the finals it won’t be for musical reasons! But at least this can be a positive point for the song right after : Maria Elena will look like a real greek goddess!

Greece
 

 
Ethan : Maria-Elena vs. Trijntje for the deepest neckline comp’. The lighting are very effective, with the first use of the Austrian eye’s “pupil”. But this song is so boring …

Aïtor : Another one who can actually sing! Better than expected, and after my headache for Finland, this performance stands out! I had already some hopes for Greece, now I am even more confident! At least the jurys should like it. Televoters, however, might give the could shoulder to it (as Ethan)!

Estonia
 

 
Ethan : Very first “Wow” of this contest. Forget the good performance of the national final, here is the Estonian Very good performance, heading for a likely top 5. They even managed to make Stig Rästa look beautiful ! The visual is a shadow effect on the ground. Close-ups play with tubes that draw the stage. Black, white and gold, the color set is as beautiful as simple. Obviously there are still many adjustments to make, but Estonia is definitely in the race…

Aïtor : We knew they had big chances to do something impressive, the song is great, but there is still some work to be done : they don’t seem comfortable on stage, too serious, and I should say that they even look quite lost concerning their position on stage for their shadow’s stuff. And I do not like those golden tubes behind them either … So this is what differentiates them from last year’s Dutch people, whose staging was really beautiful indeed. However I am sure that all this will be under control for the semifinals. In any case, their passage to the final is guaranteed, and they still can dream of a podium on May 23rd.

FYR Macedonia
 
Ethan : Uh… What the F *** it is ?! Well… Can anybody explain the hip hop choreography (slow version) with Kurt Calleja gimmick. The whole thing next to a Greek temple background with sky as kitsch as the one of the French video. A pretty good song but an almost certain elimination based on that first rehearsal…

Aïtor : He has brought the winners of some Grammys to do the choirs. Ok, vocally it is correct. But the rest… the choreography reminds me of some kind of children stage at school… Come on, you can do better thant that! At least the images on the screens are ok (but one might wonder whether they represent greek or macedonian columns…). Conclusion : the Macedonian TV have some homework (change mostly everything) for their Friday rehearsal!!!