Eurovision 2018 – With two weeks to go to the contest, daily rehearsals start this Sunday and of course the Eurovision Times will do its best to cover them; here’s for the second rehearsals to the first half of semifinal 1: pics and vids will be officially released and we get to discuss, debate, analyze, predict…
So this is how it’ll work for the next 10 days or so: we will resume the system from the last three years. There is an article for the day’s rehearsals published in the morning (or the night before) with the calendar (this year, the new style and format of the official site don’t seem to help look for rehearsals, so on this article you can see a recap). You can comment all day on it, based on all the info you can gather around and as soon as I can, I’ll get working on a recap article with links to pictures, videos, etc. However, I do work (even if both 1st of May and 8th of May are days off in France, which will help) so I’ll do that at the latest in the evening, sooner if possible, depending. Usually, the girls are down there and as you know, this year the girls couldn’t make it to Lisbon.
So we’re all counting on you guys to post in the comment section all the links you find and discuss all material out there. Hope it works out great for everyone, and already a big cheers to all the sites who will post their own made materials.
Here’s tomorrow’s schedule: Semifinal 1 – Half 1 – Second rehearsal
- 11:00-11:20 Azerbaijan
- 11:25-11:45 Iceland
- 11:50-12:10 Albania
- 12:15-12:35 Belgium
- 12:40-13:00 Czech Republic
- 14:05-14:25 Lithuania
- 14:30-143:50 Israel
- 14:55-15:15 Belarus
- 15:20-15:40 Estonia
- 15:45-16:05 Bulgaria
- 16:30-16:50 FYR Macedonia
- 16:55-17:15 Croatia
- 17:20-17:40 Austria
- 17:45-18:05 Greece
- 18:10-18:30 Finland
There will therefore be 15 countries getting their second taste of the stage. The second rehearsal is 20 minutes long.
This is how it works. As usual, in second go, countries reveal much more. It is also followed by an official press conference.
The official site publishes photo sets from rehearsals and a a few seconds of what it will actually look like on TV!
The Eurovision Times 
The rose trick is so ROFL
I can’t even…I used to like that song and now this…
And he is too afraid to go off tune and it shows
True!
And we did not even see the shooting in the hand :P
Did they pay the cameraman extrta to be their flower delivery boy?
I am sure the cameraman asked himself what he was doing many times 🤣
None of the gore with the blood and open backs etc was included and in this snippet this looks classy despite Alekseev’s facial expressions which won’t get better. It has a very medieval feel to it in terms of aesthetics. It’s ok.
Jeez ALEKSEEV, where do I even start with this entry….
The song itself is not bad on its own, but he is walking on eggshells by not belting out those notes where he is supposed to because of the fact he can’t reach those notes. The staging is lacking, and the rose trick is even worse than the whole “weird guy in a box wanting to fall in love with the lady in red” prop by Azerbaijan in 2013. This is a sure non-qualifier at this stage, don’t expect this to do well with the jury either to be honest. Better luck next time Belarus!
OMG, what is that? And why is he giving that rose to a woman?
LOL stommie, this year you’ll be totally focused on staging… 😊
Yes and to be honest I think there is too much focus on the performance and the staging. Almost as if the song doesn’t matter anymore. The irony is that some of the most successful songs in recent years had a very simple, yet clever staging.
I m 100% with you.
Hard to take seriously with that rose thing, but his falsetto on “for-e-ver” is just the icing on the cake…
OTT Elina
Looks competent!
Boring as hell…the visuals included
I don’t think much of the song but it looks slick and ready for Tuesday!
Slick?they all look like space cadets
Sorry, I thought you wrote for Equinox😜
I really like the staging they have for her, all in blue and white and with THAT DRESS! <3 However, although it's different and unique for this year, I really can't see this win the contest, it's indeed OTT and not something I can listen to more than once in a while. Her singing is awesome and she hits those notes easily (unlike Belarus), but I didn't see France win with "Sognu" and neither will Elina with this song, opera/pop is too divisive in that sense. The whole package remains one of the best though, but she won't be a threat to my Top 10 though,,,
It looks very effective.
Estonia : This is either flopping very bad or it will end up top 2-3. In my eyes and ears it is stunning simply, unlike anything else this year. The dress while it does not look as big as on the EL stage, it does not look small either thanks to smart camerawork. Close ups to Elina is the secret – she is so graceful its a joy to watch her. It’s a very tough one to pin down in terms of result but it’s unique in the best possible way imo.
I missed Croatia because I was hungry and ate a döner kebab. Yummy!
How was Franka?
Equinox
Love the song but this doesnt look OK,does it?
Again, the song is one of my favourites to win and the ambience it creates in the arena will be pretty cool. The vocals sound decent enough, although they don’t sound as synchronised as I’d like them to be but the staging is a real let down.
If only I was the staging director for some of these entries, I honestly think we can all do a better and more creative job than this lot (especially when you realise Bulgaria’s staging is done by Sacha Jean-Baptiste). It looks quite amateurish and doesn’t do the song any justice in terms go setting the scene for a “alternative sounding” entry. I personally would have loved to see them:
1) Experiment a lot more with the lighting, maybe some taller LED screens behind each of them that acts as a reflection of them or creates a cool lighting effect during the chorus.
2) Clearer camera cuts.
3) More “edgy, alternative” outfits that are not as dark in colour, as it blends in with the background and lighting too much. A silver-white or grey outfit for all of them would improve a lot. It looks as if they all decided their outfit on their own…
The other thing that worries me is the lack of cohesion between them, they don’t feel or act like a band, more like individual artists competing for who can sing the best. Hope they improve on this before the semi-final. :/
It does! the best camera work today and good concept!
They look disconnected….no chemistry whatsoever
I love the song too, but this looks extemely bad. The wide angles work perfectly, everything else is just embarrasing.
Especially when they split screen
Pure horror! I really don’t want to see their faces on big screen and HD!
Thanks. :) … but I don’t watch clips at this point. Have you read or heard anything about Franka?
Competent but uneventful
Sounds good to me. That is pretty much a synonym for ‘right up Toggie’s alley’. :)
I prefer her to Elina for sure
PB’s report on HRV is now on: Vocal fireworks, delicate, presence, captivating, intensity, sensual, self-confidence etc. There is a fanboy. :)
I think She will qualify
I LOVE the first triple shot and the merging it adds such a dunamic to the performance. Lighting nice as well. They need to show some more passion in facial expressions. Very pleased with this.
Lol, does she really need that sofa by the side to sit down on?
Definitely very awkward….Thay can sing and the song is very good but is it enough?
He doesn’t look pretty much excited about his performance in the end :(
No,becasue he couldn’t really do any move.He was just marking his spots for the cameras.
This must be his first runthrough. He seemed satisfied with his second and third runthroughs reportedly.
The guy just went out of the hospital… It’s only natural that he isn’t 100% yet.
Lisbon postcards:
Lisbon can be very inspiring 😊
LOLst and found in Lisboa 😊
ROFL
Inspector Gadget
:)
I love it!
Good, very good!
ugh this is an assault..to all senses. Has no viability beyond the esc bubble.
Zhana is lip synching her part with the backing vocalist doing the actual singing.
So she should get back and give the wig to the backing vocalist
lol.That’s an option.
The central personage is very obviously lip-synching. And that sofa breaks the symmetry on the left side…
We pretty much knew that would be happening the moment the news came out.
I started suspecting it after the London pre-party.She’s the winner of X-factor so it’s strange she’s doing that.
This is so effective (taking under consideration the actual footage as well). Lighting is probably my favourite thus far and this futuristic feel is very fitting. I do not see the whole “they are not cohesive” thing, I think they interact nicely. Zhana on the left of the stage before she takes the center is a haunting figure. This has sophistication and simplicity. Great job imo.
They sound good live, but the ensemble remains aloof, cold and menacing, well, pompous is a better word to describe it.
The stage direction is also effective with the split images merging to one.We need more Vladdi close-ups but with not that hair. :P
I agree. :)
Too cold and “noir” for my taste overall, both musically and visually. Perhaps there’s a hint at opera aesthetics in the presentation.
Eye Q
Very good song but the staging is tasteless…I won’t even talk about the costumes…they say there is a costume change as well…Geeez!
What is she wearing? It’s ugly! Not impressed by anything else either. :(
I only listen to one man singing :o
The problems here are endless but let me just say that I just get a lack of enthusiasm and investment from her which is the most dissapointing thing. Other than that outfits, dance, and the vocal mix, especially Bojan’s voice in it are all wrong. This is edging itself closer to Iceland and the bottom 2 of the semi I am afraid.
F.Y.R. Macedonia alwaysvzstruggle with making a “overall concept” for their acts. Kaliopi in 2012 was their best overall work to date in my opinion, although the standards that year were crazy high. Somehow they seem unable to create an impressive package on stage: it’s either the song or staging that ruins the act when it comes to the live performance. In the case of “Lost And Found”, the staging swallows them and makes it look very basic and lack of close contact with the camera or audience. The designer for their outfits should be fired and the vocals are quite weak overall, this hasn’t got a chance of qualifying in my opinion. They should have someone with competence staging this entry,a although they have a confusing song to start off with… :/
‘No way back’ they sing, that’s about right. Awful. I think this could well be last.
I don’t personally mind the outfit, but they can’t save the song in any case. I can’t see it going to the final.
It’s getting less promising by the day.
Because he says so? He also said Benji was perfect yesterday.
Well he was to my ears as well – not because escxtra and who else said he wasn’t we take that at face value either.
I read on other pages that she couldn’t hit 2 high notes…she will be in the final though I have no doubt😉
Well it has to happen first…this is one difficult semi. For example I am sure Croatia passes no matter what the odds say.
It if you look at the semi there are many Greek friendly voters and the song is good so her vocals won’t change a thing
We’ll see. In the other semi I would have no doubt but in this one I do.
We should qualify whole semi 1 and send semi 2 home,what do you say?😂
The idea that a lot of worthy acts will stay behind from this one is making my blood boil…
it’s happened before too, like in 2016
Unfortunately…Like I said EBU should hear all songs first then decide on the semis…or bring the lottery back at least they say this is our fate
La la la love <3
Franka
Looks and sounds awesome…can make a Shiri Maimun
:)
Someone wrote that it looks and sounds like the lovechild of Shiri and Iveta.
Wait she can’t make Shiri she came 4th…she can make ivita but she has to qualify first😃
She is very good vocally and stunning but..she does not fill the stage imo. At all. And this hip movement at the end of the clip..kind of awkward. This needs..something.
If she doesn’t fill the stage I don’t know who will…I think she is the pyro herself!
They need tighter shots on her if they aim for an Iveta kind of staging. Still this is not a Q as the song does not help either imo.
She is stunning !
lol someone found their esc 2018 crush :P
I am impressed. Very well done!
Very good!
I’m getting more impressed with the Croatian entry to be fair, even though I find the song too flat. I like her dress, the vocals are on-point and the overall package works for me (learn from this F.Y.R. Macedonia!). The only thing I would improve with this though is to improve the camera angles and make them more close-up and clean-cut to smoothen out the performance. Also, I think that the stage is swallowing her too much but also because this number lacks a “wow factor”. If they had done some dance-performance to go with the song, it would give the song more energy and make use of the stage better. Otherwise, she could be a surprise qualifier alongside Lithuania and Azerbaijan in my opinion.
I strongly object to dancers for this. Franka is the star, and it should be 100 % about her. On the other hand, I agree on the camera shots.
In terms of “dancers”: I’m not thinking like what they dd with those horrible dancers from Azerbaijan in 2015 or Russia this year, but maybe have her do some more arm movements and flick her hair or something to create a more impactful staging. Iveta’s in 2016 was really effective because of those holograms, if Croatia can do something with a split-screen on the TV where they show Franka from three different angles while doing hand gestures in the musical parts it can elevate the show a lot! :)
Do you like the background colour for her performance Toggie? I feel as if they could have gone for a red background, or even just have a spotlight on her and everything else in black for the firs part of the song before bursting into the orange they use now for the chorus.
Sadly she couldn’t afford Sacha Jean Baptiste🙄
Haha, indeed! Let’s pray they can bribe her into joining the Croatian boat and abandon the Bulgarian one. :/
I don’t watch the clips, only pictures because I want a surprise element when watching the shows and thus I don’t know how much my opinion is worth. LOL I Iike what I see on the pics. Regarding her stage approach, she explains in the Wiwi interview why it is the way it is: It’s all about me ♫♪♫
I did not like Iveta’s performance that much. It was too sexualised for my taste.
Ah I see, I like your thinking! Hehe, I think we disagree on Iveta there but I would have liked to see Franka be even more centre-stage than now and make the staging more impactful. Oh well, there’s always next year!
We can come back to this topic once we have seen and heard the finished product. :)
Indeed, a work in progress for now. :)
Competent singing without question, and a fine song overall. As for my personal taste I would probably prefer a slightly more “rock’n roll” approach, both vocally and visually, as the song invites to it. More unpolished…
ESC United are saying that there will be fire a curtain at the end of Saara’s performance and that she is sounding better.
Everything but a kitchen sink😃
Saara sounded amazing. Waiting for the video – she may stand a chance after all. Gosh this semi will be a nightmare to predict at least for those last 2 places…Lithuania, Finland, Croatia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Switzerland…Could be any of those.
Mikolas is coming out…of the backpack :P :
I love his sense of humour, seems like a really nice guy to have a drink with! :D
Ughhh I don’t want to just have a drink with him tho :$
Haha indeed, a cheeky spoon afterwards would be required as a minimum! :P
It’s not that he is pretty, many guys are pretty. This guy exudes sensuality and a “sexual” energy even when he performs. It’s a gift imo.
That’s right, he’s got a natural ability to make anything he said really sexualised and have this aura of “Hey baby, what’s up” which is difficult to find nowadays haha!
Well few guys can go with a “so come and give it to me” line in a song while dressed like a nerdy twink and get away with it as Mikolas did :P
I love myself a nerdy twink sometimes lol! XD
Full Bulgarian rehearsal
Before people start EBU affiliated media are entitled to 3 min of footage while non EBU affiliated media to 2 min so this is legal and legitimate here without special BNT privileges.
And I can’t get enough if it :) !
Doesn’t sound good, doesn’t look good.
Hubby
Oh my…his grey costume looks so sci-fi,he seems lost on stage :(
I don’t understand either why Cesár decided to go for Levina tribute grey … :(
He continues to seem lost on stage and the costume is not flattering at all. The vocals are good.
Things are looking good for Austria…
I have a feeling this could impress the jury a lot and I also like how he goes down one tone after high first high-pitch note on the clip, which makes it less shouty and sound more controlled. This could well finish in the Top 10 in the final on a good night! My only criticism is that they should have done something more about the artists aspects of his performance, like in the music video. I noticed how the had one camera “split” Cesar to create a shattered glass effect on the tv-screen in the clip, but it wasn’t very clear or visible enough for me. If they can ramp up those graphics and make the performance from a tv-viewers point of view (unintended pun) more texturised and showcase those artistic effects from the music video, this can do well with the tele-vote too. Go Austria! :D
To my eyes and ears, this is Australia 2017 all over again. It’s not going to achieve much in televoting
Shut up 🤐
I know you like him but there is not much stardust around him :P
Because of the grey😡
Totally unflattering outfit. I agree
I believe this a jury-favourite and not one for the public, much like Nathan last year. However, I do agree with him looking confused and I really don’t get why he needs to walk so much. Would have preferred him standing still more and then at the end walk towards the catwalk, and change the outfit as well to something more urban chic (I’m starting to sound like William form Wiwi, help me!).
or Austria 2017
Why would such a fine specimen of a male wear such unflattering clothes that blend him in the backdrop ? Very unfortunate choice. He sounds great and seems comfortable but I would appreciate him looking at the camera at the clip we saw, making a connection with the tv audience. He currently seems more invested in an arena pleasing performance but he should think about the tv show aspect as well. The screen breaking effect is veru subtle and may just make people think there’s something wrong with their tv.
Amen, my thoughts exactly! Shall we write a joint letter to Austria to be their stage director for next year?
LOL if I am to direct people like Cezar with pleasure haha – but I think there is (rare) consensus on this one, we should all go and direct :P
That would be a bonus, and I’ll be happy to hand him over to you personally if I get to keep Mikolas! ;) Good idea, this needs direct action!
#PowerToThePeople
Morgan organizes the guy distribution around here :P
yes, and Mikolas is mine, but I don’t mind sharing him. He’s the gangbang type. Mélovin on the other hand is just mine (hear that Toggie?)
Yeah I can see Mikolas not being the monogamous type even with a hurt back :-P
As far as I am concerned you can have Melovin, I prefer Benjamin by far ;-)
I don’t care for Benjamin, except maybe his hips
He is gorgeous and dorky – lovely combination :D
I’m sure he’ll “give it to me” as Mikolas would say when it comes to my favourites haha!
Hahaha you are lucky he is in a mood to share :P ;)
Who are you handing over to guitar?Over my dead body!
HAHA!! :P
Although FYR Macedonia and its broadcaster is in a more dire need of stage director right now I think….
True, and I’d honestly happily do that if they:
A) Appear in next year’s contest
B) They want to actually reach the final again
C) If they employ someone who isn’t a professional stage director. Hans Pancake has proven that point this year…
Well they will appear imo, the appreciate even just the exposure a semi final gives them. They know how to pick songs recently (even if I do not like this year’s mix and match of genres at all it has a sense of “credibility” as a sound) but they do not know how to stage them. It’s a pity
Indeed, I actually think that “Dance Alone” could have qualified (ignoring her vocal issues) if the staging was done better. So I agree with you on that.
I like your hubby a lot and I’m obviously only one here who likes his styling too. I think he looks very good in those three shades of grey.
I wish he did lead singing in Bulgaria with backing vocal group of cabable and reasonably good looking singers..
His backing vocals could well be done by the other guys of Equinox, minus the wig girl that’s is being paid to do a play-back (and not very well done…).
They can sing, but they look so tired and bad! Wiggie is the biggest joke this season. Why on earth she is there in that stupid wig. Is she being punished?
There’s in fact some BDSM vibes around that staging. .
I surely would like to spank some Bulgarian hairy arses for totally ruining this 😃
Musically the song is growing quite a lot on me. I’m beginning to like it. But I wish he didn’t have to walk around like that. It affects my concentration somewhat, and the song doesn’t invite to a lot of things going on visually.
Franka looks and sounds stunning. And she’s going crazy for good reason. They gave her a very underwhelming song. It’s as bad as Australia’s.
Not as bad, I would say, but not much better either, I much prefer Belgium and Latvia 18.
We’ve heard them both so many times before. Belgium’s studio version is one of the best this year. I like it a lot.
Amazing to see how a staging can change everything in a good or bad way
Hmmmm I think being alone on stage does not work here
I don’t think the problem is she’s alone on stage but the lack of a coherent and inspiring stage plan.
If you are all alone ,all focus will be on you and you have to slay in every way….so seem to have taken a big risk
Yes,because she’s an okish but not a very charismatic performer.At least that’s what it feels from those small clips.
The vocals seem fine, the dress is very elegant and I like those warm colours in the background (I suppose they will change during the verses).
What will happen during that long musical bridge?
No answer yet!
You mean if she’ll command the lights with her blue-painted hand?
How will it look? It needs quick camera angles to suit the epic feeling!
It looks mehh and average,atm.Being on a podium like Azerbaijan and having a greek mountain and the sea as a background would look better.It’s a song that would benefit from a LED screen.
Also, the smurf hand needs to go.
Hahahahahahahah comment of the day
But isn’t it the smurf hand that will create magic during tue bridge?
I ‘d prefer Grgamed would eat it :P
Hahahahhahahahha
ROFL
Gargamel*
She probably used too much of this when she washed her hands this morning:
Is that the bow from Alekseev’s performance too? :o
He probably knocked it from her before she could cover her face with it haha! :P
It looks irrelevant and Chali Jenning’s explanation about what it stands for didn’t convince me it’s a valid idea.
Her vocals sound good, the dress reminds me of those that a mythical Greek goddess could have worn, and the lighting works for me. I can’t exactly say if I love it though, because they cut it just before the bridge. Let’s hope something more will happen, either with close-up camera shots, having her do some arm movements (and the blue hand thing they were discussing) or have the background singers join her for the last chorus.
It is reported that she does some illusion of light manipulation with her hand after the bridge. We’ll see how it turns out. I don’t think the backings will be joining her which is indeed a pity, she could use them.
Let’s hope that it will be good because there’s a lot of hype around that part of the song for now although we’re not sure what that will look like exactly!
She will be commanding the stage lights with her blue-painted hand and then she’ll kneel.
AH I see, let’s hope it makes for an epic staging moment or else it might look slightly amateurish on the stage.
Is it only me that thinks the vocals are a tad low and muffled ?
I love this dress btw, it is so elegant. The turn is very effective as well. But still I am waiting to see more, the stage feels empty.
They definitely need to fine tune it.
The choir should be on stage! Not convinced at all at the moment. It’s a bit of a bore, this one.
Yes,it doesn’t look like a Q,atm. :/
We’ll see. I think it qualify, song in itself is so strong.
Is there some symbolism with that blue hand? Otherwise it is unnecessary I would say. The song is good enough as it is.
Yes,there’s a line in the song saying “Why do you want to change me and fade my blue away.Blue symbolises the Greek sky and sea and she’ll use that hand to command the stage lights.
It makes sense then. Good :)
Don’t be surprised if Cyprus does better than Greece this year
like in 2012
Cyprus seems like a very solid top 10 for now.
Greece a Naviband at best!
Definitely, but not because Cyprus has the better song.
I like Greek song more
Everything but the kitchen sink
At least she is not wearing any of her NF costumes…still looking very busy,she sings well though
Vocally she’s strong but the backing vocals trying to sound like the official audio sounds funny and weird.
I’m pretty sure it’s there somewhere! Unfortunately we haven’t seen anything yet.
Dress is fine by Saara standards. And this has to be the best vocal performance she has given. This is an improvement compared to UMK but I don’t get all those uber wide shots, they just do not “fit” this kind of performance. More focus on Saara is needed imo.
Wait a minute, what are the costumes those dancers are wearing?
I predict a bottom 6 in the Final
Hmmm you are in a good shape today so you mean she will qualify
Just because mainly hardcore fans watch the semis. the only way she stays behind is if juries award her less than 40p in semi
“Just because mainly hardcore fans watch the semis. ”
I think this is an aspect not many people take under consideration when predicting. It’s mainly the fandom and diaspora voters. Which is why I think for example Hungary has a much harder mission in the semi – if it qualifies and goes to the final where it can access a much larger and varied audience I think it will do very well.
She will be very lucky if she qualifies. These busy over the top performances did very bad in recent years. Countries like Romania 14 could qualify with it, but then crashed in the final. A country like Finland is probably not that lucky.
It will all depend on the jury support.
I believe she has already 60 televoting points (like Verona last year) out of which, 24 from Estonia and UK
Do you really think people in the UK are massive televoters? Especially the semi, the televote will be dominated by diaspora votes.
Well Lithuania is 12p by default, Saara could get the 10 no?
Ireland? But maybe you are right.
If she qualifies.
She’s a very good singer. I do not care for anyhthing else here.
I don’t know if it’s the bitchy mood of the rehearsals but I don’t like any of the acts so far (in terms of how they look in the clips).
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lol.She’s such a diva.
It’s a lovely gesture but in case anyone needed an example why she is doing ESC instead of La Scala or the Met: Here it is.
Elina visits press center
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