Eurovision 2019 – With two weeks to go to the contest, daily rehearsals start this Saturday and of course the Eurovision Times will do its best to cover them; here’s for the first rehearsals to the second half of semifinal 2: pics and vids will be officially released and we get to discuss, debate, analyze, predict…
This is how it works: for each country, you can click on the country to see a full photoset, or in the picture to watch the recap video.
So that’s it for today’s rehearsals. Tomorrow, it’s the 8th of May and a day off and the rehearsals will resume Thursday with the second rehearsals of all semi 1! Stay tune!
The Eurovision Times 
What a boring semi😑Australia looks surreal!
Considering the kitchen sinks every country seems to put on the stage these days, I don’t think this is a good development. Everything nowadays seems to be about the staging and the staging alone. A few years ago (beginning of this decade) the approach seemed much more healthy. And then there is this huge burden from the press and every fan that everything has to be perfect from the very first rehearsal. Even in 2014 (Conchita and the CL) the real reaction from the press and fans and bookies happened after the actual semis. These days however it is as if is game set and match after the first rehearsal.
That being said, I am more afraid then ever that Duncan will do a Norma John. There was an interview with a member of the Dutch delegation this morning on the radio who said that they weren’t satisfied with the camera work. They wanted more intimacy and less wide angles and they had a meeting the production team about that. Another journalists asked Duncan’s manager about the strange white orb, and he answered that that has a function but we will see that later. I am glad I have to work at the bird shelter next Saturday. I need a bit, or maybe a lot, of distance from all of this.
Nearly 20 years ago Eurovision started to change.. Television is evolving like everything else, they need to keep up with the latest trend to be relevant and trendy… But no matter what is done, good songs get good results..
I can understand your concern but it is nice that dutch team is aware of the problems and looking for solutions… Dont focus on winning enjoy the show it is clear that Duncan will get a good result
Winning? Winning was never really on my mind. I want to see Duncan on Saturday.
You will🥂
”A monster like me” IMO is a much more understated song than ”Arcade”.
I don’t think I understand what you mean.
You compared Duncan’s fate to that of Norma John..but for some reason I thought you meant Norway 2015 :p Either way what I mean is that ”Arcade” has nothing to fear. It will qualify.
OK. Well, I am a bit negative at the moment. The fact that is is freezing cold in my part of Europe doesn’t help either.
Quite contrary I think there are some interesting songs offering also diversity. Cyprus, Czech R., Portugal, Slovenia, Iceland, Hungary, Poland. And then Greece, San Marino and even Australia.
My winner is also in this semi but I am talking about the majority…I can have only 5 songs in my list..no objection to the diversity
Maybe this was more like a recap thing! A repost!
No wonder Truth sounds so catchy and addictive American radio pop, made to Dodge Challenger convertible and Pacific Coast Highway.
They have a proper top gun from Stockholm in the writing and production team, Joacim Persson. He has written and produced songs for Kelly Clarkson, John Legend Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga, Jonas Brothers, Mary J. Blige, Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez to name a few.
In Stockholm we trust!
Referring to what?
AZE’s production team. I posted elsewhere first.
Chingiz! I feel very happy and good too watching this! 😃
Very good vocals on ethno part. Choir is doing fantastic job in the chorus. They are creating exactly the same dynamic sound.
However I read a lot of comments about him doing backing vocals to his vocalists :-P
Hahhahaa, that’s how you do groovy falsetto chorus 😃
Ι send you a chocolate box via email.
Duncan describes his first day of rehearsing and there is some previously unseen rehearsal close-ups. Ilse de Lange is part of the team.
Not sure about these close ups. Playing is never good for your facial expressions. Also the jacket is not too flattering.
I don’t like his expressions either.
I’m more and more convinced that the digital piano is actually digital safety blanket.
I think you’re right; actually the whole persona he creates/projects is “don’t come too close” – which is an interesting contrast to the video.
Miracle of editing!
Makes me more clueless than ever who will win this year; still guessing SWE as compromise winner. It’s the familiar ice cold Swedish perfection but because of Jon’s personality it doesn’t seem cold.
True, he surely melts the ice. They haven’t have it this loveable since Måns he was fishing it 8/10 song too.
Yeah the song is the real weak spot here IMO but that didn’t stop AZE In 2011 (and lots of people seem to like it). So likely winner Sweden or Telemóvil.
Or S¥sterz! Fuego will rise in the first rehearsals!
LOL great minds think alike I was just going to reply to your last message that there’s no obvious winner till tomorrow!
There really isn’t!
I really love it being this open, not because I’m a notorious Flag lover and secretly wish Sweden to win, but because ESC needs a surprise. It’s been so obvious during the past few years.
Duncan is not a natural performer like Douwe Bob or Waylon. This is how he wants it, and even though I would have preferred a different staging, I guess I have to accept that this is how it will be. I heard today from someone from he Dutch delegation that there will be less wide shots and more intimacy, because they weren’t happy with how it looked on screen. And I hope there will be some connection with the viewers. Where it will end, I have no idea. Qualifying at this moment is more then reward enough.
I read about changing the camera angles. Also we basically haven’t seen anything yet. It looks very stylish and calm, song is pretty much amazing. Digital baby grand on stage won’t ruin that. Most important thing is that Duncan feel comfortable when performing and delivering his strong vocals.
It is basically the same as every other performance we saw him do in the last months. I don’t think it will make any difference whether he stands or sits or if the e piano is changed for a conventional one. What will matter is if he can connect with the viewer. In the TVOH performances he showed that he can do that. In the end it will probably look fine, without being groundbreaking or epic.
With song like Arcade you really don’t need groundbreaking or epic staging you just need connection. It’s doable even from behind the piano, maybe a bit more challenging, but that’s what directors are for.
I loved the many ones where he was at a standind mic, with all his fragility out
Since you mention the fragility, Hjallis is probably right about the safety blanket. I guess Duncan feels more secure after the piano and he will probably deliver better vocally. If that means lesser visuals, then so be it.
It also prevents too much comments about similatiries with Sobral (of course nothing in common per se, but people might think “we already voted for a fragile ballad with a standing mic recently”) whereas now they’ll think “it’s been long since someone on a piano did well”
In this video you can have a much better idea of Switzerland’s dance routine right after the bridge. At 0:44:
#monkeydancing
It looks really fun, perfect fit for the song.
Tight red chorus line lets Luca monkey dance freely. It makes it look spontaneous.
I don’t know what will be the end result on the telly but synchronicity is flawless and the vocals are fantastic. Haters should admit as much :)
It is, they are and they should. And maybe loosen up a bit while doing it 😃
I’m sure they got perfect camera angles to enhance that perfect synchronicity. Contrast it makes with Luca is just charming. This is very well thought of,
This is the one entry that I would like to be in the arena for. The only one I am going to be jealous for the people inside having all the fun :)
It will go through the roof. As accomplished and acknowledged monkey dancer I would love to be there too for these three minutes 😃
Btw, how’s your #monkeydancing?
I am turning into a bonobo very soon. Unearthing this video will accelerate the process :-P
I’m just keeping up and enforcing my usual sweet babooness 😃
Chingiz is a man of many talents. I love that flamenco!
Sometimes you want to be an instrument…
Naughty girl 😃
Duncan’s digital baby grand? 😃
No… That’s Morgan 😀
ROFL
:-D He is the azeri Måns!
And he does kung-fu too!
Beautiful worn out orangerie too.
They arrived
“Hey Sister, here we go… Everybody move your body we are dancing nor par”🎶🎶🎶🎶
There is two nooses hanging on the background 😃
I simply must sing a karaoke duet of of S!ster! with the penguin!
Would you be wandering around the room, disconnected in total agony too?
We need a huge room! Local karaoke haunt won’t do!
Sisterly drama requires huge stage. Let’s hope Porky’s blond!
As long as he actually does not look like my sister, we will be fine. That’s the prerequisite for this.
#wearesisters No you’re not!
It’s a trio – Toggie and I are doing this campaign together till total victory next WE!
Yes those r for our losing rivals.
Must be for Da Rude ft. Seb ”Kinky Boots” Rejman!
Is it true all Finnish men favor this look?
Yes, I wear those boots almost daily!
One day you’ll get real chaps!
What do you mean? What’s wrong with all these I already have?
No, no, leggings with holes in them don’t count as chaps. Not even lycra ones.
😃
Blond one might have her eyes on Barbara Dex.
Probably they will be all in black like in the official video
You can fuck up black easily too 😃
Did not like her fake leather panths but still less risky
I hope they are trying something different, more risqué to enhance the s!sterly drama that unfolds impeccably choreographed on the stage, really putting the finishing touches to it.
I don’t even think that was fake leather… I’ve no idea what it was… probably from same Primark leftovers Miki-Miki dance’s outfit.
Latex pants…just remembered
Trust me those look nothing like Latex pants; different shine :-)