Italy

Italy have just taken the stage for the first time and it's looking very good for the three young Italian guys. They're all wearing the same outfit, which consists of a black suit, white shirt and red shoes.

The predominant colours for the staging starts in dark blue, but progresses to a orange backdrop on which several famous Italian statues appear, which are accompanied by white lightning around the stage.

Vocally these guys are simply astonishing, there's no question about that. My question is whether the European audience will get the very Italian, static performance though? Right now, not all Il Volo members are connecting with the camera and that's really going to be necessary. Pierro in particular is really struggling finding the camera actually. And that's a little bit worrying.

But they did it in Sanremo, which they won, so I'm undoubtedly confident they'll be doing the same.

Italy starts the Big 7 today with a Grand Amore song performed by Il Volo. Well, I must say it was amazing. I'm not a big fan of this type of music but it sounded professional, well done and impressive.

They are all dressed in classic black suits and white shirts. The background is mostly blue, white and golden with images of monuments and sculpture from all over the world.
To be honest at some point I got goose bumps. And I'm in the press centre, not on the stage.

It's about the Cameras.....not anywhere else....this is the number one most important thing!

Well this is very impressive, note perfect, great backdrop, all very Italian obviously, but....

Is this really pan Europe enough to win the whole thing??

I am still not sure, I love it, I think it's great but it will be a niche market that will appeal to some and not others....

9/10 but still can't see it winning