rehearsal

Martina believes in her song and it shows. A very sensual performance that might be a bit too eccentric and introverted for some viewers. She is a jazz singer after all.
I'm not quite sure the staging helps selling that image. The bronze (or is it copper?) pantsuit might be a bit too shiny for a song that would need a stripped down classical presentation. Colours of yellow mixed with purple also seem like a mismatch and I don't quite get the overall concept at the moment. But Martina seems like a lovely girl and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for her that Europe will think differently about the visual aspects of the performance.

Iceland is aiming to pick up votes from Star Wars fans all across Europe this year. Svala is styled like the blonde twin sister of Princess Leia and the staging looks very much sci fi inspired.
I quite like the song, but presentation is still missing something. Hard to point the finger on it really, since vocals are very good and Svala certainly has the stagecraft and experience.

Epic Sax Guy is back. Moldova have a slick dance choreography and a modern backdrop. They have three girls as backing singers, they toned down the bridesmaid outfits from National Final Performance and I think that's the right choice. For the latter part of the performance the girls join the guys in a line. It's an uplifting entry.

Poland is a revelation for me. Angelic image, zodiac signs in the backdrop, and Kasia looks classy in a white dress. She is wearing little make up and it just works perfectly. Fragile, innocent, this has so much improved from National Final performance. Poland has really gone up in my estimations today.

Here we go. 2nd day of rehearsals and we are starting with Greece and the highly anticipated Fokas staging.

Demy starts on a pedestal in front of a backdrop of raining stars. Visually it is as clean as Demy's skin. The raining stars turn into golden drops of water and Demy is joined by two topless dancers, doing excercises in a little water pool, a water fountain hologram starts shooting out of the pool.

Vocally the harmonies of the chorus don't quite work yet, but that could be due to the soundmix and probably not something to be concerned about just yet.

Luisa stepping in for her brother, and there is not a lot to take from this rehearsal as her interpretation of the song is different.
A lot of slow camera movement and a peaceful backdrop of a forest will be quite a relief for people still disturbed by Azerbaijan's anxiety.

Finland's staging resembles what we have seen in UMK. LED floor reflecting the backdrop the only addition.

The atmosphere and intensity of this entry works particularly well in contrast after Montenegro's campness in the running order.

Finland has failed to qualify two years in a row, a streak that might come to an end this year.

Slavko is alone on stage and giving full effort in glitter pants and swinging his ponytail.
I don't know if the staging is spectacular enough to make it to the final, neither is the rather pedestrian song.
So the only thing REALLY spectacular here is Slavko himself.

It's entertaining, but the camp presentation might really struggle with jury points.

Isaiah has a really pleasant voice and he looks like a star on his spinning object.

The object presents some problems for camera angles, because at the moment Isaiah turns his back to the camera quite too often.

Australia also hired Sacha Jean Baptiste this year, and I would expect the camerawork to improve vastly during the week.

Just adding a few thoughts on Albania.

My impression is that it might be a tad too depressing. Lindita looks tormented and the imagery from the video also gives a slightly depressing effect.

It is nice, that she is joined by her backing singers, but I would like the act to convey a little more hope and positivity. There's still time to fix things though. A little bit of smiling might help for starters.