ESC 2017

Last time I said Azerbaijan would need to tighten the camera work a lot. And wow, what an improvement this time. Absolutely loving this and the horseman moves. Fantastic artsy entry.

What I most noticed seeing the first run in the hall is that there is a hidden backdrop that hardly gets noticed on screen (because the camera focuses on the box DiHaj stands in): an overview from a city. I thought it was actually not shown at all, but seeing the rewinds on the screens here in the hall now, I notice that is not correct. I hadn't noticed it before, so it's either new or just doesn't catch the attention. For those in the hall the performance is less interesting to watch than it is on screen.

Vocally Dihaj is on point, but I still have my doubts on the long high notes in the chorus. The second part of the performance is also a lot weaker visually. There's probably a whole concept behind this but I don't think people will get it just from seeing and listening to the song once.

I have one comment for Finland, it's still beautiful and magical of course, I'd just like her hair styling a bit more casual like in first rehearsals, but this might be just me.

And that's the first goosebumps of the day for me with Finland. Absolutely magical to hear and see this in the hall. Of course it's all personal, I'm all aware that there are people finding this song and performance boring, but with this song I am not for a second bothered by the fact that Leena is standing on one spot without moving from her place, as the song and her vocals are more than enough to move me.

After the songs we have had before, a few quite shouty ballads and a completely over the top strange performance, I think Finland will come across very very well. It deserves every point and vote it can and will get.

Norma John have now performed the song 3 times and each time was as good as the previous one, goosebumps each time. Other than that, not that much to add. Finland is ready.

A similar looking rehearsal for Montenegro. Moving spots all through the hall again make for a great atmosphere, the backdrop of a 'galaxy of stars' is of course very fitting - only what actually happens on stage might be a bit too much, or too little at the same time. The performance is of course there, Slavko knows how to grab attention with his grand movements and braid waving / throwing through the air, but he's also just there on his own on stage, no backings or dancers visible.

Once the chorus moves in however, Slavko is his own backing dancer(s) with images of himself on screen, braid and nude upper body included. Then during the second verse we get the zoom from above while Slavko is moving on the floor (still the same over the top image with way too much lipgloss), this image is not visible for the audience in the hall unless they watch the screens in the hall (2 on each side as I mentioned before).

I like the song, it's something different in this first semi-final but at the same time I have mixed feelings about it. I'm afraid it could be a bit too different/strange/weird for the average viewer.

Haven't mentioned the vocals so far, but in the hall we can notice again that Slavko is a better dancer and performer than singer.

One addition to Montenegro's rehearsal.
At the moment Slavko reveals the glitter pants under his skirt the camerawork should catch that moment a little bit better.
My impression is that the show could use a few more hilarious props to keep viewers entertained.

Blanche is getting more used to the stage with run after run. It is a unique entry, that doesn't quite live up to its potential. Not a fan of Blanche's white dress with silver ornaments. Borderline.

Time flies when you're having fun so we're already on the last song before the lunch break - Belgium's Blanche with City lights. I'm curious if there have been any improvements as the first rehearsal was not that appreciated to put it nicely.

She's on stage already wearing a long white dress with butterflies on it, could again be seen as a wedding dress but this time even more than with Albania - and they're going to be right after each other!

Starts with a dark stage, but very quickly white spots and visuals on her and moving all through the hall, which immediately gives the idea something is happening. It keeps on looking nice in the hall all through the song, but she's still standing there solid as a rock with hardly any movement, except that of her arms. Also the vocals are not that great during the first run, before the key changes when she sings in a high pitch and afterwards it sounds completely painful. The end of the song comes very sudden.

The camerawork for Australia has much improved from first rehearsal. The turning platform is cut out most of the time. More close ups but he is not finding the camera in all of them yet.

Isaiah is on stage now and just did the first run of the song. Until the visuals start on the led-screen behind the stage, there is actually no atmosphere in the hall at all as it's completely dark. Another thing that can't be noticed from the visuals the way it will be shown on tv is that almost during the entire song there is one or more images of him on those led-screen, which is really too much for me. It's distracting for who's in the hall and might get people to focus on the wall instead of on the singer on stage, but then, could that be what they want?

Other than that, Isaiah sounds fine and I don't notice major changes from the first rehearsal.

Still a pyro curtain and fountains during the last chorus on the still run. From the hall it looks redundant, but I can imagine on screen it might just be a nice extra touch..