Here we go with the next four songs from the first semifinal, incuding the super favorite Denmark, always dangerous Russia, gigantic Ukraine and another favorite, the Netherlands!
DENMARK - Emmelie de Forest- Only teardrops
Mainly red and yellow for the backdrop. Emmelie barefoot in her white dress starts sitting on the floor, then stands up and the drummer boys in their uniforms wander around her. Three backing singers are on stage, too. The whistler boy looks a bit scared all the time which might be a bit distracting in the close ups. They have also two gigantic drums on stage, confetti flying and rain of fire towards the end. Visually beautful and memorable, the rhythm will have the whole arena clapping along... but why I have always a feeling that Emmelie is not fully present and feeling what she's singing? Mind you, I like this a lot. But I'd like her to convince me a bit more to be able to shout to the left and to the right this is it, this is the winner!
RUSSIA - Dina Garipova - What if
She has kept the powder pink dress and has those huge light balls all over the stage (Valentina has only one small.....) She sings heavenly but why does she look so sad and miserable most of the time? The song is sort of sad, but ... smiley eye goes a long way. Or call it blink of hope if you want. Blue and pink are the main colors of the stage that looks a bit dull to say the truth in this number. Her four backing vocalists walk to the stage when the song gets a bit stronger and after a while the two guys take their balls and throw them to the audience before joining hands for some heal the world action. The song is one of my favorites but the staging.... Oh well. Let's say it could have been better. It looks very stiff and over rehearsed now.
UKRAINE - Zlata Ognevich - Gravity
Igor, Zlata's giant dressed like a huge insect carries Zlata to the stage and she's wearing like a butterfly's chrysalislike dress. Then we are off to a fantasy dream to some spacy jungle Belarus can only dream of with their "planet Solayaoh". Zlata is stunning, so are her vocals, the song has its hook. Is this brilliant or over the top? I don't know. I only know a trip to Kiev is a possibility next year.... How come everyone was saying this year is so bad, there are so many possible winners and Denmark may be leading the polls but it's victory is far from certain at this stage!
THE NETHERLANDS - Anouk - Birds
After Ukraine's colorful explosion it's time for a total contrast, Anouk dressed in dark, on a dark stage singing a dark minimalist song. Certainly different. Hypnotic. But will it be getting people to vote for it or just stare and watch and wonder if something's going to happen? Or the opposite, hoping nothing will happen and break the magic? This is dark, haunting, almost scary. In a good way! Very interesting to see how it will end up.....
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