EUROVISION 2018 DAY 6: FIRST REHEARSAL FOR GERMANY, ITALY, FRANCE
The Big5 first rehearsals continue with top-3 favorite France and very much underrated Italy....
Germany - Michael Schulte - You let me walk alone
Germany seems to have scored well with it's improved staging; a lot of close ups of Michael, screen graphics and powerful delivery. Seems they are the second country with home brought LED wall for the projections in black and white and red, the photos were submitted by his fans earlier this spring apparently. The duplicate image of Michael spreading his hands gets kinda psychedelic and disturbing but for the rest it looks pretty nice. At least they make the stage look very different from anyone else. Oh yes, you can't quite see it behind the LED wall, that's why... Casually dressed (for now?) and vocally strong. Did we witness some teary eyes, too? Some are putting Germany up there among winning candidates but let's not get over enthuastic here, maybe top-10 at best, right? And of course some opposite reactions: looks bad on stage.
Ermal and Fabrizio go separate ways to the bridges towards the end of the song to end up in the catwalk before ending the song mid stage in a manly hug while screen graphics deliver the message of the song. Thankfully reviewers say it's less angry - my biggest concern for the live performance -, well performed and more powerful. Great energy even if they stand still most of the performance. Some problems still positioning the screen text so they don't cover their faces (half screen a face, half screen the text). Maybe it's time the boys in the bubble wake up and see how good this is? It seems the guys have gotten a bit emotional themselves <3 p="">
"Convincing", "Powerful", "Effective", "Solid", "Fails to capture atteention", "Amazing"
France - Madame Monsier - Mercy
Vocally good, but mixeed reviews about the staging. Being one of the top favorites who knows what the boys in the bubble expected. The signature hand gesture plays a major role and without audience looks a bit weird but will work with packed arena wonders. They are in black as always, only this time designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier, and red shoes. Simple, similar lighting as Portugal. Apparently press center listened in dead silence the first run through of this very last entry this year to be rehearsed for the first time, and many hoping to be the winning onee (I wouldn't mind!) ending with a massive applause. Rather dark and simple. Some steadicam use. Dry ice.
"Simple", "Incredible effective", "Good but not instant", "A bit repetitive", "France aims to win", "Magnificient", "Stylish", "Elegant"
The Azerbaijani selection show for the represant was as long as the selection process for the five finalists. Kurt Calleja from Malta and Can Bonomo from Turkey were present with Ell/Nikki to see Sabina Babayeva to emerge as the winner after each and every finalist had done about zillion songs amongst other guests. Now the Azeri TV will shop around a suitable song for her.
Krista Siegfrids is delivering nice pop tunes one after another and this one is particularly catchy and soon you will be singing along..... Hopefully her Melodifestivalen entry will be equally good!
The Norwegian entries are now and there to listen, or here . This time Norway has only one off final with 11 songs and a live orchestra, so it will be interesting to hear how these songs will turn out as most are rather modern sounding and not so Eurovisionesque midtempo numbers. There could have been also only ten if they had dropped that joke entry from the line up. The old veterans Elisabeth and Tor have nothing to be ashamed among this lot. To be honest I didn't get excited by any of these really... Something is wrong in my books if a classic schlager like Heaven sounds almost the best... What's wrong Norway?
Małgorzata Jamroży aka Margaret has also been tipped for Eurovision and apparently she did turn it down but she'd be perfect. She's got a look and persona you can't unnotice nor forget, she's got hit songs, she has been voted or nominated for everything from Trendy artist to the Hope of the Year, Fashion Icon and Glamour Woman of the year besides the usual best video, song, album, debut..... Oh she's also a fashion designer! She's very clever with social medias and would surely use it to her advantage if selected for Stockholm 2016. Her debut album is titled Add the blonde , do we need to say more? Except it includes mostly Swedish written pop tunes like Tell me how are ya , Wasted , Start a fire and Heartbeat . And of course her debut single and internationally noticed Thank you very much that you can enjoy below with all its anti-textil feel. I think she's Eurovision perfection, she's cheeky and fun, can we have her?
Brand new studio album SEXORCISM is released tomorrow, 12 years and 5 days after their monstreous victory in Athens 2006 Eurovision song contest. It is quite possibly the most controversial Lordi album yet and already their 9th stuido album (plus three compilations and one Ep)
The 2016 Eurovision song contest organizers didn't manage it - or any of the previous ones either nor those offering them millions of dollars - but they seem to get together for birthdays, the way the old friends do. Back in 1999 they performed together in a private party for Görel Hansel's 50th birthday, and now to celebrate the first meeting of Björn and Benny 50 years ago. Venue was Stockholm's Bern's Salonger and once again in a private setting but today even they can't stop the cell phone videos and social medias. Enjoy the magic of Frida's and Agnetha's voices again.
The time has come. After all these years, 5,7 million visits, 12.000 articles I guess the time has come. As much as I love and care for Eurovision it just doesn't feel the same. The Corona years took their toll and the past two years and certain decisions have helped me to mature the idea that next year I will hear the songs for the first time in semi-final just like any so called local. The bubble has burst. Add the toxicity in social medias and fandom. The arrogant teenagers who saw their first contest somewhere 2017 or even 2021 who think they know it all and only their opinion matters. Did I mention the toxic atmosphere on social medias? I'm too old for that sh*t. It's been a long ride that took me to various Eurovision on spot as a fan and tourist, as a journalist, as a delegation member. I met some great people, made memories of lifetime. In stressful, sad periods of my life this blog has been my safe place, a place to escape and forget everything else for an hour o...
Today's funniest Eurovision related story comes from Belarus. Some sources claim Ivan wants to perform on stage naked and with live wolf or wolves. It surely would be a first on Eurovision stage! We have seen some forgotten underwear over the years, and some cardbox animals though..... Is it time to take things a bit further? No, according the rules live animals are not allowed, and Eurovision being a family show nudity won't do either. (It seems to be ok to be half naked if you are a dancer though..... )
The old rivals have put their bras (or the lack of them) in peace and entered the studios together to record Blondie's boombastic Call me . Life could be worse.....
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