EUROVISION 2022 - DAY 6: THE FIRST REHEARSALS OF BIG5 FRANCE, ITALY, UK, SPAIN AND GERMANY

The time has come: Also the Big 5 countries have arrived and have had their first rehearsals on stage in Turin.

France brings the beat with dance and folk, black and gold wardrobe, a podium on stage. Add pyros, flames, floor graphics and flashing lights and even a wink from Alvan in the end. More is more! I still don't the appeal of this song and by no means this is a winner.

Italy next with Eurovision 2019 runner up Mahmood wearing something he surely won't be wearing come Saturday I think with sunglasses, too. He flew in from Madrid concert last night and apparently didn't get any sleep in between. so..... Blanco on the other hand is having a concert in Florence tonight and wasn't present but there was a stand in. No pyros as they would really be unnecessary but there's smoke. And very simple backdrop with some great white lightning. Italy is closer than any country for a long time to do a double, but maybe this is still a bit too special for a winder European televoting housewife army? I love it anyways.

United Kingdom pulls on stage the biggest prop so far, a metal structure. maybe it's the space? Sam's in black skydiver's jumpsuit and it sounds like the song's finale is different from the studio version. UK is closer the crystal microphone than ... err... Love shine a light?

Also Spain has upped their game about 200%. Chanel's booty hypnotic silver sparkle matador inspired outift and boots are already a thing, her bare chested dancers her little matadors, the choreography and dancing is insane. Those seeing this for the first time will be as in awe as we were when we saw it for the first time. Spain is also reaching high this year but not winning, the song just isn't strong enough. But Chanel's a Star!

Germany is, at least in my books, also better than many years and could end up doing decently well. Malik's performance in the national final was a bit chaotic and underwhelming but what I hear here it is polished and works well on television and that's all that matters. I hope his final result starts with 1 rather than 2, he deserves it!

The Big5 will have their second rehearsal on Saturday and after that we will get the first rehearsal videos and get clearer picture how everything looks, and Blanco will be there, too.

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