The rehearsals started on stage in Liverpool arena for the Eurovision song contest 2023 two days ago and today we continue with the rest of the second semi-final. As Ebu once again is using TikTok for the short tiny rehearsal clips I'm not going to care much of them. But here is a collection of photos and impressions and observations by your truly of the closed doors happenings. Mind you, I'm all in favor for this closed door policy: the delegations must have a little bit privacy and peace and quiet to polish their acts before they are given to the sharks aka fandom eager to criticize every tiny detail. And also I kinda like the idea we are given as little as possible to watch before the shows so there will be surprises and wow effect - if you have seen it all beforehand where's the fun? The first rehearsal is 30 minutes for each meaning 3-4 run through. After that the delegation gathers to a viewing room and changes are discussed and made for the next rehearsal with the local team. Ok, let's go again!
All photos are from eurovision,tv by Nick Robinson, Sarah Louise Bennett, Chloe Hashemi, Corinne Cumming
ESTONIA
It took this long to have a grand piano on stage - how times change, in the old good days it was on most every act - and it's a haunted one, familiar from the national final Eesti laul. Dramatic light and LED on both backdrop and floor add tot he drama as Alika belts out her power ballad in light blue dress. Also power ballads have pretty much vanished from Eurovision..... For the visuals I have nothing to say really. What was it?
ICELAND
Dilja goes all gymnastics while running and jumping around the stage in this energetic number while performing this drum'n'bass number in silvery outfit. And wait a minute, does she lie on the floor, too?! Now that's becoming this editions trademark: sit and lie on floor or on other things..... A bit chaotic and shouty to be honest.
GREECE
Yes, he sits on the floor. Otherwise he sports shorts and as photos reveal do same poses as Romanian Theodor.... But if Romania is bringt yellow Victor is in plain safari colors, maybe he misunderstood Liverpool to Sahara? Giant Victors on the backdrop (sic). Why? Oh why? Errr no..... and pyros. Ok.
POLAND
Let's go tropical and colorful and in summer vibe with Blanka and her four backing singers. Add dress reveal and mid song dance break. And pyros! Poor girl is hated by the fandom as the fandom's fave didn't win the national selection (what a pitiful reason to blame her, grow up folks!) but I have a soft spot for this song. Give me a pina colada and I go happily cha cha chaing with this one!
SLOVENIA
Colorful outfits with tones of pink, blue and yellow and metallic shine for the band that charmed Europe pants off in their first live performance video. If they manage to recreate that in Liverpool they might end up pretty well. This is a fan favorite but I fail to see why would they be aiming for top places, around ten at most I think. Some compare to Måneskin but Måneskin was raw animal danger, these guys are cute kids from the neighborhood!
GEORGIA
White dress, fancy hand jewellery or whatever it is, raised platform, wind machine with smoke and stormy weather in the backdrop. Add smoke on stage. Sounds like a classic Eurovision number then.
SAN MARINO
Dressed in mostly black in a black and red backdrop is San Marino's energetic band. There's the Stockholm 2000 mouth among other things in the backdrop. The lead singer in my opinion is one of the strongest this year live as I have already stated and they are seasoned stage animals. Why shouldn't this qualify? Being last in odds and polls is an outrage.
AUSTRIA
Dressed in white, red and black the poe poe poe girls engage in a dance routine no one expected.
ALBANIA
The whole family is dressed in black, as if the song wasn't kinda depressive enough already. Their backdrop is like San Marino's: black and red mostly. They have some choreography and that's no wonder as Sacha Jean-Baptiste is behind this one, too.
LITHUANIA
Dressed in orange - making me think of Kate Ryan - Monika and her four backing singers take the stage.
AUSTRALIA
Seasoned rock band feels comfortable on stage even at Eurovision. Their prop is a car. A Toyota MR2. Because why not? Is this actually first time there's a real car on stage, not a toy or dummy? And pyros. Of course- 80's rock meet Eurovision cliches in Liverpool 2023. Cool.
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