On Monday May 11 acts from eight countries — Moldova, Armenia, Belgium, The Netherlands, Finland, Greece, Estonia and FYR Macedonia — took to the stage for their first rehearsals. We were watching events unfold in the press centre and were privy to all the thrills (Eduard Romanyuta ripping off his shirt, Trijntje Oosterhuis flashing cleavage) and spills (Loïc’s dancers literally falling). Below you can watch our recap of the winners and losers, followed by our instant reactions filmed immediately after each rehearsal. Click on the country to read our rehearsal review. Who won for you?

First Rehearsals: Day 1 Winners and Losers (Review)

Moldova: Eduard Romanyuta — “I Need Your Love”

Armenia: Genealogy — “Face the Shadow”

Belgium: Loïc Nottet — “Rhythm Inside”

The Netherlands: Trijntje Oosterhuis — “Walk Along”

Finland: Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät (PKN) — “Aina mun pitää”

Greece: Maria-Elena Kyriakou — “One Last Breathe”

Estonia: Elina & Stig — “Goodbye to Yesterday”

FYR Macedonia: Daniel Kajmakoski — “Autumn Leaves”

Photo: Thomas Hanses (EBU)

Who was your favourite today? You can vote for as many acts as you like, but you can only vote ONE time.

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art
art
8 years ago

The best song: I’m alive-Albania

ANTHONY
ANTHONY
8 years ago

The best rehearsal was the Greek by far. Amazing clothe amazing voice awesome staging and awesome song. Maria Elena Kyriakou has the best voice in the ESC. Please vote for Greece. All of you that love the Greek song please vote for it!!! I am begging you. Please support Greece. It is one of the best songs Greece has ever sent. SUPPORT your favourite song/voice and not the best economy. GREECE will be able to organise the ESC 2016. This song is the best greek entry ever(WITH THIS OF HELENA). Please vote for greece.

Giorgos
Giorgos
8 years ago

1. Belgium –> PERFECTION!! His voice was unique, the whole presentation was amazing! (I love the way he spins.)
2. Greece –> she was just AMAZING!! Voice, dress, the whole presentation was stunning!
3. Estonia –> I just loooove the song and the singers!! They were amazing!! Their voices have been improved! Go Estonia!

BIONDA
BIONDA
8 years ago

My top 3
1.Greece(great silver sexy dress,fantastic vocals,fantasic lights,an eye that could even cry or explode by pyros,dramatic emotional ballad,fantastic back vocals,white piano,atmosphere and mystery,it turns more fast and dynamic after half song and little gospel)
2.Estonia (Good song,good vocals,60’s feeiling,nice staging with buildings,nice outfit)
3.Belgium(very good vocals,strange but intersting movements,sexy young guy)

Kev
Kev
8 years ago

Greece was the winner of the first rehearsals. Incredible voice, incredible stage…, nothing more to say. GO GREECE!! 🙂

Leon
Leon
8 years ago

I think Armenia had by far the best rehearsal. The whole thing just works so well. Other than Armenia, I think Greece was okay, still a borderline not qualifier for me. Estonia was disappointing, but the song is too good not to go through. For now though,
1. Armenia
2. Estonia
3. Greece
4. Belgium

The rest were meh

SpirK
SpirK
8 years ago

My top 8 rehearsals of the day: Winners: 1. Greece: Classy, interesting background using the eye feature, perfect vocals 2. Estonia: Nice, yet a little bland at times. The shadows will definitely work, not so sure about the skyscrapers. 3. Armenia: Nice visuals, using everything they can and the outfit and the vocal performance were all good. Ok: 4. Belgium: I think that the pure white is a bit eye tiring, and he did mess up in the choreography, but in a week this will work. 5. Finland: Nothing new, but they did what they have to do with their… Read more »

DToes
DToes
8 years ago

My top for this rehearsal 1.Greece 2.Armenia 3.Estonia….Also i really dont like this Padraig-guy

Vicente
Vicente
8 years ago

Armenia for sure, and days ago I was even not that into their song!!
Besides Armenia, I also like Greece’ performance! My goddess 😀
Elina & Stig seemed to be OK on stage though it’s hard to tell in such short seconds.
Noic and Daniel’s performance need to be improved indeed. I like their song especially the latter, and I still have faith in both of them.

Deniz@TurkNL
Deniz@TurkNL
8 years ago

Belgium was for me the best of these rehearsals. I like the dancing.

Leo
Leo
8 years ago

The winner of the 1st rehearsal:

GREECE

Reasons why ?
Beautiful dressed girl.
Staging & Performing was surprisingly good, that’s all compared to the others.

But during the 1st rehearsals we have not seen any real ESC 2015 winner so far.

Huh
Huh
8 years ago

Many people might like Greece’s performance because it seemed clean and conservative. It’s not too confusing because there are no gimmicks at least. It could appeal to common European listeners (non ESC fans) by the time they get to see Maria Elena singing on stage. That is, apart from the majority of Greeks.

Otna
Otna
8 years ago

Armenia looks superb on stage but I’m still not a fan of our song.

Belgium looks hot <3 Estonia looks amazing as ever, <3 and Maria Elena sounds spectacular live! <3

Gu
Gu
8 years ago

Winners

#1 armenia
#2 estonia
#3 greece

Ok’s

#1 Belgium
#2 Netherlands

Losers
#1 Finland
#2 moldova
#3 Macedonia

lacrymea
lacrymea
8 years ago

I’m in shock with so little love shown to Estonia today. Everything was great and i don’t know what kind of show people were expecting them to put on with a song like that. Suddenly Greece and Armenia are the best songs in the universe cause of the staging. Oh well… I’m gonna sleep now. This is beyond me.

Mar
Mar
8 years ago

Armenia looked and sounded great as far as I can tell, they’re the standout for me. Belgium, Greece and Estonia were ok too. I just cannot get Trijntje’s dress out of my mind, I think I’ve been scarred for life. Honey, you’re 42 and a mother, you’ve seen better years, what the hell were you thinking with that get up? It’s tacky, unflattering everywhere, makes her hips look wider than Russia, and don’t even get me started on the shoes, they cut her off right at the ankle and look like not-so-high-heeled mary jeans. What a disaster. I gues if… Read more »

Lena
Lena
8 years ago

Armenia was the best today.

Pedro Chadid
Pedro Chadid
8 years ago

Armenia was the best of the best today!

mark lebron
mark lebron
8 years ago

Armenia was the best by far.

Julian
Julian
8 years ago

From all these probably only Greece is a qualifier. Estonia, Belgium and Armenia still have a chance too.

mawnck
mawnck
8 years ago

Greece won the day, no question about it. She looked and sounded fabulous, and the background looked fabulous. HOWEVER … it’s a tad early to be declaring her the winner of the contest. There are lots more Celine-a-likes to go, and you gotta think at least some of them are gonna bring it at least as well as Greece. Armenia done good too. I still think it’s likely to be a mess, but there was ample evidence that it’s not going to be AS MUCH of a mess. I had them not qualifying, but now I’m reconsidering. Finland was just… Read more »

Nikos
Nikos
8 years ago

I think we will pull an Anna Vissi that night. No one thought her song was anything special till she performed it that night and blew people away! Maria Elena will do the same.

As William would say, haters gonna hate 🙂

blondboybc
blondboybc
8 years ago

Belgium and Greece were the standouts for me, but I give the edge to Greece. Has a Celine Dion aura to it, well sung! Armenia was fine, but just not a fan of the song. The rest were just ok. Moldova: no comment. 😉

Diane
Diane
8 years ago

Belgium has the best staging, so monochromatic and the lightings are beautiful. While Finland’s staging is kinda like typical rock concert which is very alternative to Eurovision. Love them both.

Darren
Darren
8 years ago

Greece has surprised me. I hated the song after it was selected thought it was boring and nothing stood out for me, but after seeing the staging, I have changed my mind. It will qualify. I think Belgium had the best performance though 🙂 Looked good

Melissa Kutcher
Melissa Kutcher
8 years ago

So…who would “win” the Barbara Dex Award between Daniel and Trijntje?

Leaf
Leaf
8 years ago

Biggest looser was Moldova
Biggest winner was Moldova as well, so bad it has to be mentioned twice.

Calvin
Calvin
8 years ago

Sorry – four, not five in the Macedonian section

Calvin
Calvin
8 years ago

I’d probably rank them as such: 1. Armenia – we’ve been saying for months that it’s either going to be absolutely breathtaking or a complete wreck, and maybe it’ll be the latter at some point, but today was definitely the former in my mind. It also felt more focused than it did in the studio version, partially thanks to the sound balance that includes something of a leading role for one person (Inga). 2. Finland – it was no surprise that they rocked as much as they did onstage; this was a genre built for live performances. I like how… Read more »

Pastora Soler haha!
Pastora Soler haha!
8 years ago

WINNERS:

Belgium
Greece! WOW, voice, talent and beauty

OK, BUT I WANNA MORE SHOW

Estonia
acedonia

RANDOM

The Netherlands (someone tell her her real age!! plzz)
Armenia (WTF… are they doing black magic vs Az…?? xD)

HORROR (not a surprise):

Moldova
Finland

mocosuburbian
mocosuburbian
8 years ago

Armenia and Greece really turned up (both are nowhere near my top 10, by the way)
the Benelux and Macedonia really lost out though
-Nottet kept tripping over his song (and his dancers)
-The Netherlands’ staging is all wrong for the song
-Macedonia was a hot mess in general

Alex
Alex
8 years ago

I believe that Belgium and Greece had the best rehearsal/ received the most positive reviews. No one believed in Greece until today. Beautiful background and stage performance. Simple and classy. Belgium gave us a modern, minimalist performance. Awesome sound, certain qualifier and contender for the Top 10 in the final. The Netherlands kinda disappointed almost everyone. Moldova was a big mess, FYR Macedonia has a nice song but the choreography looks out of place and Armenia is too dramatic. Estonia is nothing spectacular and Finland is exactly the same we saw in their national selection. It might be forgettable due… Read more »

Saule Riet
Saule Riet
8 years ago

@wtf

Everyone has a different taste. I adore Crno i belo, but prefer Autumn leaves. Autumn leaves is something new, modern & fresh + Daniel this year made a history. For the first time eve 3 African-American guys represent my country at Eurovision. I love all creativity about Autumn leaves.

@LeBron

That blond plastic-barbie doll with no voice & charismsa has a forgettable bland & dull ballad. I’ll be happy if she didn’t qualify!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LeBron
LeBron
8 years ago

Fyrom song is so forgettable, it would be eleventh wonder of “macedonian civilization” if it qualifies, no matter how much fyrom fans like it! You are not voting saule riet, so the laugh will be on you! 🙂

WTF
WTF
8 years ago

@Saule Riet: No, it’s not. Everyone knows that title belongs to Crno i belo…

Saule Riet
Saule Riet
8 years ago

@George

Sorry man i’m not that kind of person who sit on the PC and post stupid comments like yours. I know who i’m and deal with it!!!

George
8 years ago

@ Saule Riet

Yeah. Of course it is.Alexander the Great is listening to it right now in his grave.
”Macedonian” song . You made my night. Ha ha ha ha ha.

Thomas Wiersma
Thomas Wiersma
8 years ago

Allerlaatste tip: gebruik hele podium, vloer en gebruik ALLEEN zwart wit echte beelden van je clip. Weg met die kleuren, veel te druk. Zang is perfect!!!! Daar gaat het om, jurk moet ingetogen zijn en elegant EN sexy passend bij een elegante sexy zelf verzekerde vrouw… SUCCESS met 2e rehearsal.. gebruik het X

Saule Riet
Saule Riet
8 years ago

I’m sorry but you are all losers. I will laughing so hard when Daniel will qualify in final and ended in Top.10 in the final. I will defend Autumn leaves because it’s the best Macedonian song ever!!!!!!!

George
8 years ago

The winners:Greece and Greece. Ok and Belgium.
Losers: Estonia and The Netherlands.
Fyrom and Moldova went as bad as I expected

Paul D
Paul D
8 years ago

Despite Moldova and Finland being my bottom 2, I think they had good rehearsals…

Thomas Wiersma
Thomas Wiersma
8 years ago

Tenslotte gebruik je toch de jurk, kier dan een een glamour bedekking eronder..levert echt meer punten op. De naam van de act zou ik veranderen in:
X-TRAIN (the voice of holland) 😉

Paul D
Paul D
8 years ago

Winners: Armenia and Greece
Losers: Netherlands (definitely) and Macedonia

lacrymea
lacrymea
8 years ago

For me Estonia and Belgium won the day. I didn’t care much for the rest.