Even when the beauty feels under the weather, the beauty can still smash it. Samra from Azerbaijan proved that during her first rehearsal at Eurovision 2016. Despite battling a minor illness since arriving in Stockholm, the Azeri stunner turned up and turned out.
The performance begins quite dark, with the light focusing on Samra as she stomps down the stage. Four dancers, two of whom also perform as her backing singers, join her on stage. This is the first time we’ve seen a piece of rehearsed and structured group choreography that actually got us excited.
The staging improved with each run through. The LED floor in combination with the backdrop pulsates with geometric lines in beige or yellow. Towards the end of the song an Emmelie De Forest-style rain shower douses Samra and her team while golden rain splashes back off the ground.
Samra performed in casual wear today. We have no doubt she’ll bring a “Miracle” of a dress during her second rehearsal. Once her health improves and the performance elements come together, she’ll surely have our mouths on the floor.
Azerbaijan: First rehearsal at Eurovision 2016
Azerbaijan: First Press conference 2016
Azerbaijan: Interview with Samra in Tel Aviv
Samra’s “Miracle”: Reviews and Reactions
Read all of our Eurovision rehearsal reviews
Photo: Eurovision.tv (EBU)
Wish you better, your song is the best but you need to be 100% if you can just qualify , i then can see you in the top 10
The “golden shower” here is referring to a light pyro effect of sparklers placed on the stage bar pointing downwards. The sparklers create an effect of falling rain that is a golden colour.
As for the Netherlands, actually they are calling their clock a “stopwatch” in interviews. Although technically that is just a big clock with a stop function. One could say that the clock “slows down,” hence the staging works well with the song. 🙂
If “She’s not known for her voice”, she shouldn’t even be there. Not qualifying.
Being ill or not, she is one of the weakest singers this year. I already had my doubts about their chance of qualifying and it wont change. This one could be out easily.
PERFECT!!! VERRY VERRY NICE. ?????
i would wait for her next rehearsal or whatever they call that performance. if her singing won’t improve, that will be upsetting. as for now I keep calm and waiting. there’s too early to discard this entry.
@cheesecake, thanks!
I think I can sing better and I can’t sing to save my life. What a way to take a great song and flop it. Well done, Azerbaijan.
Before the rehearsals I thought Azerbaijan was going to qualify for sure, but now I’m not that sure. It’s Azerbaijan yes, but in the last two years has struggled too qualify with better quality songs than ‘Miracle’. Maybe this could be the first time Azerbaijan is out with a so so song and weak live vocals in a really really strong semifinal. She’s almost going to need a miracle! (*claps* ha ha ha…hey, don’t kill me!)
Samra sounded absolutely awful. Sorry to hear that she’s under the weather, but honestly I don’t think her vocals will improve much (I’ve seen some The Voice performances…). Elhaida/Maria Olafs of 2016?
The song in general is also boring and repetitive in my opinion (agree that it’s Azerbaijan’s weakest effort since 2011), so I hope this won’t qualify.
Sorry.
@Oxana: Rehearsals for Semi 2 start tomorrow (first half), while the second half will enter the stage for the first time on Thursday.
She is still hot but her voice…I hope she will not steal the qualify spot from a country without block voting capabilities. (for example Austria, Hungary, The Netherlands, Czechia)
My prediction after I rehearsals for TOP 10 1.Armenia 2.Russia thanks to televote 3.Malta thanks to juries 4.Cyprus thanks to televote 5.The Netherlands thanks to juries 6.Estonia thanks to juries 7.Greece thanks to televote 8.Hungary 9.Azerbaijan thanks to juries and televote in some countries 10.Czech Republic thanks to televote 11.Bosnia Herzegovina 12.Croatia thanks to televote they will be out 13.Moldova 14.Iceland thanks to juries they will be out 15.Montenegro thanks to televote they wili be on 15 place with juries in bottom 2 16.Finland 17.Austria thanks to juries 18.San Marino thanks to juries Other countries will get in my prediction… Read more »
Never liked this song, sounds to me like a 2001 Christina Aguilera recycled one.
If she can’t sing properly, this shall not pass to the final.
Armenia definitely cleaned Azerbaijan’s clock this year.
Winner of press poll Day 1:
1. Armenia 92
2. Russia 90
3. The Netherlands 53
4. Hungary 34
5. Greece 23
6. Croatia 12
7. Finland 7
8. Moldova 2
9. San Marino 2
@Jesper
Sorry dear, but you are the dirty-minded here…
Y’all at wiwibloggs need to stop with the sexual references like ‘golden shower’ here or Douwe Bob’s ‘big clock’
I hope Austria or Greece will qualify cause this is so weak..this the worst presentation from azeries since 2011…
Golden showers! LOL!
@Oxana
Homer criticizes songs just to annoy others, I’m sure about that.
Azerbaijan never disappoints.She will be fine!
don’t go hard on Samra. if she’s ill, better wish her speedy recovery instead being rude. you say mean things like you never caught a flu and never had hard time to speak, not to mention to sing.
@Daan
They are negative about each and every single country except The Netherlands itself abd Belgium. Only Armenia and CR were a bit positive.
when we should expect 2d semi acts to arrive and to start the rehearsals? From what I saw on our Jamala instagram she’s still chilling on the sea in Odessa with her dog Badu. Isn’t there any close dates for 1st and 2d semi rehearsals?
Painful song with even more painful vocals. There is no place for Azerbuyjan in the final. Bye!
From what saw, the choreography looks kinda boring. To call it “urban”, it needs some street wildness in it, but these dancers will probably be dressed in neat stage clothes. I hope it will look better in full performance with all costumes and camera work.
Her vocals are weak :/
@Nicky91
Yes but it happened due to her illness…I also find some good elements in her voice….but the “coreography” wasnt good….still waiting if Ira do a better perfomance than Cyprous and take the lead of the day…
Apparently journalists in the press centre covered their ears because she sang so badly. Some even said that this might flop and not reach the final.
Uhhh… golden showers???
video from Samra’ youtube channel. rehearsals and backstage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6DPrjyZOUk
This song is very good but Samra isn`t good vocalist. I listened her performances in Moscow and Tel Aviv. Her vocal is so weak in live.
Worst rehearsal till now from first and second day is Azerbaijan. She can t sing live , and only chance to go to final is to all song sing with her singing her backing vocals . But I predict 12 points for Azerbaijan from Malta from juries and televote, 12 point from San Marino from juries and televote and also high points for Azerbaijan from juries and televote from Czech Republic, Bosnia, Montengro and Crotia. Thank to that countries we wili see Azerbaijan in final. See how juries and sometimes televote vote for Azerbaijan in past and also points from… Read more »
Why are my favourites always not doing well with the vocals? Last year, it was Iceland, this year it’s Azerbaijan. I hope last year’s disaster with the non-qualification won’t repeat, otherwise I’ll quit. It just can’t be that it always affects my favourites.
@esc2016
her vocals were offkey, and it was awful
wishing her a speedy recovery
If she had health issues maybe she sang out of tune. actually she is not that technically trained and misses notes often, I wont be surprized if she’ll won’t hit some notes even in final. but with her voice and charisma viewers won’t note it. the melody of her song is pretty complex and not many of common people can follow it to see if she’s missing here and there. I’d say she can be out of tune w/o penalty. her voice and passion will cover it
She looks so hot
Wishing a you quick recovery Samra
Wut. A Dutch Eurovision fansite said she sang terrible and was off key all the time..
I really like this song very nice melody and strong chorus it’s eurovisionary type . best of luck Samra
Great!!
Another qualifier