Greta Salome has been near perfect in every live performance we’ve seen since the Icelandic national final. But today during her first rehearsal at Eurovision 2016 the cracks started to show. During her first run-throughs her vocals were off and she struggled to line up visually with her LED screen. At one point — when the shadow of a woman runs through Greta and turns into smoke — she was so far off that the smoke burst from about half a foot in front of her. At other points she was so off centre that it killed the visuals behind her.
These are teething problems that will fade with repetition. A bigger concern may be the way SVT has decided to stage this. Like Sergey Lazarev, she performs much of her act in front of small LED wall that is wheeled onto stage. At times the cameras pull back and you can see the stage’s much higher LED wall behind her, which takes away the illusion. It kills the dreamy, fantasy world that Greta has created, particularly at the very end of the song where the colour contrast with the larger walls is greatest.
The actual small screen she sings in front of seems somewhat aquatic and Greta takes up a larger portion of it than she did in Iceland. Because she is so large and prominent on the screen it makes the effects behind her less interesting.
Greta’s costume was much sexier here in Stockholm than it was in Reykjavik. The black leather number featured a plunging neckline with a flesh-coloured illusion in the middle. It’s naughty but also very nice.
Iceland: First rehearsal at Eurovision 2016
Iceland: First press conference 2016
Iceland: Interview with Greta in London
Greta Salome’s “Hear Them Calling”: Reviews and Reactions
Read all of our Eurovision rehearsal reviews
Photo: Eurovision.tv (EBU)
I dont think shes going to the final. This is not good
I think this song is great and is even more meaningful after Greta’s explanation. Currently my 5th favorite (after Malta, Norway, Russia and France). Gangi þér vel Iceland!
Okay, so half a foot is practically only about 15cm, but wow does it make a difference! One of the first things I was taught in musical theatre was to keep to your marks – to the centimetre (or inch if you prefer). In front of a backing screen like this that becomes even more vital. I’m sorry for being harsh though – Greta is such an amazing musician that she should be allowed a bad day once in a while. 🙂 There is a much bigger problem with this staging that might he out of her control – the… Read more »
I think sonic0201 is spot on. The 2016 trophy isn’t going to be won by an act doing video tracks. The voters will want to reward something different this year.
This just looks the same that we saw months ago…
About the visuals… It is not plagiarism or copying. This is just doing something similar as the winner of the previous year. ESC usually produces a different winner from the previous, so it might not be the best idea (could this be Russia’s mistake too?…).
@This is my opinion (TIMO)
I was also wondering what is this song all about. I just thought it was about hearing some demonic voices… But now I got the whole thing.
Well, that’s not good I guess if you need explaination for a song, because the message might not came through. I watched again the performance and studied the lyrics again in this new perspective, but I still can’t find the message: do NOT listen to the negative voices…
Before I thought what the hell is this is she playing schizophrenic hearing voices what! But I started to like this song, I didn’t know what the lyrics were about until now as Greta explained its about avoiding negative voices and listening to positive ones therefore stop moaning or complain but sing, the music is enjoyable adds interesting instruments that they used, acts as hey here i am I am the winner, this can either score low as bookies and polls underrated or it can go high even win like Loreen and Mans did
I hate these Icelandic and Russian acts because they have to pay so much attention to the moves and to stay coordinated with what happens on that projection. Kills the magic of improvisation, it just looks so unnatural.
These new trend of mappings are going to kill the values of an artist like their natural body expressions and turn them into “robotic slaves” of these visual projections. So sad.
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 »
Exactly what we saw some months ago… at this point it really has gotten old to me.
I still like the song, but this is not a winner, maybe borderline top 10.
Bonsoir Stockholm,
I’d like to understand which voice should I listen to, there are too many in my head…
Bisous,
Maxime
Oh, now I get it. The Icelandic singer offers psychological support to Norway’s depressed singer. Wow.
I loved this song in Icelandic. In English I can’t stand it
@jesper – most normal countries use the metric system. In addition, if you’re going to try and call something retarded you should at least be clever enough to spell “retarded” correctly.
SVT throws a lot subliminal shade at Greta. Maybe that are not flattered by her impersonation of Loreen Zelmerlöw. In the Semifinal 1 preview show on SVT they voted her second to last and now this terrible camera work and the challenge to compete against the more elaborate tricks of Russia.
Half a foot? What’s that in the nonretarted metric system?
(T)He
https://twitter.com/oprah/status/457920717921607681
Greta’s serving “the” realness, y’all.
@nikki, they’ve had a video review of every rehearsal so far. Just be patient and stop being a crybaby. Also, they love Kaliopi, they’ll cover her. It’s not some big conspiracy your paranoid rube.
@nikki
And you cried…
Seriously wiwibloggs why you don’t cover Montenegro’s rehearsal?? They are a small country so you don’t feel the need to make a article about them, or is it that they’re not a favourite to win??? So Unprofessional……
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