He may have been the surprise winner of Melodifestivalen 2017, but Robin Bengtsson proved he was still a worthy one during his first rehearsal at Eurovision 2017. Having shipped his treadmills to Kyiv from Stockholm, he didn’t falter as he threw it down on the movable machines. As in Sweden he started the performance off stage, staring into the camera as his male backing dancers served face. They then moved to the stage, dancing and jiving with more abandon than at Melfest. Robin has definitely loosened up and is oozing funk and soul. They seemed to stay on the treadmills a bit longer than at the national selection and added a funky body drop where Robin crouches a bit lower.
Sartorially they switched things up. Robin wore a lighter shade of suit — and no socks — while his backing dancers traded their black turtle necks for ones in delicious cream. Lap it up! The LED featured purple and turquoise accents and alternated between a pink cityscape and the outline of blue mountains. Needless to say this is qualifying.
Robin Bengtsson — “I Can’t Go On”: Reviews and Reactions
Sweden: First rehearsal at Eurovision 2017
Chris: Vocally, perhaps a little suspect — although we only heard the very last run-through. Not only that, but this was very much a copy and paste job from Melfest, with minor tweaks. Robin didn’t need to go all out in this first rehearsal.
Personally, I’ve never been a fan of the sleazy crotch-framing which makes an unwelcome return here. Other than that though, this was everything it needed to be. Still a sure-fire qualifier.
Sweden: First press conference 2017
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Photo: Eurovision.tv (EBU)
What is the name of the long haired back dancer? Please if someone knows it then tell me quickly?? Thank you ^^
His name is Kevin Foo 🙂
I can’t find him on social media… 🙁
Speaking of generic cheesy europop songs.. Well done Sweden lol
Not even sure if this will be top 5 – catchy song but that’s about it …
I think this year there will be lots of surprises
Of all the staging this one I am looking forward to the most!
Definitely a top 5 finisher. Shaky vocals aside, the staging will get it through.
Finally the rehearsals began!
Good luck to all the contestants! Celebrate diversity y’all!
Generally, we can’t figure out much from the 1st rehearsal as we have only the 30sec clip by the Eurovision youtube channel! But we get a sense!
Sweden didn’t surprise! They kept the staging similar to what we’ve seen in Melodifestivalen!
Sweden don’t usually change much from Melfest to Eurovision. Nothing surprising.
No real surprises here – as has been mentioned it probably will work for those watching the first time in the semi final who didn’t see Melfest. Should have no trouble qualifying its probably one of only three or four I was certain of before rehearsals.
There was something wrong with the audio during the this rehearsal. Not ear-friendly.
About a year ago Stephen Colbert did a Eurovision parody on his talkshow, which featured a man in tie singing ‘I love living the living life’ while walking on a treadmill. The mock singer even had the faux Nordic sounding name Nórnaäs.
I’ve always wondered if the people behind Robin’s staging are aware of this parody (I doubt it) or if it’s just a coincidence. It’s hilarious in any case.
Eurovision never fails to deliver.
The clip on Youtube:
“America Is So Winning Eurovision Next Year”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTP17rWuUMo&t=6s
His vocals have always been suspect.
I think the backfrops look a little cheap, to be honest and it’s probably not the best colour scheme. But overall this is just as okay as it ever was.
What is crotch-framing?
Its an industry slang for running on a treadmill while singing
Oh no! The crotch framing should have been left on the Arlanda tarmac. They cut out the worst of it in the MF final. It makes me want to hide behind the sofa.
????
The fact that the staging is almost the same with melodifestivalen is not a huge problem. I mean, ok, for us who have been watching melfest and have seen his music video it’s nothing special, but eurovision is been watched by millions of people and most of them haven’t seen it again so it’s very possible that the will vote him, since the perfomance is really good.
Swedes don’t generally change much from MF performance. We like to get what we voted for. Any noticeable change from original performance will be massively disliked. I remember in 2012 when Loreen wanted to change the colour of her outfit and the massive outcry it led to. She didn’t change it..
Theas true! I remember that I didn’t like the changes in ESC that has been done whith Marlena Ernmans number i Moscow. That wasn’t wath I had been voted for in the melfest!
That was so freaking beautiful !!
This song is actually nothing special, but it is super catchy and staging is great, therefore I have no doubt that Robin is a sure qualifier. No intrigue here at all
For swedish short clips check his insta-story
https://www.instagram.com/edwardafsillen/
So apparently Georgia has Tamara singing in red lighting by herself. Backing singers are hidden away (as in not visible to the audience) and there is just a backing screen. Hmmm.
What part of the backstage did he come in from? Is the backstage walk shown on the arena screens?
Almost certainly yes, since the camera is filming him there.
Is it what they will wear on the real stage?
Good start from Sweden.
I am glad to hear that