Sweden’s Robin Bengtsson took a ride on his treadmills. Australia’s Isaiah spun around. Montenegro’s Slavko whipped his hair back and forth. And they were just three of the nine acts who had their first rehearsals at Eurovision 2017 on Sunday. We asked you who had the best rehearsal. After counting 6,385 votes, we can now reveal that our readers think Azerbaijan‘s Dihaj won the day.

At the first rehearsal, Dihaj served edgy and avant-garde staging. The opening sees the singer in a small room of chalkboards, which feature the lyrics of her song. She serves face and writhes against the walls as she sings about her “Skeletons”.

Eventually the camera pans up and the audience sees a man in a suit wearing a horse head. The room soon collapses, Dihaj runs riot on the walls, and she expresses disdain for a series of male dancers by marking them with Xs. This is dark and artistic — and was one of the visual highlights of the day.

Dihaj has even been following the progress of the Wiwi Poll, and shared it with her fans in this Facebook post:

Shoots from #dihaj 1st rehearsal for #eurovision2017 in #kyiv, which is still number one according to Wiwibloggs Poll.

Posted by Dihaj on Monday, May 1, 2017

Dihaj took the top spot in our poll with 21.72% of the vote. In second place with 18.56% of the vote was Finland’s Norma John, who delivered Scandinavian gothic in their moving performance of “Blackbird”. In third place was Portugal’s Luisa Sobral with 14.03% of the vote. While she was only standing in for brother Salvador, Luisa was still able to capture the emotion of the “Amar pelos dois” staging.

Poll results: Who had the best first rehearsal of April 30?

  1. Azerbaijan: Dihaj, “Skeletons” 21.72% (1,387 votes)
  2. Finland: Norma John, “Blackbird” 18.56% (1,185 votes)
  3. Portugal: Luisa Sobral, “Amar pelos dois” 14.03% (896 votes)
  4. Sweden: Robin Bengtsson, “I Can’t Go On” 11.87% (758 votes)
  5. Albania: Lindita, “World” 11.73% (749 votes)
  6. Australia: Isaiah, “Don’t Come Easy” 7.31% (467 votes)
  7. Belgium: Blanche, “City Lights” 6.05% (386 votes)
  8. Georgia: Tamara Gachechiladze, “Keep the Faith” 4.7% (300 votes)
  9. Montenegro: Slavko Kalezic, “Space” 4.03% (257 votes)

What do you think? Did Dihaj deliver the best first rehearsal? Share your thoughts below!

READ ALL OF OUR EUROVISION 2017 REHEARSAL NEWS HERE

30 Comments
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John
John
6 years ago

Well deserves but even underrated act for me

Prima
Prima
6 years ago

A different version of “Amar Pelos Dois” with Salvador playing the piano.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffqIa1L4TBE

This… I don’t have words for this… It’s just everything.

Leo Herlington
Leo Herlington
6 years ago
Reply to  Prima

Neither do I… It was beautiful. I was smiling and crying at the same time by the end of the song. And the bridge he made… If people don’t like him after this, I think nothing will change their mind. I hope this performance goes viral before May 9th.

I’m so counting the days to see him perform at the dress rehearsal.

Rahim Azerov
Rahim Azerov
6 years ago

Naila must be crazy. (She is indeed) This is not an art contest. People will not understand it.Do not believe press voting or polls. I swear pop singers who may sound American are enough for this contest. When she posts about her Eurovision journey on her facebook I am getting angry seeing Diana there. Why to lose your quality?! You have much more to show for your own clever fans than this “easily getting excited by s***ty uptempo songs” audience. T

Ay Jo
Ay Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Rahim Azerov

You are exaggerating. She will bring quality wherever she goes. Why she wouldn’t access a bigger audience. Have you seen ppl from different parts of the world listen and like her songs after she gets involved in this Eurovision things??Don’t be an envious fan who is afraid to lose her favourite singer to a bigger audience. Because, she knows what she does.

MWS
MWS
6 years ago

Can we all just pause a moment and all appreciate and agree… Dihaj puts the ART back in Artist. Wowwww. damn girl, you got game. Love it. Love it. Love it. So abstract.

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
6 years ago

Yes, she was the best! The results of the poll seem fair to me.

Pavel
Pavel
6 years ago
Reply to  (J)ESC Fanatic

Well-underserved. A Sasha Jean-Baptiste type of mess, when will Azerbaijan have a self-produced song and staging? This one screams average Russian TV-show type of thing. I would put it at 3rd.
Belgium was woeful, Georgia was average, Montenegro was trashy, Sweden and Albania were okay-ish, Portugal and Finland were classy

Kenan - Baku
Kenan - Baku
6 years ago
Reply to  Pavel

The song is actually written by Isa Melikov (who is Azerbaijani) and music by Sandra Bjurman. And the stage director is Naila Mammadzadeh (Azerbaijani) who was also stage director of our interval acts for ESC 2012 and also stage director for 2015 Baku European Games closing ceremony.

The staging looks really cool, in my opinion. Also the song is very nice. Of course, tastes differ. Respect you for that! 🙂

loving_ya_harder
loving_ya_harder
6 years ago
Reply to  Pavel

The stage director is Azeri and the song is written by an Azeri.

Ay Jo
Ay Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Pavel

We are tired of saying that is Azeri product. People intentionally are not tired of claiming smth before checking facts. You can hate the song and staging, but you have to respect authors of the works. Period

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

Totally agree! Azerbaijan brought sth inspiring, innovative, dark and suitable to the song and Dihaj herself!
I also love Finland! I knew they would be amazing as in UMK!

jorgequi
jorgequi
6 years ago

1. Azerbaijan
2. Finland
3. Portugal

jorgequi
jorgequi
6 years ago
Reply to  jorgequi

Agree with result!

Charli Cheer Up
Charli Cheer Up
6 years ago

Definitely Azerbaijan. They’re bringing something new to the table with their song and concept. Sorry to Belgium but nothing really unique to me. For me its just re-emulation of Lana Del Rey and Lorde concept.

Marcus
Marcus
6 years ago

Yessss!!! Go Dihaj! Been tipping her for a while now. So glad to hear this. Even when given a shotty mic and bad sound tech in Amsterdam I could still hear that she could sing and would sound great live in the arena. She’s so arty and out of the box, this is exactly what Eurovision needs to break up the night of tame pop hits. GO DIHAJ! she’s one cool cat 😀

Guðrún Karlsdóttir
Guðrún Karlsdóttir
6 years ago

Well deserved indeed.

Zlatan
Zlatan
6 years ago

Good result!Finland was also really good

Savalan
Savalan
6 years ago

Well deserved. Waiting for 2nd Rehearsal. Love u DiHaj

Ay Jo
Ay Jo
6 years ago

Eurovision fans who are full of mediocrity will not understand this metaphorical staging. But she has an exquisite aura. No ordinary personality.

Lianne
Lianne
6 years ago

I am seriously head over heels for Robin Bengtsson. Lord have mercy.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

No lies spotted. If I were in Kiev I’d sneak into the backstage and write “VOTE FOR ESTONIA #MafiaDiVerona” on her board.

This is my opinion (TIMO)
This is my opinion (TIMO)
6 years ago

You are a joker you made me laugh a lot thank you :)))))))))))))))))))))

Geo
Geo
6 years ago

I love her, well deserved! :X
How ironic, the 2nd day of rehearsals will be won by Armenia 😀

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Geo

Let’s see if the Polish fans hijack the poll faster than the Armenians.

Niko
Niko
6 years ago

The journalists who gave Armenia 100 points in the Press Poll last night were all Armenian trolls? Don’t think so…

Zlatan
Zlatan
6 years ago
Reply to  Niko

Armenia deserved 100 but the songs in their group were very weak

This is my opinion (TIMO)
This is my opinion (TIMO)
6 years ago
Reply to  Geo

You are a joker you made me laugh a lot thank you :)))))))))))))))))))))

This is my opinion (TIMO)
This is my opinion (TIMO)
6 years ago

Ooooops my post to the wrong message sorry it was meant to be for polegen godgarina

fikri
fikri
6 years ago

well-deserved.