San Marino’s Valentina Monetta and Jimmie Wilson took us to the club. Switzerland’s Timebelle served Beauty and the Beast realness. And Israel’s Imri Ziv showed off his biceps in a skin-tight vest. And they were just three of nine acts that performed in the International Exhibition Centre during their first rehearsal. But who among today’s acts — San Marino, Croatia, Norway, Switzerland, Belarus, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Estonia and Israel — wowed you the most?

You can watch our reviews of today’s first rehearsals in the playlist below — and our “winners and losers” of the day video. Then vote in our poll. You can vote for as many countries as you like, but you can only vote one time, so make it count. Be sure to click the box next to each act you want to support before pressing submit.

Reviews: First Rehearsals (May 3)

Day 4: Our Winners, Losers and Growers

Poll: Who had the best rehearsal on May 3?

[polldaddy poll=9738618]

Vote in all of our Eurovision 2017 Polls

73 Comments
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?ermanya
?ermanya
6 years ago

Croatia definetely! Impressed me so much, im really looking forward to see all of it on Saturday, especially pyrotehnics!

Stefani
Stefani
6 years ago

Kris Kostov

Tonny
Tonny
6 years ago
Reply to  Stefani

Bulgaria with Kristian Kostov was the best ???????

Tonny
Tonny
6 years ago
Reply to  Tonny

Bulgaria with Kristian Kostov was the best !

MM
MM
6 years ago
Reply to  Tonny

Yes of course. The Croatian hijack is on a roll. Croatia was not good. Will struggle to make it to the final. Kitsch all over the top.

Enthusiast
Enthusiast
6 years ago
Reply to  MM

But is now first in the pull, wow.. When it happen?! 🙂 Big fan base 🙂
P.S. I also like this big bear man – so lovely, though Kristian is irreplaceable :)))

mag
mag
6 years ago

Bulgaria is the best 🙂

Enthusiast
Enthusiast
6 years ago
Reply to  mag

But is now first in the pull, wow.. When it happen?! 🙂 Big fan base 🙂
P.S. I also like this big bear man – so lovely, though Kristian is irreplaceable :)))

Enthusiast
Enthusiast
6 years ago
Reply to  Enthusiast

offff, I put it again on the wrong REPLY button… Why we don’t have delete button as weeeeel I’m already stressed where is going to end my response :)))))

Mufasa
Mufasa
6 years ago

I think Croatia will be like a big wow on screen. In a positive way. People will remember it when its time to pick up the phone. He is telling a story, it will impress a lot of people. When Croatia qualifies than with very high voting or at the bottom

MM
MM
6 years ago
Reply to  Mufasa

No it won’t

Max Mark
Max Mark
6 years ago

Qualifiers Semi 2:
1) Netherlands
2) Bulgaria
3) Romania
4) Hungary
5) Austria
6) Belarus
7) Norway
8) Denmark
9) Estonia
10) Israel

Non-quali’s:
11) Serbia 12) Croatia 13) Malta 14) Ireland 15) Macedonia 16) Lithuania 17) San Marino 18) Switzerland

PaDim
PaDim
6 years ago

Padraig you’re super cute… Come to Greece, I wanna date you asap. 🙂

Grete Paia
Grete Paia
6 years ago

After they covered Timebelle’s titty there is nothing interesting in the entry. Learn from Islande how to wear a good dress

sorin
sorin
6 years ago

as a romanian i want to say i’m surprised about the song writer mihai alexandru (al mike) success. he was song writer for romania 2003 and the singer was his wife nicola. after the divorce everybody thought he is finished, but it was the other way around, nobody knows about nicola nowadays but al mike is the song writer of romanian entry and of other timebelle songs (not apollo)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AhWQKjSCFo

????
6 years ago

97

Richie89
Richie89
6 years ago

Semi final 1 Top 10 (after 1st rehearsal) 1 – Armenia (Potential winner) Jury Bait 2 – Australia (Potential winner) Jury Bait 3 – Finland (Top 5 Contender) Jury Bait 4 – Albania (dark horse for Top 10 depending on running order in the final if it qualifies) 5 – Portugal (Top 10 contender) Jury Bait 6 – Sweden (8-13 in grand final) 7 – Belgium (9-14 in grand final) 8 – Greece (11-16 in grand final) 9 – Poland (13-18 in grand final) 10 – Moldova (18-23 in grand final) Semi final 2 Top 10 (after 1st rehearsal) 1… Read more »

jj smith
jj smith
6 years ago
Reply to  Richie89

oh honnnney ur clueless

Richie89
Richie89
6 years ago
Reply to  jj smith

We shall see jj smith.

My prediction is based on months of research into form and trends of Eurovision so maybe not clueless as you might think.

I’ve correctly predicted at Least 8 out of 10 qualifiers in the semi final for many years now.

But sure you keep lapping up the bookies favourites honey!

Karen Tariutriyeva
Karen Tariutriyeva
6 years ago
Reply to  jj smith

JJ smith, that is very rude to say that to someone (who could possibly be right!) Sorry Richie89, I know how it feels to be treated like this.

Nikos
Nikos
6 years ago

Today was less impressive than yesterday for me. Based on rehearsal, not song:
Great: None 🙁
Good: Estonia, Bulgaria, Belarus
Ok: Norway, Switzerland, Lithuania, Israel
Not Impressed: San Marino, Croatia

I liked the visual screen effects from Estonia but Koit was off today. Bulgaria disappointed me a little, that box background felt like a low-budget pre-party background. Belarus is cool but like the wiwibloggers said, I wish they had jumped off at some point cause they seemed restricted up there.

Enthusiast
Enthusiast
6 years ago
Reply to  Nikos

This box background of Bulgaria is filled but only for the televoters… Visual effects… something.. will see 🙂 (fingers crossed)

ks
ks
6 years ago

Estonia will not qualify with that leather jacket. It worked for Donny Montell, but he had a different style, and he was not sitting next to a woman wearing an evening gown/or wedding dress.

elli
elli
6 years ago
Reply to  ks

We haven’t even seen Koit’s costume yet, they were just trying different thngs out to find a look that goes well with Laura’s dress.

ks
ks
6 years ago

Probably Switzerland is the most different from NF. I prefer the sweet colors, but it seems that many fans want red and petals. The viewers will like this new staging I guess, she is more likeable this way. In NF she was too diva and not everybody relate to that.

Grete Paia
Grete Paia
6 years ago
Reply to  ks

I want the dress to cut down the middle to show her talent

loren
loren
6 years ago

Israel and norway the best

Alex
Alex
6 years ago

Estonia, Bulgaria, Norway and Switzerland.

Belarus and Israel were the surprises

John ilies
John ilies
6 years ago

Any poor countries that everyone likes with a really bad song but with great staging?
Bound to win this stupid competition
Look at you all in a frenzy lol

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

Now that the 1st rehearsal of the 2nd semi finalists is over, I will attempt to make a top 10:

Austria
Romania
The Netherlands
Hungary
Switzerland
Belarus
Bulgaria
Estonia
Israel
Norway

But I love Serbia, I love Denmark, Ireland has grown on me!!
It’s so hard!!

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

Bulgaria, Switzerland and Estonia are my faves of the day!

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

Estonia, of course. The drama, the vocals, the non-boring performance. #MafiaDiVerona

SeeNowDo
6 years ago

Oh Padraig.
I wanna have yr babies.
And sell them for profit.

Grete Paia
Grete Paia
6 years ago
Reply to  SeeNowDo

Why. Padraig’s babies will also be miserable, never smiled and give every song 3/10

Lukewarm
Lukewarm
6 years ago

New predictions after first rehearsal [Rk before] 1 [1] Bulgaria – Nothing out of the ordinary, enough to hold first place. 2 [3] Denmark – She won me over. She is the song. 3 [4] Romania – Still hate song but I have to say good energy. Wacky background is fitting. 4 [2] Austria – Hope they let him freestyle a bit more. Not sure I like the ending. 5 [10] Belarus – Surprisingly clean. 6 [6] Hungary – Come on Joci, learn the dance properly. 7 [8] Norway – Not much has changed. 8 [9] Lithuania – I miss… Read more »

gil
gil
6 years ago
Reply to  Lukewarm

Imri from israel sings about breaking into peacies and his image breaks, its clear enough

John ilies
John ilies
6 years ago
Reply to  Lukewarm

Your predictions are pile crap

K.
K.
6 years ago

1.Norway
2. Bulgaria
3. Belarus

Americanvision
Americanvision
6 years ago

Personal top 9 today (after a few viewings):
1. Belarus
2. Bulgaria
3. Estonia
4. Croatia
5. Norway
6. Israel
7. Switzerland
8. San Marino
9. Lithuania

My SF2 finalists after the 1st rehearsal:
Bulgaria
Romania
Austria
Estonia
Netherlands
Hungary
Belarus

And a toss up between any of the following: Israel, Ireland, Croatia, Malta, and Denmark

Éire
Éire
6 years ago

1. Bulgaria
2. Estonia
3. Belarus

Enthusiast
Enthusiast
6 years ago

Really strange poll – where is this freaking beautiful Bulgaria?!! ?

Enthusiast
Enthusiast
6 years ago
Reply to  Enthusiast

Oh, finally.. its already there… 🙂

Bis
Bis
6 years ago
Reply to  Enthusiast

An hour after the voting started. The whole thing should be re-started

Enthusiast
Enthusiast
6 years ago
Reply to  Bis

It’s ok, as far as it’s already on first position, yaah :))))

Manda
Manda
6 years ago

Bulgaria and Croatia were good

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

Switzerland and Croatia.

Boriss
Boriss
6 years ago

William Make your poll you missed Bulgaria, by unwillingness or unwillingness do not know hahahah

Leo M
Leo M
6 years ago

I thought the rehearsals would make semi final 2 more clearer as to who would qualify but I am even more confused However, I think it’s safe to say Bulgaria, Romania and Netherlands are definetly qualifying

Eve
Eve
6 years ago

Bulgaria and Croatia

Joe
Joe
6 years ago

1. Belarus (ok, loved the energy and the happiness)
2. Bulgaria (great voice and staging, but needs to fix a lot of stuff)
3. Estonia (great staging but also needs to fix a lot of things)
4. Norway (ok, not much to add)
5. Croatia (great voice but too cheesy)
6. Switzerland (disappointed)
7. Israel (weak voice and performance)
8. San Marino (funny but messy)
9. Lithuania (no comments, cool background though)

Emma
Emma
6 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Bulgaria is my absolute favourite, I love it so much!!

gil
gil
6 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Dont agree about israel, was one of the best today, period.

Joe
Joe
6 years ago
Reply to  gil

nice, period.

Nora
Nora
6 years ago

Where is Bulgaria in the poll?

Pop
Pop
6 years ago

Bulgaria I guess…??? but it is not in the poll

Étoile
Étoile
6 years ago

Disappointed by Switzerland, too sugar, I prefered the more classy performance they had. Lots of work to do for Estonia, Laura rocks, lovely dress, she’s confidant with herself, her voice, her moves, how to move on the scene. Koit is the opposite. Sad they don’t have chemistry together compared to Naviband. So many staging this year when we see the faces of the singers of the screen too.

Norway, Bulgaria and Belarus are my winners. Though for the last I thought the staging will be more “nature” with autumn colors but I still like them.

Aaran
Aaran
6 years ago

Combined top 10 press poll results for semi final 2:

Bulgaria 97
Austria 79
Romania 72
The Netherlands 54
Croatia 50
Belarus 43
Estonia 43
Hungary 39
Denmark 29
San Marino 27

Not sure if you can trust this 100%

Avstriya
Avstriya
6 years ago
Reply to  Aaran

Apparently, our experts from wiwi dont see Austria in the Final at all.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago
Reply to  Avstriya

Austria will most probably qualify. So will Bulgaria, Romania, Netherlands and Estonia. Those 5 are probable qualifiers. I’d love if the other 5 are among Norway, Croatia, Belarus, Ireland, Denmark, Malta, Switzerland and Macedonia.

As for others, I never liked Israel’s and Serbia’s song to begin with and now I hear their performances are underwhelming too. San Marino is so cheesy and bad that only a spectacular bad performance might pull it through. Lithuania is just WTH? I do like Hungary, but maybe few others are more of my cup of tea.

Marc
Marc
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Hungary will qualify for sure 🙂 It’ll be Top 3 in this semi.

Austria is getting amazing reviews from all the press 🙂

Marc
Marc
6 years ago
Reply to  Aaran

Norway has 30 Btw

Maniac
Maniac
6 years ago

haha typical , “best” and loved songs on top , and “bad” hated songs on bottom , so unfair , Croatia and Lithuania were great today , Switzerland and Estonia were awful.

Catriona Colville
Catriona Colville
6 years ago
Reply to  Maniac

If you thought Estonia were awful, you need to throw your predjudice aside and be more neutral about a stage show and overall promise.

Maniac
Maniac
6 years ago

Haha your comment is funny beacuse I love estonian song , Verona is in my top 10 , peace

Boriss
Boriss
6 years ago

Bulgaria of cours.
Talent is unlimited Kristian go for the first position in final.
Sofia #2018

Bis
Bis
6 years ago

You have left out Bulgaria

Aaran
Aaran
6 years ago

Would vote for Bulgaria if I could…

Maria
Maria
6 years ago

Jacques really surprised me! Loved his rehearsal 🙂 I also loved Belarus, Israel and Norway (in no specific order).

escbg
escbg
6 years ago

Bulgaria is not in the poll?

Kiril
Kiril
6 years ago

Where is Bulgaria ???

Avstriya
Avstriya
6 years ago
Reply to  Kiril

They are already in the Final, no need to poll them.

Pop
Pop
6 years ago
Reply to  Avstriya

Good point, bro hhahah 😀

Kiril
Kiril
6 years ago
Reply to  Avstriya

You are right 😉