They’re the Swiss three-piece with a stunning Romanian front-woman. And on Wednesday Switzerland’s Timebelle finally unveiled their stage show, which conjures thoughts of the Disney animated classic Beauty and the Beast.

Standing at the top of a white spiral staircase, Miruna wears a bright yellow gown with an open-front. It shows off her endlessly lithe legs, which looked well-oiled beneath the stage lights. Cloud effects on the LED make her look as if she’s standing atop the heavens, which works well with the mythological reference of her song “Apollo”. But Miruna is a princess of the people, and she swans down from the heavens to belt it out next to a white piano, where one of her bandmates sits wearing a pink tuxedo.

At times on the preview trail “Apollo” has seemed sluggish and somehow languid. But Miruna, already a competent singer, seemed to come alive on the big stage today, delivering a more lively and powerful performance of her song. The move away from the red roses and gown from the national selection was a smart move. The bright colours give this added vibrancy and drive.

Some may say the staging is a bit high school prom, and that the mix of yellow dress and pink tuxedos is a bit gauche. But ultimately this seems cohesive. They’ve taken us to a palace in the sky and Miruna is most definitely the belle of the ball.

Timebelle — “Apollo”: Reviews and Reactions

Switzerland: First rehearsal at Eurovision 2017

Switzerland: First press conference 2017

Read all of our Eurovision rehearsal reviews

Read all of our Swiss Eurovision news here

Photo: Eurovision.tv (EBU)

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Zebb
Zebb
6 years ago

Ah, they made me dislike this entry even more. I expected to have an intense focus on their faces though, as they look like sexual invokers.
Sugar overdose.

Alex
Alex
6 years ago

Hate yellow dresses but it looks good with the background which is fantastic.

If she nails it vocally in jury rehearsal and televoting night, Switzerland will qualify.

Stephanie
6 years ago

It is nice to see that William and Chris are quite optimistic, I am too. Hopefully the second rehearsal on Saturday will see much improvement

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

Her dress was AMAZING!! I saw her somewhere, maybe at a preview party, wearing a yellow dress and I immediately thought yellow suits her so well! When I saw the performance, I almost shouted: “WOW! Amazing!”. I agree it was a good move to avoid red. These pastel colours make the performance brighter and less dramatic! I’m not sure about the pink colour. I also like the stairs. I also liked the background with the harps, though I didn’t quite like the statues! At the end of the day, even Il Volo used statues and it seemed a little odd… Read more »

Yellowman
6 years ago

Love the song, hate the stage!!!! The simplicity is what made me love this song and for them to butcher it like this is a disgrace!!!!

Hada
Hada
6 years ago

Los XV de Rubí

Americanvision
Americanvision
6 years ago
Reply to  Hada

Lmao! Omg can’t believe you brought that up! However, 10000 people will be there and millions will watch as oppose to the 3000 in her parents’ ranch.

I love the color on her. Just not the style. Potential Barbara Dex nominee?

Americanvision
Americanvision
6 years ago

Well until they post a new thread for the remaining songs, here’s my personal rank of SF2 after the 1st rehearsal:

1. Belarus
2. Bulgaria
3. Romania
4. Austria
5. Estonia
6. Malta
7. Netherlands
8. Hungary
9. Israel (a little self-indulgent but he’s hot)
10. Norway
11. Switzerland
12. Croatia
13. Ireland
14. Denmark
15. Lithuania
16. Macedonia
17. Serbia
18. San Marino

Who will make the final based what I’ve seen so far? All in the top 10 but Malta. Replacing it with either Switzerland, Croatia, or maybe Ireland.

Americanvision
Americanvision
6 years ago

Waiting for Israel’s video to go up:
1. Belarus
2. Bulgaria
3. Estonia (like Bulgaria, it’s meant for TV)
4. Norway
5. Switzerland
6. Croatia
7. Lithuania
8. San Marino

esc1234
esc1234
6 years ago

ISRAEL HAS A LED WITH IMRIS FACE. I MEAN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, WHY EVERYONE HAVE THEIR FACES ON THE LED?

Americanvision
Americanvision
6 years ago
Reply to  esc1234

I wish I knew!

Yellowman
6 years ago
Reply to  esc1234

The Adele effect hahaha

Americanvision
Americanvision
6 years ago

With only Estonia and Israel left:

1. Belarus
2. Bulgaria (however I think that will go up when they add more things to it)
3. Norway
4. Switzerland
5. Croatia
6. Lithuania
7. San Marino

Étoile
Étoile
6 years ago

I imagined a more “raffined” dress and staging. I really don’t like the yellow dress. I’m disappointed.

Étoile
Étoile
6 years ago
Reply to  Étoile

refined*.

sorin
sorin
6 years ago

like william said, the red from NF was not the best idea, but maybe because it was valentine’s day it worked.
with sweet but pale colors is better, yes is like ice cream, but it can be more appealing for more viewers – men, women, children, seniors.
i think will do well, red was too…diva…and diva style is not everybody’s taste.

Jake
Jake
6 years ago

What are they thinking?!?!? Their nationally final was so classy and the burst of rose petals was genius. This is so tacky. Looks amateurish.

Joe
Joe
6 years ago

I think they won’t make it.

Eve
Eve
6 years ago
Reply to  Joe

you might be right

Darius
Darius
6 years ago

After so much white in the past 3 days (Poland, Iceland, Serbia, Austria, Malta, Ireland, etc) it was about time a real colorful dress come up! I just adore Miruna’s dress, it’s delicious!

escphbelgium
escphbelgium
6 years ago
Reply to  Darius

You’re right. It looks like Mango ice cream 😀

adriana
adriana
6 years ago

Not good vibes coming from Croatia and Swizterland

sorin
sorin
6 years ago

if we are talking about antiquity gods, they need color because for some reason in those kind of movies is always summer. funny, but people think that in antiquity they had only summer.
in movies about middle age is always dark and cold.
it’s a stereotype, but this is what people expect to see.

Americanvision
Americanvision
6 years ago

Just thinking about it San Marino is better than Switzerland

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Americanvision

Seriously?

Eve
Eve
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

San Marino slays

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Nice impression of me. 😛

Eve
Eve
6 years ago

Red dress would suit her best imo.
Performance is ok, but I don’t like staircase, distracts attention from her.

escphbelgium
escphbelgium
6 years ago
Reply to  Eve

Eh. I prefer midnight blue or elegant black on her but the color is fine, just made her look like mango ice cream though

rich
rich
6 years ago

There’s only one trick that can save them. Broadcast it in black and white. So you cannot see the horrific colors. It’s an easy trick to make the song classy and stand out again. If they keeo this, it gets ruined. Made in Switzerland used to be a promise of quality, this is not really made in Switzerland I think.

Americanvision
Americanvision
6 years ago

She doesn’t look too bad in canary yellow. However, a little too Belle for my taste. Performance is fine.

After 3 and still waiting on Croatia’s craziness:
1. Norway
2. Switzerland
3. San Marino

sorin
sorin
6 years ago

i like yellow, there is a reason a disney princess has yellow dress, even tho most wear blue ( http://www.elle.com/culture/news/a43831/theres-a-reason-disney-princesses-always-wear-blue/ ), but is fine if she will change it. i like also the sky with greek god

M_K
M_K
6 years ago

The yellow dress is obviously in reference to Apollo, the Roman God of light (and a bunch of other things, among them music). It makes sense (somehow at least), but I don’t think that it’s her colour. Generally, I’m not convinced by the staging. It’s not 100% pure and simple (to focus entirely on the song/on the vocals) but it’s not a spectacle either. It’s just middle-of-the-road-ish. It’s a nice song, but it’s not overwhelming. To be honest, I would not be surprised to see Switzerland in last place for the the third time in a row. For all we… Read more »

someone
someone
6 years ago
Reply to  M_K

Ancient Greek god of light 😉 Don’t start lecturing, when you don’t know ;p

M_K
M_K
6 years ago
Reply to  someone

Nope, it’s the Roman God. The Greek God would be Apollon. 😉

Simon
Simon
6 years ago
Reply to  M_K

Actually Apollo (a.k.a. Phoebus) is the Greek God of the Sun, son of Zeus and twin brother to Artemis (in Roman Diana) the Goddess of the Hunt. The Roman name is also Apollo, this is the only case of a Greek and Roman God having the same name that exists.

Any way on topic this song is great and delivered well although like many I don’t think Switzerland really understand staging…… smoking bra’s ???????? This should definitely see them through to the Finals and deservedly so

M_K
M_K
6 years ago
Reply to  Simon

It’s Apollo in Latin and Apollon in ancient Greek. 🙂

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
6 years ago

Way too much pink.
Switzerland really don’t get staging do they? What’s with the staircase?

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

Is it the tower from “Beauty and the Beast?” :S

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

No to the yellow dress. Only women of color look good in yellow… fix it Jesus

sorin
sorin
6 years ago

but Miruna is not blonde. guess the yellow dress is fine if she is not blonde.
and don’t underestimate the princess dress, it worked for yohanna-iceland 2009
any decision is fine with me, i’m just saying

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

Bright yellow. Seriously?

Stephanie
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

It might not be her final dress, but I think she looks amazing in it (she also wore yellow for the Live Check back in December). Anyway, I don’t think anyone should dismiss this just yet after one rehearsal, Miruna’s an incredible singer and the song is strong – a few more little tweaks is probably all it needs. I’m still confident that Switzerland will break its last-place jinx

Lukewarm
Lukewarm
6 years ago
Reply to  Stephanie

Judging from the led background they are probably going to stick with lichi and lemon