Just when you thought you’d seen it all on the Eurovision stage, Belarus’ Alekseev turns up with props and gimmicks by the bucket. It’s a war of the roses on stage as Alekseev starts the song by tenderly offering a rose to the camera. A dancer takes the rose, before shooting the rose back at Alekseev with a bow.
Perhaps the most striking visual moment is the climax of the song. Alekseev turns around to show his shirt is torn at the back, exposing a wound filled with roses. It’s gory and slightly offputting — but sufficiently WTF that you can’t stop thinking about it.
Vocally Alekseev showed that he’s more than able to handle the song. The nerves and stumbles of the national final are gone and Alekseev is coming in to his own as an artist and performer. That he stands on a platform makes sense. This performance is taking him higher!
Alekseev — “Forever”: Reviews and Reactions
Belarus: First rehearsal at Eurovision 2018
Belarus: First press conference 2018
Read all of our Eurovision rehearsal reviews
Read all of our Belarus Eurovision news here
Photo & Footage: Courtesy of EBU & RTP
ive never seen such utter nonsense in all my life- its so appaling its entertaining
something from the 1975?
not for me thanks
then go and watch the chicken song, or see Czech republic flip
This is one of the most beautiful Eurovision performances I’ve ever seen. Who needs LED lights when you can stab yourself with bloody roses?
I don’t know what to say about this performance. I have to say the staging sounds complicated and there are much going on. But I think it’s memorable and I like the approach. Hope we see sth beautiful on TV! I want this to qualify!
You are so disresectfull. But you are propably rude in your daylylife outside ESC to. Feel power when you bully people in school.
Is it ok if people act the same way when the act from your country rehears? Whould you be angry or sad? If you don’t like the act, it’s ok to say that in a polite way like the most do. So show some respect to the fans from Belarus. Think you shoul think one minute about what esc is all about.
Eww I saw some pictures from the rehearsal. On his back there are bloody roses definitely this staging is creepy. 🙁
Love this song, but not bloody roses etc. Not a good sign if everybody in the pressroom was lauging.
EBU, please don’t joke! This is a stage for JUNIOR Eurovision!!!!!
Can it get more crazy than Ivan’s wolves and baby?
I see he did put some work for improving his vocals.
I’m reminded, oddly enough, of the MV for Blood Sweat and Tears by BTS…
This dude always singing FOUREVAAAAA. 😀
Love the song – but yes, he does. My ten year old daugter have fun about that. But he is my favorite anyway, and my daughters.
He should sing the Russian Version that ends to -aaaaa. Translated forever doesn’t really end to -a and doesn’t match properly.
That woman is possessed by an evil spirit. 😀
Finally, the first interpretative dancer. It would be awkward to have an Eurovision night without them (not that I use to like them…). It’s funny how they mentioned so many things going on and the 30 seconds snippet looks so “well behaved” compared to that. My head is spinning just based on the guys’ descriptions, so I’m very curious to watch it.
I don’t like the look they are going for… Is this a James Bond inspired performance? The dancer on the background is distracting and the “podium” is constraining him.
On the plus side, this is a big improvement from the national final and his vocals are good. It looks the sound system in Lisbon is very good.
Certainly not James Bond, more likely Shakespeare, Carmen by Prosper Merimée something like that but goth style.
I was impressed with this rehearsals, kinda pulls it through, although still looks dreadful and yes, I’m definitely getting the serial killer vibes with this. Hopeully he doesn’t go full Koit Toome on the camera angles! xD
The 30 second preview clip sounded awful.
I think his voice has improved a lot
The best reharsal of the day!
Belarus always tries to much and that’s why it rarely works. Plus the song is dreadful!
I interpret that everything is metaphorical: the rose symbolizes the love he feels and gives to her. Her vehement dance symbolizes the exaltation of that love, but once it ends and she can’t go on with him, she hurts him precisely with love. And the petals are the blood he spills, the love itself shattered. As a concept it is, until today, the most original thing I remember here. The opinions are going to be found (I do not know why I imagine a Deban or very happy or very angry XD), but the risk that Alekseev has taken is… Read more »
Not a good sign if the press were lauging and it was like halloween. The song is so good so I hoped for a good stageshow.
I don’t get de laughs, I think they are wrong with that lack of respect.
Yes, but if the press did. Well then will people laught in their homes when they watch the show. The song deserv a good stagesshow.
Agree ! He truly deserves to qualify
My favorit. Sad if the staging destroy the chanses
No need to wory, rain falling down, Honey and Malin, he found a way to express that love & hurt feeling that we feel and that we love so much! Those guys laughing are not us and not regulars viewers either! I just hope for best camera cuts , adjust the dancer , OMG ruffle the hair please, adjust the scarf and we are good! No chance in hell this is not qualifing, and from there he will slay! At least top 5! This is just too good!
I really hope so! Please, if one of you are in a voting country, think in me when send a vote. I’m in South America and I will feel very sad for him if he can’t qualify. I lived a sad tragedy on February 1st. Days after, I knew Forever and Nikita and I’m so grateful. He made me smile when I was destroyed. That’s the magic Forever have on me, was my smile all this time and his effort since NF inpired me in some sweet way. He’s special for me this days. Sorry for this melodrama but is… Read more »
Oh, Honey, stay strong! As for voting, don’t worry, a looot of people were struck or will be by this song and they will vote 20 times, not once because it’s beautiful & emotional& powerful! I think he will do well with Eastern Europe and Southern Europe plus his fan base in 11 ex Soviet bloc( 4 of them in the same semi), some votesI hope in the North, like Malin here. I’m in semi 2, so 20 votes in the final, Belarus ftw!
Plus the big diaspora! We are good, I think.
Thank you, guys! I hope see him in the final. :’)
From the snippet and comments, it looks classier, which helps to get more jury points. His vocals are also a lot better. The main problem is still the running order. He is in the middle of a war zone.
This sounds far more interesting performance than Israel. Shooting a rose with a bow you say? I smell a potential meme here.
It’s more interesting than Israel
Not a fan of his outfit and definitely not a fan of his staging, I can’t even see the dancer in all the red.
Oh, how horrible is this?! When I though this entry couldn’t be worse, here they come with this tacky and cheesy staging. He still has a doubtful live. The overall thing gives me major “Sasha Bognibov ft. Serhat” vibes. That isn’t good.
Well, I suppose this is so bad that it might even qualify!
I thought his video really let him down by portraying him as a giant (I really hate this word but can think of none better) douche. This isn’t doing much to change the first impression.
poland 2010 be like
This has been my nr1 since I listend at the studioversion for the first time.
I love this so much and I have discoverd a new artist thanks to ESC. Love so many of his songs and I hope he will do a great performance. I seem to be very lonely to have this song as my favorite. But we have different taste.
Good luck Alekseev from Sweden, and thank you Belarus for sending him.
Agree
No your not alone in liking this one, it has been on of my favourites since the first time i heard it unfortunately i do think its gonna struggle to qualify but i really hope he makes it to the final.
I would be so happy if he made it. But Belarus should be proud regardles of the result. I will listen to many of his song. At first I listend to drunken sun i russia but didn’t understand a word, but I loved it.
I’m with you, Honey! My number one today and forever!
Team Alekseev
I loved this song from the first moment, for me is one of the best ESC songs ever! I also know now all his other songs. I want so much this to qualify, so something has to be done with the dancer, she is distracting,. Please Alekseev, stay classy and you will slay! Go Belarus!
Belaru’s fan also! I love the song and I hope they nail the staging!
Serving serial killer realness? This is one I can’t judge until I see the whole thing.
Ok I just saw Alekseev’s back and omg WHO THE HELL THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA?
Hope someone make him change his mind. Not to late.
I think it is wow performance
Nahhh too much gloom.
Too much drama, I can’t get into this. NQ for me.
I still don’t understand why some poeple decide to have a singer and a background dancer
If it was like Serbia last year when it had something to do with the singer then ok, but it seems that Aleeksev and she were supposed to perform separately but they had no time, so they perform together
It isn’t THAT bad to me, but it’s a thing that bothers me a little bit