Rock on, sex it up and dance them off — those are some of the themes covered by the next set of artists who rehearsed today in Lisbon. But who of Hungary’s AWS, Latvia’s Laura Rizzotto and Sweden’s Benjamin Ingrosso impressed you the most?

Reaction: Hungary, Latvia and Sweden

Hungary: AWS with “Viszlát nyár”

They turn the stage into a sea of orange with shooting flames — vertical here, diagonal there — and an outer ring of geysers emitting sparks. Yet despite all the fire, the palpable smell of smoke and the residue that clouds the air at the end, this feels classy and like so much more than a rock show. Lead singer Örs screams for everyone who has dealt with loss, turning his metal song into a meditation on life, death and the passage between the two.

Metal is loud, but it AWS prove that it can also be musical. It’s a long shot, but this would be a worthy winner.

AWS, “Viszlát nyár”: Performance Preview

Latvia: Laura Rizzotto with “Funny Girl”

The “Funny Girl” was as sultry and sexy as ever, delivering another jazzy, bluesy performance with plenty of sass. But this time Laura seemed to project vulnerability. She’s singing of a man who treats her badly, so the change of emotion works well. The sultriness now gives way to pain, anger, jealous and maybe a little bit of rage — all of which Laura wears on her face, albeit in a subtle way.

There are now more fast-paced camera changes that match the rhythm of the song in key points. This seems to give the song more of a racing pulse — matching the intense feelings Laura experiences. Unfortunately this is still a borderline qualifier at best. It just seems to get lost in the mix of other more high-impact songs.

Laura Rizzotto, “Funny Girl”: Performance Preview

Sweden: Benjamin Ingrosso with “Dance You Off”

Benjamin Ingrosso doesn’t just take us to another world. He takes us to another world filled with stunning light displays, a panoply of colours and non-stop swag. This is sexy, but never sleazy. Benjamin strikes the perfect balance as he portrays the boy next door who has been hurt but is ready to move on. In the hands of a lesser performer it would come off as schmaltzy. But not with this seasoned performer who glides across the stage with plenty of fancy footwork.

Benjamin Ingrosso, “Dance You Off”: Performance Preview

Check out all of our rehearsal news here

52 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Sandr
Sandr
5 years ago

Sweden! Great.

AngieP
AngieP
5 years ago

Hungary will be awesome!

Malin
Malin
5 years ago

Regarding the staging. Many of the escfans are dissapointed in Sweden for having same staging in ESC as in melfest every year. But think about the benfits if more countris would choose a song whith the hole package. Then ALL the artists in their national selection have to think from the begining how they want the staging and they will need to think big and in a way that works in ESC. All songs whould have the highest level of staging possible. Then the level of the hole TV-show itself would be a better experience for the viewers. More viewes… Read more »

Yaa
Yaa
5 years ago
Reply to  Malin

Hey, Malin! It’s all very good for Sweden to be professional and set a high standard by which I think all the other 42 countries are constructing their own act for Esc! But it’s not realistic to think that all participants in selections in countries like Moldova or Armenia or Hungary for instance, can do the same. impossible! In Romania there were 160 candidates, 60 were selected to perform in 6 broadcasted semifinals, 20 of them in the final. So in some countries they first pick a song from many, then comes the money part, the experts part, with the… Read more »

Ally
Ally
5 years ago

Hungary- yes, good song, energy and performance is here, but I’m not fully convinced yet.. Is he saving his voice or what, ’cause backing vocals seems louder than singer! Waiting for final result..
Sweden- gives lessons again about well produced mainstream pop and polished performance, like it or not. You may seem kinda tired of it, but hundreds of kids who will watch it first time will not 😉

Henrikh Mugosa
Henrikh Mugosa
5 years ago

Hungary for the WIN! Allow this to happen, MAKE THIS HAPPEN!!!!!

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
5 years ago

Hungary: These guys are my favorite for a reason! I don’t think anything they are doing needs tweaking at all! They’re among the most ready we’ve seen so far. We already know this is going to be a very visually exciting performance because we saw the stage leak a while back. Also, this song stands out and these guys seem very true to themselves and natural and I admire that. In my opinion, they’re sure qualifiers who will do a lot better than the odds are claiming. Latvia: I think the article sums my thoughts on this perfectly. It’s lovely… Read more »

Marcelo
Marcelo
5 years ago

The Sweden fanboys are really hurt that not everyone likes the Swedish entry. This is possibly Top 5 with Juries and possibly inside the Top 10 with the televote, but it won’t win tho, maybe just the 2nd Semi.

Malin
Malin
5 years ago
Reply to  Marcelo

Well I think that top 10 is not a bad result. Tank’s for that. There are so many good songs so a top 10 is good. Don’t know why you think Benji is hurt?

Eric
Eric
5 years ago
Reply to  Malin

I think Marcelo is fishing for attention

Marcelo
Marcelo
5 years ago
Reply to  Malin

Not Benjamin, he’s definitely Top 10 contender bit definitely not winner material. I’m talking about some of their die-hard fans, who don’t get that Benjamin’s song isn’t the best.

Malin
Malin
5 years ago
Reply to  Marcelo

I’m proud of Benjamin regardless of the result. And ofcource many of us think he is really good. But it’s ok if you don’t agree. We have diffrent tast. But I love sooo many songs. Love ESC. : )

Eric
Eric
5 years ago
Reply to  Marcelo

And the other ESC fans are extremely butthurt that Benjamin is a winner candidate.

Marcelo
Marcelo
5 years ago
Reply to  Eric

Winner material? Sure, sure you’re allowed to believe that. But absolutely not leading the polls or rehearsals as for now.

Malin
Malin
5 years ago
Reply to  Marcelo

Boys, be nice. ESC sholud be fun. Respect eachother. You have diffrent tast. William and Deban have difftent opinions aswel about the song, but they are frinds. No reson for a war.

Love, love, peace, peace. ; )

Tullskoify
Tullskoify
5 years ago

Looking. ar these 3 songs shows the beauty of Eurovision 3018, they are all good and all in a different musical style. Can’t choose….

Malin
Malin
5 years ago
Reply to  Tullskoify

That’s the charm whith ESC. So many diffrent styles that I never see on swedish TV or listen to on radio. I like sooo many songs. All in diffrent way. love this mix whith robots from San marino, the men from Georgia, the fantastic song from greece, opera from Estonia, hot spicy music from cyprus, cool music from bulgaria, swedish pop, powefull metoo music from Israel, joyful music from Moldavia and Norway. Sad songs from germany, italy etc. Songs that want to see changes like France, rock and so much more. We see Vikings, snow, bruning pianos, mountins, golden cats,… Read more »

Tuvddtgccj57g
Tuvddtgccj57g
5 years ago

Hungary – I don’t like this genre, but this is very good, the emotion, and the melody underneath. Also the band members are so funny and nice.

Latvia – she’s a great artist, but the song is not my cup of tea

Sweden – I would like the the song better, but his dancing and the faces he makes are soooo off putting for me. Plus the staging is so clinical and cold. Plus he’s an arrogant douche (his reaction video to all esc songs)

Eric
Eric
5 years ago
Reply to  Tuvddtgccj57g

Your reaction to Swedens entry is arrogant. Not the other way around.

Tuvddtgccj57g
Tuvddtgccj57g
5 years ago
Reply to  Eric

After watching Benjamin’s reaction video everyone knows who’s arrogant. If you think his behaviour was normal, then you’re probably just like him.

Eric
Eric
5 years ago
Reply to  Tuvddtgccj57g

If you think that will in any way effect his result… Then you are probably a mentally disturbed person.

David
David
5 years ago

Sweden is definitely one of my favorites this year. The staging at Melodifestivalen just blew me away. But here in Lisbon, even though it still looks great, it’s nowhere near as mesmerizing as it was back in Sweden. Just have a look at his performance in Melodifestivalen and the preview clip at Eurovision – the lights now aren’t as bright and thus do not create this look of him being lost in flashing colors. I feel like everything’s too sharp now and it’s really a shame

Eric
Eric
5 years ago
Reply to  David

No. I disagree. His performace has improved a lot since MF,

Malin
Malin
5 years ago

Fantastiskt bra. Förbättring från något som redan var bra men saknar gamla kläderna. Gillar de oranga färgerna som blandas med de röda ljusen. Oavsett resultat så kan vi vara stolta. : )

Lycka till Benjamin

Holstrom
Holstrom
5 years ago

Benjamin rocks the stage. This is a fabolous staging idea. What’s not to like?

Sweden will winnn this SF and then go win the whole contest. 2012-2015-2018. Every three years. Our time again.

milly_992
milly_992
5 years ago
Reply to  Holstrom

“What’s not to like?”

Hmm, how about the song itself?! Yes, the staging is amazing but it can’t safe such a bland and generic song, not for me at least. It sounds like a crappier version of last year’s Swedish song. But yeah, teenyboppers are probably gonna go crazy over this. I can’t see it winning but he’s gonna end in top 10 for sure.

Eric
Eric
5 years ago
Reply to  milly_992

Milly, take a happy pill and wake up!

Dan
Dan
5 years ago
Reply to  Holstrom

Really embarrassed that you are Swedish. You are the first Swedish commentator on wiwibloggs that i’ve seen to come across as a d*ck.

Eric
Eric
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan

Dan, takes a one to know one.

Sofia 2019
Sofia 2019
5 years ago

Waw i really like Latvia , i really think she is underrated , she is gorgeous!

Euroenthusiast
Euroenthusiast
5 years ago

Sweden really impressed me today. I was not a fan before. Now I think Ingrosso can win the whole competition.

Good work Sweden!

esc1234
esc1234
5 years ago
Reply to  Euroenthusiast

Its basically exactly what he did on melodifestivalen, there isnt anything different.. maybe you had your period back then

Marcelo
Marcelo
5 years ago
Reply to  Euroenthusiast

From Denmark, Norway, Finland just as always.

Pera
Pera
5 years ago

My prediction TOP 5 in final
1.Norway ( 2nd with televote, in TOP 5 with juries but Out of TOP 3)
2.Israel (1 st with televote, out of TOP 5 with juries)
3.Sweden ( 3 rd televote, 3 rd with juries)
4.Australia ( thanks to juries points)
5.Germany (thanks to juries)
From 6 to 10 place Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia,Belarus,The Netherlands

B.B
B.B
5 years ago
Reply to  Pera

My prediction is way different then yours…
1.HUNGARY…long shot but they have the surprise factor
2.ESTONIA
3.ISRAEL
4.FRANCE
5. BULGARIA
6. CYPRUS
7.CZEH REPUBLIC
8.GERMANY
9.SWEDEN
1o.GREECE
…..Australia will flop, also Norway will be mid table

drag kvinna
5 years ago

I like this Lara Risotto

Sabrina
Sabrina
5 years ago

Hungary: This is how you stage rock. The energy is there, also the urgency. I don’t know what’s the ceiling for them in terms of scoreboard, but they’ll reach it for sure.
Latvia: I still love it, but now I can see why most people don’t. It would work better in a theater than in an arena. Anyway, the “funny girl” here keeps rooting for Laura.
Sweden: It looks even better than on Melfest. I still think it’s too cold to win, but this is an entry that could benefit a lot if the televote and the juries collide.

Belle
Belle
5 years ago

Sweden is so great. Maybe the winner?

Euroenthusiast
Euroenthusiast
5 years ago
Reply to  Belle

For sure. He has the most unique performance of all participants.

Well well
Well well
5 years ago

Benjamin looks thicc. Or he’s just wearing women’s trousers.

Euroenthusiast
Euroenthusiast
5 years ago
Reply to  Well well

That is being fit dear… those hours at the gym and Italian gen-pool help him

Gtyhygf
Gtyhygf
5 years ago
Reply to  Well well

He looks like a mom.. In a good way 😉

Safiya
Safiya
5 years ago

Hungary: This is actually very enjoyable and emotional. But I’m still not sure if people who are not metal fans will really like it that much. It would be good to see them in the final, anyway. Latvia: I actually really like the song but I can understand why people think it’s a borderline qualifier. And in my opinion it’s always a bit risky when the artist is all alone on stage. People get bored easily. Sweden: I know that the song may not be super original, but this is quality! The staging is amazing and it can grant them… Read more »

Robot
Robot
5 years ago

Among robots I find the San Marino’s robots much more entertaining than the IKEA robot called Benjamin.

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago

Hungary: looks very dynamic and more approachable to the audience who doesn’t like the genre.

Latvia: zzzZzzzZ

Sweden: Never watched the Melfest performance, and the staging is really impressive. The song isn’t the strongest, but the package is quite good.

drag kvinna
5 years ago
Reply to  Jo.

his package is small

Euroenthusiast
Euroenthusiast
5 years ago
Reply to  drag kvinna

the drag above is jealous

Karl Fradgley
Karl Fradgley
5 years ago

Swedish singer is so smug on camera – maybe I’m getting old but it is a real turn off !

Euroenthusiast
Euroenthusiast
5 years ago
Reply to  Karl Fradgley

You sound jealous…

Denis
Denis
5 years ago

Sweden: That’s what you call impressive staging and leaving your competition far behind! First time casual viewers will just soak it up! Another top 5 for Sweden looks more and more likely?
Yap!

Euroenthusiast
Euroenthusiast
5 years ago
Reply to  Denis

So true. Sweden has improved Benjamins performance from Melodifestivalen. He is most likely a winner candidate.

esc1234
esc1234
5 years ago

@wiwiblogs off topic but i think you have to know, Greece has asked to do an extra rehearsal to fix the technical problems they had, an RTP said yes and they will rehearse tomorrow after Italy