Victoria’s Secret Angels are known for their wings.

And at Croatia’s first rehearsal at Eurovision 2019, Roko Blazevic channeled the spirit of Gigi Hadid in an angelic performance.

Heavy on the wings, the performance starts with two angels dropping from the sky, as Roko emotes facially in an all-white look.

He begins lying on the LED floor, like a fallen angel, but once he stands up at the first chorus he gains golden wings.

The screens begins dark, moody and devoid of hope.

Then they transition to clouds, as Roko’s backing dancers lift him up, with the LEDs alluding to the heavens above (hey Montenegro!), but whether this performance overall rose high enough to win doubters remains in question.

Roko sounds fantastic, and Croatia has a strong concept, the question here is how much cheese people can stomach.

If you’re all for fondue and could swim in brie, this is the performance for you. But if you’re lactose intolerant you’re going to struggle.

Roko — “The Dream”: Reviews and Reactions

Croatia: First rehearsal at Eurovision 2019

Croatia: First press conference 2019

Read all of our Eurovision rehearsal reviews

Photo Credit: EBU

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Anna
Anna
4 years ago

12 points from Austria for three hot angels Grrrr

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
4 years ago

I like how the wings are gold instead of white now at least. It’s better than just having an all-white ballad outfit.

EuroBalkan
EuroBalkan
4 years ago

Everyone: he should get rid of the wings.
Croatia: adds two back dancers with extra wings.

gilpgilp
gilpgilp
4 years ago
Reply to  EuroBalkan

+1 SO TRUE

ESCalator
ESCalator
4 years ago

I predicted some time ago that Jacques would be singing back vocals and overshadowing Roko’s voice.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
4 years ago

From Roko to ESC YT Channel: “The wings are there because they are a symbol of love. They are a symbol of pure love, and of positivity in this world and they represent hope… So, the wings are definitely the symbol of the ‘dream’ and of the “dream team’ so, you see, it’s just a new part of styling.”
Thanks Roko. 😀

David F
David F
4 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Whose campy dream is this? Liberace’s?

If none of us are getting it, and they need to keep explaining, then clearly it’s not working.

Richard
Richard
4 years ago

Looks promising and I’m loving the wings

Bella
Bella
4 years ago

The song and wings are AWFUL, but damn this boy can sing! I feel bad for him, but maybe his singing abilities will save him from an almost certain NQ?

David F
David F
4 years ago
Reply to  Bella

He can really sing for sure, it’s just nothing else fits. How Croatia got to this point is beyond me. There’s a clear consensus amongst fans that the styling is way off, and instead of taking note they literally double down on the criticism and throw two more sets of costume wings.

There are certainly 10 other songs in this semi that should go ahead of Croatia’s entry this year.

Serafina
Serafina
4 years ago

So they thought adding two “sexy” angels would be enough to save this? Lol
I already have the biggest crush on Roko so those men in the background do nothing to me 😛
BURN THE FREAKING WINGS, they’re tacky and cringy, I’m sure there are less literal ways to portrait angels on stage

ESCFan2009
ESCFan2009
4 years ago

Yummy, 3 hot men in wigs ^^ No, really, they look absolutely gorgeous, don’t they? 😀 Polegend would say: “like a snack” 😀

Ezal
Ezal
4 years ago
Reply to  ESCFan2009

That’s the exactly narrative of this story of ”suffering because of wars and catastrophes” lol

Sabrina
Sabrina
4 years ago

The positive things are that they now have a narrative and the power in Roko’s voice is something to remember (though he still hurt my ears). The negative… well, everything else. But William has a point: there’s an audience for that. Sadly, I still won’t count it out.

Ksenija
Ksenija
4 years ago

Dear god, those wings. Hasn’t croatian team read any feedback?
Roko and his voice deserve better.

EshelonYu
EshelonYu
4 years ago
Reply to  Ksenija

The wings were Jacques’ decision. He defended the wings by saying that “the people who voted for Roko on Dora 2019 also voted for wings.” Also, he is known for his massive ego.

Matija
Matija
4 years ago

Amazing job Croatia! Masterpiece.

Tom Ripley
Tom Ripley
4 years ago
Reply to  Matija

I agree…Its amazing!

MiskyDisky
MiskyDisky
4 years ago

Move Roko to one side, and give me three minutes of looking at the backing dancers.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
4 years ago

That boy can SING!
Having said that, I’d rather go on his YT channel and hear him slay Sergey’s song rather than singing this monstrosity.

Benji
Benji
4 years ago

Are you sure Croatia won’t qualify? Jacques Houdek made use of a similar approach two years ago and it did work.

Boris
Boris
4 years ago

I am from Croatia and this song and performance are an absolute embarrassment! It has nothing to do with Croatian music scene. It only servers to satisfy the megalomaniac character of it’s composer: Jacques Houdek.

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  Boris

Yeah, we should have picked Lorena or Jure if you ask me.

Matija
Matija
4 years ago
Reply to  Boris

Sramota i stid da te bude što ne podržavaš svoju zemlju i svog predstavnika. Mene bi bila sramota da sam na tvom mjestu.

Boris
Boris
4 years ago
Reply to  Matija

Jao, logika ti je zaista urnebesna… Naravno da podržavam svoju zemlju, ai nisam toliko iskompleksiran nacionalnim identitetom da moram podržavati totalni treš… Ne podržavam nepotizam Dore i na?in odabira pjesme… Baš zato što sam patriot, želim da šaljemo kvalitetnije pjesme. Ako to tebi nije jasno, stvarno mi te žao…

123
123
4 years ago
Reply to  Boris

Ne moras podrzavati, ali nemoj ni potkopavati vlastito.

Boris
Boris
4 years ago
Reply to  123

Ti stvarno želiš da se Hrvatska predstavlja ovim uratkom? Potkopavat ?u sve što je loše za nas, a ovu tragikomediju definitivno…

Lora
Lora
4 years ago
Reply to  Boris

Daj prestanite vise s tom Lorenom, pjesma je totalno bezveze, a taj Jure jos gori. Mozda bi Luka bio dobar izbor, ali vise zbog svoje simpaticnosti a ne pjesme. Roko je pobjedio, mali ima fantastican glas i fin je i kulturan. Ja se ponosim sto me on predstavlja ( dok prosle godine nisam ni gledala esc da ne vidim onu umisljenu Franku koju nitko nije izabrao kako se kesi onim konjskim zubima). Sretno Roko !

Philip
Philip
4 years ago

Macedonia was terrible at staging, and then Croatia came..

Philip
Philip
4 years ago

Croatia makes Macedonia looks like Sweden when staging

Lora
Lora
4 years ago
Reply to  Philip

You are not funny at all

Tom Ripley
Tom Ripley
4 years ago

Roko is amazzzzzzing! A bit too sweet staging for my taste, but his vocal and storyline is perfection. Excellent job! Definetly among Q in Semi 2!

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
4 years ago
Reply to  Tom Ripley

Well at least someone likes it. 😀

esc stan
esc stan
4 years ago

All those who defended this before the rehearsals right now:
comment image

mess

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
4 years ago

Well everyone knows that I watch this for one reason. But enough about Endi…
I feel a little bit sorry for Roko here. He has impressed me as a singer and musician. With more tasteful staging, he could have done very well. But this? Sorry, it’s a no.

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

I am in the awe of how over-the-top this is. It’s a no from me as well, but who knows… maybe we do qualify? At least it’s memorable, which is more than I can say for Latvia or Lithuania. On the other hand, their songs are less cringy.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

On the other hand, beautiful topless male angels doing ballet is definitely a “dream of love”, so perhaps that’s what the song is actually about? 😛
(It would also explain the song’s drama, since this is what the dreamer can’t have.)

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Sure, fantasize over shirtless dancers, why not. It’s not like the act goes anywhere deeper than that anyway. Even Moldova does a classier trick to cover-up their weaknesses. Croatia just embraces them. I can already see news headlines about how ”the show is corrupt” and how ”nobody appreciates us”. Well, we had good songs three years in a row, can’t go on forever…

Ezal
Ezal
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

You can be memorable without making fool of yourself, hint- Australia 🙂

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  Ezal

It’s like comparing The Godfather and The Room. It takes a lot of finesse to stand out in a good way.

Denis
Denis
4 years ago

He looks like a little boy trying to wear something that’s to big for him! He looks so uncomfortable..

Solo
Solo
4 years ago

It looks terrible, the voice is good.

Héctor
Héctor
4 years ago

Same as Australia: did you say my staging was cheesy and tacky? Let’s double it!

I wouldn’t rule it out completely cause voters have shown more than once they can embrace a circus on stage.

FR fan
FR fan
4 years ago

Oh no xD this looks like a joke ^^ anyway, good luck Croatia

wendy
wendy
4 years ago

I can’t defend this anymore.

Darren
Darren
4 years ago

Croatia always manages to bring the cringe. If not in song, then in staging.
You can do better. Poor Roko.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago
Reply to  Darren

here it’s BOTH in the song and in the staging

Ezal
Ezal
4 years ago

No comment. Houdek, leave this boy alone and take your cringe wings with you!

Nikki
Nikki
4 years ago

Well, at least we do now know what are going to be the stage trends at Europe’s gay clubs this year.
Kinky boots and wings.

Ps: I’m not trying to be offensive, I know people who works, and loves to, in gay clubs.

Matija
Matija
4 years ago

Different, more interesting, improvement, good job Croatia!

Colin
Colin
4 years ago

Love it or hate it – This will be memorable! The question remains on whether Croatia or Moldova will dazzle more with their staging in order to elevate the not-so-popular ballad.

Oriol99
Oriol99
4 years ago

*cringe* alert…

Salem
Salem
4 years ago

Whatever shade people throw at Croatia, you gotta admit: This is one the reasons we love Eurovision! It’s just so over the top 😀 I laugh at it and I love it at the same time. The memorability of this act combined with Roko’s amazing vocals makes me think this has actually decent chances of qualifying.

Ksenija
Ksenija
4 years ago
Reply to  Salem

This performance is going to be popular on twitter and tumblr, i cannot wait for all the memes xD

Maude
Maude
4 years ago

This isn’t qualifying, is it? The handsome dancers won’t be enough bait to swallow this crap, right? I’m actually worried now it will qualify. Shameless Houdek knows how to appeal to the gaylords.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago

a literal nightmare

Ezal
Ezal
4 years ago

Agree

Matija
Matija
4 years ago

Disagree