William: Let there be light! Russia’s Polina Gagarina was a beauty in white during her first rehearsal at Eurovision 2015. Her dress had a long, curved train which looks amazing from overhead. Behind her a drummer and backing vocalists also wore white. It’s all symbolic of peace and serenity and we were totally feeling it — and the white LED spirals that accompany this. She has an image of the Earth which looks somewhat cheap in comparison to Boggie’s from earlier this morning, but it still works really well. Once she adds in pyro — we expect a glitter rainfall like Emmelie de Forest — this will be a champagne supernova of fabulous. Her vocals were absolute perfection. TELEGENIC! I’m convinced this will come Top 5. Well done, Russia!

Russia’s first rehearsal at Eurovision 2015

Padraig: Wow! Tolmachevys be gone! Russia are back in the big league. Polina isn’t even trying. But she doesn’t need to. She oozes brilliance. Her stage presence is magnetic, even when she’s holding back, as she was today. This is a serious contender for the top five, although it’s not perfect. The backing band look a little out of place, and bring down the classy tone. Also after Boggie’s monochrome globe of stars and guns, Polina’s looks a little run-of-the-mill. They’re little niggles though.

Polina Gagarina: Reviews and Reactions

Loving #russia at #eurovision

A video posted by wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) on

Russia: Polina Gagarina’s Press Meet and Greet

YOU CAN READ OUR REVIEWS OF ALL OF THE REHEARSALS BY CLICKING HERE.

Photo: Andres Putting (EBU)

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Huh
Huh
9 years ago

A video of its full rehearsal has been leaked on the internet already. There is one on Youtube.

seanb12
seanb12
9 years ago

A million voices? A million Russian bullets killing people in Ukraine and Georgia. Russia starts wars and doesn’t even tell their own people. Look at the propaganda JJ here in this thread believes! Nonsense stories about nine year old girls run over by Ukrainian tanks and people protesting about it being shot by the Ukrainian government is pure Russian propaganda. Just as this song. Peace and love …. Please! Russia brings death to Ukraine and Georgia and shoots innocent civilian planes out of the skies. Remember MH 17? A dictatorship like Russia doesn’t belong to Europe. The Russians will be… Read more »

Allen
Allen
9 years ago

Russia will win the first semi-final. I’m now almost 100% sure about that.

Greece will go high, too. The problem is these two entries are in some way similar when it comes to actual performance on the stage, but Russia is better.

I doubt Estonia can win this semi. Hungary will be a pleasent surpise.

I’m totally dissapointed by Macedonian rehersal.

Lolilly
Lolilly
9 years ago

Strong! There is a fine line between strong vocal and a painful screechy shouty one. And this one by far is really good!

jj
jj
9 years ago

Russia did not start the war – it was the U.S. removal of Ukraine’s elected president and installing a puppet who immediately made threats to those who were Russian speakers, didn’t hate Russia or who were supporters of the illegally removed president. It is the Ukraine government sending troops to attack those in the southeast. Most of the casualties (60%) have been civilian women in Novorossiya, and they were killed by the shelling from the Kiev-sent army. The infrastructure has been devastated too. Also, the Ukraine troops were killing and torturing civilians in areas they got into. There was also… Read more »

Per
Per
9 years ago

Bavarson:Grown up

Per
Per
9 years ago

I hope Russia not going to the final. They should not be in ESC., as long as they start war. go home Russia

WTF
WTF
9 years ago

@bavarson: Masterpiece and Eric Saade should never be used in the same sentence. Go home bavarson, you’re drunk…

wozzeck
wozzeck
9 years ago

agustín, esa noticia ya se puso aquí hace tres semanas (llegas tarde). Además, aquí todo el mundo odia que se haga spam de un país en un hilo que no habla sobre ese país. No estás haciendo ningún favor a nadie.

LERCY
LERCY
9 years ago

The voice is great! Really powerful! But I just don’t believe her and the song. I don’t feel it. I think Europe won’t either. Love for Denmark. What a nice and sweet song. Gives me good feeling. Polina is trying to hard me, but that’s my feeling.

ESC 4ever
ESC 4ever
9 years ago

Oops i’m so very sorry for my older posts.
*Top 12 not 10
*I forgot Hungary
here back again my top 12:
1-Greece
2-Russia
3-Belgium
4-Serbia
5-Armenia
6-Hungary
7-Estonia
8-Belarus
9-The Netherlands
10-FYR Macedonia
11-Finland
12-Moldova
Sorry again 🙂

davve
davve
9 years ago

russia will get BOOED at again..

ESC 4ever
ESC 4ever
9 years ago

I’m sorry i mean:
1-Greece
2-Russia

ESC 4ever
ESC 4ever
9 years ago

wOW PERFECTION!!!

Top 10 from rehearsal semi 1 so far:
1-Russia
2-Greece
3-Belgium
4-Serbia
5-Armenia
6-Belarus
7-Estonia
8-The Netherlands
9-FYR Macedonia
10-Finland
11-Moldova

Judith
Judith
9 years ago

Not one of my favourites, but when I walked past the Stadthalle today, I heard her singing.

Leon
Leon
9 years ago

Russia is definitely going to win the first semi-final with Armenia and Estonia coming as runner ups. I’m not sure if this will win the contest given that a lot of people have resentment for Russia, but I think it will end in top 3-7 positions.

bavarson
bavarson
9 years ago

I hope that Sweden will not win Eurovision this year, because Mans Zelmerlow does not deserve this. The winner should be Eric Saade, because his entry was similar masterpiece to “Only Teardrops” and “Euphoria” but fascists did not allow him to victory.

Leo
Leo
9 years ago

Many thanks Eugene & to all others –
To be honest I am really ver much impressed that we can change most of our knowledges from ESC. So let’s continue with our latest news & infos, by the way
I am a seninor ESC fan following the events over the last 40 years.!!
…more to come

Eris
Eris
9 years ago

it’s been since 2007 that i have’t liked a single russian entry,but polina changed that. I can see this winning or coming as a runner up in the 1st semi.

Michael
Michael
9 years ago

I was sure that Estonia will win but after the rehearsals Russia looked stronger.There was something wrong with Estonia. I don’t know what is but there is something.

bavarson
bavarson
9 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlwCYVQbmuQ
Here it was million times better.

ct
ct
9 years ago

I never had any doubt that Russia will slay. However I don’t think the bridal dress (with a train!) is such a great or elegant idea…We already have one widow (Trintje) do we have to have a bride as well?

Mark Dowd
Mark Dowd
9 years ago

It’s a formulaic boring song, sung very well. It is 2013 all over again. They came fifth that year and there are at least five or six better songs than this, so it’s Top ten but not Top Five. of course the bookies will react because she is a good singer……but that does not mean it can win. A mediocre singer with a fabulous song is always going to do better than a good singer with a dull, plastic song…and this is what this is.

Fatima
Fatima
9 years ago

Oh dear, I think it’s asking for trouble for Russia of all countries to encourage audience participation

Jo
Jo
9 years ago

PP, I dont know how you came up with Romania giving 10 points to Russia….How would you come to this idea? There is not much sympathy involved whatsoever.

Amerivision
Amerivision
9 years ago

Vocally was great.
Staging? I can’t see because I’m blinded by the staging! O_o

bavarson
bavarson
9 years ago

Russia was 3rd in my last prediction. If they will not change staging, my new prediction will be more negative for them.

PP
PP
9 years ago

For me boring song from Russia , they dont change song from 2013 , all with same message peace,love… Russia wili don t get many votes from west , only from east and they wili finish in TOP 10 , but I dont see this song in TOP 5, maybe 6 or 7 place in final like last year, if they only be 5 in 2013 with more better song and that time we dont have russia agression on Ukraine. They will get many points from 8 ex soviet coutries (12 points 100 % from Belarus,Armenia, Azerbaijan, 10 points from… Read more »

Sarah Boucher
9 years ago

Speaking of Tolmachevys, SF2 Apperance is this:comment image (this is not the tolmachevys, but i know their appearance).

Racal
Racal
9 years ago

Well, just look at her… Of course she will look stunning, she’s gorgeous and she sings perfectly!

Leo
Leo
9 years ago

Eugene ESC UK:.-

Coming to the bookies odds, well of course they were shortening their prices in a couple of minutes to a half of before, so that means that Russia will be part of a possible Top 4 gamble. EACHWAY means you’ll receive 1/4 a quarter for the offered winning price and you still win big money when Russia is comes between 1st to 4th place at the Finals.

Jimmy
Jimmy
9 years ago

Hahahah exactly my thoughts @ Nitzan

Aron F.
Aron F.
9 years ago

They will come top10 because of their neighbors. They won’t come top5 because of their current geopolitical situation.

bavarson
bavarson
9 years ago

What a fail. I hope they will change it, because this is mediocre.

Nitzan
Nitzan
9 years ago

This is a very generic Eurovision song with a very generic Eurovision performance that should get a very generic top 5 position. SOOOOOO Eurovision.

Otna
Otna
9 years ago

I wouldn’t be against this winning because Polina Gagarina is absolutely spectacular and this song is a masterpiece. That said, I’m predicting something between 3rd-5th for Polina.

bavarson
bavarson
9 years ago

Recently Denmark went up in my prediction and maybe that’s why Russia prepared similar staging.

Otna
Otna
9 years ago

Looks and sounds like absolute PERFECTION <3

Good luck Polina, so amazing!

bavarson
bavarson
9 years ago

Typical good staging. I was expecting something else, but it looks good on this stage and this is much more certain than all other entries.

Timbardur62
Timbardur62
9 years ago

She has the neighbouring countries to thank for some sets of 12 points + some stray points from the others if she is in top 10 @ the Grand Final. I know, the politics should not affect on the voting, but sorry to say, for me it does.

Sander
Sander
9 years ago

I think Russia have upped their game! Love the beat and the clapping. It makes it more believable even though it’s a cheesy world peace message from Russia. I think they could reach top 5 just like 2013.