Eurovision pre-party season is in full swing, and on Tuesday 19 acts gathered in Tel Aviv in the first edition of Israel Calling. Awesome vocals, fierce dance routines, drama and spontaneity mixed up on the Israeli stage and gave us a taste of what those 19 performances will look like on the big stage in Stockholm. But of all them, who do you think came out on top?
wiwibloggs was on-the-scene watching and broadcasting, but we can’t make up our minds. So we want to know your opinion. Did Michal nail it as much as he did in Amsterdam? What about Sanja‘s theatrical realness? Did you even notice Poli had performed on Bulgaria’s Your Face Sounds Familiar 24 hours earlier?
Here you have a playlist, with all the 19 performances (plus some special guests including Kids.il, Izhar Cohen and “Diva” composer Svika Pick), and below you have the poll. You can vote for as many acts as you want, but you can only vote once — so be sure to click the box next to each performer you want to support before pressing submit.
Israel Calling: Artists presentation
Israel calling: all the live performances
Highlights and debuts
In a sea of stars, some acts shined just a little bit brighter. And one of them was, of course, Sergey Lazarev with “You Are The Only One”.
During his first performance at a Eurovision party outside of Russia, Sergey brought his signature king of pop realness, wearing a fierce black-leather look and delivering a killer vocal performance with slick choreography.
We were standing in the VIP area shortly before he went on, and his dancers were on the floor doing push-ups. Pump it up!
France’s Amir proved why he is hanging close with Sergey in the betting odds. The French-Israeli performer seemed natural and spontaneous in his second home country and the audience responded so, so well. He even gave an a capella reprise!
Finland’s Sandhja was one of the pre-party debutants and she made up for her earlier absences. The Finn got the party started by werking zebra print jumpsuit. She went barefoot, showing off her perfect feet.
There were some sound issues with her mic and earpiece — that’s pretty clear early in the performance. But she pushed through with her amazing energy. It makes total sense why producers have her opening Semi-Final 1 of Eurovision.
Donny Montell, who previously wowed at Eurovision 2012, was the opening act in Tel Aviv.
The Lithuanian singer did what he does best: He sang while popping and locking and making the crowd get up and dance.
Love how he drops to the stage with those thrusts. The wait was worth it!
Our host in Tel Aviv, Hovi Star, is a true star for Israeli Eurofans. He gave the event its ‘lift up your lighters’ moment, letting the audience sing along with him as he reminded them of their self-worth. He also delivered an impeccable performance of “Made of Stars” to the delight of his compatriots.
Israel Calling Production
And we have to shout out to the production team. The event looked amazing and the contestants seemed to enjoy every moment, as seen in this group celebration on stage afterwards. They danced to the Israeli hit “Tel Aviv” — and so did we!
Who are your favourites?
[polldaddy poll=9384600]Interviews and behind-the-scenes
Who are your favourites? Once you’ve voted, share your thoughts below.
Michal Szpak has the best vockal and I just love his song(HiT). Poland should win for sure
Russia 🙂
Poland 🙂
France 🙂
Samra and Michael- together on first
Ivan and man from Romania- both on the second
Amir and Zoe – guys, for you both my third place
1 st Azerbaijan
2 nd Poland
3 rd Romania
Thanks
To those who think there are Sergey’s fans here…no way. The amount of his fans is huge. If they really were here it would be obvious)) They called themselves LazerArmy and his fandom is probably the biggest and most active in Russia. So no way any of them here. Maybe several people, not more)
The wonderful Ailo Sawyer (whose tops you might have been enjoying this season) has uploaded his #Israelcalling top to the youtube. Same top three as in wiwi’s public opinion (though in a slightly different order). It’s only in Spanish so far but I hope subtitles are coming https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sHkxBBCCcWg
Samra disappointed me… She will be like Dilara. Bring back Elnur Hüseynov, he has AMAZING voice!
Poland for me this year <3<3<3<3<3 Michal has such an amazing voice and I don't care what y'all say I love that song!
Fingers crossed that after last year's large difference of opinion between the jury vote and the televote, the marking scheme has been altered to award more points to vocals and less to the performance of an expensive CGI backrgound (how is that important in a song contest?)
Oikotimes published their insight summary which I enjoyed reading. Btw, the editor is Greek before you start jumping to wrong conclusions on ‘ethnic’ biases https://oikotimes.com/2016/04/15/israel-calling-2016-the-party-or-just-another-party/
well the polish and russian people on here are promoting their own countries
Michal has got good vocals, maybe the best vocals of eurovision this year, but i don’t like his song, it’s a bit boring
Sergey, well he’s nothing new, I really much more prefer Alexey Vorobyov’s Get You above his song, sergey’s song is cliche and dated
@Ron
i’ve listened to it again, and you’re right it was awful and i would honestly score it a 3.5/10
Amir’s show was true , spontaneous , and he didn’t need dancers to do well!
Sergey’s show was the best – uniquely. So no question – who is the winner.
Micha? Szpak is just the best! If you say that’s a return to the past I’ll say you: what’s wrong if it’s really good and emotional song? By the way songs of Amir or Sergey are nothing new, songs like these you can hear everyday on the radio.
Skandar. I am not polish fan!
Amir better than in A´dam, Zoe not slaying as in A´dam, Freddie very connecting and charismatic, Michal very strong, Sanja from Serbia my fav, well, if Sergey sang that I was is only one for me, I´d get panic and run away…B aware of the control freak! Doing everything perfectly but really cold without soul. Will listen the others too… want to know if Ivan get´s the last tones that had destroyed his gr8 start in A´dam.
Polish fans behave like armenians in 2014 and spanish fans every year.
Amador.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNtsJT2HC6c
Michal is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! This is masterpiece! wow wow wow wow
I appeal to the jury to Michal Starling Poland is the best, realistically assessed, let’s not count political barriers, geographical, let counts in the end vocals.
@Nicky91 – 9.5/10 for Samra’s live performance? Did we listen to the same performance? She was out of tune the whole time, and that’s with a heavy background vocals
@Euro16
Don’t be scared. It’s just that there are a lot of polish fans here 😉
Susan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNtsJT2HC6c
POLAND ? RUSSIA ? Are you kidding ?!!!! Back to the past ! Where’s the modern Eurovision?
Vote for a modern song!
It’s ESC 2016, not 2000 ! Poland and Russia, so KITSCHHHH AND OLD !!!
no comment 🙂
Micha? Szpak – „I`m so excited”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVe02iL3tkU
Poli Genova is starting to sort her things out. Her live is slowly getting better at every event.
Sanja Vucic consistently gives great live performances.
I’m getting tired of Sergey performances. It feels like I have already seen that 1000 of times…
Nice job Freddie involving the audience.
SLAY FRANCE! Amir >>>>>>>> Sergay
Sandhja was off key on the verses, did okay in the chorus but I hate the song’s chorus. Samra has a good song but she was never a good singer, how come she advance that far in The Voice of Azerbaijan, I never know. Donny Montell was permanently off key since the beginning. Bad song performed badly. Amir still needs to improve his head voice but his performance is solid enough and his voice tone is really pleasant to my ear, he’s definitely my favorite this year. Hovi is a great singer but I don’t really like his song. Eneda… Read more »
@Loo I think that your comment It is not in place you call me a Polish troll and I feel offended look at you do not answer in the topic do not be political Poland and Polish people are not trolls thank you .
Zoë has posted on her facebool page a video of a dozen Israelis singing L’oin d’ici in the streets of Tel Aviv. She and her song seem to have made quite an impression….
I liked lots of artists
Serg, Amir, Hovi, Michal, Poli & strange of all Ovidiu (cant stand his song but he performed very well. Kudos) & Lidia
Amir improved a lot from his first lives. He’ll be ready by May.
@Layla
and i choose experience and real performers, we all have our own choices right 🙂
I would choose talent, but I know that Europe wants good show. That is why I preferred to Margaret despite the fact that I don’t like her song (Heartbeat was better). My taste is weak, because I like boring songs. For exaple my fav are: Moldova, Lithuania, Belarus, Hungary, Israel, UK, Norway, Armenia – one half doesn’t even come to the final and the other half will be in the middle of the pack 😀
@Anton and @Layla
he has the best vocal of eurovision this year, but his song is so boring
there are other countries, who might have less vocalists but better songs 🙂
Michal’s vocal live is so similar to Konchita )))
I agree. Michal has the best vocal of all. I think Freddie also has an interesting voice. Ivan sometimes not control his voice, but I think he also has a great voice 🙂
Michal Szpak best! best! best! best!!!!!! man vocal this ESC
@Layla
good point
@Amador I think that Poland will please the judges, but Europe no longer.
Although he can still surprise us.
The song of Austria also was boring, but it won. Besides, this year is much more boring ballads. I think that Poland is located between the 11th-15th
@BeataS
thank you i appreciate that 🙂
A lot of people say that they don’t like the dance. I am not a huge fan of this dance too. I prefer Sergey on stage alone, when focus is on him & his energy only. But the main point here is to show that he can dance and sing on that level at same time! He is the only one who did this and who’s capable to nail it this year. In Stockholm his performance gonna be completely different I am sure.
Michal Szpak – best man vocal this ESC but boring pop/rock ballad. (0 points jury and 20-22 place final)
Nicky91
favourites sorry 😉
Michal Szpak might surprise many of us in May.
Nicky91
Of course! I wish you good luck your favorite 😉
@BeataS
can you also wish my favourites Malta and Czech Republic good luck 🙂
Nicky91
THANK YOU! 🙂
@adriana
and Ira’s interview, i find her so down to earth and kind, also what she said about other songs this year, that other songs are also amazing
and on her instagram a picture of her with Francesca Michielin 🙂
@BeataS
well that’s a good reason, i wish your favourite best of luck 🙂