Croatia’s Nina slipped into a structured Japanese gown. Armenia’s Iveta Mukuchyan served Moulin Rouge realness. And Russia’s Sergey Lazarev scaled an LED wall. And they were just three of the nine acts who had their first rehearsals at Eurovision 2016 on Monday. But who among today’s acts — Armenia, Croatia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, The Netherlands, Russia and San Marino — stole the show?
You can watch our reviews of today’s first rehearsals below. Then vote in our poll. You can vote for as many countries as you like, but you can only vote one time, so make it count. Be sure to click the box next to each act you want to support before pressing submit.
1 ARMENIA 2 ROSSIA 3 POHLAND
Russia by far. 🙂
Lovewave is a song that didn’t please me at all until now but after these first rehearsals I have to recognize that it was the one who grew the most on me. Maybe this will happen to you too with any other song. A song that you didn’t pay attention at all, suddenly becomes one of your favorites after watching how it works on stage, maybe because you start to understand the meaning of the song and it really matches with the lyrics or maybe because you find emotion where you couldn’t find just listening to the song. Truth is,… Read more »
Armenia is the potential winner of ESC!! Iveta’s first rehearsal is best of all!!
Can’t wait for Greece to qualify again and all the ” Greece won’t qualify this year ” trolls to shut up forever.
Armenia, Russia, Netherlands and Greece.
1. Armenia
2. Hungary
3. Croatia
4. Finland
5. Moldova
6. Greece
7. The Netherlands
8. San Marino
It seems Armenia had a great researshal, she deserves being in the final . But if it wins because of the show I cannot imagine this song being played on the radios around Europe. It wouldnt be memmorable year.
I think Greece surprised us all in a positive way. Personally, I find Russia’s song a bit mediocre and the staging too exaggerating! Armenia and The Netherlands did a great job!
Armenia – that note!! If she can pull it off in the live shows she’ll be going straight to the finals.
Marc
They worship Armenia cause ITS A BAD TASTE to like Russia
The Netherlands was one of the worst. I even prefer Serhat’s rehearsal.
Greece, Russia, Armenia, Croatia the best!
To all the people who defends Armenia, I’d like to know how many time have you listened Lovewave full or if you downloaded and it’s among your more heard in your playlist. Becuase I can’t listen this, she and her song hurt my ears so bad.
Actually Huh,wasn’t a rule added last year or two years ago that they had to rehearse in their final outfit no matter what?
I aam from Azerbaijan.. our nation hate armenians .. but i can say that Iveta is the best among yesterday performances… by the way GOOOO SAMRA and Land of Fire Azerbaijaaaaaaaaaaaan.. vote for Azerbaijan
Russia, Netherlnds, Armenia were the best IMO! Hungary and Croatia were good, too. 🙂
ARMENIA
Armenia was the one i could see winning in the final. Russia and Croatia weren’t bad as wel, but Armenia will steal the show.
YouTube link for Armenian rehearsal? Anyone? Not the forty sec clip please.
I gotta say I haven’t been too taken with LoveWave, but that rehearsal got me really interested. I wouldn’t mind it qualifying if the rest of the staging keeps on par with what’s been shown.
@woolite
Since when is Austria considered a big country?
@Nicky91
I also want to see todays rehearsals especially Estonia Malta and Azerbaijan
@esc2016
for me personally
1. Armenia
2. Netherlands
3. Croatia
4. Russia
5. Finland
6. Moldova
7. Greece
8. Hungary ( he changed nothing from his national final performance a real shame, just bland and dull)
9. San Marino
now good luck for today’s rehearsal, especially my favourites the best of luck 🙂
I’m rooting for a song where technology doesn’t play such a huge role this year. Russia is on deep water with that performance because it over-shadowes all the other things that should exist in a performance. Such as heart and a nice message. And some kind of connection with the audience and the ones sitting in front of a screen. Even Måns had a lot more of that with Heroes and his performance last
I’m not sure if Russia is doing the right thing. This kind of technology worked for Måns last year, but I’m not sure it will work two times in a row. I like when Sergey is climbing the led-wall. But he is doing lots of things that others have done before in one performance. It’s just too much! The whole performance is up on youtube btw. It has leaked for some reason.
The Ntherlands give hopes and Finland….just a suicide
Hungary disapoint me….very bad
Moldova and San marino….no comments
Greece suprise us and saw that deserve the final
Croatia personally I like it
Russia…..I just cant nderstand…most boring is the song or the staging
Armenia-the winner of semi-final
Anyone but Russia))) Now Iveta))) Haters are so funny)))
I am so happy for Iveta. She’s my second and she slayed once again singing this live. I can’t wait to see her full performance. Hungary was nice and real too. He’s my number ten.
I am worried of Freddie. There is still the dress rehearsal, at least.
Top 3
Greece
Armenia
Russia (without the fall)
Armenia, Russia, and Greece impressed me (and I say this as someone who hates You Are The Only One)
The Netherlands, Finland, and San Marino all had okay staging that were fitting for their songs
I was… disappointed by:
Croatia (the drama and mystery in Lighthouse completely fell flat, the backing singers kind of ruin one of the best songs in the contest)
Hungary (nothing has changed since the preselection, and without seeing the lava rocks that he’s apparently walking around on it’s completely weak.)
Moldova (kitschy, bland, the astronaut isn’t professional)
Guess that Armenia will be the one who can win. OMG she is so sexy. Her voice make me enjoy the performance. I was not a big lover of her song but now I love it. Russia’s song for me is overrated. I personally have up listing to it. However, Sergey remains one of the it contenders as it’s Mother Russia after all which will easily receive points from neighbouring countries. Hope Armenia will realise it and not give points to Russia.
@Victoria
“Maybe they liked her legs” – why not? 🙂 someone also liked Lazarev’s legs or whatever he have to show to his supporters to be considered a winner? everything is fair. best legs take the prize 🙂
The only two that I personally liked were Croatia (my personal favourite to win this Semi Final) and the Netherlands the others to me were just okay or in Russia’s case too over the top.
So sorry people who are going to disagree with me but I will be voting for Croatia when they make it to final, Its just a shame I can’t vote in this Semi Final as I’m from UK, Go Nina
Armenia could very well be this semifinal’s winner.
Disappointed with Hungary, it’s basically the same we saw in A Dal. Hungary is not really good at stagings (Remember Kallay)
The Netherlands always up their game with the staging and they do it with simplicity, which is even more valuable.
Russia…well, just what I expected, a great display of technology, which I personally don’t like. It’s too much for me, but obviously this will qualify.
I agree, people can’t judge based on those small clips lol, saying things like Armenia will win makes me even more lol, but okay, let them enjoy this moment cause it wont happen 🙂 Next week, after the first semi, then it all starts. Good luck to all the contestants.
We saw a few seconds of each song, how can people judge, i dont much like the Armenian song its boring. Come on Amir
I’ve chosen Armenia, Netherlands, Greece, Moldova and Finland here, though no one of them is in my top 10 as studio/live act. Remained being nervous about Nina’s staging and I can’t get why there was everything about her outfit in that small video. Imho the simplier or even minimalist staging should be more relevant to her song.
from the little that i saw on the video – Greece is the best!
Here’s a link to Russia’s full performance leaked by Swedish media Aftonbladet
https://youtu.be/v6jMVkrXwRw
@Woolite: what You said is really wonderful because I support Nina.Armenia is my fav atm but Nina is still high on my list.Her voice never failed but the other dress just has to be spectacular.If not, she might struggle to qualify although she deserves it.
Russia was the best by far. It’s just the eurofans against the country that simply don’t wanna see it. All Hovi and Barei followers dissing an amazing rehearsal. This is what Eurovision is all about. MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT and a BIG SHOW
Just to be clear, this is not Nina’s dress. This is just a cape she’ll be wearing over it. The real dress is white, with feathers and mirror peices (to reflect light) and it weighs 18kg (35 lbs)
The lighthouse effects above and the stars in the background are amazing. Her voice is her best asset and she kills every time with it.
No doubt – she is a real winner this year. Of course she won’t win, because the last year a small country won was 2007.
Greece was the best definitely!
I’m sure they’ll easily qualify 🙂
Hungary’s performance was so forgettable that I even forgot commented on it! Of course Freddie’s voice is amazing but we didn’t see anything new.
How on Earth would you all know which one had the best rehearsal when you all saw 20-40sec clips of the actual performance with a bad sound over it?
Really? Give me a break!
And I vote for Iveta’s legs.
Stage and Performance Wise: The Good Ones: -Greece: It’s just perfectly suited on the song, I think they have made a really nice presentation. – Armenia: Iveta was on point and from the photos I’ve seen the performance must be really big. – The Netherlands: A solid performance , just what one should be waiting for. The Ok Ones: – Russia: I think they are kinda exaggerating, the routine is really hard and it doesn’t help for a more authentic performance. – Hungary: This was alright, nothing really exciting though. Could’ve Been Better: – Croatia: I didn’t like the dress… Read more »
Armenia have been in my top 3 since the song was released and rightfully so. Lovewave isn’t just a song, they’ve created a moment.