Gabriela Guncikova has been rising in the betting odds over the past week and today she made it clear why. During her first rehearsal at Eurovision 2016 the Czech starlet brought the total package — voice, song, staging, LED, and presence.

Some of us have never been a fan of the studio version, moaning that it gets a tad monotonous. But when you hear Gabriela sing this live the song comes to life. Her vocals were 100% on-point. She didn’t miss a note and, more importantly, she added emotion, soul and dimension.

The song starts in darkness and Gabriela slowly emerges wearing a white, floor-sweeping skirt with form-fitting bodice. Then, in what may be the most brilliant use of the LED floor and wall yet, we see her now famous purple, pink and blue geometric branding. The camera swoops back and she seems to disappear into the pink. Her white dress reflects the light of the floor well, making Gabriela a dynamic vessel of light.

Our one reservation is the ending, when the LED screen transforms into a shower of pink and white flowers. It’s less chic and sophisticated than the rest of her performance and gives us major shades of Zöe, who sings later in the same semi final.

Czech Republic: First rehearsal at Eurovision 2016

Gabriela Guncikova’s “I Stand”: Reviews and Reactions

Gabriela Guncikova’s Press Conference

Interview with Gabriela Guncikova

Read all of our Eurovision rehearsal reviews

Photo: Eurovision.tv (EBU)

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Steven
Steven
7 years ago

She’s beautiful and has to voice to draw in all attention. My winner!

Pollaski 2: Electric Boogaloo
Pollaski 2: Electric Boogaloo
7 years ago

Her stock is rising. Is there anyone honestly NOT rooting for her to finally put the czechs through?

Im still not 100% sold the song is good enough, but if anyone can carry it, its Gabriela

sonic0201
sonic0201
7 years ago

Well, this song probably makes much better impact if you watch/listen the whole song from the start to the end. Her live vocals are good, other than that, nothing else to see here (yet..).
Semi 1 is strong, but right now I can definitely see a good chance for The Czech Republic to qualify, because the song is good, and the performance doesn’t look messy, cheap or overcomplicated.

Denis
Denis
7 years ago

I think her qualifying is the real win here.

Oxana
Oxana
7 years ago

anyone have the video for full rehearsal? if you do, please share it. could be she’ll be along with Armenia in the top of semi result? I can see to it

Roberto
Roberto
7 years ago

I liked this very much from the start and I even more impressed now with this staging.

My only concern is this could clash with Austria. I think one of them is going to fall short when we see both lives on TV.

I’ll support this from Spain in the 1st semi.

Amdiron
Amdiron
7 years ago

OMG, I love this! Even when William really didn’t like the song and now he does.. That must mean something 😀 This must qualify.

MTD
MTD
7 years ago

OK, something off-topic – somewhere was mentioned that she has Swedish backsingers. She’s not the only one.

Is it me, or this year’s ESC is like 75% Swedish in all terms?

Sparrow
Sparrow
7 years ago

I would love to see Czech Republic qualify with I Stand. If ever they deserve it, it’s this year.
Also the flowers would work better if they were geometric flowers to match the patterns before it instead of dainty flowers like what is there atm but the rest is just brilliant.

Darren
Darren
7 years ago

Czech Reublic definitely deserve to qualify this year! This is miles better than last year and by far CZ’s best ever Eurovision entry!
This needs to qualify! Maybe a Czech success this year could bring back Slovakia next year!

Daan
Daan
7 years ago

Dekuju Gabriela , please take the Czech Republic to the final like it deserved last year!!! Czech deserves to be top 5. <3

oli
oli
7 years ago

Best ballad this year.

error
error
7 years ago

@ Jan

I Stand was submitted to the Malta national selection two years ago.

georgekirkas
georgekirkas
7 years ago

Fingers crossed for the first ever Czech qualification! Gabriela, I wish you best of luck!

Jan
Jan
7 years ago

@error

Its only your theory… Nobody knows when the Czech TV accepten an offer from composers.. And I think that internal selections are more attractive for composers as song goes directly to ESC if is chosen once… So Golden might have been Czech national reject.. I Stand is better than Golden..

Tom
Tom
7 years ago

Really hoping Gabriela qualifies. She’s in my top 3. If she nails the vocals, particularly the part where she yells I stand all bets will be off.

error
error
7 years ago

She is a fantastic singer. But she deserves a better song than a Malta national selection reject.