Michal Szpak knows who he is and he isn’t changing for nobody! Today during his first rehearsal, Poland’s Eurovision 2016 singer served androgynous realness while dropping pitch perfect vocals and major stage presence.
The staging suits the mood of the song perfectly. The act begins quite dark with a camera panning into Michal. The floor illumates with stars and they sparkle beautifully underneath Michal. He is accompanied by three violinists, a cellist and a pianist — all of which have instruments that light up to serve some light-sabre realness. The words of the chorus are displayed along the LED back wall, giving the audience of the Globen Arena the opportunity to sing along with him.
During the first run-through, Michal was draped in a metallic silver panel jacket, giving the effect a jacket potato. The rest of the band’s costumes are hidden behind their instruments under incredibly dark lighting which renders them almost invisible.
Michal is an undeniably talented vocalist. His vocal range is as impressive as his toned arms which were out on show during the second and third run-through. He had some timing issues between the first verse and the chorus — he paused at one point to show his frustrations — but he’ll adjust to being on the big stage soon enough.
Poland: First rehearsal at Eurovision 2016
Poland: First press conference 2016
Michal Szpak’s “Color of Your Life”: Reviews and Reactions
Read all of our Eurovision rehearsal reviews
Photo: Eurovision.tv (EBU)
A bit disappointed with Poland. I thought they would bring a simple and motivating staging, taking profit of the voice qualities of Michal, just making him shine.
Instead, they brought all these orchestra members, those distracting lyrics on the pannels…so sad as it was one of my favs FTW.
Where is Gorniak? 🙁
This song makes me want to lay down and die! But since I’m not actually suicidal, I’ll use this as a bathroom break during the semi, and hopefully I won’t have to hear it during the final. I’m sorry, I don’t care how good his voice is, this is not The Voice!
@ Notts
Yes, you’re probably right. I would throw away the lyrics display. And I would love to see a loooot of candles. Real candles to build the atmosphere. Or maybe some LED fire when Michal is singing FIRE. Keeping it simple but the staging lacks something and I’m not sure what it should be… I have no idea if Michal suggests his vision or the producers have a say here?
Am I the only one who thinks that Michal’s background visualizations seem kind of lame and uninspiring? Couldn’t producers come up with something better?
I’ve heard that Michal is kind of “saving” his larynx/vocal cords and doesn’t use the “full power” during rehearsals because he’s got some cold. Very sensible. During rehearsals he doesn’t need to show off. Save the voice for the most important days, Michal – 12 and 14 May. 😉
I am also slightly underwhelmed, but I think he’ll have all sorted out (especially vocally) until next Thursday. The lyrics in the background definitely have to go!
But I like that they brought the instruments on stage.
Will probably qualify…
You’re so right Freyah. 🙂 Imagine Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler being called androgynous. Some people should stop seeking sensation where there isn’t any. Szpak is just a long-haired handsome young man. And that’s it.
Hiiiiiiiiiiiii there 😉
I like it and dont give a s***t about it what ppl said about him… he sing so amazing live!
I’m sorry, a dude having long hair does not make him androgynous. He looks like a typical dude, and nobody I know has ever pointed out that he has androgynous features at all.
I understand with my brain that there are “better” and more “modern” entries and it looks and sounds worse on first rehearsal .. BUT! THIS is my No #1
He was ill, he said that at press conference.
OMG, get over it with Margaret… Michal is much better!
Margaret wouldve looked so great on that stage…
@Oxana
you are right dear… i really dont understand what anton doing here? i think the eurovision is for liberal people……………………….this year even more with the logo :”come together”it means that: gay, lesbian.trans, Jewish, Arabs. Christianit and all of the other religions, refugees , and every one i forget to mention are coming together – and we are all made of stars!!
. and every one in this world coming together!!!
I’m proud of my country, but it sounds the same as for the preselection. In Amsterdam, London and Israel this song sounded much better. I know that this stage is bigger and I believe and I believe he will be better. On the other hand I don’t like this visualization. it looks monotonously ;c
The most charismatic performer of this semi and such a powerful voice.
Straight to the final, oh yeah!
@Anton
Hovi will not win, so what’s the big deal?? he have and will have successful career and the eurovision its only one station for the amazing hovi…..
i also hope that homophobic Russia will also wont win this year….
hovi for me is the winner regardless who will win…. its not like the eurovision song winner gets a Grammy award .. or Oscar….
OR, let him be. Russians think that calling someone gay, trans, drag queen or similar name based on their sexuality IS offensive. It’s their world view. Try to call Russian man a gay and he’ll in 90% will be aggressive. he just tries to insult others in a way he believes would be the best.
Anton, ty kurwa pojebie….
Drag queen will not win this year. That is I am sure about.
@Anton
Two times a wonderful “drag queens” wonderful and amazing singers won the Eurovision..in 1998 – dana international (israel). 2014 – konchita.. (Austria) so anton i Dont think this competition is for people like you mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm so bye bye ……
@Meowww, but will they sing for him? That would be dangerous if they would not. I’ve seen artists with powerful voice who went to gospel-style performance w/o back vocalists and that was a put off for the audience.
@Anton
the words : Drag queen or gay its not a curse … its wonderful words …. but i bet in Russia you use those words to curse someone…. ………………………
Hovi we love u in Israel beautiful bitch 🙂
@Oxana
It means that there were 3 violinist, violoncellist and piano with him. He’s going to performance in this squad
@Anton
Hovi is a proud gay and love to put make up on his face and we love him in Israel for that… not like Sergei that is a gay in the closet.. i fell sorry for him that he need to hide from mama Russia…
GO HOVI GO HOVI GO HOVI
@light star
Are you from Greece?
@Anton
Homophobic much?? Hovi might be gay, but he is very lovely and talented… you are just jealous
@Anton
Homophobes like you have no place in this world!
@OR
The most gayish is your Hovi for sure. Drag queen.
even the Australian singer choose hovi song of one of her top 5
hovi you are the life!!
kissess from israel
hovi bitch we love you in israel.. your song is amazing and you have the best vocal 🙂 kisses and good luck
Sounds good to me. I think Michal would be a borderline qualifier, despite the fact that the organisers want him out by putting Poland 2nd in the running order just after Latvia…Anyway he’s singing also before Switzerland so I think he would stand out a bit!
I will take the risk and I would say that maybe he’s the dark horse this year (or Moldova?) Not sure though
Mirek,
thank you for sharing the link. the article says “Na scenie towarzyszy?y mu: wiolonczelistka, trzy skrzypaczki i fortepian. W takim sk?adzie wyst?pi tak?e podczas drugiego pó?fina?u”
does that mean he’ll go without back vocalists? alone? or these musicians will be his support in terms of vocal? do you know anything about it?
cant wait to see more of it
@anton
you and the gay singer from Russia is the most boring there
@OR
Hovi is the most boring there.
???@Margaret
i know.. and i also didint see new update in hovi Instagram, i only saw that he wes at israel airport so lufthansa put the song made of star and wrote to him on the fighting board good luck.. its was so nice of them 🙂
@Thomas
I sniff some jealousy here…
@Anton
Hovi is the most interesting there!! sure more interesting then a song from the year 2000 from MAMA RUSSIA HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
so go and eat some chocolate it might make u less Bitter!??
The song has grown on me, but the performance was nothing special…
What is this OMG ahhahahahahaah …FLOP
Poland stay in semi finals
@OR
Exactly? I wonder how Hovi sang <3
@OR
Nothing interesting there…
wiwi- why you dont show hovi star rehearsal??
Great Voice but awful song.. will qualify though.
I like him but this is Conchita 2.0, sorry…
Michal has one of the greatest voices Eurovision has ever heard. Unfortunately, he also has one of the worst possible draws in the Semi. He can still qualify, but it’s going to be really tough. Good luck.
Michal is very good singer.. i wish hin good luck, and where is hovi?
awful…