Belgium gave us fierce disco, Ukraine had us on the verge of tears and Slovenia served breasts and prayers. And that was just three countries out of eight that took to the stage today in the first rehearsals of the first half of semi final two here at Eurovision 2016. But who out of today’s acts – Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Georgia, Norway, Slovenia and Ukraine – had the best rehearsal?

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.

FIRST REHEARSALS: MAY 5

ALBANIA: ENEDA TARIFA WITH “FAIRYTALE”

BELGIUM: LAURA TESORO WITH “WHATS THE PRESSURE”

BULGARIA: POLI GENOVA WITH “IF LOVE WAS A CRIME”

DENMARK: LIGHTHOUSE X WITH “SOLDIERS OF LOVE”

GEORGIA: NIKA KOCHAROV & YOUNG GEORGIAN LOLITAZ WITH “MIDNIGHT GOLD”

NORWAY: AGNETE WITH “ICEBREAKER”

SLOVENIA: MANUELLA WITH “BLUE AND RED”

UKRAINE: JAMALA WITH “1944”

[polldaddy poll=9408828]

FOR MORE EUROVISION POLLS, CLICK HERE

73 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
SLY
SLY
7 years ago

No wonder that Bulgaria went down 2 positions on Oddschecker after the first rehearsal!

SLY
SLY
7 years ago

@ Nancy
Poli`s dress is not `modern`! This is something what a fashion student would do on his first school project at 2001!

ESCArgy
ESCArgy
7 years ago

@Nancy

Never mind, it’s OK. I just think that it’s unfair to say that Lidia has the worst live vocals of the year, as you said before she has improved a lot.

Huh
Huh
7 years ago

I want Belgium to qualify this time. As for Georgia? Why not.

And Albania is not too strong for many. But I hope she returns in the future.

hasa
hasa
7 years ago

I think it could be better if Poli had dancers in futuristic police uniform and they can add digital pixelated effect on the costume. I believe it was Zayn Malik’s performance that got the digital pixels all over him, but I couldn’t find anything on internet.

Nancy.
Nancy.
7 years ago

@hasa I totally agree, I don’t understand why people complain about the dress! It’s so modern , different and futuristic! People aren’t you tired of super-mini hot skirts?

Nancy.
Nancy.
7 years ago

@ESCArgy of course a lidia has improved her vocals a lot and I am very happy for her! She is a great singer and an amazing person. But by many eurofans she is still having the title of ” The worst live singer of the year” and i feel really bad for her! That’s why I use her to my example to make the difference between Jamala ‘s voice and a weaker one ( as many people believe this for Lidia’s voice.) clear . Sorry If my comment was insulting! Honestly I didn’t want to insult her 🙂

hasa
hasa
7 years ago

Y’all know about the press voting. But based on the snippets contrary to popular opinion here, I think Poli stands out because of the dress. The dress is modern and she can pull it off very well.

David Who
David Who
7 years ago

It wasn’t even close on Day 4. Ukraine wow, by a clear mile. Well done Jamala. 🙂
Bulgaria’s Poli needs to change her styling. (Barbara Dex alert!)
Georgia did better than expected. Well done them.
Belgium tried hard. They might qualify.
Albania’s Eneda performed well, but the song reminds me of the Teletubbies (sorry!).
Norway’s Agnete sang well but there’s something missing (and I think it’s half a song).
So who have I totally forgotten about?: Ah, Denmark and Slovenia. x

Ivan Browdy
Ivan Browdy
7 years ago

Lovely Jamala, my vote goes to you

Stan
Stan
7 years ago

You don’t know what you’re talking about, Joris Cools… Laura can deliver that song!

Carlos
Carlos
7 years ago

My top 5
1.Bulgeria
2.Austrailia
3.Norway
4.Latvia
5.Lithuania

SLY
SLY
7 years ago

@ No comment
There was an article in Latvian media that 2 Baltic boys met for the BEATS commercial photoshoot. I thinh thas this done by BEATS itself.
Here`s the article where you can see photos:
http://www.delfi.lv/izklaide/dzivesstils/stils/baltijas-valstu-eirovizijas-skaistuli-tiekas-fotosesija.d?id=47283643

Rock Me
Rock Me
7 years ago

Poli disappointed me.That outfit screams Barbara Dex.
Jamala was amazing.Like I said before, she is top 3.

No comment
No comment
7 years ago

Anyone noticed something about Beats by Dr Dre this month guys? I think EBU made a secret sponsorship with Beats. First they used them in Sergey’s backstage rehearsal, then Hovi Star posted a photo of him holding a Beats Pill, then Donny Montell posted a photo of him listening to Beats earphones…

Fransman
Fransman
7 years ago

@Darren

You’re laughing with it…

karminowe.usta
karminowe.usta
7 years ago

In my opinion Ukraine and Georgia were the best. Jamala`s song is very emotionally, song from Georgia is very good – I really like indie rock:)

Bulgaria is good but Poli`s dress is horrible. Poli, please change this clothes. Bulgaria would reward Barbara Dex Award.

SaraD
SaraD
7 years ago

Ukraine and Georgia, so and my top esc 2016

1/ Ukraine
2/ Armenia
3/ France
4/ Georgia
5/ Sweden

All this songs have quality – thats why I love them. Its just another level for Eurovision and I hope it will be trend for next years.

P.S. And big thank for “wiwi guys”, you made this contest more interesting I love what you are doing, it has hight quality too! <3

Drakula
Drakula
7 years ago

Wow! So happy for my country – Georgia. I was quite sure that we were definite non-qualifiers, but now i have a hope that actually we will qualify. Also very happy about so many positive reactions towards our entry.

Homer
Homer
7 years ago

Olga,

Yeah, it seems that we are not alone in the support of Georgia 😉 They will smash the house, they will bring something really brave and unusual on stage and i wish we will see it at the grand final because this contest needs more songs like Midnight Gold. My hope is so high right now!

Leo M
Leo M
7 years ago

Before the rehearsals, I thought this was the harder semi-final to predict but I think now after the first rehearsals, semi-final 2 two seems easier to guess.

I think Ukraine, Australia, Israel, Bulgaria, Poland, Latvia, Belgium, Norway and Serbia will qualify with Lithuania, Denmark, Ireland or Belarus grabbing the last spot

PP
PP
7 years ago

My prediciton after reherasals who will go to final
II semi
1.Ukraine
2.Australia
3.Latvia
4.Serbia
5.Israel
6.Poland
7.Bulgaria
8.Norway
9.Belgium
10.Lithuania
out
11.Belarus
12.Georgia
13.Denmark
14.F.Y.R Macedonia
15.Albania
16.Ireland
17.Slovenia
18.Switzerland

I Semi
1.Russia
2.Armenia
3.Malta
4.Czech Republic
5.The Netherlands
6.Greece
7.Cyprus
8.Azerbaijan
9.Estonia
10.Bosnia Herzegovina
out
11.Hungary
12.Croatia
13.Iceland
14.Moldova
15.Finland
16.Montenegro
17.San Marino
18.Austria

ESCArgy
ESCArgy
7 years ago

@Nancy

Please stop this thing with Lidia Isac! She may not be the best singer, but she is not that bad! If you put Amir to sing in the Moldovan national selection, then trust me, he is going to sound awful just like Lidia sounded! It’s the bad quality in Moldova that makes you think she doesn’t know how to sing. Watch her performance in the Romanian national selection and you are going to understand that she DOES know how to sing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o4yNoXLcuI

Darren
Darren
7 years ago

Now that we have seen all the acts in semi final 2, here is my opinion on who will qualify.
1. Austrailia (was happening anyway)
2. Ukraine (was happening anyway)
3. Latvia
4. Bulgaria
5. Israel
6. Serbia
7. Norway
8. FYR Macedonia
9. Belarus
10. Fight between Ireland/Denmark/Lithuania with probably Lithuania taking the final spot.

Olga...(the one from Latvia)
Olga...(the one from Latvia)
7 years ago

Wow, reading comments and everyone who once said that they dislike Georgia, now likes it? GO GEORGIA! After hearing all these really short snippets from rehearsals, my definite qualifiers are: 1. Latvia (of course) 2. Georgia (liked it since beggining) 3. Belgium (I think this may even reach top 10 in finals and upset fans of such acts like Bulgaria (I don’t think it’s a top 10 song, but final for sure), Croatia (this may even fail to qualify), Norway (even less chances than Croatia, but anything could happen). 4. Ukraine (I love the lyrics) -now a big pause- 5.… Read more »

HellasForNorge
HellasForNorge
7 years ago

NORWAY IS THE BEST!!! STOP HATING HER CAUSE SHE FACES THE PROBLEM OF BIPOLAR DISEASE. SHE IS THE BEST AND SHE MUST WIN!!

Homer
Homer
7 years ago

GEORGIA! I felt in love with that song since the first time i heard it. It’ll be the biggest moment this year in Eurovision, so i demand to see this song in the final! I wish good luck to those guys, they deserve a lot of recognition!

bella
bella
7 years ago

Loo Amir has mpre possibillities to do well than Frans.But Frans will do well in televote too I believe.

Olga...(the one from Latvia)
Olga...(the one from Latvia)
7 years ago

Belgium, Georgia and Ukraine

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

@bella Yeah Frans and Amir have the best songs without competition 🙂 I think Amir will play it simple and all fans will say it’s boring and dull like they say with Frans 😉 they will once again be wrong…

bella
bella
7 years ago

Loo I also believe that Amir will have a simple performance just like Frans.Both of them have the best songs.

Layla
Layla
7 years ago

Ukraine, Belgium, Norway and Bulgaria were the best!

Nancy.
Nancy.
7 years ago

@esc 2016 i think by saying underrated you mean overrated! I think both are overrated! Russia should be in the top 3 but not win! It’s a very catchy eurovision song , with an excellent performance! I think is a guilty pleasure for many people!

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

I really hope and I don’t think France will fall victim for the high-tech hype and play it simple and genuine instead. Focus on the song and on Amir!

Nancy.
Nancy.
7 years ago

@esc 2016 Yes i agree , the atmosphere is amazing but i think this is because of the voice , the message and the language . Imagine lidia isac sing this song in english with a love or any other message! Will the atmosphere be the same with the same song but different lyrics and singer? I absolutely disagree about greece , the message isn’t political it is just about facing our problems with a optimistic way !

P.S. Thanks for add your opinion! I love discussing with other people with other people from different countries #ComeTogether 🙂

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

Come on Amir! Knock it out of the park tomorrow!

Hi
Hi
7 years ago

Ukrane are awful. People are woting Ukraine, just for its Ukraine.

NOR LAY
NOR LAY
7 years ago

These polls do not mean anything. Almost everyone vote for their one country, but in the final you can’t do thant.

SLY
SLY
7 years ago

Belgium – positive surprise!
Bulgaria – negative surprise!

esc 2016
esc 2016
7 years ago

@z0di4k

Dont worry Russia will fall into 5-11 and France or either Spain will win…(Ukraine and Australia=Dark horses)

esc 2016
esc 2016
7 years ago

@Nancy.

You are wrong….actually Georgia had a very very good rehearsal but Jamala deserve the win in the poll….the atmosphere when singing its unbelievable and very mystirious! The song is one of the best and well-working ballads this year and also politics does not make the difference…thats because, Greece also have a song with a politic message but in all of the tops and odds is in the bottom….and underrated is Russia not Ukraine

z0di4k
z0di4k
7 years ago

Ukraine the best
Ukraine the ESC WINNER

If not win a simple song like Spain or France, then hopefully win Ukraine for its feeling, before winning a bad song camouflaged as Russia Mapping

Nancy.
Nancy.
7 years ago

Oh.. guys you vote only regarding the song! HONESTLY the best REHEARSALS ( staging .. etc), not songs, were Georgia’s and Belgium’s. Big surprises , unexpected performances! I don’t understand why Jamala leads the poll! Her rehearsal wasn’t impressive , her dress was weird! At least it is just a medicore song … and if the lyrics wasn’t politic i’m sure it wouldn’t be SO overrated! Although , i have to admit that her voice is the best this year!

esc 2016
esc 2016
7 years ago

Say yay yay!!!
Right now Im very happy because I am watching some betting odds and now… Ukraine is 3rd!!
Frans is 5th!! (: ( : ( :
and the best…Amir reach Sergey!!!! now in somes odds they have the same!!

Joris Cools
Joris Cools
7 years ago

@Aline Van Rossem

They won’t even qualify, think before you speak!

Vuile ros, kalle
Joris Cools

ESCArgy
ESCArgy
7 years ago

I voted for Norway, Belgium, Georgia and Ukraine because they had clearly the best rehearsals. Bulgaria needs to get rid of that awful dress, Poli looks like a super hero or something with that on! Albania and Denmark had too simple staging. Slovenia’s athlete was completely irrelevant to the performance and I didn’t really like the staging either.

Österrike
Österrike
7 years ago

I have to be fair and give my vote to Ukraine, although I wished I could it give to Bulgaria

Henry
Henry
7 years ago

Oops, i was too quick, Thanks eugene.

Lara Van Eecker
Lara Van Eecker
7 years ago

laura from belgium

Henry
Henry
7 years ago

Belgium! Biggest surprise today.
Does somebody have the Press centre votes of today rehearsals??