Artsvik Fly With Me First Rehearsal Eurovision 2017

Crash, bang, boom! We’ve now watched the first rehearsals of all eighteen acts in the first semi final. And as the world reacts, so do the Eurovision 2017 bookmakers who have tweaked their odds to win the Eurovision 2017 grand final.

Since our last update on April 21, the top four favourites have maintained their position on the winners podium. ItalyBulgaria, Sweden and Portugal remain the favourites to win the coveted crystal microphone. But Francesco Gabbani, Kristian Kostov, Robin Bengtsson and Salvador Sobral shouldn’t get too comfortable because an eagle is rising to hunt her prey!

The major shake up within the top ten comes from Armenia, as Artsvik edges her way into the top five with “Fly With Me”. Oozing Bollywood-Hindi realness, technical wonder and ethno-experimental edge, this eagle is swooping in for that trophy. It seems she could win her semi-final in the process.

Armenia, who was in seventh position ahead of her rehearsal, has leapfrogged both Australia and Belgium.

Australia remains in sixth position with the bookies.

Isaiah sings “Don’t Come Easy”, and snatching the title may not come too easy for him either, as his odds of winning have drifted slightly since his first rehearsal.

The news is worse for Blanche from Belgium, who has dropped from fifth to seventh favourite.

There was a decidedly tepid response to her first rehearsal, which seemed to lack confidence and spark.

Her stage performance was written off as unoriginal and visually chaotic, and it seems the bookies are responding to that.

Rounding out the top ten after the first rehearsals are RomaniaAzerbaijan and France. Of these three we’ve only seen the rehearsal of Azerbaijan so far, so anything could change in the coming days.

Sitting just outside of the top ten are Demy from Greece and Norma John from Finland. 

Demy’s first rehearsal was stellar. Her team have given the somewhat generic “This Is Love” new life through a technical feast of stage elements and some stunning backing dancers who portray swans. She rises on an elevating platform, dancers pound the floor in puddles, and an LED screen with a reverse waterfall takes centre stage. Demy also floats like a Greek goddess to the sky.

Norma John oozed class as they sang of love, loss and longing in “Blackbird”.

As at the Finnish national final, they perform with simple LED backdrops and a piano. But it’s on a much grander scale and it’s clearly bringing out the best in them.

Leena’s vocal performance remains exceptional and Finland has now rightly claimed its position as a dark horse in this year’s competition.

What do you think of the latest Eurovision 2017 betting odds? Have you placed a bet on anyone? Shout out your thoughts on the wiwibloggs app, or in our comments section below!

READ MORE ABOUT THE EUROVISION 2017 ODDS

45 Comments
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Ern
Ern
7 years ago

Belgium & Romania will not be top 10.

Greece & Denmark will be in the top 10.

France?? Not sure. Hopefully, but I don’t know yet.

The rest of the top 10 will be more or less as we have in the odds now.

Leo Herlington
Leo Herlington
7 years ago

TVE released the full performance of Salvador Sobral (Portugal) at Spain Calling International… the entire show will air this week on TVE. He stole the show… I mean: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffqIa1L4TBE

AussieH
AussieH
7 years ago

Everyone say Greece is generic and europop … news for U: so is Sweeden

So I don’t understand all this bitching and hatred.
At the end of the day, betting odds and what everyone says on the internet does NOT matter … people will judge on the night especially the ones watching songs for the 1st time and don’t waste their time following posts on YouTube and getting their knickers in twist

e
e
7 years ago

UK
Bulgaria
Sweden
Denmark
Australia
top 5 otherwise talent is not recognised

RMK91
RMK91
7 years ago
Reply to  e

Your opinion. A bad opinion but an opinion nonetheless lol…

MS
MS
7 years ago

Have you seen this reaction video on Robin Bengtsson! It’s so funny! If a LOT of wievers will react like that, well then has Petra Mede a jobb to do next May!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKjLSmRLsWA

Prima
Prima
7 years ago
Reply to  MS

Believe me, a lot of female viewers react like that when they first see this video. He is too damn hot. That’s why I believe Sweden is the biggest contender to Italy, because that stage performance and that face… We can’t go on.

MS
MS
7 years ago
Reply to  Prima

Ha, ha…

Well it’s funny, but really!! No! Help me all women outthere!
We are not that way ; )

Elin
Elin
7 years ago
Reply to  MS

Ha, ha….
But no, or?

Miked
Miked
7 years ago

City Lights is the best song. I have no doubt about that. That’s why people is happy now to shade her.
Go Belgium, we still believe in you.
I’m pretty sure that Blanche is absolutely NOT over.

escphbelgium
escphbelgium
7 years ago

Blanche, if you’re reading this (although I highly doubt it). Don’t listen to these haters. I love your rehearsal and you’re so much more than what they gave and what they say. I know you’re having a hard time fathoming their opinions but that’s just it! They’re just opinions! It shouldn’t matter to you. All that should matter is what you’re doing right now. Please don’t be so hard on yourself and just remember to have fun. You’re just 17 and you shouldn’t carry too much on your shoulders. I know the weight of it all is too much but… Read more »

M_K
M_K
7 years ago
Reply to  escphbelgium

Well, if you decide to go on a stage, you expose yourself to criticism, that’s how showbusiness works (especially in a music CONTEST). I do agree that personal, hateful comments are not acceptable.

But everybody has every right to give his/her opinion on a certain performance. It has to be okay to say that “the performance was weak vocally” or “I am disappointed by the staging” etc. It does not make that person a hater.

escphbelgium
escphbelgium
7 years ago
Reply to  M_K

I’m just saying that they’re being unfair to her but I’m also saying that that id their say and she shouldn’t give a damn about it, focus on herself, and just have on the stage.

And I know that their criticism doesn’t make them a hater but right now, the real haters of this song are just looking at her as if she’s a meal.

escphbelgium
escphbelgium
7 years ago
Reply to  escphbelgium

*I’m just saying that they’re being unfair to her but I’m also saying that that it’s their say and she shouldn’t give a damn about it, focus on herself, and just have fun on the stage.

And I know that their criticism doesn’t make them a hater but right now, the real haters of this song are just looking at her as if she’s a meal.

dean wilcox
dean wilcox
7 years ago
Reply to  escphbelgium

at the end of the day ,itt will all work out fine.and it will all be over in two weeks time.good luck to her.

AngieP
AngieP
7 years ago

Armenia would definetely rise at the odds after what we saw yesterday!!
She slays!

Greece also didn’t dissapoint! We may get in the top 10 at the end of the day!

ErvinSass
ErvinSass
7 years ago

Geez!! Armenia is so overrated. ._.

Karen Tariutriyeva
Karen Tariutriyeva
7 years ago

I have I feeling that Armenia will win this semi, 2nd-Azerbaijan,3rd-Portugal,4-Sweden,5th-Finland/Albania. Maybe Armenia will win the final too #YEREVAN2018!

Quatiani TeaYerei
Quatiani TeaYerei
7 years ago

To be honest with you i can actually see Armenia winning semi-final 1, Azerbaijan 2nd and Portugal 3rd. I can see Armenia winning this year #Yerevan2018

Denis
Denis
7 years ago

I thought Armenia was messy. Was there even a song there?
As for Greece it will qualify only to end up between 15th-20th place. It’s really not that good, very generic. Greece usually sends much better.
Oh well,different opinions and all that..

I think the only thing we can take for sure now is that Italy and Sweden remains the favourites and will battle it out for the win.
The rest is up for grabs..

Mattias Sollerman
7 years ago

When it comes to the probability ‘to qualify’ from the first semi, the biggest winners of the last couple of days are:
Finland +16,4%
Poland +9,5%
Azerbaijan +6,2%
While the biggest losers are:
Belgium -10,3%
Iceland -6,7%
Montenegro -5%

Marcus
Marcus
7 years ago

I watched the Interview with Demy because I’m Greek-Australian and I always cheer on Greece. She is the sweetest personality! Her English is amazing too! Wow. It’s funny, and I was laughing, Will was so into her in the interview, at the start leaning forward into her personal space, arm around her. Her body language at the start is very defensive, leaning back and away, then I think Will starts to realize and retreats his position, and then she starts to feel more comfortable and relaxed and opens up more. Ha, Will always makes interviews so interesting with the questions… Read more »

AngieP
AngieP
7 years ago
Reply to  Marcus

Yeah, I also enjoyed Demy’s interview! She’s so lovely!!

Savalan
Savalan
7 years ago

Azerbaijan #9? it deserving more high places

.Andrew
.Andrew
7 years ago

Im sorry but i cant understand a word the woman from Belgium is singing about even the man from montenegro makes more sense

bella
bella
7 years ago

This will be the top three.I have a feelimg that Italy wont impress juries so much.Anyway Italy probably is gonna win but if not then Sweden.

Zebb
Zebb
7 years ago

Why didn’t belgium team take idea from video, remains a mystery. 17yo people are so diverse this year 🙂

Eurofan
Eurofan
7 years ago

you are really unfair with demy with this staging shame to all of you in the odds.

aleh
aleh
7 years ago

Greece is so overrated tbh. I saw it full, and it’s a mess of LED. Bad bad vocals and just all over the place mess.

Eurofan
Eurofan
7 years ago
Reply to  aleh

she is underrated she deserves top 5 !

Hada
Hada
7 years ago

Quick and easy ideas to save City Lights:

– If it can be done quick, change the backdrop color scheme from blue and white to black and lightbulb yellow

– If that’s not an option, ditch the background entirely and make Blanche sing in the dark stage, with the warm backdrop and chandelier lights randomly blinking (because they’re the city lights)

– Bring the backing singers to the stage with Blanche

– Or put Blanche on the little stage

You’re welcome, Belgium.

wim
wim
7 years ago
Reply to  Hada

Concerning Belgium, there where a lot of technical problems during the rehearsal. So lets hope that is fixed. That’s why the rehearsal was not so good. They will use a kind of light bal, but that was not working on Sunday. So please don’t judge Belgium to hard by now. And the people who were standing in the hall itself say it was better than what all the journalist are saying here

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago
Reply to  wim

Then explain all the tweets from people in the venue dragging her for filth. Even the Czech Republic managed to get press votes, Belgium got 0. That’s sad, huh?

escfanBelgium
escfanBelgium
7 years ago
Reply to  wim

Where did you read that Wim? I find it weird that blanche or blanches team isn’t communicating anything to the media about these problems.
I mean, they do not have to tell anybody this but now they are getting a lot of hate (for maybe no reason).
You would think more people in that presscentre would know this…

Anyway, I will still stand by my point about blanche => She will be awesome on the night (even if its the case of bad staging)

wim
wim
7 years ago
Reply to  escfanBelgium

A very good friend of me nows a person who works as a cameraman for eurovision. I asked to him if it was really so bad as journalist are telling. And he told me that it was better than the journalist are telling and he also told me about the technical problems, escpacialy with the light ball and that’s the reason why the act was very bad.

escfanBelgium
escfanBelgium
7 years ago
Reply to  wim

Okey, thanks for the info. I know their are some Belgians and Dutchman working in Kiev for eurovision so it is believable what you are saying.
So I believe you 😉
Thanks again Wim

Hada
Hada
7 years ago
Reply to  wim

I hope that’s the case. I don’t like that song, but I know it’s quality and Blanche deserves way better.

escfanBelgium
escfanBelgium
7 years ago
Reply to  Hada

If this was truely the case it would actualy explain some of the wide tv shots that they were supposedly going for.
The empty big wide shots aren’t so empty when you are seeing something floating towards her…
But I am notgetting my hopes up for that at the moment. Let us just wait and see…

Michaela
Michaela
7 years ago
Reply to  Hada

They will not change the staging, she said it in press conference. Rip Belgium.

escfanBelgium
escfanBelgium
7 years ago
Reply to  Michaela

They were talking about the backdrop and her being alone on stage. They didn’t mention anything about other stuff like a possible floating ball because (maybe) they do not want to mention it yet.

TwistedFrench
TwistedFrench
7 years ago

it’s just the beginning… Fanatics hailing Belgium as the new genius of music will soon realize that she’s nothing but average…. This is not a surprise to me at all

mccayne
mccayne
7 years ago

lol) no way them to win, too ordinary…

HP
HP
7 years ago

Why is Switzerland rated so low! It is totally going into the final! And Croatia in the final no way

Stephanie
7 years ago
Reply to  HP

According to current odds for semi 2, Switzerland is in qualification range while Croatia is not. Tomorrow those two countries have their first rehearsals

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

i honestly think we can only take for granted a success from Italy, Bulgaria and Sweden, which I believe will be the top 3. The rest is unpredictable.