Sweden’s Robin Bengtsson took a ride on his treadmills. Australia’s Isaiah spun around. Montenegro’s Slavko whipped his hair back and forth. And they were just three of the nine acts who had their first rehearsals at Eurovision 2017 on Sunday. We asked you who had the best rehearsal. After counting 6,385 votes, we can now reveal that our readers think Azerbaijan‘s Dihaj won the day.
At the first rehearsal, Dihaj served edgy and avant-garde staging. The opening sees the singer in a small room of chalkboards, which feature the lyrics of her song. She serves face and writhes against the walls as she sings about her “Skeletons”.
Eventually the camera pans up and the audience sees a man in a suit wearing a horse head. The room soon collapses, Dihaj runs riot on the walls, and she expresses disdain for a series of male dancers by marking them with Xs. This is dark and artistic — and was one of the visual highlights of the day.
Dihaj has even been following the progress of the Wiwi Poll, and shared it with her fans in this Facebook post:
Shoots from #dihaj 1st rehearsal for #eurovision2017 in #kyiv, which is still number one according to Wiwibloggs Poll.
Posted by Dihaj on Monday, May 1, 2017
Dihaj took the top spot in our poll with 21.72% of the vote. In second place with 18.56% of the vote was Finland’s Norma John, who delivered Scandinavian gothic in their moving performance of “Blackbird”. In third place was Portugal’s Luisa Sobral with 14.03% of the vote. While she was only standing in for brother Salvador, Luisa was still able to capture the emotion of the “Amar pelos dois” staging.
Poll results: Who had the best first rehearsal of April 30?
- Azerbaijan: Dihaj, “Skeletons” 21.72% (1,387 votes)
- Finland: Norma John, “Blackbird” 18.56% (1,185 votes)
- Portugal: Luisa Sobral, “Amar pelos dois” 14.03% (896 votes)
- Sweden: Robin Bengtsson, “I Can’t Go On” 11.87% (758 votes)
- Albania: Lindita, “World” 11.73% (749 votes)
- Australia: Isaiah, “Don’t Come Easy” 7.31% (467 votes)
- Belgium: Blanche, “City Lights” 6.05% (386 votes)
- Georgia: Tamara Gachechiladze, “Keep the Faith” 4.7% (300 votes)
- Montenegro: Slavko Kalezic, “Space” 4.03% (257 votes)
What do you think? Did Dihaj deliver the best first rehearsal? Share your thoughts below!
Well deserves but even underrated act for me
A different version of “Amar Pelos Dois” with Salvador playing the piano.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffqIa1L4TBE
This… I don’t have words for this… It’s just everything.
Neither do I… It was beautiful. I was smiling and crying at the same time by the end of the song. And the bridge he made… If people don’t like him after this, I think nothing will change their mind. I hope this performance goes viral before May 9th.
I’m so counting the days to see him perform at the dress rehearsal.
Naila must be crazy. (She is indeed) This is not an art contest. People will not understand it.Do not believe press voting or polls. I swear pop singers who may sound American are enough for this contest. When she posts about her Eurovision journey on her facebook I am getting angry seeing Diana there. Why to lose your quality?! You have much more to show for your own clever fans than this “easily getting excited by s***ty uptempo songs” audience. T
You are exaggerating. She will bring quality wherever she goes. Why she wouldn’t access a bigger audience. Have you seen ppl from different parts of the world listen and like her songs after she gets involved in this Eurovision things??Don’t be an envious fan who is afraid to lose her favourite singer to a bigger audience. Because, she knows what she does.
Can we all just pause a moment and all appreciate and agree… Dihaj puts the ART back in Artist. Wowwww. damn girl, you got game. Love it. Love it. Love it. So abstract.
Yes, she was the best! The results of the poll seem fair to me.
Well-underserved. A Sasha Jean-Baptiste type of mess, when will Azerbaijan have a self-produced song and staging? This one screams average Russian TV-show type of thing. I would put it at 3rd.
Belgium was woeful, Georgia was average, Montenegro was trashy, Sweden and Albania were okay-ish, Portugal and Finland were classy
The song is actually written by Isa Melikov (who is Azerbaijani) and music by Sandra Bjurman. And the stage director is Naila Mammadzadeh (Azerbaijani) who was also stage director of our interval acts for ESC 2012 and also stage director for 2015 Baku European Games closing ceremony.
The staging looks really cool, in my opinion. Also the song is very nice. Of course, tastes differ. Respect you for that! 🙂
The stage director is Azeri and the song is written by an Azeri.
We are tired of saying that is Azeri product. People intentionally are not tired of claiming smth before checking facts. You can hate the song and staging, but you have to respect authors of the works. Period
Totally agree! Azerbaijan brought sth inspiring, innovative, dark and suitable to the song and Dihaj herself!
I also love Finland! I knew they would be amazing as in UMK!
1. Azerbaijan
2. Finland
3. Portugal
Agree with result!
Definitely Azerbaijan. They’re bringing something new to the table with their song and concept. Sorry to Belgium but nothing really unique to me. For me its just re-emulation of Lana Del Rey and Lorde concept.
Yessss!!! Go Dihaj! Been tipping her for a while now. So glad to hear this. Even when given a shotty mic and bad sound tech in Amsterdam I could still hear that she could sing and would sound great live in the arena. She’s so arty and out of the box, this is exactly what Eurovision needs to break up the night of tame pop hits. GO DIHAJ! she’s one cool cat 😀
Well deserved indeed.
Good result!Finland was also really good
Well deserved. Waiting for 2nd Rehearsal. Love u DiHaj
Eurovision fans who are full of mediocrity will not understand this metaphorical staging. But she has an exquisite aura. No ordinary personality.
I am seriously head over heels for Robin Bengtsson. Lord have mercy.
No lies spotted. If I were in Kiev I’d sneak into the backstage and write “VOTE FOR ESTONIA #MafiaDiVerona” on her board.
You are a joker you made me laugh a lot thank you :)))))))))))))))))))))
I love her, well deserved! :X
How ironic, the 2nd day of rehearsals will be won by Armenia 😀
Let’s see if the Polish fans hijack the poll faster than the Armenians.
The journalists who gave Armenia 100 points in the Press Poll last night were all Armenian trolls? Don’t think so…
Armenia deserved 100 but the songs in their group were very weak
You are a joker you made me laugh a lot thank you :)))))))))))))))))))))
Ooooops my post to the wrong message sorry it was meant to be for polegen godgarina
well-deserved.