San Marino’s Valentina Monetta and Jimmie Wilson took us to the club. Switzerland’s Timebelle served Beauty and the Beast realness. And Israel’s Imri Ziv showed off his biceps in a skin-tight vest. And they were just three of nine acts that performed in the International Exhibition Centre during their first rehearsal. But who among today’s acts — San Marino, Croatia, Norway, Switzerland, Belarus, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Estonia and Israel — wowed you the most?
You can watch our reviews of today’s first rehearsals in the playlist below — and our “winners and losers” of the day video. 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.
Croatia definetely! Impressed me so much, im really looking forward to see all of it on Saturday, especially pyrotehnics!
Kris Kostov
Bulgaria with Kristian Kostov was the best ???????
Bulgaria with Kristian Kostov was the best !
Yes of course. The Croatian hijack is on a roll. Croatia was not good. Will struggle to make it to the final. Kitsch all over the top.
But is now first in the pull, wow.. When it happen?! 🙂 Big fan base 🙂
P.S. I also like this big bear man – so lovely, though Kristian is irreplaceable :)))
Bulgaria is the best 🙂
But is now first in the pull, wow.. When it happen?! 🙂 Big fan base 🙂
P.S. I also like this big bear man – so lovely, though Kristian is irreplaceable :)))
offff, I put it again on the wrong REPLY button… Why we don’t have delete button as weeeeel I’m already stressed where is going to end my response :)))))
I think Croatia will be like a big wow on screen. In a positive way. People will remember it when its time to pick up the phone. He is telling a story, it will impress a lot of people. When Croatia qualifies than with very high voting or at the bottom
No it won’t
Qualifiers Semi 2:
1) Netherlands
2) Bulgaria
3) Romania
4) Hungary
5) Austria
6) Belarus
7) Norway
8) Denmark
9) Estonia
10) Israel
Non-quali’s:
11) Serbia 12) Croatia 13) Malta 14) Ireland 15) Macedonia 16) Lithuania 17) San Marino 18) Switzerland
Padraig you’re super cute… Come to Greece, I wanna date you asap. 🙂
After they covered Timebelle’s titty there is nothing interesting in the entry. Learn from Islande how to wear a good dress
as a romanian i want to say i’m surprised about the song writer mihai alexandru (al mike) success. he was song writer for romania 2003 and the singer was his wife nicola. after the divorce everybody thought he is finished, but it was the other way around, nobody knows about nicola nowadays but al mike is the song writer of romanian entry and of other timebelle songs (not apollo)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AhWQKjSCFo
97
Semi final 1 Top 10 (after 1st rehearsal) 1 – Armenia (Potential winner) Jury Bait 2 – Australia (Potential winner) Jury Bait 3 – Finland (Top 5 Contender) Jury Bait 4 – Albania (dark horse for Top 10 depending on running order in the final if it qualifies) 5 – Portugal (Top 10 contender) Jury Bait 6 – Sweden (8-13 in grand final) 7 – Belgium (9-14 in grand final) 8 – Greece (11-16 in grand final) 9 – Poland (13-18 in grand final) 10 – Moldova (18-23 in grand final) Semi final 2 Top 10 (after 1st rehearsal) 1… Read more »
oh honnnney ur clueless
We shall see jj smith.
My prediction is based on months of research into form and trends of Eurovision so maybe not clueless as you might think.
I’ve correctly predicted at Least 8 out of 10 qualifiers in the semi final for many years now.
But sure you keep lapping up the bookies favourites honey!
JJ smith, that is very rude to say that to someone (who could possibly be right!) Sorry Richie89, I know how it feels to be treated like this.
Today was less impressive than yesterday for me. Based on rehearsal, not song:
Great: None 🙁
Good: Estonia, Bulgaria, Belarus
Ok: Norway, Switzerland, Lithuania, Israel
Not Impressed: San Marino, Croatia
I liked the visual screen effects from Estonia but Koit was off today. Bulgaria disappointed me a little, that box background felt like a low-budget pre-party background. Belarus is cool but like the wiwibloggers said, I wish they had jumped off at some point cause they seemed restricted up there.
This box background of Bulgaria is filled but only for the televoters… Visual effects… something.. will see 🙂 (fingers crossed)
Estonia will not qualify with that leather jacket. It worked for Donny Montell, but he had a different style, and he was not sitting next to a woman wearing an evening gown/or wedding dress.
We haven’t even seen Koit’s costume yet, they were just trying different thngs out to find a look that goes well with Laura’s dress.
Probably Switzerland is the most different from NF. I prefer the sweet colors, but it seems that many fans want red and petals. The viewers will like this new staging I guess, she is more likeable this way. In NF she was too diva and not everybody relate to that.
I want the dress to cut down the middle to show her talent
Israel and norway the best
Estonia, Bulgaria, Norway and Switzerland.
Belarus and Israel were the surprises
Any poor countries that everyone likes with a really bad song but with great staging?
Bound to win this stupid competition
Look at you all in a frenzy lol
Now that the 1st rehearsal of the 2nd semi finalists is over, I will attempt to make a top 10:
Austria
Romania
The Netherlands
Hungary
Switzerland
Belarus
Bulgaria
Estonia
Israel
Norway
But I love Serbia, I love Denmark, Ireland has grown on me!!
It’s so hard!!
Bulgaria, Switzerland and Estonia are my faves of the day!
Estonia, of course. The drama, the vocals, the non-boring performance. #MafiaDiVerona
Oh Padraig.
I wanna have yr babies.
And sell them for profit.
Why. Padraig’s babies will also be miserable, never smiled and give every song 3/10
New predictions after first rehearsal [Rk before] 1 [1] Bulgaria – Nothing out of the ordinary, enough to hold first place. 2 [3] Denmark – She won me over. She is the song. 3 [4] Romania – Still hate song but I have to say good energy. Wacky background is fitting. 4 [2] Austria – Hope they let him freestyle a bit more. Not sure I like the ending. 5 [10] Belarus – Surprisingly clean. 6 [6] Hungary – Come on Joci, learn the dance properly. 7 [8] Norway – Not much has changed. 8 [9] Lithuania – I miss… Read more »
Imri from israel sings about breaking into peacies and his image breaks, its clear enough
Your predictions are pile crap
1.Norway
2. Bulgaria
3. Belarus
Personal top 9 today (after a few viewings):
1. Belarus
2. Bulgaria
3. Estonia
4. Croatia
5. Norway
6. Israel
7. Switzerland
8. San Marino
9. Lithuania
My SF2 finalists after the 1st rehearsal:
Bulgaria
Romania
Austria
Estonia
Netherlands
Hungary
Belarus
And a toss up between any of the following: Israel, Ireland, Croatia, Malta, and Denmark
1. Bulgaria
2. Estonia
3. Belarus
Really strange poll – where is this freaking beautiful Bulgaria?!! ?
Oh, finally.. its already there… 🙂
An hour after the voting started. The whole thing should be re-started
It’s ok, as far as it’s already on first position, yaah :))))
Bulgaria and Croatia were good
Switzerland and Croatia.
William Make your poll you missed Bulgaria, by unwillingness or unwillingness do not know hahahah
I thought the rehearsals would make semi final 2 more clearer as to who would qualify but I am even more confused However, I think it’s safe to say Bulgaria, Romania and Netherlands are definetly qualifying
Bulgaria and Croatia
1. Belarus (ok, loved the energy and the happiness)
2. Bulgaria (great voice and staging, but needs to fix a lot of stuff)
3. Estonia (great staging but also needs to fix a lot of things)
4. Norway (ok, not much to add)
5. Croatia (great voice but too cheesy)
6. Switzerland (disappointed)
7. Israel (weak voice and performance)
8. San Marino (funny but messy)
9. Lithuania (no comments, cool background though)
Bulgaria is my absolute favourite, I love it so much!!
Dont agree about israel, was one of the best today, period.
nice, period.
Where is Bulgaria in the poll?
Bulgaria I guess…??? but it is not in the poll
Disappointed by Switzerland, too sugar, I prefered the more classy performance they had. Lots of work to do for Estonia, Laura rocks, lovely dress, she’s confidant with herself, her voice, her moves, how to move on the scene. Koit is the opposite. Sad they don’t have chemistry together compared to Naviband. So many staging this year when we see the faces of the singers of the screen too.
Norway, Bulgaria and Belarus are my winners. Though for the last I thought the staging will be more “nature” with autumn colors but I still like them.
Combined top 10 press poll results for semi final 2:
Bulgaria 97
Austria 79
Romania 72
The Netherlands 54
Croatia 50
Belarus 43
Estonia 43
Hungary 39
Denmark 29
San Marino 27
Not sure if you can trust this 100%
Apparently, our experts from wiwi dont see Austria in the Final at all.
Austria will most probably qualify. So will Bulgaria, Romania, Netherlands and Estonia. Those 5 are probable qualifiers. I’d love if the other 5 are among Norway, Croatia, Belarus, Ireland, Denmark, Malta, Switzerland and Macedonia.
As for others, I never liked Israel’s and Serbia’s song to begin with and now I hear their performances are underwhelming too. San Marino is so cheesy and bad that only a spectacular bad performance might pull it through. Lithuania is just WTH? I do like Hungary, but maybe few others are more of my cup of tea.
Hungary will qualify for sure 🙂 It’ll be Top 3 in this semi.
Austria is getting amazing reviews from all the press 🙂
Norway has 30 Btw
haha typical , “best” and loved songs on top , and “bad” hated songs on bottom , so unfair , Croatia and Lithuania were great today , Switzerland and Estonia were awful.
If you thought Estonia were awful, you need to throw your predjudice aside and be more neutral about a stage show and overall promise.
Haha your comment is funny beacuse I love estonian song , Verona is in my top 10 , peace
Bulgaria of cours.
Talent is unlimited Kristian go for the first position in final.
Sofia #2018
You have left out Bulgaria
Would vote for Bulgaria if I could…
Jacques really surprised me! Loved his rehearsal 🙂 I also loved Belarus, Israel and Norway (in no specific order).
Bulgaria is not in the poll?
Where is Bulgaria ???
They are already in the Final, no need to poll them.
Good point, bro hhahah 😀
You are right 😉