Friday saw the final three countries from the first semifinal as well as five countries from the second semifinal give their stage shows another go. Romania’s Alex Florea kept his balance while riding a glitter cannon, Austria’s Nathan Trent took another trip to the moon, and Latvia’s Triana Park debuted yet another wig.

We asked our readers to pick their favourite rehearsals from Friday’s lineup and only one could triumph. After counting 4,186 votes, we can now reveal that our readers think that Armenian diva Artsvik was the winner with her artistic presentation of “Fly With Me”, with 29.91% of the vote.

Our team in the press centre in Kyiv was impressed by the evolution of Artsvik’s staging, where she used her second set of run-throughs to test different colours, images, lights and camera angles. The bird that flies out at the end of her show disappeared into the background earlier in the week. But on Friday, owing to slightly different colouring, the bird was visible throughout its flight. The biggest change, however, came in the slicker and higher-impact use of pyro and sparks, which erupt and burst with new rhythm and power. Best of all producers actually manage to capture them with the cameras this time around.

Artsvik, a vocalist of the first order, stunned in an all-black outfit with a shiny, reflective quality that catches the light amid the relatively dark atmosphere. Initially you think she’s wearing a dress. But as she struts down the stage you see that she’s actually wearing billowing trousers. At times the lights give her outfit a metallic quality, which adds a warrior-like feeling to her strong silhouette. This was already good — and now it’s all kinds of amazing.

Also impressing wiwibloggs readers was Romania’s Ilinica and Alex Florea. Their joyful song “Yodel It!” earned 18.08% of the vote. In third place was Malta’s Claudia Faniello, whose emotional ballad “Breathlessly” captured the hearts of readers, with 15.12% of the vote.

Poll results: Who had the best second rehearsal on May 5

  1. Armenia: Artsvik, “Fly With Me” 29.91% (1,252 votes)
  2. Romania: Ilinca feat. Alex Florea, “Yodel It!” 18.08% (757 votes)
  3. Malta: Claudia Faniello, “Breathlessly” 15.12% (633 votes)
  4. Austria: Nathan Trent, “Running on Air” 13.93% (583 votes)
  5. Latvia: Triana Park, “Line” 8.6% (360 votes)
  6. FYR Macedonia: Jana Burceska, “Dance Alone” 7.98% (334 votes)
  7. Serbia: Tijana Bogicevic, “In Too Deep” 4.2% (176 votes)
  8. Slovenia: Omar Naber, “On My Way” 2.17% (91 votes)

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Ar
Ar
6 years ago

Friends! What’s going with you? I think some of you are sick.Armenian team is very workaholic.They always do very professional. SO the reasult is honest.Good Luck Artsvik.Alma and Salvador.

Manuel
Manuel
6 years ago

there is a reason why Armenia is leading all this poll and that reason is QUALITY!!!! the song, the singer, the staging, the dance routine, the wardrobe, evrything is on fleek!!! stop complaining and just enoy Armenia!

loving_ya_harder
loving_ya_harder
6 years ago

I am sorry, but it was clearly rigged. They won’t do well in the contest, because she just tries to copy Iveta and her movements (also facial expressions) looks ridiculous on stage. Of course it will do well with televoting (well, it’s Armenia), but juries will not let it go that far I believe.

Mark Beckenbreur
Mark Beckenbreur
6 years ago

True, the press was rigged as well. How else? Must’ve been rigged. Armenians though, they are everywhere.
And Artsvik’s movements and facial expressions are surely because of her desperation to copy Iveta.. not because of artistic director Sacha Jeanne-Baptiste))

jorgequi
jorgequi
6 years ago

What a surprise?!! LMAO! Seriously these polls with Armenia gets more and more annoying. ._.

Mark Beckenbreur
Mark Beckenbreur
6 years ago
Reply to  jorgequi

What about press? The journalists who thought same about Artsvik’s performance?
Seriously, these stupid jorgequis get more and more annoying.

Roxana Montoya
Roxana Montoya
6 years ago

No need to insult someone because of his/her opinion. Behave yourself, please. You are way too defensive seriously, not even funny anymore.

Mark Beckenbreur
Mark Beckenbreur
6 years ago
Reply to  Roxana Montoya

It isn’t an insult, it’s a constatation.

Yerevan is calling
Yerevan is calling
6 years ago

Well deserved victory in this poll. Unfortunately it will be shadowed by biased voting in the poll of best looking artists. Even Artsvik during the interview with wiwi indirectly said that she sees her in the polls of best vocalists, artists but not models.

joy
joy
6 years ago

Armenia shares the link on national television, I respect that, let them be, if esc is popular in Armenia, maybe they even deserve it, more than other countries that start to care only when they start to do well (France).

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  joy

Their national television does that? That’s pathetic if true lol

Ay Jo
Ay Jo
6 years ago

Polegend Godgarina,lol

joy
joy
6 years ago

Oh, come on, they do it because it’s easy, and I prefer that (they can’t vote for themselves in the real competition), instead of UK irony only because they don’t win anymore. UK will be among last again and they will say is because of brexit, but is because they think esc is below them……until they win again. They must learn to love esc for better or for worse.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago
Reply to  joy

I agree. UK’s attitude to ESC is awful. But, regardless of that, I wish that Lucie gets a top 10 result this year, cause she truly deserves it.

kvira
kvira
6 years ago

Well, to be honest I’d like Portugal or Italy to win. But of course I won’t mind if Artsvik win this. Yerevan is a MAGNIFICENT place to visit.

PS: I’m not Armenian and not an Armenian descent

Hans
Hans
6 years ago
Reply to  kvira

We do not need anti-gay country to win,thanks

Suren
Suren
6 years ago
Reply to  Hans

And we not need gays to come our country. You are all is sick, haters.

kvira
kvira
6 years ago
Reply to  Suren

Come on why should everything should be subjected to this? Agreed with you @Suren LOL

hasmik
hasmik
6 years ago
Reply to  Hans

you gays need to be more polite, you are aggressive and full of hatred. if gays went to islamic azerbaijan that just hides the hate to gays to get all your money , doesnt mean you were safer there. Armenia is just christian country and should be respected for that. we already have enough problems with human slaughterer neighbors… we dont have problems with sexual orientations, but you people like to attack only because of fake news spread by enemies..

Ay Jo
Ay Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  hasmik

Hasmik, what ??? In Azerbaijan 51-54% people are irreligious while this indicator is just 5% in Armenia. The rest 30-40 % do not take religion as serious as our neigbours. As an agnostic azerbaijani, I would not mind if somebody practices Islam as a religion in her/his daily life in my country. Everybody has a right to believe what they want.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_irreligion

LGBTQI+ have problems in the whole Caucasus. And it is because of Soviet education.
Check your facts, before claiming something.

Suren
Suren
6 years ago
Reply to  Ay Jo

Yes your country is paradise for gays. I hear you make gay parades too. hahahaha ??????

Ay Jo
Ay Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Suren

Caucasus has never been paradise.

Less Glamour More Music
Less Glamour More Music
6 years ago
Reply to  Suren

@Suren You are such an immature person. Yes, indeed their country is more tolerant than yours obviously. Hopefully Armenia will never win this contest.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

I admit there is a lot of effort put into this staging and the composition too. But, I don’t know exactly why, I just don’t like it. It seems somewhat self-indulgent art piece ordinary people just don’t ‘get’ and it has little to no build-up. It’s kind of the opposite of ‘Yodel It’, which is obviously un-pretentious and made for fun. I also have a feeling (I might be very wrong, so sorry in advance) that a lot of people just *have* to love everything Armenia or Azerbaijan send, even if they actually don’t as much. If this was a… Read more »

Siran
Siran
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Yes you are azeri it is whyy

Colin
Colin
6 years ago
Reply to  Siran

WOW, didn’t know that! Thanks for telling me that. Now I can finally rest knowing the truth about myself. 🙂

B.G.B.
B.G.B.
6 years ago
Reply to  Siran

For real! Gjvcrir arden. Nadael es anum nacismovt.

Pascal16
Pascal16
6 years ago
Reply to  B.G.B.

Can you translate what you said please?

KennyESC
KennyESC
6 years ago
Reply to  Siran

Siran, dude, are you dumb?
He is Croatian. Or Armenians are dumb enough to call “azeri troll”whoever doesn’t like them?

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

The Armenian song itself isn’t great but the staging looks really fantastic and Artsvik sings well live. I think it is quite exciting to see how it all comes together and a rehearsal should make people look forward to the full performance. Armenia is definitely one of the ones I am most looking forward to!

Anoush H.
Anoush H.
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Colin thanks for the honest comment, being an Armenian ESC fan myself I appreciate it. In fact I myself was not sure about our entry before the rehearsals but I liked the overall package and the concept behind it after the rehearsals. It’s absolutely OK for you to still dislike it, it’s a matter of preferences. There are just some fans who overreact, and there are some trolls too. It’s just that they are louder than others. And it often embarasses fans like me. That’s why I decided to react. To debunk a myth about Armenia and ESC: most Armenians… Read more »

Colin
Colin
6 years ago
Reply to  Anoush H.

Thanks for responding, Anoush. Last year, I believe Iveta was one of the best. With Artsvik, I am just lost in this concept. I do believe it will do well and I cannot wait to see it as the whole package live. Staging looks promising. I just believe that when a song needs to rely mostly on staging, it’s not a good sign for a song. Sure, this is certainly not a bad song. All the musical elements are very pleasant and it’s nicely composed. But I really feel it has no real build-up and feels like a three minute… Read more »

Siran
Siran
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Aaaa xorvatia!!! I remember what you did to serbia you murderers go look to your murders stay alone artsviki

Anoush H.
Anoush H.
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

I am waiting for tonight’s show too, Colin. Hopefully it won’t be disappointing. I agree Armenian fans are mostly very passionate and sometimes it works against our participants just like now: winning too many polls overshadows the ones she really deserves to win. I can’t get it what is the need to win every single poll. Anyways, looking forward to an amazing ESC week. By the way my most favourite Croatian entry was 2009 Lijepa Tena such a beautiful ballad! I also loved 2016’s studio version though it was not that good live. Best of luck from Armenia! 🙂

God-Emperor
God-Emperor
6 years ago

Conchita Wurst just gave a big support for Portugal in Twitter. After Ruslana or Rybak another previous winner that has fallen in love with this extroardinary piece of art. Some people are surprisingly still in denial and aren’t receiving so well the accolade because the big stars and experts in general are clearly refusing the clichĂŠs of pop or diva ballads. Eurovision, don’t screw this up. While a large portion of songs will be forgotten maybe two weeks after the contest, Amar pelos Dois is a gem that will stand of test of time because songs like that are a… Read more »

Tsk tsk
Tsk tsk
6 years ago

She did indeed have a great rehearsal but I hope this is not another Armenian sock voting like the Next Top Model polls! ever since Iveta and Tamar’s wins have been reported on their local news there’s been a huge spike of Armenians voting in your Next Top Model polls. Better look out for anything suspicious

Maria
Maria
6 years ago
Reply to  Tsk tsk

In my opinion Tamar and Iveta were both the most beautiful girls in 2015 and 2016, but Alma should definitely win ENTM this year..

Daniela
Daniela
6 years ago
Reply to  Maria

Iveta is nothing but a plastic doll

Siran
Siran
6 years ago
Reply to  Tsk tsk

It is because you are azeri

B.G.B.
B.G.B.
6 years ago
Reply to  Siran

Girl stop! ?

Mark Beckenbreur
Mark Beckenbreur
6 years ago
Reply to  Siran

Maybe you are an azer? Dude, you are embarrassing yourself.

joy
joy
6 years ago

Is today the red carpet……LIVE……??
Is Salvador in Kyiv??????????
Please share a link where we can see the event.
Anytime, post the link.

God-Emperor
God-Emperor
6 years ago
Reply to  joy

I think he’ll arrive just in time of red carpet. 😉

Armenian
Armenian
6 years ago
Reply to  joy

Lol this Siran girl is so funny 😀

mccacaye
mccacaye
6 years ago

ha ha) who had a doubt about it?) it is ridiculous and annoying how armenian diaspora iflates it.

Colkolwiek
6 years ago
Reply to  mccacaye

This song is good. I think Artsvik will be in TOP 10 in Kiev
Im from ridiculous annoying polish diaspora 🙂
(…) Kasia Mo? will be also in TOP 10
Have a nice day 😀

Mark Beckenbreur
Mark Beckenbreur
6 years ago
Reply to  mccacaye

Ffs.., really?!

Siran
Siran
6 years ago
Reply to  mccacaye

You are azeri

KennyESC
KennyESC
6 years ago
Reply to  Siran

Siran and you are dumb.

Hazar
Hazar
6 years ago
Reply to  Siran

are you afraid of azeris?lol