The second set of semi-final two rehearsals took place on Saturday, with 13 more countries taking to the stage again. Brendan Murray soared in his hot-air balloon for Ireland. Croatia’s Jacques Houdek showed us two looks in one. And Bulgaria’s Kristian Kostov mastered his on-screen squiggles.
We asked our readers to pick their favourite rehearsals from Saturday’s lineup and only one could triumph. After counting 7,011 votes, we can now reveal that our readers think that the Dutch sisterly trio OG3NE was the winner with their heartwarming ballad “Lights and Shadows”, earning 25.36% of the vote.
When the sisters rehearsed on Saturday, the Wiwi team in Kyiv were on hand to give their review. OG3NE turned things up yet again, hitting their vocals and oozing the same sass and energy that made them a standout last week.
The visuals reflected the theme of lights and shadows, and at times seemed earthly vs. heavenly as it moved from candlelights (which shine on both the LED floor and walls — to vast expanses of white and a warm golden-orange hue. The LED graphic of a woman lying down with her arm outstretched — an obvious reference to their ill mother — flashes more briefly, but seems higher impact now owing to the bright lighting and angle of the view.
Wiwi readers were also impressed with Croatia’s Jacques Houdek, whose extravagant “My Friend” earned 13.39% of the vote. And in third place was Bulgaria’s Kristian Kostov. His simple ballad “Beautiful Mess” received 9.71% of the vote.
Poll results: Who had the best second rehearsal on May 6?
- The Netherlands — O’G3NE “Lights and Shadows” 25.36% (1,778 votes)
- Croatia — Jacques Houdek, “My Friend” 13.39% (939 votes)
- Bulgaria — Kristian Kostov, “Beautiful Mess” 9.71% (681 votes)
- Belarus — Naviband, “Story of My Life” 7.62% (534 votes)
- Estonia — Koit Toome & Laura, “Verona” 6.46% (453 votes)
- Denmark — Anja Nissen “Where I Am” 6.25% (438 votes)
- Israel — IMRI, “I Feel Alive” 5.98% (419 votes)
- Ireland — Brendan Murray “Dying to Try” 5.32% (373 votes)
- Norway — JOWST, “Grab the Moment” 4.84% (339 votes)
- Hungary — Joci Pápai “Origo” 4.56% (320 votes)
- Switzerland — Timebelle, “Apollo” 4.51% (316 votes)
- Lithuania — Fusedmarc, “Rain of Revolution” 3.95% (277 votes)
- San Marino — Valentina Monetta & Jimmie Wilson, “Spirit of the Night” 2.05% (144 votes)
Bulgaria leaves a big impression to me, but og3ne has a tragic story that could help them to win. ESC is all about stories look at Jamala a war story, conchita Wurst a beard woman story, lordi taking a complete other music stream to ESC story, Dana International had also a special story. tragedy sells on ESC and Og3ne’s story is a tragic one.
Wiwwibloggs! Where is Estonian second rehearsal EXCLUSIVE? Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland etc. had excusive second rehearsal, why not Estonia?!
YES BABY OG3NE ARE QUEEEEEEENS
These harmonies are so dreamy. Well deserved poll win. I’m pretty sure they’ll qualify.
Netherlands is a borderline qualifier. The song and show have no wow factor. It can benefit however, being cleanly sung, of other songs flopping.
hahahahaha!
Joker, that is what you are 🙂
I dont think Netherlands will be borderline, but I also dont think Netherlands could win or run up the Semi. For me the song belongs to Church, too much virtue, too little spice. The performance should be more dynamic, the hips and arms movements make them look old.
What a fantastic performance. Pure voices, dance, outfits and a spectacular presence on stage. This is by far the best song and potential winner of 2017. 12 points go to…. THE NETHERLANDS!
Wait and wait to see the results
They will bear no resemblance to what anyone thinks here
Italy before has had many youtube hits prior to the final in previous years but failed in the final- we will see
What ?
People rate rehearsals on a 30 sec recording?
No one has seen the finished tv product yet and everyone is an expert all of a sudden
None of your comments or reviews or thoughts are worth anything
you have no power
Burger u are so right-
Norway only 9th?!?! What is wrong with them omg…sorry but rating Crotia/Israel/Ireland higher than Norway is something I clearly can’t accept..
The only poll that matters is the one on the night after the phone lines have closed, and the jury votes from the show the night before have been tallied.
If we believed polls there would not have been Brexit or President Trump last year.
You’ve been going through these stages;
Now it’s time to turn the pages. 🙂
NL is the best in this SF (the best package).
Wiwibloggs got some attention in mainstream Dutch media, where they talked about how Og3ne is coping these rehearsals. They showed the positive comments, and if only one percent of those viewers looks on this site, I think that may explain NL leading the poll by this margin.
They showed the Wiwibloggs reaction from the first rehearsal in RTL Late Night last Friday. I doubt that that influenced the result of a poll a day later. They didn’t even mention the name of this site.
Well deserved victory. 🙂
The Netherlands is overrated. I don’t pay attention to polls, odds, OGAE and so on. Thing will look completely different in Eurovision with all those favorites, like in past years…big favorites didn’t even qualify (Dana International in 2011, Valentina Monetta in 2013, Mei Finegold in 2014, Greta Salome last year, etc) while other big favorites have barely qualified (Charlotte Perelli in 2008, Kati Wolf in 2011)…so, these polls are not to be trusted…
I agree on you on the “trusted” part. I’m Dutch, and I hope the Netherlands do well, but I didn’t vote on this poll for my own country, and nobody should do that, because on the real event, you only can vote for other countries.
Og3ne wasn’t a favourite at all before rehearsals started. The ogae gave only 3 points. I am Dutch and I think og3ne did a great thing. Well prepared they went to Kyiv. And that is showing in the odds. They started at position 20 a week ago.
Good. The girls deserve it. Amazing song and execution.
OG3NE will win 😉
What? Not San Marino? How? Is this cos Will pulled out? 😛
Og3ne will be in the top 5 in the final, Bookies noticed them (finally) too , they are climbing to number 7. Real dark horse this year.
Good for them. I don’t like the song or the performance (too clean for me), but I think it’s great that the Netherlands’ effort in recent years is rewarded.
Are they going to qualify? I am still not so sure about that, but I wouldn’t mind either.
Bulgaria lost an other position in odds!
Francesco Gabbani still big favourite, then Portugal, Sweden and Bulgaria 4th!!
Belgium a not even in top 10 anymore!!!
Don’t trust odds and stuff like that…
Jamala for example wasn’t the favourite to win
You have to wait for the show
Yes last year… but what about 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014? And also Mans was one of favourites! Nothing is sure yet, but he has a BIG ditance from second one in odds! It is incredible! We will see on Saturday
Jamala was one of the favourites after the rehearsals, something like Armenia this year but stronger.
Jamala was second favorite just after her first rehearsal. During the day of the final she fropped at third position, but still…it was one of the favorites.
This could be the dark horse of the year! I wouldn’t surprise if this would hit the top 5..
Am I the only one, who can’t see any pictures, just headline text, on the wiwibloggs home screen?
Nope… you’re not the only one 😀
[…] It’s getting exciting…
They did this intentionally for faster loading times because of the high amount of viewers visiting the site this time of year.
The bookies have them now 8th… They are “getting into the danger zone”! 😉