Azerbaijan’s Aisel kicks it off with smoke and mountains. And Cyprus’ Eleni Foureira closes us out with some literal fuego. After this morning, we’ve now seen each of the acts in the first semi-final of Eurovision 2018 rehearse twice.
But which of the 19 acts in the first semi-final had your favourite second rehearsal?
You can watch all of our reviews of the second rehearsals in the playlist below. 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.
Poll: Who had the best second rehearsal from the first semi-final?
[polldaddy poll=9995098]We’ll close our poll before the semi-final one jury final on Monday, May 7. We’ll release the results shortly after that. In the meantime, we’d love to hear what you thought about the rehearsals.
Alekseev Forever
Whats the buzz over Cyprus? It seems to me that this is one of the most outdated songs in this contest, looks like it is taken from Eurovision 2003. Israel is much fresher.
Cyprus I should actually the most current song in the contest this year. Look at the charts of any country Andy it’s all dominated by songs like this. It’s not unlike Major Lazer, Camilla Cabello and a few others.
Israel is good though but cmon, Cyprus is hardly dated.
Poland, Czech Republic or even Sweden is what you hear in radios / charts. Fuego is like a copy of Aphrodisiac / Secret Combination.
My qualifiers: ( in random order)
Albania, Finland, Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Austria, Croatia, Bulgaria, Estonia
Who it probably will be: (in random order)
Israel, Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Azerbaijan (Aze really shouldn’t), Albania.
I LOVE Greece, Cyprus, Ireland Albania, and Israel in this semi, but I know I’ll be disappointed by a few NQs on Tuesday
My favorites are Estonia and Switzerland.
Switzerland song is really great!
i really hope that from next year there will be no rehearsal videos published and no rehearsals audience and commentators. I hope all the rehearsals will be conducted behind locked doors, and on the very night we will see them for the first time.
Do you know when will we hear the full performance? Will we hear the full jury performance?
I love this top 10. Looks right, at least performance wise. However I think Estona will win this semi, and maybe the whole competion. she is the only one that gives me winner vibers. Albania: damn! Those camera effects really elevated the song, while Eugent is delivering excellence, energy and hope, as always. He keeps getting better. I also love Cyprus, in terms of performance, but the song is a little bit boring and repetitive. sure qualifier though.
Is it only me that have been disapoinet on the cameramen this year?
Yes, you are! The camera angles are the best ever this year
I think delegations have a word to say about the camera angles and if they are happy it is deserved
After hearing all rehearsals i think we have winner- Estonia ! For second place there will be huge battle- i realy cannot predict because there are approx 10 vandidates 🙂
Belgium will surprise us a 4th year in a row. Standing between the crowd will lift her even more up. Top 10 for me this year. See you in the finale!
Too bad she can’t sing.
Let me tell you one thing,I’m from Albania and albanian fans usually do not search for polls or anything like that. If the song “Mall” is on top it’s because europeans are loving how the song was presented to them,it came nearer to them with all the complex of the emotions that the song and the singer transmit. It’s a full package performance and I’m glad to see how music affects people without understanding albanian. Thank you.
Ckemi !!! I’m from Albania too and what are you saying its totally true . ?n Albania they are not involved in the competition and I am very sorry for this year we have a very good song that needs support. Eugent needs our support .. All those who voted him are mainly from other countries.
I’m French guy and my favorite song to win Eurovision 2018 is Albania. You don’t have to care about what some stupid people say about Albania (most of they are sick natinalist). All I have to say is that Eugent voice is magical and will have my vote on finals.
@Clement thank you so much !!! Eugent deserves to be in final !!
At random, here’s my Top 10:
Israel
Cyprus
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Belarus
Ireland
Switzerland
Belgium
Finland
Austria
My Top from the First Semi-Final:
Estonia
Azerbaijan
Belgium
Greece
Iceland
Lithuania
Belarus
Croatia
Albania
Armenia
Cyprus
Ireland
I really do not understand the fandom of Albania. Okay, he can sing. Okay, he has a charisma in his own way. But there should be definitely more things to win the ESC. The song is so cliche and dated however ESC has been looking for uniqueness recently.
I can explain you if you want . Because its a good songs with amazing lyrics . Because is something different ..its a rock ballad . Because he has an amazing voice . And last but not least he performs with his heart. He has a lot of emotions !!!
You have to hear him live, and I’m sure you will change your opinion. And I’m sure the jury will get those goosebumps too. He will win the first semi, and TOP 3 on final.
Yes, results change over time as more people vote.
It’s funny how a few hours ago Cyprus was MILES ahead and then suddenly Albania is winning. It’s funny though because he won’t even qualify.
Don’t be so sure ..we will see !!!
I voted Albania of course. i’m a big fan since the begining. I always trust in this song. My winner!!!! I voted Estonia anda Lithuania too.
Good luck from Portugal!!!!
Eugent is great! I will vote for him!
I am hoping Saara Aalto surprises us all on the night and sings her version of Monsters in all 34 Eurovision nation languages that she released on YouTube. That would be unreal. That would win it for me. It would be an amazing moment of unity for all nations, like in the book of Acts 2:6 where it says “the crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.” !!!! What a moment that would be. Go Saara!
34 languages and no native understood a word…
If that happened, she would be disqualified Lmao
Albania is just AWESOME! 😀 #Tirana2019
My thoughts after the 2nd rehearsal (numbers for those who I think will qualify, in random order): Sure thing: Cyprus (1), Israel (2), Estonia (3), Czech Republic (4), Austria (5) Almost there: Albania (6), Finland (7) Borderline: Bulgaria (8), Greece (9), Lithuania (10), Armenia Probably not: FYR Macedonia, Belgium, Belarus, Croatia, Azerbaijan Bye: Iceland, Ireland, Switzerland Ups: Azerbaijan (I could see them qualifying now, but I’m not confident); Albania (getting stronger at each rehearsal); Estonia (looking good tho be the semi’s winner), Cyprus (Banger!), Downs: Greece (I could see them not qualifying now, but I think they will), Belgium (more… Read more »
I love Belarus! I just had to say it outloud in this chorus of disagreements!
Croatia & Lo-o-o-ove!
Cyprus winner
1. Albania 10/10
2. Cyprus 9.5/10
3. Bulgaria 9.6/10
4. Estonia 9.0/ 10
5. Israel 9.2 /10
6. Finland 8.5/ 10
7. Switzerland 9/10
8. Blegium 8.5 / 10
9. Czech Republic 9/ 10
10. Greece 8.7/10
My top 10 !
Cyprus, Albania, Estonia and Israel for me.
1 : Albania for sure..i love it
2 : lithuania what a cute song and voice
Now im like what ?? I don’t remember any of other songs and this is not good ..
Belarus is my absolute nr one regardless of this staging. Yes! I know he has no chanse and we are not so meny in team Alekseev. But I think that those who have discovered him are gratefull towards ESC and Belarus so we could discover him.
This is the first time I have been googling an artist and listened to one song after an other in russia, a langue I don’t understand. I have ben crying whithout understanding one word. Gratefull
Good luck Belarus from Sweden
Hey, Malin! You are not alone! I do not understand russian myself, I did not know anything about Alekseev before, but now I am a fan and an expert! I love Drunken sun even if the video makes me sick, I l love everything about him now, and this is the power of Esc! Please don’t worry about his chances , he will slay! I thought the staging is channeling Shakespeare or Carmen but someone mentioned The nightingale and the rose by Oscar Wilde and bum, it’s really that! It’s about giving your blood and your life in the name… Read more »
Foureira with Cyprus is the best!!!! Hope she will win!!!!
Just based on the 2nd live rehearsal: Croatia, Albana & Estonia’s $75,000 dress. ^_^
My favorite ??
https://youtu.be/AqheozieLw0
Netta is in different level, no one will be better in the money time..israel will win big time
I personally love Croatia’s performance, Franka is so underrated in my opinion. She would qualify if i had my way.
I also like Albania ,Finland, Cyprus and Lithuania performances so far. That’s my top five from this Semi final in no particular order. These are the ones that for me, has stood out from the rest.
I do like Estonia, but i feel if it wasn’t for the dress it wouldn’t be getting all this attention. I get it’s impressive, but it’s just another pop/opera song performed very well. This will qualify for sure.
Yesss Cyprus are top of the poll, we have a threat for a song, hopefully everyone gets their phones and votes Cyprus, we really could win thissss
Elina’s staging is amazing
whithout any doubt il will produce a huge and immediate effect on the audience and those watching on TV
this is a winning performance BRAVO
Greece is super boring, I would love to have Albania instead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=660B9CIz7RI
Italy’s first rehearsal <3
A Masterpiece ..amazing song with a deep meaning ..deserves the first position ..not like some other countries that talk about barbie and picachu ..
Sorry but not my taste actually- prediction 10-15 place
Just wanted to say that Norway is in semi 2 and Macedonia is in semi 1!!
not true, macedonia is in semi 2 and norway in semi 1
Israel and Azerbaijan ???
Albania…quality, talent, goosebumps. My favorite still.
ALBANIA is my WINNER ?? Eugent ??
Azerbaijan – the staging gives this song life – it’s so simple yet so clever. Very pleasent, light and uplifting. I difn’t like it before but i do now Cyprus, Czech Rep – great upbeat songs, great stagings with a lot of dancing, the artists have stage presence, those entries are well thought through and so much fun Croatia, Norway – good but a bit average songs transformed on stage by incredibly charismatic performers. They both own the stage and are hypnotising. They don’t even have to do that much on stage to own the audience Estonia – as charismatic… Read more »
Macedonia – great song whith a bad staging. The vocalist sounds great live and has charisma and stage presence, but the camera work somehiw doesn’t show that. Plus male backing vocals are too loud at some point?
Croatia has amazing performance. AMAZING!? LOVE! It will be shame not to been seen in the final!
Albania & Estonia
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Israel, Czechia, Greece & Estonia get my votes!
Estonia first and then big miles away Cyprus and Azerbajan
albania …. the winner lol
Eleni ruls. Love Cyprus!!!
Estonia is KILLING IT she’s the real queen of esc 2018! Cyprus, Finland & Bulgaria also slayin’ <3
@ WIWIBLOGGS can you please explain why only Macedonia was left out in the photo of this text, right below the main title?
Yea, seems like they accidently put Norway there instead of Macedonia 😛
Rather seems they join forces with the Macedonia haters and decided to remove it from the 1 st semi even before it has officially taken place.
Well Chris created this report, he also brutally trashed macedonia in the review video after the 2nd rehearsal, with bulgaria and croatia. That’s when the exclusive video of the rehearsal was published and invaded by dislikers and haters. Coincidence?
Cyprus and estonia!!
Cyprus – Queen of Eurovision 2018 is Foureira! #Fuego
Elina and Eleni
I voted for Estonia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Lithuania and Croatia. Kind off forget to vote for Albania too.