Roll on rehearsals! Today the remaining acts in Semi-Final 1 rehearse, along with five from Semi-Final 2 and the Big 5 plus Portugal. It’s going to be a long day. So let’s not waste any time and jump straight into the first four rehearsals from Armenia’s Sevak, Switzerland’s Zibbz, Ireland’s Ryan and Cyprus’ Eleni Foureira.
Reaction: Armenia, Switzerland, Ireland & Cyprus
Armenia: Sevak Khanagyan with “Qami”
During the first rehearsal Sevak stood amid a sea of grey. It was solemn and stirring, but a tad austere. To counter that, and to give the act a bit more dynamism, he now starts the performance amid a sea of blue lights. They give the circle of columns a spiritual, almost pagan feel — think Stonehenge. Later when he hits a big chorus things lighten up a bit with a stunning flash of red and later with smoke billowing behind him amid shades of grey and white strobes.
Given the political winds sweeping Armenia and its rush towards democracy, this song takes on a depth and significance that will give Sevak even more power.
Sevak Khanagyan, “Qami”: Performance Preview
Switerland: Zibbz with “Stones”
Don’t underestimate the Swiss! Coco arrived with even more confidence today, working her purple cowgirl hat and crop top like a an off-duty model. The look is at once bohemian, sophisticated and sexy — girl has a flat-pack stomach and she isn’t afraid to show it off. As she turns the stage into a catwalk, walking here, there and everywhere, her brother rocks out on the drums. He looks totally into it, making us want to bob along too. There’s a fantastic overhead strobe effect — think Sanna Nielsen’s “Undo” — that’s viewed through a lovely faraway shot. This is modern, contemporary and polished. In the second semi-final this would sail through. But given the strength of semi-final 1, this is still an uphill battle.
Zibbz, “Stones”: Performance Preview
Ireland: Ryan O’Shaughnessy with “Together”
Most Eurovision 2018 performances feature quick camera cuts that feel rectilinear and hard-edged. But Ireland keeps it smooth. Similar to their Eurovision 2018 music video, the camera flows in a series of continuous shots that fit with the lyrics quality of the song. It protects the sweet, intimate atmosphere, which works perfectly with Ryan’s voice.
There were a few changes today. Ryan wears a black outfit with white horizontal stripes at the base of his shirt. These match the pianist, who wears a black shirt with a black pussy bow with white stripes. At times they bleed into the darkness behind them, but surely a few tweaks with lighting will sort that out.
Ryan O’Shaughnessy, “Together”: Performance Preview
Cyprus: Eleni Foureira with “Fuego”
Amen, hallelujuh! Cyprus’ Eleni has given a hot performance even more heat. In the first rehearsal her on-screen graphics looked a little cheap and at times the placement was totally off: the flames seemed to shoot out from her bum and nether regions, inducing fits of laughter in the press room. Well laugh no more or the joke is on you. Our girl now has flames shooting out from her ankles — I promise it looks great — and later from her mid-section, but appropriately placed. It adds even more drama to this intense performance.
vote Cyprus, finally its our time to win, and the song is so strong and powerful, its a brilliant song plzzzzz everyone vote for Cyprus, one of the strongest in agess
Armenia: I can actually see the improvement in the 2nd rehearsal compared to the first. I used to sort of write this one off as nothing, but I’m starting to find it a bit enjoyable now. I still think the first semi is too strong for him to pass, but I’ll give Sevak props anyway. Switzerland: This is a boarderline qualifier that’s more likely leaning towards not qualifying, …though it’s a shame because I like this one quite a bit. I’m really digging her look too. But am I the only one that noticed the duct tape (or at least… Read more »
I guess Sasha JB will sit on the Cypriot couch this year.
Eleni has 7th place written all over her. A mix of Iveta with Ilinca & Rob (Rob?). It’s a banger like LoveWave, but it is still a generic bop like Yodel It!.
Eleni just killed it! I’m so proud of her! Good job girl!
Eleni’s face on that picture 😀 😀 Looks like a horse.
Can Ireland just please qualify this year? We are actually trying for the first time in years. Best entry since the highly underrated Molly Sterling I need 2015.
This is a very good song and good voice but he is in a tough first semifinal ..from the 1 semifinal are all good songs..that deserves to pass in final all of them..if he was in second semifinal he would surely pass to final
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
LA LA LOVE Fuego !!!
Go Go Go Cyprus!
Winner 2018 –> Cyprus 2019
Cyprus has the best performance. Foureira is a star!
I never liked Ireland when I saw the video. But surprice! I like it now when I see it. Like the song.
Strange. But on the other hand, the closer the shows we come, there are more and more songs that I love or like.
Looked at the songs from 2017 and then oh, that is good, and that… and that, why didn’t that one go to final, and that..etc
Good luck Ireland from Sweden
Cyprus Cyprus, please everyone give the song a chance, I’m sure Eleni will pull through and perform well, at the end of the show, vote cyprusssss
I will and for Estonia as well 🙂
Armenia: I like it. It sounds powerful and looks solid.
Switzerland: Coco owns the stage, but, based on this snippet, the camera cuts still need to match her energy.
Ireland: I love the way they’re filming it. We can feel like they’re all performing on a dark street. But Ryan needs to stand out a little more. He’s the star, after all.
Cyprus: Talking about being a star… this is how you stage an uptempo pop entry. I keep forgetting that I even don’t like the song.
Ireland will do better than the UK, mark my words
Armenia has improved a lot. It looks and sound really good! Same for Switzerland. Also the Cypriot staging looks cool, though I’m not a big fan of the song or her vocals. What a shame we have to say goodbye to 9 song from the SF1 and suffer the qualifiers from SF2. This is going to be very unfair. Albania, Armenia, Lithuania, Switzerland, … all of them deserve a place in the final, but instead of that we’ll have Norway, Serbia, Romania, Malta, Russia, …
My thoughts exactly. We have wonderful acts from Albania, Azerbaijan, Belgium and the Czech Republic… Almost everyone in the first semi deserves to qualify and instead we’ll have to indeed suffer some very bad ones in the final because they got in the second semi. Anyway, I’m really rooting for Belgium!
Here are my thougts if anybody are intrested:
Armenia: Qualifier, great voice and a great song
Swizerland: There is nothing that you will remember this for. To bland. No qualifier
Ireland: A darkhorse i think. I love it. It grows on you. Qualifier if there are any justice.
Cyprus: The song is average but the staging helps it over the top. Qualifier
100% deserve Ireland to go to the final , beatiful
Ireland – what a beautiful staging with that snow and dancers, it creates such a nostalgic mood. The song is really growing on me and he is great live. Good classic love pop song.
Cyprus – she is so much fun, love that song, makes you wanna dance. Great moves, nice staging
Eleni understood that this stage requires an active choreography in order to grab the viewer’s attention. She’s doing what Helena Paparizou did back in 2005 when LEDs weren’t a thing and you needed to be a great performer if you wanted to do well.
That’s why Czech republic will fail
I believe that was already thought when they wrote the song. There’s a lot of “only instrumental” parts, properly done for choreography.
Can we start talking about a Cyprus win? For all those that claim Fuego should not win because its not the best song, well, its not indeed, but I guess you are confussed by this contest’s name. Even called Song Contest this is a TV show, if you just want to valorate song do that contest on the radio so. This is TV and Eleni is giving you one major show.
It’s neither the best song nor best show
Ok Denis who is putting on a show better then Eleni? Netta? pffft
Yeah I don’t know who has a better stage performance than Cyprus…
I know- Estonia plus she is vocally much stronger as well. But Cypros has good song and I will vote for it too
How you compare two different things? Opera with pop/dance? Don’t be fooled by the high notes. I am not saying she is not good, she is just fine. Eurovision is a party and that night we want to celebrate with our friends/family. If we want to find the next best voice we can go to The VOICE or X Factor.
Go Go Go Cyprus.
FUEGO
Moldova.
Sweden? Moldova?
this song could possibly win in 2004 or 2005-when it belongs-.She is only a performer.Her vocals however are very mediocre
Cyprus and Moldova kitsch fests and mediocre performers both belongs in 2005, I’ll skip both.
I don’t understand why you said that. If you like pop and dance songs then you will like what Foureira is doing. Can you give me a pop/dance song that is for 2018 to see the diffeence with FUEGO?
Greece truly LOST by rejecting Foureira for so many years
we will see…
Greeks would love to be represented by Foureira, we’ve wanted it for years. It’s the broadcaster that turned her down year after year much to our indignation. It’s speculated that ERT (the broadcaster) doesn’t want to risk hosting the contest, should Greece win. It explains why Greece has only had ‘suicide’ entries the past few years, contrary to the 8 consecutive top10 places it got pre 2012. ‘Oniro mou’ may be a beautiful song but it will likely flop due to bad staging that seems to be way below the song. (Mind you, these last few years ERT is only… Read more »
Couldn’t agree more. As a Greek i can confirm that this is so true. It’s all the fault of the broadcaster
She is albanian neither greek nor cypriot.I also believe that the juries won’t like this
She is a Greek of Albanian descent, in the same way that Jennifer Aniston is an American of Greek descent.
lol Jennifer Aniston was born in Greece? WOW didn’t know that haha Oh wait, she was born in California lol Nice try…. Eleni was born in Albania and would probably still be there if her Family didn’t migrate south. But you can keep her and claim her.
What has that to do with the above mentioned? Neither is Cesár of ‘pure’ Austrian descent but nobody seems to make a fuss about that. That is some nasty Nazi talk!
It will make no difference for the juries.
Ireland is great, beautiful!
Queen of Eurovision 2018 – Queen Foureira!
Winner Alert! ???
Vulgarity alert would be more accurate.
It’s eurovision honey, lots of performers are vulgar
Precisely. Not all of them.
Armenia: Beautiful voice. Not sure if he will make it through tough
Switzerland: Nice but forgettable
Ireland: Not a sure qulaifier but he increases chances by every rehearsal
The biggest problem with Bulgaria is that I thought it would be an active and moving staging, like Armenia in 2015 (Don’t Deny), but in better version. In this version, the female singer could be like the cherry on the cake. Now she is like a strawberry walled / bricked in this cake. They all just stand close to each other. This is not a good solution and in this arrangement the female vocalist does not fit the rest of the team. Simple, clear and easy truth. Everyone can see it.
i totally disagree. these slow walking and movements add to the mystical admosphere and it’s like they blend in. which they do on screen as well just like their voices. it’s very impactful and goodsebumps all over. this for me is a winner from top to bottom. love it
I really like the stage!
It will look very cheap in TV. Hope the audience will make the proper atmosphere…
cheap? LOL we never had such amazing lights like this year.
“it will look”? you saw that in your crystal ball? 😉
Haha, Eleni face at this picture 😀
Choices… 😀