La Belgique. La Géorgie. L’Australie.

Three countries, three seconds rehearsals and three new reviews from Eurovision 2019.

Reactions to second rehearsals at Eurovision 2019: Belgium, Georgia and Australia

Belgium: Eliot with “Wake Up”

What an improvement. Belgium knocked it out of the park at the second rehearsal. Everything about Eliot’s performance has improved on all fronts. He looks like he’s enjoying himself, he engages so much more with the camera and he moves. The elements now make sense. The screens work to channel and build intensity, the drummers heap on the pressure and Eliot himself channels it all into a powerful performance. In this reviewer’s opinion that is the most improved performance of the day so far.

Eliot – “Wake Up”

Georgia: Oto Nemsadze with “Keep On Going”

When we first saw Georgia’s staging things felt as aggressive as they ever had. There was lightning, a heart-rate monitor, a world on fire and barbed wire flying through the sky.

The second run has tempered that aggression and has channeled it into a more palatable product. Oto’s voice is now the right side of screaming where it is powerful rather than painful. Undoubtedly this is still quite an intimidating stageshow, but the sting in the tail has been removed. It remains full on, but it now offers a more thoughtful performance than previously.

The screens have been softened, transitions are more tame and you have greater sense of narrative than before. This rehearsal may also have put Georgia in contention for qualification.

Oto Nemsadze – “Keep On Going”

Australia: Kate Miller-Heidke with “Zero Gravity”

If the first rehearsal was stratospheric, Australia’s second rehearsal at the Eurovision Song Contest took us far beyond the atmosphere. Kate Miller-Heidke and her backing vocalists have now refined the “nothing holding me down” segment. It has greater kinetic energy, greater purpose and adds to a greater sense of climax. She escapes Earth, accelerates away and we want to follow her. Barnstorming stuff from the Aussies.

Kate Miller-Heidke – “Zero Gravity”

Check out all of our rehearsal news here

Photo Credit: EBU

53 Comments
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Anita
Anita
4 years ago

I am glad that my very early thoughts about the Australian song (right after the release of the studio version I wrote somewhere that this might be a winning song) are now confirmed, because they did a great job staging.

Burger
Burger
4 years ago

Belgium is a worry for me now: Georgia could be a surprise qualifier, if it does qualify Belgium and probably Serbia won’t either.
Australia’s staging is promising (if it delivers look out at the top 5), usually – this is usually their weakness along with the televote of late.

West
West
4 years ago

I’m sorry – Australia’s clip is making me dizzy and nauseaus. Stupid vertigo. I guess I’ll just close my eyes on tuesday and only enjoy the amazing vocals.

oli
oli
4 years ago

I don’t get the portuguese. Conan, change that f*** outfit! Otherwise, that this entry goes from favourite to possible non qualifier JUST because of a dress (otherwise, the performance is exactly the same as in the national selection) tells you how important is staging in Eurovision. I would say: song and performancer is 35%, staging is 65%.

deltafox
deltafox
4 years ago

Australia staging looks incredible and compliments the song amazingly well! This is going to be a sensation on SF night!!!

Bella
Bella
4 years ago

I really don’t like these on-screen CGI effects that Australia is using. Like ESC performances were not already ridiculously over the top… This is supposed to be a live singing contest, not a live recreation of a video clip.

Suzan
Suzan
4 years ago
Reply to  Bella

Yeah you’re right, we should have everyone just standing on the stage doing absolutely nothing that is visually interesting for 3 minutes…

Bella
Bella
4 years ago
Reply to  Suzan

Your comment brings zero added value: there’s is a huge spectrum of possibilities between CGI/pyrotechnics and “just standing on the stage doing absolutely nothing that is visually interesting for 3 minutes” (which is not even something I mentioned, so not sure what comment you’re answering). Btw, these ridiculous staging trends are very recent (started around 2012), before that it was a normal live singing contest. And most of the recent winners were alone on stage and/or using very simple staging: Salvador, Jamala, Conchita, “Only Teardrops”, Loreen, “Running Scared”, etc. So these over the top stagings are not even a successful… Read more »

Bella
Bella
4 years ago
Reply to  Suzan

And btw, it’s incredibly disrespectful for artists and live performers to imply that a “normal” concert is not “visually interesting”… I guess you must not see a lot of live music.

Héctor
Héctor
4 years ago

Belgium is my 2nd, but I’m not feeling it with the staging. I think it needed something different. It is too static which doesn’t help because the song is also a bit flat. I’m worried about its qualification. Don’t know how the keep messing up with the live performance like the last couple of years. Blanche was my winner that year, but let’s be honest, the live performance was a bit underwhelming even if she placed 4th. Well, Georgia… impressive. I think the Eastern countries will support it, but the Western ones will have a hard time digesting it. Anyway,… Read more »

Stephanie
Stephanie
4 years ago

To all Belgium haters: EAT YOUR HEART OUT!!!

Whisker
Whisker
4 years ago
Reply to  Stephanie

Yummy.

Poiroke
Poiroke
4 years ago

You have to see the 2 minute snippet from Belgium with the right angles with the camera, also the sound is absolutely improved a lot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZMkK2EMeqc

Denis
Denis
4 years ago

Belgium: Apart from the outfit this is good. Could see it qualify
Georgia: Not my cup of tea, I find it to shouty,, but nice staging.
Australia: Less messy than the original staging!

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
4 years ago

Quick review #4: Belgium – the big triangle over the stage is a cool idea, but overall it just feels kinda disjointed. Eliot is a sweetheart, but the vocals he gave us today are really not enough, they make him sound tired and he’s the one who’s supposed to wake us up! Georgia – really nice – the backing singers are epic, Oto’s giving his best, the pyros add up to the performance’s atmosphere, it’s just a cool staging, Georgia has a real shot at qualifying this year! Australia – pure magic – I suggest even more close-ups and camera… Read more »

Sabrina
Sabrina
4 years ago

Belgium: do you know when you really want to like something but just can’t? The hands choreography needs a lot of work.
Georgia: real powerful stuff the moment when Oto is joined by his backing vocals (we already had the mamas, now we have the papas?). Still don’t know how I feel though, since the most agressive moments aren’t in the snippet.
Australia: Kate is really glowing, visually and vocally. It looks great, my only concern is about the camera angles getting repetitive after a while. The makeover from the national final to the final product is almost perfect.

Kim
Kim
4 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

From a 44 second clip you claim the camera angles are repetitive he’s lacking vocals- my god people art artistic geniuses. No one and I mean no one can make a judgement on how an artist will look and sound on the TV on the night – hey I respect your right to comment but EVERYONE not just you are talking out of their arse if they think that they can judge any artist over a 40sec or so clip . Everyone’s song is 3 mins so I’m under the impression and correct me if I am wrong but you… Read more »

Whisker
Whisker
4 years ago

Belgium, NO. Poor lamb. NO.
Georgia surprised me in a good way. Strong pyros this year, Romania, Norway, Georgia.
I am very much impressed with the visuals this year, I sorely missed them last year in Portugal (shame).
Australia – I am not impressed at all with what I saw on the official rehearsal video. I hope it will be better during the shows.

Ezal
Ezal
4 years ago

Belgium- you should be NQ as punishment, even though I really like this song, just because you somehow manage to screw things with bad staging!
Georgia- could this be our surprise Q?
Australia- she’s there, star in the sky Q

pepper
pepper
4 years ago
Reply to  Ezal

Isn’ t still a song contest???? year by year the staging seems te become more important than the song… , it used to be the song, later on the dress.. now some great songs are overloaded by the staging… there’s no way back it seems….. what’s next??? circus acts????

Ezal
Ezal
4 years ago
Reply to  pepper

Yeah, but this is called CONTEST, sorry, there are others more crafted acts

Bella
Bella
4 years ago
Reply to  Ezal

lol… And what in the word “contest” implies the overuse of pyrotechnics and CGI?

Bella
Bella
4 years ago
Reply to  pepper

Totally agree with Pepper… I thought ESC performances couldn’t look even more over the top, but now they’re even using these ridiculous CGI effects. This is tacky and tasteless. Next year, why don’t they just broadcast video clips?

Stephanie
Stephanie
4 years ago
Reply to  Ezal

And here we have an another Belgium hater.I’m getting so sick and tired of it, so tell me what is it that we ever did wrong to you all?

Whisker
Whisker
4 years ago
Reply to  Stephanie

Nobody here hates Belgium. People like the song and have high expectations for the staging, especially since they didn’t qualify last year due to ___________ (fill in the blanks)

Stephanie
Stephanie
4 years ago
Reply to  Whisker

OH please it’s every year the same story, so don’t give me that BS…

Loin dici
4 years ago
Reply to  Whisker

The guy who does Netherland’s staging this year?

David
David
4 years ago
Reply to  Stephanie

Why do you take this this so personally ? The song is nice but let’s face it: the staging is kind of mediocre. We’ll be happy to qualify. Luckily it’s not as bad as last year; that was just awful.

Sheldon
Sheldon
4 years ago

I think that this time Australia will get higher points by televoting, because juries don’t like opera vocals. The juries will feel that they are worse than Kate. Mark my words.

Whisker
Whisker
4 years ago
Reply to  Sheldon

I don’t understand the juries not liking opera vocals. Music is music, opera elements bring a modern twist to an old-fashioned/ever-green genre.

Rimig
Rimig
4 years ago

I am really impressed by Australia. This was originally the number 14 on my list, but the staging is impressive and makes the song much more credible. Will definitely climb positions in my personal top and sneak into my top 10. Don’t think it will reach my top 5 because I still don’t love the song, but they have done a real good job definitely!

Heejje
Heejje
4 years ago

Ohhh belgium
I really like the song and Elliot improved a lot but those handmovents just ain’t it 🙁

Greetings from your northern neighbour

ESC LOU
ESC LOU
4 years ago

YESSS Georgia’s staging is really good!

mariont
mariont
4 years ago

Despite the pole dancing does anyone like zero gravity as a song?
no hate, just asking…

Nick
Nick
4 years ago
Reply to  mariont

I really dislike it as a song and i think it is overrated

ESC LOU
ESC LOU
4 years ago
Reply to  mariont

Yes! it was my 3rd in Australia Decides but I still like it and I love how unique it is!

Kuhkatz
Kuhkatz
4 years ago
Reply to  mariont

Actually no, Zero Gravity as a song is weak.

Whisker
Whisker
4 years ago
Reply to  mariont

LOL, that’s not “pole dancing”.
I didn’t like the song the first time I heard but it has grown on me a lot.

mariont
mariont
4 years ago
Reply to  Whisker

it is though, in some sort of way…

Whisker
Whisker
4 years ago
Reply to  mariont

But Kate is not dancing, she is swaying from one side to the other. And SINGS at the same time. At that height. Mindblowing. If juries don’t appreciate that, that will be tragic. I wonder what her core workouts looked like. Kate, please made a work-out video, I will buy it.

melody
melody
4 years ago
Reply to  mariont

I wouldn’t listen to this song by choice.

Kungfrederik
Kungfrederik
4 years ago

Georgia the dark horse!

Mark Dowd
Mark Dowd
4 years ago
Reply to  Kungfrederik

Competing with Montenegro for last place..

ESCFan2009
ESCFan2009
4 years ago

Kate or Katerine will win the semi. Downvote me lol, but Kate is slaying, slaying, slaying. Without Duncan and Mahmood I would even say, this can win overall, but NL and ITA are strong 🙂

Poiroke
Poiroke
4 years ago

Eliot improved a lot… this message and song has to pass to the final

Michael
Michael
4 years ago

Eliot seems to lose himself in the middle of all that big production. The song needs more power.

Just me
Just me
4 years ago

Belguim great song, but he is not a performer. He looks scared on the podium. There is now power.

Héctor
Héctor
4 years ago

Happy for Belgium and Georgia. Though I need to see those rehearsal clips to make an idea by myself. Why is the official channel sooo slow?

Miles
Miles
4 years ago

GO BELGIUM MY NUMBER 2

Kosely
Kosely
4 years ago

Aaarrrggghhhh, I am so excited for Belgium. Such a great song and artist – to think the visual staging might be coming together as well is making me very happy!!

Redgrave
Redgrave
4 years ago
Reply to  Kosely

He deserves it!

enrique
enrique
4 years ago

belgica was very good

enrique
enrique
4 years ago
Reply to  enrique

Belgium*