Ireland Lesley Roy First Rehearsal Eurovision 2021
Photo: EBU / ANDRES PUTTING

Ireland’s Lesley Roy has taken to the stage inside Ahoy Rotterdam for her first rehearsal of Eurovision 2021. And she’s going all out, taking us inside a life-size storybook.

Ireland’s Lesley Roy “Maps” — Eurovision 2021 first rehearsal

Oliver: The most complex staging of the day by far. Think Greta Salóme’s “Hear Them Calling” but in storybook format. Hopefully Ireland 2021 is destined for a better result than Iceland 2016. The set looks like something from a marionette theatre — and not in a bad way. The Irish songstress moves through forest and ocean scenes, very appropriate for the “Maps” storyline. Visually, it’s gripping, but it’s not without its downfalls. Lesley’s wearing an all-green textured velvet jumpsuit that doesn’t entirely match with the rest of the staging. Also, there’s a few issues with cues that need sorting out to make the whole performance flow a bit better, as today it felt rather static. But overall, this is promising. A good vocal performance too, besides one slightly sharp note at the end.

Padraig: Ireland’s staging is all sorts of wow! And delivers probably the most fully-formed visual narrative of the day. In essence, we see Lesley transported into a real-life storybook complete with paper trees. It’s like a fantasy version of the music video. It borrows elements from performances such as Sweden 2015, Iceland 2016, Austria 2016 and even Silvàn Areg from France’s Destination Eurovision 2019. There are still a few kinks to be sorted in terms of camera angles and shots, but they should easily be fixed. Lesley herself looks stunning, barefoot and dressed in a green jumpsuit. She seems to be holding back with her vocals, which is completely understandable given all the movements which she has to master. Also, we were only shown the final run-through, so who knows what we missed earlier?

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Photo: EBU / ANDRES PUTTING

77 Comments
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Jake
Jake
2 years ago

This will prove a popular staging idea and score enough votes just based on it’s uniqueness. Silvan Areg got second with the jury at Destination Eurovision 2019 with similar staging.

Shan
Shan
2 years ago

Well she’s got a map to the final for sure, it’s going to be an outrage if we don’t see Ireland in the final this year!

Marc
Marc
2 years ago

There are lots of futile comments about the performance when most people did not see the full effect. It’s like watching a film seeing only the green screen. You cannot judge this until you see the full effect. Performances like The Roop where what you saw is what you are going to get can be judged but not Ireland where people did not see the visual.

Charli Cheer Up
Charli Cheer Up
2 years ago

Based on this rehearsal alone I can already tell that the second one will be even better. The concept and meaning of the song of Maps is definitely evident. Ireland stands a very good chance of qualifying with this unique staging idea.

Tom Ripley
Tom Ripley
2 years ago

Cant say much for the visual,but vocally she wasnt be good. Good luck!

Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  Tom Ripley

First rehearsal is always a throwaway. It’s more about working the stage and getting your cues right.

Stephanie
Stephanie
2 years ago

I’m a bit disappointed. The stage looks fine but the performance was not okay. Come on Lesley you can do this!

Alex
Alex
2 years ago
Reply to  Stephanie

Did you watch the full performance with the visuals? If not, how can you say it wasn’t okay??

Eurovision
Eurovision
2 years ago

I really like Lesley! She must qualify and I believe she still can!

WannaEatMySpaghetti
WannaEatMySpaghetti
2 years ago

Promising staging but she really has to improve her vocals because it is really not good.

AdD
AdD
2 years ago

Keep in mind that she needs to save her voice for the next few weeks.

Alex
Alex
2 years ago

I think she might be saving her voice but also you gotta give her credit for singing while on a treadmill

Alex
Alex
2 years ago

Actually her vocals sound better than the livestreaming on wiwibloggs. So guys calm down, this is not the final product. But to be honest, it’s really a risk she is taking there, doing a lot of stuff in 3 minutes and singing live.

Celeste
Celeste
2 years ago

Her staging will look like the one of Silvan Areg from french nf in 2019 (for the ones which remember it) so it’s work only on tv. I think peoples will find it very orginal and give her bigger chance to qualify 🙂

Alex
Alex
2 years ago
Reply to  Celeste

Some parts yet but not all of it. It\’s a mix of Sweden 2015/2016 as well.

Sabrina
Sabrina
2 years ago

Well, this one will only make perfect sense on TV. The good news is that it takes a totally different approach compared with the other acts, which may be an asset. I’ll be rooting for Ireland. 🙂

Doris
Doris
2 years ago

Deserve to qualify just for the fact to have keep live back vocalists.

Kristian
Kristian
2 years ago

She’s trying to avoid Covid , isn’t it obvious

Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  Kristian

Over in Ireland we run through the mountains to escape the virus.
Gotta be one step ahead of covid

Teddy
Teddy
2 years ago

For now I think Ireland is headed straight for top3 in this semi and is a contender for overall winner. The song is amazing – it manages to be modern yet thoroughly (and very importantly after the past 2 years) nostalgic – yet it also carries an earnest and truthful message and may well have the best staging of the year. If Lesley has the vocals nailed by next Monday’s jury show that is…

Last edited 2 years ago by Teddy
Kobe
Kobe
2 years ago
Reply to  Teddy

The best staging of the year after seeing only six rehearsals ..

Teddy
Teddy
2 years ago
Reply to  Kobe

“may well” and very few countries will be doing things as elaborate as this, maybe Greece but that’s just about it.

Lucianna
Lucianna
2 years ago
Reply to  Teddy

delusional

Danielito
Danielito
2 years ago
Reply to  Teddy

Calm down, cowboy.

Dida
Dida
2 years ago

Boring…..

Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  Dida

Such an edgy remark lol

Marc
Marc
2 years ago
Reply to  Dida

Yes, you are!

Badwoolfgirl
Badwoolfgirl
2 years ago

The staging looks creative and promising, but the vocals are iffy. Let’s hope things improve down the line.

Thanos
Thanos
2 years ago

I am trying to imagine how this will look like on TV because from this clip we can’t really see a lot of things. It seems to be very TV-based. Nevertheless it seems like a very creative idea. I am a bit concerned about her vocals, given that she is also running.

Candy
Candy
2 years ago

Looks messy but it’s only the first rehearsal. This has so much potential.

Alec Ladd-Rooza
Alec Ladd-Rooza
2 years ago

For everyone going on about vocals, The Irish delegation said today was a tech rehearsal more then anything else and vocals were being held back, hence only 2 runthroughs!! As for what we saw, it was nothing like it will appear. You have to wait for 2nd rehearsal to see that. Hold your fire with the sideline comments till we see what we are really going to get.

Alex
Alex
2 years ago

This is a dark horse IF they nail the staging and vocals. It’s just a first technical rehearsal so i don’t worry much.

When you have a complex staging, it’s normal to have some issues with camera shots, vocals etc.

I am really curious to see the final staging. GO IRELAND!

Escfan
Escfan
2 years ago

Imagine the audience in the arena watching her running towards nothing…
I don’t think it will qualify, staging isn’t everything, even if it will look good on TV. The song itself and her vocal skills are just not enough for this semifinal.

Alex
Alex
2 years ago
Reply to  Escfan

who cares about the 3k audience in the arena? The public at home will vote.

Escfan
Escfan
2 years ago
Reply to  Alex

That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be respected and with smth like this, they are not!

Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  Escfan

Don’t act like you care about 3000 people in the arena, that’s just a lame excuse to be negative about it tbh

Alec Ladd-Rooza
Alec Ladd-Rooza
2 years ago
Reply to  Escfan

You’re right re respect, but they don’t have a swing vote! So it makes more sense to aim the performance to the TV audience

AdD
AdD
2 years ago
Reply to  Escfan

How exactly is anyone being “disrespect”? I mean, other than your ignorance disrespecting the intelligence of others here?

Marc
Marc
2 years ago
Reply to  Alex

Spot on Alex.! This performance will look great on TV and appeal to the televoters.

Apollo
Apollo
2 years ago
Reply to  Marc

Juries also watch the performances on TV, so it’ll appeal to them too.

mad-professor
mad-professor
2 years ago
Reply to  Escfan

Er… there are screens in the arena showing the TV feed. The audience will be fine.

Darren
Darren
2 years ago

Clip is kind of misleading, like it looks as though the performance is made for those at home, we couldn’t really see the images and the video was shot stage side, I think it will look different at home watching on tv. First rehearsal was never going to be perfect.
Overall staging is better than what I expected anyway. But that’s just my opinion

lol
lol
2 years ago

it’s obvious her staging is full of augmented reality and tv effects so of course your going to be confused by the staging now. wait for the second rehearsal and we’ll understand more i think it’s very promising

Ian
Ian
2 years ago
Reply to  lol

AR isn’t available to the participants but I agree it’s the kind of performance that looks different on TV.

Catriona Colville
Catriona Colville
2 years ago
Reply to  Ian

It’s been mentioned everywhere that AR is being used. Or is that only for the show?

Kas
Kas
2 years ago

Catchy chorus, interesting background…unfortunatelly a lot of problems and difficulties in her vocals.
Certainly NQ (with these vocals). Possible NQ/Q with improved ones.

Alex
Alex
2 years ago
Reply to  Kas

Fans were saying that Blanche from Belgium will not qualify because of her weak vocals and she came 4th in 2017.

Kas
Kas
2 years ago
Reply to  Alex

So ? what it difference does it make ?

Esc fan
Esc fan
2 years ago
Reply to  Kas

Saying don’t count her our before you see this live basically because yes, people did say that about Blanche and she came 4th. Basically, wait until the 2nd rehearsal or semi before saying nq or will do badly.

Kas
Kas
2 years ago
Reply to  Esc fan

Ofcourse the semi live is the most important. This is just an estimation of the moment. I said that irrelevant to the final tv result…with those vocals is convicted. She needs a combo of good visual result (we know….almost nothing at the moment) and good vocals to have chances.

Last edited 2 years ago by Kas
Jofty
Jofty
2 years ago
Reply to  Alex

Blanche’s vocals were weak because she was nervous, not because she can’t sing.

Sot
Sot
2 years ago

It seems like the staging needs some work but overall I see a potential top15 here!

Plus her voice is decent for me to enjoy the performance..!

Mark
Mark
2 years ago

I think this will miss out on qualifying. Probably will come 11th -13th in the semi final.

Rottendam
Rottendam
2 years ago

I wasn’t confident about her vocals even before her rehearsal. Watching her on the Late Late Show performing SOML is enough evidence as to why.

I do feel Ireland go a bit over the top with their staging sometimes (like in 2017).

Marc
Marc
2 years ago

This staging is solely focused on a TV audience which makes sense considering the Covid restrictions. The effects all brought together are impressive. If you are just seeing the behind the scenes recording in this article, it obviously does not look as impactful. Other sites have had the full for TV effect and it is as Padraig says a ‘WOW’ performance that can only get better.

Jo.
Jo.
2 years ago

pls slay and qualify, cartographical queen!!

Jackson
Jackson
2 years ago

Not sure if this will qualify

Fionn
Fionn
2 years ago

the staging is confusing me at the moment but it looks really promising!!!! she’ll get the vocals right on the night I know it

Nati
Nati
2 years ago

Few vocal mistakes when singing live, but not a problem, she will polish those. She is fantastic and the song is really beautiful.

Darren
Darren
2 years ago

This is intriguing and sounds promising if they can sort out the cues. What Lesley is wearing is fine, but maybe give her a long jacket on it too like in the video/RTÉ performance to give it like a Loreen effect.

Jar
Jar
2 years ago

Regardless what happens I’m proud of Lesley, she is trying really hard and who gets it perfect first technical rehearsal? Give it some time and don’t be so quick to cancel someone who is actually trying to put on a winning show.

Proud of you Lesley, don’t let the couch potatoes drag you down when your thriving!

Last edited 2 years ago by Jar
BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
2 years ago

Intriguing staging, but all those vocals. Let’s hope that’s just a bad day and they’re better. I say that island change to qualify ride or die on Leslie’s voice, if she’s good she’s through, if she’s not she’s out.

Jessie
Jessie
2 years ago

I am not sure about vocals.

Doris
Doris
2 years ago
Reply to  Jessie

Why ? because it’s 100% live unlike Sweden ?

Jessie
Jessie
2 years ago
Reply to  Doris

I don’t care about Sweden but she is singing out of tune.

Esc fan
Esc fan
2 years ago
Reply to  Jessie

Tbf I think she was more focused on making her cues than being vocally on point.

ROXELANA
ROXELANA
2 years ago

Had higher expectations tbh..

Robert
Robert
2 years ago

The song just makes me so happy.. If the staging is nailed a definite qualifier

Marc
Marc
2 years ago

It sounds really promising! Well done Ireland.

Mikey
Mikey
2 years ago

She looks beautiful , the staging is so cool and her vocals will improve because in rehearsals she has so much more to focus on than this. If she improves a bit more this is absolutely qualifying

VladF
VladF
2 years ago

Dodgy vocals and messy staging. It’s borderline.

just an esc fan
just an esc fan
2 years ago

the live streaming by wiwi said the exact opposite

so is it good or not??

Aisling
Aisling
2 years ago

They didn’t have the effects, but other livestreams did!

Marc
Marc
2 years ago

I watched the live commentary on other ESC fan sites which was stronger than Wiwiblogg’s live coverage- William’s sister is flaky in her commentary and says really odd things.

Jonas
Jonas
2 years ago
Reply to  Marc

That makes me like Suzanne even more.

SÉIMÍ
SÉIMÍ
2 years ago

Sounds intriguing, I’m looking forward to see how the whole thing looks.

Sale
Sale
2 years ago

A qualifier for sure