Croatia’s Albina has taken to the stage inside the Rotterdam Ahoy for her first rehearsal of Eurovision 2021. She’s scrapped most of her Dora staging and come with a clean slate. But does it work? Let’s see.
Croatia’s Albina “Tick-Tock” — Eurovision 2021 first rehearsal
Oliver: With little carried over from Dora, this is the biggest shift in staging we’ve seen thus far. The vision here is ambitious, but all the ideas seem messy when clumped together. Albina and her dancers are dressed in futuristic battle armour dance costumes. The choreography in the first verse aligns with the neon magenta and cyan LED effects. Then in the second verse there’s some Beyoncé-style multiplication and we see five Albinas at once. At one point, the dancers lift her up. And on top of this, the vocal isn’t the strongest. Editing is necessary if Croatia wants to strengthen its chances of qualification. In the words of Coco Chanel, “before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.”
Padraig: This is the first of our national final winners to significantly switch things up. The most obvious change is her outfit, which now resembles some kind of futuristic space-age superhero. Dressed in complementing costumes, her male dance group act as her henchmen. She also channels Armenia’s Iveta Mukuchyan from 2016 with some holographic duplicates of herself. The pink and blue colour scheme from Dora remains intact. Albina has taken a big risk by using her own voice for the pre-recorded backing vocals. The problem is that it gives the illusion that she’s lip-syncing, when she’s not. A different voice in the background would have cleared any confusion.
Reaction to Croatia’s first rehearsal at Eurovision 2021
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What do you think? Did Albina live up to your expectations? Let us know in the comments below.
Read more Croatia Eurovision 2021 news here
Photos: EBU / THOMAS HANSES
at least she proves she can sing AND dance–some other women tonight left a lot to be desired in accomplishing both
For a moment I thought Roko was standing behind Albina.
I love that staging. Lots of attitude and modern space-vibes <3
Slayyy Queen Albina
Croatia investing in their staging! Finally! Sweden and Norway take some notes on how you improve your national final performance.
For Sweden, that’s not really fair: the Melfest performances are built with Eurovision in mind, so they’re meant to be their Eurovision stagings. I’m not that surprised they don’t change much.
Most other countries don’t really invest much in their national finals, so usually the winning song is still somewhat “unfinished” and they then work on the Eurovision staging.
She knew she needed something to spice up that song with those vocals, good for her I guess (no shade).
But someone has to call the fashion police to the Ahoy this year, there will be a fashion massacre in two weeks.
Like it happens with the song itself, the staging seems more creative and risky when compared with its cousin entries from Cyprus and Israel, but also less polished. I guess “Tick Tock” is in direct competition with “Set Me Free” for a spot in the final.
Cyprus is safe for Q.
I think Israel, Azerbaijan and Croatia will fight for the ticket(s). I can see 1 or 2 of them qualifying but definitely not the three of them/.
I agree. All things considered, Cyprus was a big winner of these first rehearsals, because they have the best staging between all the bops.
Albina looks AMAZING!!!! My humble opinion is that Croatia is 100% in the final!
Even if that wont happen doesnt mind, she shows how modern, young, confident Croatia presentation on ESC can be. This is the good path! Good luck Albina!
Why you are here in this comment section under article about Albina. You are commenting for a long time about here and always, always leaving negative comments. Whats the point? You think if you write that you will change something? As you said there is 13 others songs by your opinition which are better, then go to those articles and leave comment of cheering up instead being so negative. Its not healty, man!
Cry me a river
I like the song and the singer but now that I saw the photos on Instagram… seriously Albina? She wears a body suit, which is already very sexy, but on top of that there is no material around her buttocks. I find it really vulgar. And the worst thing is that the bookies seem to like it.
Still hope she will qualifies but I really don’t stand this choice.
She wears tights – colours are nude, white and light rose – thats the reason why it seem she has nothing, but she is fully dressed
So what she wears a body suit which is very sexy what is wrong with that? I think you still live in the 90s with that sexist attitude.
Ok so, im from the Balkans and i can assure you that this evil thing with the costumes is done by Zigman, the one who designed Nina Kraljic’s dress in 2016.
blade-runnerish
Same problem as Ireland. Vocally, not that good. There has some work to be done.
Lol she was literally impecable vocally.
It sounded prerecorded. Bits probably are since it is her own voice that is prerecorded. It actually disturbed me a lot.
Croatia sorry but for me Dora staging is better . This is for Barbara Dex award this year , and for 11-12 place in semi final.
Barbara Dex to modern costume?!?
Albina costume is modern kitch costume, and till now is contender number 1 for Barbara Dex award. Second place for Russia and 3 rd for Azerbaijan till now.
Best outfit till now Belgium and Slovenia for slowly song and Cyprus for uptempo sog.
This will 100% qualify juries are gonna place this high because it is a good produced pop song and televoters also because she is a very charismatic performer.
So many contenders this year for the victory….
To the Barbara Dex award.
My money is on Vasil 100%
I’m very happy to see Croatia take a risk with the outfits and choreography. Bravo. I hope it pays off.
I really hope we qualify this year. This is the first time since 2016 that we have a competitive song and at least somewhat of a hype. But alongside Belgium, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Israel, Ireland, and Cyprus, we are in a disadvantage of being a part of BOTH of the toughest semis in newer ESC history! Please, if next year there is another ”bloodbath”, let us be in the easier semi. 😉
Good luck, Albina! We are proud of you no matter the outcome!
I say that about Ireland lol we always end up in the bloodbath semi whenever we enter something remotely competitive.
You are from Croatia? I always thought you were British lol.
I’m also proud of Albina! <3
little monsters are shook ! this looks like the chromatica performance we never got
well well
That’s the definition of blood-bath. Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Israel and Croatia will fight hard for the spot. I really liked Albinas performance, her staging was what she needed to shine. But honestly what the hell is she wearing, she looks like a circus.
Croatia’s problem is being in the same semi as Cyprus, Israel, Malta and Azerbaijan. They can’t all qualify (they all go with a banger pop song and a lot of dancing); at least two have to stay in semis. It’s just logic.
The photos and what I could hear (it seems that she’s lip syncing and doesn’t reach her most interesting notes) don’t give a good vibe.
This stays in semis. Other vocalists overshadow her, and her charm is no more charming than that of her direct competitors.
If this was Sweden then you would have sayed that this is 100% gonna qualify.
The Queen.. Love it.. Modern and sophisticated, dance routine and the looks.. Amazing..
Yes, Albina, slay, girl
This semi is getting even tougher
Barbara dex here we come . Who honestly thought these outfits were a good idea . Laughing stock
She looks gorgeous in that outfit.
The common director of Croatia and Cyprus…seems to make common thinks to both entries. Dancers costumes a big no, Albina’s its ok. Very good vocals.
In the mortalcombat zone too.
Your obsession with Cyprus or Greece is becoming a bit unbearable. Obviously didn’t visit the doctor I have kindly suggested you in one of your many silly comments..
Really ? I’ll call him right now to feel better.
@London Boy your obsession to randomly accuse others of having obsession is becoming a bit unbearable. Obviously you didn’t visit the doctor you kindly suggest
to people in some of your many silly comments.
!!!
Croatian outfits were not made by Dietmann…
yes indeed !
Amazing staging for Croatia, wow this is their best entry in AGES.
Albina is talented and likeable.
This is very polished and modern, futuristic and interesting. If it was Dua Lipa, everyone would be drooling.
This looks like a certain qualifier now.
I really like the background from what I’ve seen. Not too keen on the costumes though
Cancel Croatia…It seems Eurovision is a joke for them
Dancers costume look horrible
Just awful
this is amazing!
Oh no, oh no, oh nooo!
she looks like she’s attending an intergalactic wedding tho.
They really just copy-pasted that Dora staging huh? Lame
She took NOTHING from Dora, except blue and pink scheme.
The camera work is just awesome.
That staging looks different from Dora are you blind?
Target: be the new iconic Foureira for Eurovision bubble.
Reality: cheap drag show.
I understand what she wanted to try but it needs high aesthetics, which are totally absent on this. Croatia will struggle to Q in my opinion cause it’s too much of everything without being something specific.
Oh, each time something from Croatia do something its cheap… wings on Roko 2019 was oh nooooo, now on Tix is wow. Albina looks AMAZING!
The costumes…. yikes. Borderline qualifier.
Bold of you to think they’re even considerably ‘borderline’
Her outfit is good. But those of the dancers… I’m sorry for them.
Croatia and Cyprus Send generic songs and fans : Yeyyyyyy .Sweden does it: noooo. Haha fans are the saddest people . Cyprus have send the same song 3 years in a row
Woow! It looks amazing! They really stepped up their game
Croatia has put a lot of an effort this year, apart from their usual balcanic sound, this is fresh, is modern. This is a 100% qualifier
WOW. That’s risky!
If this goes as expected, it’s extremely likely for Albina to qualify over Efendi!
CROATIA IS GOING FOR ALL OR NOTHING. Phenomenal. It needs more work on her dancing skills, she needs to relax a little more, but overall – wow! Straight to the finals!
Promising stuff from Croatia
Woooow!!!