Moldova’s Natalia Gordienko has had taken to the Rotterdam Ahoy stage for her first rehearsal of “Sugar” at Eurovision 2021. The dancing ice creams and men made of cake have been left at home. But how did Natalia’s staging look? Let’s see…
Moldova’s Natalia Gordienko “Sugar” — Eurovision 2021 first rehearsal
Oliver: This staging is perhaps more subdued than what we’re used to from Philipp Kirkorov and the Dream Team. Natalia is wearing a silver bejewelled ice skating costume surrounded by shirtless dancers in black suit jackets and cummerbunds. The whole team is stood on a rotating platform, that features a very effective black and white hypnotic effect when seen from above. The camerawork is good and makes up for the lack of movement. As for Natalia’s performance… it’s stiff. Her dancing is wooden and her vocals are very shaky. She’s completely drowned out by the pre-recorded backing vocals. And at one point, she holds a very long note but its not the most pleasant to listen to, and she actually looks like she’s in pain whilst singing. We wanted high calorie sweetness, but Moldova put us on a sugar-free diet today.
Padraig: Based on the music video I was expecting something highly calorific. But instead of sugar we got a sprinkle of stevia. By both Moldovan and Dream Team standards, this is disappointingly understated. There are no dancing icecreams or men of cake. But what we do get is perfectly fine. The dance routine is still there and Natalia stuns in her sparkling silver frock. She also performs atop a spinning platform, similar to Australia’s Isaiah in 2017. Oh, and there’s yet more neon. As for the vocal performance, Natalia sounds ok, although the backing vocalists appear to be stealing some of her thunder.
Reaction to Moldova’s first rehearsal at Eurovision 2021
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What do you think? Did Natalia Gordienko live up to the hype? Sound off in the comments section below.
Read more Moldova Eurovision 2021 news here
Photos: EBU / ANDRES PUTTING
It’s becoming a relief to have some songs without dancers humping around. Cause how many did we already had of those and how much more to come. And sugar? It’s more stevia.
What’s the names of the dancers?
Hi there! Go to Gordienko’s instagram account and pick the picture with her and her dancers on stage – she tagged some of them.
s!sters are shook with all this spinning today
Natalia Gordienko is wearing the outfit that Destiny should be wearing, and Destiny’s wearing the outfit that Natalia should be wearing.
There’s going to be some augmented reality on our screens though? I’m assuming anyway after what the staging guy said on the ESC YouTube channel the other week! We might see dancing ice creams on the night after all
i thought they said they don’t want to make it over the top like the music video??
The choreography and vocals seem nice but the staging is so non-existing. It’s just some pink lines on the LED-screen and a platform… They could’ve borrowed elements from the playful and fun music video and used it in a clever way like Iceland does. Or at least switch up the color…
That’s a nice staging without going over the top. Dress reminds me of Ani Lorak and Elena from Cyprus. Dancers are hot.
Even though sstaging and song are good i feel that Natalia does not feel comfortable and certainly is not a good match for this type of song.
Moldova and Poland will fight for the ticket and I think Moldova will qualify because Kirkorov is behind it.
This and Serbia were my favourites today
Moldova for the win
Sexy, nice dress, same choreography with the video clip, safe choice. Sweet colors and vocals on point.
In mortal combat zone.
It looks fine, but I’m disappointed about the lack of craziness. It’s not their fault (they actually make a good use of them), but by then I’ll be already a little tired of all the pink neon lights, because they seem to be everywhere this year.
Dream Team is losing their momentum… Kirkorov only has Greece to exchange points with (and SM if they $$$) but it’s not gonna be enough to qualify.
Ngl, I was expecting more. More sugary, more like a music video, more over the top. This is Moldova we’re talking about. Over the top stagings is what Moldova does the best and it always worked. I still think they are going to qualify, there is absolutely no chance that Kirkorov is going to miss a final, as much as I would like it to, but this could have been so much better!
Mmh, I’m disappointed that they’re not using the same theme as the music video. The whole candy aesthetic was so eyecatching 🙁
That is the problem of pop or mainstream genre. All is the same. Just imagine that we will see the same formula of staging.
The Moldovans don’t pay for anything, Kirkorov pays for the whole thing
That’s the same dress as Destiny and Elena
Not exactly, at least it doesn’t suit Natalia
Who is the better Moldova or Greece? They are kind of similar. I think Moldova looks better- her performance fit with the lyrics and her style. Greece no. In this disco sexy girl or woman style I do think Cyphrus and Malta are the best.
Welcome to the Grand Final
Dream team? :)))))))
HOLY! THIS IS JUMPING IN MY TOP FIVE.
Moldovan odds are in red . I expected some more fun staging .
let’s not lie….she looks rly good
It’s actually interesting how the pre-recorded vocals can do more harm than good for many performers.
I still hold my breath for EBU banning them again from 2022. It’s a step in a completely wrong direction and so far it seems that rehearsals confirm it.
Who?
Oh ok, I got it, you mean the pre-recorded vocals lol
I don’t want to sound cynical towards Natalia or Moldova, but I hope this won’t qualify and therefore lessen Kirkorov’s ego – even if just a little. It would show him that he isn’t better than everyone surrounding him, and that even his songs are capable of not advancing.
Kirkorov gives me chills.
He needs to stay well away from ESC.
lol funny, I was thinking the same
How could you know that other producers don’t have a huge ego? I don’t mind as long as he’s producing good songs. Don’t be deaf or arrogant this is a good song and Moldova deserves to qualify this year
Four dancers seems to be the norm this year.
Thank the prerecorded vocals I guess.
The reviews don’t sound too good. I was expecting so much more from Moldova. Hopefully they make tweaks before the semifinal.
Can I just say how much I miss Robyn on wiwibloggs live stream. Suzanne’s commentary “I like Greece because I love cats” doesn’t make sense to me and I switch to Netflix. Hope you are doing fine Robyn
Travel restrictions probably.
Isnt Robyn from New Zealand? So probably unable to leave NZ and come to Netherlands.
Yeah, unfortunately. She was a voice of wisdom in the Suzanne nonsense
NZ folks can travel to NL, but returning home would likely require a hotel quarantine.
Let’s be honest for once: We all know why Suzanne is there… only because she is the sister of… you know 😉
I also read somewhere in real life she was a Yoga teacher. You see it, she is no journalism professionalist.
I can already imagine William as a child being addicted to Eurovision and breaking everyone’s nerves in his family because no one else cares about it (we’ve all been through that stage) so Suzanne inevitably became a eurofan as well
Honestly relieved.
I was legit expecting those nightmare inducing dancing ice cream cones to be part of the act, and I don’t think I could sit through that.
I’m gutted there’s no dancing ice creams!
Oh god no. Sorry.
Staging is a typical bop-staging with a lot of glittery Kirkorovian stuff. It made my eyes bleed, but I have to admit, I’m biased. Natalia is charismatic, her vocals are good enough for this, it might do well in televoting.