Georgia’s Tornike Kipiani has taken to the Rotterdam Ahoy stage for his first rehearsal at Eurovision 2021. His staging was dark yet simple. Did it work? Let’s see…
Georgia’s Tornike Kipiani “You” — Eurovision 2021 first rehearsal
Robyn: Tornike keeps it simple and effective. He’s dressed in a classic white shirt and black trousers, a costume that lets his vocal talent take centre stage. The LED graphics are very calm and peaceful, showing things like clouds and a night sky. At one point Tornike sits down on a box while the song lyrics are projected onto his body. It’s not fancy projection mapping (like Wiktoria at Melfest 2016), just an artistic way of strengthening the message of the song. At another point, “My love” and (I assume) its Georgian translation appear on the background LED wall. All up, it’s pretty much what you’d expect the staging for “My Love” to be. It’s not a big “gasp” moment, but it’s staging that serves both the singer and the song well. Tornike’s vocals sounded good — pretty much on par with the studio version. He’s an experienced rock performer and is well within his comfort zone.
Padraig: Georgia’s staging is very dark. Black and deep blue are the dominant colours. Tornike himself looks very serious, almost angry. Coupled with a song that’s left of the mainstream, it’s hard to see this as a very notable package, particularly for voters at home. There are nice moments though. The lyrics appear on screen, in both English and Georgian scripts. They’re also projected onto the singer himself for a time. By the last run-through, Tornike had enough and messed around a bit. He went low and high, and also threw in a “ba-dum”. Clearly, he was satisfied enough with his earlier takes and was just going through the motions. Salvador did similar antics back in 2017.
Reaction to Georgia’s first rehearsal at Eurovision 2021
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What do you think? Did Tornike Kipiani meet your expectations? Let us know in the comments section below.
Read more Georgia Eurovision 2021 news here
Photos: EBU / THOMAS HANSES
I’m actually one of those who at least partly enjoy the song and I expected a different staging, but it still can turn out to be good. Sadly advancing to the final is doubtul and I really wish I could hear what he was saying during the press conference. Sorry, wiwi, but this was your worst video so far.
I can’t like him. I can’t like the song. I can’t see this qualifying
The images on the background and the lyrics projected on him actually look pretty good, but… this is already a difficult song to sell and they went for something dark and lifeless. Serbia and Albania will be thanking Georgia for the contrast.
Serbia and Albania are completely fine with or without Georgia :))
An extra help is always welcome. 🙂
He is a very rude person with a weak lullaby song. Enjoy Rotterdam as you’re going home next Friday.
It moved slightly up my ranking from 39th to 32nd or so over the last few weeks, but honestly, if the speed of the song was tweaked a little, it would’ve sounded less like a sleepy ‘lullaby’, and more of a punchy love song.
If you watch the music video on YouTube, change the speed to 1.5x and enjoy.
Ps: He may be bottom of the odds with the song, but he’s top 3 for me when it comes to the most attractive men of Eurovision 2021!
Good luck Georgia!
Somebody has to stay behind in the semi finals.
Oh please this voice… He’s mesmerising
But I’m still not sure (?what you ever saw in me?) jokes aside, I’m still not sure if he’s gonna pass that atmosphere to the audience, I think not
I’m not a fan of the song but I want to say that Georgia are always so impressive with their LED video backing. Always so artistic. every year.
The only obvious non qualifier….i feel like Tornike could have sang more with emotions…this song is touching and emotional so if he wanted to do good he had to sing his feelings out….The staging is boring like the song, this didn’t elevate in the stage, and i think that this is doomed to be a non qualifier..
Such a live performer actually! He really kicks this thing. Think Salvador Sobral. You don’t need to be like everyone else. Excellent!
Sorry, but I don’t see it qualifying.
Gorgeous and all as Tornike is, and tight and clingy as his shirt is,
I’m sorry but Georgia isn’t qualifying
I like slow songs and its nice but dont think it goes anywhere..
The whole thing is rather boring, isn’t it?
yeah this staging makes no sense. synesthesia-affected individuals like halsey would see bright, pastel colors while listening to this song, certainly not darkness.
I really like this song and I believe that a minimalistic staging is exactly what it needed. But I will agree with those saying that Tornike must show some more emotion. He is a great singer and a very solid vocalist but he needs to show more emotion on stage. Good Luck though I am rooting for Georgia!
Hope he will solve his anger issues by the semi
whoo, He looks handsome
”Tornike himself looks very serious, almost angry.” And that is the main issue I have with this song. A lot of people emphasize how non-eventful it is. And while that certainly is the case, I could see the way for that song to shine with a proper emotion. I am sorry, but Tornike *as a performer* chooses not to engage in any more delicate emotions while singing a delicate song, and it kills the mood. 🙁