Azerbaijan and Ukraine - Eurovision 2021 Second Rehearsals
Photos: EBU / ANDRES PUTTING / THOMAS HANNES

As day five of Eurovision 2021 rehearsals draws to a close, just two acts are left to take the stage for their second rehearsals. Last up for today are the penultimate semi-final one contestants from Azerbaijan and Ukraine. What changes will we see from their first run-throughs? Let’s take a look…

Second rehearsals at Eurovision 2021: Azerbaijan and Ukraine

Azerbaijan’s Efendi “Mata Hari” — Eurovision 2021 second rehearsal

Oliver: Despite earlier speculation, the stage show from Team Azerbaijan remains mostly the same. The few minor changes seem to be that the serpent in the golden ball features less frequently, and Efendi’s look is cleaner. Her ponytail is now tightly snatched back and the neckline is slightly dropped, sculpting a much more flattering silhouette. Still, the backdrop is rather garish and Efendi’s vocals and choreography need some sharpening up. Qualification is borderline for the former Eurovision powerhouse.

 

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Padraig: Efendi has made one small but very effective tweak to her outfit — she’s lowered the neckline. This elevates her look massively, giving her back her neck. She’s also straightened her hair so that her ponytail now resembles the style she wore in the music video. Like most of the other acts, Efendi is more comfortable on stage. She’s better able to handle the choreography and she’s less reliant on her backing vocalists. It’s overall a much tidier package than the one we first saw on Sunday.

 

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Ukraine’s Go_A “SHUM” — Eurovision 2021 second rehearsal

EBU statement on Ukraine’s second rehearsal: “The lead singer of Ukraine’s band Go_A, Kateryna Pavlenko, reported feeling a little unwell this morning. In accordance with the health and safety protocol she has undergone a PCR test for COVID-19 and, as a precautionary measure, Kateryna will miss this afternoon’s rehearsal and press conference. We wish her good health and will share more information when we have the results of the test. The other members of Go_A have all tested negative for COVID-19 and will perform with a stand-in singer. They will also attend Ukraine’s press conference later as scheduled.

Oliver: The stand-in singer gives the illusion that a lot has changed from Ukraine’s first rehearsal. But in reality, this is exactly the same. Go_A’s first performance was excellent, and this is too. The only thing missing from this run-through is the intense energy of Kateryna Pavlenko, who will surely be back on her feet in time for the semi-final. This rehearsal truly shows how important Kate’s presence is on “SHUM”, even though the stand-in singer did a great job filling in.

 

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Padraig: In Kateryna’s absence, it’s pretty hard to judge this rehearsal. And while her stand-in does an excellent job at stepping into Kateryna’s shoes on such short notice, she hopefully won’t be the one singing in the live show. This is in effect just a technical rehearsal. And since Ukraine were pretty much there last time, there’s nothing much else to report.

 

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Read more Eurovision 2021 rehearsal news here

Photos: EBU / ANDRES PUTTING / THOMAS HANNES

53 Comments
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Silverhand
Silverhand
2 years ago

I am happy that she have negative test!
Go_A has one of the best stagings in this Euro.
I really like the folklore component, in this song there really is hope for a better future and the coming of spring. It is beautiful.
Good luck!

Lalaland
Lalaland
2 years ago

To anyone who might care: she’s tested negative :)! Hopefully she’ll be ready to slay as always on Monday and Tuesday.

Not good
Not good
2 years ago

Azerbaijan’s song ends at 1 minute and afterwards it’s just mata this hari that with some ma-ma-ma in between, it’s just an empty song that lacks.. well pretty much everything.

Ukraine seems like something I’d expect from them, might do well or end up like MELOVIN in 2018. Still enjoyable in it’s context.

Miss Uncongeniality
Miss Uncongeniality
2 years ago

Am I the only one that prefer the voice of this stand-in singer than Katerina’s…this is the first time that I enjoyed Ukraine’s song and it didn’t annoyed me

Steven
Steven
2 years ago

I don’t understand the hate on Azerbaijani song and performance. They did better before but I think Efendi will qualify.
Ukraine has a good song and such a great performance, maybe top 10 but we all know how unpredictable Eurovision is ?

Anhel
Anhel
2 years ago

Is Azerbaijan an Eurovision powerhouse? Didn’t they do well by buying votes?

Doris
Doris
2 years ago
Reply to  Anhel

Turkish diaspora all over western Europe.

raylee
raylee
2 years ago
Reply to  Doris

Turkish diaspora is not into eurovision since their country has gone. If they supported Azerbaijan , they would have better results and televotings.. As i see Turkish diaspora did not effect Azerbaijan’s televotes because their televotes are too low

Last edited 2 years ago by raylee
Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  Anhel

About 10 years ago, from their debut in 2008 until maybe 2013, I would have said yeah they where, but from about 2014, they’ve been a bit hit and miss for me. 2015, 2017, 2019 where pretty good, 2014, 2018 and 2021 where pretty bad.

Sabrina
Sabrina
2 years ago

Azerbaijan: I’m glad Efendi got her neck back! By the way, I’m on the minority that likes her outfit (at least now that they corrected the collar situation). The staging is weirdly unambitious coming from Azerbaijan though.

Ukraine: All my best to Kateryna and Go_A, I hope it was just a scare! We need this performance in the arena, the staging is amazing. And kudos to the stand-in singer, she did a terrific job today.

Candy
Candy
2 years ago

I hope Kateryna gets well in time for eurovision. The other singer did a really good job tho.

As for Azerbaijan Efendi’s dress ruins the performance for me

Sot
Sot
2 years ago

OK they finally uploaded the Ukrainian snippet so:

  1. Ukraine (even the stand-in is perfect :O)
  2. Azerbaijan (average actually and I hate those recorded vocals)
Last edited 2 years ago by Sot
Lola
Lola
2 years ago

Azerbaijan: for me, this is the least effective ‘bop’ in this semi so far (haven’t seen Malta). Even though I like the ethnic vibes, the performance lacks something and I could see this as a shock NQ
Ukraine: first of all, the stand-in was great! I liked the staging from the beginning and now with camera angles it looks amazing! I’m not the biggest fan of the song, but I do want to see it do well, they deserve it!

Samo
Samo
2 years ago

Someone really loves wide shots this year. I would like more focus on what’s happening on the stage and faster cutting between the shots during this performance.

What we saw at the rehearsal would make sense if there were thousands of fans bopping under the stage but right now it just takes away the focus from the excellent staging by Go_A.

Giolo
Giolo
2 years ago

I need to know. Does somebody have some news about Go_A’s singers’s test results? The waiting is so nerve wrecking.

Berta
Berta
2 years ago
Reply to  Giolo

antigen result is negative, but we are waiting for another one, let’s pray it will be negative as well

Giolo
Giolo
2 years ago
Reply to  Berta

Thank you Berta. I hope with all myself it will be the cade. We can’t lose this masterpiece for Covid.

Kristian
Kristian
2 years ago

A Rapid antigen test takes 2 minutes to do literally , whereas a PCR takes 2 hrs in the machine itself. You have to process the sample before it and a PCR is run for multiple samples together else it will be very costly . So it takes a lot more time.

Sot
Sot
2 years ago

Oh no Kateryna! If she’s tested positive then we’ll have to stick with the live-on-tape, which: 1. doesn’t give the same energy 2. Both Australia and Ukraine may struggle, because at least Montaigne was the only one with a live-on-tape

But most importantly I hope she feels better now!

Last edited 2 years ago by Sot
Vsl
Vsl
2 years ago

actually, Kateryna has written “I’m OK” in her IG, but I don’t know what does in mean: (1) “I feel better”, or (2) “the test is negative”… hopefully, the latter

Vsl
Vsl
2 years ago
Reply to  Vsl

oh, surely…

Vsl
Vsl
2 years ago
Reply to  Vsl

there’re no results of the PCR test for Kateryna yet – Taras (a DJ) said, so it’s only (1)…

Last edited 2 years ago by Vsl
Varda
Varda
2 years ago

Azerbaijan’s dancers and choreography in general reminds me of Artcvik Fly with me. Even the ponytail.

Jonas
Jonas
2 years ago

Irama had to stay in his hotel until everybody got their results, I’m not sure why the rest of Kateryna’s band aren’t doing the same.

Kristian
Kristian
2 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Their results already came negative

Jonas
Jonas
2 years ago
Reply to  Kristian

Yeah, so did Irama’s. There is usually still a self-isolate time even after that, because sometimes Covid isn’t detectable for ten days. That’s my non-expert understanding.

Daniel
Daniel
2 years ago

“The other members of Go_A have all tested negative for COVID-19”
How did the result come back so quickly for the other members but not for Kateryna?

Hector
Hector
2 years ago
Reply to  Daniel

They probably had a blood test or an antigen one, which are way quicker than the PCR

Jonas
Jonas
2 years ago
Reply to  Hector

Why would Kateryna have gotten a different one? She had symptoms, but they were close contacts.

Hector
Hector
2 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

I think the same as Trina in the comment below, they take quick tests very frequently and in case someone is positive or shows symptoms they should confirm it with a PCR which is more accurate

Trina
Trina
2 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

@Jonas – if she does confirm out, Dutch public health will probably do more extensive testing (including confirmatory PCR) on those close contacts. (This is usually not the algorithm (prioritization of resources), but because this is a potentially high impact situation, I suspect they would be more aggressive in close contact management.)

Last edited 2 years ago by Trina
Jonas
Jonas
2 years ago
Reply to  Trina

Thank you.

Samo
Samo
2 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

They are close contacts of some who felt bad in the morning, that’s not a huge deal. If she tests positive with PCR, I imagine they will be retested with PCR as well.

Trina
Trina
2 years ago
Reply to  Daniel

If the initial rapid test was positive, they would likely have to confirm it out via PCR. There is not a lot of info here, but this is what I’m guessing is going on.

EProduc
EProduc
2 years ago

Efendi gave us an iconic music video with Cleopatra but this staging looks rather underwhelming if I have to be honest. I’m not getting the green and pink background visuals at all. Why not use some bright gold and yellow colors with some black and white during the rock parts, this would fit this ethnic song much more.

Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  EProduc

Because the staging was supposed to be for Cleopatra and that’s entirely obvious. Dub Cleopatra over the staging and it would all probably make sense.
Sorry but Azerbaijan is cheap this year and should NQ for the greater good of music

Doris
Doris
2 years ago

Why didn’t they swap Ukraine and Malta then ???? Or just start 30 minutes sooner tomorrow ! I’m pretty sure if it was Malta the rehearsal would be rescheduled.

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
2 years ago
Reply to  Doris

Stop this obsession already.

Jamie
Jamie
2 years ago
Reply to  Doris

You’re the only one that cares about Malta, honey.

Thanos
Thanos
2 years ago

I am so anxious to see what will happen with Ukraine. I really hope that they will be able to perform live during the whole contest. Them and every artist!

Samo
Samo
2 years ago

It depends whether you do PCR or antigen. Antigen is quick, PCR takes longer but is more reliable. But I guess they have some kind of a preferential access to lab so same-day result should be possible.

Eyal
Eyal
2 years ago

Sending my best wishes to the Ukrainian band. Please feel well.

Darren
Darren
2 years ago

All the best to Kateryna!
Hopefully just a precaution.
Go_A are one of my favourites this year

Leo
Leo
2 years ago
Reply to  Darren

I’ve just heard she is negative

Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  Leo

Ah thank you!! Relieved

Jonas
Jonas
2 years ago
Reply to  Leo

From who?

Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Same! Go_A is art and definitely the best Ukrainian entry since Ruslana

Kristian
Kristian
2 years ago

In case Kateryna tests positive , they will use her first rehearsal video as the back-up or the live on tape ?

Hermès
Hermès
2 years ago
Reply to  Kristian

I suppose this year in emergency they always have the live on tape material that was recorded weeks ago. I really hope we don’t go there this entry deserves to shine on the Eurovision stage

Kristian
Kristian
2 years ago
Reply to  Hermès

But they also have a live on stage performance from the first rehearsal !!! They should use that I suppose ? Isn’t it better ?

Rick
Rick
2 years ago
Reply to  Kristian

Rules

Jamie
Jamie
2 years ago
Reply to  Kristian

They can’t. Eurovision rulebook.

Blackcat
Blackcat
2 years ago

Love Go_A!