Sweden and Australia - Eurovision 2021 Second rehearsals
Photos: EBU / ANDRES PUTTING / THOMAS HANNES

We’re flying through day five of Eurovision 2021 rehearsals. Today, most of the semi-final one acts return to the stage for their second rehearsals. Next up are Sweden and Australia. What’s changed since their first run-throughs? Let’s take a look…

Second rehearsals at Eurovision 2021: Sweden and Australia

Sweden’s Tusse “Voices” — Eurovision 2021 second rehearsal

Oliver: Tusse looks much more comfortable on stage today. Everything remains the same, bar the lighting intensity — the red floodlight during the song’s bridge is much stronger, as is the white lighting in the intro. Unfortunately, Tusse is still straining his voice in the final “can you hear them” refrain. Volume control requires finesse, but if Tusse gets it right, he’ll have a great performance all around.

 

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Padraig: This is pretty much the same as the first rehearsal, which itself was broadly similar to his Melfest performance. The biggest difference is the brighter lights. Tusse, as always, delivers a smooth performance. His voice does crack on occasion. Some might critique that, but in a way it gives the whole thing a little edge and authenticity. It sounds to me like extra emotion, which I hope Tusse can channel again in the semi-final.

 

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Australia’s Montaigne “Technicolour” — Eurovision 2021 second rehearsal

William: Y’all know the panoply of colours that forms when gasoline or kerosene drops in a puddle of water? It’s kaleidoscopic and with purples and silvers and a reflective quality. Well, throw Montaigne into the mix and you’ll have a sense of the colourscape on show during the second tease of her live-on-tape performance. This performance is a burst of colour in the dark. She stands largely in darkness, but beams of light hit her metallic costume to create amazing reflective effects. There’s a “team spirit” vibe to this as they lock hands and bounce and serve Technicolour group fantasy. Owing to clever camera positions, you get the sense they’re in a space as vast as Ahoy.

 

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Padraig: Well, this is a pleasant surprise! Between the live-on-tape scenario and the fact that “Technicolour” is difficult to perform live, my hopes for Australia were dampened somewhat. Yet despite everything, Montaigne has delivered. She’s in the black outfit we saw last Saturday and she looks fierce. Many acts are throwing back to the 1980s, but Montaigne takes us a decade earlier. The dancers coupled together with he lighting effects are giving me “I Lost My Hear To A Starship Trooper” vibes — the hit 1978 song from Hot Gossip. The performance perfectly matches the song. Even without the audio on the press stream, this screamed “Technicolour”. Meanwhile, the team on the ground reliably inform us that Montaigne’s vocals were on point.

 

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Read more Eurovision 2021 rehearsal news here

Photos: EBU / ANDRES PUTTING / THOMAS HANSES

77 Comments
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Malin
Malin
2 years ago

Åh… jag hoppas bara det är jag som tycker att en 10 poängare i klädstilen gick till ett bottenbetyg för Tusse.

Miss Uncongeniality
Miss Uncongeniality
2 years ago

Sweden is one of my favorite countries in Eurovision, but this year is a Big No for me. Indeed i will not be surprised if they don’t qualify… same about Australia, but in that case i am not a fan of Australia in Eurovision

Kim
Kim
2 years ago

Oh please ! Australia has always had someone either working or performing or writing in Eurovision. Here are some examples , the Russian entry from 2015 was co written by a……wait for it ….. Australian. The UK has has 2 representatives that have been Australian Gina G in the 90’s and Olivia Newton John ( yes born in the UK but is an Aussie citizen) Anya Nissan from a few years ago is an Aussie also . Mate we’ve always been there in one form or another for years now. To make it easier to understand – we are like… Read more »

Sabrina
Sabrina
2 years ago

Sweden: I don’t think it was a good idea to use those blinding lights, because they end up hiding Tusse a little bit and he’s by far the best and most relatable element on this performance.

Australia: This looks really good. Very professional and doesn’t feel like a small studio performance, it’s more like they’re performing from an endless void. The vocals sound good too. It will be tough, but the Aussies are still in the game.

Last edited 2 years ago by Sabrina
Aeria
Aeria
2 years ago

I don’t hate Sweden as a Eurovision country (I loved the Mamas last year and John Lundvik’s 2019 song as well), but the clip they showed made it obvious that the rehearsal had its fair share of flaws. The backdrop is almost empty and extremely boring, Tusse’s outfit looks like he’ll win the Barbara Dex award without competition, there’s already a moment in which the light shines in the camera in a way that it’s blinding (in a bad way, as in literally) and I just generally think that this shouldn’t make the final over so many other countries who… Read more »

Hélène
Hélène
2 years ago
Reply to  Aeria

Yes you are of course right to not like Sweden. What is not OK is that underneath your reasoning there is some kind of conspiracy thinking going on. You imply that Sweden if Sweden pass to the final it will not be as s fair as any other country. That is simply not true – all countries, except the big five, compete according to the same rules. And you cannot win with biased voting. There have been made serous research on this and they all conclude that. And when it comes to biased voting the Nordics are not the worst.… Read more »

ESC fan
ESC fan
2 years ago
Reply to  Hélène

lol at this comment being downvoted. eurovision fans are something else

Jonas
Jonas
2 years ago

Why do Australia need all this rehearsal? This is an actual question.

Jonas
Jonas
2 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

That makes sense. It’s more of a rehearsal for AVROTROS than for Australia. It might also be just so that Australia don’t get any less attention than other countries, which is probably fair – but also makes it into a kinda fake rehearsal.

Erik
Erik
2 years ago

1. Reason for having a jury from the first place was because they wanted to balance out parts of the block voting and bias for certain parts of Europe. 2. Rule about certain countries always qualify, no matter their music could be considered quite unfair. 3. If we removed both 1 and 2 the contest would probably be a bit fairer. 4. If there was a bias in voting for Sweden, then that does not explain why our songwriters, dancers, choreographers etc. are also representing other nations and for example having a hand on Arcade in 2019. There are many… Read more »

Mark
Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Erik

The fact of the matter is that the best acts and songs don’t win Melodifestivalen

Erik
Erik
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark

That’s solely an opinion and not a fact

Mark
Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Erik

Nah, it’s a fact

Hélène
Hélène
2 years ago

Dear wiwibloggs you will soon not have any Swedes left on your site. I think you should address the continuous disrespect of Sweden in Eurovision and conspiracy thinking among the fans here when it comes to Sweden. All of it is just disrespectful to Tusse, Like he is not good enough on his own. Of course we don’t know if he will pass to the final. But all positive comments on Sweden are massively down voted here. That happens to none else (it used to happen to Russia). And worse if you look beneath a comment that he doesn’t deserve… Read more »

Erik
Erik
2 years ago
Reply to  Hélène

Well spoken

Denis
Denis
2 years ago
Reply to  Hélène

sadly Wiwibloggs stopped caring years ago. They are part of the same gang you see. And they haven’t done any actually monitoring on this site in years too, letting every comment pass through. Which Is why I and many others stopped taking them seriously and the people commenting. as well. You should too, you feel much healthier. For me it¨s nothing more than trash and gossip..

Last edited 2 years ago by Denis
Boreal
Boreal
2 years ago
Reply to  Hélène

What an unnecessary threat, if the entry is not good, why should people like it?

Hélène
Hélène
2 years ago
Reply to  Hélène

And Malta and some more Azerbaijan maybe. Their fans say that Sweden is generic and praise their own Swedish even more generic entries. Even Switzerland is using SJB and Arcade was partly written by a Swede.

Bob
Bob
2 years ago
Reply to  Hélène

I am Swedish and I disagree with you Hélène. I understand your concern and I share your frustration with some international fans arguing Sweden always go through to the final because it’s Sweden, not because we have any merit. I think we Swedes have proven ourselves to have merit year after year. However, Wiwibloggs should not need to address anything, people have the right to their opinion. I also don’t think it is disrespectful to Tusse because the people arguing Sweden gets a pass whatever we send are talking more about biased jurors than our actual contestants.

Denis
Denis
2 years ago
Reply to  Bob

There is a difference between having opinions and bashing something, which this site has done for a decade now. Comments that are positive towards Sweden gets downvoted while comments like “Sweden deserves NQ” gets like 27 upvotes. As if Swedish entries have no merit what so ever, but only doing well because of juries. Is that having an opinion? Tusse and other hard working artists who represents Sweden are competing on same level as others. Is it fair being called having no merit, is it an opinion? Wiiwbloggs should adress that if they want to be a friendly warm place… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Denis
Candy
Candy
2 years ago

Australia’s performance is looking good tho it’s hard for Montaigne to qualify. I really liked the lights there.
Sweden had a better staging this time but Tusse’s voice didn’t sound really good today. I don’t think Sweden will grab much points from the televote but with what I listened to today is making it hard even to get points from the jury

Sot
Sot
2 years ago

1. Australia (what a performance!)
2. Sweden (such an improvement from the 1st one)

Ffs
Ffs
2 years ago

Sweden doesn’t deserve The Final

Liisa
Liisa
2 years ago
Reply to  Ffs

“Voices” is a great song and will be at least in top5 of the semi final.

Boozyfloozy69
Boozyfloozy69
2 years ago
Reply to  Liisa

Great song? It’s beige, bland middle of the road. If any other country sent this it would flop but Sweden will no doubt be over scored by juries yet again.

Lola
Lola
2 years ago

Australia: I didn’t have high hopes, but from what I saw, they did really good with what they had! Still like the song 🙂
Sweden: this is tough to say, but it’s my least favourite entry in the 1st half right now. Some other countries I had ranked lower really impressed me and Sweden… just forgettable 🙁 I no longer have it as a qualifier in my list and would be sad if it took someone else’s spot (which will probably happen)

Colono
Colono
2 years ago

I’m really not a Swede-hater (like some others) but damn their enrty this year is one of their worsts. In a completely fair Eurovision, they’d NQ bu we’ll see I guess..

Denis
Denis
2 years ago

Geez a lot of negativity on here! How about letting this young man enjoy himself on the stage and have fun which is what ESC is all about? We dont expect to win, we just want him on the stage, thats it. Results are only a number, not like his career depends on it. Not everything is about winning you know.

Last edited 2 years ago by Denis
Mark
Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Denis

I haven’t seen anyone attack him personally.

Hélène
Hélène
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Many are doing that by saying that he will only get “unfair” votes. That conspiracy thinking is not letting him to be taken seriously.

Mark
Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Hélène

That’s not an attack on him though

Justin
Justin
2 years ago

I’m sooo sorry, and I don’t want to harrass Sweden (because the song is not bad at all), but I think the review of Padraig so unfair… When it was for example Blanche or another singer that didn’t sing well on stage, it’s terrific, but when it’s Tusse, it’s authenticity… I’m really sorry for Tusse for being operated, but it’s a song contest, and we must be as objective as possible :/

Last edited 2 years ago by Justin
Bbb
Bbb
2 years ago

I do not like either. For context, I like to follow the rehearsals but otherwise do not listen to the songs beforehand. So these are very.. if I was an average viewer type of thoughts Sweden is very unimpressive this year. If it would be any other country singing that song, it would have mediocre reviews and would not qualify, but since it’s Sweden it’s an automatic qualifier. At this point, Sweden should join the Big 6 and make it 7 😀 Nothing against the singer, he seems lovely. Australia. I have heard of the hype but those clips do… Read more »

Mark
Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Bbb

There’s literally been no hype around Australia

Bbb
Bbb
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark

I have seen it, from watching wiwi’s live stream and reading comments here.

Mark
Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Bbb

Have you seen the betting odds? There is no hype around Australia; the exact opposite it true.

Sot
Sot
2 years ago
Reply to  Bbb

I think Australia will qualify just because they’re the only ones not in Rotterdam (think about it, the 1st country to ever compete in a semi and I hope a final soooo many kilometres away from the stage!)

Aplk
Aplk
2 years ago

Sweden’s clip was hard to watch, the staging isn’t good and his vocals weren’t the best either. Australia looks very promising tho, I hope she does well and qualifies.

Jo.
Jo.
2 years ago

Sweden is really in the danger zone this year

Last edited 2 years ago by Jo.
DESC
DESC
2 years ago

Australia is such a grower! Did not expect that their performance will look so dynamic, and Montaigne’s new style is much better than it was last year

Denis
Denis
2 years ago

Apart from the lightning Tusse wasnt that bad. He had more confidence. Yes of course it doesnt look as good as in MF but a general foreign audience who hasnt seen MF wont know about that. Plus our ESC stagings has never been as good as MF, at least not since that Karin woman became head of delegation. I choose to stay positive and no matter the outcome he will be great!

Davo
Davo
2 years ago

Hooray for Montaigne! Just stunning!!

esc1234
esc1234
2 years ago

Sweden needs juries this year more than ever

Mark
Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  esc1234

Will they reward his vocals, you think?

Sot
Sot
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark

That’s a good point actually

Esc1234
Esc1234
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark

If he was representing any other country no. But it’s Sweden.

Alex
Alex
2 years ago

Copying the melfest staging was a big mistake this time, what looked perfect there looks bad here…

Kosey
Kosey
2 years ago

Tusse looks so sleek and futuristic, this is going to do very well.

I feel so sorry for Montaigne – she is going to look out of place – but she has put on the best show that she can and I really hope she makes it to the final.

Aeria
Aeria
2 years ago

Australia’s video looks amazing! Sweden on the other hand… the rehearsal clip they released on the ESC YouTube channel almost blinded me at around 17 seconds in, and I was not nearly blinded in a good way

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
2 years ago

If Sweden qualifies and Ireland doesn’t, based on what they’ve shown us so far alone, then it’s terribly unfair for Lesley Roy. You can see she’s throwing everything at this. Sweden’s performance feels far too calculated—I like Tusse, but the staging of Voices feels a bit lost and I’m not sure they know who the song is meant to be empowering for. The weaknesses of Voices are more obvious in Rotterdam when you see how artificial the staging is, and how it lacks any of the authenticity or intellect of something like Birth of a New Age.

Last edited 2 years ago by Jimmy Smit
Roelof M
Roelof M
2 years ago

Am I the only one that’s really impressed by Australia? She sounds great, it looks great and they have like a third of the recourses the other acts have. I don’t know whether it will make it, but if Azerbaijan and Romania are disapointing again, she actually has a shot. Only negative is that she looks like a deer in headlights at some moments, but so did Blanche in 2017.

Kim
Kim
2 years ago
Reply to  Roelof M

My dark horse for 2021.

WannaEatMySpaghetti
WannaEatMySpaghetti
2 years ago

Tusse is not the best Swedish artist we’ve seen but I kinda liked the whole package. Not a top 10 for me but a 15th place would be deserved.

Denis
Denis
2 years ago

When Sweden qualifies I wish I could watch your face shift in disappointment. Much more pleasing than actually qualifying

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
2 years ago
Reply to  Denis

Face shift? More like face lift—anything other than those permanent frowns would be Samra’s miracle.

Yeah yeah fire
Yeah yeah fire
2 years ago

I love Montaigne and the song but I wish Techicolour had..well more bright colors in the performance.

Jessie
Jessie
2 years ago

Sweden this year really deserves nq but we all know the juries will save him.

Milla
Milla
2 years ago

I feel sorry for Tusse. It’s not long ago he had his surgery. Maybe it was too early? Or maybe it’s his singing technique? Probobly both. Will he have any voice left in the semifinal? And the lighting on Tusse is not flattering, Will Sweden qualify? Many questions..

Milla
Milla
2 years ago
Reply to  Milla

But, I think that the clips from both rehearsals have not shown much. I think this is an entry I really need to see it in full to judge if it’s better or worse than Melodifestivalen.

Last edited 2 years ago by Milla
Alex
Alex
2 years ago
Reply to  Milla

Do you think Sacha hasn’t cared enough about Sweden’s staging?
I thought she was gonna put a lot of effort. 1st time she’s doing Sweden i think but I don’t know. It was already great at Mello.

EProduc
EProduc
2 years ago

I liked Tusse’s staging on Melodifestivalen much better. The background is too dark for this type of song and the lights on Tusse are why too shiny. On top of that it’s probably the weakest Swedish song since ‘If I were sorry’. In a fair universe this should probably be a non-qualifier.

Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  EProduc

If it was anyone else it would NQ
But unfortunately I fully expect him to qualify comfortably thanks to juries and friends (Norway, Australia).

Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
2 years ago
Reply to  EProduc

I don’t think they really know what to do with the song—there’s nothing natural coming from Voices.

Last edited 2 years ago by Jimmy Smit
Anita
Anita
2 years ago

Padraig is such a professional, when he says she delivered then she delivered. I am glad she surprised everyone and hopefully she will get enough votes.

Mark
Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Anita

She’s got the X factor this year. Take that as you will

oscar
oscar
2 years ago

the lighting on tusse looks really bad. hes glowing, but in a ‘the suns in my eyes’ sorta way. not sure about the random red bars that disappear just before tusse goes into the chorus. sweden is a bit all over the place this year 🙁 shame as tusse is a likable performer

Last edited 2 years ago by oscar
Bob
Bob
2 years ago

This is a weak year for both Australia and Sweden. Both will struggle to qualify.

Darren
Darren
2 years ago

At this point, it’s kind of unfair to judge Australia as they are not even there. I’ll reserve judgement until I see it on tv myself.
If they can portray it as effectively as the acts that are physically in Rotterdam and make it feel like it’s not some kind of break/filler video …then it will be a success for them.
But we won’t really be able to say anything until we see it properly.

ESC Stan
ESC Stan
2 years ago
Reply to  Darren

The review on different blogs sound awesome though.

Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  ESC Stan

I don’t doubt that, and when the rehearsal video is released too it will be good.
But it’s how it fits in among the rest of the acts on the night that will determine how well it is.
It will be quite strange going from live in arena, to live on tape, to back in the arena again.
I have no doubts about Montaigne, but being remote will have an effect on both Australia and everyone else.

shin
shin
2 years ago

Australia just sounded 1000 times more promising !! GO MONTAIGNE !! we have faith in you !!

IPA
IPA
2 years ago
Reply to  shin

I think the girl is heroic!

IPA
IPA
2 years ago

Poor Tusse – and a terrible vocal technique (quite clear in the first rehearsal, too) – he won’t have much voice left in five-ten years unless he’s seeing a proper singing teacher. It’s a rather “sad” sound. He needs help from PROFESSIONAL VOCAL COACHES (and I mean that in a nice way)!

Last edited 2 years ago by IPA
Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  IPA

He’ll still qualify though…
Coz y’know…Sweden

Mark
Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  IPA

I’m glad I’m not the only one who can hear this

musica
musica
2 years ago
Reply to  IPA

If he actually learns how to use his voice, he’ll be a truly amazing singer, because the raw talent is definitely there.

Ashton Schier
Ashton Schier
2 years ago

still holding out hope for australia