Poll: Which automatic qualifier had the best first rehearsal on May 13 at Eurovision 2021?
Photos: EBU / Thomas Hannes / Andres Putting

The Big Five and our hosts have finally had their first rehearsals on the Rotterdam stage ahead of Eurovision 2021. And now, it’s time to review their chances.

Today, the acts from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom and The Netherlands all had their first rehearsals.

Måneskin went all out with their pyro, Blas Cantó sang under the moon and James Newman brought us two gigantic trumpets. But which automatic qualifier gave the best first rehearsal? Vote now in our poll!

Scroll down to vote in our poll. 

Eurovision 2021 rehearsals: Day Six (May 13)

Click on each entry to read our reviews, watch our reactions and see some rehearsal snippets.

Poll: Which automatic qualifier had the best first rehearsal on May 13?

As always, you can vote for as many songs as you like. But you can only vote once, so make it count! This poll will close on May 14, with results publishing shortly after.

[polldaddy poll=10831416]

Who did you vote for? Did your favourites live up to the hype? Let us know in the comments below. 

Read more Eurovision 2021 rehearsal news here

Photos: EBU / THOMAS HANSES / ANDRES PUTTING

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WestMids
3 years ago

I don’t see the fuss with the French song though the performance seems undeniably promising. Love the vibe and energy from Italy. The rest are all a bit meh. The UK has gone for novelty act staging so any hope of escaping the bottom 5 will be gone unless there is a major overhaul

Stian F
Stian F
3 years ago

Based on the snippets it looked like Måneskin had a horribly boring rehearsal… So the fact that it still is number 2 in this rank mean people vote based on song and not actual rehearsal…. Dont get me wrong. I love Italy, but out of these i dont think they had a very exciting rehearsal at all. Uk and Germany surprised more and gave a better impression.

Thorn
Thorn
3 years ago

France and Italy are destined for the top 5 no matter what happens on Saturday and they will definitely battle for the trophy. I love what they are both bringing to the stage and they will be well deserved winners.
As many other readers I enjoyed all 6 performances, which comes as a surprise to me given that I had Germany, Spain and the Netherlands all quite low in my rankings. Good job from all of them – I don’t think that any of them deserves a bottom 5 position.

Alo
Alo
3 years ago

The big 5 plus the Netherlands are slaying this year!

zach
zach
3 years ago

dang a big five country might finally win again

nycforever
nycforever
3 years ago

It’s time for rock to win. We need this new blood

Tadhg
Tadhg
3 years ago
Reply to  nycforever

Not sure I’d call Italy new blood, I’m thinking more mid 90’s Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute.

acp
acp
3 years ago

I honestly don’t think Italy is going to do better on the televoting than juries. Juries tend to value more rock songs than televoting I think. And people outside ESC fandom are not crazy about rock. But I have nothing against them, I whish for Italy to win because they really deserve it and if they win this year I will be happy because I like the song and the staging coudn’t be better.

nycforever
nycforever
3 years ago
Reply to  acp

I think in contrast people outside ESC fandom tend to like more diverse genres like rock, while fandom prefers more songs like San Marino entry and so on. But it’s very difficult to predict what juries are going to love. Talking about Italy again, in 2018 I think that mostly everyone thought that their entry would be ver highly appreciated by juries and less by televote. But finally it turned out totally opposite.

Kristian
Kristian
3 years ago
Reply to  acp

Lol , it’s Italy . They have a competent song. They will get 150 points in the least from televote

Last edited 3 years ago by Kristian
Poi
Poi
3 years ago
Reply to  acp

Whenever there was a rock song in recent years, the juries absolutely crushed it. Again I think Italy might be different, it is more polished and more radio-friendly. Turkey 2010 also got second place, so it could happen but I’m still a bit on the fence with it’s (it is mir fav though) I think Iceland will win the televote and France or Malta the jury vote. Somehow I think that both France and Malta will not have enough televoters to win. I don’t know why, it is just a gut feeling but right now I have the feeling that… Read more »

Alex
Alex
3 years ago

BIG 5 slayed.

Spain and UK had very good stagings and don’t deserve to flop.

Germany had the same (almost) staging just like France.

Italy was a big surprise. Excellent vocals and energy.

Alvaro
Alvaro
3 years ago

Liked very much Italy, Spain, France, UK and The Netherlands (in no particular order… Sorry Germany)

Sot
Sot
3 years ago

Overall ranking:

  1. Italy (YES. YES. YES. 10000/10.)
  2. France (Didn’t expect anything less, just amazing and Barbara is so charismatic…)
  3. UK (For once after all these years, UK with a competitive staging, wow)
  4. Germany (Hate me for that but I found their performance adorable)
  5. Netherlands (One word: Diversity. Also, he seems to love just being there!)
  6. Spain (It pains me physically to put Blas last but all 6 were so unique today, nicely done!)
Sot
Sot
3 years ago

Arguably everyone was good but Italy and France had WINNING MATERIAL

nycforever
nycforever
3 years ago
Reply to  Sot

Agree. I think that this two countries will fight for the Victory and I would love to see one of them winning. But still I give a little bit more preference to Italy just because I don’t want to see them get robbed again.

Rosy B
Rosy B
3 years ago

And I agree with those who mention Spain. The song, and the artist work beautifully on stage.

Rosy B
Rosy B
3 years ago

FRANCE – CLASS
ITALY – STYLE
Both giving winning vibes, but I still believe that SWITZERLAND will give them stiff competition. These are the outright three. Iceland is working nicely too, and climbing up, and so is Lithuania. While Cyprus will quietly creep up the leaderboard too. The rest are falling into the indiferrent catagory.

ANDREW BROWN
ANDREW BROWN
3 years ago

Love Spain. Also the English language version conveys the soul of the song

Berco
Berco
3 years ago

the one with crystal clear voice: france
the one with technicolor soul: the netherlands
the one with modern look but less effort: uk
the one with self-confidence and style: italy
the one with emotion and progress: spain
the one with self-entertainment: germany

Last edited 3 years ago by Berco
Luc
Luc
3 years ago

All of them really delivered, but I don’t think I’m seeing something groundbreaking or at least better than what we’ve seen in the semis

Thanos
Thanos
3 years ago

My thoughts on some of these rehearsals:

ITALY: The best rehearsal I’ve seen up to now from one of two best songs of the year for me!! Strong contender for the win. Need I say more?

FRANCE: Another huge contender that didn’t disappoint. I would be fine with her winning as she is my third place but especially after today, I really want Maneskin to be this year’s winners!!

GERMANY: Exactly what we expected from them and I like it a lot. It is fun and catchy. Won’t receive zero points!!

Kosey
Kosey
3 years ago

I go for Italy and the Netherlands, they feel like the most authentic artists to me.

Eurovision2016>
Eurovision2016>
3 years ago

wtf do people want Spain to send. it’s the best song in the whole contest.

Luc
Luc
3 years ago

I don’t agree with it being the best song of the contest, but I wonder the same, they’ve tried everything and they never fare well.

Kris
Kris
3 years ago

I wouldn‘t say it‘s the best, but a huge grower for me.

They should‘ve send Lo Malo in 2017 though, that would‘ve been a strong year for Spain.

Sot
Sot
3 years ago
Reply to  Kris

Anything would have placed better than Manel in 2017 (I loved that guy tho)

Giolo
Giolo
3 years ago
Reply to  Sot

Lo Malo was 2018 though

amy
amy
3 years ago

agree

amy
amy
3 years ago

I like France, but I think it is time for something fresh and new for Eurovision. I will vote for Italy. Jury might give it to France. But we all know who is winning televotes this year 😉

Robert
Robert
3 years ago
Reply to  amy

Belarus

Benji
Benji
3 years ago
Reply to  amy

No, we don’t. If you believe that it will be Italy, just remember Hungary 2018.

Sot
Sot
3 years ago
Reply to  Benji

Hungary 2018 was not melodic, it was literal madness (something I personally love) while Italy is more… conservative

zach
zach
3 years ago
Reply to  Sot

funny thinking of maneskin as “conservative” but in comparison ig lol

Jonathan N
Jonathan N
3 years ago

ITALY

WannaEatMySpaghetti
WannaEatMySpaghetti
3 years ago

Italy all the way

Darren
Darren
3 years ago

1. Italy
2. France
3. Netherlands
4. United Kingdom
5. Germany
6. Spain

Teddy
3 years ago

Making a top 6 is so difficult. They have all brought their A game. 1. United Kingdom Maybe it’s personal bias but that staging was better than I was expecting. This really works on stage and James sounds confident. This doesn’t sound like a bottom 5 entry and it doesn’t look like one either. 2. Italy The pyro was a moment. This is top tier. 3. France This didn’t bring anything new but Barbara is captivating. Even from a poor quality recording, there were chills from every note. I want to see how it looks on stage and if the… Read more »

Colono
Colono
3 years ago

Votes other than Italy are biased.

It’s a joke:)

Or not..

shin
shin
3 years ago

Italy and France were the winners today !! embers and birth of a new age were also great !! big let down from Spain’s side. and even though I don’t like Germany this year, you gotta admit jendrik’s energy is contagious

Colin
Colin
3 years ago

All of them were quite good. Everyone either elevated the song or at least made the staging fit it well. Of course, France and Italy are the candidates for the big prize, but I sincerely wish for all six of them to avoid going under 20th spot.

shin
shin
3 years ago
Reply to  Colin

yea the big 5 really put in great effort and in all honesty, none of them deserve the bottom 5

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago

I’m glad that I have enough room in my eclectic heart for both France and Italy. I’ll be over the moon (I’ll borrow it from Blas) if they end up dueling for the crown.

This is the strongest group of automatic qualifiers we ever had. If it was up to me, Netherlands, Spain and UK would avoid the bottom 6 (though sadly I’m expecting at least a couple of them to be there anyway). Even the only one I dislike, which is Germany, at least brings something different to the table.

Chance
Chance
3 years ago

France and Italy, duh.

Anhel
Anhel
3 years ago

Italy

Giolo
Giolo
3 years ago

In a perfect Eurovision world, France, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Russia should fight for the win. All of them brings something exceptional to the table.

Yana
Yana
3 years ago

Italy it was so POWERFUL

Giolo
Giolo
3 years ago

Voilà by far. I think it’s gonna be my winner. Much better than all the competition here. And I am from Italy 😉

Jessie
Jessie
3 years ago

I can’t decide because Italy and France are both very good. 

beccaboo1212
3 years ago

Can people stop sleeping on “Voy a quedarme”? Spain’s first rehearsal was amazing! Why do haters have to sh¡t on Blas Cantó’s performance?

Boozyfloozy69
Boozyfloozy69
3 years ago
Reply to  beccaboo1212

Because people are entitled to an opinion!

Lolek
Lolek
3 years ago

France is still my favourite but given the nature of the question, I voted for Italy. They were the most appealing in the short snippet we saw I felt.

Teddie
Teddie
3 years ago

Italy miles ahead of the rest

GojoSatoru
GojoSatoru
3 years ago
Reply to  Teddie

France and Italy ahead of the rest*

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
3 years ago

I guess it’s because it’s not really my personal taste but….I’m struggling to understand why France is topping the odds. Is that really a genre that a lot of people outside of France like?

Giolo
Giolo
3 years ago

All my Italian non-Eurovision fans put it first. That should mean something.

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
3 years ago
Reply to  Giolo

I don’t get it still. It’s not a bad song and she’s not a bad performer. I even listen to it time to time but….there are other people this year who are also great performers who also have great songs that I happen to just find more compelling than hers. A handful actually. She isn’t bad or anything, I just struggle to understand why so many people think she’s a cut above the rest.

Giolo
Giolo
3 years ago

In my opinion, it’s the same case as Salvador Sobral, although Violà and APD are totally different songs, but they try to please the same categoria of voters. I think many peopel will love Violà, people who didn’t listen to the song before, while some other songs look less attractive for a general viewer, especially when performed live.

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
3 years ago
Reply to  Giolo

Salvador was my favorite to win that year because of his charm and because I felt emotions while listening to him perform. I get that Barbara might be doing the same for some people, but she’s just not doing it for me this time like Salvador did. She doesn’t feel….quite as magic as he did to me. So then it comes down to the sound of the song, her voice, the staging, and the lyrics for me. All of which in her case aren’t bad but in every category I can think of at least one or two acts that… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by poe-tay-toe-chips
Trondur i Gotu
Trondur i Gotu
3 years ago

I agree on this. I’ve been trying to get the hype and really want to. I love the fact that France sends always something very …. French. But at the same time, they always tank in the voting, even in years where they get a lot of hype. They’ve only finished Top 10 four times in the last 20 years, and once in the last decade (with Amir who was talked as a potential winner but ended up 6th). Contrast that with Italy who’s finished Top Ten seven times(!) in the decade since their return. If I was a betting… Read more »

Eurovision2016>
Eurovision2016>
3 years ago

Spain is so good I can’t believe how it isn’t top of the betting odds let alone it to be bottom.

Eurovision2016>
Eurovision2016>
3 years ago

we’ve already concluded that your music taste is bad haven’t we.

Eurovision2016>
Eurovision2016>
3 years ago

as if you think italy will win. there is absolutely no way it will win. rock songs flop with the jury and will never get a top three televote result anymore as Eurovision has become more mainstream, it has attracted more casual viewers, most of which aren’t rock fans. only rock fans will vote for italy which won’t be enou for a top three televote or even a top five. it might get top ten but it’s no way winning. Spain is too underrated, because of that I know it won’t win, but it could surprise with a top ten… Read more »

Somebody
Somebody
3 years ago

Doesn’t matter France or Italy. They’ll both end up in Top 3, easy.

Egor
Egor
3 years ago

France is the best

Roelof M
Roelof M
3 years ago

France and Italy obviously, but the other 4 didn’t do bad either. I honestly can’t really say who will finish last. I think it could be a semi- final qualifier for the first time since 2013 (my money is on Austria sneaking past, getting 2nd in the Running Order and then having all his jury votes magically evaporate). But that mean- spirited comment aside, I think France and Italy are gonna be in the top 3, if not the top 2 this year.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
3 years ago

Italy were the big surprise today. I’m still reeling from that. France is obviously gonna be a contender too. Actually everyone did well today – good vibes all round. 🙂

Catriona Colville
Catriona Colville
3 years ago

France on another level to everyone else. I think we have our winner.

Barcelonadicto
Barcelonadicto
3 years ago

1. France
2. Germany
3. Italy
4. The Netherlands
5. Spain
6. UK

Heartbeater
Heartbeater
3 years ago

Spain was beautiful

beccaboo1212
3 years ago
Reply to  Heartbeater

I think so too.

Trocatroc
Trocatroc
3 years ago

Italy looked the most exciting to me.

Last edited 3 years ago by Trocatroc
Stan
Stan
3 years ago

Italy!

Rottendam
Rottendam
3 years ago

My rankings:

  1. France
  2. Italy
  3. UK
  4. Spain
  5. Netherlands
  6. Germany