We’re back! It’s time to kick off day seven of Eurovision run-throughs. And next up to the Rotterdam stage for their Eurovision 2021 second rehearsals are the acts from Georgia, Albania and Portugal. Will we see any big changes to their staging? Let’s see…
Second rehearsals at Eurovision 2021: Georgia, Albania and Portugal
Georgia’s Tornike Kipiani “You” — Eurovision 2021 second rehearsal
Oliver: Georgia gives us a subdued and low-key start to day seven of rehearsals. No changes for Tornike. His vocal is just as strong and the starry night backdrop is very pretty, comparable to fireflies dancing around the Georgian singer. This type of song is difficult to get right on the Eurovision stage, but Team Georgia have done a good job of recreating a cinematic vibe in a different setting. Still, qualification is unlikely.
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Padraig: Tornike played it straight today. There were no vocal high jinks like earlier in the week. Tornike’s actual delivery is a bit monotonous, especially in the first run-through. However, second-time round he injects some life into the vocals. He’s almost roaring by the end. Powerful stuff that will certainly wake up anyone that might have drifted off. The staging remains the same as before. I struggle to see where this will get votes from.
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Albania’s Anxhela Peristeri “Karma” — Eurovision 2021 second rehearsal
Oliver: Anxhela is emoting more today. She’s now becoming more comfortable with her surroundings, and she looks great against the dramatic smoky cyan and crimson backdrop. At times however, she looks tiny and alone on the enormous stage. It’s not the best use of space. Some more movement during the instrumental break especially would really keep up the momentum.
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Padraig: Anxhela delivers another semi-final ready performance. The wind machine is turned up to 90, the lighting is stunning and she is fierce. Vocally there are no issues whatsoever. However, while the staging is eye-catching, there are moments when Anxhela looks a little lonely on stage. But rather than being overwhelmed, she owns it, even when the massive LED wall looms tall above her. And while not much has changed from the first rehearsal, there is a feeling of momentum building around the entry.
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Portugal’s The Black Mamba “Love Is On My Side” — Eurovision 2021 second rehearsal
Oliver: Another classy and slick run from The Black Mamba. Much like Hooverphonic in semi-final one and Måneskin in the grand final, the Portuguese band translate the best aspects of their live gigs to the Eurovision stage and it’s very effective. The 4:3 aspect ratio transitioning into full widescreen is a captivating moment paying homage to old-school Eurovision. Qualification was once very questionable, but now it seems inevitable.
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Padraig: A solid performance from Portugal yet again. There’s not much to add from their first rehearsal. Everything is pretty finely finessed at this stage, although there is a moment when Tatanka is playing his electric guitar on the satellite stage. Or rather he isn’t, but the electric guitar can still be heard. It spoils the illusion slightly, even if most of us know that he’s not playing live anyway. This is only a minor point which will most likely not be an issue again we come to Thursday’s show.
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Read more Eurovision 2021 rehearsal news here
Photos: EBU / ANDRES PUTTING / THOMAS HANSES
Georgia: This needs more eye contact with the camera. You need to trap us, Tornike.
Albania: Looks and sounds good. My only concern is if they manage to keep interesting for 3 minutes.
Portugal: Adding them to my list of countries that made all the right staging decisions. Possibly the best use of colors in the competition. This should qualify and I’m glad people are finally opening up to them.
Tornike should take his shirt off and have the words projected across his chest.
Then he’d do well
Portugal is in the game, seriously.
If Love is On My Side had come out of San Remo everyone would’ve said it was Top 10 material. I still think Albania can qualify as the only ethnic song in this semi. Eurovision needs these songs in the final to keep cultural identities coming through.
Is it really happening? Am I really warming to that turgid, hotel-lounge music of a song?
I suppose it shows you what some pretty little lights and projections can do to one’s feelings! Well done them!
Ok, the Portuguese snippet was uploaded an hour ago, so here’s my ranking:
Portugal is a dark horse!
Seeing the projection screen in use in the second rehearsal clip it’s too bad that none of the other countries are using it. It’s cool and looks good.
I’ve not seen the whole thing, but if I was staging it, I would dial up the contrasts because this is a song about contrasts. So to start off there is a dark, introspective feel, building to a blinding light of universality – that would work really well for me.
Yes, that’s exactly how I would do it. This is a serious song, full of sadness, so the first thirty second clip we’ve seen works really well to put you into that mindset – people say Tornike needs to smile more but that really wouldn’t fit with the theme of the song. But ultimately, this is a song about hope, it needs to build to leave us with brilliant light and soaring vocals/instrumentation, with the last shot focused right back on Tornike.
That’s how I would do it anyway?
Georgia looks so intimate and fragile, absolutely perfect for the song. Go Tornike, you have my support 100%!
Umm what exactly is the Bulgarian IG Post doing in Portugal’s place?
Portugal honestly is my biggest grower this Eurovision season (together with Russia), I hope they make the final.
Haters gonna hate….While Portugal will do so well! Totally deserve a spot in the final
Go Portugal!!
Absolutely love Portugal – did so from the word go months back!
Yes I believe…I like them since they won their national final. The song is nothing new but its very well performed, confident and professionalism on stage. They know exactly what to do on that stage. Portugal is pure class and good taste this year! Im voting for them and for France
GIVE US THE SNIPPETS EBU!
Gotta love Portugal’s glow up!
2019: Likely qualifier before rehearsals, but bad staging messed up Conan’s chances
2021: Unlikely qualifier before rehearsals, but great staging making them almost a lock-in for the finals!
Glad to hear the positvity about portugal. I always believed it had a shot.
A bit of disrespect being shown on the live stream to Georgia unfortunately. Rather than talking about his song playing in the background, we only seem to be interested in talking about pastries and ducks. I don’t think you would do that with any other entry and it is not very professional. Fine to talk about these things to liven things up between songs, but whilst the song is actually playing in the background, it is a bit disrespectful.
I thought about that as well, I guess they didn’t have anything else to say about the song…
I mean if I had to sit there 10 hours a day for two weeks and they came with this boring staging I wouldn’t pay any attention either. It’s also a second rehearsal, maybe there’s nothing left to discuss. Nothing to do with respect.
Nobody forced anyone to sit there for so long. Also, if that was the case they should just do live commentary on the acts the like and switch off the rest. And is Eurovision, there’s always something more relevant to discuss.
Still, to be critical about one moment in a whole week is just so unnecessary. All the other times enough information and discussion was given and that deserves some praise and positivity. There are enough platforms to get your info on the acts. They’re doing their best and it’s also just exhausting.
Yeah, but if they don’t even look at the screen how’d they see the changes and details?