Junior Eurovision 2021 first rehearsals begin today in Paris, France. Today, we’ll see nine countries take to La Seine Musicale stage for their first run-throughs ahead of the grand final this weekend. Will the favourites live up to the hype?
The EBU and France Télévisions will be releasing rehearsal clips throughout the day. As always, we’ll be giving our first thoughts and reactions right here. We’ll share them down below so you can get the first look at all your JESC 2021 favourites.
We’ll also be sharing photos over on our Instagram page.
December 14: First rehearsals at Junior Eurovision 2021
Here’s who will be taking to the stage for rehearsals today. All times are listed in CET (GMT + 1).
- 9:00 – 9:40 Portugal: Simão Oliveira – “O Rapaz”
- 9:50 – 10:30 Ireland: Maiú Levi Lawlor – “Saor”
- 10:40 – 11:20 Malta: Ike & Kaya – “My Home”
- 11:30 – 12:10 Netherlands: Ayana – “Mata Sugu Aō Ne”
- 12:20 – 13:00 Germany: Pauline – “Imagine Us”
- 14:00 – 14:40 Italy: Elisabetta Lizza – “Specchio”
- 14:50 – 15:30 Georgia: Niko Kajaia – “Let’s Count The Smiles”
- 15:40 – 16:20 Spain: Levi Díaz – “Reír”
- 16:30 – 17:10 Poland: Sara James – “Somebody”
Portugal: Simão Oliveira – “O Rapaz” first rehearsal
First up today is Portugal’s Simão Oliveira. The staging, much like his song, is elegant, mature and emotive. Simão is dressed in his signature flat cap and dons a matching crushed velvet ochre-coloured blazer. It’s giving Barbara Pravi vibes. Classy, clean, polished — voilá, voilá, voilá!
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Ireland: Maiú Levi Lawlor – “Saor” first rehearsal
You can’t make him disappear. Ireland’s Maiú Levi Lawlor jumps on stage with a burst of boyband energy. He’s wearing a slightly-oversized black shacket and all white underneath. Splashes of pastel cover the walls behind him and a rainbow conveyor-belt of colours flies across the stage floor. Life in technicolour looks good for Ireland.
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Malta: Ike & Kaya – “My Home” first rehearsal
Ike and Kaya are right at home on this stage. The Maltese pair stand side by side, each bringing their own style. Kaya brings the Disney princess vibes with her short-length gown pluming with tulle, while Ike brings that street-side edge with his dogtooth tracksuit. A cherry blossom tree blooms in the background, then the stage splits to match Ike and Kaya’s outfits. They have great synergy, as always.
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Netherlands: Ayana – “Mata Sugu Aō Ne” first rehearsal
Netherlands’ Ayana brings a piece of Japanese culture to the Junior Eurovision stage. She’s wearing traditional Japanese dress and is accompanied on stage by two dancers wielding fans, whose silhouettes are projected onto a paper door at the back of the stage. Just like Ike and Kaya before her, Ayana is also featuring a cherry blossom tree on her backdrop.
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Germany: Pauline – “Imagine Us” first rehearsal
Germany’s Pauline — who will be opening the show on Sunday evening — brings us joy and life in her first rehearsal of “Imagine Us”. Donning an iridescent windbreaker, Pauline is joined on stage by two dancers and a crowd of cartoon protestors waving picket signs with hearts, doves and the globe on them. This performance is a glimpse inside Pauline’s dream of a brighter future.
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Italy: Elisabetta Lizza – “Specchio (Mirror On The Wall)” first rehearsal
Mirror mirror on the wall… who’s the coolest of them all? It could very well be Italy’s own Elisabetta Lizza. She’s bringing hard rock to the Junior Eurovision stage, just like her adult counterparts Måneskin did at the main contest back in May. Her staging is electric — flashes of blue, white and purple light the backdrop behind Elisabetta and her dancers, all dressed in white and black.
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Georgia: Niko Kajaia – “Let’s Count The Smiles” first rehearsal
Georgia is taking us on a nostalgia trip back to the 70s. Niko’s performance of “Let’s Count The Smiles” channels Andy Warhol and Keith Haring pop art — pure entertainment with a just a dash of camp. He’s wearing a royal blue blazer, turqouise turtle neck and white trousers with various scribbles of colour, joined on stage by two dancers in frilly shirts and overalls.
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Spain: Levi Díaz – “Reír” first rehearsal
The penultimate rehearsal of the day is from Spain’s Levi Díaz. The “Reír” singer is accompanied by a troupe of four dancers and performs part of his song inside a hollowed-out train carriage. The backdrop is an eclectic blend of calming sunset tones, bright neon signage and spray paint graffiti, enhancing the summertime vibes of the song. ¡Esta es la revolucion!
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Poland: Sara James – “Somebody” first rehearsal
Last up to rehearse is Poland’s Sara James. The “Somebody” songstress is giving the full fairytale fantasy. She’s in a magenta tulle dress, surrounded by dancers in iridescent pink and blue bodysuits performing a ballet routine while holding glistening silver tree branch props. It’s like the spring equinox brought to life through a magical lens — not too dissimilar to Go_A’s “SHUM” at Eurovision 2021, but with more pastel tones rather than the intense gothic energy.
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What do you think? Which act had the best first rehearsal? Let us know in the comments below.
Cant wait for Armenian Queen
Every rehearsal was great but I like the most Poland and Italy.
Poland looks great and sounds very good, but it ‘s not my favorite song. But I like to wish all the participants good luck and a lot of fun in Paris !!
I love all the rehearsals today, but I must say Italy is still my big favorite !! Go ElisabettaRock and Roll never dies !!
americans would scream cultural appropriation at holland’s dancers being dressed japanese-y without being japanese and cancel the good sis for allowing that… thankfully we’re not whiny here in europe ! holland’s performance looks prettiest out of all of these. italy’s colors are a bit all over the place, hope the final result is good.
There is no such thing as “cultural appropriation”, we live in a globalized world and the girl is half-Japanese anyway.
ayana is half-japanese yes. i remember when in 2013 katy perry did a performance of unconditionally dressed as a geisha and american keyboard warriors started calling her racist… all while in japan everyone who was asked about it loved that performance lmao.
Dude, just retract your comment because it makes no sense at all. The song title is Japanese, for Christ’s sake! And the song is about how she misses her family in Japan. If you’re Japanese you can’t ‘appropriate’ Japanese culture.
Lol i have lost patience with the woke left no critical thinking americans calling everything racist & homophobic (im gay) so I just ignore it lol. Americans truly live in a simulation of their own
I’m so impressed with Elisabetta’s live vocals. So strong
Germany is a perfect opener and Portugal is a perfect closer. What could be more ideal than starting with a song about working for a brighter future and ending with a song about being a kid who loves to sing?
Everything looks very professional and polished so far, and France have not skimped on the production.
Wow, everything looks awesome! I loved all the rehearsals! I didn’t expect the stage to be so big. Germany is going to be an awesome opener! So is Portugal gonna be a super closer for the show! Can’t wait for the next rehearsals!!
First I was really sad that Germany has to open the show again and to perform first – but after this 1st rehearsal I have to say that this is THE BEST ACT TO OPEN IT – well done Pauline!
The stage looks beautiful for the participants, Portugal sounds very beautiful just like Malta, Ireland is also nice.
Ayana looks stunning and her voice sounds very beautiful, Go for it girls, I am proud of you !!
Germany is also great !!