Cornelia Jakobs Hold Me Closer Sweden Eurovision 2022
EBU / Nathan Reinds

Keeping up? Good, because another batch of artists are about to take to the stage for their Eurovision 2022 second rehearsals.

Today, acts from 11 countries — Australia, Cyprus, Ireland, North Macedonia, Estonia, Romania, Poland, Montenegro, Belgium, Sweden and Czech Republic — will treat us to a closer look at their performances ahead of next week’s live shows. 

We’ll have individual posts for each country on our website, updated live throughout the day. Stay tuned to wiwibloggs to see our first reactions!

6 May: Second rehearsals at Eurovision 2022

Listed below are the countries having their first rehearsals today. All times are listed in CEST (BST + 1).

  • 10:00 – 10:20 Australia: Sheldon Riley “Not The Same”
  • 10:25 – 10:45 Cyprus: Andromache “Ela”
  • 10:50 – 11:10 Ireland: Brooke “That’s Rich”
  • 11:15 – 11:35 North Macedonia: Andrea “Circles”
  • 11:40 – 12:00 Estonia: Stefan “Hope”
  • Lunch break
  • 13:05 – 13:25 Romania: WRS “Llámame”
  • 13:30 – 13:50 Poland: Ochman “River”
  • 13:55 – 14:15 Montenegro: Vladana “Breathe”
  • 14:20 – 14:40 Belgium: Jérémie Makiese “Miss You”
  • 14:45 – 15:05 Sweden: Cornelia Jakobs “Hold Me Closer”
  • Break
  • 15:35 – 15:55 Czech Republic: We Are Domi “Lights Off”

Unlike first rehearsals — which were exclusive to TikTok — press will have access to the second rehearsal livestream direct from the PalaOlimpico arena.

As always, we’ll have individual posts for each rehearsal here on wiwibloggs. You’ll be able to read our thoughts on the rehearsal and find out how each country chose to stage their entries.

And, of course, we’re livestreaming from Turin all day, so make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel and keep an eye on wiwi.tv to hear our first reactions!

Eurovision 2022: Press Conference schedule

Shortly after their rehearsals, each act will be available for a 20 minute press conference.

All press conferences will be available to watch on demand via Italian broadcaster RAI. 

Here’s the list of times for each act’s Meet & Greet. All times are listed in CEST (BST + 1).

  • 11:10 – 11:30 Australia: Sheldon Riley “Not The Same”
  • 11:35 – 11:55 Cyprus: Andromache “Ela”
  • 12:00 – 12:20 Ireland: Brooke “That’s Rich”
  • 12:25 – 12:45 North Macedonia: Andrea “Circles”
  • 12:50 – 13:10 Estonia: Stefan “Hope”
  • 14:15 – 14:35 Romania: WRS “Llámame”
  • 14:40 – 15:00 Poland: Ochman “River”
  • 15:05 – 15:25 Montenegro: Vladana “Breathe”
  • 15:30 – 15:50 Belgium: Jérémie Makiese “Miss You”
  • 15:55 – 16:15 Sweden: Cornelia Jakobs “Hold Me Closer”
  • 16:45 – 17:05 Czech Republic: We Are Domi “Lights Off”

Which act are you most excited for? What changes will we see from first rehearsals? Share your thoughts in the comments down below.

29 Comments
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ete sech
ete sech
1 year ago

Today felt quicker than the last days, but it was pleasant to see a bigger picture of the remaining performances 😀

DVDFGL
DVDFGL
1 year ago

The best way to deal with negativity, is to ignore it. Starve these trolls of the attention they crave and focus on the rather good songs competing this year.

dade
dade
1 year ago
Reply to  DVDFGL

so true! But still, as an Italian it’s very hard. We were hoping that this year would show how much Eurovision has grown on us since we came back and now we’re basically insulted as incompetent, unmotivated and uninterested in general. The arches don’t turn quickly enough, right, and the fact that this element was meant to be crucial on the stage makes it indeed very embarrassing. But does this really have to eclipse all the efforts RAI and Turin are putting into this event? I don’t even start with all the stereotypes some people throw at us and southern… Read more »

Mirko
Mirko
1 year ago

About EBU statement, it’s funny how people still complaining without understanding the differences between criticism and insults. As italian i’m really fed up of this years’s Eurovision. In May 2021 i was really excited, but now after all of this messy fanbase i’m out. Probably nobody care of it, but despite of all the problems Rai is still trying to do it’s job for YOU guys, to deliver 3 epic live shows. Problems are normal – i’ve just explained before what happened so… – but all of you might remember just one thing: even if you tell the truth that… Read more »

esc1234
esc1234
1 year ago

EBU has issued a very generic statement against hate speech for artists and the organization. I wonder what they talk about. People criticizing an organization that its messy and problematic? Spanish eurofans on twitter wishing death to anyone who says that Spain wont win? I really wonder.

Emma
Emma
1 year ago
Reply to  esc1234

There’s a difference between criticism and plain insults and nastiness. That’s it I think. Some people don’t know the difference. You can criticize the organisation without being hateful, same with the artists.

esc1234
esc1234
1 year ago
Reply to  Emma

I agree, but things would be better if there was an official announcement by them, not rumors circulating. Their crisis management is completely bad, they were sending emails to Albania for their choreo while delegations were forced to change their stagings hours before their rehearsal

Helene
Helene
1 year ago
Reply to  esc1234

Put the blame where it belongs. It is RAI not EBU who couldn’t manage the stage. EBU is the scale goat for them? I don’t like when the responsible are not taking responsibility. In this case the producer of the show. Those persons are completely invisible. They should step up and say that they are sorry and that they are doing their best to solve the situation.

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
1 year ago
Reply to  Helene

The problem is that Italy and RAI doesn’t normally do things like this. They’re used to working with Italians and for the Italian market. Having to do big stage things like this were never the ways of Sanremo. It was always about the orchestra and the actual music. It’s like asking Salvador Sobral to write a pop song.

Vale
Vale
1 year ago
Reply to  Helene

EBU is clearly trying to sabotage Italy and RAI. The sun is working. First EBU approved it and after they decided not to use it just to avoid keeping the show a bit longer. Despite all the italophobic and racist comments that Italy has received in the last days for this issues, EBU has not done anything to prevent it and kept quite, because there is not a Eurovision fandom in Italy and apart someone they simply ignore about the smear campaign. User like Helene is one of the individual that keeps pushing this narrative on this blog! Exactly, why… Read more »

Helene
Helene
1 year ago
Reply to  Vale

You spreading false news. Why should EBU do that? Quite the opposite they help RAI and back them up.

Vale
Vale
1 year ago
Reply to  Helene

You are the one spreading fake news. Read carefully the press release. Now, the Italian team will take any legal action for any false allegations. So you will think twice, before you post any comments!

Helene
Helene
1 year ago
Reply to  Vale

You said that EBU is miss treating RAI on purpose – that was the fake news I was referring to,

Vale
Vale
1 year ago
Reply to  Helene

Don’t twist my words. You know very well what you have written so far and in the previous posts. Now you take your full responsibility. Finally EBU has released this press release. Bear in mind that.

Vincenzo
Vincenzo
1 year ago
Reply to  Helene

The sun is working but takes more time than previously forecasted because it’s a complex structure that cannot be rotated fast. You will see it working in the semifinals and finals, for interval acts, opening and flag parade. Problem is that the floor related to the arches is moving, too, together with the arches. So in 40 seconds it’s impossible to remove the props of the previous performer, move the arches (and the floor is moving, too) and then put the props of the next artist. There is not enough time. RAI proposed to introduce the presentation of the song… Read more »

Helene
Helene
1 year ago
Reply to  Vincenzo

No you are assuming that there is some national question here. I was not. I was referring to person above that said that EBU is sabotaging a country. There you have the nationalist.

ete sech
ete sech
1 year ago
Reply to  Vale

I actually realized something was off and that it wasn’t RAI’s fault just a little ago, I got myself carried away before that and it’s such a shame I behaved that way (I mean, I didn’t do much but made some mean spirited comments), especially when Italy was one of the countries that got me into and made me love Eurovision. I feel like apologizing, but to whom? 🙁

Voix
Voix
1 year ago
Reply to  esc1234

When people don’t do their work right they can easily adopt the victim mentality and say that criticism is bullying. No, when you promise to 40 countries a stage design and you don’t do it, people will criticize.-

Emma
Emma
1 year ago
Reply to  Voix

But as I said in my comment sometimes the reverse happens where people see hate, insults, abuse and harassment as criticism, when no…that’s not criticism. You can’t say that doesn’t happen. It’s not 100% the EBU just claiming ‘victim mentality’. I believe there where people out there taking it that step too far. Both can happen, neither side is in the right here.

Helene
Helene
1 year ago
Reply to  Voix

It was RAI that promised the stage. The Italian team. EBU has nothing to do with the production of the show!

Dawid
Dawid
1 year ago
Reply to  esc1234

I remember what was happening on twitter when Viki beat Melani in JESC. Death threats everywhere. Nothing changed it seems.

Btw, remember when I said when these “fans” were hating on Chanel that they will love her so much that soon they’ll attack everyone who doesn’t love her. This happens every year.

esc1234
esc1234
1 year ago
Reply to  Dawid

Typical Spanish eurofan behavior, Rigoberta stans the first two months and when bets are in favor of Spain “omg joderrr Chanel reinaaaa winner alert”. Chanel is literally one of the most bullied Eurovision artists ever, by their own Spanish fandom

Vale
Vale
1 year ago
Reply to  esc1234

With that press release, EBU was addressing also those who threatened stage designer Francesca Montinaro. So now they will face legal consequences for that. I also find quite pathetic those who behave like camera experts, giving their rather ‘pathetic’ advises, like they were the professionals (sitting from home).

esc1234
esc1234
1 year ago
Reply to  Vale

You just say lies, they dont specify to whom they refer and i dont think the designer was threatened because first and foremost, ITS NOT HER FAULT, ITS THE FAULT OF RAI.

Vale
Vale
1 year ago
Reply to  esc1234

You say lies and you twist my words. Francesca Montinaro was accused many times in the last days by different people via social. And you still keep accusing RAI, when you don’t know the facts. Go and read again the press release.

Kuro Win
1 year ago

No live ?

Luo
Luo
1 year ago

Are there any more rehearsals after this? Or only the dress rehearsal?

Dawid
Dawid
1 year ago
Reply to  Luo

Pretty sure there are only 3.

KuhKatz
KuhKatz
1 year ago
Reply to  Luo

Big 5 has the second one tomorrow

After this, there are 3 left now before the live show.
For example for Semi 1, there are 2 dress rehearsals on Monday (second one is the Jury rehearsal) and 1 on Tuesday (so called Family rehearsal)

Same timeline for Semi 2 on Wednesday and Thursday and for the Grand Final on Friday and Saturday.