Pre-party season is now in full swing. On Saturday, it was the turn of Warsaw to host proceedings with Polish Eurovision Party 2023. 14 of this year’s Eurovision contestants took to the stage in Warsaw.

We got our first pre-party performances from a number of acts, including Czechia’s Vesna, Albania’s Albina & Familja Kelmendi and Croatia’s Let 3. Meanwhile, some of those who first stopped off in Barcelona were back again to share the love with a different crowd.

But which act, newbie or returnee, was your stand out of the night? 

You can review many of the 14 performances in our playlist below. Then scroll down and vote in our poll. You’ll be able to vote for as many acts as you’d like, but you can only submit your votes one time. Be sure to tick the box next to each act you want to support before hitting submit.

Polish Eurovision Party 2023: Live performances

Poll: Who gave the best live performance?

Who was your winner of the night? Who surpassed your expectations and who fell short? Share all your thoughts in the comments below.

74 Comments
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Marlinken
Marlinken
1 year ago

This was a disaster for everyone except Malta, Ireland, Estonia, Slovenia, Lithuania and Croatia.

I think we’re going to have to accept that Mae Muller cannot sing.

Catriona
Catriona
1 year ago

Alika and Monika amazing. Albina excellent too.

ThorBeta
ThorBeta
1 year ago

‘Israel Calling’ is tonight btw if nobody has noticed and they are not even going live but will instead broadcast the event on their YT channel on… Saturday lol.

Anonymous91
Anonymous91
1 year ago
Reply to  ThorBeta

once again the best vocals were from Estonia’s Alika, top3 in semi becoming more and more certain now

worst vocals from Serbia, Georgia

Poland’s Blanka had huge improvements with her vocals

Panna
Panna
1 year ago

I think the most important part about these pre-parties is the exposure, interviews, one extra performance, meeting fans as well as the other participants. I do not think they are meant to boost your result in Eurovision itself, and artists attending probably know it very well. It can get you some life-lasting fans who will listen to more of your music and all the releases, new contacts and, of course, you get to see the country the pre-party is taking place at. I believe most of the expenses (like flights and hotels) is paid by the broadcaster, so why not… Read more »

Panna
Panna
1 year ago
Reply to  Panna

*by the broadcaster of the country you represent.

Also, from what I understood, there was a special flight organised from Warsaw to Tel Aviv for all the participants and press? Not fully sure about it, but that is what I understood from some of the interviews and instagram stories of the artists.

Eurpotato
Eurpotato
1 year ago

Ireland had the most energy from what I seen. I really like them guys they’re lovely. Monika was great too.

Tom
Tom
1 year ago

I was there and I can tell you that Mae will have massive troubles with these vocals – her show was very amateurish. Wild Youth, Joker Out and Sudden Lights were real standounts. Overall good, but very long (5 hours…) show.

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

They all had problems. At these parties, the production is amateurish and the microphones are AWFUL. Nothing like Eurovision.

Panna
Panna
1 year ago

Look up some other live performances by Mae, none of them are good.

Dawid
Dawid
1 year ago

I mean sure, but if everyone’s having the same problems, you can still compare them to each other

Yom
Yom
1 year ago
Reply to  Tom

Idol

Colin
Colin
1 year ago

Czechia is in my top 10, and they deserve to qualify. Their performance would have to be better, though. Sure, it’s a 100% televoting semi, and televoters don’t tend to be as pedantic about the perfect vocals as the juries are, but sorrounded by vocals like Loreen and Pasha Parfeny, they still have to try more. Good luck in improvement!

As for Pasha, he totally owned this stage! Alika, Joker Out, and Sudden Lights were amazing!

Poul Riisen
Poul Riisen
1 year ago

I just managed to watch the Czech entry performance. I loooove Vesna, but I am getting worried about their staging. The song is fantastic, and their voices, too. But I worry about how they will stage it. If they just come on stage and sing like in Poland, I am afraid the song’s effect will be minimised. This song needs superb staging based on the video. Otherwise, it is messy and usually, entries staged like that never go far. Good luck, Vesna, we love your song!

Fatima
Fatima
1 year ago

Poland will be the next country to win the contest for the first time, but not this year

Dawid
Dawid
1 year ago
Reply to  Fatima

I’d be happy to get first top 5 placement in like 20 years

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Dawid

Not with Solo, IMHO. River was the great chance of doing so (my 1st in 2022), but even so, 12th a pretty good score (I really wish that my country achieves so, as we haven’t done so since arguably 2017 – 13th). But yeah, River deserved even more. As for Solo, it’s a NQ for me, but good luck anyway. Who knows what the outcome will be anyway…

Devito
Devito
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Ochman was great, but he overdid his performance with tons of ridiculous special effects. It looked like a child in the toy store who cannot decide which toy he wants more, so he asks for all of them. This and his never-ending top-notch vocals were the two reasons I didn’t vote for him, for example. I’m feeling Sakartvelo will be the next Ochman: great vocals, a decent song, a so-so performance, and never-ending screaming for three straight minutes.

Dawid
Dawid
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

I have conspiration theory that TVP sabotage Poland in ESC to get rid of any possibilities of Poland winning so that they don’t have to host it. Like, for years they’re sending NQ/borderline qualifiers and once we had decent shot, they made sure that staging was hideous.

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  Dawid

That might be why Elvis Presley did not make the final

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

I think she will Q Colin, but we’ll see. The 12 and 10 from “UK” will go to Lithuania and Poland.

Louden
Louden
1 year ago
Reply to  Jofty

I think Eurovision semi finals are on BBC1 this year which means a far larger audience will vote in the semis and so will dilute the diaspora vote. Having said that I will be ok with Monika getting some points.

Anonymous91
Anonymous91
1 year ago
Reply to  Fatima

yes when they win this year with Queen Blanka

Yom
Yom
1 year ago

Uk

Xxx
Xxx
1 year ago

Everyone did great except for Czechia and UK.

Efthymios
Efthymios
1 year ago

The Busker, my beloved.

And of course, Alika and Monika. Let 3 were shocking but not in a bad way, haha.

Poul Riisen
Poul Riisen
1 year ago
Reply to  Efthymios

I feel Malta will qualify despite the odds, more so that there will be no juries in the semis. I don’t like the song (can’t listen to it on my phone) BUT I like the performance and staging, it elevates the song. Fresh and fun! Good luck Malta!

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  Poul Riisen

Yes, the juries marked it down in Malta, but it won the public vote (comfortably). I don’t like the song either but will be happy if they make it. The “joke act” worries me though, also for Switzerland.

Anonymous91
Anonymous91
1 year ago

vote for Alika or else, no one is better than miss perfection Alika

Anonymous91
Anonymous91
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous91

why i get upvoted lol

Andrew
Andrew
1 year ago

Wasn’t the UK totally off vocally? Or is it just me?

Teddi
Teddi
1 year ago

Also, I applaud to Jan for rejection to come to Polish Eurovision Party. And also to Blanka. The amount of hate she received from Polish people was and still is disgusting. Bravo Jan for being supportive and not bending to toxicity.

Dawid
Dawid
1 year ago
Reply to  Teddi

Pretty sure he’s just touring. And about Blanka, while I agree that people are overreacting, she’s done nothing to help herself in situation she’s in. Liking hateful/homophobic messages and avoiding voting topic doesn’t make people hate her less.

Teddi
Teddi
1 year ago

You may like them or not, but you can’t deny the effect of Croatia. It’s just so incredibly catchy. Yesterday at the party they really gave so much energy and moved everyone. Like that was phenomenal! So excited to see the mess they’ll bring to Eurovision stage! Goodluck Croatia!

Bernard
Bernard
1 year ago

Laughing my butt off at people complaining about Czechia. Firstly, they’ve got the best song, secondly they sang well. Monika slayed as well. Thirdly, the Polish audience showed to everybody else what the crowd should be like. And btw, responding to someone saying that “Loreen and Kaarija don’t owe Poland anything” – I doubt anyone’s life has been ruined because of their absence. If 10 Euros for a Ryanair ticket was a mission impossible for these two, then I’m actually they weren’t present. I am not judging, but unless there was something extraordinary preventing them from attending, then it’s pretty… Read more »

Mia
Mia
1 year ago
Reply to  Bernard

The poll is called “Who gave the best live performance?”, so it doesn’t matter how good the Czech song is. Their performance was just awful. Period.

Poul Riisen
Poul Riisen
1 year ago
Reply to  Bernard

I looove Vesna and their song, I am just worried about their staging. If they just come out and sing like that, it won’t work, it looks messy.

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

All the performances were bad. This is a pre-party, NOT Eurovision itself!

Panna
Panna
1 year ago
Reply to  Bernard

Can you link me to those 10 EUR Ryanair tickets? I bet not, because this season the prices have increased. The cheapest Ryanair flights from Helsinki to Warsaw are 42 EUR without luggage, plus (at least) the same price back. 14 out of 37 artists attended. Why are you attacking only the two Scandinavian ones? How about the other 21 that weren’t there? Their careers are not all about Eurovision and they have other stuff to do. For all we know, Loreen might be brainstorming ideas about her performance with her team, or rehearsing for what really matters – the… Read more »

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  Panna

The EUR 42 must be Business Class. Why more rehearsing of her performance? She must know it backwards, having been practicing since 2012.

Dawid
Dawid
1 year ago
Reply to  Bernard

They aren’t forced to go anywhere. If there’s one thing That puts me off about Finland, its that KAARIJA is openly saying that his only competition is Loreen. Like, he must realize how much disrespectful that is towards other contestants.

Trin
Trin
1 year ago
Reply to  Dawid

When Käärijä is asked which country is his biggest competition in Eurovision are you saying that he is not allowed to reply? Finland has always been the “little brother” of Sweden and is always trying to beat the “bigger brother”, no matter what the competition is and that what he was referring to in his reply.

Dawid
Dawid
1 year ago
Reply to  Trin

You’re missing the part i’m talking about. Let’s quote the whole thing.

“THEY’RE ALL EASY TO BEAT, but it will be legendary battle between Finland and Sweden”

Trin
Trin
1 year ago
Reply to  Dawid

He was clearly joking! Did you also belive, that people should visit Vantaa 😀

Cheerio
Cheerio
1 year ago

Y’all aren’t giving Estonia enough credit. Alika easily had the best vocals of the night and there’s a great potential for a Voila level staging. My 3rd place of 2023 🙂

Anonymous91
Anonymous91
1 year ago
Reply to  Cheerio

Queen Alika, nothing can go wrong for her, easy jury winner of semi 2

fever
fever
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous91

The bad news is, there is no jury in SF this year.
SF2 is not that competitive, so Alika is supposed to be a safe qualifier. Yet I do not very get why she is not very popular? Is it because it is a ballad? I thought she would deserve much more than this — based on her vocal, performance and her popularity during their NF.

Anonymous91
Anonymous91
1 year ago
Reply to  fever

i am a tough critic when it comes to ballads, i tend to like the male ballads more, i like a few female ballads too, but more importantly is lots of emotions, soul, genuine meaningful lyrics, this national final season i was quite impressed with Janek’s House of Glass, Chris Grech’s Indescribable, Geo debono’s The Mirror, songs which have such beautiful melancholic almost anthemic flows

Ria NL
Ria NL
1 year ago
Reply to  Cheerio

I agree with you, Alika was amazing

Zanoni
Zanoni
1 year ago

“Stay” continues to rise for me at just the right time. Perhaps Albania too, to a lesser extent. Estonia and Slovenia are dependable hits for me at this point. This might have been the first Dilja performance I wasn’t feeling. Czechia’s not looking great for me.

Zanoni
Zanoni
1 year ago
Reply to  Zanoni

Just heard Latvia’s performance. Also excellent.

Poul Riisen
Poul Riisen
1 year ago
Reply to  Zanoni

They are on point! With juries in the semis, the song would qualify for sure. Now, I am worried. I still listen to the song on repeat, like the beat and his voice!

West
West
1 year ago
Reply to  Zanoni

I listened to Czech performance and I think that the sound technicians should looks for a new job – backing vocals louder then the lead, girls clearly not being able to hear themselves and broken mic noone bother to fix. Despite all this Vesna gave a good performance and I don’t see where the complains are coming from.

Esc addict / Shut up and watch my ...
Esc addict / Shut up and watch my ...
1 year ago

Lithuania, Malta, Albania, Croatia, Slovenia, Ireland, Iceland, Estonia, San Marino were the highlights of yesterday imo. I’m not especially into their songs, but I liked their vocals and their professionalism on stage with or without sound issues, they sounded really good.
I must say Croatia has surprised me the most really positively, this song works well in front of a good crowd, it was fun to see.

Anonymous91
Anonymous91
1 year ago

Alika is the all time best artist that has ever performed on the eurovision stage, no one is better than her and no one will be ever better than her

nothing can go wrong for estonia this year

Zac
Zac
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous91

Can you give me a name of your supplier? I would like be also that delusional. 😀

Marlinken
Marlinken
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous91

ABBA and Celine Dion say “Hi”.

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  Marlinken

As do Jemini

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago

Seems odd that their own representative did not perform at her hometown show?

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Jofty

Consider that she might have had a carburetor thrown on her I am not surprised she wasn’t there.

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
1 year ago
Reply to  Sol Stevia

What’s that?! I’ve never heard of that. Why would someone throw something at her?

Escfan
1 year ago
Reply to  Jofty

I think I heard that she pulled out due to all the negativity surrounding the selection which ngl wouldnt blame her for.

Dawid
Dawid
1 year ago
Reply to  Escfan

Well, she could’ve asked for voting details alongside press but she clearly doesn’t want to make them public though.

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  Escfan

Very awkward and embarrassing for her but of course the unwashed public will not know any of the backstory on May 11. Reminds me of the “upsetting incident” for Switzerland 1998, I don’t know how the poor girl got through the performance.

ESCFan31
ESCFan31
1 year ago
Reply to  Jofty

Both she and Jann turned down the offer, which isn’t entirely surprising

Dawid
Dawid
1 year ago
Reply to  ESCFan31

Jann i believe is on some tour. She just didn’t wanna be here

ThorBeta
ThorBeta
1 year ago

Seems like a great party from the crowd enjoying it, but I’m not gonna judge the performances. It’s a tiny stage and it feels pretty much like a concert rather than a TV show.

ThorBeta
ThorBeta
1 year ago
Reply to  ThorBeta

*and actually like a school concert I dare to say, without this being a bad thing

Teo
Teo
1 year ago

I was most impressed (surprised) by Croatia. His live vocals here were AMAZING. I would also mention Iceland,she is crazy good vocalist.

WannaEatMySpaghetti
WannaEatMySpaghetti
1 year ago
Reply to  Teo

I’m not here to offend but how could Let 3 fail their performance? The song is written in a way you can’t fail it, even drunk… half the song is only talking and the other half, well not really complicated.
And please don’t misunderstand my comment. I think Croatia will be in final and I won’t complain about it even if it’s not my choice. I’m just pointing the fact that you can’t really say that the guy sings well. What you can say is that he performs the song well. Then I agree.

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago

He actually is a very good singer. The way the song is performed is intentional and I love it.

fever
fever
1 year ago

He actually has a good vocal. Just, the performance is fragmented, and we cannot have his singing till, and only in the chorus.

Poul Riisen
Poul Riisen
1 year ago
Reply to  Teo

Dilja from Iceland is a great performer and elevates the song, which is mediocre. I love her energy and vocals! I feel Dilja will make the song qualify to the final. Fingers crossed. Afram Island!

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago

Croatia.