The six automatic qualifiers of Eurovision 2023 — the Big 5 and reigning champions Ukraine — have now had their second rehearsals. But who made the most of their time on stage?
You can now watch the recap video below to see a 30-second snippet of what (almost) every act will look like on TV next Saturday.
Unfortunately, there were technical problems with the United Kingdom’s clip and so this has not been included in the roundup.
Once you’re up to speed with the other five, go vote in our poll.
You can vote for as many countries as you’d like, but you can only vote ONE time. Be sure to click the box next to each act you want to support before hitting submit.
Eurovision 2023 automatic qualifier rehearsal roundup
Which automatic qualifier had the best second rehearsal?
Who did you vote for? Which automatic qualifier has surprised you the most following their rehearsal? Let us know in the comments below.
Any news on the UK’s rehearsal clip? Like could they just release camera (not TikTok) footage from the 1st rehearsal? If they wait for the dress rehearsals then that’s like Friday
Reminds me if Cyborg from Teen Titans
Ukraine i mean
Italy : simply and beautiful song . Good performance and a Great vocal .
top 5 !
Spain & Italy <3 I am pleasantly surprised by Germany too, looks amazing!
So Italy did wear a different outfit for their second rehearsal! That Kazz was right the previous day, I wonder if she/he/they work for EBU..?
France, Germany, Spain and Italy and also possibly UK would’ve qualified easily if they were in any of the semifinals. This is a year when automatic qualification is not as unjust.
LOTL will rock this! ?
France is my fave song overall but haven’t seen enough from the 30 second clip. La Zarra’s costume in the photographs looks amazing but I haven’t seen it’s full effect come through on the short video clip. It all looks a bit too much black on black so far but there is promise for more to come with hints of glitter ball reflections and the use of red white and blue colours. This is needed to make the performance pop. I am sure they are holding the best back for the big reveal in the semi final clip and live… Read more »
You’re exactly right Ted as I can easily see france winning this ; moreover I can see France actually winning the jury vote over the overrated Sweden
Honestly all of them looked very good. Germany : Epic vocals, great colour palette and nice catwalk use. Very effecive. France : The best possibly. Theatrical, the lighting is excellent, La Zarra oozes class, the whole staging is just amazing. Can’t wait to see the rest of it. Spain : Same as what we saw in benidorm. Vocals are still great and the light effect with the hand we saw in the first rehearsal clip is very interesting. Still not a fan of the song. Ukraine : REALLY elevated with those visuals. Like A LOT. It looks more modern, more… Read more »
Soy Español y no se si Eaea de Blanca Paloma se valorará o no, lo que si sé que traemos una propuesta única, diferente, con una gran artista que no dejará indiferente a nadie y te transporta a su mundo en los tres minutos de actuación… Espero Top 5. Orgulloso es poco de cómo RTVE lleva trabajando tan bien desde Chanel el año pasado a este con Blanca Paloma. Francia, La Zarra, su voz y su sola presencia junto con una buena realización de cámara y juegos de luces pueden elevarse y dar la sorpresa me gusta y mucho, se… Read more »
Honestly? All of them looked great.
France and Spain without any doubts
They are all quite good. Actually this is the best rehearsals recap of all.
I have to point out that my less favourite was Italy, but it has become higher in my top: a good traditional Italian ballad, with a great singer… sometimes the simpler, the better.
Not a fan of the Spain song but that rehearsals did look and sounded great, the best of these snippets anyway.
Hard to judge France because it doesn’t really give anything
Germany looked good as well although we do have a lot of red this year
Italy is quite bland. Marco’s vocal is great but needs to connect with the camera more, let us see those amazing eyes
Ukraine was underwhelming, staging is ok but vocals didn’t sound the best.
A good job by the Big 5 (less 1) + Ukraine:
Germany: suitably flamboyant and dramatic, this grabs a lot of attention
France: exquisite styling, I’m really intrigued to see how the disco bit goes down.
Spain: I’m not sold on the song, but the staging looks really nice, I enjoy the swirling camera, it seems to fit with the auditory onslaught of this song.
Italy: I got unexpectedly emotional during the 30-second clip. The staging, the outfit and Marco elevate this beyond the ordinary
Ukraine: dark and powerful, aptly portraying the defiance in the song.
My final, complete TOP-6 of the Big-5 countries (+Ukraine) of the ESC 2023: 1. France – “Évidemment” (SONG: 10/10) – (STAGING/VISUAL EFFECTS, OUTFITS: 10/10) – (2ND REHEARSAL: 10/10) *–(OVERALL: 30/30)* 2. Spain – “EaEa” (SONG: 10/10) – (STAGING/VISUAL EFFECTS, OUTFITS: 10/10) – (2ND REHEARSAL: 10/10) *–(OVERALL: 30/30)* 3. Germany – “Blood And Glitter” (SONG: 9.5/10) – (STAGING/VISUAL EFFECTS, OUTFITS: 9.5/10) – (2ND REHEARSAL: 10/10) *–(OVERALL: 29/30)* 4. Ukraine – “Heart Of Steel” (SONG: 6/10) – (STAGING/VISUAL EFFECTS, OUTFITS: 10/10) – (2ND REHEARSAL: 10/10) *–(OVERALL: 26/30)* 5. United Kingdom – “I Wrote A Song” (SONG: 6.5/10) – (STAGING/VISUAL EFFECTS, OUTFITS: 7/10)… Read more »
My predictions after watching rehearsals:
France: great staging and song. Top 5 most likely.
Germany: usually skip this song but performance might boost its chances. Top 20 maybe.
Italy: strong song and singer, lacklustre staging. Top 10 but could go higher with better staging.
Spain: strong vocals but don’t like the song. Could surprise. Think it has support though. Top 15.
Ukraine: depending on its position could be forgotten. Not bad but nothing extraordinary. Top 20
I agree 100% (perhaps not so about Italy, can expect it lower) but other than that, France might be Top-10 or Top-5, Germany Top-20 (also a contender for bottom), Italy meh (Top-15), Spain (I agree, I don’t like the song) Top-15 to 20. Ukraine, Bottom-5 of the grand final. The UK is a question for me, I wish them all the luck but I personally can’t see it doing well.
Oh yeah, the UK: Like the song, could be seen as generic pop song though – it’s top 15.
I forecast a bottom 5 for Uk. Nothing stands up enough as to appeal the juries or the televote.
Love this new Zarra Tower, would sit very well in the Parisian skyline right ? What a mo(nu)ment !
I have to admit that France’s staging seems really strong. Could be the best one for imo. La Zarra is classy and represent perfectly the idea (false idea) that people have about France. The job is really well done. The only thing I’m concerned about is the singing. The few we can hear seems a little bit off tune for me. Perhaps it’s in my head. Anyway France is all in for the top 3 and maybe more. For the others Spain is really strong too even if there is no surprise. Blanca Paloma might be the most charismatic artist… Read more »
Ukraine seems have solidified its spot in top 3!
Oh definitely. Watch eurofans pissing in their pants
I like that the Big-5 are competitive and back in the game. But I kind of feel they are overrated and overhyped this year. I also saw the rehearsals and will be honest. FRANCE the best of the Big5+1. LaZarra is great, looking great, her voice is to die for. The song is nice BUT for me (personal opinion) the middle part with the disco does not fit. The intro is great and when it ends and you expect something great, the song drops to a cliche disco part. She will do well, I wish France luck but I would… Read more »
Here in the Balkans, we love that Spanish drama and music. Spain is my 1st place this year in total (not counting my own country ofc). So, it resonates among people outside the Iberian peninsula.
Spain might also get some love from the rest-of-the-world vote considering they share a language and culture with 20-ish countries in Latin America and the massive hispanic population in the US. I know the RoTW vote won’t have a big impact on the overall result, but I guess every vote counts. 🙂
What is the point of the poll if the UK is not included?
To rank the rest of the entries, Big4+Ukraine. lol
Honestly they all achieved what they wanted to do greatly. Italy is my favourite with Spain afterwards and Germany being a big surprise as they are constantly climbing in my rankings. Waiting for the UK also, the performance seems really fun. The Big 5 this year are really good!
Germany is much more elevated. France looks incredible and so does Ukraine.
I admit the camera angles do make France’s staging better. But the best was definitely Spain – at least for me.
They were all very good, LOFTL brings the fire, Marco slays the vocals, Blanca shows all her power, La Zarra opens her performance like the stunning queen she is, Tvorchi brings a very cool and slick performance, really polished, Mae brings the British Pop Art in a cool way. A stunning big 5+1 this year. Honestly if they had to pass by the semi-final, I think they would all qualify easily.
I know we didn’t see Mae’s rehearsals but whatever, we already know the vibe of her performance and it’s very cool.
I have to say that the opening of Tvorchi, the opening of La Zarra and the voice of Marco gave me goosebumps and I love to feel this kind of chills.
It’s really a shame that one unauthorized sing-along ruined the rehearsal footage for the UK.
About the UK… I wonder if they would do the same for any other country with “technical issues,” or if they would force them to show a clip anyway. It seems like and unfair advantage for the host country.
like an*
Sorry, but the excuse for UK.. I mean, many countries seem to have some issues but they still had to select 30 seconds to show. And now UK suddenly had technical issues? Sounds BS to me. I really enjoy Mae’s song, don’t get me wrong, but they are not playing the game (as fair as anyone else).
The problem was one of the arena technical crew was also enjoying her song too much.
Apparently, he was singing along the whole time during her rehearsal and it was picked up on the recordings. It’s on Twitter. Obviously, for this reason, her rehearsal clips couldn’t be released.
That opening for France!!! Winning performance
I love France and Spain, amazing! and what a slick and polish staging Ukraine has,just wow!
overall I love big 5+1 this year a lot
¡La Zarra ganadora!
France 10/10
Italy 8/10
Ukraine 7/10
Spain 7/10
Germany 7/10
1- France
2- Germany
3- Italy
4- Spain
5- Ukraine
they all were amazing, like really big 5 and Ukraine nalied the staging this year, I love to see it
ALL OF THE ABOVE