First rehearsals for Eurovision 2024 have officially kicked off. On Saturday 27 April, seven countries from semi-final 1 took to the Malmö stage for the very first time, providing us with a glimpse of the stage shows they’ve been preparing over the past few months.
Poland’s LUNA climbed her tower, Ireland’s Bambie Thug put a hex on their partner … and that was just two of today’s acts.
But which of the seven rehearsals impressed you the most?
You can watch our reviews in the YouTube playlist below, as well as inspect the rehearsal footage for yourself. Then scroll down to vote in our poll and share your opinions.
Eurovision 2024 first rehearsals: Saturday 27 April
- Cyprus: Silia Kapsis – “Liar”
- Serbia: Teya Dora – “Ramonda”
- Lithuania: Silvester Belt – “Luktelk”
- Ireland: Bambie Thug – “Doomsday Blue”
- Ukraine: alyona alyona & Jerry Heil – “Teresa & Maria”
- Poland: LUNA – “The Tower”
- Croatia: Baby Lasagna – “Rim Tim Tagi Dim”
Poll: Who had the best first rehearsal at Eurovision 2024 on Saturday (27 April)
You can vote for as many of the acts as you would like. But you’ll only be able to vote once — so choose wisely!
Who did you vote for? Who was your biggest grower of the day? Let us know in the comments below.
Croatia isn’t winning, that stage show is barely interesting and song sucks.
Bake yourself some lasagna for May 11th
The Baby Lasanga pix on the HRT site look spectacular.
Please, just get rid of the greased hair. We don’t want you looking too ptetty like one of them city boys, Marko.
Obviously we can only judge so much based on a few photos, but regarding those, my favourite from yesterday was Ukraine.
I don’t get this. Who had the best rehearsal, even though no one (outside the arena) could see it?
You need tik tok
About the styling.., I prefer the leather Dora outfits for Croatia, the new ones are not cool or sexy at all, Baby Lasagna is wearing a pyjama pants and the girl has a diaper over her leggings, not cool or sexy at all. unfortunately they tried too hard to mix tradition with modern fashion,
Cyprus will come Top 5 in this Semi and Top 12 overall
Why so much hatred for this comment?Honestly people. grow up. Every country is here to do its best and every country deserves respect
I bit dispappointed by my Teresa & Maria.
It looks less good than I wished for.
It will be good from upstairs with the Cross.
i like how brighter it looks compared to the NF staging
also better outfits than at the NF
poland got the vox populi staging lol
The idea behind the closed for the press rehearsals was to give the artists and delegations a lot less to worry about. But here we are with an article where we can vote for who had the best rehearsal. Rehearsals we haven’t even seen, apart from some photos and clips.
we can base our votes in this poll on which staging looks best on those photos, those little clip
Croatia, am obsessed with Baby Lasagna honestly, also his outfit now: perfect resemblance to the Sissi era, looks kinda like a modern day Prince Franz! also very vegas show act, very cheesy which i like
same Poland, also very cheesy i think, she promised us a fairytale so i am intrigued
it takes way more effort for you to troll than for people to be annoyed
Ukraine’s staging was good but the song is just boring and mediocre :/
Croatia’s staging also looks good with traditional elements
wait also ireland
Most of the performances just seem to lack soul at this point. It seems like Serbia’s, Ukraine’s, and Lithuania’s were the only ones that were kind of overblown. Let’s wait for the other songs to see if they have better staging, because we could be in for a surprise.
I’m so proud to be Irish. We have had a hard run of it since 2018. Brooke should have qualified but this year is our year. We are definitely back
For the rest of EU she is just a girl that screams majority of the song, and a big NQ
Screams…? Totally disagree. Its very artistic. She has a good voice and it’s v catchy.. id be amazed if she doesnt qualify for final
Apols meant they
Speak on your own behalf- you are not the voice of the EU. You are entitled to your view but don’t sell it as the view of others.
If you are being respectful, Bambie’s pronouns are they/them.
I’m not getting all the hype for Serbia. I think she could be in trouble.
Good thing I feel the same about Olly Alexander.
I think so too.
I’m not getting all the hype for Ireland, I think her entire act is just cringe and cheap theater… but people have different options and full rights on it
I suppose you’re going to tell us that Croatia is the height of sophistication next.
If you read my previous comments you can see Croatia is on the bottom of my list. Do not assume, read!
There is no hype for Ireland but a spirited performance from Bambi is different and original
Serbia have had more death slots honestly, Luke last year also qualified from a not so popular position #3 and Konstrakta the year before had #3 slot too in semi 2
i think a classy ballad from Teya, beautiful lyrical composition, stunning instrumentals can put Cyprus in quite a lot of trouble, same how Greece will put Malta and Albania in a lot of trouble in semi 2 this year the contrast of something more genuine, authentic to something unoriginal i mean
The butterfly on the male dancers body on Bambie Thug is that a nod to the symbol of the motif used by Sweden in 2013 when last held in Malmo do we think?
That’s a nice idea. I thought the reference was these two things:
Poland is the only surprise here. Besides that everything else looks very good too.
I thought it was a great start to the Day 1 rehearsals.
Bambie looked fabulous. They’re surely going to qualify!
Luna came across really well too, and hopefully will have a better a Polish staging than recent years. She seemed really sweet.
Croatia was a stiff hot mess, still my 34th place in total, Ukraine was a nice one, Serbia fabulous, Lithuania is a mid, the rest are not even worth mentioning it…
For me today
1- Ukraine (the staging, the colors, the outfits, voices…Just wow)
2- Poland (great great staging!)
3- Ireland (the best atmosphere)
4- Serbia (love to see the music video scenography)
5- Croatia (good but nothing different or better)
6- Lithuania (same of Croatia)
7- Cyprus (mh, I’m disappointed)
For me it’s Ireland, Croatia and Serbia
For me best rehearsal Ireland, Serbia
OK rehearsal Ukraine , Lithuania
Disappointed rehearsal Cyprus (looks like JESC version of Greece ESC song from 2005,) , Croatia (ok, but with this staging I don t see Croatia to win), Poland ( to kitschy for my teaste)
Croatia’s staging is good actually, what else can be put on the stage to win?
As a minimum, live animals coming from the screen and joining Baby Lasagna… and at the end kitten walking down the stage, turning into a lion and roars llong for a big finale
(I am being sarcastic, just to be clear)
Some actual cats dancing would have been great tbh
Lol, if they would manage that, we would not have any more discussions about winner…. few are immune to cats and dancing cats, even juries would fall
or some pokemon cats like Meowth or Persian but they wouldn’t have the rights for that i think same as Finland with their windows logo
or Baby Lasagna dressing up as a cat himself
(sarcasm just to be clear)
your sarcasm is right up my cup of tea, and to be clear i like his song otherwise i wouldn’t listen to it quite a lot of times tbh
Better outfits and something that pops out
Croatia had the best and most polished 1st rehearsal.
I’m not impressed tbh, I don’t like the outfits and the fire is too cliché I think the song needs a surprise element, the cats are cute but unfortunately the song is not about cats.
The song is absolutely about cats. He is leaving his village and pleading with his cat to meow back.
Ukraine is gonna be dark horse.
I believe, the judges will finally be adequate to them and give them fair point (unlike previous years)
I think juries put them on a 10th place max
They looked lovely on stage
Ireland gets my vote .
Ireland ?? for me ??
For me, Ireland went from being iffy on qualifying to sure qualifier. That could be a real showstopper when televised.In all, these first rehearsals really set the bar high.
I just remember Franka for Croatia in 2018. Everyone was hyped about her “lifted” performance and then She ended up 17th in the semi. That’s What you Are feeling about Ireland this year. No one will vote for this song. Ireland took a risk bit a weird one and they will End up last or 14th. Mark my words!
I hope you’re right.
i think Ireland stands a good chance to qualify this year, something more risky compared to their usual generic pop entries
and there is a audience for this style honestly, any fan of musical theatre will also appreciate what Bambie are bringing to the ESC
Doomsday Blue could be the ”Mama SC” of this year i think
Ooh I agree with you!
What a lovely Day 1, thank you everyone.
All good for me. Ireland was my personal favourite (because I love theatre), but Ukraine looks impressive; all the others are solid too. Giant chess pieces from Poland and a sexy outfit from Luna are interesting choices.
From what I’ve seen Ukraine looks absolutely stunning! But of course it’s kind of hard to judge based off of a few pictures and a low quality video lol
I don’t like the way Croatia mixed the traditional outfits with a modern look, I would have loved 100% traditional outfits, now it’s a bit overdone, Besides this it’s a missed opportunity the staging does not tell the story of the song. It’s not about cats but about young people leaving their home town. And the fire ? is a bit of a cliché. Marco is a good performer, but will it be enough?
based on what… didn’t see a thing lol
Photos and snippets from tiktok
Ireland, Ukraine and Serbia had the best rehearsal. I see Croatians doing their thing again, hilarious.
Bambie – they’re pure art! Those images are ready for print, they’re so beautiful; but was super Impressed with the readiness of all acts.. it didn’t seem like a 1st rehearsal. Kudos to the photographer BTW!!!
So, next up: audio, catching those camera angles, and the movement (and its effect on vocals – be careful Poland… A lot to do in 3-mins.. don’t get breathless).
And funny too: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGe9E1BME/
Ukraine was the best. The whle concept was realy interesting and the girls have the music abilities to give us something amazing. That song needs a powerful duo on stage
Second favourite Serbia. Very decent, nice voice and she is ready to qualify
Ukraine and Serbia for me. They looked stunning. Croatia is what we expected it to be, so its good but not amazing. Im not a big fan of their visuals on the screen. This needs tight camerawork.
Looks like Ukraine combined last winners in their performance Jerry looks a bit similar to Loreen and DeForest, alyona to Jamala(don’t ask me why), the walking shadows on the screen when alyona’s rapping look like shadows from Kalush, and im sure the last stage scene when they are sitting on the flor will be effective like a Jamalas tree, soooo will se how it works, Im exited!!
People say Tanu Muino is a stage director of their performance
The performance is overdone, wish they could keep it simple like in the NF.
With the very few we can see during the first rehearsals, I don’t see the point of making a poll there. Or at least don’t call it “who had the best first rehearsal”, go for “who made the best impression”. It seems more appropriate to me when we can base our opinion only on 5 photos and a very very short video (with terrible sound).
I’d say none of them seems bad for the moment. I’m very excited to see more about Ireland and Ukraine.
Lithuania looks ready to go. Ireland and Ukraine look like they’re gonna be impressive. Ukraine always plays the game and knows how to stage, gotta give them that. Croatia looks just like in the NF. I like the cats but again, this really should not win a song contest. Undecided about Poland, could go either way. Cyprus polished, Serbia ok.
Ireland looks promising, Cyprus underwhelming
Cyprus NQ
1. Ukraine
2. Ireland
3. Serbia
4. Lithuania
5. Poland
6. Croatia
7. Cyprus
But no one is bad!!!
My thoughts for today’s rehearsals (of course it’s too early for anything definite) : CYPRUS: Cyprus is staged exactly as one would expect: 4 backing dancers and LED images that are very alike all sorts of projections we have seen in similar entries in the past. The choreography is also nothing new. Silva dances well and seems to be in control of the performance (impressive for her age) but I am not sure she is a sure qualifier. SERBIA: Serbia kept the music video+national final performance aesthetic and they were correct to do that. The atmospheric, dark and melancholic staging… Read more »
The final is three weeks away. Rehearsals sure start early. That’s a big commitment.
To answer the question, I guess Bambie had the “best” in terms of gaining momentum. Not that I ever doubted that they would shine.
Two weeks.
OMG what was I thinking. I knew it is May 11, which I seriously thought was three weeks away.
Let’s just forget this comment happened…
Time really does fly.
We will died soon 🙁
I hope you’ve not made other plans for two weeks time!
Two weeks. And exactly two weeks from now, we all have a hangover.
Can’t vote. And obviously people vote for what song they like best. Was Croatia so above everyone else?
Yes haha
No Croatia is the biggest flop of the year)
Definitely.
Ireland! 😮
Honestly, none of them disappointed today
footages were (like) behind the cameras. it’s impossible to make a decision
Ukraine and Croatia stood out to me. Top 5 material.
Cyprus was magnificent!
Not really, vocal was shaky and the stage were kinda not there. How can you say it was magnificent 😀
Cyprus for the win! Winner Chicken Dinner! 🙂
I´m so sick of this kind of perfomances….
Then Eurovision is not for you
Where?
Let them hate Ur comments. There is no original song in this contest. Ukraine keeps sending the same song every few years. Even Croatia and Ireland that I like are by no means original songs. Hateful comments come from people who know nothing about music lol. Otherwise they would respect every culture and every song
Wow Poland!