First rehearsals for Eurovision 2024 are continuing. On Monday 29 April, eight countries from semi-final 2 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.
Malta’s Sarah Bonnici got flung around the stage by some rather dashing men, Denmark’s SABA left her mark by sprinkling a handful of sand … and that was just two of today’s acts.
But which of the eight rehearsals impressed you the most?
Inspect the rehearsal footage for yourself, then scroll down to vote in our poll and share your opinions.
Eurovision 2024 first rehearsals: Monday 29 April
- Malta: Sarah Bonnici – “Loop”
- Albania: BESA – “TITAN”
- Greece: Marina Satti – “ZARI”
- Switzerland: Nemo – “The Code”
- Czechia: Aiko – “Pedestal”
- Austria: Kaleen – “We Will Rave”
- Denmark: SABA – “SAND”
- Armenia: LADANIVA – “Jako”
Poll: Who had the best first rehearsal at Eurovision 2024 on Monday (29 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.
Off topic, but does anyone know if this years contest is being televised in 4K UHD. If so, is the BBC broadcasting this ??????
I just looked at the greek tiktok clip and the photos. Im sorry but what in that material warrants more than 3 times the votes of any other contestant in this poll? The greek megafans must have flooded the voting. It was litteraly only her with a few dancers on stage! What is so impressive about that? From what I saw it was just a REALLY basic staging. She sounded good but other than that I truly don’t get it.
Greeks mass vote their own entry, that crap isn’t going anywhere near final.
RELAX Andrew!
This is just a speculation. Learn how to respect the viewers opinion and also the artists. Crap is only your comment…
Best all that Greece was never that good to begin with. The song gets quite irritating and honestly can’t get some of the hype behind it. Moreover Marina looked so silly in that skirt/shorts(?). It gives the impression that she’s wearing some oversized nappy.
Besides…not best.
So, basically, after first official rehearsal people are finally realiting how great Marina is…as well as what a cringefest Swituerland is?
GOOD!
Greece wasn’t good to even begin with.
Finally the swiss down, the party is over
Unfortunatelly its first because the level of the contest is so low so its essy to stand out singing falsetto and wearing pink (its easy to sing falsetto) If in te contest vere normal level not so weak, thiss swiss man were without any chances
Ukraine, France, Italy have better songs than Swiss
I agree
With Switzerland, there are just too many ingredients for a three-minute song. Which itself sounds like a show reel.
Let’s be honest, the song is a health hazard. I will be, however, enjoying myself while watching this mess of a furry performance.
It’s hard to judge (just snippets) Switserland is a bit of a disappointment, the staging is beautiful, but it’s very different from the video. It could be anyone’s staging. They focused too much on the aesthetics in stead of the story of the song. They look good in bright pink though
What is so special in the Swiss? A short man in pink is jumping Eurovision is getting worse and worse
crazy how it just takes a few people to start a ‘this was amazing’ vibe and everyone just agrees and follows. Greece, was… ok..??
Malta was the surprise of the day for me, Austria delivered as expected and Switzerland was a bit of a disappointment, not gonna lie.
I seriously don’t see a reason for Malta not to finish in top 10. Except for being Malta. Some countries don’t have the fan base to push them through.
You don’t need it when the song is good enough, Duncan Laurence didn’t have a fanbase before Eurovision no one knew him in the Netherlands.
Sure…. But in top 10 we had not so good songs that killed staging… I am not talking about the winning, far from that…. You can’t give me justification why Malta is the last in betting odds. Even this year we have way worse than Malta
Greece, Malta, Austria and Armenia had best stagings for me personally
Going into today – my favorites of the bunch (just the songs) are Albania, Greece, Swtizerland, Austria, and Armenia. Was not a huge fan of Malta, Czechia, or Denmark. However, after the first rehearsals, here are my thoughts: Albania – I am very worried! I am worried about the outfit and the interpretation of the performance, I was hoping for something closer to the music video or fik. Greece – I cannot tell if I should be worried or relieved – the LED graphics is not what I would have picked myself, and there are no props of any kind,… Read more »
The most impress me right now is Austria and Malta.
Greece look nice but need to watch camera angle hope it’s not too messy.
Switzerland the outfit is questionable it’s kinda distract me staging wise look interesting.
Czechia looks good too besides her half naked outfit, seems like a trend this year.
Armenia also nice but the clip didn’t show much.
The most disappointing is Albania wasn’t they have the same person who make Finland last year staging??? I thought they going to make like her Music video as staging. And the outfit just meh.
Maybe 2nd rehearsal change everything.
Albania has the same choreographer as Finland, so she (choreographer) is only responsible for dance moves, but other than that Besa has different team.
For another year I ahead the pleasure of working behind the scenes in the eurovision production. Last time I worked in the eurovision production was in 2022 in Turin. Sweden is a great host and is doing the best it can to make every country stand out on the eurovision stage. The stage itself looks amazing on the screen and people all over Europe will be very impressed! I’m in the arena watching the rehearsals and I have to say Ukraine had the best rehearsal from semi 1, it was very effective visually and vocally. From semi 2 Greece is… Read more »
Of course…
Thank you for the insider insight – and thank you for all of your hard work! It means so much to us fans everything that those behind the scenes put into making an incredible show, and I hope you are enjoying the opportunity to be up close to the magic!
So you’re the same self important person who claimed Amanda Tenfjord was a contender to win? I mean I certainly would’ve liked that but you were so wrong it couldn’t get more wrong.
This is your personal opinion, we will see what the general opinion will be like
Greece won by far and it’s not even close. Are we looking at Athens 2025? It’s certainly a possibility.
It most certainly isn’t, total bag of crap.
The Greek entry has the most viewed video on TikTok. It seams than Eurofans enjoy crap.
anyone else wish some eurofans weren’t so toxic? I mean people can have opinions, respect that and we’re good
I think people really try to read behind the lines. First they saw Marina’s pics and complained about the skirt, but when the rehearsal they got ecstatic. Now they are complaining about Nemo outfit. It is not Project Runaway and the most important above all is song and voice
Neither looks good.
The whole performance is important, the way you sell your song.
Albania 1st in press poll ranking today ?
press is not allowed the first rehearsals at this point they can’t judge it properly
Im a fan of The Code, but that outfit…. I have to admit that i think it looks way too distractive. It should have been more in balance imho. This could cause a lot of What The F around people in Europe. It just doesnt look attractive at all. I hope im wrong though. It really would be a great winner.
A short man in pink is jumping…It didnt deserve to win
A short man in pink is jumping…It didnt deserve to win
Nemo is short? That’s it, I’ve had enough. Do the EBU know about this?
They also have a short neck (there go their chances of winning)
Nemo is non binary, please respect that.
He is a man. Please respect facts.
I believe you’re barking up the wrong tree if that is what you’ve fooled yourself into believing as being fact.
Agree on that. Love Nemo, love their song. Staging is amazing! But THIS choice of outfit… come on…((
He’s in pink and jumping, but it is still the song and voice that matters. Look at Greece 2023 and Romania 2023. I don’t think Nemo will do Theodor Andrei.
i’m not really against their outfit, more the song which i find one hot mess, but yeah i respect them for having been capable of putting rap, pop, operatic, indie into a 3 minute song
I loved Theodor Andrei’s song and voice. Not his fault that Romanian delegation decided to f *ck it all up/save money/go cheap/ and withdrawn year after.
Different story with Nemo…, their outfit is just their choice…
I prefer the video outfit
I liked Greece, but then again I am Greek. For my defense I dont listen to Greek music. I just like the different approach on a Greek song she has. I liked Malta and Nemo also. The others, not so much.
Marina gave me Ronela vibes ??
Greece will flop hard and heavy with that mess.
I appreciate Nemo’s bold outfit choice, but this looks a little cheap and too arts & crafty. Hopefully they will wear something that looks more expensive.
All the artists have to wear their final outfits for the first rehearsals, so Nemo will wear this.
Except if the rule changed this year, I think they can still change outfit. Last year a few artists changed their costume from 1st to 2nd rehearsal.
Oh please no…
Are you sure? i think they can change it at this point, but not after the jury rehearsals.
A short man in pink is jumping…It didnt deserve to win
The winner vibes based on nothing and the odds obsession in this comment section are hilarious. Some things will never change in this esc world…
The fact that Besa got votes tells you all you need to know about these polls
As if she didn’t deserve it…. as everybody she has right to get votes no?
The fact Besa got votes should tell you something about the Albanian diaspora and gow they always vote for their entry. ALWAYS
I think Greece is winning (I’m delulu)
I think Greece is winning (me too)
Lol, seriously? It stands nowhere near …
Winning what? Award for the dullest stage show?
I was personally impressed by Denmark Armenia and Czechia, Malta and Austria plays in the same category, girls bops with acrobatic choreo, nice to see but nothing never seen or really original. Denmark visuals are really stunning, Armenia is the most engaging staging imo, warmful, joyful and funny at the same time with a lot of sass and charisma. Czechia I like a lot the staging concept. For Albania as much as I love Besa, I don’t find the staging concept outstanding but I love the end of the song and I need to see this part before really judging.… Read more »
Greece gave me slight winner vibes. Still too early to make my prediction.
Marmite songs never win
Facts
Tell that to Jamala and Salvador Sobral.
and Netta
Looking forward to Norway’s entry and Georgia’s. Odds will change tomorrow once Norway comes on stage.
You wish.
Greece impressed me the most, TBH, and after her, Malta. If Loop was a Norwegian entry, and had this staging, we’d be talking about a probable qualification. I really hope that the odds are wrong regarding her. I can switch it with Austria, who was kinda cool-looking, but then again, less of my kind of bop. Switzerland felt ambitious, but I’m not sure what to think of the mascot-type of outfit. But the platform looks cool. Armenia is certainly making it through, it looks ful. Czechia and Albania are basically DOA.
From what a short think we have see today, Greece and Armenia
i vote for Greece as is my favorite too
Nothing really jumping out today.
Swiss looks disappointing but can’t really tell from a 15second clip.
Switzerland loosing in odds after his hilarious stage outfit… great song but his estetics might be too much for average European viewers. Conchita was much more sophisticated
People don’t want more Conchitas, the entertainment industry should take notes and tell Larry Fink to get bent.
There will only ever be one Conchita, the people can relax.
100%!
Croatia is also going down in the odds a bit, I think they could also make some changes when it comes to their outfits.
For me today
1- Armenia (love everything of this entry! Public will love this)
2- Denmark (a BIG vocal improvement and the staging seems good)
3- Greece (ok, it’s great, we’ll see)
4- Malta (good staging and perfomance)
5- Switzerland (it’s a great staging, but I was expecting more)
6- Czechia (It seems improved, but overall It’s just ok)
7- Austria (I am not a fun of this entry and for me It seems something already seen, nothing new)
8- Albania (Last year Albania was my third place, this year seems a step back, I’m sorry)
It has to be Greece. She is just so confident on stage and the Greek language just comes across so beautifully. Watch her odds shorten tomorrow.
They didn’t shorten :/
To be fair the odds didn’t move for anyone so far… weird.
Once again, my thoughts on today’s rehearsals: MALTA: As I’ve said before, girl-bop stagings always leave me cold as they all seem to be using the same template and these kind of songs are not my taste (Loop included) . However, Sarah seems to be in control of the performance and has a good dance routine. This kind of routine worked for Chanel, so could Malta surprise us? ALBANIA: I didn’t like the music video aesthetic, but I find the live performance aesthetic even worse. I don’t like what Besa is wearing at all and the rest of the show… Read more »
First half of 2nd sf is full of boring female songs. Most of them will finish her esc journey there.
Greece was great. I also felt well about Austria and Denmark. Switzerland was underwhelming for many reasons but the song is strong enough. I completely don’t get Armenia but I respect that it has its fans. Malta is vastly improved but I think the song is very weak to start with. Albania and Czechia don’t seem to have any chances unfortunately although I don’t hate either song.
Hate or dislike?
Why wiwibloggs favors this swiss man?
Lol let it go Ania!
There is a big global agenda. Wiwi and others, myself included, have secretly signed up to an underground network that plots to make every citizen on the planet gay and trans. We will not stop until every man, woman, and child had been converted. Each of us is assigned a special mission, and we train day and night to make our evil dream a reality. I am Agent 35836B.
This comment will self-destruct in 60 seconds.
Well said. Haha! Honestly people’s inclination to resort to conspiracies about everything blows my mind evrytime.
Thank you, Agent 47367D. See you back at HQ and we can discuss this further.
Damn, comrade, I knew we couldn’t trust and somebody will push you to your limits and you will give away our secret mission.
This post is true and Wiwibloggs is in on it.
This is why most people have fallen out of love with Eurovision who were originally fans.
Everything finally makes sense
Before we know it this comment is all over the internet and people start to believe it 😉
You didn’t get the memo?
Austria very beautiful rehearsal staged just vocally it is very complicated to listen
Kaleen’s clip looked to be on absolute fire. It looks like we’re going to get what the song promises
It’s just OK for my taste. Although as a teenager I was fan of hard dance and rave music. Now, this song sounds dated and nothing exciting. It’s not a bad song. It’s just that we have heard it before. I am not sure if this will go through.
It’s definitely going through. I find the “heard it before” comment a bit strange – there is only really Greece and Switzerland that are particularly unique – everything else has been done before.
Greece was surprisingly modern and contemporary. Strongest winning vibes so far.
That was undoubtedly the best day until now! I really can’t choose. I would pick Greece Malta Switzerland and Albania.
Kaleen made the best impression for me!
Sweden
Queen of Greece!!!! Greetings from Croatia!
That kingdom collapsed and so will this “queen” too.
I was expecting something more fun, more explosive, more colors from the pyrotechnics of the dancers who pull him in all directions, not a platform where he jumps, slides, dances, laughs, with his horrible outfit. quite disappointed with what I saw . Switzerland sorry it’s à mess
Snippet is too short but *Czechia* seems to have improved everything since the national final. Vocal sounded better and that makes me very happy. The “full of it, full if it” might well win the best lyric – it sounds so good!!
The choreo looks more polished. The concept as read elsewhere is really awesome. I’m thus expecting a dress reveal of sorts or whatever that’s called.
I really want Czechia to go through!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3
It’s either look great or look terrible here, there was no middle ground
Greece and Austria were the best for me.
For me too and Malta.
For me also 🙂
Surprisingly Malta , Armenia and Greece were the best, I liked Austria’s choreo , it will be more interesting on TV . I was thinking about Switzerland as a winner of the the secon semi Final but im not sure its gonna win now .The Netherlands or Greece will win the second semi Final . Armenia will finish in Top 5 !
Now, for my top 8, INCLUDING the songs: 1. Armenia – “Jako” (SONG: 9.5/10) – (STAGING/VISUAL EFFECTS, OUTFITS: 9.5/10) – (1ST REHEARSAL: 10/10) –(OVERALL: 29/30) 2. Switzerland – “The Code” (SONG: 10/10) – (STAGING/VISUAL EFFECTS, OUTFITS: 8.5/10) – (1ST REHEARSAL: 10/10) –(OVERALL: 28.5/30) 3. Greece – “Zári” (SONG: 9.5/10) – (STAGING/VISUAL EFFECTS, OUTFITS: 9/10) – (1ST REHEARSAL: 10/10) –(OVERALL: 28.5/30) 4. Denmark – “Sand” (SONG: 9/10) – (STAGING/VISUAL EFFECTS, OUTFITS: 9/10) – (1ST REHEARSAL: 10/10) –(OVERALL: 28/30) 5. Austria – “We Will Rave” (SONG: 7.5/10) – (STAGING/VISUAL EFFECTS, OUTFITS: 10/10) – (1ST REHEARSAL: 9.5/10) –(OVERALL: 27/30) 6. Malta – “Loop”… Read more »