Eurovision Season 2019: The Big 6 First Rehearsals Roundup & Who Needs the Win the Most? (Part 2)
It seems to me that the closer we get to Eurovision 2019, the less we seem to know about how events will play out next Saturday. There have been some interesting reactions. In the interests of getting everything out before the contest kicks off with some time added in to digest, I have decided to combine this final roundup post with the second edition of this year's 'Who Needs the Win the Most' where we take a look at the remaining favourites to see what them winning Eurovision would actually be like for 2020. The Big 6 rehearsals have obviously thrown more complication into the situation and with that, let's have a look at what happened at their first rehearsals yesterday.
Israel
I don't think I have ever felt more let down by a country more than when I heard the revamp to 'Home'. I understand that strictly anything is possible until the final however it feels like an unwritten rule to give the fans enough time to get into and appreciate the version you have. Now let's talk about the part where this year's Israeli entry was my second favourite and the thing I loved most about it was its understated subtlety backed by Kobi's fantastic voice. Kobi is completely drowned out in the remix and the song if butchered beyond recognition. The staging itself is alright and inoffensive. I was admittedly hoping that Israel would opt to put Kobi in something more casual but he pulls it all off. There is nothing specifically wrong with the way that the Israeli delegation have gone about their business however I feel extremely disappointed and let down by the whole process.
France
Maybe it's because I haven't seen it properly in practice but am I the only person who doesn't get what is so amazing about the French staging? Yes, it is nice to represent diversity on stage, yes it is great to see dancers from margianalised backgrounds on the Eurovision stage but this was just not the song to do that with. This needed to be about Bilal and his struggle and his story. The words do that but they feel like a cheap ripoff of what gave Italy its high score last year. Given that this is the same team as last year, perhaps I shouldn't feel surprised but the French do annoy me by continuing with the self-indulgent nature of their songs and staging attempting to make a big, sweeping political statement but ultimately being shown up for what they are. I could well be eating my words on Saturday night but put simply, this is not a worthy winner.
Spain
Oh Spain. You had a winning lottery ticket set to take you back into the top 10 and you lost it on the way to Tel Aviv. 'La Venda' was never the best song for the Spanish to send but the national final performance in the middle of the audience had everybody on their feet jumping and exciting. The energy came down the camera and it was infectious. This song has been a guilty pleasure of mine throughout this year's Eurovision season. I know it's mediocre but it's bouncy and fun and makes you want to join Miki and his party. This house that he's brought is so needless and unnecessary and ultimately distracts from the one thing selling the song which was his energy and its connection to the audience. The Spanish have really messed this up and it's a shame because in years to come I will be using them as an example on how to ruin a good national final staging for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Italy
Let's start by putting aside Mahmood's illness and focus on judging the staging for what it is. It tells the story well, it is artistic, Mahmood is able to be showcased for the great performer he is. The Italians have done this well but they have not done this wow. Last year, we demonstrated that you don't need to stage well in order to win Eurovision but you certainly have to have something eye-catching that makes you memorable. Mahmood is slipping in the betting odds not because he is ill and not because he isn't a great performer but because this simply isn't set to be memorable enough on a night when Russia will bring sand artists, Cyprus will bring clever camera effects and Sweden will bring their light box (amongst many, many other memorable staging techniques set to appear in this year's grand final).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom surely win the award for best staging this year of the top 6. Here in the British media, we have heard Michael talk about how big his staging was going to be and I was certainly fearing some ridiculous massive prop or some cheesy dancer plotline unfolding. The simplicity of the final result of him and his four backing stage on stage is nothing short of sublime. The BBC have done a great job at getting this song as fit for purpose as possible. How competitive this entry can be is still hard to predict. From a personal level, I went down this same rabbit hole with SuRie last year so I have definitely been burnt before and will therefore still call this as right side of the scoreboard. As a Brit, all I can do is say that Michael is doing the best he can and we are happy for him. I just wish as a British Eurovision fan that we can start sending seasoned artists to the contest instead of respectable, middle-of-the-road fodder that doesn't take risks and doesn't really strive for anything.
Germany
Joe & Jake ruined the whole concept of putting photos on the LED screens at Eurovision in 2016. I think it is overrated and that it does nothing. With that in mind, everything about this German staging feels unoriginal and boring. Maybe when we get more of a sense of the camera angles, we will see more of the girls' emotions and that will be something that the audience can feed off of. For now though, I can see this, Spain & Israel in proper competition for last and the Germans are probably the favourite to win the wooden spoon.
And now that we're so close to the first Semi-Final that you can sense the heat of Poland's Fire of Love, the cold of Finland's icebergs and the magic of Australia's zero gravity poles. Even though the Dutch are firm favourites this year, I don't think loads of people in the Eurovision bubble think it is a sure-fire victory. So with that in mind and following on from my earlier post on the topic (https://internationalisteurovisionblog.blogspot.com/2019/03/eurovision-season-2019-who-needs-win.html), let's have a look at some of the current alternatives.
Azerbaijan
We should rewrite that Amy Winehouse song so that the line in the chorus goes "You'll go back to her and I'll go back to Baku". Chingiz and Symphonix are looking like a deadly duo ready for an assault on the scoreboard come Thursday and Saturday night. So what could be in store for a return to the land of fire? Well, we're probably going back to the Crystal Hall. We're probably going to have the GDP of small nations chucked at putting everything together (which may or may not make for good fan experiences in the EuroClub and EuroVillage). They will definitely need to come up with a new concept for their postcards. We'll probably not see Armenia compete. Everybody will talk about their human rights record including all the boycotting threats that came around Eurovision this year. What more is there to say? Don't get me wrong, Azerbaijan's history at the contest means they are deserving of a second victory and I'm sure a lot has happened to Baku since 2012 but I am not emotionally ready for a return to Azerbaijan and to be honest, I'm not sure if the Azerbaijani delegation are either.
France
As anybody who has been reading my blog from last year will know, I love France but I find it very difficult to get excited about them winning Eurovision with some of the acts they have sent. Yes, Europe love the French way of being more than they should, yes the French language is a nice component to have annually at the contest but was the messiah that French Eurovision fans have been waiting for really a YouTube star called Bilal Hassani? Anyway, as I have said previously, there would probably be a very complicated and drawn out bidding process around some of the smaller French cities before Paris eventually won the opportunity to host France's first Eurovision for a while and with that probably one of the last fro a while. The hosts will be fun, the postcards will probably play off everything loved about France and its culture and the styling will probably be cartoony and playful and beautiful as a lot of French styling is for big events like this (see the 2016 Euros and this year's Women's World Cup). I am really excited for when France win the Eurovision Song Contest again but I really need it to be with the right song and 'Roi' is just not that song. Surely not!
Malta
We go from the easiest contest to put together to surely one of the most difficult. Malta has hosted Junior Eurovision twice but the senior contest is a much larger beast. A warning that I will refer to this a lot regarding the three islands on this list but winning Eurovision for the first time would be a momentous historical and cultural moment for the island. Malta's history at the Eurovision Song Contest deserves it and I'm sure that the country would come together in allowing Europe into this small and sweet community in the Mediterranean. Unlike the other two nations, Malta has a venue that could host in the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre. It holds 13,000 seated and 25,000 standing giving it a significantly better capacity than this year's contest. There will be accommodation easily available and Eurovision with beach would be a fantastic fan experience for everybody making the journey out there. It really wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
Australia
Nothing is holding her down and apparently that is represented in the betting odds. I genuinely laughed when I saw this staging but the joke is apparently on me as people respond to the weird, bizarre magic that is Kate floating above the earth on her strange bendy pole. This is now the favourite to win the first Semi-Final and in a Semi including my favourites Cyprus and my tip for the win Iceland, the idea of an artist like Kate coming out top first over Electric Fields and Sheppard in Australia and then those two gems of songs in Europe slightly sickening. Anyway, I am aware that the Australians supposedly have an agreement in place with Germany from a few years ago on hosting the contest should the Aussies bring it home but I honestly can't look past London as the place where SBS would choose. From the diaspora to the lack of language issues to the large number of flights to London, it seems like an obvious choice. Did I mention how fun it would be to not only see the Aussies turn the O2 into a land down under but also to watching British Eurovision fans such as myself watch the entire thing unfold in our own backyard like the former boyfriend of a beautiful woman who got invited to the wedding out of pity. I would simultaneously love and hate this happening as a concept, but I would really hate it if the song that brought us to that was this one.
Iceland
If ever there were a nation who has been truly waiting for a Eurovision victory, I think Iceland would be a fair shout. When you consider not only their history at the contest and their regular punching above their weight given the nation's size and then how close Selma came during the last contest in Israel in 1999, you can't say that Iceland haven't been waiting a long time for a win. Let's face it, the fan experience would be second to none. Yes, it would be chilly, but also a great opportunity to see one of Europe's most beautiful countries. It would be a chance to have Eurovision in a place where the sun hardly sets and where the nation already has a natural energy and enthusiasm for the contest. Then after partying in the chill of Icelandic May, a quick walk over to the Laugardasholl to see a Eurovision truly transformed by the legacy of Hatari's victory the year before. If Iceland do manage the victory, I don't care how many kidneys I would have to sell to make it happen, I would feel a strong need to go no matter what the cost!
Anyway, what do you think of all of that? Do you think any of them are even a distinct possibility given how relatively firm the odds have remained throughout the pre-Eurovision period? Where would you like to see Eurovision take place? This is the last post before the contest kicks off so sit back, relax and let's enjoy the craziness that is Eurovision week 2019! It's finally here!!!
Israel
I don't think I have ever felt more let down by a country more than when I heard the revamp to 'Home'. I understand that strictly anything is possible until the final however it feels like an unwritten rule to give the fans enough time to get into and appreciate the version you have. Now let's talk about the part where this year's Israeli entry was my second favourite and the thing I loved most about it was its understated subtlety backed by Kobi's fantastic voice. Kobi is completely drowned out in the remix and the song if butchered beyond recognition. The staging itself is alright and inoffensive. I was admittedly hoping that Israel would opt to put Kobi in something more casual but he pulls it all off. There is nothing specifically wrong with the way that the Israeli delegation have gone about their business however I feel extremely disappointed and let down by the whole process.
France
Maybe it's because I haven't seen it properly in practice but am I the only person who doesn't get what is so amazing about the French staging? Yes, it is nice to represent diversity on stage, yes it is great to see dancers from margianalised backgrounds on the Eurovision stage but this was just not the song to do that with. This needed to be about Bilal and his struggle and his story. The words do that but they feel like a cheap ripoff of what gave Italy its high score last year. Given that this is the same team as last year, perhaps I shouldn't feel surprised but the French do annoy me by continuing with the self-indulgent nature of their songs and staging attempting to make a big, sweeping political statement but ultimately being shown up for what they are. I could well be eating my words on Saturday night but put simply, this is not a worthy winner.
Spain
Oh Spain. You had a winning lottery ticket set to take you back into the top 10 and you lost it on the way to Tel Aviv. 'La Venda' was never the best song for the Spanish to send but the national final performance in the middle of the audience had everybody on their feet jumping and exciting. The energy came down the camera and it was infectious. This song has been a guilty pleasure of mine throughout this year's Eurovision season. I know it's mediocre but it's bouncy and fun and makes you want to join Miki and his party. This house that he's brought is so needless and unnecessary and ultimately distracts from the one thing selling the song which was his energy and its connection to the audience. The Spanish have really messed this up and it's a shame because in years to come I will be using them as an example on how to ruin a good national final staging for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Italy
Let's start by putting aside Mahmood's illness and focus on judging the staging for what it is. It tells the story well, it is artistic, Mahmood is able to be showcased for the great performer he is. The Italians have done this well but they have not done this wow. Last year, we demonstrated that you don't need to stage well in order to win Eurovision but you certainly have to have something eye-catching that makes you memorable. Mahmood is slipping in the betting odds not because he is ill and not because he isn't a great performer but because this simply isn't set to be memorable enough on a night when Russia will bring sand artists, Cyprus will bring clever camera effects and Sweden will bring their light box (amongst many, many other memorable staging techniques set to appear in this year's grand final).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom surely win the award for best staging this year of the top 6. Here in the British media, we have heard Michael talk about how big his staging was going to be and I was certainly fearing some ridiculous massive prop or some cheesy dancer plotline unfolding. The simplicity of the final result of him and his four backing stage on stage is nothing short of sublime. The BBC have done a great job at getting this song as fit for purpose as possible. How competitive this entry can be is still hard to predict. From a personal level, I went down this same rabbit hole with SuRie last year so I have definitely been burnt before and will therefore still call this as right side of the scoreboard. As a Brit, all I can do is say that Michael is doing the best he can and we are happy for him. I just wish as a British Eurovision fan that we can start sending seasoned artists to the contest instead of respectable, middle-of-the-road fodder that doesn't take risks and doesn't really strive for anything.
Germany
Joe & Jake ruined the whole concept of putting photos on the LED screens at Eurovision in 2016. I think it is overrated and that it does nothing. With that in mind, everything about this German staging feels unoriginal and boring. Maybe when we get more of a sense of the camera angles, we will see more of the girls' emotions and that will be something that the audience can feed off of. For now though, I can see this, Spain & Israel in proper competition for last and the Germans are probably the favourite to win the wooden spoon.
And now that we're so close to the first Semi-Final that you can sense the heat of Poland's Fire of Love, the cold of Finland's icebergs and the magic of Australia's zero gravity poles. Even though the Dutch are firm favourites this year, I don't think loads of people in the Eurovision bubble think it is a sure-fire victory. So with that in mind and following on from my earlier post on the topic (https://internationalisteurovisionblog.blogspot.com/2019/03/eurovision-season-2019-who-needs-win.html), let's have a look at some of the current alternatives.
Azerbaijan
We should rewrite that Amy Winehouse song so that the line in the chorus goes "You'll go back to her and I'll go back to Baku". Chingiz and Symphonix are looking like a deadly duo ready for an assault on the scoreboard come Thursday and Saturday night. So what could be in store for a return to the land of fire? Well, we're probably going back to the Crystal Hall. We're probably going to have the GDP of small nations chucked at putting everything together (which may or may not make for good fan experiences in the EuroClub and EuroVillage). They will definitely need to come up with a new concept for their postcards. We'll probably not see Armenia compete. Everybody will talk about their human rights record including all the boycotting threats that came around Eurovision this year. What more is there to say? Don't get me wrong, Azerbaijan's history at the contest means they are deserving of a second victory and I'm sure a lot has happened to Baku since 2012 but I am not emotionally ready for a return to Azerbaijan and to be honest, I'm not sure if the Azerbaijani delegation are either.
France
As anybody who has been reading my blog from last year will know, I love France but I find it very difficult to get excited about them winning Eurovision with some of the acts they have sent. Yes, Europe love the French way of being more than they should, yes the French language is a nice component to have annually at the contest but was the messiah that French Eurovision fans have been waiting for really a YouTube star called Bilal Hassani? Anyway, as I have said previously, there would probably be a very complicated and drawn out bidding process around some of the smaller French cities before Paris eventually won the opportunity to host France's first Eurovision for a while and with that probably one of the last fro a while. The hosts will be fun, the postcards will probably play off everything loved about France and its culture and the styling will probably be cartoony and playful and beautiful as a lot of French styling is for big events like this (see the 2016 Euros and this year's Women's World Cup). I am really excited for when France win the Eurovision Song Contest again but I really need it to be with the right song and 'Roi' is just not that song. Surely not!
Malta
We go from the easiest contest to put together to surely one of the most difficult. Malta has hosted Junior Eurovision twice but the senior contest is a much larger beast. A warning that I will refer to this a lot regarding the three islands on this list but winning Eurovision for the first time would be a momentous historical and cultural moment for the island. Malta's history at the Eurovision Song Contest deserves it and I'm sure that the country would come together in allowing Europe into this small and sweet community in the Mediterranean. Unlike the other two nations, Malta has a venue that could host in the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre. It holds 13,000 seated and 25,000 standing giving it a significantly better capacity than this year's contest. There will be accommodation easily available and Eurovision with beach would be a fantastic fan experience for everybody making the journey out there. It really wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
Australia
Nothing is holding her down and apparently that is represented in the betting odds. I genuinely laughed when I saw this staging but the joke is apparently on me as people respond to the weird, bizarre magic that is Kate floating above the earth on her strange bendy pole. This is now the favourite to win the first Semi-Final and in a Semi including my favourites Cyprus and my tip for the win Iceland, the idea of an artist like Kate coming out top first over Electric Fields and Sheppard in Australia and then those two gems of songs in Europe slightly sickening. Anyway, I am aware that the Australians supposedly have an agreement in place with Germany from a few years ago on hosting the contest should the Aussies bring it home but I honestly can't look past London as the place where SBS would choose. From the diaspora to the lack of language issues to the large number of flights to London, it seems like an obvious choice. Did I mention how fun it would be to not only see the Aussies turn the O2 into a land down under but also to watching British Eurovision fans such as myself watch the entire thing unfold in our own backyard like the former boyfriend of a beautiful woman who got invited to the wedding out of pity. I would simultaneously love and hate this happening as a concept, but I would really hate it if the song that brought us to that was this one.
Iceland
If ever there were a nation who has been truly waiting for a Eurovision victory, I think Iceland would be a fair shout. When you consider not only their history at the contest and their regular punching above their weight given the nation's size and then how close Selma came during the last contest in Israel in 1999, you can't say that Iceland haven't been waiting a long time for a win. Let's face it, the fan experience would be second to none. Yes, it would be chilly, but also a great opportunity to see one of Europe's most beautiful countries. It would be a chance to have Eurovision in a place where the sun hardly sets and where the nation already has a natural energy and enthusiasm for the contest. Then after partying in the chill of Icelandic May, a quick walk over to the Laugardasholl to see a Eurovision truly transformed by the legacy of Hatari's victory the year before. If Iceland do manage the victory, I don't care how many kidneys I would have to sell to make it happen, I would feel a strong need to go no matter what the cost!
Anyway, what do you think of all of that? Do you think any of them are even a distinct possibility given how relatively firm the odds have remained throughout the pre-Eurovision period? Where would you like to see Eurovision take place? This is the last post before the contest kicks off so sit back, relax and let's enjoy the craziness that is Eurovision week 2019! It's finally here!!!
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