Eurovision Season 2019: Second Semi Final Rehearsal Roundup
Aaaaand here we go again, another semi-final and another group of entries to make a call on who is making it to this year's Grand Final! Let's get right to it!
Armenia
It's clear that Armenia are going for a similar sort of vibe to Georgia 2015. That was a great staging but it is all built off of the aggression and energy that the singer manages to pack into their performance of the song. Srbuk is clearly a very talented singer but it is difficult to see whether she is capable of delivering what is a high-tempo, high energy number on her own on-stage whilst delivering soaring vocals and having no people or props to bounce off of. This could be an Armenian staging masterclass or it could be an utter disaster.
Ireland
The song has a charming simplicity to it. This was one where you don't want to do too much with the staging and let the nostalgic imagery do the work like in the music video. This was a classic Irish entry waiting to happen and they over-cooked the staging so badly that I can't see how this qualifies. Yes, the diner thing is sweet but it doesn't tell the story of the song. Also, what is going on with the comic book graphics on the LED screen, this is a big no from me and it blows the momentum that Ryan won them last year when he qualified.
Moldova
Well, we have said that Moldova were great at staging for a while. Credit where credit is due, they chose the one thing they could have done which would have made this dreadful song a possible qualifier. I don't know whether this represents a good job from the Moldovan delegation. In any case, the sand artist puts this into the maybe section for qualifying but I still don't think it will be good enough to go through.
Switzerland
This staging needed to be 'Fuego' with lads. It needs four male backing dancers "dirty dancing" and getting everybody excited and energetic enough to vote for it. That was the obvious way to go here. Instead, the Swiss broadcaster have gone for some male and female backing dancers not doing anything that would even vaguely be considered as "dirty dancing". This dancer split is bang on the money for one of the later acts in this semi but for the Swiss, it turns a delicious, sloppy, greasy burger into a fun salad. Salads can still be nice, but it isn't the thing us fans were hoping to sink our teeth into.
Latvia
This is a nice song but Eurovision was the wrong place for it. This song belongs on Spotify playlists and jazz clubs. The staging like the song is sweet and lovely. As all British Eurovision fans know however, sweet and lovely gets you near the bottom of the scoreboard and that is unfortunately what is set to happen to Carousel who really don't deserve that but such is the rough justice of the song contest.
Romania
Similarly to Moldova, Romania know who to stage the pants off anything they send to the final contest. This gets you think what could have been if they had sent better songs in Laura Bretan or Bella Santiago. The problem with this act is simple, the song is horrendous. Whatever went down in that national final, at some point blame is going to get thrown around and whatever charade was being played will be found to be the complete waste of time and trust that it was. I offer the caveat that this could still qualify but there's only so far that royal costumes and oodles of pyro can get you when you just have a bad song at the heart of it all. It is difficult to see where Romania at Eurovision goes from here.
Denmark
They came, they saw, they climbed onto their giant chair, they made everybody smile, they were so inoffensive that the BBC are probably taking notes, they will sail through to the final, they will come a comfortable 13th. Well done Denmark?
Sweden
So I get that they weren't allowed the hang their light thing but was this really the best alternative? The whole point of that light fixture was how simple and subtle it was. Now it has a whole second metallic part and I'm thinking that it's not a screen, it's not a lighting fixture because it doesn't all light up, what is the thing in the middle of the stage during this act? Answers on a postcard please. I'm not saying that this will cost Sweden but it is incredibly disappointing given how assured Swedish staging normally is.
Austria
Now admittedly, you didn't need to be a rocket scientist to see how the Austrians were going to stage this but this act is very impressive. Her vocals are on point, the lighting effects are so perfectly subtle to compliment how fragile the song is and she captures that perfect emotional balance of nervously unsure and quietly confident. This is my dark horse for the top 10 and given that last year's Austrian act came 3rd, a top 10 finish for PAENDA would be more than deserved.
Croatia
So they got two other guys to wear wings, they put LOADS of cloud graphics in the background, they put one of the verses in Croatian and the delegation thought that this combined with a sprinkling of "Jacques Houdek magic" would be enough to lift this song into even possible qualification? Really? Next!
Malta
Everything about this song and this performance is SO fresh. I know that people talk about the Dutch song as being the most current this year but this is set to become a hit across Europe and the staging is outlining that perfectly. She traverses oceans, deserts and jungles but ultimately comes back to an empowering chorus with big bright colours on the screens accompanying fun chameleon-themed choreography from her diverse group of backing dancers. This is oodles of fun and I seriously can't get enough of it (and this is just off the first rehearsal video). This couldn't win the whole thing, could it?
Lithuania
For some reason, nothing about this actually makes me want to run with the lions or for that matter explain to me why anybody would want to run with the lions? He seems sweet but sweet gets you absolutely nowhere at Eurovision and he should emotionally prepare himself now for 18th.
Russia
They say "go big or go home" and the Russians clearly have no intention of going home without their victory. Whether they will do it is another story, the box is extremely impressive and Sergey will give every ounce of emotional energy to this performance but will it be enough? Only when we see what the camera angles offer to the performance will we see how clever/arrogant the Russians have been with their staging this year. They have created enough intrigue to get people talking but are they talking about this more than Iceland, the Netherlands or Azerbaijan? I wouldn't mind seeing this win but I am not desperate for it to win.
Albania
The Albanian delegation clearly sat around, watched the Festival i Kegnes performance and went, you know what, we're happy with that. I get that they might be feeling confident after Eugent's incredible result last year but that was an exception to the rule only able to be achieved with a special song. They have barked up the wrong tree this year and I can't see this qualifying.
Norway
By contrast, you would bet your house on Norway to qualify for the Grand Final. This is solid and slick with the harmonies making KEiiNO more connected as a group. The song will not bring out any particular strong emotions, but like this year's Maltese entry it will sail through off being fun. Let's not forget that Sami being sung at a modern Eurovision Song Contest is something that we can all get excited about regardless of our opinion of the song itself.
Netherlands
I don't see how the bookies still have this as the favourite? Perhaps they are doubting themselves after last year or they see the general public warming to this on first listening but this staging is very unimaginative. Yes, he's there with a piano and yes the lasers make this slightly interesting but there is no call to action for the live audience nor is there something creative and special for the viewers at home who will be used to seeing this type of staging on every singing talent show around. I admit that I have never warmed to this song and this staging has put me off it even more, however I felt exactly the same about Netta and that won. I am still struggling to believe objectively that this is the full package that Europe will go for but hey, I can get behind a Eurovision in Amsterdam, even if that means getting used to hearing 'Arcade' over and over again.
North Macedonia
As much as I dislike the song, this is their best staging effort in years. The mirrors are simple but with a full audience will be very effective. I have yet to see enough to know exactly what happens over the course of the three minutes but I certainly given North Macedonia more of a hope of qualifying this year than in previous years. I don't think I have seen enough to suggest they will emerge successfully from this bloodbath of a semi but I am more than happy to be wrong if she pulls it off on the night.
Azerbaijan
And we end with the staging that has everybody talking. Azerbaijan are fourth in the betting odds and have consequently won the right to head up our next edition of "Who Needs the Win the Most" (due out just before the first Semi Final). It was always clear that the kitchen sink was going to be thrown at this staging. The pizzazz is clear and very impressive. Alongside this, what they have done with the vocals is also very interesting to hear and shows the work that the delegation have put into keeping the performance feeling fresh. I think Azerbaijan are going to do very well this year but I don't think that fancy things on stage is enough to win the whole contest.
Qualifiers (in alphabetical order)
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Denmark
Malta
The Netherlands
Norway
Russia
Sweden
Switzerland
I have stuck with my initial projections on this one. Armenia is definitely the closest one to being under threat with Moldova, Romania and North Macedonia arguably on its heels but I ultimately don't think any of them will overtake Armenia simply because the other songs aren't good enough. There have been better Armenian songs in the past, but I have enough confidence in Srbuk and the Armenian delegation to get the emotional intensity of the song right to call it for them.
We only have two more blog entries to go before the full week's festivities kick off next week! We will be doing one on the Big 6's first rehearsals and then another on what it could be like for the countries tipped in the betting to actually win the contest. You can read the first part of that here (https://internationalisteurovisionblog.blogspot.com/2019/03/eurovision-season-2019-who-needs-win.html). Please subscribe to be kept up to date with everything happening ahead of what is set to be a cracking contest in Tel Aviv next week!
Armenia
It's clear that Armenia are going for a similar sort of vibe to Georgia 2015. That was a great staging but it is all built off of the aggression and energy that the singer manages to pack into their performance of the song. Srbuk is clearly a very talented singer but it is difficult to see whether she is capable of delivering what is a high-tempo, high energy number on her own on-stage whilst delivering soaring vocals and having no people or props to bounce off of. This could be an Armenian staging masterclass or it could be an utter disaster.
Ireland
The song has a charming simplicity to it. This was one where you don't want to do too much with the staging and let the nostalgic imagery do the work like in the music video. This was a classic Irish entry waiting to happen and they over-cooked the staging so badly that I can't see how this qualifies. Yes, the diner thing is sweet but it doesn't tell the story of the song. Also, what is going on with the comic book graphics on the LED screen, this is a big no from me and it blows the momentum that Ryan won them last year when he qualified.
Moldova
Well, we have said that Moldova were great at staging for a while. Credit where credit is due, they chose the one thing they could have done which would have made this dreadful song a possible qualifier. I don't know whether this represents a good job from the Moldovan delegation. In any case, the sand artist puts this into the maybe section for qualifying but I still don't think it will be good enough to go through.
Switzerland
This staging needed to be 'Fuego' with lads. It needs four male backing dancers "dirty dancing" and getting everybody excited and energetic enough to vote for it. That was the obvious way to go here. Instead, the Swiss broadcaster have gone for some male and female backing dancers not doing anything that would even vaguely be considered as "dirty dancing". This dancer split is bang on the money for one of the later acts in this semi but for the Swiss, it turns a delicious, sloppy, greasy burger into a fun salad. Salads can still be nice, but it isn't the thing us fans were hoping to sink our teeth into.
Latvia
This is a nice song but Eurovision was the wrong place for it. This song belongs on Spotify playlists and jazz clubs. The staging like the song is sweet and lovely. As all British Eurovision fans know however, sweet and lovely gets you near the bottom of the scoreboard and that is unfortunately what is set to happen to Carousel who really don't deserve that but such is the rough justice of the song contest.
Romania
Similarly to Moldova, Romania know who to stage the pants off anything they send to the final contest. This gets you think what could have been if they had sent better songs in Laura Bretan or Bella Santiago. The problem with this act is simple, the song is horrendous. Whatever went down in that national final, at some point blame is going to get thrown around and whatever charade was being played will be found to be the complete waste of time and trust that it was. I offer the caveat that this could still qualify but there's only so far that royal costumes and oodles of pyro can get you when you just have a bad song at the heart of it all. It is difficult to see where Romania at Eurovision goes from here.
Denmark
They came, they saw, they climbed onto their giant chair, they made everybody smile, they were so inoffensive that the BBC are probably taking notes, they will sail through to the final, they will come a comfortable 13th. Well done Denmark?
Sweden
So I get that they weren't allowed the hang their light thing but was this really the best alternative? The whole point of that light fixture was how simple and subtle it was. Now it has a whole second metallic part and I'm thinking that it's not a screen, it's not a lighting fixture because it doesn't all light up, what is the thing in the middle of the stage during this act? Answers on a postcard please. I'm not saying that this will cost Sweden but it is incredibly disappointing given how assured Swedish staging normally is.
Austria
Now admittedly, you didn't need to be a rocket scientist to see how the Austrians were going to stage this but this act is very impressive. Her vocals are on point, the lighting effects are so perfectly subtle to compliment how fragile the song is and she captures that perfect emotional balance of nervously unsure and quietly confident. This is my dark horse for the top 10 and given that last year's Austrian act came 3rd, a top 10 finish for PAENDA would be more than deserved.
Croatia
So they got two other guys to wear wings, they put LOADS of cloud graphics in the background, they put one of the verses in Croatian and the delegation thought that this combined with a sprinkling of "Jacques Houdek magic" would be enough to lift this song into even possible qualification? Really? Next!
Malta
Everything about this song and this performance is SO fresh. I know that people talk about the Dutch song as being the most current this year but this is set to become a hit across Europe and the staging is outlining that perfectly. She traverses oceans, deserts and jungles but ultimately comes back to an empowering chorus with big bright colours on the screens accompanying fun chameleon-themed choreography from her diverse group of backing dancers. This is oodles of fun and I seriously can't get enough of it (and this is just off the first rehearsal video). This couldn't win the whole thing, could it?
Lithuania
For some reason, nothing about this actually makes me want to run with the lions or for that matter explain to me why anybody would want to run with the lions? He seems sweet but sweet gets you absolutely nowhere at Eurovision and he should emotionally prepare himself now for 18th.
Russia
They say "go big or go home" and the Russians clearly have no intention of going home without their victory. Whether they will do it is another story, the box is extremely impressive and Sergey will give every ounce of emotional energy to this performance but will it be enough? Only when we see what the camera angles offer to the performance will we see how clever/arrogant the Russians have been with their staging this year. They have created enough intrigue to get people talking but are they talking about this more than Iceland, the Netherlands or Azerbaijan? I wouldn't mind seeing this win but I am not desperate for it to win.
Albania
The Albanian delegation clearly sat around, watched the Festival i Kegnes performance and went, you know what, we're happy with that. I get that they might be feeling confident after Eugent's incredible result last year but that was an exception to the rule only able to be achieved with a special song. They have barked up the wrong tree this year and I can't see this qualifying.
Norway
By contrast, you would bet your house on Norway to qualify for the Grand Final. This is solid and slick with the harmonies making KEiiNO more connected as a group. The song will not bring out any particular strong emotions, but like this year's Maltese entry it will sail through off being fun. Let's not forget that Sami being sung at a modern Eurovision Song Contest is something that we can all get excited about regardless of our opinion of the song itself.
Netherlands
I don't see how the bookies still have this as the favourite? Perhaps they are doubting themselves after last year or they see the general public warming to this on first listening but this staging is very unimaginative. Yes, he's there with a piano and yes the lasers make this slightly interesting but there is no call to action for the live audience nor is there something creative and special for the viewers at home who will be used to seeing this type of staging on every singing talent show around. I admit that I have never warmed to this song and this staging has put me off it even more, however I felt exactly the same about Netta and that won. I am still struggling to believe objectively that this is the full package that Europe will go for but hey, I can get behind a Eurovision in Amsterdam, even if that means getting used to hearing 'Arcade' over and over again.
North Macedonia
As much as I dislike the song, this is their best staging effort in years. The mirrors are simple but with a full audience will be very effective. I have yet to see enough to know exactly what happens over the course of the three minutes but I certainly given North Macedonia more of a hope of qualifying this year than in previous years. I don't think I have seen enough to suggest they will emerge successfully from this bloodbath of a semi but I am more than happy to be wrong if she pulls it off on the night.
Azerbaijan
And we end with the staging that has everybody talking. Azerbaijan are fourth in the betting odds and have consequently won the right to head up our next edition of "Who Needs the Win the Most" (due out just before the first Semi Final). It was always clear that the kitchen sink was going to be thrown at this staging. The pizzazz is clear and very impressive. Alongside this, what they have done with the vocals is also very interesting to hear and shows the work that the delegation have put into keeping the performance feeling fresh. I think Azerbaijan are going to do very well this year but I don't think that fancy things on stage is enough to win the whole contest.
Qualifiers (in alphabetical order)
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Denmark
Malta
The Netherlands
Norway
Russia
Sweden
Switzerland
I have stuck with my initial projections on this one. Armenia is definitely the closest one to being under threat with Moldova, Romania and North Macedonia arguably on its heels but I ultimately don't think any of them will overtake Armenia simply because the other songs aren't good enough. There have been better Armenian songs in the past, but I have enough confidence in Srbuk and the Armenian delegation to get the emotional intensity of the song right to call it for them.
We only have two more blog entries to go before the full week's festivities kick off next week! We will be doing one on the Big 6's first rehearsals and then another on what it could be like for the countries tipped in the betting to actually win the contest. You can read the first part of that here (https://internationalisteurovisionblog.blogspot.com/2019/03/eurovision-season-2019-who-needs-win.html). Please subscribe to be kept up to date with everything happening ahead of what is set to be a cracking contest in Tel Aviv next week!
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