Eurovision Song Contest 2017 in Kyiv - Winner: PORTUGAL!

[Dutch 91,381]

So that's it. We've seen all the first rehearsals of both Semi-Finals. Which are your favorites?

[Bellatrix 34,810]

3 hours ago, Dutch said:

Next up is Croatia, are you his friend?

 

1 hour ago, Dutch said:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah... Right, here is Lithuania:

 

I miss Donny  

[Bellatrix 34,810]

12 minutes ago, Dutch said:

So that's it. We've seen all the first rehearsals of both Semi-Finals. Which are your favorites?

I gotta say Bulgaria and Estonia  

[Dutch 91,381]

I don't think todays rehearsals were as strong as yesterday, but still very strong. 

We started with a fun song today. I love that San Marino picked Valentina again. She's really becoming a queen of Eurovision. Nevertheless, they won't qualify and I think they won't mind at all. Valentina was in the finals before, so I don't think she is really aiming for that this time. I think she's just in love with Eurovision and I can see why. The song is funny and the staging is fitting, but this is nothing special. Valentina looks fierce on the stage, while Jimmie looks a bit distracted. It's a nice filler for this Semi-Final and I will enjoy it for what it is.

Next up was Croatia. It's really hard to not judge him without thinking about his homophobic believes. But I'm gonna try. The song still feels weird to me, it feels dated, too cheesy etc. But his vocals are really strong and impressive. It's really hard to sing a duet with yourself when the ranges are so different. So I really have respect for him. The staging is just as cheesy as his song. It's just another keep the faith, everything will be beautiful situation. The rainbow is made me cringe because he is homophobic. This could be in the finals, but I think this is too much for the jury and his great vocals won't be the main subject in this performance. That's a shame. I love that he did put some nice looking man on the stage near him, most of the acts put the focus on themselves and they leave the backing behind the scenes.

Norway is the perfect example for a song that grows on me, but I still don't know what to think about it. And I still don't know what the Eurovision people will think about it. I don't get the LED mask, I don't get the demons behind the instruments. He looks really stylish and that's big contrast with the other people on the stage. The visuals are just simple and nothing special. The performance is basic and pretty forgettable. I think Norway is in trouble again. It's sad Scandinavia isn't as strong as normally the past few years (only Sweden is delivering every year). I'm not feeling it yet.

Like I said, it's really giving me Beauty and the Beast vibes. I never really loved the song. It's decent, but it never stood out for me. I really loved the classy video tho, so I don't get why they had to mess it up with the staging at Eurovision? I hate the colors. I hate the yellow dress, I hate the pink, purple, blue visuals. The are in some kind of Greek heaven? I don't know, it totally ruined the song for me. Her voice is good, but I really dislike the overall package. It's such a shame. Switzerland never seem to get it right. The blue her and the pie dance last year and know the yellow dress? Why?

Belarus is another song that I liked, but never really loved. It's fun, it's cute, it's small, it's light, but also really repetitive and flat. The staging is too dark in my opinion, I expected something really bright/white or a forest for example. These visuals aren't that bad either tho. I do love the happiness they both are giving us on that stage. It's a no brainer and that hey, hey, heyeyayayo part is really stuck in your head after that night. I can see this going through to the finals, because there's nothing like this song this year and they always do well.

The happiness faits away and we are in a dark song right now. I never understood why this song was so high in the rankings and why this song was a favorite. I mean, It's a great song, great performer, but not winner worthy to me. But the staging can elevate this to a Eurovision winner. They have a great concept, but they need to change a few things to make it a winner. For now it's a top 10 performance. Somethings didn't seem right yet, but I love what they did what the smaller LED screen etc. It's interactive like Måns and Sergey, but more subtle. This will be in the finals for sure.

I don't know what to say about Lithuania. It's my least favorite song this year. Her vocals are nice, the song is something else, something experimental. The staging is nice with the fire rings etc. But I just don't like the song at all. Her moves are weird... Yeah, this won't make it too the finals. Probably will end last in this semi.

Estonia is one of my favorites and they still are one of my favorites after this rehearsal. Thing copied their staging from their national final, but improved it a bit more. Koit didn't seem to get his camera angles and his interactive position points, but if he learn them in time, the staging will be great. It's fitting to the song and it's something different. Laura was really delivering today, her vocals were on point and she did her homework. The outfits seems a little bit weird together. Laura is in a beautiful dress, while Koit looks really casual. I think they need to change Koit his outfit.

Last but not least, Israel. It's the best Europop song in my opinion. He also is one of the hottest male singers this year, so I'm sure the gays and grandmas will love this just by looking at him. He's showing his muscles for a good reasons. Oke, let's talk about his staging. I love how they literary break him into pieces on the LED screen. The staging reminds me a bit to the Golden Boy 2 years ago and that worked really well. I love the dancers on the stage and his voice sounded nice today. This probably will go through.

That's it. I will predict my qualifiers for this semi later today.

[Dutch 91,381]

43 minutes ago, Erotica said:

Poor @Josip.

43 minutes ago, Erotica said:

I miss Donny  

I do miss him too. This is a big contrast with last year.

38 minutes ago, Erotica said:

I gotta say Bulgaria and Estonia  

I agree, the best two of today!

[StarryNight 10,106]

1 hour ago, Dutch said:

Next up was Croatia. It's really hard to not judge him without thinking about his homophobic believes. 

what have I missed?  

[StarryNight 10,106]

that chandelier thingy above stage kinda looks familiar  

 

 

[EdX 2,862]

My Top 5 based on 1st rehearsals:

1. Latvia

2. Azerbaijan

3. Greece

4. Hungary

5. Israel

[Bellatrix 34,810]

Here's what the press has to say about todays rehearsals in the Press Poll!

Tomorrow there will be a little break from the rehearsals and on Friday we will get to see The Big 5 and Ukraine

[Dutch 91,381]

4 hours ago, StarryNight said:

what have I missed?  

He is a huge homophobe. He was nominated for the title 'Homophobe of the Decade'. 

[StarryNight 10,106]

14 minutes ago, Dutch said:

He is a huge homophobe. He was nominated for the title 'Homophobe of the Decade'. 

mess

[Dutch 91,381]

So here is my prediction for Semi-Final 2. This will be a blood bad and to be honest, this semi can't be predicted. But I tried:

Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Israel, The Netherlands, Macedonia, Norway, Romania and Serbia.

I think Austria, Belarus and Switzerland are fighting for #7 #8 and #9 with Macedonia, Norway and Serbia. I just picked the stronger Eurovision countries.

The only two songs that I can't see qualifying are San Marino and Lithuania.

[Josip 3,971]

6 hours ago, Dutch said:

Poor @Josip.

1 minute ago, Dutch said:

Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Israel, The Netherlands, Macedonia, Norway, Romania and Serbia.
 

Macedonia and Serbia will flop. I hope Norway too 

[Dutch 91,381]

1 minute ago, Josip said:

Macedonia and Serbia will flop. I hope Norway too 

I can see that happen. That's why they are borderline qualifiers in my opinion. I do think the other 7 are curtain qualifiers, but at Eurovision you never know.

[Dutch 91,381]

Unlike what @Erotica told is, today is the beginning of the second rehearsals. For the first time ever, Eurovision.tv is showing us clips of the rehearsals as they will look on TV next week. 

Here is Sweden:

Also Wiwibloggs are filming the full performances today from the arena: