Eurovision 2016 – Day 10 First Dress Rehearsal Semi Final 2 LIVE ROLLING BLOG – START 1700 CET- JUST REFRESH

Just when you thought you had seen the best of us, we are back and better than ever!!  If you were thinking of going anywhere else for your fix of Eurovision rehearsal news, then SHAME ON YOU!!

You can follow our LIVE BLOG HERE – You know the drill by now. Just refresh the page for our live updates. We start at 17:00CET. You will be taken care of by Phil – So if you want an honest opinion of how the rehearsals are going then tune in here.   The other members of the team should be chiming in from time to time, but mostly its all me me me me me!!

Hello all! – Phil here…. Songs have not started yet but the song at the beginning is a treat!!!

The Running Order is as Follows

Latvia

Justs is first on stage – well being drawn one that’s what you tend to do!

He looks not unlike the picture below I have to say but he really does have an angsty inbtetweener in leather! – He’s rolled his sleaves up, which is a better look and Andrew has been clicking his fingers, that’s either the kiss of death or a good sign.   On the negative side though, it seems to be a long three minutes though. It’ll all depend on if the jury like what they hear.  Personally as this semi is the weakest I can’t see it not qualifying.

Poland

Despite this being a three minute moan set to music, Michel is big in Poland and is singing a song that will resonate with a certain community of the viewers and jurors of this semi final.  If he sings like this tonight, i.e confidently and looking straight at the camera, he will connect with the 21 x 5 people and should score reasonably highly.  I’m still doubtful about the televote potential of this song mind.. ( Edit, his voice has cracked… good job no one is voting!!)

Switzerland

I’m told that I have to be polite here so….

She’s back to wearing the perm and she’s smoking from the back of her bodice.  That is where this song starts to go wrong, it then gets worse by the fact she keeps bending forward like there are small ceilings in Swiss venues.  The dress hasn’t changed from the pic below but, rather like Poland, it’s three minutes the juries can not get back.  This can’t be ranked very highly tonight as it has no power, no look, hardly any tune.  Sorry love, try again.

Israel

This is clearly the best thing so far in this Semi.  It’s so effective throughout the three minutes and Hovi sells this song like his life depends on it.  This will get a good showing tonight.  People here are thinking that this could win…. I suspect not but it’s certainly a high quality song.

Belarus

A false start for this song, clearly une problem technique….  When it starts the holograms of the wolf and the band kick in to mask the lack of anyone else on stage or to enhance IVAN, not sure which one.   If you take away all of the sillyness though, the song itself is a reasonable song that needs something to push it into the qualifying spots.  I’m not sure that this can beat 8 others and may well struggle in a melting pot of meh that will be 5th-12th.

Serbia

This is a slice of class.  A perfectly written power ballad which has all of the right jury boxes ticked in a completely different way than Russia did last night.  Performed absolutely faultlessly… right up untill the long note half way through, Sanja will be a vote sponge for people that like big showy ballad.  Expect this to be polished up tonight.

Ireland

This is a story of two parts.  Firstly the song, this is well written but the lyric of the chorus seem to have been written in a hurry as they are cliched and predictable….  not necessarily a bad thing as familiarity for juries is often a good thing.   Vocally Nicky is, as we know, more than capable but gives off the vibe that his vocal is too weak.  This could be for 2 reasons.  Firstly, it is (which I doubt) or Secondly, he’s not used to being a lead vocallist but either way if he polishes up the vocal then it wouldn’t do his chances any harm.   It’s a very static performance for the first 2 minutes and then he looks into the camera but with a sideways look and a cheeky glint.  On balance I feel that when marked by a jury it will get votes on his name  but there are weaknesses in the song that could count against it.  Will it qualify? – I’d suspect yes, but don’t be surprised if its 6th-12th.

FYR Macedonia

Verse was fine, Chorus sounded too messy and LOUD! – Someone needs to turn the backing mix down and quickly.   Apart from that, it’s Kaliopi centric  and, in contrast with Nicky, It’s a strong confident lead vocal of a powerful song.  Someone that is comfy in her skin and abilities has shown how it should be done.  Qualifying.

Lithuania

I suspect this won’t go through.  Donny is just weak and looks like something out of 1980’s.   I suspect that this a pile of meh – sorry.

Australia

A very powerful performance from Dami.  I’m still unsure about the staging of the song and the cube o granite she’s sitting on.  This will hit the juries where it hurts, In the quality category.  If you mark as per the Green Guide, then this should be up there.  Vocally straining a bit this afternoon but overall it’s still a quality song.  No issues at all.

Slovenia

ManuElla seems to be a bit all at sea after what we have heard in the last few songs.  This in many ways is like Moldova, it’s safe as houses and something the juries will like but the televoters will be going like “meh” –  The pole dancer seems to be a bit superfluous and doesn’t add anything to the song other than a semi naked man.  The fireworks look like they are throwing whats left of the budget at the song in an attempt to qualify.  again, in the mix for lower spots.

Bulgaria

Yet again Poli shows us how it’s done.  Strong, Confident, Great song, punchy with no vocal issues at all, all she needs to do is to replicate this tonight and not only are you looking at someone that is in the final, you could well be looking at someone that wins this Semi final.  It’s that good! – The hook gets in your brain and the whole performance has a “chart” feel.   Excellent.

Ukraine ( Actually after Denmark  ANDREW!!)

For those in the UK who are of my age….. if you remember Chocky, the start of this song looks remarkably similar to the start of this.  I know what the song represents and I wonder if the fans are thinking with their Anti-Russia hearts rather than their musical heads.   Is it what everything thinks it is? – Well to my ear it’s 3 minutes of wailing and would not be out of place in the 1975 contest with Cyprus and Greece in that mould.  However, transplant it to 2016 and it suddenly becomes the best thing since sliced bread.    I’m not so sure.

Denmark ( Before Ukraine)

This song suffers from “Being Danish” – i.e it’s everything that a seasoned watcher would expect from Denmark.  As I have said numerous times before real people won’t see that, they will see a slightly older boy band singing a very formulaic song.  Juries should mark this down in the originality stakes as it looks like I could have choreographed this song and put the fireworks in the right place.  It’s Eurovision by numbers… BUT If it is performed well tonight, as it is here, this is dangerous to being up there and qualifying.

Norway

I think there is a chance, and it’s just a chance, that this isn’t qualifying. It fills a lot of boxes but for me it is two songs that roll into one and it does not really work well enough for me. Borderline at best.

Georgia

Andrew back online while Phil takes a break. This is a piece of mastery of the psychedelic persuasion. A piece of pure pop rock that is a masterpiece of its genre. Whether its going to impress at Eurovision sadly I am not so sure. I would love to see it qualify but fear it wont.

Albania

I’m back on line now (Phil) after draining the webmaster’s credit cards on pornography!!

Albania is now on stage and again, it just sounds like a moan set to music.  Her golden fish dress does nothing to change the way that this song comes across on stage but she is performing what she does really well.   Will this be too…. difficult for Europe, i’m guessing yes because there is no one here that is paying attention to this song and that is dangerous.

Belgium

I love this song!! – It’s exactly what a show closer should be – Bouncy, uptempo, sung well by Laura who is clearly stage school trained  but in this context that doesn’t matter.  She’s living and believing what she is singing which always helps.  Another competent performance tonight and she’s half way to the final I think.

Phil on another break so its Andrew back in again. We have an interval act on at the minute which is a robots and dancers doing a routine. It is a bit of innovative fun and some good vibes going down here. We have a bit of Thriller and breakdancing. It is called Man vs Machine.

The Big 3

Germany

Jamie-Lee on now for Germany. She is very colourful in her Japanese inspired outfit with appropriate headgear. This has a forest on stage with her and the song has a good backbeat to it. All very moody and dark. The vocals are fine albeit I little slow. It is a fine contemporary song which would fit into the charts but I do not think it a winning formula for Eurovision, in fact I would be surprised if it is not in the bottom five in the Final on Saturday.

Italy

A slight break in the proceeding to get the staging set up properly for the Italian performance. Francesca is standing centre stage among a forest of fruit and flowers and parrots and ducks and allsorts. There are neat graphic effects on the screen that is broadcast. The song is sheer class. A brilliant ballad which builds and builds. I absolutely LOVE IT. If I was picking the winner this year this would be my choice for the crown over the plastic pop we see from Russia. A top three finish for sure.

United Kingdom

Another slight break till this comes on. Joe and Jake are centre stage with two drummers behind. Lots of nice camera work as they interact well with camera and each other. The vocals are on point and I love the backdrop of folk who sent in selfies. This is the best performance from the boys during all rehearsals so far. I think it could give the UK its best finish since 2011. Top 11-15 for me.

So there we have it folks hope you enjoyed. Tune in again at 21.00 CET for the live blog of the Jury Rehearsal of Semi Final 2 which will be brought to you by John. Thank you and good evening.

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Author: Phil Colclough

Source: Eurovision Ireland

All Photos courtesy of Eurovision.tv

Thomas Hanses (EBU)

Andres Putting(EBU)