For the last few years, last year excepted, I have been lucky enough to find myself on the Steve Yabsley Show, on BBC Radio Bristol. Although I was able to chat to Steve again this year, it was unfortunately on the phone. Hopefully you can hear through the dodgy signal and my hearing aids getting in the way!
As always, I get to talk about what I am up to at the moment outside of Eurovision, talk about the history of Eurovision as well as what this year's Eurovision has lined up for us!
You can also find the whole show on the BBC sounds website here or on the app by looking for the Afternoon show on 16th May on the BBC Radio Bristol schedule :) The interview begins about 26 mins in
For the last week, 37.5 of the 39 acts have been in Rotterdam rehearsing for the semi finals and final of this years much awaited contest (for those wondering Australia are not live in Rotterdam due to covid quarantine rules and we still don't know if Mr Flo Rida is actually coming for San Marino). The betting predictions were rather blinkered before rehearsals and over the last seven days the tables have somewhat turned for some of our acts. When short clips of the second rehearsals came out I tweeted a thread about what I saw.
CAVEATS - the clips are just shy of 30 second long and don't always show off the acts' best features/surprises. Also, these are still *rehearsals* so acts may on purposely not sing full out, concentrate more on camera angles/choreography/lighting effects, try out alternative costume ideas or not putting on their full performance face for the camera. Although I didn't watch any of the first rehearsal bits, there are plenty of photo galleries to compare and contrast these with.
SEMI 1
LITHUANIA - had to watch this twice because it looked too slick and polished to be absolutely live, which it is, or maybe it feels *too* good. Visually striking although the clip was mostly the chorus. I hope the verses show more personality of the whole ensemble. Epic opener for the whole week.
SLOVENIA - rather calm and classy after the last song but the whole thing sounded a bit odd. Couldn't really grasp any of the words she was saying, even if the tune was rather complex and shows of a good pair of lungs. Liking her outfit but would like a bit more lightness in the background.
RUSSIA - nice to see little has changed from the national final apart from the epic dress ! I hope the verses give her and her backing singers a chance to get across their personality. Liking the messages on the backdrop that happen during the instrumental. Hoping her message and energy translates.
SWEDEN - I was a fan of Tusse's Melodifestivalen styling but this version with the gloves is not so nice. His voice seems a little drowned out, but he might not be singing fully so I can let that lie. I'd like more smile and charisma into the camera. He also looked very static and awkward in a big space.
AUSTRALIA - we got a sneaky peek at the prerecorded videoclip! Was not expecting the 3-D refraction effect but the rest of the staging felt a bit dark. Her outfit looks nice and contrasts nice with her hair. Hoping she connects down the lens throughout which she will need to do to get the votes in.
NORTH MACEDONIA - okay, was not expecting that performance and I got actual goose bumps. Love the framing and shows confidence and fragility. I think I know that this will change as the song progresses but Vasil looks and sounds so blooming confident ! He wasn't even singing full out either.
IRELAND - from the reports I'd read I was fully expecting a car crash, but was more like a tiny dent. Love the staging (props to Silvàn Areg!) and think it suits the narrative of the lyrics well. You can tell she's thinking about her marks, which may affect her vocals on the night. Surprised in a hopeful way.
CYPRUS - liking the silver and red colour scheme in the outfits. Elena sounds and looks much better than I expected - especially as she looked quite aloof in the video clip. Some of her dance moves were a little awkward and not really on the classy side. A little drowned out in the vocal mix - surprise!
NORWAY - this felt really flat and almost sounded it too. There was little connection to the camera - not just down to the sunglasses. The whole thing felt pedestrian and plodding even with all the madness going on around him. Considering this is basically his NF performance it has gone stale *very* quickly.
CROATIA - this made my face make lots disapproving shapes. The colour scheme makes the stage looks very washed out and one dimensional in the clip. I have no idea what she is wearing (especially the gusset area) or her dancers. More concerning, those backing vocals are *VERY* high in the mix.
BELGIUM - very clear and classy. I like how Geike is the star and her dress looks amazing. Having the band around her closes in the space. Her vocal sounds emotive too although I hope she gets more time to emote down the camera. Less sure about her eyes on the backdrop as it looks a bit too menacing.
ISRAEL - liking the overhead shot, which also proves how accurate and well rehearsed she and her dancers are. The hair is also pretty impressive. The dancers' arm flinging is a bit too much and the costume change is unsurprising. A lot of whistle tone in this recap which I personally don't like.
ROMANIA - another song where they've shrunk the arena to a more intimate space. The choreo and theme is like the video but overall it looks a bit underwhelming, especially as she looks like she's just come from the detention centre. Her vocal has an individual timbre but is evidently pitchy and breathy.
AZERBAIJAN - oh dear. The whole thing looks and sounds disconnected. Last year's staging - this year's song. Like the video, all of the movement, energy and excitement is coming from the backdrop, dancers and cutting of the camera angles. She looks tiny on that stage and feels very dark and seedy.
UKRAINE - had stand in lead singer for this session but this did not matter a jot. The backdrop with the running men is really effective and the use of the white plinth works amazingly with the lighting and the headbanging! Watching the song build will feel really exciting on the night. Get the glow sticks in!
MALTA - Destiny sounds good and has a connection with the camera but I'm distracted by everything going on behind her. Much prefer the original pink dress to the silver one. At times it feels more like a music video than a live interactive performance and is too reminiscent of "Toy" for me to warm to it.
Here's the BBC's video of all the songs in semifinal 1!
Rehearsals for the 1st Semi-Final at #Eurovision are in full swing!🎤
SAN MARINO - not sure what the gold thing is, just glad it's not there for long. Senhit looks great, killing the Crystal Tipps hairstyle and loving the spinning motif from the video. Voice sounds pretty spot on. Hoping there is more movement to come as the song builds. But is Mr Rida coming or not....?
ESTONIA - well, as much as I have a soft spot from this song, in the long run this looks and feels very stayed and frankly boring and will be well forgotten by song 7 never mind 17. His facial expression barely changes and he looks like he really needs a poo. The stage engulfs him and is a total washout.
CZECHIA - a little underwhelmed by this clip. Although the vocals are fine and Benny is connecting with the people on set, it just looks tiny. I expected the facial expressions and chorography choices to be a lot bigger and crazier. Maybe that'll come at another point or he's leaving all of that for Thursday.
GREECE - whoever thought Stefania need to be joined on stage by invisible men styled as Timmy Mallet needs shooting. It looks tacky and not well produced. Her vocals sound ok but you barely notice what she's doing, or how well she's doing, because your eyes are constantly darting away from her.
AUSTRIA - I was concerned this might get overshadowed but this sounds really good and he's coping well with the long and high notes. I'd like to see less of the bopping up and more emoting down the lens. The wide shots are not a good idea though. Wondering if he goes up and down that plinth...?
POLAND - oh dear this actually made me chuckle. I am sure this backing track is slower than normal because the whole thing sounded and looked pedestrian... His vocals didn't sound too bad but the visual production values lack finesse and precision and felt more like a end of term 6th form talent show
MOLDOVA - being Kirkorov's puppet has finally squeezed the life out of Natalia. Why is she on that tiny plinth? What's with the outfit? Why is the backdrop so lazy/boring? The whole of the troupe needs space to go crazy and over the top - not this. The backing vocals are also far too high in the mix.
ICELAND - this clip from the start of the song gives very little away which hopefully means there are surprises to come. The silhouette effect is nice and really stretches the tension to the kick of the beat. Vocals sound ok but hope that when the girls come in on backing that it'll sound much more *live*
SERBIA - sounds better than it looks. Sanja is doing most of the heavy lifting but the dancing suffers.. The costumes are too embellished, needing something smooth and sleek to make the lines stand out - especially when the background ends up dark too. The wide shots emphasise the space not used.
GEORGIA - like how the backdrop mirrors the shimmering opening. His voice sounds pretty close to the studio version. The whole thing looks a bit dark but I hope that as his vocals grow the arena grows bigger and lighter too. I am afraid that his stoic look might not implore people to pick up the phone.
ALBANIA - out of the red/blue pink/turquoise set we've seen this year, this probably looks the best. The detailing on her leotard looks nice and sparkles nicely in the waft of the wind machine. Less keen on the shimmery tights though. Vocals sound clear but there is not really much of a memorable song.
PORTUGAL - I really enjoyed watching this and liked the mix of colours in the backdrop - as well as the use of the side projection as he walks away. Pedro's voice is so distinctive and suits the song. There are a lot of signposts to remember this song by and will help them no end when it comes to the voting.
BULGARIA - What is she siting on? What is she wearing? Where is all the sand going? Who is in the picture? When Victoria sings alone it sounds sincere but with the backing vocals it feels a bit drowned out. Feels a too dark and solitary and I feel that the story they are trying to portray is off the mark
FINLAND - injects a dose of much needed energy and verve. Visually stunning with pyro and the upside down shots. Maybe a bit too red, but thinking of the subject of the song it's kind of on brand. For its genre it does what it needs to. Televoters who like this style will go mad for it, juries less so.
LATVIA - a whole lot of un-needed busyness going on here and looks messy and rather random as a result. I get the feeling that too much has been forwarded from last year's potential staging that DOESN'T go with this song. That coloured dress with that background is a hot mess. Just like the song.
SWITZERLAND - OH MY ACTUAL WORD. I am absolutely gobsmacked by this staging. I was not expecting the costume, energy, poise, props and voice. I have to wonder how/if he can maintain this intensity and emotion for the whole song and if they have anything for the big note at the end...
DENMARK - this is just awful - and now looks doubly amateur after the stylistic choices of the song before it. I still don't know what this is trying to be. The backdrop during the clip is messy and the singer looks like a streaker who's forgotten to take his clothes off. I'd rather not ever see/hear this again.
Here's the BBC's video of all the second semifinalists.!
The UK can vote in the 2nd #Eurovision Semi-Final next Thursday!📱
ITALY - very red and shadowy. Liking the interactions between the members of the group however I hope they project down the camera at other times. The singer's vocal sounds clear and full of oooomph. Their outfits are rather simple but also eye catching. Also noticed their silhouettes on the backdrop too.
GERMANY - my hands covered my face at the end of this. The random noises during the dance part sound awkward and the backing trio needs to be more manic in their instrument playing. Singing and dancing this hard without the quality suffering is impossible. This is why TikToks are not 3 mins.
NETHERLANDS - this sounds blooming amazing. Liking the toned down visuals which will make the more second part stand out. The dancer being the focus during the chorus is bold choice especially as the is is a less notable dance style Jeangu has a great charisma and really looks at home (obvs).
FRANCE - you honestly wouldn't think she was in such a big arena more like a small jazz club in downtown Paris. She looks and sounds amazing. The steadicam gives another layer of realism and grit to very honest and real performance that makes you feel you are there. It is idiotically simple.
UNITED KINGDOM - James looks like he's having a great time! I hope the dancers actually add to the show as it progresses. Verses sound ok, although the word 'embers' sounded a bit of a struggle. More red and blue lighting although it has a ridged/ribbed feel. Dare I even dream what the trumpets do...?
SPAIN - Blas is dressed in black, in front of a black background where the light source is obscured by a massive moon... I hope the pay off is worth it. Blas' voice sounds a little off but it is *only* a rehearsal. I hope he gets more close ups and gets to move and emote more as it feels rather too minimal.
Here is a short compilation of some of those finalists' rehearsal footage !
For those in the Eurovision bubble, one of the toughest things a fan can do is to put all of the songs in order of preference... For this, we have Mr Gerbear's AMAZING Eurovision sorter.
Having put all the songs up against each other here is my list of this year's 39!
Taking these ranking a bit further, these would be my 10 personal qualifiers from each semi - although looking at this list in context I am almost sure this is NOT going to be happening !!!
Looking at semi one, Australia and Ireland are looking the most likely to fall out of the list for very different staging and vocal reasons. Sweden's entry is all fine and dandy but could be seen as too plain and safe and the people at home just forget to dial them a vote. Croatia is most likely to have a chance of muscling themselves into a slot with the right sort of staging and the divisive Norway could go either way depending on whether the public at large 'get it'. Azerbaijan is also missing from this list. A tight and well performed show could get it extra votes but can they muster up enough wallpaper to cover up the fact that they don't have a decent song? In a semi of 16 very different songs, you could literally see ANY combination of 10 getting through.
Although semi two is a little less competitive, it almost makes it harder to compare. Without sounding too sexist, I feel like the men of this semi are in danger of being left behind in their droves. I could easily see Estonia, Austria, Portugal and Poland all NQ because their songs are less 'in your face'. Czechia could miss out just down to their lack of diaspora in the televote, as could San Marino. You have to give chances to Moldova but their earwormy song could be overshadowed by inappropriate staging. There is also Finland whose entry is niche (and lyrics slightly dodgy) but if the nu metal lovers get behind it, it could surprise. The non-English songs of Albania, Serbia and Denmark also have their supporters but a lot will depend on their visual and vocal performative qualities.
