For Finland's entry, Windows95 logo is blurred because EBU doesn't allow it. Microsoft are fine with it and it is no longer a registered trademark. Microsoft Finland were over the moon about the entry! 😅
Portugal is absolutely stunning, them qualifying is non-negotiable for me, they have to be in the final. I was really surprised with Azerbaijan’s staging, I think it looks great and they could be a surprise qualifier now!
Some slight changes to the No Rules! staging: The egg has led light strips showing cracks in the egg while W95m is hatching. Some new dance moves. The clouds in the background, reminding us about the flying part of the lyrics, and perhaps also to highlight the eagle noises.
People do seem to be finally waking up to Portugal - and they had moved up to 10th in betting so am keeping my fingers crossed that confidence continues!
Portugal qualified both in 2021 and in 2022 with the televoting too, and both times pretty comfortable (5th and 6th) even though those were ballads/slower songs that were not considered to have huge televote appeal so I really don't get why they are this low in the odds especially regarding the Running order too
@@christianj5950 nah, plenty of peole vote for countries. That's why countries with a big diaspora always do at least decent with the televote (and why I think Moldova will qualify). But you are right that plenty of people also vote for songs.
🇵🇹 Portugal 🇵🇹 Iolanda’s voice is just so full and so clean, and I think just from the opening acapella portions it’ll be a welcome palette cleanser and standout (almost like how the prelude of Salvador Sobral’s Amar Pelos Dois). two years in a row now where it’s way closer than it needed to be, but I’m so glad they got the second to last running order slot which should help a lot - let’s send Iolanda to the final!! ♥️🇵🇹♥️
Well I was considering voting for Slovenia (from FI), as I think it needs it most from the entries I like, but I will reserve judgement until the live show ;)
@@Sarah-og3mp and Czechia!! What I don’t understand is why is the EBU not giving guidelines on costume taste and decency as other broadcasters do? Not all countries broadcast late at night so all members of the family are awake.
Tom hating on Azerbaijans outfits is 100% me lmao it's so tacky and the fact that the staging itself is better than the clothes they're wearing makes it even worse. They just decided to make everybody elses lives easier. My favorite from this half is def Portugal.
yea really this staging doesnt appear to have any ethnic feeling in it at all really. Sharp contrast to Armenia in SF2 who leant heavily into the ethnic feel
you know what? slovenia and finland being next to each other makes no sense (if we talk about visuals). they have identical color scheme: blue, white & little bit black or "darkness". they both have clouds. do they both also have smoke? okey, the songs are beyond different😂 but still, seems little weird of a choice, like azerbaijan being next to sweden.
@@theorem7965 Yup. If you actually think theyll win the jury, your IP address is probably Iberian lol. The Portugese do tend to stan their own entries very, very hard. Portugal and Serbia I've noticed this with a lot, they both had very weirdly inflated hype last year to pretty mediocre results
@@christianj5950As a Portuguese speaker I can assure you that Iolanda is far better than any past Portugal entry in recent memory. Much better than Saudade, for example.
@@christianj5950 Yeah probably, but not only them tho, a certain people from a certain middle eastern country have been doing it a lot too. I actually do think Portugal will surprise with the jury because they tend to do well with them everytime they send a ballad. But winning lmao no. And I have Portugal in my top 10 myself but we gotta be realistic.
@@christianj5950 Not Iberian! Irish actually 🇮🇪 Vocally iolanda is the best this year, and musically Grito is way more interesting than Mon amour and The Code (which doesn't even have much of a melody, at least in the chorus). But notice that I didn't say I think this'll win the jury, I just said I wouldn't be surprised.
In my case, the perception of Slovenia's performance was the opposite. I was expecting a dark theme (as anyone else) but when I saw the first pictures, I thought: oh, finally some light on the stage!! People who will see Raiven perform for the first time and won't know the background story with no expectations, I think she will somehow stand out, as it seems to me that every year there are too many performances that are "too dark".
I love Slovenia, this dance story is the same like in the video, I agree about it's too light as we all were expecting, I think she said there are gonna be some changes after 1th rehearsel, but anyway I still like it, it's different the whole package, dancing is uniqe from all the performance, she is movin with dancers and telling story, costumes are pure, animalistic ... Just great, for me Slovenia and Portugal were the best forom this 2nd rehearsel.
The semi final 1 odds not the final. Check odds Eurovisionworld. Why do you think Tom says in the video that Portugal is still 11th in the odds. He’s talking about the semi final odds.
Australia, talk about the difficulty of playing the didgeridoo in the first place and then dancing with it. Most digeridoo players sit and that is it. That instrument for a lot of people is a very difficult instrument to play. People are not appreciating what they see and the level of difficulty and complexity that it all takes and which is done effortlessly.The backdrop, heard is Zaachariaha's art, that he painted. Which is stunning, an amazing artist. Its still a wait and see.
All instruments are prerecorded for Eurovision performances. All performers playing instruments are miming. It's too difficult to do the audio for all the different instruments used by the performers, so they unfortunately have to be prerecorded. That's why you never hear a bum note from any of the instruments.
I actually think the opposite Tom with Australia, I think because of Australia’s Q record people are overestimating it’s chances, if Ireland sent this our odds would be on par with Azerbaijan’s which is where this should really be.
it would have been so camp if Hera had leaned into the "that one cool aunt at karaoke" vibe and just made the stage into a giant karaoke bar with cheesy sing-a-long graphics of volcanos in the background. hire me, RÚV!!
@@jtb357 oh, no, it's meant in the most affectionate way, not that the song is a cheap karaoke but that when Hera is singing she has the vibes of that one talented auntie that everyone loves
That Kryten reference was so shady, but you also keep referencing things I love (it was shown on PBS in the States, so I think it's not really that obscure for a certain age group that's older than us, similar to max Headroom)
I really hope something with Slovenia changes in between the first and second rehearsal in the visuals. It’s definitely too bright and I expected some more gold in the staging as well
I have no idea why Portugal rose in the odds and is a qualifier for most people after this first rehearsal. It was obvious they would keep the staging and we all know she's one of the best singers this year.
Tom did you see Ireland's offical cut?! I could cry because it was the best one of the day! Ireland is coming after everyone this year! And it's so exciting to stan our country for the first time in a very long time 🇮🇪
haven't seen the tiktok but im wondering if slovenia's big lift could end in a drop? that might give that nod to a 'witch' being dropped in water. just a theory.
I utterly adore Slovenia, I love the presentation with the strange dancing, honestly I thought the performances Raiven did with the lone female dancer at the pre-parties were mesmerizing, especially the part with the thwarted kiss, hopefully this new performance maintains something of that eroticism. I think the camerawork will make or break it tbqh. Whatever, I love the song, so I am voting hardcore for it in the first semi.
Please stop talking about "wine mum vote" 😂😂 That's really stereotyping people, not all mums have such dire taste! (In fact probably most do not, I can only speak for myself tho.)
reg. Azerbaijan - it’s cute they give us sci fi, it’s unexpected, i am here for it even though it looks like ChatGPT did the design without knowing the context.
I don't get Azerbaijan's outfits either, I don't see how these space suits are connected to the song. Well, Ozunle Apar means "take me with you", so maybe they are waiting for their alien friends to pick them up 😂
I think Moldova elevated much the song, even being alone on stage, good job. I loved Slovenia a lot (looked allost like the video) and Luxembourg was great too, except for her outfit, but that can still change. I missed some colors for Azerbaijan, but still very well done.
Not sure if this is supposed to be all about looks, dresses, staging… but I am missing comments about the vocal performances (which is what I really care about)
The first time I heard Portugal I thought this was going to get knocked out in the Semi Finals based on the televote. I've not seen anything to change my mind. I'm not saying it's rubbish or she can't sing. She obviously can. I just don't see it out performing the others just on the televote. If it does get through I would expect it to get on the left hand side of the table due to the Jury vote, but finishing behind Armenia in the Jury Vote.
Iceland: This isn't really giving us anything interesting. We know Hera is going to be good on the night, but I don't think its going to be enough to get Iceland over the line. Slovenia: I really like this. I love that they're trying to recapture the music video on stage. I definitely think that this is going to be a performance tailored to the camera rather than to the audience in the arena. The camera angles are definitely going to make a difference here. If I have any notes, its that I think they could turn the brightness in the LED and the lighting down a bit. Finland: A lot of people were expecting them to keep the UMK staging and that's what we got. I imagine there's been some small elevations. Moldova: The LEDs look lovely, but I think this is going to end up being too static. The national final performance at least had an interesting motif to it. I don't have much hope for Moldova making it over the line. Azerbaijan: The visuals seem quite at odds with the ethnic sounds within the song. You hit the nail on the head with the costumes. I think dune-esque robes and cloaks would've work better, especially if they chucked some wind at them. I still interested as to how they're going to make the two of them work on stage as I've always felt that it was originally Fahree's song but they've shoe-horned Ilkin into it. Australia: I like the colours, but I was expecting a bit more, especially given Australia's record for good staging. Will be interested to see the 2nd rehearsal for this one. Portugal: Love that they're sticking to the same concept as FDC as I thought it worked perfectly for the song. Luxembourg: The colours are nice, but what was the vision behind this? It all seems very confused. None of the choices made here feel like they fit the song. Overall, this half is definitely a tad weaker. My highlights were Portugal, Slovenia and Finland. These three currently feel like the only ones in this half that have a clear vision behind them.
I swear I nearly pissed myself laughing at the camel toe comparison to Ireland’s entry last year (I ‘ve heard it referred to as “moose knuckle” when it’s on a dude, which I don’t really understand but also find hilarious).
@@ESCTomYour analysis of Portugal 🇵🇹 really shows how smort 😊 you are. I personally like everything about this Portuguese entry. Her voice is mesmerizing. As for Cyprus I don’t like the song at all but the singer is way too gorgeous. She makes everyone else look ugly. 🤪
Talking about butts... Many people don't like men's butt's exposed, but they have nothing against women's butts... because """they're hot""". This is a double standard so trite I don't have the strength to comment upon. I love Raiven and I hope she will qualify (she's in my top five, actually). That said, her leotard is perhaps a little too risqué? I like it, but a little wardrobe malfunction and she could end entirely exposed and maybe disqualified. I think artists should be more careful and make sure they are well covered at least where it may cause controversy. Love Iolanda, despite that strange bustier.
visual artist here. my interpretation of Veronika, the movements seems to go between worlds, we see the drowned veronika and the living veronika. the drowned person looking up towards the world of the living, and lifted by all these dancers either a signifier of brought back into the living world or getting recognition even though she is drowned, but her person lives amongst the living, in songs, stories about her. that’s what i got from tiktok, it’s pretty straightforward i think. seeing the costumes and the dance really made me like the song, i wasn’t a huge fan of it before.
if youre correct, thats a beautiful meaning. i just hope the whole thing translates well to the casual viewer. or is so beautiful, that a translation isnt needed
Iolanda as a great voice, very piched and the rest is pure art. Great composition, the lyrics in portuguese are at poetry level (translation to English loss much of is beauty), and the staging is pure art. Very proud of 🇵🇹. P.S. Iolanda it's a magnificent human being, so, we have the all package. ESC fans, you have a diamond in your hands and it seams you to don't to apreciate that. Your loss...
Oh please stop playing the victim like that! It's really annoying, and makes me feel very disinclined to vote for Portugal, had I otherwise felt like doing so... In any case, you are mistaken about which contest you talk about - this is **not** an art contest, but Eurovision, which is foremost a TV entertainment show!
A bit disappointed with Hera Björk's styling. Her styling in the preparties gave a slight sliver of hope, a bit more modern, easy and cool with the blazer and her hairstyle, and then they went back a few decades with all the fringe and metallics. Though I think this song will spark joy with a certain segment of viewers, Iceland already had an uphill battle and it feels like they missed their tiny chance by phoning it in.
And I think you had a good point about Slovenia's choreo. It's a bit more chaotic and not super clean and structured like quite a few other entries, especially the pop ones. In the pre parties with the one dancer, she uses the interaction well to try to convey a story, and I really wonder if she can do the same with all of them here. If she does, I think it will really stand out vs. some of the more cookie cutter pop girlie dance routines and snag a qualification
Moldova's staging is awful, it looks early 2000s, they put no budget into this. Which is understandable since the song is bad aswell. Definitly not qualifying.
I'd be heartbroken if Slovenia and Portugal don't go through, but it's very likely one won't make it :( I'm a bit disappointed in Raiven's outfit, I think silver fits her and the song a lot better, maybe they have some backup colors ready to go 😁
I think at most with the Luxembourg narrative, they might mention it at least 2 or 3 times throughout the show but not do a whole big video package about it. (There's no way they're gonna push it under the rug... they're desperate for more countries to stay/come back and Luxembourg is very well funded). Semi 1 is going to be weird as hell. Not only are most of the songs in the first half stronger, but they also happen to be countries with big diasporas and voting blocs.
I think its fair to say now that Semi 1 just feels like the weaker semi. Despite what everyone thought at first. Yes, it has some HUGE energy in the first half with Croatia and Ukraine (and Ireland!), but after that, it really peters out and there isn't much else to keep the excitement up. I think Cyprus being so high in the semi odds is because there just isn't much else. Contrast that to Semi 2, which definitely has some duds, but you're not going to be bored after the first-half heavy hitters. After Greece and Switzerland, you still have the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Armenia, Georgia, the show is really going to be high energy and exciting the whole way through. Out of the 10 songs that are predicted to qualify from Semi 2, I really can't see the final without any of them (except for one). Maybe two, if Estonia ends up too messy. Right now, I genuinely only see 5-6 full package, final-ready songs in Semi 1. I don't think Cyprus would've qualified from Semi 2, I think Austria, Georgia and Malta all eat her for breakfast.
quote: "but after that, it really peters out and there isn't much else to keep the excitement up" - there *IS* Finland, very high energy & excitement, and it pretty much has the 2nd half to itself in that 😉 Funny how most ESC fandom are ignoring it, but they will have their eyes opened after Tuesday's show for sure.
Now we've seen all these performances my prediction for the top qualifiers are: Serbia 🇷🇸 Lithuania 🇱🇹 Ireland 🇮🇪 Ukraine 🇺🇦 Poland (Just) 🇵🇱 Croatia 🇭🇷 Slovenia 🇸🇮 Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 Portugal 🇵🇹 Luxembourg 🇱🇺 (or Cyprus 🇨🇾) Poland and Azerbaijan I can see just sneaking in over Finland and Australia but I'm not a 100% I think it will be an interesting battle between the girl bops to see who comes out top. There is a chance both might qualify but I'm not sure.
For Finland's entry, Windows95 logo is blurred because EBU doesn't allow it. Microsoft are fine with it and it is no longer a registered trademark. Microsoft Finland were over the moon about the entry! 😅
Portugal is absolutely stunning, them qualifying is non-negotiable for me, they have to be in the final. I was really surprised with Azerbaijan’s staging, I think it looks great and they could be a surprise qualifier now!
This year's winner is a surprise. There is no particular winner favourite this year. Predictions are predictions, may the best man win!
Some slight changes to the No Rules! staging: The egg has led light strips showing cracks in the egg while W95m is hatching. Some new dance moves. The clouds in the background, reminding us about the flying part of the lyrics, and perhaps also to highlight the eagle noises.
yes i notcied the clouds in the background while editing, i actually really like how those LEDs look
People do seem to be finally waking up to Portugal - and they had moved up to 10th in betting so am keeping my fingers crossed that confidence continues!
I already was a fan after I heard the song good luck ❤️🇳🇱
Portugal qualified both in 2021 and in 2022 with the televoting too, and both times pretty comfortable (5th and 6th) even though those were ballads/slower songs that were not considered to have huge televote appeal so I really don't get why they are this low in the odds especially regarding the Running order too
People dont just vote for countries. They vote for songs. They just dont think the song is that strong, I think.
@@christianj5950 nah, plenty of peole vote for countries. That's why countries with a big diaspora always do at least decent with the televote (and why I think Moldova will qualify).
But you are right that plenty of people also vote for songs.
Absolutely in agreement with all your observations, they could not be more impartial and fair!
Slovenia & Portugal should qualify to the final.
Indeed❤🎉
I hope you're right. I'd be a very heartbroken of both won't go through, especially Slovenia is one of my overall favorite songs.
Well many countries **should** , but the thing is will they...
Thanks from Portugal 🇵🇹 🇵🇹 🇵🇹
Thank you from Slovenia. I will be devastated. I feel she is one of the best artist we have. Agree for Portugal
🇵🇹 Portugal 🇵🇹 Iolanda’s voice is just so full and so clean, and I think just from the opening acapella portions it’ll be a welcome palette cleanser and standout (almost like how the prelude of Salvador Sobral’s Amar Pelos Dois).
two years in a row now where it’s way closer than it needed to be, but I’m so glad they got the second to last running order slot which should help a lot - let’s send Iolanda to the final!! ♥️🇵🇹♥️
Can we just say how good the quality of those screens look, its so good to the point where a lot of backgrounds look 3d
Portugal ❤❤❤soo good song and performance too ❤goo Iolanda ❤ thanks from Portugal
I was actually blown away by Slovenia
I really liked Slovenia.
She has an amazing voice and stage presence.
Same! She stood out to me
Well I was considering voting for Slovenia (from FI), as I think it needs it most from the entries I like, but I will reserve judgement until the live show ;)
Me too! Raiven is seriously underrrated by ESC fandom for some weird reason.
HAHAHAHA the Kryten reference for Azerbaijan completely took me by surprise
I can't unsee it now 😂
Windows 95 and his bum controversy??? What about Spain????!!!! That’s much worse as it’s in a sexual way. Finland is a daft way.
Also Slovenia less covered than she would be in a bikini
@@Sarah-og3mp and Czechia!! What I don’t understand is why is the EBU not giving guidelines on costume taste and decency as other broadcasters do? Not all countries broadcast late at night so all members of the family are awake.
Omg what a core memory unlocked! I forgot about Red Dwarf! 😂😅
Tom hating on Azerbaijans outfits is 100% me lmao it's so tacky and the fact that the staging itself is better than the clothes they're wearing makes it even worse. They just decided to make everybody elses lives easier.
My favorite from this half is def Portugal.
Idk why Azerbaijan didn't lean into the ethnic parts of the song with the styling - rare fail with the staging.
yea really this staging doesnt appear to have any ethnic feeling in it at all really. Sharp contrast to Armenia in SF2 who leant heavily into the ethnic feel
I love Hera's song. It's chaneling the 2010s nostalgia. Even the back singers standing on stage in front of microphones is so 2010s
you know what? slovenia and finland being next to each other makes no sense (if we talk about visuals). they have identical color scheme: blue, white & little bit black or "darkness". they both have clouds. do they both also have smoke? okey, the songs are beyond different😂 but still, seems little weird of a choice, like azerbaijan being next to sweden.
Portugal is just perfect. Wouldn't even be surprised if they won the jury vote in the final
They can pull off an Alika and get around 150 points, but winning the jury is a bit of a stretch when you have France, Switzerland and Italy.
@@theorem7965 Yup. If you actually think theyll win the jury, your IP address is probably Iberian lol. The Portugese do tend to stan their own entries very, very hard. Portugal and Serbia I've noticed this with a lot, they both had very weirdly inflated hype last year to pretty mediocre results
@@christianj5950As a Portuguese speaker I can assure you that Iolanda is far better than any past Portugal entry in recent memory. Much better than Saudade, for example.
@@christianj5950 Yeah probably, but not only them tho, a certain people from a certain middle eastern country have been doing it a lot too. I actually do think Portugal will surprise with the jury because they tend to do well with them everytime they send a ballad. But winning lmao no. And I have Portugal in my top 10 myself but we gotta be realistic.
@@christianj5950 Not Iberian! Irish actually 🇮🇪 Vocally iolanda is the best this year, and musically Grito is way more interesting than Mon amour and The Code (which doesn't even have much of a melody, at least in the chorus). But notice that I didn't say I think this'll win the jury, I just said I wouldn't be surprised.
Thanks from Portugal 🇵🇹 🇵🇹 🇵🇹 🇵🇹
In my case, the perception of Slovenia's performance was the opposite. I was expecting a dark theme (as anyone else) but when I saw the first pictures, I thought: oh, finally some light on the stage!! People who will see Raiven perform for the first time and won't know the background story with no expectations, I think she will somehow stand out, as it seems to me that every year there are too many performances that are "too dark".
I love Slovenia, this dance story is the same like in the video, I agree about it's too light as we all were expecting, I think she said there are gonna be some changes after 1th rehearsel, but anyway I still like it, it's different the whole package, dancing is uniqe from all the performance, she is movin with dancers and telling story, costumes are pure, animalistic ... Just great, for me Slovenia and Portugal were the best forom this 2nd rehearsel.
Portugal ❤🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹
Dude is an encyclopaedia
Portugal is up to 10 in the odds after rehearsals 🤞🏼❤️🇵🇹
No, it's not. It's still 32th, in case you didn't notice. Or what site are you looking at? I always check on Eurovisionworld.
No, it isn't, it's still 32th, what are you talking about...? Where did you see such odds, I'm puzzled?
The semi final 1 odds not the final. Check odds Eurovisionworld. Why do you think Tom says in the video that Portugal is still 11th in the odds. He’s talking about the semi final odds.
In case you didn’t notice you have odds for the final, for semi final 1 and semi final 2, always
Australia, talk about the difficulty of playing the didgeridoo in the first place and then dancing with it. Most digeridoo players sit and that is it. That instrument for a lot of people is a very difficult instrument to play. People are not appreciating what they see and the level of difficulty and complexity that it all takes and which is done effortlessly.The backdrop, heard is Zaachariaha's art, that he painted. Which is stunning, an amazing artist. Its still a wait and see.
Not to mention he's circle breathing, which is a very, very hard thing for humans to do!
All instruments are prerecorded for Eurovision performances. All performers playing instruments are miming. It's too difficult to do the audio for all the different instruments used by the performers, so they unfortunately have to be prerecorded. That's why you never hear a bum note from any of the instruments.
Yea he’s not playing it live unfortunately. But still cool to know that info about it usually needs to be played statically
@ESCTom Might not be playing live, but a didgeridoo isn't light, and he's dancing around the stage with it! It's still worth some kind of applause!
No RULES.. rules!! It will be shock to someones that after semifinal they are not "joke" anymoore 😍🕺🕺
Exactly!!
YES!! 😄🥳
I actually think the opposite Tom with Australia, I think because of Australia’s Q record people are overestimating it’s chances, if Ireland sent this our odds would be on par with Azerbaijan’s which is where this should really be.
This +100!
it would have been so camp if Hera had leaned into the "that one cool aunt at karaoke" vibe and just made the stage into a giant karaoke bar with cheesy sing-a-long graphics of volcanos in the background. hire me, RÚV!!
That seems a little insulting, degrading the song to a Karaoke level.
That would be a concept!!!!
@@jtb357 oh, no, it's meant in the most affectionate way, not that the song is a cheap karaoke but that when Hera is singing she has the vibes of that one talented auntie that everyone loves
slovenia took my breath away like i was gagged zown henny
🤩
Feeling gagged doesn't sound like breath taken away in a good way ;D
@@MHMK-ui5tm its ballroom slang for wow, i'm stunned & amazed. i was gagged severely
@@kartkoe What is "ballroom slang"? Never heard the expression myself, anyway ;D
@@MHMK-ui5tm you should google it actually
That Kryten reference was so shady, but you also keep referencing things I love (it was shown on PBS in the States, so I think it's not really that obscure for a certain age group that's older than us, similar to max Headroom)
I really liked Azerbaijan actually, I found the staging very unique comparing to what we've seen so far
your commentary on iceland was hilarious and GENIUS😄
If I didn’t see the national finals I would feel like this year Iceland and Ireland decided to switch acts this year lol
Just realised that now. Maybe Iceland might get though because people like Irelands performance????
@@stevenwilliams3038 Don't believe either of those...
I agree the fan ratings are crazy and i put it down to overating girl bops with Cyprus. I still think Cyprus is an NQ.
What's Twitter? Veronika is STUNNING! ❤️
I really hope something with Slovenia changes in between the first and second rehearsal in the visuals. It’s definitely too bright and I expected some more gold in the staging as well
Iceland
also reminded me of Ireland last year. Less groin talk, Tom! :D
Portugal MUST qualify! TELEVOTE for Portugal at 1st semifinal please! We cannot do it! 🇵🇹🤗 💪🏼🫂🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹
Uma abraço de Portugal.
I have no idea why Portugal rose in the odds and is a qualifier for most people after this first rehearsal. It was obvious they would keep the staging and we all know she's one of the best singers this year.
yes Tom you are more a beer daddy lol
what does that even mean 😭
@@ESCTom you said you are not a wine mama so you are a beer daddy (reaction Iceland)
Tom did you see Ireland's offical cut?!
I could cry because it was the best one of the day! Ireland is coming after everyone this year! And it's so exciting to stan our country for the first time in a very long time 🇮🇪
yes i did, i went crazy about it on twitter 😂
The visuals on Luxembourg LED wtf
haven't seen the tiktok but im wondering if slovenia's big lift could end in a drop? that might give that nod to a 'witch' being dropped in water. just a theory.
The TikTok shows her being lifted as she end the big high note unfortunately. That would be so cool though
I also got instantly reminded of North Macedonia's staging in Jesc last year from Moldova!
Great review! But you have in fact 3 male duos in a row (Sweden, Azerbaijan and Australia). And I agree: Portugal ❤ has to qualify!
yes thats true
Australia isn't a male duo though...?
Zaachariaha is male, yes.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaachariaha_Fielding
@@59Crossword I don't understand - it's a male & female duo, clearly?
They are two men. Just check the link I gave you
Ugh i just need Slovenia to qualify damn it
I utterly adore Slovenia, I love the presentation with the strange dancing, honestly I thought the performances Raiven did with the lone female dancer at the pre-parties were mesmerizing, especially the part with the thwarted kiss, hopefully this new performance maintains something of that eroticism. I think the camerawork will make or break it tbqh. Whatever, I love the song, so I am voting hardcore for it in the first semi.
she really really does need your votes, so i would go all in on her
If the wine mom vote is gonna push anyone through to the final its Australia imo
I agree. I hope Australia qualifies, there song is really sweet
Let's go wine mum vote!! 🇦🇺
Agreed
YES. I thought this too but didn’t say it on camera 😭
Please stop talking about "wine mum vote" 😂😂 That's really stereotyping people, not all mums have such dire taste! (In fact probably most do not, I can only speak for myself tho.)
Why do all led backgrounds look 8bit like a Windows 95 wallpaper?
reg. Azerbaijan - it’s cute they give us sci fi, it’s unexpected, i am here for it even though it looks like ChatGPT did the design without knowing the context.
🇵🇹❤️
I feel it coming 🐺🐺🐺
Hard man to please! Personally, the first half of semi 1 isn't as strong as you think.
New word alert deluxification
Call Websters 📞
I don't get Azerbaijan's outfits either, I don't see how these space suits are connected to the song. Well, Ozunle Apar means "take me with you", so maybe they are waiting for their alien friends to pick them up 😂
Let's go Australia!!! The staging is gorgeous, I really hope they qualify 💖💖💖
I think Moldova elevated much the song, even being alone on stage, good job. I loved Slovenia a lot (looked allost like the video) and Luxembourg was great too, except for her outfit, but that can still change. I missed some colors for Azerbaijan, but still very well done.
Not sure if this is supposed to be all about looks, dresses, staging… but I am missing comments about the vocal performances (which is what I really care about)
theres pretty limited information from the Tiktok about it, you dont get the mic feed, its just the sound within the arena
Slovenia❤ pozz iz Zagreba
Portugal is just divine. ❤❤❤
I just noticed the opening country will wear white 🤍 and the last black 🖤
The first time I heard Portugal I thought this was going to get knocked out in the Semi Finals based on the televote. I've not seen anything to change my mind. I'm not saying it's rubbish or she can't sing. She obviously can. I just don't see it out performing the others just on the televote. If it does get through I would expect it to get on the left hand side of the table due to the Jury vote, but finishing behind Armenia in the Jury Vote.
Glad that someone agrees with me re Portugal! To me it's just a sleeping pill, and will be a toilet break if it gets to final...
Not sure about the mesh bodysuit for Raiven... I was hoping the staging would look more like the music video, which was very effective
yea i liked the music video too, but then the Eurojury HATED it 😭
Portugal, Espanha , França ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉
Iceland: This isn't really giving us anything interesting. We know Hera is going to be good on the night, but I don't think its going to be enough to get Iceland over the line.
Slovenia: I really like this. I love that they're trying to recapture the music video on stage. I definitely think that this is going to be a performance tailored to the camera rather than to the audience in the arena. The camera angles are definitely going to make a difference here. If I have any notes, its that I think they could turn the brightness in the LED and the lighting down a bit.
Finland: A lot of people were expecting them to keep the UMK staging and that's what we got. I imagine there's been some small elevations.
Moldova: The LEDs look lovely, but I think this is going to end up being too static. The national final performance at least had an interesting motif to it. I don't have much hope for Moldova making it over the line.
Azerbaijan: The visuals seem quite at odds with the ethnic sounds within the song. You hit the nail on the head with the costumes. I think dune-esque robes and cloaks would've work better, especially if they chucked some wind at them. I still interested as to how they're going to make the two of them work on stage as I've always felt that it was originally Fahree's song but they've shoe-horned Ilkin into it.
Australia: I like the colours, but I was expecting a bit more, especially given Australia's record for good staging. Will be interested to see the 2nd rehearsal for this one.
Portugal: Love that they're sticking to the same concept as FDC as I thought it worked perfectly for the song.
Luxembourg: The colours are nice, but what was the vision behind this? It all seems very confused. None of the choices made here feel like they fit the song.
Overall, this half is definitely a tad weaker. My highlights were Portugal, Slovenia and Finland. These three currently feel like the only ones in this half that have a clear vision behind them.
YESS! Azerbaijan should have gone full Dune!!!! An Azeri interpretation of Dune with sandy browns would have been WOW
I need Australia to qualify
And I need it to stay in semi :D
I swear I nearly pissed myself laughing at the camel toe comparison to Ireland’s entry last year (I ‘ve heard it referred to as “moose knuckle” when it’s on a dude, which I don’t really understand but also find hilarious).
On Moldova - yes, they couldn’t afford to bring the violinists…
😢
@@ESCTomYour analysis of Portugal 🇵🇹 really shows how smort 😊 you are. I personally like everything about this Portuguese entry. Her voice is mesmerizing. As for Cyprus I don’t like the song at all but the singer is way too gorgeous. She makes everyone else look ugly. 🤪
🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹
Talking about butts... Many people don't like men's butt's exposed, but they have nothing against women's butts... because """they're hot""".
This is a double standard so trite I don't have the strength to comment upon.
I love Raiven and I hope she will qualify (she's in my top five, actually). That said, her leotard is perhaps a little too risqué? I like it, but a little wardrobe malfunction and she could end entirely exposed and maybe disqualified. I think artists should be more careful and make sure they are well covered at least where it may cause controversy.
Love Iolanda, despite that strange bustier.
visual artist here. my interpretation of Veronika, the movements seems to go between worlds, we see the drowned veronika and the living veronika. the drowned person looking up towards the world of the living, and lifted by all these dancers either a signifier of brought back into the living world or getting recognition even though she is drowned, but her person lives amongst the living, in songs, stories about her. that’s what i got from tiktok, it’s pretty straightforward i think. seeing the costumes and the dance really made me like the song, i wasn’t a huge fan of it before.
if youre correct, thats a beautiful meaning. i just hope the whole thing translates well to the casual viewer. or is so beautiful, that a translation isnt needed
When you said "delicious" did you mean to say "hungry eyes" ??😂
lol im so tired that i dont even know what i was trying to say. hungry eyes would make sense though
Guys we broke Tom with controversy #2376 😂😭🤪
😭
I hope LUX and SLO will qualify.
Iolanda as a great voice, very piched and the rest is pure art. Great composition, the lyrics in portuguese are at poetry level (translation to English loss much of is beauty), and the staging is pure art. Very proud of 🇵🇹. P.S. Iolanda it's a magnificent human being, so, we have the all package. ESC fans, you have a diamond in your hands and it seams you to don't to apreciate that. Your loss...
Oh please stop playing the victim like that! It's really annoying, and makes me feel very disinclined to vote for Portugal, had I otherwise felt like doing so... In any case, you are mistaken about which contest you talk about - this is **not** an art contest, but Eurovision, which is foremost a TV entertainment show!
@@florenna you have your opinion. I have my opinion. You vote or note vote in what you want. Don't play the victim...
❤❤❤❤ Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Irland,Ukraina, Poland❤❤❤
Yeah people go wild for cultural elements ;-)
@15:38 love watching the light bulb come on in real time 🤣
also i forgot about the OTHER male duo coming right after as well 😂
@@ESCTom I hate to say it, but until this moment, I had no idea that was a male duo
Finland is also a male duo 😅
Moldova has been revamped slightly!
Portugal, pleese this song is soooou amazing ❤
A bit disappointed with Hera Björk's styling. Her styling in the preparties gave a slight sliver of hope, a bit more modern, easy and cool with the blazer and her hairstyle, and then they went back a few decades with all the fringe and metallics. Though I think this song will spark joy with a certain segment of viewers, Iceland already had an uphill battle and it feels like they missed their tiny chance by phoning it in.
And I think you had a good point about Slovenia's choreo. It's a bit more chaotic and not super clean and structured like quite a few other entries, especially the pop ones. In the pre parties with the one dancer, she uses the interaction well to try to convey a story, and I really wonder if she can do the same with all of them here. If she does, I think it will really stand out vs. some of the more cookie cutter pop girlie dance routines and snag a qualification
Rooting for Grito ❤️❤️❤️❤️🇵🇹
Wow I just realized/remembered I dreamt of Raiven tonight. She gave me some sort of guidance.
Moldova's staging is awful, it looks early 2000s, they put no budget into this. Which is understandable since the song is bad aswell. Definitly not qualifying.
I'd be heartbroken if Slovenia and Portugal don't go through, but it's very likely one won't make it :( I'm a bit disappointed in Raiven's outfit, I think silver fits her and the song a lot better, maybe they have some backup colors ready to go 😁
I think Azerbaijan has such a good song and I feel it works with the staging.
No sorry I 'll be going making tea when they come on 😅
I think at most with the Luxembourg narrative, they might mention it at least 2 or 3 times throughout the show but not do a whole big video package about it. (There's no way they're gonna push it under the rug... they're desperate for more countries to stay/come back and Luxembourg is very well funded).
Semi 1 is going to be weird as hell. Not only are most of the songs in the first half stronger, but they also happen to be countries with big diasporas and voting blocs.
I don't understand I LOVE Australia
now that you brought it up, azerbaijans projection _might_ be veronika so we still got her somehow
Why is Slovenia getting so much hate from the public? 😭together with Ukraine it’s my favorite song of the year
What?! I've seen nothing but stanning here... (The outfit is iffy to me, but that's all, and no hate.)
Only Veronika I will vote for here, but disappointed by her bright background and no fire
10:42 “There’s nothing really Dad here” 👨
umm… yes there is?? 🙄
(joke)
Omg I don’t even know what I was trying to say there 😂 😂 😂
Oh wait. I’m saying “to add” 😂
@@ESCTom Glad this got cleared out 😂 As I also heard it "nothing really dad here"...
Apparently Zaachariaha's dress is made to catch the lights too so lights up in a rainbow at the start.
Azerbaijan needs to leave this contest
I think its fair to say now that Semi 1 just feels like the weaker semi. Despite what everyone thought at first. Yes, it has some HUGE energy in the first half with Croatia and Ukraine (and Ireland!), but after that, it really peters out and there isn't much else to keep the excitement up. I think Cyprus being so high in the semi odds is because there just isn't much else. Contrast that to Semi 2, which definitely has some duds, but you're not going to be bored after the first-half heavy hitters. After Greece and Switzerland, you still have the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Armenia, Georgia, the show is really going to be high energy and exciting the whole way through. Out of the 10 songs that are predicted to qualify from Semi 2, I really can't see the final without any of them (except for one). Maybe two, if Estonia ends up too messy. Right now, I genuinely only see 5-6 full package, final-ready songs in Semi 1. I don't think Cyprus would've qualified from Semi 2, I think Austria, Georgia and Malta all eat her for breakfast.
Actually, I saw the rehearsals 3 and , I am sorry but the acts where so boring, except Greece and Armenia!!
quote: "but after that, it really peters out and there isn't much else to keep the excitement up" - there *IS* Finland, very high energy & excitement, and it pretty much has the 2nd half to itself in that 😉 Funny how most ESC fandom are ignoring it, but they will have their eyes opened after Tuesday's show for sure.
Azerbaijan reminds me a lot of Prometheus movies.
Now we've seen all these performances my prediction for the top qualifiers are:
Serbia 🇷🇸
Lithuania 🇱🇹
Ireland 🇮🇪
Ukraine 🇺🇦
Poland (Just) 🇵🇱
Croatia 🇭🇷
Slovenia 🇸🇮
Azerbaijan 🇦🇿
Portugal 🇵🇹
Luxembourg 🇱🇺 (or Cyprus 🇨🇾)
Poland and Azerbaijan I can see just sneaking in over Finland and Australia but I'm not a 100%
I think it will be an interesting battle between the girl bops to see who comes out top. There is a chance both might qualify but I'm not sure.
You are delusional, Finland is among the top 2 surefire qualifiers here! 😂