JOY Eurovision

2 May 2018

From the 2018 Press Bubble: Day 4

News, Society & Culture

This post updates

The final lot of initial rehearsals for the semi finals takes place today, with the second half of Semi 2 getting a go.

Georgia

Eurovision is generally thought of as a pop song contest, so when a folk ballad appears, people are somewhat unsure.

However Georgia have brought back the Eurovision of the 1950s and 60s with their ballad, which looks beautiful on the stage. The lads don suitably formal attire and have very limited movement as they sing.

Ethno-Jazz Band Iriao have kicked off day 4 of rehearsals here in Lisbon and they have definitely created some magic in the Altice Arena! 🇬🇪 #Eurovision #AllAboard
📷: Andres Putting pic.twitter.com/wXs4o2kHcM

— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) May 2, 2018

It will certainly catch the eye and ear after Jess Mauboy’s uptempo performance. Add the smoke and pyro curtain and Georgia might have themselves a qualifier!

Poland

Someone needs to teach Gromee some new dance moves, or at least something different that he can do with his hands. We get that you enjoy the waves Gromee, but you can only hula so much.

Other than that, this is the perfect track to get dancing to after Georgia’s ballad. There are lights, there’s movement, there’s pyro, and we’re certainly not complaining.

Get ready because @GromeeOfficial feat. @MeijerLukas are going to make you jump with a lit (pun intended!) performance of their #ESC2018 entry! #AllAboard
📷: Andres Putting pic.twitter.com/6DqlJiVRW6

— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) May 2, 2018

The matching hats is a nice touch. It’s a very Polish uniform. All we need now is to be able to buy them at the merchandise tent. Well done team.

Malta

The Maltese have broken the no-LED staging taboo with Christabelle’s performance this year. They paid for some extra tickets on April’s last cruise ship from Valetta to ship some LED panels for use as Christabelle’s jail for the night.

Christabelle from Malta has just finished her first rehearsal and you can expect screens, lasers and fire during her performance on the #ESC2018 stage in Semi-Final 2! #AllAboard
📷: Andres Putting pic.twitter.com/PmdSFIfV2l

— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) May 2, 2018

Random Maltese people are dancing in the panels (obviously it was more expensive shipping actual people over than it was some LED) to add some drama and depth to the performance.

It’s all very Maltese – the reds, the darkness, the flames and the use of video are exactly the sorts of things that have worked for the tiny island in the past. It’s certainly something that could qualify.

Hungary

We have STAGE DIVE!
Hungary never disappoints.#Eurovision

— #JOYEurovision 🇦🇺🏳️‍🌈 (@JOY_Eurovision) May 2, 2018

When I first heard this song and its key change near the end, I knew we’d be on a winner.

This is metal. And it has rocked everyone’s socks off.

There are lights. There’s walking. There’s metal screeching on the bridge.

The cameras are all over the place. And you’re never left without some sort of stimulation.

And there’s a stage dive. AND FIRE!

This has got to do well.

Metal. Fire. So much fire. Stage dive. Screeching. Smoke. A key change. And this year’s hottest drummer.

Hungary, you are visionary.#Eurovision #AWS

— #JOYEurovision 🇦🇺🏳️‍🌈 (@JOY_Eurovision) May 2, 2018