Re: ESC United - LIVE from Tel Aviv - Day 2 rehearsal discussion
As again, based on the snippets I have seen:
- Belgium: Seems like my biggest fear has now been realized. Eliot is practically screwed by the staging. When I first saw the drums, I am like, this is done. The song does not need the drummers. What the song needs is an intimate setting, and something mysterious from the music video. I feel so sorry for Eliot because I really like him (so precious) and the song is really good (still holding in my top 3 spot). But now the staging is not going to help Eliot elevates his barely there stage presence. The outfit is such a mess, the clothes are wearing him, not the other way round. Backdrop looks decent, vocals are on point most of the times but can be much better. I am now more and more uncertain about Belgium's qualification chances. #justiceforeliot
- Georgia: I am pleasantly surprised (like how Belarus surprised me yesterday). The song is basically unlistenable, but Oto managed to perform the hell out of it. The staging looks like it's going to elevate the song much more, the backdrop is very effectively used. It's definitely increasing his qualification chances. I really look forward to the full performance and I can't believe I am saying this.
- Australia: This is surprisingly good. I didn't like the national finals performance, it was such a mess (although the idea of the dementor is great, but just poorly executed). But it seems they have refined the idea. Kate looks gorgeous in the new outfit, the dementors look like they are not swinging too wildly, more subtle in the background. The backdrop looks gorgeous. She didn't put in her 100% in the vocals but I can understand as it's quite a difficult song to sing and it's good to reserve her vocals till the actual day. Overall, I am impressed.
- Iceland: It just seems like it's similar to national finals with minor changes. Vocals (can I even call that vocals?) were ok. Other than that, I have nothing much to say as I am still not impressed (due to my personal bias). I do not like the song and I never will. I know the band has a strong message behind the song but I just don't like the overall presentation/imagery of the band and the style of the song.
- Estonia: Seems like he has technical issues with replicating what they did from the national finals. He tried to sing in a different style, which is actually not great. Staging wise looks OK. Another non-event for me.
- Portugal: The staging looks like it's similar to the national finals. I do like the outfits though, the dark green looks great. The colour scheme of the performance is good enough. Vocals were consistent. But other than that, I am not very impressed as this is another song that I don't like or care for.
- Greece: The staging looks great. Her vocals were definitely much stronger. Looks like it's going to be a strong performance for Greece. However, this song is not in my top 20 this year (I prefer last year's entry so much more as it was more genuine) so I have no interest in how well they do.
- San Marino: To be honest, I expected more from Serhat. I love the backdrop, looks great. The lit-up mega phones are nice additions to the performance. But I have issues with the dancers/backing vocalists/the colour scheme, they don't give out the fun energy that the video gives. I am expecting more energy from the dancers/backing vocalists and a more colourful setting. Vocals is as expected so nothing much to comment on that. I am a little underwhelmed though.
The ones I didn't like at all are Belgium and Estonia. :?
never change 
). A word of advice to their official accounts if the people who run them are listening: just don't respond to stuff like that should it come up, and if you have an aneurysm and do, for the LOVE of god, come up with something that's not "we're enemies."
