Re: ESC United - LIVE from Tel Aviv - Semi-Final 1 dress rehearsal and jury show discussion
Some overall impressions from me before the actual show based on the rehearsals, staging, camera shots, etc.........
Cyprus - Slightly disappointing. The colors are off, the staging is
deja vu and Tamta herself doesn't look "convincing". It's a certain qualifier, but I wouldn't be surprised to see her on the right side of the table in the final. A potential fan flop. Too bad because the song itself is good.
Montenegro - I am so sad for our neighbors, but nothing works here sadly
The song is bad, the staging.......basically doesn't exist and everything looks like the delegation gave up even before the rehearsals started. Sadly, almost certainly last place in the semi.
Finland - Not too bad, but not too good either. The song is alright, the staging is decent, but the shots are way off. Darude is the main highlight here and he is portrayed as just some random guy who is standing there and filling the spot on stage. It has chances to qualify but they are not too big.
Poland - Very good! I like the performance, the colors....everything really. It certainly deserves to qualify, but I am afraid of how the juries will vote.
Slovenia - The song is somewhere in the middle of my rankings but the live performance really lifts it up and it's absolutely magical. I think this can do wonders for both the juries and the televoters and I see
as a certain finalist.
Czech Republic - The song is decent and the staging is ok-ish. I think they will qualify from a position between 8 and 10.
Hungary - I am not a big fan of this song but it looks great on stage and Joci is very convincing. A certain finalist for sure.
Belarus - The staging is all over the place and it looks very messy. The vocals are questionable. I think she will stay in the semi.
Serbia - It's hard to be objective here, but I am very satisfied. Nevena is very strong vocally, the staging is spot on, and this time RTS managed not to mess up anything up. No matter how she ends up, I am proud of our song this year. I see her in the final.
Belgium - Not what I expected, honestly. The staging is very off, he looks scared and his vocals are shaky. I think he will manage to qualify but in the final, I don't see him too high.
Georgia - Huge improvement. I don't like the song at all, but it sounds great live and the staging is so well done. This is the maximum that one can get from this package and they have chances to qualify now.
Australia - This is, hands the down, perhaps even the most impressive staging this year. It's absolutely out of this world. Kate is perfect vocally and I think
can easily win this semi as well.
Iceland - The performance is great and they are sure finalists. This will easily be one of the most memorable performances of the evening
Estonia - The song is alright, it is a final material, but it somehow looks bland on stage. Coming after impressive
and
I think that he will fail to make an impression which will result in his non-qualification.
Portugal - The song is amazing but Conan has way too many problems on stage and it doesn't look convincing at all (unlike the NF). I certainly hope I am wrong but, as it stands now, it doesn't look like a qualifier.
Greece - She definitely won't be winning the semi or anything like that but everything is good enough to ensure that she qualifies without issues. Good job from the
delegation.
San Marino - my guilty pleasure of the year. I love everything including the performance. Yet, I doubt this will be enough for the final. But I will certainly keep my fingers crossed.