ESC United - Rehearsal and Live Show discussion megathread

[Sean]

It's time for the rehearsals to finally get underway for Eurovision 2024 at Malmö Arena! 37 countries will begin their preparations for this year's contest today, with over two weeks of coverage to come from the ESC United team on the ground!

The schedule for rehearsals is below (thank you Eurovisionworld! All times in CEST);

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You can check out Matt's pre-rehearsal live stream below in case you missed it;

DAY ONE

Eurovision 2024 Rehearsals - Day 1 Round-Up Live Stream

Join Matt and his team as they discuss the rehearsals of the day and answer your questions. The first dress rehearsal is closed to the press so we'll be here...

www.youtube.com

The team will be on hand to cover everything going on in Malmö over the coming weeks, so make sure to follow ESC United on Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, and YouTube and Twitch to not miss a minute!

Please also use this thread for any rehearsal coverage and discussion, including for jury shows, dress rehearsals and the live shows!​

 

[SpiritofKeiino]

So that confirms Portugal is number 2 again.

I could see Ukraine being thrown under the bus by the producers with a poor slot (earlier than 8, say)

 

[Realest]

E: ///

 

[Leydan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1787968866779283760

Doesn’t this breach the broadcasting rules???

Imagine watching Eurovision and then it cuts out because the Chinese President turned up. If I was from TVP and HRT (but especially TVP) i'd be kicking off about that.

 

[GermanBango]

Well since and all qualified we might see more Balkan countries again next year. Fingers crossed.

 

[theditz83]

I dunno, I'm torn after tonight. The whole show seemed a bit.... sanitised. I felt very little electricity from the hosts and the crowd tbh, everything just felt very choreographed and staged. Much preferred Petra's last hosting in 2016 - she seems wooden and stilted this year.

And those random montages of previous Eurovision songs prior to the qualifiers being revealed - I don't get what they were meant to be showing. It was just random.

 

[yuki_vamp.esc]

I just hope that the "televoting destroys quality and we need juries" fans will shut up for a while.

Tonight proved again that:
- ballads qualify
- quality entries with artistic performance qualify
- tiny countries qualify (I can already hear Maltese fans moaning on Thursday)
- Diaspora doesn't help much (poor Poland)

won't argue but disagree

 

[Realest]

Youtube Views:

01 195K
02 191K
03 142K
04 85K
05 62K
06 55K
07 46K
08 29K
09 28K
10 21K

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01 95K
02 17K
03 17K
04 14K
05 09K

 

[lacrymea]

I dunno, I'm torn after tonight. The whole show seemed a bit.... sanitised. I felt very little electricity from the hosts and the crowd tbh, everything just felt very choreographed and staged. Much preferred Petra's last hosting in 2016 - she seems wooden and stilted this year.

And those random montages of previous Eurovision songs prior to the qualifiers being revealed - I don't get what they were meant to be showing. It was just random.

For me it was the least exciting / emotional / human semi I can remember in the last decade. Everything seemed rushed and artificial. The hosting, the postcards (that was a joke) , even the stage... Too formulaic.

 

[cegs5]

And those random montages of previous Eurovision songs prior to the qualifiers being revealed - I don't get what they were meant to be showing. It was just random.

I was confused at the begining too, but I actually appreciate more them giving us those random ESC icons and memories than a boring comedy script or the green room.

 

[SpiritofKeiino]

For me it was the least exciting / emotional / human semi I can remember in the last decade. Everything seemed rushed and artificial. The hosting, the postcards (that was a joke) , even the stage... Too formulaic.

This, it was largely charmless.

It seemed to me like the amount of CGI during performances (both on the screens behind the contestants, and sometimes even graphics only visible to the TV viewer) was higher than any other year. Maybe I'm imagining it.

 

[NeoTen]

We had a few years where it became too Swedish with dance pop tracks, which I personally like next o slow 90s ballads, but this is way to much to the other side. There was a lot of nonsense that went through IMHO. I think we need to cut the AR as we now have people just coming naked with mesh (or.... nothing) just to go to the final while not actually composing singing good. Silia, Tali and Iolanda were actually much better than expected though!

 

[GermanBango]

Youtube Views:

01 195K
02 191K
03 142K
04 85K
05 62K
06 55K
07 46K
08 29K
09 28K
10 21K

___________________

01 95K
02 17K
03 17K
04 14K
05 09K

And Insta:

1. 1.8 mio.
2. 1.6 mio.
3. 1.1 mio.
4. 855k
5. 568k
6. 537k
7. 530k
8. 527k
9. 473k
( 466k)
10. 418k

11. 388k
( 344k)
( 284k)
12. 254k
13. 252k
14. 251k
15. 232k

 

[SpiritofKeiino]

And Insta:

1. 1.8 mio.
2. 1.6 mio.
3. 1.1 mio.
4. 855k
5. 568k
6. 537k
7. 530k
8. 527k
9. 473k
( 466k)
10. 418k

11. 388k
( 344k)
( 284k)
12. 254k
13. 252k
14. 251k
15. 232k

Those are very low views for Australia considering that it's a country of 26m people. I thought Aussies would be curious to at least see the song and engage with it. Perhaps there isn't as much interest in ESC there as we're led to believe?

 

[theditz83]

Those are very low views for Australia considering that it's a country of 26m people. I thought Aussies would be curious to at least see the song and engage with it. Perhaps there isn't as much interest in ESC there as we're led to believe?

Like I said in the Australian thread, I barely think anyone aside from avid Eurofans knew they were still taking part... Shame

 

[GermanBango]

Those are very low views for Australia considering that it's a country of 26m people. I thought Aussies would be curious to at least see the song and engage with it. Perhaps there isn't as much interest in ESC there as we're led to believe?

I mean it's early in the morning over there so that explains a lot, I guess.

 

[AliceEsc]

Why do they have blank papers for "producer's choice"?
Was it too difficult to print some?

 

[jatojo]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1787968866779283760

Next year it will be because of a visit from Putin ...

I regard Serbia as the country which is closest to being kicked out next (after Hungary voluntarily abandoned).

 

[Dorientje]

I haven't had one song in this semi-final, where i thought this Can win.

 

[martin]

The day after first semifinal and after a good night of sleep. I,m are quite happy with the result

We get Luxembourg, Portugal and all 3 country of balkan to final. That is good if we want more country to take part and it still shows that sending a ballad could do good in eurovision. Also Ireland get back to final after many years of flop

I think country like Slovenia, Luxembourg and Serbia need this to still take part in eurovision and so happy for Ireland who finally made it.

If we see which country is OUT.

Iceland had a bad song and if all know Iceland could do much better. Probably Iceland Weakest entry for a long time since Ari
Moldova had a bad songs and even if Natalia did a good job. Is not unfair she is out. We all know Moldova could do MUCH better songs. Still very sad for Natalia who had my favorit song in Eurovision with Fight. But in the middle was not close to Fight
Azerbaijan had a bad songs and just need to step out. Well deserved NQ
Australia was a big mess and i think they could do much better. Well deserved NQ
Poland: So happy to see Diaspora votes not saved this one. Poland had some times been helped by that, but this year it was not enought

 

[dogmeat]

Maybe Xi Jinping had a better song?
Srsly though I think it's ok since they continued the broadcast on a different channel but I don't know.

Imagine having an entry so bad, even one of the broadcasters decides to switch to another channel