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...

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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!​

 

[Sammy]

I was always a big fan of Petra hosting but yesterday she really disappointed me. It felt sterile, static and soulless. Where did she leave her charm and her wittiness? I hope that on saturday she‘ll do a better job.

 

[empo21]

I'm surprised at the lack of surprises in the results (not that the NQs had any surprise Q worthy moments...)

But oh my god enough with the old eurovision clips. I feel like a quarter of the show was old clips. And then the postcards have more clips...

The intervals were boring. High hopes for Helena and Sertab though I'm sure they'll be great

 

[musicfan]

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)

Moldova didn't qualify.

Luxembourg were helped a lot by the producers/EBU.

 

[Laepo1]

Moldova didn't qualify.

Because it was a bad song with bad lyrics and a bad staging.

 

[Realest]

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)

To be fair, in a Semi with 10/15 Countries getting Points, the Impact is much less than in a Final with 10/26 Countries getting Points.

 

[hpp0]

Didn't watch the show live yesterday, so I'll comment only on the performances and aspects of the show that I watched.

From a technical standpoint, this is a great performance and all but it personally leaves me cold and a bit bored tbh. Regarding its chances in the final, it definitely has a crowd but it doesn't have the wide appeal nor the wackiness that other tele friendly acts have. Might get a low top 10, if the juries get behind it.

That might be the only time that this song made me feel anything, which I really appreciated. Excellent performance through and through, with my only nitpick being that I would prefer it if the camera wasn't shaky(?) during the rap part. It will score high with both groups in the final and will mos definitely be in the top 5, but I would prefer it if it didn't win.

I can't pinpoint what exactly went wrong and this NQed. Like, although I like the concept, the performance was a bit messy and could have been better executed for sure, but it was still and alright performance. Vocally she wasn't bad (imo?) and when I watched the recap video, it's not like it got swallowed by Ukraine and Croatia, so I guess people just weren't impressed by it. I would personally prefer to have this in the final over many of the qualifiers but oh well.

I'm extremely pleased and happy with that I saw, it definitely gave me winner vibes. In the final, it has only Netherlands to be afraid of regarding televoting (I think it will win it regardless, the margin only changes) and I don't think the juries will have the balls to bury the #1 in the odds, so I can definitely see it getting in their top 10. I don't think it will be easy to get the overall victory, however top 5 (and hell top 3?) should be guaranteed.

Doesn't look as bad as I had originally thought, but still the performance is too plain and bright. I don't see big support from either group, so I don't think it will manage to finish above 18th.

Fun performance, they even got me to chuckle with the whole pants shenanigans, but I don't think it will get left side of the scoreboard in the final.

Regarding the Qs announcement, I think the reveal order was pretty good and although I like them playing the Qs songs, I think it would work better if they weren't cutting so fast back to the hosts and took their time with the celebrations.

 

[aef]

Considering the fact that there was and also in SF1 NQ is a huge surprise.

 

[nudiecrudi]

A resume of italian press reviews about the first semifinal.
The overall impression is " A trash show" where music and singing isn't the main issue.
The most appreciated performances Luxemburg, Portugal, Croatia, Moldova.
The less appreciated Finland
The highest votes Portugal 8 and Luxemburg 8
The lowes Finland 3
Overall medium votes 5-6
From the most hyped performaces. Croatia-Ukraine-Ireland, only Croatia got some appreciations, the other ones less.
The overall impression about the production 8

 

[HarryUK]

Considering the fact that there was and also in SF1 NQ is a huge surprise.

Looking at diaspora voting over the last few years with the UK, Poland has gone down whereas Albania has increased as has Lithuania. I don’t think Poles care over here about it. That or they also agree Justyna was robbed!

 

[Andrin]

and made a great show.

made me laugh a few times.

was a very smart, thought-through entry. I love how they tried to make it viewer-friendly for everyone. Respect. I wouldn't even mind them winning the whole contest.

Everyone else was not memorable. It's such a pity that almost all the great entries are concentrated in the second semi final. I would definitely prefer to see Malta over Cyprus in the Grand Final, but we are likely to have it the other way around.

 

[martin]

A resume of italian press reviews about the first semifinal.
The overall impression is " A trash show" where music and singing isn't the main issue.
The most appreciated performances Luxemburg, Portugal, Croatia, Moldova.
The less appreciated Finland
The highest votes Portugal 8 and Luxemburg 8
The lowes Finland 3
Overall medium votes 5-6
From the most hyped performaces. Croatia-Ukraine-Ireland, only Croatia got some appreciations, the other ones less.
The overall impression about the production 8

Well in norwegian press Croatia and Ukraine is top 2 where people have voted. Both much higher than the rest. 7,9 and 7,7

After that Luxembourg, Finland and Cyprus in top 5. 6,3 6,1 and 5,9

The rest
Lithuania 6 (5,9) points
Poland 7 (5,8) points
Ireland 8 8 (5,5) points
Moldova 9
Azerbaijan 10
Australia 11
Iceland 12 ( very bad score for Iceland)
Portugal 13
Slovenia 14
Serbia 15

But from Ireland on 8 and Serbia on 15 is only 0,6 points.

So maybe this tell us that Croatia and Ukraine did it really good in Nordic country. Luxembourg, Ireland, Cyprus and Finland could also do it good in Sweden, Finland and Iceland.

 

[gigi_copp3]

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

They qualified last year as well, still no more Balkan countries returning.
I think they could decide to compete if the host country is close/cheap (Italy, Croatia)

 

[Paco Roca]

Thoughts in pills "by Paco Roca":

Precautions for use: take them in moderation to avoid overdose.

1. The Swedish and international public at the arena must be rewarded. The show with them earned 70%.
2. Disappointment with the hosting, perhaps as a Mediterranean man I have other standards, but it is objectively too cold and bland.
3. Surprised not so much by Ingrosso's singing and performing skills but by his change of look. From a style close to the boy band he chose a more hippie style. It sounded like Sobral singing upbeat pop songs.
4. The arena is pleasant, the candy pink color was... yes pleasant, the choice of delegations in the background was surprising and intelligent (because it increases the capacity of the public) but by distancing them from the public it also takes away a little soul. The general thought is what I have always thought of Sweden: even if it does something good I don't see substance and soul. Very industrial in everything he does. It's definitely my fault that I'm a more passionate type and I like more engaging concepts and songs.
5. Bambie Thug put on a great performance but how many in the public now remember the song? In addition to Bambie, with Finland and Croatia passing the turn... we are not realizing the direction we are taking after the advent of the Antichrist Käärijää. Ok, some ballads and experimental songs and other genres have passed but only because the deleted songs were objectively weak. If we have already seen a vertical collapse in quality after "Cha Cha Cha" if Croatia were to win (which will not be tanked by the jury and can enjoy the united vote of the Balkan bloc), from 2025 onwards the ESC will return to that of the years '00, a snubbed festive circus.
6. Croatia can probably suffer precisely because of public taste. If all the happy and jokey songs make it to the final (plus Bambie Thug's performance, the '90s sound of Austria and the disco bass drumming of "Luktelk") she could see herself steal some votes and come second in the photo finish .
7. Olly proves himself to be more the queen of the LGBTQ+ community (as if he had become a "poster hero"), guilty pleasure of some of the Bubble and hero of the British fans (who are proving to be louder than the Germans and Spanish). The staging was excellent but the song isn't there. It's bland. It is a soup without salt served in a decorated dish.
8. I have mixed opinions about Isaak. The song isn't bad and the German fans are killing it (when in the past they gave full support to worse performers). Sure, he brings an average song and is not a sublime singer but ultimately I think he has more strength and soul than Newman/Embers.
9. Positively surprised for Slovenia. I did not believe it. Usually songs like "Veronika" go strong in the preseason only to fall apart in the final.
10. Strong Ukraine, I was surprised by the improved Rap part, Top 10 guaranteed and Top 5 very probable. However, I don't feel the winning vibes.
11. I look forward to Thursday with the hope of a better show and to see how Nebulossa will take the stage. I'm also curious to see Slimane, Angelina and especially San Marino. The Megara will surprise us.

 

[aef]

Looking at diaspora voting over the last few years with the UK, Poland has gone down whereas Albania has increased as has Lithuania. I don’t think Poles care over here about it. That or they also agree Justyna was robbed!

Well always gets 10-12 points from and and still like 7-12 points so not nothing .

 

[4815162342]

Well in norwegian press Croatia and Ukraine is top 2 where people have voted. Both much higher than the rest. 7,9 and 7,7

After that Luxembourg, Finland and Cyprus in top 5. 6,3 6,1 and 5,9

The rest
Lithuania 6 (5,9) points
Poland 7 (5,8) points
Ireland 8 8 (5,5) points
Moldova 9
Azerbaijan 10
Australia 11
Iceland 12 ( very bad score for Iceland)
Portugal 13
Slovenia 14
Serbia 15

But from Ireland on 8 and Serbia on 15 is only 0,6 points.

So maybe this tell us that Croatia and Ukraine did it really good in Nordic country. Luxembourg, Ireland, Cyprus and Finland could also do it good in Sweden, Finland and Iceland.

How does this voting work?
Do you have scores from prior years as comparison?

 

[Storm]

The hosting/show was really disappointing. It felt completely pretty sterile and as if the hosting has been the same for years now. The same jokes, the same green room interactions, the same interval acts, the same funny old Eurovision clips. I'm missing a bit of the country's DNA in the hosting. I don't think I need Eleni Foureira to appear in every second Eurovision when she has no ties to the country... I'd rather have Cornelia Jakobs or Mans Zelmerlöw appear here than randomly in Liverpool (or in Mans' case, in every single Eurovision city). It all blurs together honestly...

 

[martin]

How does this voting work?
Do you have scores from prior years as comparison?

Yeah. People give from 0 to 12 points. Where 12 points is best. So 7,9 is a pretty good score for Croatia.

5,5 points is just in the middle. But if 20 people give Ireland 0 points and 20 people give Ireland 12 points. The score would be 6 points.

Don,t have from other year, but think Finland and Sweden was top 2. Sadly they have take away stemmeskjema 2023

But it say nothing about actually people would vote for the songs. Just how they rate them

 

[4815162342]

Yeah. People give from 0 to 12 points. Where 12 points is best. So 7,9 is a pretty good score for Croatia.

5,5 points is just in the middle. But if 20 people give Ireland 0 points and 20 people give Ireland 12 points. The score would be 6 points.

Don,t have from other year, but think Finland and Sweden was top 2. Sadly they have take away stemmeskjema 2023

But it say nothing about actually people would vote for the songs. Just how they rate them

Was assuming this would be the case. By taking an average these type of scores get super blurry in providing information. German Songcheck did the ranking 1-10 for each song in prior years (pre-rehearsals). In 2017 only 13 songs had a worse avg. score than Amar Pelos Dois.

 

[Realest]

Any "leaked" Results out there?

 

[Uto]

I am amused by people disliking the hosting. I really like it. Sweden isn't bullshitting, they just give us the songs, because it's what we're here for. It's fast and efficient. The graphical design is not my mood, but it has an identity. It all works. Even the stage which feels small and bland is straight up working. You just have to accept that everything will look angular and inorganic, but this was the same in Rotterdam and it wasn't an issue there either.