My top 8 rehearsals:
8. Portugal
I am especially disappointed in his vocals, which were more than just shaky. It felt like he was forcing the rasp and that he was shouting throughout the entire clip. It didn't feel like he was comfortable at all singing in this way and the staging itself isn't too special either. I see this is as the last placer, especially since Albania's vocals are miles ahead.
7. North Macedonia
This is one of my favourite songs, but the staging is way too camp. They should have brought on the umbrella's and staged it more like a story, just like the music video. Instead we have Irina and Jovan trying to keep up with the choreography, and while there are no mess ups in the choreo, you can tell that the dancers are barely holding it together with the dancing. The choreography doesn't look amazing either and it isn't worth all the hardwork. The vocals are slightly shaky, but nothing that you can't fix and there are still more rehearsals for that.
6. Italy
This isn't especially amazing or bad, I actually quite like the dancing, but the level this year is very high so that is why Italy is in sixth. Vocals are good, staging is good, song is also quite good and has been growing on me, so I think that this will do fine.
5. Albania
The lights look great and her vocals are flawless. I can see juries respecting the vocal performance and pulling her out of the bottom 3. The chances of this coming last are very slim and I can see it doing semi well.
4. Poland
I am not a big fan of the song, but the staging fits it quite well. It is a typical polish staging, reminding me a bit of Jesc Poland 2020. This is going to be 11-8 in the final ranking, with coming top 4 in the online voting due to polish diaspora.
3. Ukraine
The staging looks amazing and we know from the national final that Zlata can sing. I hope that there will be times in the song where the stage is a bit darker and that there is a bit more spotlight work, like in Vazhil. I am pretty sure that this will come top 5.
2. Malta
I don't like the song, but I cannot lie that the staging is exceptional. Gaia has a lot more energy than the music video and the background visuals help portray the theme which is communications. I still don't believe that this will come very high.
1. Serbia
This is by far my favourite rehearsal of the day. The vocals are flawless and the staging is immaculate. We cannot see too much yet from the clip but I definitely see serbia as a dark horse.