Opinion

Nadav from Israel is the first candidate to kickstart our day. Nadav starts his performance in a black suit with golden boots and is surrounded by a dark and blue oriental backdrop. The backdrop seems to be the same from last year's performance so I am really reluctant about this.

When the second verse kicks in Nadav's joined by his dancers, but again the staging still seems too dark for my liking. It's only when the chorus kicks in that we get the golden colour, which then features the oriental backdrop again.

During the second run, Nadav's not fully going for his singing and he's out of breath.

Slightly underwhelmed so far by Israel. Their song is bringing the fun to the contest, so they should really have a word with ORF regarding the backdrop, which is not vibrant enough to me. I also fail to see why, a song which is full of oriental flavours should therefore automatically have oriental elements in the backdrop.

Also, the backing vocalists are quite static through most of the Israeli performance, get those guys involved from the start.

Still some work to be done for Israel in my opinion but there's a glimmer of hope. The addition of pyros during the first chorus, and final chorus and the oh oh oh's in the bridge really do work.

Israel, Se't' Points!

Marta & Vaclav from the Czech Republic are the final contestants to take on the stage today and they certainly didn't disappoint.

With yet another blue backdrop, enhanced with glass mirrors which have clouds in them, Marta & Vaclav start their ballad 'Hope Never Dies'. It seems like not only the pre-dominant blue colour of the staging is sought after. We're seeing an influx on black in terms of outfits, as the Czech duo have also chosen the colour for their outfits.

I really like how their votes go together. Granted, we're seeing another love story, but one with a bit of a twist. For some reason Marta has chucked her pumps three times now. What an odd thing to do. I could kind of see the point if she was to throw them in the direction of the backdrop and the mirrors in the backdrop breaking, but otherwise... . Marta & Vaclav are clearly fans of Frozen, as they have opted to borrow Elsa's frozen palace floor and added a bit of red into it.

I have to say though that both these artists have amazing voices. The end note of Hope Never Dies is simply outstanding.

Based pure on their voices, I would love to see this pair in the final, but I'm not sure if the audience are going to get over the throwing away of the pumps.

So Czech Republic, based on that, a solid Sept Points!

We're on the penultimate country already of today's semi rehearsals; Portugal.

Leonor is channeling her inner pop chick with a solid stage performance if you ask me. The stage is predominantly blue and white, with a city skyline of skyscrapers in the backdrop.

Leonor herself is wearing a black outfit, consisting of leather leggings and a long top with long sleeves which flow everywhere with the windmachine. It's very similar to the outfit she was wearing during the national final.

I have to say that I'm actually pretty impressed with the staging. Portugal are doing exactly what it says on the tin. We're getting a proud and confident performer, who knows her stage and gets the maximum she can get out of what's on offer. Portugal offers a great stadium feel, concert vibes and that's only enhanced by the ayo's in the chorus.

What really lets the Portuguese down is the song, which in my opinion could have been stronger. It's a little too middle down the road, to go all the way.

Portugal, a surprising Sept Points!

Onto another big favourite expecting to snatch the trophy are the Norwegian duo Morland and Debrah Scarlett.

I prefer a consistent Norway any day over their unpredictable Eurovision past, so I do think that 'A Monster Like Me' was always the best option for them, especially keeping last year's success in mind.

Both Debrah as Morland are dressed in white outfits and are completely depending on each other and the interaction during the first part of the song. However I'm missing that interaction when the bridge kicks in. I don't really see why they would change towards the end.

Again the overall backdrop and colour of the staging is the metal/gold/bronze colour, which we have seen plenty of times now. As last year's winning performance from Austria had the same colours, I'm assuming that its the main reason why so many nations opted for this particular staging. It works however for Norway, especially with the singers being in the white outfits.

I'm quite sure, Norway's appearing in the final, but I'm not entirely convinced about its winning chances just yet.
But they are being consistent and that's how I like my Norway.

Norway Dix Points

Amber from Malta is the second artist to please us with a song called 'Warrior' in this years semi final field, and in all fairness I think Malta should consider themselves lucky to be in the other semi from Georgia.

Let me explain why; there's actually nothing wrong with Malta's song. It's a very strong song which allows Amber to show off her impressive vocals, but performance wise, I don't think it comes across as fierce as I would like it to be. Amber, looks gorgeous with her sleek hair and her lace-inspired black gown with a split, but she doesn't really scream warrior, as Nina did yesterday.

So I'm hoping Amber does find that inner warrior in the next couple of days, and gives me more of that fighting spirit. As the backdrop is concerned, we're starting off with a dark blue background, which moves towards a firey background which features the phoenix wings Conchita last year.

I like the backdrop a lot, but again with such a fiery scenery on the stage, I do think Amber really needs to bring that fierceness and empowerment to the stage. There's plenty of drama in the track itself, so I think it would help the song a lot by adding more drama by the use of a wind machine in the bridge.

So still some work to be done, but not a bad start.

Malta, Six Points

Just like San Marino, Montenegro's qualification result was pretty poorly. But that changed last year when they finally managed to qualify with one of their biggest superstars.

I'm really hoping they keep up the trend, because just like last year, Montenegro are opting to send one of their biggest stars to the contest with a corker of an ethno-ballad. And not just any ethno-ballad, but one composed by Mr Eurovision from the balkans Zeljko Joksimovic.

Montenegro are delivering a very simplistic but elegant package, which especially in the beginning very much reminds me of a similar staging Zeljko himself had in 2004 when he represented the unified country Serbia&Montenegro at their debut.

Overall the performance is pretty dark, with blue, black and red being the overpowering colours in the performance. There's plenty of dramatics in the hand movements of the backing vocals too.
It's a solid performance, elegant and unique in its genre.

It should be easy for Montenegro to qualify for the second year in a row. If they do (and they will), they could well set the top ten on fire coming May 23.

Montenegro, Dix Points.

Europe's tiniest country taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest finally made the final last year and they're hoping to do it once more this year, with two former Junior Eurovision representatives; Anita and Michele.

While this could have lend to a bit of a disaster in terms of staging, San Marino have actually done pretty well. They have a background, which features a world globe which is slowly but surely being overflooded with little candle lights.
Again we're seeing the warm gold, red and orange colours returning for the overall staging. Again it suits its purpose.

Vocally, Anita is the stronger singer of the duo, so Michele really needs to tighten his vocals.

Overall however I'm pretty impressed with the staging. San Marino have gone Disney and that's totally fine by me.

San Marino Si'x Points!

The time Ireland was once a great Eurovision nation, securing 7 victories in a very small period of time, is well and truly gone.

There was a shimmer of hope when Molly Sterling was appointed in February to perform her song 'Playing With Numbers'. Not that it is a winner's song, but for Ireland's merits it was different and something fresh to send to the contest.

Molly's first rehearsal really lacks in connecting with the audience. The backdrop, contrary to last year, suits the song beautifully. (it's an open space in a forest, being kissed by the sun and therefore in warm golden colour) and Molly's voice is great too... BUT, and it's a big but, there's just no emotional connection coming from Molly.

During the first two runs, there was a brief shimmer in the second one where Molly briefly looked into the camera swirling around her. Apart from that there is just no connection with the viewers at home. Now, she's performing she's playing the piano, or at least giving the impression she is, but I would expect her by now to be able to know how to do that and focus on convincing the audiences.

I'm not gonna lie, I am currently frustrated with Ireland, because I do believe they have a great song which is final worthy, but right now without that emotional connection Ireland lacks majorly.

Ireland, Cinq Points.

Lithuania are the first to kick off the rehearsals for the second semi final, and we're straight in with a bang.

Monika is wearing a lovely short white dress with a top consisting of dark blue and magenta pink flower pedals. She's starting off on her own walking onto the stage with a yellow sunrise behind her on the backdrop. Vaidas then comes in as well, in his baby blue waist coat and trousers with as backdrop a blue sunrise.

When the chorus kicks in the backdrops features an array of bright colours including blue, yellow and pink giving 'This Time' a very uplifting, energetic and bright performance. The kiss 'from the national final has remained as well, and it just lifts the performance. I would say, that perhaps it takes a little bit too long. When the 2 female and male backing vocalists join Vaidas and Monika, the performance features three loved up couples, which is just very uplifting.

I love this performance, simply because Vaidas and Monika ooze charisma and have so much chemistry between them. Just like Moldova in semi 1, I don't think we could have had a better song opening the second semi final.

A very confident and consisting start for Lithuania who are setting the bar very high for the remaining acts to follow today.

Lithuania, Huit Points!

Gosh doesn't time fly quickly.

Three days in and the first rehearsals are already over for the candidates of semi final one. From today, it's the turn of the remaining 17 contestants appearing in the second semi final.

In all fairness, those who thought the first rehearsals would give a better indication on who would qualify or not, think again, it's still a very wide open race. Yes Russia and Greece jumped out the best so far, but at this point anything can still happen.

It's proving to be a spectacular first semi final, so the expectations for an equally good show are high.

Bring it on the rehearsals!