Opinion

So we've had the first eight countries today, and let me tell you, it's still very very wide open.
Some countries still have some work to do while others are at this stage impressive already.

Winners for me today:

Greece - stood out with an absolute mile
Estonia - Great staging which reminds of the Netherlands but is still very authentic in its own right.
Moldova - Great opener to the show. Sexy, Flirtatious and impressive having to dance and sing at such high energy.

Tomorrow we meet the remaining semi one participants.

And I can't wait to find out what they have in store for us.

Daniel Kamaykovski is rehearsing as the final semi artist for today, and he certainly didn't disappoint.
After it emerged last week, that three of the former Blackstreet-members would join Daniel on stage in Vienna, the expectations have been pretty high.
Let me tell you after seeing today's first rehearsal they certainly didn't disappoint. Autumn Leaves is already a beautiful piano-led mid tempo song, but the addition of the trio is giving the song an extra urban edge. So a big well done to the Macedonian guys already.

The backdrop is very pretty; it depicts a stone archway, from which occasionally autumn leaves are flowing through the wind.

When the backings come in, and they take part in the choreography, there's a bit of a boyband routine going on, which I personally think suits the song rather well. I'm loving the visual concept, its warm autumn colours and it just proves Macedonia have a full package ready.

Macedonia, Huit Points!

Elina and Stig from Estonia have also travelled to Vienna as one of four big favourites to win Eurovision. As proven last year, story telling is soo important and it is the main factor on whether a song gets conveyed well or not and does well.

Judging by the first run through of Estonia's entry 'Goodbye To Yesterday' it's looking very good for them. Starting with the reflection of Stig in the doorlight on the podium floor, The Estonian entry gets its first run through which swaps images of the floor with headshots of Stig.

Once the chorus kicks in, light coming from a second door is shown on the floor with the silhouette of Elina. The pair perform the song away from each other with Stig being in front, and Elina at the back.

One the second verse kicks in, the pair sing their duet together on similar line, exchanging looks, which highlight a broken relationship between the two. Combine the looks they exchange with the camera and you have a pretty similar look with the way the Netherlands were staged last year. But that's where the comparison stops really.

Great to see Estonia getting a production it deserves.

Estonia Dix Points!

So here we are, all ready and set up for another fantastic experience at the Eurovision Song contest.

For the second year in a row, I'm back for the ESCKAZ team and totally excited to get you all the scoops in the ESC bubble.

This year, is a different year, the compeitition field is strong, and wide open. And that's how I like it. Just like last year, I'm convinced we're going for another surprise winner. Austria has welcomed us with open arms. A huge press centre's awaiting us with great facilities. So has the reception of the volunteers been, and the humongous press pack we've received. No expense has been saved, from free travel for press to the magnificent stage.

Austria has wanted the contest to return for so long, and now that it has, the whole city and organisation are embracing in the Eurovision sphere, which is only going to build bigger over the next two weeks.

In a couple of minutes time, the first of 40 nations are showing their cards for the first time, and just like them, we're ready to play our favourite game of the year.

Let the Eurovision Song Contest Begin!

Finally that moment in 2015 arrives when the first countries grace the 2015 Eurovision stage for the very first time, we kick off this morning with Moldova, Armenia, Belgium and The Netherlands and then skip into the afternoon with Finland, Greece, Estonia and finishing the day but no means least Macedonia

We come at the rehearsals with some preconceptions as to what will be good, bad and indifferent as we have already seen performances from many of the delegates on the promo tour.....but forget all that WE WILL clear our small brains of all this and open a totally open mind and be as objective as we can

Just a few more hours and clips from www.eurovision.tv should be online plus opinions from the 5 million other bloggers about to unfurl their (sometimes brutal) honesty on the world

And we kinda like it a lot!!!

Very nice

Dimispice could you please hurry up?

Thanks

:-)

Just about to set off on the huge massive 3 minute walk to the press centre for day one.....

Previous years have taught us only too well that there will be dramas, tantrums, thing's not working and levels of stress that induce cardiac moments.....and not one country will be on stage until tomorrow!!!!

Check back a bit later for the first look at the press centre

We have badges and the very impressive bag this year!

Lots of goodies in that bag.....including salami sausage, nuts, chocolate, body lotion, all the press info you could ever need, notepads, pens, loads of tourist information and a CD with a selection of Austrian classical music

Nice.....and the bag is bigger this year too....well done ORF :-D

Oh and we are loving this......

So after a mad dash to the apartment from the airport in time to get to accreditation centre before 6pm it all went horribly wrong

We have now been informed that the accreditations may not be collected before Sunday, despite knowing for a fact that some F's and some overseas press have already collected theirs today

Will try again tomorrow and see how far that get's us.....

Oh Well

On the plus side the apartment is fantastic we are very happy, 3 minutes walk to arena, 5 minutes walk to supermarket for wine and crisps, and simply tonnes of very nice looking bars, cafes and restaurants in the local area.....

Off out to dinner tonight, with wine, sightseeing tomorrow carnage begins on Sunday:-)