As expected, Eugent’s vocals are good right from the very first run-through. There are some missed cameras that currently risk giving a slightly introverted impression, but that’s what we have rehearsals for after all and no doubt this will be worked on going forward.
Eugent surrounded by band members on instruments. A few quick cuts in the camera feed, not sure that is done on purpose or if just due to 1st day of rehearsals. Very credible musicianship here.

Eugent is shrouded in blue-tinted darkness for the first verse before the first chorus springs the song into life and the lights come up. Red and yellow seems to be the choice of the day - similar colours to Iceland's lighting. Vocally, Eugent is already on top form and he mentioned previously that the focus would be on the song - that's just how it is. He stands centre-stage for most of the performance, really only moving from his spot towards the climax of the song. Very strong first rehearsal that saw some applause break out in the Press Room.

Everyone who saw our review from yesterday will not have missed that this is my big favourite this year, so naturally I was looking forward a lot to this rehearsal.

Eugent is joined on stage by his band and backings. While the vocals are absolutely outstanding once again, I am still not really sure what has just happened. It seems the backing track has been significantly slowed down and I'm not feeling this just yet, waiting for the next runs to get a better idea!

Second run, this is more like it! Now it sounds exactly as we have heard it before in the promotour and at the first live performance of the Eurovision version. Eugent is wearing a suit but one with some tweaks to make it rock a lot more.

In the run up to the first chorus the backings clap their hands as if they are making the sound effects, in later runs Eugent joins as well which is a bit of an unnecessary feature for me. What I would also like to see improved if the lighting in the beginning as he is standing in the dark for quite some time.

Iceland performs 2nd in the first semifinal which is arguably one of the toughest in years so it's fighting an uphill battle. While the song is a nice little ballad it doesn’t leave a mark and could easily be forgotten. Ari is secure and finds the camera enough. There is also dry ice complementing Ari's retro charme.

This afternoon, our Eurovision candidate Sennek took the airplane to Lisbon. She and our Belgian delegation land there tonight, and Sennek will rehearse tomorrow for the first time on the Eurovision stage tomorrow.

A lot of Belgian press came to wave Sennek off and to ask her for a final reaction before her flight. Peter Van de Veire, the Belgian radio host who will provide the commentary for Belgium during the live shows, was also there to wave her off.
Tomorrow Sennek wil have her first rehearsal on the stage, with her full outfit and the act. This will be the first time that her outfit is revealed.

Here you can find pictures of Sennek’s departure at Brussels Airport: https://we.tl/ASpFLdITRC (copyright is VRT/Sofie Silbermann)

Sennek will perform her song A Matter Of Time in the first semi-final on Tuesday the 8th of May.

Ári starts in the dark with the camera turning around him and is wearing a white suit with red accents that make it look very icelandic, as well as a red shirt. The background is blue here as well, turning into red/gold later in the song. On stage he is joined by five backing vocals, it's nice to see them on stage, let's hope that'll happen a lot this year! Vocally - as expected - spotless, but the song remains the question..