Macedonia

Tamara Todevska takes the stage to perform her emotional ballad, "Proud". She's wearing a pageant like dress, in turquoise. Behind her are a few mirrors that show her from the back. Yes, just like in the Russian performance. The video art shows mothers and daughters in black and white. Tamara sounds perfect vocally.

Didn't really see much of Macedonia's first rehearsal, but what I did notice was the four backing vocals and a drummer.

Vocally, Kaliopi is just outstanding as she has proven before. Soft blue colour scheme during the verses, flames and gold/yellow colour scheme during the chorus.

I like this a lot, and as one of the only nations to sing in their native language, I do hope Macedonia make it to the final.

Well, they are using a different arrangement of the song, a techno one - and it sounds totally bad. It made Vlatko singing in a different tune and tone, which he is very uncomfortable with. His part is completely loosing the ballad feeling now. But it now sounds a bit closer to the vocal style of Esma.

This should be the motto of delegation - if it isn't broken, PLEASE don't fix it!!!! I'm in a shock with what they have done again.

Esma is hardly singing her part, she is almost fully covered with backing vocals. She gets significantly better by the end of rehearsals though and is OK.

They perform a three language version in the way announced before.