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Posted by: Iz~ 1st May 2019, 02:15 AM

Rehearsals start this weekend!

I'm going to do my part of being a good shill and share the rehearsal schedule ESCXtra have drawn up. Very good for plotting out the times.

If you're free to watch the rehearsals, also check out the livestream where Ryan and other ESCXtra team members who are on the ground in Tel Aviv will be broadcasting their thoughts xx I'll try and remember to post a link to that nearer the time.

Posted by: Ryan. 1st May 2019, 08:25 PM

Posted by: cantthinkofaname 1st May 2019, 09:40 PM

Omg it's actually almost here yet again!! EXCITED

Posted by: Conanderella 1st May 2019, 09:42 PM

must. stay. away.

Posted by: cantthinkofaname 3rd May 2019, 04:48 PM

Any news from the rehearsals yet?

Posted by: AdamAloud 3rd May 2019, 05:07 PM

Starts tomorrow morning!

Posted by: cantthinkofaname 3rd May 2019, 05:12 PM

Oh lawd I'm blind sometimes. Someone on Reddit posted that it starts today so I just ran with it and didn't even look at the schedule

Posted by: Cameron 4th May 2019, 08:52 AM

HERE WE GO

Posted by: LexC 4th May 2019, 09:08 AM

We stan a ruveal!

Posted by: Vülker 4th May 2019, 11:48 AM

Shame she didn't go for the wig reveal though. I "hoped" she would wear a big curly mane like Eleni only blonde, do a bit of hairography before the first chorus and then do a Roxxxy Andrews reveal for her own hair.

Posted by: Iz~ 4th May 2019, 02:21 PM

https://escxtra.com/2019/05/04/eurovision-daily-press-poll-2019-results-from-day-1-of-rehearsals/

Press poll from day 1. Cyprus and Serbia coming through! There are full reviews for each of the rehearsals linked in that article x

Posted by: LexC 4th May 2019, 02:23 PM

Cyprus winning the press poll despite having no sound in the press centre lmao

Posted by: Iz~ 4th May 2019, 02:27 PM

From what I hear there were problems with Montenegro (putting it lightly) and Poland as well, but definitely some preconceived biases going on there.

Posted by: AdamAloud 4th May 2019, 02:39 PM

Who is voting for Finland in that press centre? I don't like to stereotype but I will.

Posted by: Iz~ 4th May 2019, 02:45 PM

I don't think Finland was that bad! I don't think there's a whole lot to get out of the song and they're doing it fine.

Posted by: ScottyEm 4th May 2019, 03:56 PM

Cyprus aside, they got it unbelievably wrong last year. Slovenia only 19 points? Jog on...

Posted by: AdamAloud 4th May 2019, 04:05 PM

Slovenia's staging doesn't seem a million miles from their EMA perf so it's understandable that the press/fans there won't be as wowed by it this time around. I'm sure it will hit when it matters.

Posted by: ScottyEm 4th May 2019, 04:15 PM

A fair point. The odds have remained about the same for most acts, the only notable winners appear to be Czech Republic and Serbia. Montenegro and Finland appear to have suffered.

Posted by: *Tim 4th May 2019, 04:39 PM

How did Czech Republic end up 3rd in that poll. He was STRUGGLING through the vocals and the performance

Posted by: cantthinkofaname 4th May 2019, 04:43 PM

I don't get it. Like, I like Slovenia's song but I do find it a tad repetitive and dare I say boring? It's quite monotone the entire way through. The staging doesn't seem to improve on that at all but we've yet to see the final result so I'll hold my final judgement for now. But I'm not as sure it'll qualify like everyone else and could very well imagine it being the shock DNQ of SF1 even though it is in my list of preferred qualifiers.

Posted by: Cameron 4th May 2019, 06:38 PM

Belarus coming for wigs

Posted by: RobBob 5th May 2019, 12:24 AM

Belarus pulling off a shock qualifier would be FANTASTIC to me. Her vocals sounded flawless and... much stronger than Tamta, honestly.

Posted by: LexC 5th May 2019, 11:17 AM

Australia seems to have gone down pretty well from what I’ve seen on social media

Posted by: Liаm 5th May 2019, 11:19 AM

Presumably this will look like she's flying in the actual performance on TV and it looks like it could be spectacular

I loved Zena too so +1 to wanting Zena to shock Q!!

Posted by: Jerick 5th May 2019, 12:59 PM

Australia's odds are shortening a lot, it's placed 12th now. It was at 16th earlier today, before her rehearsal.

Posted by: AdamAloud 5th May 2019, 02:26 PM

One of the big hitters from the press room today, a potential winner of the semi final.

Posted by: Cqmerqn 5th May 2019, 02:36 PM

Omg I was trying to avoid watching rehearsals, but wow Katerine is just incredible!!

Posted by: Esmerelda 5th May 2019, 02:38 PM

Kate and Katerine both brilliant!

Posted by: Esmerelda 5th May 2019, 10:11 PM

Press Poll from today:

Australia-77
Greece-55
Iceland-55
San Marino-38
Belgium-24
Portugal-20
Estonia-16

Posted by: Conanderella 6th May 2019, 07:12 AM

Have to be honest, I HATE the green costumes that Portugal have decided upon. Bring back the white :'( Still though, people be sleeping on Portugal this year!!

Posted by: LexC 6th May 2019, 11:54 AM

Lol so Moldova have basically straight up copied the sand artist staging from Ukraine 2011

Posted by: AdamAloud 6th May 2019, 12:20 PM

Well that gave the worst Ukrainian entry one of their best results so yas Moldova get that third consecutive top 10.

Posted by: Jason 7th May 2019, 03:21 AM

So, the moment of truth is coming for Netherlands, Russia and Norway. It will be an interesting day.

Posted by: Liаm 7th May 2019, 10:04 AM

Michela SNAPPED, her vocals sound like she's a bit nervous but the staging is really colourful and fun and I think it's really going to be great!!

Posted by: AdamAloud 7th May 2019, 10:36 AM

Don't count this out yet, fabulous staging.

Posted by: LexC 7th May 2019, 10:49 AM

Hmmm, I remain to be convinced.

Posted by: AdamAloud 7th May 2019, 01:40 PM

OK Azerbaijan sound PHENOMENAL, Chingiz came to SNATCH

Posted by: Iz~ 7th May 2019, 01:47 PM

They don't SOUND that outstanding to me but whatever they've got going on on stage has blown away most of the press room.

Posted by: Burns 7th May 2019, 02:53 PM

Intrigued for Azerbaijan. The music video is great, and the song deserves to do well.

Ditto Malta!

Posted by: Iz~ 7th May 2019, 03:02 PM

Day 4 press poll: https://escxtra.com/2019/05/07/day-4-eurovision-2019-press-poll/

Great for Azerbaijan, Russia and North Macedonia, disastrous for Norway and Albania!

Tamara's vocals sounded stunning by the way, this has got to be going somewhere for N. Macedonia.

Posted by: RobBob 7th May 2019, 03:04 PM

Yeah, vocally, Macedonia's sounds a moment. I'd push that into my qualifying predictions now, though I hope the repetition of mirror use doesn't spoil it for them as the song is growing on me rapidly.

Posted by: Jerick 7th May 2019, 04:00 PM

At least keiino sound SO much better than in the mgp final. The background looks really cool too with the northern lights.

Posted by: cantthinkofaname 7th May 2019, 04:38 PM

So the results of the press polls for the first round of rehearsals is:

Semi Final 1
01 077 Australia
02 072 Cyprus
03 067 Serbia
04 058 Czech Republic
05 055 Greece
05 055 Iceland
07 053 Hungary
08 038 San Marino
09 030 Georgia
10 028 Belarus
11 024 Belgium
12 020 Portugal
13 019 Slovenia
14 016 Poland
14 016 Estonia
16 002 Finland
17 000 Montenegro

Semi Final 2
01 106 Switzerland
02 104 Sweden
03 082 Azerbaijan
04 065 Russia
05 064 North Macedonia
06 045 The Netherlands
07 044 Austria
08 028 Malta
09 020 Denmark
10 014 Armenia
10 014 Ireland
12 010 Albania
12 010 Norway
14 006 Croatia
14 006 Romania
16 005 Lithuania
16 005 Moldova
18 002 Latvia

Posted by: Cqmerqn 7th May 2019, 04:39 PM

Greece still feels so underrated

Posted by: *Tim 7th May 2019, 05:02 PM

Netherlands are really gonna get f***ed over by our staging aren't we lmao

Posted by: Cqmerqn 7th May 2019, 05:24 PM

The staging looks a bit dull and uninspired

Posted by: AdamAloud 7th May 2019, 05:34 PM

I still think The Netherlands are the easy winners, only Italy could cause an upset now.

Posted by: LexC 7th May 2019, 05:54 PM

Yeah I feel like this is mostly just people reacting to Duncan being behind the piano, I don't think it's going to be that big of a deal.

Posted by: Jason 7th May 2019, 07:05 PM

Exactly like the song.

Posted by: Cqmerqn 7th May 2019, 07:07 PM

I think Switzerland could cause an upset too!

Posted by: Jerick 7th May 2019, 09:41 PM

I agree, I think this performance will make the song stand more out between all the rest. With such an incredible song, less is more.

Posted by: Burns 8th May 2019, 05:14 PM

I was about to say this too though wouldn’t call it an upset! I definitely think this is between the Swiss, the Italians and the Dutch.

Posted by: Burns 8th May 2019, 05:15 PM

Worked for Salvador!

Posted by: RobBob 9th May 2019, 01:03 PM

Just gonna drop this concerning rehearsal here and run:

Posted by: Jerick 9th May 2019, 01:06 PM

Oh no

Posted by: Iz~ 9th May 2019, 01:08 PM

Yikes! I thought Tamta was being overrated slightly in the previous press poll, I wonder how that's going down more generally.

Posted by: Liаm 9th May 2019, 01:13 PM

Omg the NOX!!!

Posted by: gooddelta 9th May 2019, 01:18 PM

My prediction of around 15th looking generous. I just don't see this doing a Fuego at all, I think Chameleon and She Got Me will eat up most of its votes, especially with those vocals...

Posted by: RobBob 9th May 2019, 01:35 PM

My body feels like this might do a Bones in a fan favourite form, somewhere around 13th-15th maybe?

Posted by: AdamAloud 9th May 2019, 01:59 PM

Replay coming to do a Verona the gays in Tel Aviv will riot

Posted by: Liаm 9th May 2019, 03:14 PM

AH KNAHHH YA MISS THE TAAAYSTE

Posted by: RobBob 9th May 2019, 03:15 PM

I still think it's making it through but there's definite work to be done. I think the "replay" effect could like 100x better while we're at it aswell, it seems really late and off beat rather than clever camera trickery.

Posted by: Liаm 9th May 2019, 04:04 PM

I love the song but I lowkey hope it DNQs just for the shock lmao

Posted by: Jerick 9th May 2019, 05:46 PM

Daily press poll day 6

70 Australia
43 Serbia
35 Iceland
28 Georgia
23 Cyprus
22 Hungary
20 Belgium
14 Opland
11 Slovenia
10 Czech Republic
10 Belarus
09 Estonia
09 Portugal
07 Finland
03 Montenegro

Posted by: AdamAloud 9th May 2019, 06:15 PM

I think the heat is getting to people in Israel.

Posted by: LexC 9th May 2019, 07:33 PM

CyBC are claiming that performance had technical issues that have since been resolved. Interpret that as you choose.

Posted by: ScottyEm 9th May 2019, 09:21 PM

Cyprus remains a safe qualifier. But I do agree, this will come worse off in the battle of the bangers ie Chameleon and She Got Me (although I think personally this is far better than She Got Me).

Posted by: *Tim 10th May 2019, 02:55 AM

Those vocals cannot be solved though. She's gonna flop at the jury final of she doesn't improve

Posted by: J▲hq 10th May 2019, 10:40 AM

I can’t get over how amazing Australia looks and sounds in the clip from yesterday. Looks like the best staging of the year, that’s how you bring something from being quite borderline and turn it into a very safe qualifier.

Posted by: gooddelta 10th May 2019, 10:49 AM

I've always thought of it as a safe qualifier that's been drastically underrated. Admittedly this staging makes it far safer but I was fully expecting Kate to pull something amazing out of the bag, hence my each-way bet on it, she's such a unique and talented performer.

*comes 22nd*

Posted by: Iz~ 10th May 2019, 01:29 PM

Press poll: https://escxtra.com/2019/05/10/day-7-eurovision-daily-press-poll-1/

Looks like Sweden's going to be quite slick as they play to type, however that seems rather harsh for Armenia?

Posted by: AdamAloud 10th May 2019, 01:38 PM

I can't see Armenia making it anymore, the second semi is just too competitive. Think she'll be forgotten by the end.

Posted by: LexC 10th May 2019, 02:03 PM

I'm really feeling like Sweden might actually be in with a shot of the crown now!

Also strongly feeling Austria as a reasonably safe qualifier.

Posted by: AdamAloud 10th May 2019, 02:07 PM

France have slain their first rehearsal, a surprise top 5 perhaps?

Posted by: LexC 10th May 2019, 04:19 PM

From this clip it looks like they've taken the song down a key to be more in Bilal's range and they're really leaning in to the This Is Me/Greatest Showman comparison.

Posted by: Jason 10th May 2019, 07:38 PM

Nah. The juries will love Sweden's entry, I hate their predictable taste , Sweden 2019 is Austria's 2018. The same kind of song. However, I think they will be only low top 10 on Televote (thank God). So, I can see Sweden in 4th place. I still believe the top 3 will be Netherlands, Switzerland and Italy in any order.

Posted by: Oricon 10th May 2019, 08:10 PM

That video doesn't even do her or the song's justice as in another fan recording she slayed the vocals, so I'm rather confused

Posted by: LexC 10th May 2019, 08:20 PM

Things sound different in a concert venue with a big hall to echo around than they do down a microphone on television.

Posted by: Oricon 10th May 2019, 08:29 PM

:'( I sincerely hope you're wrong and Replay gets at least Top 10 in the final!

Posted by: ScottyEm 10th May 2019, 09:02 PM

If Netherlands doesn’t nail that emotional connection (which from what I gather, it hasn’t managed to yet) I think we’re going back to Sweden next year.

I’m happy with either outcome tbh.

Posted by: Jason 11th May 2019, 06:33 PM

Press Poll Day 8 results

75 Russia
66 Azerbaijan
50 The Netherlands
44 Malta
35 Norway
26 North Macedonia
11 Croatia
3 Lithuania
2 Albania

Not great for The Netherlands and goodbye to Lithuania and Albania.

Posted by: Odaisul 11th May 2019, 08:27 PM

im against showing rehearsals and now youre dealing it as a competition besides the actual competition which is stupid, rehearsals shouldnt be seen by public it kills the surprise.

Posted by: Burns 11th May 2019, 10:59 PM

Who, outside of Eurovision fandom, bothers to seek out rehearsals? I haven't watched any of them and I'm pretty avid!! I don't see the problem.

Posted by: ScottyEm 11th May 2019, 11:46 PM

The press poll is a good barometer at seeing who has far exceeded expectations, but it’s by no means the holy grail. I remember Donny Montell getting a slating in 2016, but still got a top ten placing as his song was strong and staging was to the point (and it was Lithuania). They have a tendency to overthink in that press centre.

Posted by: Iz~ 12th May 2019, 07:04 AM

god forbid that a competition helps drum up interest in its upcoming shows by getting the press to spread the word about what cool shit is going down

They’ve been so variable this year that anything could happen really. Except Finland qualifying.

Posted by: Liаm 12th May 2019, 11:34 AM

Yeah it's all part of the fun for me! I love seeing snippets of how songs might be staged, and then all the predictions and odds shift, I especially love when some random contender emerges (like France is now for example), it's always fun to see what's gonna happen in the space of this week or so before the actual contest.

It is really only fans who'll seek them out and even then not all of them, so I can't see the issue. It's another part of the calendar between national finals and the actual contest!