Ireland rehearsal and press conference

Dustin's rehearsal went very smoothly, the stage is dark as the group arrive, and they are all dressed in black cloaks. When the music starts, the cloaks disappear. Dustin is in the shopping trolley as he was in the Irish national final.

There are a few alterations to the props, the main one being a heart shaped monitor which alternates various European flags. Dustin also has a doll spinning around on his revolving record decks. There are two male dancers sporting feathers in the Irish colours, and the same two ladies from the national final are backing Dustin, one of whom is the niece of 1994 Irish Eurovision Song Contest winner Paul Harrington. Finally, there is a fifth man who pushes Dustin around at various intervals during the song.

Irelande Douze Points



Press conference
Dustin commented "We want to bring back respect to the Eurovision Song Contest, there is a message about change in the song, and since the song was written the Irish football and rugby manager have changed and so has the president!"




sources:eurovision.tv;esckaz.com

Poland rehearsal

Poland is being represented by a singer from the United States of America this year. Isis Gee just finished her first rehearsal. She was accompanied on stage by four violinists and her husband, who was playing the piano.

The Polish representative Isis Gee performed in a short white dress and created a warm atmosphere with her soft voice. During the rehearsal, there had been problems with the sound, but of course this can still be improved in the second rehearsal. Overall, Isis gave a confident performance. The main colour of the background scenery was red, and smoke effects were used during the stage act.

The Polish press conference was cancelled.

Norway rehearsal and press conference

Accompanied by three female backing singers and two guitar-players, Maria integrated a fitting cheorography into her number which worked well. The stage during Hold On Be Strong is filled with hundreds of lights on a predominantly blue background and it seemed that Maria and her team were already wearing their final clothes which are also bright blue.

Norway - Hold on, be strong



Press conference

In her press conference Maria treated the present media with her enormous vocal talent. She was also satisfied with the way her rehearsal went. When asked what was her favourite song in this year's contest, she answered that she liked the Danish song most.



sources:eurovision.tv; 12points.tv; esckaz.com

Slovenia rehearsal and press conference

Rebeka appears on stage with three female backing vocalists and two male dancers, one of whom choreographed the piece. Rebeka emerges from a cage at the beginning of the song, and is followed around by the male dancers. The theme of the song is about a girl feeling imprisoned by love, and wanting to break out, with love winning in the end.

Musically the song has been transformed. Now there is funkier and clubbier sound with spanish guitars used and has a more aggresive feel.


Rebeka Dremelj - Vrag Naj Vzame



Press conference

Rebeka Dremelj started by admitting that the first rehearsal was awful and that everyone is in a bad mood because of that, without denying, however, the team's responsibility for that. Promising that everything will go better in the future, she avoided answering relevant questions. As far as the lyrics are concerned, she said she thought that the population of Slovenia is small and they should be proud to sing in their native language. Her a capella singing was warmly greeted by the journalists.


sources:eurovision.tv; oikotimes.com; 12points.tv

Azerbaijan rehearsal and press conference

Elnur and Samir were dressed as angel and devil, with Elnur and two backing dancers wearing big angel wings. While Elnur stands and shows his vast vocal range, Samir sits on a throne and performs some of his vocal parts in the typical national style of Mugham singing.

Their whole performance is very professional and elaborate. Towards the end of the song, people will see the climax of the whole stage act, with the throne falling apart and pyrotechnical effects illuminating the stage.

Day after day rehearsal






Press conference

Elnur and Samir were asked about the interest of their nation for the Contest, since it's the country's first participation in Eurovision. They replied that enthusiasm grows steadily in their country. As for themselves, they admitted that it took them two days to realise what had happened after they won in their national selection. The two contestants concluded the press conference inviting everyone to a live concert with them and other artists from their country on stage and they presented the press pack, which included a fine selection of gifts and gadgets from the Land of Fire.

sources:eurovision.tv;oikotimes.com;esckaz.com;

Belgium rehearsal and press conference

Belgian representatives Ishtar took to the stage yesterday to give their first rehearsal of their song "O Julissi".

The stage setting was a dark background, with graphics which could be described as resembling something similar to musical notes. The whole performance was very upbeat and lively, with lead singer Soetkin walking intermittantly between all of her backing musicians throughout the song. Reactions in general were very positive, as indeed was the upbeat press conference which followed.



Press conference

Soetkin, Ishtar's lead singer, revealed that this year's entries that touched her the most are Bosnia & Herzegovina's and Israel's. Then the author of the song, Michel Vangheluwe, talked about his inspiration for the song, which was his childhood memories and his youth. Words, actually "a patch of joyful sounds" as he said, came after the melody, in an imaginary language he calls Ishtarian.


sources:eurovision.tv;oikotimes.com;youtube.com

San Marino rehearsal and press conference

Miodio, delivered an outstanding first rehearsal of their song Complice. The group of five young men is joined by a female dancer on stage who interacts well with the lead singer of the group, Nicola Della Valle. The whole act looked very modern and could attract lots of votes from the younger televoters.

The song Complice is sung fully in Italian and it's one of three songs using the Italian language this year- the other too being Switzerland and Romania.

The stage during the San Marinese song is mostly black and blue with some orange in the back part of the LED screens.

Miodio - Complice - rehearsal



Press conference

During their press conference, the sympathetic group revealed that they are very happy to represent their native country. They also treated the audience with an acapella of Complice which was very well-received.


source:eurovision.tv; 12points.tv