The Eurovision Flight Takes Off!

Today, the 14 qualified finalists rehearsed for the first time, the UK being among them! So what's it like? Well, the backing singers don't appear on conveyer belts (boo) but they are prominent in the performance which features airline metal detectors, airline seats as well as the trollies! The backdrop may be their downfall though... a G-I-A-N-T union flag, dispersed with aeroplanes flying in all directions. It's certainly patriotic.

Conflicting reports about it though - some say it was fantastic, some say it was awful! Some say it'll get 0 points, some say it'll win! I've seen the vid of the rehearsal and it sounded OK to me. I just don't like the backdrop - when it's not the union flag, it's just white planes on a black backdrop. However, this will certainly look effective and I'm now very excited about it all! They're doing tongue-in-cheek but they're doing it well.

And as for the other finalists today...

• Bosnia&Herzegovina kicked off rehearsals. It's safely in my top 5, but a lot of people can't see past this just being 'nice'. Starting the show is a difficult draw cos there's nothing to contrast it to. However, I think it's great and vocally it's brilliant. It will get votes, but it's not a winner
• D'NASH of Spain also sounded good today but it's typical boyband fodder in the cursed 2nd place. Not even the backing singers drumming upside down Cornettos could turn this one round I don't think. Contender for bottom 5.
• Ireland has been well received with some people very enchanted by its performance! They're playing up to the instrumental, Cathy's vocal are sounding fine (by her standards anyway) but the backdrop, a sort of orange honeycomb, has not been so well received by everyone.
• Finland passed without any sort of interesting note. This is going to bomb.
• Lithuania are sticking with a winning formula with their infamous screens silhouetting the instrumentalists as they did in the national final. It's a nice classy performance but perhaps a bit too subtle for the Eurocrowd.
• Sarbel still can't dance, which is unfortunate for Greece because they've given him a head mic (no no no...). It's like Martin Vucic all over again! However, I still think it'll do well, but his lanky figure is not helping the highly choreographed piece.
• The Ark are glamming it up for Sweden with, again, mixed reports. The stage is black and white with a bit of purple, and apparently the spinning disc works a treat it seems. Some say this'll do well, others say it'll just get lost in the mix.
• The French song is coming across as very strange. And it is strange. It's a strange song being performed in a tongue-in-cheek manner. The flower backdrop is nice. I just don't get it.
• Russia got mixed reactions with some saying it was very strong, and others saying that its rather static performance lets it down - the three are standing behind mics simply belting it out. But I'm glad they're not trying to ruin it with any gimmicks or breathless choreography! This could pay dividends. Serebro performed well though today, it bodes well
• Roger Cicero was dressed all in white for Germany with their jazz entry going down well! It's pretty much as it was in the national final but the last chorus is now in English as 'Guess Who Rules The World'. Vocally sound, performance good, not much to improve on.
• Verka Serduchka is convincing more and more people that he/she/it could win - and I'm amongst that number! Ukraine haven't changed much from the national final performance - he's in the same sparkly silver outfit and the Dancing is still as silly as ever. He missed a few camera shots but people don't generally care. This could be the winner. Holy moly.
• There's nothing about the Romanian rehearsal anywhere. This is because everybody at all Eurovision websites, including eurovision.tv, buggered off to the Welcome Party! Not only this but UK, Romania and Armenia had their press conferences cancelled because of this! I did read about Armenia though. Their stage presentation looks beautiful. Two trees are onstage, meant to be giving the impressin of burning, and people are on the floor playing instruments. I still think this is a dark horse, it's a great moody ballad.

So that sums up today. Same countries rehearse tomorrow - hopefully a bit more info on Romania and Armenia and we'll see what Scooch have to say in their press conference! Something to mull over, Sir?