A week maybe a long time in politics but it's an even longer time in Eurovision rehearsals. In seven days we've seen a grand total of 70 rehearsals on stage with camera angles tweaked, performers finding their marks and "once more with pyro" not actually being used as much as you'd assume. So before we … Continue reading Day 7: What Have We Learned from Week One?
Tomorrow the United Kingdom, along with the other Big 5 entries and our hosts, will take to the stage for their initial rehearsals. James will finally get his first experience of the Ahoy stage in Rotterdam after a long 12+ months. Regardless of what happens next Saturday he's already done more than enough to make … Continue reading YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU: 7 REASONS TO GET BEHIND JAMES NEWMAN
Monday was dominated by high energy stagings and the pink/purple neon visuals. Today was something of a departure from that with variation in colour schemes and perhaps a little less energy. With the exception of Denmark. Which was exactly that. The back half of semi-final two is an odd one and today's run throughs only … Continue reading Day 4: I Have No Idea What’s Going On Anymore
Day 3 covered the first half of semi final two and with an awful lot of big, lively staging concepts (and Estonia) it was a real treat for the eyes and the ears. This is everything I want from my modern day Eurovision. Monday morning opened with San Marino's Senhit and Adrenalina. So often we, … Continue reading Day 3: Serene Sammarinese Supremacy & Daði Delirium
After a relatively gentle start to rehearsals yesterday Sunday ramped up the excitement with a longer running order, a wee bit more pyro and plenty of bangers. Today has confirmed just how great SF1 is going to be this year... Whilst Sunday morning in Edinburgh may have been a drab and driech affair the stage … Continue reading Day 2: Scintillating Cyprus, Marvellous Malta and Battle of the Bops
720 days have passed since Duncan Laurence collected the crystal microphone and reprised Arcade as the winning song. Today, after all that time we finally saw acts return to the Eurovision stage. Rehearsals have started and we're well on our way to the big show. Was it worth the wait? GOD YES. The first day … Continue reading Day 1: Rousing Roop, Marvellous Manizha & Intriguing Ireland
Throughout the week I've been counting down my favourites for this year's Eurovision Song Contest. Now we're only one day away from rehearsals starting here's the final part, with my top five pick of the pops. #5 - 🇮🇪 IRELAND LESLEY ROY - MAPS First up in the top five we have our friends from … Continue reading PIF PAF PREFERENCES: PART 3
Monday saw the first part of my own personal top 15 for the 2021 Contest. In a banger heavy year it was no surprise that these first five were all largely fun, up tempo entries. Will positions 10-6 be any different? In a nutshell...no. #10 - 🇮🇸 ICELAND Daði og Gagnamagnið - 10 YEARS There's … Continue reading PIF PAF PREFERENCES: PART 2
Every year, just before rehearsals start, I set out my stall with a top ten judged on the songs alone. This is before anyone does a Fuego with their staging and brings themselves up in my estimation. Or before anyone does an Outlaw in Em and makes themselves look like a massive [word redacted]. Now … Continue reading PIF PAF PREFERENCES: PART 1
With the start of Eurovision rehearsals now merely days away, we’re more or less ready to go. We’re all well versed with the songs, the stage is built and our hosts have been primed & lacquered. However, given the somewhat unusual circumstances there are still a few loose ends yet to be tied up. So … Continue reading Eurovision 2021: Magical Mystery Contest
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