Today marked a very important day in my first Eurovision bubble experience. Today...we went to the arena. Now this is not my first Eurovision completely. I was lucky enough to be in Stockholm for a week back in 2016 so today was not my first time walking into a Eurovision arena. However, today marked the … Continue reading Day 7: Stepping into the Ring
Busy day for us all here in the press centre, hence why the daily blog is being posted a little later than normal. Busy day for me individually too. Earlier I posted the reasons why we should all get behind the UK act, SuRie as well writing up my experience of these first few days on … Continue reading Day 6: Solid Start for Surie, Poignant Portugal & all the Feels for France
Later today the United Kingdom will take to the stage for the first time in preparations for this year's Contest. SuRie will get her first taste of the Altice Arena as she and the other automatic qualifiers rehearse their numbers for the very first time. Regardless of what happens next Saturday night (8pm, BBC1 for … Continue reading Your Country Needs You: 7 Reasons to get Behind SuRie
Today we got to the second rehearsals for semi final 1. For many here in the press room this meant a second viewing after Sunday's initial forays. However, as I missed Sunday much of today was completely fresh for me. Given that this semi final is being slated as one of the most competitive in … Continue reading Day 5: Miraculous Mikolas, Alarming Alekseev & Faltering Favourites
Georgia's resident Ethno Jazz band Iriao were an utterly delightful start to the day. If I'm honest this is not a song I'd given any real thought to prior to viewing the staging. However, seeing the lads bring high class to the Eurovision stage has raised it hugely in my estimations. Following the performance of … Continue reading Day 4: Hungary. Hungary Hungary Hungary. (Other Countries are Available)
We opened the day with our returning hero from Norway, Alexander Rybak. The 2009 winner appeared to take to the rehearsals this morning with a quite a restrained approach. The man has quite clearly done all this before, he understands that nobody wins Eurovision on a Tuesday morning. I still can't stand the song itself … Continue reading Day 3: Magnificent Moldova, Rybak Returns and San Marino Stuns
OK, so I arrived a day late. In missing Day 1 of rehearsals I managed to lose out on 4 of the big favourites. Not only that but Sunday saw a hospitalisation, a rose sprouting back (who knew that was a thing) and a Lithuanian heart string tug-fest. Note to self for next year, leave … Continue reading Day 2: Aalto’s A-Game, Sensational Cypriot Silliness and Eye Cue’s Eyeful
Yesterday I started the countdown for my top ten in this year's Contest, which you can catch up on here. Today will see any impartiality I may have been previously clinging onto cast asunder as I share with you my top 5 songs at this year's Contest. 5. FRANCE 🇫🇷 Madame Monsieur - Mercy Despite being … Continue reading Getting Off the Fence: My Top 10 (Part 2)
In a matter of days we'll have seen the first rehearsals for all our songs this year. Forever more the 2018 entries will be associated with the visuals & staging concepts and no longer just be the audio in it's own right. Before we take this big leap into the unknown I want to nail … Continue reading Getting Off the Fence: My Top 10 (Part 1)
After months of build up we are now a mere seven days away from the first rehearsals for this years' Contest. After Eugent Bushpepa won Fetstivali i Këgnës last December it took a full 80 days for us to complete the 43 song lineup with Georgia releasing 'For You' on March 13th. In the subsequent … Continue reading One Week to Go: Preview Parties, Dress Dramas & Splendid Surie
