We made it! Rehearsal Day 1 is over, I am in my own private press centre with youtube providing the videos for me. And I obviously don’t want to miss the chance to review them as well, having quite different opinions (and a different perspective) than MartinF. 😉

First let me say a few words on the stage though! Awesome!!! After the 1983 toaster disaster that shocks generations of fanboys to come, this is definitely showing that Germany can do fabulous stages. And that Germany can do something right in this season of unpopular decisions and less optimal situations.

So here’s what I think of all the stuff being rehearsed today!

Poland
Looks brilliant. Sounds brilliant too. This is definitely a good start. You know, once you hit the Eurovision stage in the rehearsals (and later in the show), you can ruin a good song, and you can turn a rather mediocre song into perfection. As happened rightnow. This will definitely qualify!

Norway
I was expecting a car crash. It was not a car crash. But it definitely lacks something. Probably the charme that it had in the MGP shows is somehow missing. The backdop doesn’t suit the song and the singer at all. Vocally, the song is one of those that don’t need to be sung on spot, so that’s fine dear. But I have my doubts about this qualifying.

Albania
This comes across very powerful, the whole package. Amazing lights in the middle part, eagle ish backdrop, probably the maltese birdman didn’t get an invitation for this. It might come across a bit too screamy, so that might keep some people away from voting. The juries might love this though. It’s a different song, but might have the same effect as Ukraine 2010, and we know where this landed.

Armenia
Now this is the first car crash of the day. She begins the show sitting in a boxing glove, dancing blue stars on the backdrop. The song was never among the best ones, and this performance pushes it all into the same league as Czech Republic 2008. Now there’s a boxing ring, hey-ing, arms in the air and a completely random performance. But knowing that many Europeans don’t have taste, this will sadly qualify anyway, cos it’s cheap enough.

Turkey
Not bad at all. This will probably qualify mostly because of the very good staging (Turkey knows how to do that), rather than because of the below average song.
Well, their vocals are good, the backdrop supports the song very well (and that song needs it). Awkward ball woman there.

Serbia
Very confident from the first note on. Very good backdrop choice. Vocally she seems to hold back a bit, especially on the high notes, but you can get a clue that she can be on spot when it counts. After the quite dark Turkey, this comes across very fresh and cheerfully! Will definitely get enough votes to qualify. The dance routine is big big fun, and you just can tell from far away that the girls have a LOT of fun on stage. By far the best rehearsal so far!

Russia
After I woke up from my nap I had 2 choices: Get a coffee or watch Russia. I went for a coffee. Now let’s see. Irritatingly wrong coffee*. Irritatingly long intro.

The dance routine didn’t deserve that dull song. It looks like the misters Sparrow and Saade have their own duel this year, it’s all about who covers a weak song best with a dense coreography. It will work out for Russia, he’s vocally on spot and his looks won’t cost him any points either. This being Russia is a sure qualifier.

*I have no idea what was up there.

Switzerland
Ouch. The instrumental intro is nice. The backdrop is really really nice. But the vocals are just so shakey, unstable and messy that it hurts. Car crash. Someone get her a nicer dress in that she might feel more well with! Strongest contender for last place so far. A lot of work needed to get this somewhere.

Georgia
WHAT? It had to come eventually today. The WTF moment we’ve been waiting for since the sun rose over Europe this morning. It’s already been said by someone else that this one is heading to Barbara Dex award, and for now I see a big chance for this to happen. The performance is extremely powerful, making Turkey look rather dull. I wasnt a big fan of this song before, but with this backdrop, with this energy on stage, Eldrine will come very very far this year.

Finland
Yes! Perfect staging for this one. Nice. Paradise Oskar himself though doesn’t seem to have fully arrived in Düsseldorf. The vocals are OK, but you can tell he might feel a bit lost on this stage. It’s nice enough, but unfortunately appears a bit boring. Peter? Oskar? No, Axel… will have to work a bit on his appearance. This one needs less work than Switzerland to have a chance for the final.

So day 1 is over, which was quite good. Switzerland being the biggest disappointment vocally, Serbia being my favourite whole-package for today.