How is it day 6 already? Anyway, it’s been the first day for esc-chat.com in Baku, meaning, our new editor Danny began his work in the press centre today. He also started his daily diary blog. He will have a new post for each day, which will get updated every now and then. Remember to check it out!

Today, it’s my turn again to review the day from this side of the contest,  so you will also have to bear with my opinion.

It has been another busy day with 13 rehearsals, among them the Russian grannies, the Irish twins and the Belarussian Weeners. What remains by the end of the day? Earworms of a certain song with a certain trumpet, the impression that Hungary was the winner of the day, and that at least one tambourine lady is cheering Netherlands up a bit.

Otherwise, events have been more or less unspectacular – but let’s focus on the most notable developments from the first rehearsal!

Russia‘s favourite grannies are still baking bread, and they still don’t think about singing in tune or in beat. I doubt the bread became any better, either. Generally, this thing comes across even more messy than before, and although they all seem likeable, it’s one of the weaker entries this year, and by this point of the season it’s beginning to annoy me.

Joan Franka from the Netherlands now wears bleu islandais. Instead of a dolphin, she has a crossbreed of Alexander Rybak and Tooji in her personal boygroup. The only remaining tambourine lady is a bit more notable now, so I am kind of consoled. Only thing is, Indiana Joan was vocally rather bad today. Although I did regain some hopes that this will qualify. It’s not completely hopeless, but then none of today’s entrants is.

Austria‘s Trackshittaz and their dancers are now equipped with LED stuff, but it doesn’t really work like the use of blacklight in the Austrian Final. Their rehearsal was slightly better than the last one, but it’s still far away from the punch and catchiness that it had in the aforementioned TV show. They don’t rap in tune either (hah!). It’s an improved mess.

Then there was Ukraine, which is SLIGHTLY less over the top, but still. Gaitana’s incredible vocals were excellent, and in general it was more catchy and fresh than in its first appearance in Baku.

It needs to be mentioned once more that Moldova has developed from a rather pale entry to the biggest earworm of the day. The whole thing is more fun, more catchy, more authentic and more likeable than the piece from its neighbour country beginning with ‘R’.

There’s not a lot to say about Ireland (which was more or less the same with white, flags covered jackets – otherwise everything as Jexpected), Serbia (the same old mechanical bore), Macedonia (Kaliopi and her unique voice sang Zeljko off the stage), Malta (Kurt – vocally – must have seen better days), Belarus (decent but flat, the singer  is still dressed up like a seductive ghost from Haunted Mansion) and Portugal (-).

The 6th day of rehearsals closed with Bulgaria. Well. I am totally fine with the decision to let Sofi be on stage alone. And she sang great. But. The staging is one of the most unfortunate ones in the whole year. Sofi moves like she’s the funny neighbour auntie who comes to a children’s birthday party to dance a little. Honestly, and with all respect, she comes across – do excuse me – ridiculous. Why doesn’t she use this stage to put on an expressive show? (Note: “expressive” doesn’t have to mean “over the top”, dear Ukraine.) No, Sofi Marinova doesn’t have to dance, no, it’d be better if she wouldn’t at all. Good song, good vocals, pointless staging.

My Aha! moment of the day, though, was Hungary. Very impressive performance, decently staged. It’s one of the most normal “real world” songs in the contest, and it’s a good one. It is clear now that Compact Disco hadn’t really arrived in Baku yet for the first rehearsal, because now they are there in full scale. Very professional, and definitely a strong contender for a final ticket. The modern people in the juries will go for this.

Tomorrow sees one of the most hotly-awaited days of the rehearsal period – the debut appearances of the ‘big 5’ automatic finalists plus host nation Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, one of our team heads off to Lanzarote, meaning that esc-chat.com will become one of the most curiously triangulated fansite teams of all, with members in Baku, Berlin and just off the coast of Western Sahara! Stay tuned to our website and our Twitter feed for Danny’s on-site reports from the host city and everything else you need to know from the preparations for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.