Tbilisi 2017: Liveblog of Day 2

Welcome to the liveblog of Day 2 in Tbilisi. The Junior Eurovision Song Contest really kicks off with rehearsals today, including Isabella Clarke from Australia up on stage for the first time! ESCDaily covers everything live for you.

In the following blog, you can find the latest JESC news from Tbilisi with the newest update appearing on top. For in-depth rehearsal coverage, check our rehearsal blog.

Times are displayed in CET. Photocredits belong to EBU (Thomas Hanses).

14:41 – End of the liveblog

Thanks for following us this morning. Stay tuned to ESCDaily.com for more videos and updates throughout the evening!

14:22 Last video for today online

14:02 – Video for Georgia online

Check out Grigol’s first rehearsal HERE.

13:50 – Australia and Belarus mentioned by everyone

While many people at the press center have different favorites, Australia and Belarus are the two names that seem to come back everytime.

13:46 – End of rehearsals

Ireland is done, we’re just waiting for EBU-videos now.

13:28 – Double sound

We are now getting both the synchronized and the non-synchronized sound in the press center – so we hear everything double. Be sure to check EBU’s official rehearsal videos to check for yourself how everyone sounded today… Our apologies for the inconvenience.

13:20 – Turquoise

The backdrop’s main colour is turquoise greenish. Muireann is not wearing her official outfit yet – she’s dressed in a plain black t-shirt. Later runthroughs are slightly better, vocally. Over-all we’ve not heard any real off-key performances today.

13:12 – Planning to pack up

It may still be early in CET timezone, but in Georgia it is already after 4PM. Ireland is the last country to rehearse, and because there are no press conferences today, the day will finish early for us. We plan to pack our things, go back to the hotel and work on some more videos for you.

13:07 – Ireland goes for Paradise Oskar style

Muireann is – again – alone on stage, playing the guitar. It fits this performance. Ireland goes for the atmosphere of Paradise Oskar, although there is no globe in the backdrop (but green stars instead). Vocals are somewhat shaky still, especially in the lower areas.

13:04 – Video for Macedonia online

Check out Mina Blazev’s first rehearsal HERE.

12:56 – Traditional camerawork for Georgia

Georgia hits all the clichées for a ballad like this (but they’re a cliché for a reason). Long, slow pans and zoom in shots from the audience towards Grigol. There’s even a part shot in black & white.

12:49 – Disappointing afternoon

In the morning, a couple of strong performances, however now in the afternoon the quality is slightly dropping. Ireland will have the last chance today to make that change.

12:44 – And there is video: Cyprus

Check out the opening act for Sunday:

12:40 – Strong vocals from Georgia’s Grigol

One of the stronger vocalists of today is Grigol from Georgia. He makes something out of nothing, together with the four backing singers, giving the performance a strong black gospel vibe.

12:25 – Waiting for materials

Press is not allowed into the arena yet. So altogether all we can do is watch the limited rehearsal footage and write our commentary, while relying on EBU footage for visual materials. However, team EBU has not released anything since the lunch break.

12:11 – No press conferences

Just to remind you one more time: There are NO press conferences today, nor tomorrow. All delegations give only one press conference, which will be on Thursday or Friday.

12:02 – Projected backing dancers

The backdrop displays backing dancers during the choruses, but there are no “real” people on stage.

11:48 – Mina a true professional

She comes across very adult in her behavior both during and in between rehearsals. She has no trouble finding the camera.

11:36 – FYR Macedonia mixes dubstep with dance

Mina is wearing a thin white raincoat on the stage. She’s alone, playing with the camera, and the dizzy camera work in the chorus is nice. But dancers could have been a nice addition.

11:15 – Nicole the butterfly

Nicole goes with the second runthrough of her rehearsal. She has her three dancers with her on the stage. From the middle of her song some butterfly wings apper on the screen right behind where she is standing and this gives the impression that she owns the wings.

11:03 – Lunch break over!

Right after the lunch break Cyprus starts her first runthrough of her rehearsal.

10:40 – Helena’s First rehearsal

09:56 – Isabella’s first rehearsal

09:40 – Vocals unknown

Vocals still difficult to judge because of sound issues in the press center. But visually strong.

09:33 – Sascha Jean-Baptiste?

Belarus has styled its entry in a very dark setting with space planet backdrop. Pink spotlights and a pink cape for Helena, who stands on a small round prop while performing. Mysterious camera shots as if Sascha Jean-Baptiste has joined the Belarussian JESC team.

09:28 – Topfavorite Belarus takes stage

Belarus, a country much hinted in pre-polls, takes the stage right after Australia (thankfully this will not be the case on Sunday). The first runthrough is stopped after twenty seconds because of in-ear problems.

09:14 – Sixth runthrough for Isabella Clarke

And counting. Still different angles for every runthrough, but the opening shot stays the same.

09:01 – Australia gathering shots

The Australian delegation tries out new things every runthrough – just now, shots from below were added while Isabella walkes the catwalk. It appears as though the Aussies want to give themselves multiple options to choose from, when they go back to the viewing room.

08:55 – Recreating the video clip

In the second runthrough, Izzy’s backing vocals take the boards with them on stage, displaying the lyrics of the song (“What’s inside me, what defines me”). Just like in the videoclip.

08:51 – Meanwhile: video for Misha’s Boomerang

Check out the first Armenian rehearsal HERE.

08:49 – Isabella’s vocals not synchronized

Technical issues in the press center, making it difficult for us to judge on Isabella’s vocals today.

08:42 – There she is

The camera plan for Australia is really well thought out. Isabella starts with her back towards the audience, creating a nice angle. In the rest of the performance, focus is on the play between her & her backing vocals.

08:31 – Isabella delayed

Armenias rehearsal lasted longer than planned, so we’re still waiting for Izzy to come on stage.

08:27 – One more time with pyro

The last runthrough, Misha from Armenia uses fog cannons in the final chorus. Still some slight issues to be worked out with that one though.

08:23 – Don’t touch my tree (Video)

Check out Albania’s first rehearsal video HERE.

08:16 – Misha getting comfortable

During the third runthrough, Misha seems more comfortable on his hoverboard while singing at the same time.

08:09 – No press conferences

Only rehearsals today and tomorrow. Press conferences are scheduled on Thursday and Friday.

08:05 – Boomerang comes back

Two minutes into the song, Misha ditches the hoverboard, but – as the lyrics of the song say – the boomerang will come back. At the end of the performance he holds it in his hand.

07:53 – Boomerang hoverboard

What would JESC be without hoverboards on stage? We had two acts driving those bad boys last year, and this year Misha takes a boomerang shaped board with him. He’s alone on stage, with a lot of fog surrounding him. Vocally not yet convincing in first runthrough.

07:50 – Preparations?

There is no live feed in the press center yet, Armenia’s timer is running for 10 minutes. Question is, are we running late or does Misha need some extra preparation time?

07:40 – Armenia next up

Colleague Ani Shahoyan is getting nervous for the next rehearsal: Armenia. Misha is one of only four acts with boys. There are no male-female duets this year.

07:29 – How we picked up our accreditations

07:23 – Less close-ups

Throughout the runthroughs, Albania is slowly switching from close-ups to more wide-shots. Ana is handling the close-ups better as we proceed, smiling more.

07:09 – Rehearsals not in running order

The rehearsals today are in alphabetical order, which means Isabella Clarke will be up as nr. 3 for Australia. In the running order, however, she took a marvellous fifteenth place.

07:03 – Tree in the backdrop

Ana is on stage now, alone, and there is a big tree in the backdrop to portray the meaning of the song. Vocals alright during first runthrough, Ana cringes during some of the close-ups.

06:56 – Starting well in time

Albania will rehearse at 10:00 o’clock and even though singer Ana Kodra is not on stage yet, we hear the music starting to play already minutes before.