Welcome to the liveblog of Day 3 in Tbilisi. After today, we will have seen all countries on stage for the first time! ESCDaily covers this rehearsal day live for you from the Olympic Palace in Tbilisi.
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).
16:11 – End of the liveblog
We’ll go back to the hotel to edit our materials. Join us later today and tomorrow for more JESC content!
16:08 – We’ve spoken to Izzy!
She’s doing fine, she healthy, she just wants to work on her smiles a little bit. Full interview will be up soon!
14:04 – Video for Anastasiya Baginska
Ukraine’s first rehearsal is up right HERE. We’ll talk to you later!
13:47 – Leaving for interview with Isabella
The team is leaving the press center to go for an interview with Isabella Clarke from Australia. Rehearsals are almost over, but do check in with us again in about an hour for the latest videos, and interviews with Isabella and Gianluca from Malta!
13:38 – Fource’s video released
EBU is quick with their videos today. Check out the first Dutch rehearsal HERE.
13:29 – Lot of time before second runthrough
But after long deliberation, Anastasiya tries again. She is consistently struggling with the thrilling high notes at the beginning, but recovers later on in the performance.
13:19 – Anastasiya & guitar player, sitting in a tree…
No, they’re not k-i-s-s-i-n-g, but they stare in eachothers eyes at the beginning of the song. And yes, there really is a tree on stage that they’re sitting on.
13:14 – One more to go
After Ukraine’s rehearsal, this day will already be over again. Just to remind you all one more time: no press conferences today, only rehearsals. Tomorrow will be much busier, we’ll also have access to the arena then!
13:06 – Check out the Serbian rehearsal
Irina & Jana performed for the first time in the Olympic Palace today.
12:48 – Confident Dutch guys
The boys look happy and confident into the cameras. Vocals are obviously not the stronghold of this performance, but they’re not distracting either.
12:41 – Netherlands on stage
Fource has studied some slick dance moves for the beginning of the song, but as soon as they walk towards the catwalk, they look hesitant.
12:35 – Video for Russia (Polina – Wings) available:
12:28 – Screens broken
We have only seen one Serbian runthrough – after that, the screens broke down. There is little information available about their rehearsal unfortunately.
12:12 – Irina singing the Russian song
A very cute moment between runthroughs: Irina does not realize that her microphone is still on, and she starts singing the Russian song for the whole press center to hear!
12:00 – Serbian duet plays instruments
It does not yet look very natural though. I can understand the delegation wanting to do something to break up the show, but I’m not sure this is the way.
11:43 – More props
Serbia is preparing to go up on stage, and they will bring instruments with them, it seems.
11:27 – Russia picking up the pieces
In the third runthrough we see the backdrop change to a city skyline during the first chorus, then back to a living room for the second verse, and at the end there is a family picture projected of two parents with a baby.
One of the interpretive dancers also holds this family picture in her hand, and keeps it close to her while Polina walks up the catwalk.
11:20 – Video for Portugal
Check out Mariana’s first rehearsal with “Youtuber” HERE!
11:12 – Props
It’s not just the backdrop which portrays a living room – there’s props, too. A sofa, a closet, a chair and a lamp on stage. Camera angles still messy, vocals sloppy. Much like last year, Russia has a good concept but a lot of work to do to get it right.
11:06 – Messy start for Russia
The backdrop portrays a living room, much like in the beautiful videoclip, and there are interpretive dancers on stage. However, both cameras and sound are not working properly just yet and Russia decides to stop the runthrough halfway.
10:40 – We’re interviewing Gianluca from Malta
Check it out later today on ESCDaily!
10:16 – Lunch break
Four countries to go: Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Netherlands. After that, we will have heard all 16.
10:04 – Polish rehearsal online
09:49 – Simple concepts for Portugal
Much like her predecessor from Poland, Mariana from Portugal does the same performance every runthrough. Many close-up shots as she smiles to the camera. She gives some flavor to a rather flat song.
09:37 – Is this the winner of JESC 2017?
09:28 – Colourful backdrop for Portugal
Rainbow colours in the Portuguese backdrop, while Mariana plays with the camera. She’s alone on stage, not in her official outfit yet.
09:21 – Poland going through the motions
Poland knows what they want to do, and they just repeat it each runthrough again and again. It looks solid and sounds strong.
09:12 – Italy: Maria Iside Fiore’s first rehearsal
Check out the video HERE.
08:53 – Poland uses an arc of trees
The Polish backdrop displays two trees who together form an arc. Alicja relies on her vocals for this traditional ballad, and she indeed sounds good during the first runthrough.
08:46 – Alicja alone on stage
No backing singers. Dress is long and light pink/white, difficult to judge with the lighting.
08:22 – Top speed camerawork for Malta
The camera is spinning round very fast, changing shots quickly, shifting between audience and stage. Malta even tried out a shot where Gianluca is “throwing the camera away”, but it did not work out, and they removed it after one runthrough. We’re definitely looking at work in progress, but that is what rehearsals are for.
08:11 – Free SIM-cards
While the press receives free SIM-cards from the Georgian sponsor, Gianluca continues performing his act. The Maltese delegation takes its time between runthroughs to work on camera angles. In the opening 20 seconds, Gianluca now walks with his dancers from the catwalk to the main stage (instead of vice versa).
08:03 – White and orange
The main colours for Malta are white (clothes & backdrop during the first 20 seconds) and orange (bow-ties and backdrop during the rest of the song).
07:58 – Powerful act
We see Gianluca perform for the first time and it’s already quite impressive. Five backing dancers in white shirt/checked skirt-uniforms accompany him. There’s a lot of dancing going on. In the bridge, Gianluca shouts the chorus through a megaphone. Camerawork is not perfect yet, but you can see that this is going to be good.
07:52 – Sound tests for Malta
Another possible contender for the trophy is preparing for his first rehearsal: Gianluca from Malta. We hear him singing the chorus of the song however music nor act has started yet.
07:35 – First pictures of the day
07:29 – Big Maria on the backdrop
Towards the end, Maria herself is projected on the backdrop. Vocals have not improved so far.
07:22 – Yesterday: Isabella impressed
Isabella Clarke gave one of the strongest performances of yesterday. Or at least, that’s what a panel of Eurovision experts concludes on ESCDaily. Belarus was the other winner of the day.
07:14 – Shaky start for Italy
To a colourful orange and green backdrop, much similar to previous Italian entries, Maria gives a shaky first performance. Vocals sound a bit hoarse – although this could be due to early morning syndrom. However, she also looks quite uncomfortable with the cameras as she walks down the catwalk at the end of the song.
07:05 – Italy kicks off after in-ear problems
After some initial problems with Maria’s in-ear microphones, Italy starts their rehearsal.
06:56 – Welcome to the blog
Our team has set up in the press center, eagerly awaiting Italy’s rehearsal.