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Final technical rehearsals
Day 7: UK, Germany, France, Spain, Serbia
Final - Song 02 - United KIngdom - Andy Abraham - Even if
Rich golden brown back drop for the beginning of Andy Abraham's performance which soon turns to an explosion of mutli-coloured sparkling squares that take us back to a disco. That is when the UK entry finally sounds in context. Andy's perfect vocals make it impossible to tell whether he is singing live or this is the cd playing. The performance is pretty much static and dancing is definitely not Andy's strong point but the song sounds refreshingly energetic and fun. Andy is accompanied by five more people on stage a drummer, keyboards, 2 guitar players and one backing singer. The pyros at the end are not a plus to the song. Uk will be dressed in matched sober dark blue outfits which should stand out against the colourful backdrop. And will be wearing a navy blue suit with a shiny, silver chain stitched on the edge.
Final - Song 04 - Germany - No Angels - Disappear
Too much going on when No angels take the stage to perform Disappear. It takes the girls 4 run throughs to find some kind of synch and solve their pitching problems. The show starts with a rich copper background and soon there is virtual feathers falling like rain. The German show has everything, dress change, pyros, wind machine, the works. Two of the ladies are dressed in blue and two in purple, with mini dresses and long transparent trails they lose midway the song. There is too much action in the background which makes it difficult to focus on the song or the singers and the heavy dose of pyros (think Happy New Year) doesn’t help.
Final - Song 19 - France - Sebastien Tellier – Divine
Caribbean sunset seems to be the theme for the French entry with sunrays and palm shades moving slowly in the background, which fits the melody perfectly. Sebastien enters the stage driving a golf cart. Five backing vocalists seemed a bit out of tune during the first rehearsal but they managed to improve it on the 2nd trial. During the slow part of the song, the backdrop displays an impressive eclipse of sun, and Caribbean sunset becomes Caribbean night.
Even though Sebastien doesn’t seem to know what to do on stage it all looked very elegant. The electronic vocals on the cd are reproduced quite successfully on stage.
Final - Song 22 - Spain - Rodolfo Chikilicuatre - Baila el chiki chiki
Rodolfo is joined on stage by five female backing dancers to perform the craziest choreography we have seen so far. It looks like one of the female dancers missed the classes for this routine as she misses most of the steps and is out of sync with the rest of the girls. This makes the routine very funny. Pyros are used to produce flames on the stage as the chorus start. At one stage a dancers gets a narrow escape when she nearly gets burnt by the flame. The genuine humor of this acts works very well on the stage. And this looks like a serious contender now.
Final - Song 23 - Serbia - Jelena Tomasevic - Oro
Jelena starts singing in the background and slowly walks to the front of the stage where the male and one of her female back vocalists are lying in a V shape on the stage floor. The concept of the song is based on a Serbian tradition that wants girls to dream of their beloved one, the one they are going to marry on St Vid’s day (Vidovdan). Jelena is mainly static throughtout the performance and she is also accompanied by Bora Dugic, the most famous Serbian flute player, Marko Vulinovic, male backing vocal, Ivica Klemenc, The moves of the backing singers and other band members are slow and minimal to match the song. It took Jelena many attempts to get the camera shots and sound just right and she was ocally perfect every time. The backdrop is simple but effective with cold, dark blue and white.
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@ Knut: England may well blame it on bloc voting but what about the rest of the United Kingdom - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Spanish performance really works on stage. The idea of putting the dance steps on screen is great and the clumsy dancer falling down all the time is just hilarious. It will be a funny and relaxing intro to the melancholic and magnificent serbian entry.
Fernando Lopez. So people will never vote for Spain? Civera ended up 6 in 2001. Rosa ended 7 in 02. Beth ended 8 in 03. Ramon ended 10 in 04. That is 4 top 10s in a row!!! I admit the three last years have not been good for Spain (I personally voted all of the mentioned 4 years, and none of the last 3).
Statistically with 42 contestants any given country should win every 42nd year. And end up top 10 every 4th year or so.
Of course Spain might win. Just like Finland did for the first time (after 8 times coming in last, just beaten by Norways 9 last-places).
Spain, England, Germany, France - don't blame it all on "block-voting"...
If anybody looks at the songs which have been sent 2 eurovision the last couple of years, one might realise that most of these are a load of bull****!
For example, last year's Ukrainian entry, came 2nd but the song itself wasn't even funny and was completely retarded...
During the 90s, Ireland won a record 4 times in a row and ALL their songs were ballads! The same thing happened last year with Marija Serifovic's song Molitva which again, a ballad, had won.
But in recent years, every year the winner's song was of a different genre...e.g in 2005 - Greece won with a dance-style song, 2006 was won by heavy metal band Lordi, last year was a ballad so wat's new this year??
Out of the 5 finalists this year i feel that Serbia and U.K have solid songs...Spain may have a completely bizarre entry (just like Ukraine had) so its tough to say the predictions for this year's eurovision...
U.K has possibility of actually doing well in the contest (Top 10) only IF everything on the night goes well and BLOCK voting doesn't happen...
Spain (if Europe decides 2 vote like they did for Verka Serduchka last year of Ukraine), then they have a chance but all in all, the song is bad...
France decided to mix things up a little this year by incorporating english lyrics into their song so this may be a controversy...
Germany's song is O.K though their rehearsal wasn't as good as their National Final's one....
and Serbia have a good solid song, which yes is again a ballad, but isnt this the style of songs which have brought Serbia luck in recent years?? 2004 - Serbia & Mon - 2nd place, 2005 - Serbia & Mon - 7th place, and 2007 - Serbia 1st place...so there you go,, all top 10 finishes! DO NOT CRITICIZE other people's countries because of their songs! Maybe that's the style that suits them the best and so they follow it, and get GOOD results...
but i think you've got to admit that the BIG 4 haven't had luck since the semifinals were introduced in 2004, but you never know maybe this year will be a change of luck...but this is what people expect to happen though it doesn't.
In my opinion, this contest is a very strong one in terms of good songs, of which there are many...
Sweden, Norway, Greece, Armenia, Greece, Serbia, Switzerland and Portugal all have a chance of winning or doing well...
other countries like Russia, Ukraine, Poland, FYR Macedonia, Albania, Israel, Bosnia and Romania will probably do well 2 but i don't think they'll win but you never know with Eurovision these days...ANYTHING can happen...just like many betting sites predicted Kate Ryan of Belgium in 2006 2 be the winner and she didnt even make it to the final! so as u can see, we're just going to have to wait till the 24th to hear the winner!
dear rafael espinosa,
I do not think Spanish song is great, because it is not. But do you really prefer that thing called Coral and her lorry driver´s voice?
She´s just an awful attempt of Diva (she even had a fan too).
I do not know what is more pathetic, Coral´s dress or herself.
IF you could speak Spanish you'd realise Rodolfo just sounds retarded and stupid. I personally don't see what people see in this nonsense. Give me Verka anytime, at least the tune was catchy and they sang! Worst of all, everyone behind the Spanish entry is corrupt, not least the very Director of TVE Javier Pons, who only a few months ago used to work for the other channel, 6th, the one behind the song (his wife still does...). Shame on you, Spain, especially given the amazing runner up Todo Está en tu Mente by Coral
Andy - you are in a vocal league of your own compared to the others. Such a shame the UK has no chance with the current voting system and peoples inert biggotry.
Serbian backing vocals sound very bad and completly ruin everything. If they r going to perform in final ill will not give my vote to Serbia.
I have problems with Serbia this year
There is no doubting its a very good song, but how is it different to ANYTHING Serbia has sent in the last 5 years? Its practically identical to Lane Moja, even Zauvjek Moja! Molitva is a LITTLE different but its still essentially the same concept!
Serbia is becoming more predictable than their votes! which pretty much anyone who knows a bit about Eurovision can predict fairly accurately every year!
But if Latvia and Ireland do qualify - then I can see UK giving 12pts to Ireland and alot to Latvia (don't forget that UK usually gives Latvia points now anyway due to Disapora voting)
As for Spain - well, it may get votes from people in Uk who have been on their cheap and cheerful Spanish Costa holidays already.
Lol...would be amazing if Spain really wins with El chiki chiki ! It may happen - he'll get the Verka votes, even if Ireland and Latvia qualify ( which is still not sure ) cause they can not copete with it. Latvia is just something for childs and drunks and Dustin clearly over the top with his screaming and horrible voice : this is bizzare, not funny !
Spain
Oh dear! Did it really come to this?
If Ireland and Latvia qualify for the final (which I reckon they will) - then the comedy vote will get split.
Whatever - a victory for Spain, Ireland or Latvia..... and UK in last - will no doubt bring in to question the UK's involvement in future
No Angels should wear white dresses (to emphasize they are ANGELS) and get rid off those terrible, cheap outfits. Lucy (the red-haired one) looks the worst of them all, a blue dress and red hair don't match. The vocals were okay. In some bits Nadja's part in the beginning sounds sounds very strained, though. They should do more adlips during the second chorus as well. Jess only sings "Why did you disappear" one time.
Good first rehearsals by all five here.
Serbia's song and performance really stands out for me - simple, stylish and powerful. It must surely finish in the top 5, and I have a sneaking regard that it could be the winner. Goodbye to the 'boom bag-a-bang' era, and welcome the age of 'nuna-ney'!
I love the 'Old MacDonald' intro to the Spanish entry, which sets the tone for a fun, entertaining and memorable (if slightly repetitive) performance. This is definitely the 'We are the winners' of 2008. It'll do well but won't win.
I didn't like the French entry when I first heard it, but the live performance is pretty good. The backing vocals are a bit annoying at the beginning of the performance, but it all comes together very well towards the end of the song - and the slow mood change towards the end is quite moving. Bravo France for trying something different and contemporary.
No Angels - nothing special, although I still like the song. The girls are totally out of sync and, therefore, the live performance doesn't do the song justice. Still, it was only their first rehearsal so I'm hoping for something better later.
I like the UK song and the live performance. Andy's vocals are amazing but the ending is too flat. It's needs something more uplifting after the mood change 'break it down'. Still, the overall impression is cheerful and fun, but will this make enough impact to score highly on the night? Probably not. But I still believe this is an entry we can be proud of - go Andy!
@ Mike S
The sound is not 1960's or Motown (the motown sound is quite different).
No Mike, what you have here is your average, run of the mill 1970's disco number.
Spain carry a diferent song, we have to be different and to evolution with the music!! Spain 12 points
Serbia?
Sorry but I don't get all the raves about this one. The song is terminally DULL. Its dreadful sub standard Enya from years ago.
I almost fell to sleep.
Who needs mogadon when you have this?
@ Bulgaria 4ever: The only reason other countries send their big 'stars' is because these 'stars' want to be 'stars' in countries other than their own, not because of the Eurovision. British 'stars' don't need to enter or win Eurovision to become 'stars' around the world. Singers such as Andy Abraham, as fantastic as he is, is the closest the UK will get to sending big names. It's sad but it's true. This year's Bulgarian entry is excellent. Yet had it been from the UK it would have been slated. Remember Lindsay Dracass 2001? 15th for UK would have been 5th for Russia.
Of course, pink lady's out of sync deliberately, in order to draw your attention. The choreographer is one of the good ones, not arranged in a sales market.
It´s up to you who you vote, but think it over because if this option gets a lot of points, next year you'll see Madrid 2009 full of Chikilicuatres on stage.
Forgot to say...
It's sort of naïve saying that Rodolfo is gonna win. That's not happening. He's not even going to rank top 10. POSITIVE. We're Spain, remember.
Dixit.
Yes, Owen.
Believe me when I say this is a way of winding Europe up in the same way they've been laughing at us...my comment is also backed up by Arcadio Quijada's...I really think this is what they deserve, and it'd be great if the countries we all know that are bound to end up last did the same....In my opinion Andy Abraham (not the song, unfortunately) is far an awesome singer to be there. I used to follow him in the X facto when I lived at the UK. A too good voice for ESC. If no matter what you/we send to ESC you/we're gonna end up last, let's send an Alf Poier and s c r e w the Europeans.
OMG...The voice of Jelena is just amazing! She sounds like an Angel...great!
jelenas song is perfect, but please calm down the background-singer..he is much too loud and sings that wonderful song into hell.. 
..
germany is ok at all, but sometimes they are out of tune..
spain..oh my god..
france and uk = average !!
Spain will not win, as Ukraine didn't win last year. That's for sure. But there is so many worthy winners this year, I really don't know who to chose - Russia, Serbia, Sweden, Armenia, Ukraine say betts, I would add beautiful Israeli song.
Baila El Chiki CHIKI! Simply LOVE this song!
BOO SPAIN ON SATURDAY
BOO SPAIN ON SATURDAY
BOO SPAIN ON SATURDAY
BOO SPAIN ON SATURDAY
BOO SPAIN ON SATURDAY
spain- im inclined to agree wit danny t... i really do think the stupidity of the song will get it a decent placing, its less annoying than that "we are the winners" song from lithuania and it did well.. not that im a fan of rodolfo tho..
uk- yeh lovely voice but damn is it missing something
germany- i really like the song, but i doubt it will do well, nehow serves deutschland right for not sending cinema bizzare lol 
france- i like it, it odd, its bizzare, but the back up singers are far too loud...
serbia- meh still not feeling it it...
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