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Minor changes and audience reactions
Second semifinal dress rehearsal finishes
The biggest change of the night was to the Andorran presentation. Jenny has ditched the basque after the negative criticism it received in the first rehearsal, and now sports a silky little black number instead.
Belgium's Kate Ryan turned in a much improved performance from the initial rehearsal, although still needs to concentrate on achieving greater control in the lower-pitched verses. At one point one of the neon stand microphones failed and her vocal was lost to the audience in the hall, although the purpose of the rehearsals is to throw up problems like these in order to minimise them on Thursday.
Séverine Ferrer raised her game by turning in a very capable performance of La coco-dance. The Monegasque team have managed to pull their act together after some disappointing initial rehearsals, and many people are again beginning to think that the Summer hit vibe of the song may be a hit with televoters.
Audience highs and lows
The biggest cheers by far from the arena, which was filled to around 50% capacity, were for Finland and Bosnia and Herzegovina. On the other hand, Silvia Night was booed by a number of people in the audience both before and after her performance. This time, however, no obscene reaction on her part was observed!
Cyprus' Annet Artani was extremely warmly received after a perfect vocal performance. As expected, some may say, since the audience was largely Greek; but many others are beginning to think that Cyprus may be one to keep an eye on tomorrow.
Splitting the vote
During the fifteen second reprises, again Finland, Bosnia and also Cyprus won great audience support, while Iceland and notably big favourite Sweden received a mixed response, with cheers and even some heckles from opposing camps. It is another sign of a contest which clearly divides audience opinion this year, which should make for an exciting finale to Thursday's show.
Presenter problems
Although charming on stage, it is clear that Sakis and Maria need to spend some time rehearsing their lines if all is to go well. At one point, Sakis dropped his cue cards, which may explain why a couple of lines were skipped later on in the show. Maria has a tendency to giggle wildly at mishaps, and generally both presenters need to work harder to get their act together.
Tomorrow's dress rehearsal is expected to be even busier as the big night approaches.
Related polls
- 2008 esctoday.com award nominations: Best act not to qualify from the semi finals
- 2008 esctoday.com award nominations: Most traditional Europop song
- First quarter final in Bulgaria: your favourite?
- Jury vote, do you agree?
- Jury vote only in the final or in the semis as well?
- What mixture of televote and jury vote do you think is the best?
Go directly to the reactions
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Reactions
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Monaco was awfull in semifinal....awful!
go macedonia go !!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you to barba papa,
Go luck to monaco(I like the song) and to Virginie !
Don't panic our belgian neighbours, BELGIUM will qualify, I'm certain 
!!!!!
Go Monacoooooooooo !!!!!!!!!!
Macedonia
Croatia
Bosnia
Belgium
Turkey
Slovenia
Moldova
I getting so excited about tonight....Ireland looks like it gonna qualify and judging by the very positive reactions on this site over last week its a song that has become quite popular. I very sure we will make it tonight....If we do.....then I think we in with a shout of winning..... Dublin or Belfast 2007????? Oh come on Ireland always does a brilliant ESC and its ten years since we held it last and RTE ( Irish TV station) is alot more financially stronger now as indeed is Ireland so we would put on one hell of a show...... so come on time for a change, time for a simple proper song to win this contest ....... Watch out for Ireland tonight and watch out for it big time Saturday..... Dark Horse 2006!!!!
Vote for the winner!!!
Vote for MACEDONIA!!!
Vote for Makedoninanajna!!!
Go ELENA
Go MACEDONIA
Go SKOPJE 2007
Portugal, all the way!!!
u r our SIBELSTAR...just rock us baby...we know what u r...
The Netherlands
Armenia
Belgium
Estland
Sweden
Finland
Macedonie
Bosnia
Russia
Monaco
This are the songs the win in the semi final tonight!!!
Hey Swissbear.....
Here are the 10 qualifers:
1 Ireland
2 Cyprus
3 Sweden
4 Bosnia H
5 Russia
6 Belgium
7 Finland(even tho I hate it)
8 FYOM
9 lithuania
10 slovenia
good luck sibel...please move a little...
good luck annet...
to the final together girls...
Good Luck Norway on Saturday, dance into the peoples hearts with Alvedansen!!!!
Kisses from a [u]Swedish Bosnian chick[/u]!!!!
Bosnia HAS TO qualify! One of the most beautiful ESC entrys ever!
Este aсo creo k debe de ganar GYR Macedonia es la mejor y Elena risteska con sus movimientos..ufff..va a enamorara a toda Europa!!FYR Macedonia GANADORAAAA!
Since I am from Bosnia, I have to admit that this year there is a special Eurosong connection between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Greece.
During Anna Vissi's visit of Sarajevo she gained a lot of fans here, including me. Her behaviour in the Sarajevo streets was so warm and so sincere. She was talking to almoust everybody who noticed she is not just a regular foreigner here in Sarajevo.
That's thje reason why I will vote for Greece then Macedonia (FYR) and maybe The Netherlands.
Hari Mata Hari also said today on TV that Greeks are so warm toward Bosnian delegetaion, which also shows a great response of Greek audience in OAKA during Bosnian rehearsals.
What a shame ! The two best song of this year !
Belgium WILL be the Selma 2006? maybe. and I think saturday Romenia will be the Xandee of 2006!
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Ultimately it's:
Bosnia
Sweden
FYROM
Russia
Slovenia
Ireland OR Cyprus
Turkey
Ukraine OR Iceland
Finland
+ any other.
Good luck to everybody and especially to my top 10.
Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Cyprus, Russia, Iceland, Slovenia, Poland, Estonia and to my outsiders Ukraine and The Netherlands.
There'is a new article about Kate. She's back on track, it says.
As I said there , I say it again now ; a bad rehearsel gives most of the time a good performance.
If Europe doesn't like her song, she will not get any votes.
I wouldn't worry, sometimes life sucks.
Remember the sun always shines after rain.
Belgium WILL be the Selma 2006... Why oh why do we always have to miss out...?
@ Scott
Your list is probably right. I would also say that FYROM and Poland may just miss out.
My wildcards now are: Cyprus, Bulgaria and Ukraine
My qualifiers...including songs i do not necessarily like
Estonia
Bosnia Herzegovina
Russia
Finland
Ireland
Macedonia
Monaco
Russia
Poland
Sweden
Belgium and Iceland will fall flat on their face....shame as i like Belgian entry
I would love to see Andorra make their first final but i doubt it very much
Good luck to all...especially Severine!! Go Coco-Dance!
Im still in shock!! Just saw some of the live performances: Am I alone to think Kate Ryan will become the Selma of 2006 :-(( She looks HOT in that dress, but her performance is poor.
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