…By Jack Sylva for TDPel Media.
Ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest, the UK’s Mae Muller and Tvorchi from Ukraine offered a sneak peek at their performances during rehearsals at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Wednesday.
Friends, family, and media were present to witness the run-throughs, which were conducted behind closed doors.
Hosts Alesha Dixon, Hannah Waddingham, and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina oversaw the proceedings as various acts took to the stage.
Mae Muller surprised the audience with a rapped section in her rendition of “I Wrote A Song,” which she performed from atop a raised platform, wearing a slim, black outfit, and flanked by four dancers in sheer, pink tops.
The stage flashed up in pastel colours during her performance.
Electronic duo Tvorchi, made up of producer Andrii Hutsuliak and vocalist Jeffery Kenny, were met with cheers of “Heroiam slava,” meaning “glory to the heroes,” as they arrived to practice their trip-hop inspired tune “Heart Of Steel.”
Two dancers wearing glittering visors and an illuminated cube structure accompanied them on stage, while towering metal men with glowing hearts appeared on the big screens behind them.
Spain’s entrant Blanca Paloma received a standing ovation from some in the audience.
Dancers in crimson robes surrounded her as she delivered vocal gymnastics over a flamenco beat while dry ice flooded the stage.
The “big five” countries, including the UK and Spain, which contribute the most financially to the contest, get a free pass to the grand final on Saturday.
Ukraine, as last year’s winner, also qualifies for the final.
The rehearsal also included the second semi-final, which will take place on Thursday evening.
During this rehearsal, the production team practiced their quick transitions between each act, sometimes lasting only a minute.
Welsh actor Luke Evans delivered a pre-recorded speech, describing the nearly seven-decade history of the contest as “Europe’s most raucous election” and referencing the UK as the “bittersweet caretakers of our guests of honour.”
The second semi-final, which is generally considered to have a weaker selection of contenders, still featured a number of fan favourites during the rehearsal.
Andrew Lambrou from Cyprus made effective use of the big screens during his performance of “Break A Broken Heart,” with powerful streams of water washing over the arena.
From Poland, Blanka’s performance of “Solo” featured pyrotechnics, and she performed an energetic dance routine in a risqué, sparkly outfit.
Analysis and Commentaries
The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the biggest annual television events in Europe, with millions of viewers tuning in to watch the competition.
Each year, countries from across the continent send their best performers to compete against one another, hoping to take home the top prize.
The contest has a rich history, dating back to 1956, and has become known for its colourful performances and quirky acts.
The rehearsals offer a sneak peek at what viewers can expect from each country’s performance, and this year’s Eurovision has already seen some standout acts.
Mae Muller’s unexpected rap section in her performance was a highlight, as was Tvorchi’s use of glittering visors and metal men in their act.
Blanca Paloma’s flamenco-inspired performance also received a standing ovation from the audience.
As one of the “big five” countries, the UK automatically qualifies for the grand final, along with Spain and last year’s winner, Ukraine.
The second semi-final is generally considered to have a weaker selection of contenders, but there were still a number of impressive performances during the rehearsal.