por CláudioV Seg Nov 10 2014, 22:45
Algumas fotos e descrições (do Wiwibloggs) dos ensaios de hoje:
ChipreSophia Patsalides is a Cypriot sensation—and at today’s first rehearsal she showed us why. Sophia, who won first place with our jury of music unprofessionals, delivered a floor-stomping performance of her song “I pio omorfi mera” (The most wonderful day). Her vocals were powerful and perfect.
The act opens with Sophia with her back to the audience. The camera pans in on her and we sees bolts of lighting on the floor. When she turns around we see the giant LED screens, which feature raindrops falling into a puddle (think Ruth Lorenzo at Eurovision 2014). As the storm intensifies Sophia remains in total control of her voice and her hand movements — at times when she’s dancing it’s like she is swimming air. She’s the only contestant who used the runway, stomping it out clubland style as she made her way to the audience. During the bridge the stage goes from dark and blue to yellow, and then after she breaks the sound barrier like Mariah Carey everything goes pink. Those colour changes help prevent the song from sounding too repetitive, a challenge for for any dance number.
Sophia wasn’t wearing her costume today, so it’s difficult to know if the LED screen 100% works. We’d be surprised if they didn’t make a few changes, as the background seems a bit too flat for this amazing song. Maybe they’ll pump up the storm or add a wind machine during her second rehearsal? We’re already expecting a billowing dress.ArméniaIf you felt a sudden blast of heat from the south this afternoon, you were probably sitting somewhere north of Malta. That’s because Armenia’s Betty brought the sunshine to the first rehearsals with her number “People of the Sun”. Lord, we need to apply some SPF 50 after taking in those rays! Betty, a ball of energy who danced all night at the JESC Opening Party, stands centre stage on a platform during her performance. The LED screen is full of hot colours — reds, yellows, oranges — that mimic the sun and, at times, a big old ball of yarn. She jumps off her platform mid-way through the song and breaks out into dance with her posse, who seem to have drunk a few gallons of Red Bull for breakfast. It’s infectious, danceable, and a huge improvement over the national final. This song really benefits from the rock star stage and dramatic lights. Now excuse us. We’re going to go work on our tans!
Update: We’ve just learned that not all of Betty’s props have arrived. Apparently two of her dancers will be lowered from the ceiling and will do acrobatics.UcrâniaWow. As ever, Ukraine brought some fantastic staging to their first rehearsal at Junior Eurovision. While other acts stand in front of LED screens with generic digital flashes and squiggly lines, Ukraine’s Trio Sympho-Nick brings props and stand in front of a screen that actually tells a story — one of the coming of spring (and, allegorically, the return of peace and stability to Ukraine). They walk into stage in blue ethereal dresses, each grasping giant green leaves. The backdrop begins all dark and mysterious, with a giant vine growing to the heavens Jack-and-the-Beanstalk-style. Eventually spring arrives—along with rainbow colours and fluffy white clouds. It’s full of pastels, like a cotton candy factory exploded outside of Kyiv. We are feeling this, and starting to think that the voters in our Junior Eurovision poll have things right!ItáliaItaly’s Vincenzo Cantiello brought his massive vocals to the first rehearsal at Junior Eurovision this afternoon, and he left any and all backing vocalists at home. When you’re channeling the pain and passion of first love — as he does in “Tu primo grande amore”— you don’t want to compete with anybody else screaming on dat stage! Visually he’s chosen orange and red spirals for his LED. When the electronic guitar enters for the first time the stage goes bright white and Vincenzo disappears for a split second, only to return with more orange and red spirals. This act is definitely about the voice — not any flashy tricks — and we’re sure jury members will respect that. Funnily enough, it started raining when Vincenzo performed, and some of the water leaked through on spectators. Tears from heaven? In any event, expect chills! We just hope Vincenzo rests his voice. He struggled with his vocals and sounded a bit hoarse on his second and third takes.
Update: We’ve just heard from Vincenzo’s team that they told him not to stretch his vocals on the second and third takes this morning. They wanted him to chillax, save his voice and feel the stage.RússiaDuring her first rehearsal at JESC 2014 this morning, Russia’s Alisa Kozhikina was a lil’ lady in white. She stood centre stage doing what she does best: belting out powerhouse vocals. We don’t know where she is hiding that big voice. Perhaps it’s her adorable little hair bun? In any event, Alisa has no backing singers and no backing dancers. She’s all alone, but more than capable of filling the stage and the arena. Her simple choreography includes a few arm raises — she is ready to take flight, y’all! The LED screen features a shower of sparks and digital sun bursts — think Sofi Marinova from Eurovision 2012, but much, much classier and minus the cheetah print. Her voice cracked occasionally, but because this is a kids’ contest it actually comes off as endearing and age appropriate. We really enjoyed this for its simplicity and purity.BulgáriaLet there be no doubt: Bulgaria is in it to win it. Krisia proved that yet again this morning during her first rehearsal at Junior Eurovision 2014. If you’ve watched her ethereal, super-classy music video, you’ll recognize the staging: Krisia centre stage with the twins Hasan and Ibrahim playing piano on either side of her. The background imagines the “Planet of Children” that she sings about. There are moutains, massive swaying fronds, a castle that looks like the one from Disney World, stars and snow. She wore all black today — this is obviously not her actual costume! — and worked her expressions like an underage supermodel. Word on the street is that she wasn’t singing live. Apparently she has a bit of a cold and so is saving her vocals for later in the week. She left the Opening Ceremony party quite early last night to rest — bless her heart!Suécia
Sweden’s Julia Kedhammar was a dancing queen during her first rehearsal at Junior Eurovision 2014. We already knew she could sing. Well now we know she can sing while swaying her hips and arms in unison with her backing dancers. That’s a real skill, y’all. They wore street clothes on stage today because they want to save their grand costume unveil for later in the week. We’re sure it will be fabulous. The background consists of blue ocean waves interspersed with geometric shapes, including the triangle prism piece from the JESC logo. It’s a fun, uplifting performance that reminds us we’re not alone. Du ar inte ensam, right?
Here’s what she said to junioreurovision.tv afterwards: “It went very well, but we were nervous about getting the steps correct for the camera angles! In the end we felt very pleased though, and being in such a big arena was great!”HolandaJulia took to the stage for her first rehearsal in Malta this morning and she shined like the gold on her backing dancers. She and her fly boys wore glittery lamé and largely kept their choreography from the national final. Julia’s vocals are much stronger than in the Spring–well done! Her LED screen features futuristic, out-of-this-world lasers — maybe shooting stars? — and worked well with their outfits. She’s stamping herself as a contender!
Speaking to junioreurovision.tv, Julia had this to say: “It was weird, since it was the first time, but it was great! I think we’re going to learn so much from this, and I’m going to give my best performance ever!”Cenário da Bulgária
Rússia parece que vai ser um momento mágico, no conjunto de música, voz, carisma e cenário.
Suécia, Holanda e Arménia com muita coreografia
Arménia com muita cor xD
Ucrânia é um momento Disney/Rei Leão/outro conto qualquer da Disney na selva. É o que a música me faz lembrar xD
Itália vai ter uma apresentação sóbria, tal como a música. Até já consigo imaginar o que o rapaz vai vestir.
Chipre = Momento Sofi Marinova do JESC. Obviamente que não é pela música (esta de Chipre é 236464783 vezes melhor e não tem azeite a escorrer até à ponta das unhas), mas pelo género de atuação. Cantora sozinha em palco numa música destas?! Espero que, tal como a Sofia Marinova (e de maneira diferente obviamente, sem movimentos de aspersora), ela seja capaz de encher o palco sozinha. Eu sei que a emissora cipriota não é um bom exemplo de finanças, mas isto não é Despina a cantar uma balada semi-seca, é um pop-dance com energia. xD