Licked by flames, the imposing Eurovision stage bursts into life with pyrotechnics to mark the start of the 67th track contest – this 12 months being hosted by the UK on behalf of Ukraine.
An enormous set of multi-coloured arms are lifted onto the stage as a remix of final 12 months’s successful anthem – Stephania by Kalush Orchestra – blasts out, and the band steps out onto two huge palms accompanied by a military of drummers.
It’s a press-only viewing (so actually extra about planning the present’s logistics than entertaining the group) however mutters overheard within the viewers embrace “the best opening ceremony ever” and “it bought a tear to my eye”.
This is the primary of three costume rehearsals for Saturday’s grand last – all with full costume, make-up and hair – and follows two semi-finals to whittle the competing 37 nations all the way down to 26.
It’s a gruelling schedule as the ground supervisor cheerily publicizes: “Enjoy the show, we’re exhausted, but you’ll love it.”
The present has three administrators leaping between acts, and a posh sequence of units to maneuver on and off the shiny, expansive stage.
It has been described by its designer as “a wide hug, enfolding Liverpool Arena from above and below as it opens its arms to Ukraine”.
The inexperienced room space – the place artists collect when not acting on stage – sits in entrance of the viewers.
A Ukrainian lighting designer who would usually be engaged on Dancing With The Stars or The Voice in his house nation has come over specifically to work on the present.
A quartet of presenters – Graham Norton, Hannah Waddingham, Ukrainian TV star Julia Sanina, and Alesha Dixon – introduce the present, and if the 26 acts are drained from their quite a few check runs, you would not comprehend it.
First off there is a flag parade, with all of the competing nations strolling the total run of the catwalk-style stage in flip, adopted by a string of Eurovision fan favourites together with cult legend Verka Serduchka.
The major occasion
Austria open the present with Who The Hell Is Edgar? – a catchy ode (of types) to literary nice Edgar Allen Poe. It’s a track everyone seems to be speaking about.
Wearing black and white jumpsuits, singers Teya and Salena additionally give a shout-out to Shakespeare of their efficiency, in addition to a loaded dig at how little artists receives a commission by streaming websites.
Portugal’s Mimicat follows, in a blur of crimson feathers, and a powerful flamenco flavour to her track Ai Coracao.
Meanwhile, Switzerland’s war-inspired Watergun is black and minimal, counting on Remo Forrer’s spectacular and heartfelt lyrics advocating peace as he sings out: “I don’t wanna be a soldier”.
We’re handled to a setting solar on the massive display screen for Poland’s catchy Solo, so whereas the climate right here in Liverpool could also be a bit damp, the solar is shining within the enviornment. The act will get full pyrotechnics too, bookending singer Blanka’s energetic dance interval.
A fast sweep of the stage later, and a big white sculpture – resembling a half eggshell or H R Giger-inspired cranium – comprises Serbia’s singer Luke Black, who belts out techno-backed Samo Mi Se Spava (which interprets as I Just Want To Sleep).
Skirt drop
France’s La Zarra (the second favorite to win) is kind of actually wheeled onto the stage atop a cylindrical platform, which then raises towards the sky, leaving her towering no less than 10 ftabove the stage.
As the primary refrain performs out, she slowly lowers to the bottom, at which level her capacious skirts fall to the ground, earlier than the platform is once more raised to the heavens and fireworks rain to the bottom round her. Clearly channelling Lady Gaga in her look, she says she first realized the best way to use her voice by singing alongside to Edith Piaf.
A barefoot and bare-chested Andrew Lambrou then makes his means solo onto the stage however whereas he could also be alone all through his total track, he fills the stage together with his spectacular vocals.
His ballad, Break A Broken Heart, is Cyprus’s entry within the present, and offers him the possibility to showcase his spectacular excessive notes.
Spain’s Blanca Paloma enters the stage by means of a maroon fringed construction, with the track’s chanting anthem additionally serving as its title, Eaea.
Paloma has mentioned the track represents a “chant to her late grandmother”, who had impressed a lot of her music, and it is fusion with a powerful synth line provides it a Eurovision edge.
Favourite to win
Sweden’s act sees one other massive construction wheeled onto the stage – a rust-brown enclosure, trapping singer Loreen inside, and from which she slowly breaks free as she sings Tattoo. It’s the bookies’ favorite to win and would make Loreen the primary two-time feminine winner of the competitors.
Albania’s Albina & Familja Kelmendi sing Duje (which interprets as Love It), with all six band members clad in black cloaks. There are fireworks too. Plus it is a household affair, with pop star Albina Kelmendi joined by her dad and mom and siblings to carry out the track about love and household togetherness.
For Italy’s Due Vite sung by Marco Mengoni, members of the viewers are requested to gentle the torches on their cellphones and wave them within the air, which the bulk dutifully do. A ballad, this one is remarkably related in staging to Cyprus’s entry (minus the naked chest and naked ft).
Beautiful in sky-blue, Estonia’s Alika performs a grand piano as she sings Bridges, earlier than breaking out onto the broader stage to complete her track, solo all through.
‘Rave maypole’
One of the buzziest acts of the 12 months, Finland’s Kaarija wears his trademark neon inexperienced sleeves-only puffer jacket and bowl haircut and performs his thumping techno observe towards a backdrop of wood crates, which seem to have a rave happening inside.
Using his shadow to spectacular impact, his pink neon backing dancers then dance a form of rave maypole dance behind him, earlier than kneeling to type a centipede-like creature for him to journey.
Titled Cha Cha Cha, that is an act actually at house in Eurovision, and the viewers loves it.
By the half-way level we’ve got seen many of the traditional Eurovision act staples – together with massive constructions wheeled on and off the stage, skirts falling to the ground and extra backing dancers than you’ll be able to shake a stick at.
But onto the following act. It’s pastel pink and sparkles for Czechia’s (Czech Republic’s) Vesna, who distinction their floaty female costumes with hard-hitting lyrics together with: “You can take your hands back, no one wants more boys dead, we’re not your dolls,” of their entry My Sister’s Crown.
Long-haired immigration lawyer and Voyager frontman Danny Estrin rocks out on the bonnet of a full-size automobile on the stage for Australia’s Duran Duran-inspired rock observe Promise.
Belgian act Gustaph current their 90s-inspired hit, Because Of You, whereas sporting a weird outfit of sweet floss pink trousers and an outsized cream cowboy hat – and hitting spectacular excessive notes.
Armenian singer Brunette is nearly a pagan presence together with her waist-length hair and wafty white costume, singing Future Lover – one other track a couple of boyfriend just like the UK’s entry, however this time it is an imaginary one.
Pop metallic and ballads
Moldova’s Pasha Parfeni carried out Soarele si Luna (which suggests The Sun And The Moon) whereas performing what seems to be like a martial art-inspired dance, with the complete track constructed round metaphors, people symbols and pure components. The track is a couple of marriage ceremony and contains him speaking to a forest. Oh, and there are drums too.
Electronic duo Tvorchi, made up of producer Andrii Hutsuliak and vocalist Jeffery Kenny, carry out Heart Of Steel for final 12 months’s winners, Ukraine. With gold and black colors, it is simply the 2 of them on stage, with classical strings blasting out at factors of their electro-pop observe.
Norway’s act Alessandra wears a bodice and crown in her track Queen of Kings in regards to the energy of ladies – which appears to be a little bit of a theme within the present mirrored by acts together with Czechia and Norway.
Some pop metallic from Germany’s Lord Of The Lost, vocally attacking the viewers with their track Blood & Glitter, carried out by tattooed frontman Chris Harms in neon pink pants and leopard print tights, and platform patent footwear.
Then fairly a temper change to Lithuania’s Monika Linkyte, who sings energy ballad Stay in a vibrant tailor-made orange mini costume and tidy blonde bob, popping towards her backing dancers dressed all in black.
‘Do you wish to see me dance?’
A black dice with inside lighting enters the stage for Israel’s Noa Kirel, who sings catchy pop track Unicorn. The majority of the primary verse is sung with the stage in close to darkness, earlier than she steps out of the sq. construction to march on the entrance of the stage together with her monochrome backing dancers. There’s even a bit rap and acrobatic solo dance escape from Kirel, who asks the viewers, “Do you want to see me dance?” It’s fairly one thing to behold and positively probably the most energetic of the night’s dance choices.
Five pastel-clad lads with guitars and a drum set take to the stage for Slovenia’s act Joker Out, singing Carpe Diem. A bassy quantity paying homage to Britpop with a little bit of rock thrown in, guitar solos are the order of the day, and a few viewers participation within the type of clapping alongside as they rock out.
Quite the whacky act from Croatia – Let 3, singing Mama SC! – a surprisingly addictive earworm sung by 5 middle-aged males, who finish their act by posing in entrance of a prop nuclear weapon sporting massive fizzing fireworks.
Oh, and 4 of them strip off mid-song to grey-white vests and pants. The band has apparently been in hassle prior to now of their homeland for performing whereas nude, so all in all, we’ve got so much to be pleased about. All normal Eurovision fare. Again, this one is effectively obtained by the viewers.
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And final however not least – the UK’s Mae Muller has the ultimate spot within the competitors – an honest place and positively higher than risking fading into the group in the midst of the present.
On a large raised stage, she sings together with her 4 backing dancers, and plenty of vibrant video graphics behind – primarily massive photographs of Muller’s face with a bit pop artwork therapy. Coming down the stage halfway, the central bridge of the track gives Muller the possibility to talk on to the viewers in a spoken phrase part, and by the point the pyrotechnics start I problem you to not be tapping your ft.
Muller ends her track, blowing kisses to the group.
A Queen star, Abba bandmember and Sonya
Competitive performances full, Sam Ryder enters the stage with the largest setup of the present – a mountainous gentle construction from which final 12 months’s runner-up emerges sporting a twinkling gold jumpsuit that’s nearly too sparkly for the human eye to bear. Around 30 backing dancers be a part of him on stage with drums to finish the efficiency.
And in fairly the coup, Queen drummer Roger Taylor accompanies Ryder on the drums.
Then we’re handled to a bit known as Liverpool Songbook, with some previous Eurovision All Stars singing songs that hail from the host metropolis.
Italy’s Soldi singer Mahmood provides us a model of John Lennon’s Imagine backed by a string quartet; Israel star Netta descends from the sky in a big silver chicken and comes near taking out a number of backing dancers in her efficiency due to a big gold star on her again.
Iceland’s jumper-loving Dadi Freyr provides us a leftfield cowl of Whole Again; anf Sweden’s Cornelia Jakobs performs Melanie C’s I Turn To You whereas splashing round in a swimming pool on stage.
Liverpool singer Sonya, who narrowly missed out on the Eurovision crown again in 1993, provides her entry Better The Devil You Know another flip in a purple mini costume and thigh-high boots; and Netherland’s Duncan Lawrence dons a cloak to sing You’ll Never Walk Alone.
A brief video then pulls collectively different Eurovision stars who could not make the present together with Abba’s Bjorn Ulvaeus and Italy’s 2021 winners Maneskin.
The hosts then bid farewell in English, Ukrainian and French, marking the actually collaborative nature of the occasion.
With seamless scene modifications between the marathon of acts, the run-through ran with no hitch. It all bodes effectively – until you consider the outdated adage – “bad dress rehearsal, good first night”.
Bring on the actual present, and the winners of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.
Sky News will likely be in Liverpool protecting all the largest information from the competition because it occurs.
Source: information.sky.com”