That’s all guys for now. We end this live session as we have to prepare for the live show and get some rest. See ya all after the show!

May the best ten qualify!

LATVIA 🇱🇻 I used to like this one (before Eurovision and during first rehearsals), now I am completely bored…

SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭 Once again perfect, unique and impressive…

DENMARK 🇩🇰 The won’t make it to the final but at least some of us will dance and remember the good old days of Eurovision back in the ’80s!

BULGARIA 🇧🇬 Although the song isn’t something special as a tune, the message and the staging (plus the camera work) definitely give it a winner’s quality.

FINLAND 🇫🇮 Pure, it is what it is and original enough to go to the final…

GEORGIA 🇬🇪 Completely indifferent…

ALBANIA 🇦🇱 To be honest, she is good… but good enough to attract voters?

PORTUGAL 🇵🇹 Unexpected and frantic applause for this one! WOW! #shocked!

MOLDOVA 🇲🇩 I am sure this confident and allegro act will go to the final, no matter the bookies’ odds… No makeup and hair for Natalia…

ICELAND 🇮🇸 The rehearsal video as we all know by now, the country has withdrawn from the live performances due to the COVID-19 incident… Huge applause in the arena!

SERBIA 🇷🇸 This is a growing act, somehow I am shocked to say but I can now see it to the final, making the only Balkan entry for Saturday!

GREECE 🇬🇷 Everything worked out just fine…

AUSTRIA 🇦🇹 Unlike last night, the sound today is excellent…

POLAND 🇵🇱 After last night’s suicide, Rafał still can’t sing live #sad…

SAN MARINO 🇸🇲 We noticed that FLO RIDA is now without his beanie.

ESTONIA 🇪🇪 Fully dressed and flawless. Total hunk; Maybe too much of a hunk?

CZECH REPUBLIC 🇨🇿 Confident, funky and party animal. Loveable person, by the way!

With a 16-minute delay, the family rehearsal kicked off. The last test for the technical team and the cameras before the live show today. Obviously, Greece will also try to solve the problems with the shadows in the green-box animations…

LAST CALL

Don’t forget, to support up to ten qualifiers for each of the semi-finals in our annual EUROPREDICTION which can be found here…

In the odds for the trophy, San Marino rises at #8 and Finland at #12 marking the top changes at the moment.

In the odds for the semifinal: Things remain the same with the following qualifiers estimated by the bookmakers – Switzerland, Bulgaria, Iceland, Greece, Finland, San Marino, Portugal, Serbia, Albania, Austria

Volunteers at this year’s Eurovision range in age from 16 to over 70, and come from all kinds of backgrounds, including students, HR managers, doctors and carpenters. 54-year-old business owner Rob Maas, a Dutch national from Den Bosch was delighted to score a coveted role working on the Delegation Service Desk.

In exchange for giving their time, volunteers receive exclusive clothing, a goody bag of gifts and free meals in the venue. But what’s most important is the chance to get involved in something truly special – it’s a unique opportunity for local fans of Eurovision, or Songfestival as it’s known in the Netherlands, to be part of Eurovision history. Who knows when it will be back?

Sissi Nylia Benita has been announced by ERR as the country’s spokesperson to deliver the jury votes on the night of the grand final.

THE EBU STATEMENT

Duncan Laurence, winner of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest for the Netherlands and was scheduled to perform live during Saturday’s Grand Final, has tested positive for COVID-19, his management and the Host Broadcaster have confirmed. Duncan has mild symptoms. Because of the 7-day minimum isolation period, Duncan will not be able to perform live in the Ahoy venue in Rotterdam, but will still feature in the show in a different form.

Last Monday, Duncan tested negative in the Eurovision Test Pavilion, which granted him access to the venue for his performance in the first Semi-Final. On Wednesday, he showed mild symptoms and then unfortunately delivered a positive result in a rapid antigen test.

“We are of course disappointed, first of all for Duncan, who deserves a live performance on our very own Eurovision stage after his 2019 victory and the worldwide success of Arcade,” Sietse Bakker, Executive Producer, said. “We couldn’t be more proud of his opening act for the first Semi-Final. Of course, we wish Duncan a speedy recovery!”

“Duncan is very disappointed, he has been looking forward to this for two years. We are very happy that he will still be seen in the final on Saturday, May 22,” his management said.

A strict COVID-19 health and safety protocol is being applied at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. All those working within the perimeter of the venue must be in possession of a negative COVID-19 test, not older than 48 hours.

Duncan Laurence tested positive for COVID-19

short break for us and we will be back for the third family rehearsal for some comments although we all know this is a typical rehearsal for the cameras and not the performances.

THE INDIPENDENT.CO.UK REPORTS / Several dozen Orthodox Christian faithful and clergy members held up wooden crucifixes, icons of saints and a banner declaring Cyprus’ love for Christ in a renewed protest Wednesday over the island nation’s entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, which they contend promotes Satan worship.

The protest, held opposite the gates of the offices of state broadcaster RIK, was the second against the song “El Diablo” staged by Christians who argue the number has no place as the national song of Cyprus in the contest because of what they say is its brazen invitation to embrace the devil.

Both RIK and singer Elena Tsagrinou, who represents Cyprus in the contest underway this week in the Netherlands, say critics have misinterpreted the lyrics of “El Diablo” and that it’s actually about an abusive relationship between two lovers.

The song passed its first competition hurdle during a Tuesday semifinal and made it into the contest’s final round, set for Saturday in Rotterdam

The people protesting Wednesday saw that as no cause for celebration, insisting that “El Diablo” is an affront to Cypriots’ Orthodox faith.

“This song doesn’t represent Cyprus. It doesn’t honor it. It insults Cyprus, it desecrates Cyprus and is dangerous, my good Orthodox Christians,” an unnamed clergyman said into a microphone while addressing the demonstrators. “It’s dangerous to our children, to our families. There is no chance that the devil can do any good to anyone.”

The Cypriot government has said that while dissent is respected, freedom of expression cannot be quashed.

The powerful Orthodox Church of Cyprus called for the withdrawal of the song in March, saying it mocked the Mediterranean island nation’s moral foundations by advocating “our surrender to the devil and promoting his worship.”

The Church’s highest decision-making body, the Holy Synod, urged the state broadcaster to replace it with one that “expresses our history, culture, traditions and our claims.”

Police also charged a man with uttering threats and causing a disturbance when he barged onto the grounds of the public broadcaster to protest what he condemned as a “blasphemous” song.

Tsagrinou played down the controversy. She said “El Diablo,” which she performs flanked by four dancers in skin-tight red costumes, is about an abusive relationship and has nothing to do with devil worship.

She said dealing with COVID-19 restrictions was tough while preparing for the contest, “but that’s not going to keep us back, and we’re going to feel the vibe that we want to feel and the smile on our face.”

TVNZ REPORTS – The Eurovision Song Contest is taking place this week, where the finalists will strut their stuff in colourful splendour. It led Seven Sharp’s Rhys Mathewson to ask why the Australians get to go and not us. Australia first appeared at Eurovision in 2015 and has made the top 10 four times. The reason is a little underwhelming, with a spokesperson for Eurovision stating: