Day 4: new sun troubles, a Swedish circle and many more

Today is the day of the stage again. Today the EBU has made an official statement about it: “During the technical tests in Turin, the production team has experienced challenges with how long it takes to adjust the “sun” to different positions in the time between the different performances. Together with the host station RAI it was therefore decided that the sun will remain in the same position during all 40 songs, to ensure a fair competition for all participating countries.”. What position that is, is still being discussed. So to be continued again. It is certain that a number of countries now have to make changes in their staging.

Meanwhile, 9 countries rehearsed for their performance in the second semifinal.

IRELAND: Brooke takes the stage in a bright blue suit. During her performance she is assisted by four dancers. They start the song lying on the floor! Ireland uses many floor projections. Brooke is also praised by Eurovision.tv for her strong voice. Pyrotechnics are used at the end of her performance.

NORTH MACEDONIA: Andrea stands alone on the podium for North Macedonia. She sings her song completely wrapped in black leather. In her performance she uses the lifting bridges over the water. Shadows of hands are visible on the LED screens. The sun is not only orange but also white and blue.

ESTONIA: Stefan starts his performance on the B stage. He is accompanied only by his guitar. Later in the song, he goes wild: then he uses the entire stage to present his performance. The two cowboys from the national final stayed home.

ROMANIA: WRS from Romania wears glittering wetlook trousers. He also wears a red blouse, but according to Eurovision tradition, that goes off. He turns out to be wearing a sleeveless shirt with glitter underneath. There is a lot of dancing. As a result, the Romanian likely gets a lot of attention from the crowd.

POLAND: The Polish competitor Ochman is also in black, he wears a black suit. He is assisted by four dancers, who seem to represent some kind of water spirits. Flashing light effects can be seen during the performance. The waterfall on the stage is also used… what else could we expect with a song about a river?

MONTENEGRO: Vladana has her entire performance on the B stage. She wears a blue dress during her performance. The background is also blue, with splashes of white as graphics. Vladana mainly remains in one place.

BELGIUM: The Belgian Jérémie Makiese impressed with his song. Jérémie is flanked by four dancers. He himself wears blue-grey trousers, a black shirt and a silver jacket, while the dancers wear black jackets. At the end of the act all the light falls on Jérémie, who is standing on a platform on which flames are projected.

SWEDEN: Cornelia Jakobs ranks high among the bookmakers. As the Swedes always do, Cornelia Jakobs also puts on the same act as during the national final Melodifestivalen. The starry sky at the beginning, the large, first green and then red, circular plate right behind Cornelia, even the silver-black clothing and the bare feet are the same.

CZECH REPUBLIC: The Czech group We Are Domi is the last to rehearse today. The group uses a lot of light, which makes you feel like you’re in a disco. Funny effect: the ‘sun’ on stage looks like a vinyl album here. Eurovision.tv mentions the cello-string guitar: the guitarist made it himself.

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Vienna 12 points: from traditions to a worldwide hit

Several countries start their second rehearsals in Vienna. As we still don’t have access to the rehearsals, we will do something else. Per entry, we highlight one subject and give you some more information. That can be something about the artist, the song, the lyrics or even something completely different.  Bulgaria — DARA, “Bangaranga” Running order: 1 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 10:30–10:55 CEST The Kukeri tradition in Bulgaria is one of the country’s most striking winter rituals. Dressed in heavy costumes, frightening masks and loud bells, Kukeri dancers move through villages to chase away evil spirits and welcome health, fertility and a good harvest. The custom is linked to ancient Balkan beliefs and is still passed on from generation to generation. Around New Year and before spring, communities gather for processions in which the sound, rhythm and costumes create a powerful, almost supernatural atmosphere. That makes the tradition a fascinating link to Bulgaria’s Eurovision Song Contest staging in Vienna this year. When the dancers appear with wild movements and ritual energy, they are not just adding drama. They are referring to a living folklore practice that many Bulgarians immediately recognise. For international viewers, the Kukeri tradition in Bulgaria shows how music, dance and symbolism can turn a pop performance into a cultural story.  Azerbaijan — JIVA, “Just Go” Running order: 2 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 11:05–11:30 CEST The Azerbaijan Eurovision AI rumours quickly became a talking point after JIVA released “Just Go” for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Some online discussions claimed that the song may have been created with artificial intelligence, partly because songwriter Fuad Javadov had been linked by fans to earlier AI-related demos. However, Azerbaijani broadcaster İctimai Television (İTV) has strongly denied the claims. In a statement, İTV said the allegations did not reflect reality. The broadcaster described “Just Go” as an original musical work, created through a professional process based on experience and creative labour. İTV also explained that JIVA was chosen after a multi-stage internal selection, with expert opinions and a focus group helping to decide the entry. For Eurovision viewers, the debate shows how sensitive the contest has become to questions about technology, authorship and transparency. For now, Azerbaijan insists that “Just Go” is a human-made Eurovision entry for Vienna 2026.  Romania — Alexandra Căpitănescu, “Choke Me” Running order: 3 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 11:40–12:05 CEST The Romanian Eurovision lyrics controversy around Alexandra Căpitănescu’s “Choke Me” has put the country’s 2026 entry under a sharp spotlight. After the song was selected for Vienna, some campaigners and fans argued that the repeated phrase “choke me” could be heard as a reference to sexual choking. They warned that, in a family show, such wording might normalise a dangerous practice rather than simply create drama. Romania’s delegation and broadcaster TVR rejected that interpretation. According to TVR, the stage concept is designed to underline the metaphorical nature of the message and rule out a literal reading of the lyrics. Căpitănescu has also explained that the song is about emotional pressure, inner fears, self-doubt and feeling suffocated by expectations. In that reading, “Choke Me” is not a call for violence or sex, but a dark image for anxiety and the struggle to reclaim one’s voice before the worldwide audience in May.  Luxembourg — Eva Marija, “Mother Nature” Running order: 4 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 12:20–12:45 CEST he Slovenian community in Luxembourg may be small, but it has a clear cultural presence in the Grand Duchy. For Eurovision fans, that background adds extra meaning to Eva Marija, Luxembourg’s 2026 contestant, who was born in Luxembourg to Slovenian parents. Around 768 Slovenian nationals lived in Luxembourg on 1 January 2025, according to STATEC. In such a multilingual country, the community connects Slovenian heritage with everyday Luxembourgish life. The Slovenian Association in Luxembourg, also known as Slolux, keeps that connection alive through events, language lessons, celebrations and informal support for newcomers. It promotes Slovenia, helps people integrate and brings families together throughout the year. In a country where almost half of residents are foreign nationals, Slovenes are part of Luxembourg’s wider European mosaic. Eva Marija’s story therefore clearly reflects both her Luxembourgish home and her Slovenian roots beautifully this year in Vienna for a wider Eurovision audience across Europe.  Czechia — Daniel Žižka, “CROSSROADS” Running order: 5 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 12:55–13:20 Mikolas Josef Eurovision history still matters for Czechia. In 2018, the Prague-born singer represented the country in Lisbon with “Lie To Me”, a playful pop song full of attitude, choreography and a memorable backpack. He finished sixth in the Grand Final with 281 points, Czechia’s best result at the contest so far. That record is now the benchmark Daniel Zizka may try to beat in Vienna 2026 with “CROSSROADS”. After Eurovision, Mikolas did not disappear from the music scene. He released singles such as “Me Gusta”, “Abu Dhabi” and “Acapella”, built an international fanbase and later continued simply as MIKOLAS. Recent years brought new music, including “Boys Don’t Cry”, “Delilah” and his debut album “ONE”. His post-Eurovision career shows how one strong contest result can become the start of a longer pop journey, not just a one-night Eurovision success story for Czech music fans and the wider Eurovision audience today.  Armenia — SIMÓN, “Paloma Rumba” Running order: 6 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 13:30–13:55 CEST Mikolas Josef Eurovision history still matters for Czechia. In 2018, the Prague-born singer represented the country in Lisbon with “Lie To Me”, a playful pop song full of attitude, choreography and a memorable backpack. He finished sixth in the Grand Final with 281 points, Czechia’s best result at the contest so far. That record is now the benchmark Daniel Zizka may try to beat in Vienna 2026 with “CROSSROADS”. After Eurovision, Mikolas did not disappear from the music scene. He released singles such as “Me Gusta”, “Abu Dhabi” and “Acapella”, built an international fanbase and later continued simply as MIKOLAS. Recent years brought new music, including “Boys Don’t Cry”, “Delilah” and his debut album “ONE”.

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Martijn

Vienna 12 points: from traditions to a worldwide hit

Several countries start their second rehearsals in Vienna. As we still don’t have access to the rehearsals, we will do something else. Per entry, we highlight one subject and give you some more information. That can be something about the artist, the song, the lyrics or even something completely different.  Bulgaria — DARA, “Bangaranga” Running order: 1 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 10:30–10:55 CEST The Kukeri tradition in Bulgaria is one of the country’s most striking winter rituals. Dressed in heavy costumes, frightening masks and loud bells, Kukeri dancers move through villages to chase away evil spirits and welcome health, fertility and a good harvest. The custom is linked to ancient Balkan beliefs and is still passed on from generation to generation. Around New Year and before spring, communities gather for processions in which the sound, rhythm and costumes create a powerful, almost supernatural atmosphere. That makes the tradition a fascinating link to Bulgaria’s Eurovision Song Contest staging in Vienna this year. When the dancers appear with wild movements and ritual energy, they are not just adding drama. They are referring to a living folklore practice that many Bulgarians immediately recognise. For international viewers, the Kukeri tradition in Bulgaria shows how music, dance and symbolism can turn a pop performance into a cultural story.  Azerbaijan — JIVA, “Just Go” Running order: 2 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 11:05–11:30 CEST The Azerbaijan Eurovision AI rumours quickly became a talking point after JIVA released “Just Go” for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Some online discussions claimed that the song may have been created with artificial intelligence, partly because songwriter Fuad Javadov had been linked by fans to earlier AI-related demos. However, Azerbaijani broadcaster İctimai Television (İTV) has strongly denied the claims. In a statement, İTV said the allegations did not reflect reality. The broadcaster described “Just Go” as an original musical work, created through a professional process based on experience and creative labour. İTV also explained that JIVA was chosen after a multi-stage internal selection, with expert opinions and a focus group helping to decide the entry. For Eurovision viewers, the debate shows how sensitive the contest has become to questions about technology, authorship and transparency. For now, Azerbaijan insists that “Just Go” is a human-made Eurovision entry for Vienna 2026.  Romania — Alexandra Căpitănescu, “Choke Me” Running order: 3 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 11:40–12:05 CEST The Romanian Eurovision lyrics controversy around Alexandra Căpitănescu’s “Choke Me” has put the country’s 2026 entry under a sharp spotlight. After the song was selected for Vienna, some campaigners and fans argued that the repeated phrase “choke me” could be heard as a reference to sexual choking. They warned that, in a family show, such wording might normalise a dangerous practice rather than simply create drama. Romania’s delegation and broadcaster TVR rejected that interpretation. According to TVR, the stage concept is designed to underline the metaphorical nature of the message and rule out a literal reading of the lyrics. Căpitănescu has also explained that the song is about emotional pressure, inner fears, self-doubt and feeling suffocated by expectations. In that reading, “Choke Me” is not a call for violence or sex, but a dark image for anxiety and the struggle to reclaim one’s voice before the worldwide audience in May.  Luxembourg — Eva Marija, “Mother Nature” Running order: 4 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 12:20–12:45 CEST he Slovenian community in Luxembourg may be small, but it has a clear cultural presence in the Grand Duchy. For Eurovision fans, that background adds extra meaning to Eva Marija, Luxembourg’s 2026 contestant, who was born in Luxembourg to Slovenian parents. Around 768 Slovenian nationals lived in Luxembourg on 1 January 2025, according to STATEC. In such a multilingual country, the community connects Slovenian heritage with everyday Luxembourgish life. The Slovenian Association in Luxembourg, also known as Slolux, keeps that connection alive through events, language lessons, celebrations and informal support for newcomers. It promotes Slovenia, helps people integrate and brings families together throughout the year. In a country where almost half of residents are foreign nationals, Slovenes are part of Luxembourg’s wider European mosaic. Eva Marija’s story therefore clearly reflects both her Luxembourgish home and her Slovenian roots beautifully this year in Vienna for a wider Eurovision audience across Europe.  Czechia — Daniel Žižka, “CROSSROADS” Running order: 5 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 12:55–13:20 Mikolas Josef Eurovision history still matters for Czechia. In 2018, the Prague-born singer represented the country in Lisbon with “Lie To Me”, a playful pop song full of attitude, choreography and a memorable backpack. He finished sixth in the Grand Final with 281 points, Czechia’s best result at the contest so far. That record is now the benchmark Daniel Zizka may try to beat in Vienna 2026 with “CROSSROADS”. After Eurovision, Mikolas did not disappear from the music scene. He released singles such as “Me Gusta”, “Abu Dhabi” and “Acapella”, built an international fanbase and later continued simply as MIKOLAS. Recent years brought new music, including “Boys Don’t Cry”, “Delilah” and his debut album “ONE”. His post-Eurovision career shows how one strong contest result can become the start of a longer pop journey, not just a one-night Eurovision success story for Czech music fans and the wider Eurovision audience today.  Armenia — SIMÓN, “Paloma Rumba” Running order: 6 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 13:30–13:55 CEST Mikolas Josef Eurovision history still matters for Czechia. In 2018, the Prague-born singer represented the country in Lisbon with “Lie To Me”, a playful pop song full of attitude, choreography and a memorable backpack. He finished sixth in the Grand Final with 281 points, Czechia’s best result at the contest so far. That record is now the benchmark Daniel Zizka may try to beat in Vienna 2026 with “CROSSROADS”. After Eurovision, Mikolas did not disappear from the music scene. He released singles such as “Me Gusta”, “Abu Dhabi” and “Acapella”, built an international fanbase and later continued simply as MIKOLAS. Recent years brought new music, including “Boys Don’t Cry”, “Delilah” and his debut album “ONE”.

Read More »
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