The BA702 was uneventful though three beverage-ettes managed to slip down our necks and by the end of the flight all the crew and most of the passengers knew our reason for travelling! “When is Eurovision again?” “Why are Australia in it again?”
As we entered the terminal building at Vienna I half expected Conchita to be being piped into public address system but was sadly disappointed. The excitement built when I saw the usual ‘Welcome to Eurovision’ banners and the ‘This Way To The Contest’ posters in the metro station. I love how a city gets taken over by this contest.
Our penthouse apartment is fabulous although four storeys up so we arrived gasping and in a pool of sweat and stale booze but the host didn’t seem to care and was perfectly charming. I’m worried I’ll not sleep well as I’m on the sofa and there’s no drapes to be found anywhere. I might be inventive with the rug and plug the skylight with a few cushions! Rosé needs total blackout conditions to sleep so Plan A doesn’t work then Plan B will be me dragging the cushions through to That Monty’s room and sleeping at the foot of his bed! Also there is an ant infestation so in addition to being sleep deprived, I’ll end up with ants in my knickers. It’s not all free booze and hob nobbing with the stars here you know..
We arrived in good time to get our laminates and plunged straight into he press melee catching the Slovenian rehearsal. I have to say something isn’t working for Slovenia, it all looks a bit disjointed and Maraaya looks like she’s hating it. Still it’s a first rehearsal we must remember.
Next up was Poland and OH MY GOSH a surprising goosebump moment for me. The staging is stunning for this, four pink sheets and pink flowered trees with lots of sweeping shots and good old fashioned backing singers clicking their fingers and swaying. Monika looks gorgeous and the vocal improved with each run through. The Poles have employed the ‘reveal the surprise after verse one’ trick from the Austrians last year and we only see the wheelchair as the first chorus starts. I really rate this and think this will do better than the bookies give it credit for.
Haven’t had much of a chance to see the clip ettes of today and the excitement of bumping into people is keeping me from a catch up but from what I can glean the following happened today.
ISRAEL looks lively and fun and we want them in the final. Party on down!
LATVIA looked better than expected although it’s still way down my personal faves list
AZERBAIJAN gorgeous backdrop and staging but spoiled by the wolves distracting
ICELAND sounded a bit wobbly vocally, I’ve grown to love the song
SWEDEN isn’t going to disappoint, will be remembered by the televoters
SWITZERLAND banging on four drums and quite possibly my last nerve, dislike this
CYPRUS I can’t abide this song, the staging is nice but doesn’t work for me musically
Right we are off for a nibble and a night cap and we will see you bright and early for full on semi one run through tomorrow. 1020 LOCAL TIME start, yikes!
Jody
