ESC 2011 DusselDay 9: The first dress rehearsal of the first semifinal

So, here we go. The technical rehearsals are over and it's time for the dress rehearsals. That was delayed so so much for the German punctuality. Again! Today the first semifinalists go through the show twice. Tomorrow the third dress rehearsal and then finally the live event to the homes of Europe!

Apparently this first one was far from perfect - at least on the screens in the press center. Timing issues, wrong cameras, stage cleaning showed on screens instead of the postcards but all that should be fixed by tonight when the juries vote already. Some reports tell the hosts were rather clueless in the end when the results were to be announced but surely they will fix that, too.

Not much to tell about the performances as we have seen it all already. Except Turkey. They finally revealed what's in the globe on stage. I mean what's the idea of that poor woman doing aerobatics inside it: She will emerge in the end having wings and be free! How cute.... Croatia's dress changes didn't quite works as they should have I understand. Pre-contest fan favourite and fresh winner of OGAE votings Hungary seems to leave most viewers very cold and may struggle to get into the final after all. Will she get next to the OGAE Trophy the Kate Ryan award?

The nice thing is every site and blogger seems to agree Finland will qualify.If only Finns themselves would believe in it. (Not referring to the delegation is Dusseldorf!) In the poll at the venue by the delegations Finland is steady at 7th place and therefor should qualify. Even Alexander Rybak predicts Finland a 5th place. In the final. Earlier All kinds of Everything's Keith predicted 4th place in the final. And ended up in the Finnish papers.

American Cold Steel Drummers will be the interval act but we didn't get to see them in the rehearsals yet.

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