AZERBAIJAN: Eurovision Song Contest hopefuls rehearse on the eve of the second round of semi-finals, trying to secure a place in the contest's final

Record ID: 218247

  • Title: AZERBAIJAN: Eurovision Song Contest hopefuls rehearse on the eve of the second round of semi-finals, trying to secure a place in the contest's final
  • Date: 26th May 2012
  • Summary: BAKU, AZERBAIJAN (MAY 23, 2012) (REUTERS) BUS BRANDED WITH EUROVISION LOGO DRIVING BY BAKU CRYSTAL HALL, VENUE OF EUROVISION 2012 VARIOUS OF HOST COUNTRY PRESENTERS GREETING AUDIENCE AT START OF DRESS REHEARSAL VARIOUS OF SERBIA'S ENTRY, SONG WRITER AND SINGER ZELJKO JOKSIMOVIC, DURING DRESS REHEARSAL ON STAGE AUDIENCE GEORGIA'S CHOSE ANRI JOKHADZE REHEARSING SONG 'I
  • Embargoed: 10th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Azerbaijan
  • Country: Azerbaijan
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA6UWAH32V7G1V4ASQK9654YKBQ
  • Story Text: The 18 contenders for the Eurovision Song Contest second semi-final rehearsed on Wednesday (May 23), showing vocal ranges and performance styles as varied as the countries they represent at the Crystal Hall in Azerbaijan's capital Baku .
    The second round Eurovision semi-final entrants include acts from Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Macedonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Turkey and Ukraine. Of those ten contestants will go through to the final.
    Zeljko Joksimovic, one of Serbia's most popular composers and singers, was the first to take to the stage with his own song "Ljubav Nije Stvar" ("Love Is Not A Thing"). Being the first is not the best sometimes, but Joksimovic did not show any nerves and impressed the audience with a calm and confident performance.
    Georgia's choice, Anri Jokhadze, presented a light-hearted and easy-to-remember song - "I am a Joker," which was fused with national motives.
    Bosnian singer Maya Sar, who will represent Bosnia and Herzegovina in this year's Eurovision song contest, is hopeful that the experience from previous Eurovision appearances might help her 2012 bid.
    However Sweden is being tipped as one of the favourites this year.
    Loreen, a 28-year old singer, with her track "Euphoria" is considered the strongest entry in Thursday's (May 24) semi-final.
    UK bookmakers have Sweden down as the strongest contender for the Eurovision crown, with odds of 7/1 for her to win.
    In the first semi-final heat on Tuesday (May 22) Romania, Moldova, Iceland, Hungary, Denmark, Albania, Cyprus, Greece, Russia and Island were chosen to go on to compete in the upcoming final on Saturday.
    Azerbaijan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom have automatically gone through to the finals on May 26.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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