After months of preparation and national selections, some of which started last year, it was finally time for the first of the shows of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest. A reduced number of participants, mostly for financial reasons, gave those delegations who have travelled to Malmo a great opportunity be among the ten to qualify for the final.
Tonight we will know which ten countries will qualify to the final from the first final. Before we come so far it was however time for a third dress rehearsal this afternoon. This was the last chance for the acts to get rid of the nerves that might still be back.
Throughout much of the contest's history, the opening sequence of each entry has been portrayed with a postcard. Whereas the trend used to be to use postcardsto show off the country's sights and nature for what it was worth, SVT have made the postcards more personal, following each artist at home.
The question on the lips of every Eurovision Song Contest fan is who will qualify for the final from Tuesday’s semi-final. Well, I’m going to stick my neck out, put my reputation on the line and other clichés to predict who I think will be celebrating and who will be drowning their sorrows.
Today it was time for the very first dress rehearsal in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. We are of course starting with the first semi-final. Which 10 songs will qualify and which 6 must go home?
Last night Moje 3, representing Serbia at this year's Eurovision Song Contest, surprised everyone when they were joined by the 2007 winner Marija Serifovic in a great entertaining at their press conference. This included Marija's winner song; Molitva.
The beautiful girls from Moje 3 from Serbia took to the stage for the second rehearsal run through. The girls give a lively interpretation of Ljubav Je Svuda with the very effective use of strobe lighting.
Irish Ryan Dolan opened the rehearsals in the second half of the second day. He was followed by Cyprus, Lithuania and Serbia. We have now had a peak as to what they have in mind for next Tuesday's show - and they have had a chance to improve the last details.
The bookmakers have Denmark as their top favourite to win the Eurovision Song Contest next month in Malmö - and so far the fans are pretty much in agreement with this. After the points from five of the fan clubs Emmelie de Forest has a clear first position as the fan favourite of the year.
Today came what many had been waiting for; the exaxt running order of the two semi-finals. For the first time it was decided by the producers together with EBU, instead of the usual draw. Austria will be opening the first semi-final while Latvia will kick off the second one.
