2019 Eurovision - Before I Leave Let Me Show You Tel Aviv!

Status
Not open for further replies.

reut

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,137
I didn't really plan to go, but when you have something like this almost at your backyard it's a pity not to get a taste of it. After all we don't win this too often and who knows maybe we will need to wait for another 20 years till the next time.

As tickets to the shows were crazy expensive I didn't even consider those, but luckily there were also - and much cheaper - tickets to the rehearsals. People on the forum explained that so called "jury rehearsal" which takes place a day before the actual competition is identical to the live TV event, except the votes, obviously (although they do say all the words about "vote now", etc) and so I went for it. And I'm really glad I did! The event itself, organization, the hall, the "postcards", the visual effects, the stage - all was on the highest level and something I've never seen in Israel before. They really outdid themselves!

To tell the truth I didn't really come for the songs, quite didn't care who sings, what are the songs, etc. I mostly came for the overall feeling, the atmosphere, to see the stage, to take part in this big - and you may say national - celebration. I really enjoyed both times, but I think second semi was much better, there were maybe 3-4 songs that I really don't mind if they don't qualify but it will be a pity about the rest. I wrote some sporadic play-by-play on my Twitter, with some notes and some photos (bad quality phone camera photos as we were not allowed to bring in SLR cameras):
https://twitter.com/tuerush/status/1128003687983534080
https://twitter.com/tuerush/status/1128735995959173121

Before we started, someone from the team explained that "Netflix" are now working on a movie called "Eurovision" and they need to film the audience - reaction, and applause, and all that. They did this on both rehearsals. I checked now, indeed there is going to be the "Eurovision" movie with Rachel McAdams and Will Ferrell:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8580274/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_1

A few more links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWZy0hikxVg - opening of the first semi with "little Netta" was super cute

Cool "Eurovision 2019: Postcards Mashup":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTLz7pwp0oc

And all the postcards of the first semi:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLttfoK87AdX1mrl4v_-01-Wangt1Pk9P
I really loved the postcards, places they chose, all the dances, how they filmed it. There will be some really beautiful ones in the second semi too.

Eurovision 2019 intro by The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra - Israeli/Jewish "arrangement" ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFpuM1dJMPM

"Eurovision History" by Kutiman they showed in the first semi (and the second half is coming tonight):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xua5LQptwR4
Kutiman is a very famous Israeli artist, who is mostly known exactly for this - for musical and video mashups. I actually knew about him after I saw a very interesting documentary "Presenting Princess Shaw", highly recommended ("Netflix" has it).

Special guests in the second semi will be "Shalva" band, and yesterday they were really good, I'd say even better than some (many? ;)) of the performers. Hope you like them.

P.S. On a sad note it was really upsetting to learn that Fuldi Schwartz, the worker who was injured in Eurovision venue accident, died Tuesday night (he was unloading equipment at Expo Tel Aviv when a wheeled lighting rig toppled over onto him). I actually expected them to mention him somehow during the rehearsal/show, something, but there was nothing.
 
Last edited:

MsZem

I see the sea
Messages
18,458
It was reported today that while three of the hosts - Bar Refaeli, Erez Tal and Assi Azar - were being paid 450,000 shekels (around €110,000) between them, Lucy Ayoub is only getting her regular salary is she is the only one of the four who works for the Israeli Broadcast Corporation. That makes sense, but it doesn't look great.

Azar had announced ahead of time that he is donating his pay to Igy, an Israeli organization that supports LGBTQ youth.
 

reut

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,137
Yes, I saw this on Ynet today too. Considering that Lucy gets the most of the praise from everyone (and deservedly so), it is really not fair.
 

MsZem

I see the sea
Messages
18,458
Yes, I saw this on Ynet today too. Considering that Lucy gets the most of the praise from everyone (and deservedly so), it is really not fair.
I wasn't wowed by her performance - the whole green room thing plays more to Assi Azar's strengths - but it's not ideal.

OTOH, everyone at Kan is probably working just as hard behind the scenes without extra pay, so I'm not sure it would be fair to single her out in that respect.

I wish Melech Zilbershlag could get in on the fun, but that was never going to happen. Alas.
 

reut

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,137
I wasn't wowed by her performance - the whole green room thing plays more to Assi Azar's strengths - but it's not ideal.

Except from time to time Assi has problems with basic English like do/does, etc (during the rehearsal at least).

OTOH, everyone at Kan is probably working just as hard behind the scenes without extra pay, so I'm not sure it would be fair to single her out in that respect.

Depends if she should be compared to those behind the scenes or to other hosts. I'm sure there are tons of people who work even harder than her. But.

I wish Melech Zilbershlag could get in on the fun, but that was never going to happen. Alas.

Actually I wonder how in general he solved to himself dilemma of taking part in something like this during "sfirat ha-omer", it is problematic from religious point of view. And, yeah, he definitely couldn't work during Shabbat anyway.
 

MsZem

I see the sea
Messages
18,458
Except from time to time Assi has problems with basic English like do/does, etc (during the rehearsal at least).
True, and he has the heaviest Israeli accent of the four of them. But his persona is well-suited to this kind of thing.

Actually I wonder how in general he solved to himself dilemma of taking part in something like this during "sfirat ha-omer", it is problematic from religious point of view. And, yeah, he definitely couldn't work during Shabbat anyway.
Is Melech really taking part? He tweets a lot, but doesn't seem to have any official role.
 

allezfred

In A Fake Snowball Fight
Messages
65,406
Running order for the final

1. Malta
2. Albania
3. Czech Republic
4. Germany
5. Russia
6. Denmark
7. San Marino
8. North Macedonia
9. Sweden
10. Slovenia
11. Cyprus
12. Netherlands
13. Greece
14. Israel
15. Norway
16. United Kingdom
17. Iceland
18. Estonia
19. Belarus
20. Azerbaijan
21. France
22. Italy
23. Serbia
24. Switzerland
25. Australia
26. Spain

Suggests to me that Australia and Netherlands each won their semis. Switzerland on late too so perhaps top 3 in their semi? Also the expectation is that France, Italy and Spain are going to go over well given their late draws.
 

FarFarAway

Four the Dark Side
Messages
2,979
It's basically about the first time in 4 years that I'm watching Eurovision final. I wonder what it'll be like though :)
 

my little pony

polishing Madison Hubbell's OGM
Messages
35,264
AHHHH

I love them but I didn't vote for them in the finale because I went off a list of the actual finalists
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread

Top
Do Not Sell My Personal Information