ESC Preliminaries: A Night to Remember
- Preliminary report: The semi-final round has concluded, and Raab recalls Lena
With the ESC preliminaries hitting stride, the tension in the air was palpable. The field had narrowed down from twelve to seven, making each performance more crucial than ever. Cologne's second show kicked off, and the crowd was on their feet, eager for another exceptional night.
The jury, led by the inimitable Stefan Raab, was flanked by Barbara Schöneberger, Oerding, Elton, and Yvonne Catterfeld. Each of them brought their expertise and passion for music to the table, making for a formidable panel. The contestants had their work cut out for them, as they prepared to give the performance of a lifetime to secure their place in the semi-finals.
The act from Heidelberg, Adina, took on Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight." She delivered an impressive performance, showcasing her powerful vocal abilities. However, the iconic drum break seemed conspicuously absent, leaving some of the jury members wondering if it was intentional or a slip-up.
Noah Levi from Berlin took the stage, accompanied by the excitement and experience of TVOG Kids. They put a fresh, poppy spin on their song, and Stefan Raab applauded their performance, calling Noah a "pop star." But, like the song title suggests, they held back just a bit, leaving some of the audience wanting more.
The guys from Parallel in Stuttgart came out swinging with their energetic performance. They rallied the fans, who had cheerfully paid for their show in the pedestrian zone. Elton described their performance as a beautiful soufflé, a delicate blend of vocals and instrumentation.
The Tough Decisions
Some contestants gave their all, but, in the end, the competition was too fierce. Ni-Ka from Frankfurt was one such contestant, delivering a powerful performance of Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel." With her fierce vocals and commanding stage presence, it seemed like a shoo-in. However, the jury's scorecard revealed that they had fallen just short, missing their chance to perform in the semi-finals.
Jaln from Cologne and Leonora, her city neighbor, both shone in their performances. Jaln's soulful rendition of a classic chanteuse sound had even Max Mutzke grooving at home. Meanwhile, Leonora delivered an original composition that would have made Chef Raab proud in his Wadde-Hadde-Dudde-Da days.
From Fall To Spring brought a burst of energy to the stage, with Feuerschwanz no doubt dancing along. The band from the metal stronghold of Saarland had a tougher challenge ahead, but they were up for it, covering Linkin Park's "One Step Closer" with panache.
Cloudy June delivered a trendy, Taylor Swift-inspired sound that had the crowd tapping their feet. Malte from Huttingen led his international band, The Great Leslie, in a crisp and flawless "Fix You" cover. Their performance was so enchanting that even Coldplay themselves would have been impressed.
Moss Kena, with his enchanting stage presence, delivered a powerful performance of "Die With A Smile." His energetic delivery and charming demeanor had the audience and the jury captivated, leaving no doubt that he was a force to be reckoned with.
And then there was Lyza, the young contestant from Berlin who had been secretly filmed by her sister. She took the stage, showing a confidence and charm that belied her age. Her rendition of Barbara Pravi's "Voila" was a revelation, filled with newcomer charm and debutante flair. The audience couldn't help but be reminded of a certain young ESC artist from 2010.
The Road to the Finals
As the evening drew to a close, the jury began discussing the semi-finals. Barbara Schöneberger dreamt of a celebrity villa where the contestants could live, party, and watch the competition together. Meanwhile, Stefan Raab imagined sailing up the Rhine on a boat, enjoying the sights and sounds of the competition.
Regardless of the plans, one thing was clear: the semi-finals were just around the corner. The contestants had earned their spots, and the competition was sure to be fierce. With dreams of representing Germany in Basel, these seven acts were ready to give it their all.
Enrichment Data:
- The top seven acts from the second ESC preliminary round in Cologne, Germany, were: Jaln, Leonora, Cloudy June, Moss Kena, Lyza, The Great Leslie, and From Fall To Spring
- The acts were selected by a special jury, and their performances will premiere in the semi-finals next week
- Ten acts from both preliminary rounds will advance to the semi-finals, with seven acts moving on to the finals in Basel, Switzerland.
The young contestant Lyza, who had been secretly filmed by her sister, showcased her confidence and charm on stage, delivering a captivating performance of Barbara Pravi's "Voila" that reminded some of a young ESC artist from 2010. Perhaps, Lyza's neighbor, Leonora, also impressed the jury with her original composition, a performance that would have made Chef Raab proud during his Wadde-Hadde-Dudde-Da days.
After the intense performances, the jury, including Stefan Raab, began discussing the semi-finals. As they envisioned the semi-finals, some dreamt of a celebrity villa where the contestants could live, party, and watch the competition together. Meanwhile, others imagined sailing up the Rhine on a boat, enjoying the sights and sounds of the competition.
The stage was set for a fierce competition in the semi-finals, with the top seven acts from the second ESC preliminary round in Cologne, Germany, eager to represent their country in Basel, Switzerland. Among these acts were Jaln, Leonora, the soulful singer who had even made Max Mutzke groove at home, and Lyza, the young Berliner who had captured the audience's hearts with her charm and talent.
