Backstage: Last newcomers on location

Read everything about Saturday's rehearsals in our daily summary!



Sweden: Eric Saade – Popular

"The glass breaking didn't work for the first rehearsal, and it's important in one way, even though the song and performance is the most important part. But we did it yesterday, and I'm relieved that it works now."

Cyprus: Christos Mylordos – San Aggelos S’Agapisa

"We have something very different, and we hope that people like the variation in the performances in the Contest. We use fixed boots for the lean. It's very hard, you put most of the pressure on your feet, and it's very difficult to sing while you're doing these movements."



Bulgaria: Poli Genova – Na Inat

"'Inat' is a Bulgarian quality to help us to survive through the hard times in our history. The message of the song is that you can achieve anything that you want, you just have to find your inner strength and believe. I really enjoy being on stage, that's the best place. I enjoy is so much that I would like to be there every minute, but it's not allowed."



FYR Macedonia: Vlatko Ilievski – Rusinka

"I know the song, so I don't have to rehearse it. Last night, I sung it in five places, so it's all over my head. The first rehearsal was great, we were so relaxed after that. And today, we have all the costumes in place, every piece of our plan is completing day by day."



Israel: Dana International – Ding Dong

"I'm wearing a dress made by Jean Paul Gaultier. Haute couture, of course. I like it, it's comfortable, and I want to see what it looks like on stage. Tonight, I'm going to rock the city for the welcoming party! I'm going to see the dirty side and the nice side and every other side of it!"



Italy: Raphael Gualazzi – Madness Of Love

"I hope I can do some collaborations. This is a great opportunity, there are a lot of great musicians here, and I think that's the meaning of this festival. The Contest has a lot of different songs, that's why we enjoy it, and as artists we should think of collaborations. Sometimes, different styles should come together."



United Kingdom: Blue – I Can (group member Simon Webbe)

"We hope to learn that we know what we're doing today! We don't know yet, since we've only had two rehearsals in the last three months, and the routines keep changing. But we have a week to sort it all out.

We haven't planned anything too complicated, but we're not really dancers, we're more of a vocal group. But we decided that we will do a few steps here and there, and I have two left feet! We want to be entertaining for the crowd and the people at home and have a bit of movement on stage.

Now, I feel the buzz. For myself, I'm the kind of person that's kind of laid back about things, it's my way to relax. If I think about it too much, I'll get too nervous."



Germany: Lena – Taken By A Stranger

"I have so much fun here, it's awesome, I love it! I met the Irish guys, and they were very funny. The most fun part here is to meet all the people. We've done the performance a few times, and we didn't change anything. I think it helps a bit to have the experience from last year with me here. But the arena is different, the stage is different, and the people are different."



Spain: Lucía Pérez – Que Me Quiten Lo Bailao – They Can't Take The Fun Away From Me

"This is my first contact with the entire event and a chance to get more relaxed

and used to the big stage. I'm really looking forward to get on stage and start singing! We have five persons on stage with me, and have prepared a show that is really happy and related to the song, to keep up optimism. We enjoy being on stage and making party! I hope that people will look attentively and that I can transmit the happiness and the huge feeling."

Above, the participants are presented in the running order of the rehearsals. They will perform in the same order in the Second Semi-Final, on the 12th of May, and, for the last five, in the Final on the 14th of May.