Laser-focused first rehearsal for Dutch Duncan Laurence

07 May 2019 at 15:21 CEST

The Netherlands first rehearsal 2019 Photo: Thomas Hanses

Duncan Laurence brought his entry 'Arcade' to the stage in Tel Aviv to complete the Netherlands' first rehearsal. Opening with the lighting marking out a blue heart around the stage, Duncan starts his performance centre stage behind the piano.

Duncan Laurence will take to the stage 16th in the second Semi-Final on Thursday 16 May at Expo Tel Aviv in Israel.

About Duncan

Duncan Laurence was born in 1994 in Spijkenisse, The Netherlands. He graduated this year from the Rock Academy in Tilburg, The Netherlands. Here he developed himself as a singer, songwriter and music producer. Besides that, he spent a lot of time writing songs in London and Stockholm.

Former Dutch Eurovision Song Contest singer (as part of The Common Linnets in 2014) Ilse DeLange drew the selection commission’s attention to the song: "Duncan is special. His songs are very international and authentic. Duncan has the personality needed for a big opportunity like this. For him, music always comes first."

What happens on stage?

Duncan performs Arcade at an electric grand piano in the centre of the stage, dressed in a navy blue jacked t-shirt and jeans. His outfit adds to the clean melody and places the emphasis firmly on the music and vocals. The stage is darkened as the first notes begin to play, gently lit to create a blue heart with spotlights along the sides of the stage pointing out towards the audience.

As the song progresses, blue smoke begins to swirl upwards, gaining in strength and turning into clouds before deep blue skies gently emerge on the backing screen and a bright white ball drops from above close to the electric grand piano. Blue and green laser lights appear and shine out into the audience towards the end as a watery shimmer glows down over the audience in a nod to the official music video which features Duncan floating naked under water.