News - Day 1: Montenegro, Czech Republic, Belgium and Belarus | Eurovision Song Contest News - Azerbaijan 2012 

The first day of rehearsals are now underway and this morning, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Belgium and Belarus will complete their first technical rehearsals and press conferences. You can read the reviews below from the rehearsals and later today eurovision.tv will provide video footage.

Song 1: Montenegro

Andrea Demirovic is the first artist to appear on the brilliant Moscow stage this morning with the catchy pop tune Just Get Out of My Life.  This song song sees the return to the contest for the co-writers Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger. Indeed this will be the 19th entry for Mr.Siegel in the contest.  No doubt he will be hoping to recapture the Eurovision Song Contest crown which he won in  in 1982, with his song Ein bichen frieden performed by Nicole for Germany.

Andrea is wearing  a flowing brown dress and is joined on stage by a male dancer dressed in a white suit, in the same style  worn by John Travolta in the film Saturday night fever.  The dancer tries his best to capture Andrea's attention by performing some rather provocative moves, however she is having none of it and spurns his attention.  Andrea has a delicate but tuneful voice which matches this style of song very well.  There are three backing vocalists howerver they remain off camera.  Wind machines are used throughout the song.

Song 2: Czech Republic

Next on stage are Gipsy.cz who will be trying to become the first Czech Republic act to qualify to the Eurovision Song Contest final after two previous attempts. Their song, Aven Romale, is an interesting mix of rap, Gipsy music, funk and ethno pop, spiced by humour and irony.  As featured in the preview video we see the return of the Gipsy Superhero performed by the band lead member Radoslav Banga.
He is joined on stage by two violin players, one bass guitar and one drummer.  Lead singer is having a lot of fun on stage performing various superhero antics. Projected on the background scenes from comic books and the words 'explicit contents' and parental guidance.  This is a very funny show from Gipsy.cz

Song 3: Belarus
Now  a change in the running order instead of Song 3 Belgium we have song 4 from Belarus.

Glam Rock arrives at the Eurovision Song Contest stage as Petr Elfimov for Belarus takes to the stage for the first run through of his song Eyes that never lie. This will  mark a return to the Eurovision stage for Petr as be performed as a backing singer for Alexandra & Konstantin who represented Belarus in 2004 contest.

There is  really no doubting Petr vocal abilities as delivers a powerful rendition. He is joined  on stage by a male guitarist with long flowing hair playing a electric rock guitar and a female performer who's standing on a podium. She is wrapped in a flowing white sheet of material.  She appears to be captured in this and is trying in vain to escape struggling to set herself free.  Plenty of flashing green lights, pryros and wind machine used throughout. 

Song 4: Belgium

The Belgian artists had a problem getting their accreditation this morning, hence their late arrival and the change in the running order.

Rockabilly arrives on the Eurovision Song Contest stage in the form of Copycat, the Elvis Presley impersonators from Belgium. This is a fun and appealing performance by lead singer Patrick Ouchene for this toe tapping number. He is joined on stage by two female  backing vocalists Miss T Blue and Miss D Lite, one guitarist and one base guitarist. Lots of glitter and glamour which fits the feel of the song and gives the impression of a Las Vegas production.  The lights onstage change from silver to red which matches the feel and rhythm of the song.  At the end of the song the name of the band, Copycat is displayed on the stage floor.  Good singing throughout without any bad notes and the backing singers provide good support to the lead singer.

 Coming soon.... Sweden, Armenia and Andorra! See next article.