The third day of rehearsals are now underway. This morning Croatia, Ireland, Latvia & Serbia will complete their first technical rehearsals and press conferences. You can read the reviews below from the rehearsals and later today eurovision.tv and allkindsofeverything will provide video footage.

Song 1: Croatia

First on stage today for the technical rehearsal is Igor Cukrov representing Croatia. He is joined on stage by Andrea and four other female backing singers for this classic ballad. Lijepa Tena provides a gentle opening to start this morning's rehearsals. The song starts with the sound of a Spanish guitar and as Igor serenades the five lady singers who are located on a platform behind him. All performers remain on the same spot on the stage for most of the song, later on the backing singers move forward to join Igor at the front of the stage. We see plenty of arm movements to emphasise the emotive lyrics of the song. The wind machine is used to great effect to emphasise the long flowing hair of the girls on stage.

The singing is very strong throughout this song and we hear lovely harmonising from Igor and Andrea. The stage is coloured with soft navy blue lights and on the stage backdrop we have a soft blue flower opening and closing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Nct1sQu2_8&rel=0

Song 2: Ireland

Now we have a change of pace as Sinéad Mulvey & Black Daisy take to the stage for Ireland with their up-tempo pop/rock song Et cetera. Sinead provides a spirited performance as she sings about telling her lover, who yet again has cheated on her, that she doesn't want to hear the excuses anymore and that she won't fall for them again.
This is a confident vocal performance from the lead singer Sinead, however she does look as if she if struggling with the sound balance at the start of the rehearsal. She is joined on stage by two guitarist, one keyboard player and a drummer. We see silver jets of pyrotechnics at the start of the song and flashing amber light on the stage background, with the wind machine being used to full effect from the last 30 seconds of the song. We see plenty of busy camera movement which emphasises the pace and energy of the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ZUslgO5z0&rel=0

Song 3: Latvia

The third act to rehearse today was Intars Busulis from Latvia with his song Probka. Intars gives an energetic performance running around the stage, dressed in a blue blazer with badges and a red tie. It is an enthusiastic performance and he sings one part of the song on his knees. He is joined on stage by two guitarists, one keyboardist and two female backing singers dressed in white. The stage backdrop shows city signs from all over the world and roadwork signs reflecting the theme of the song that is about traffic jams. Stage floor changes also to show various images like road signs and hearts and maps. This Latvian song is sung completely in Russian.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0repmg3sGQ&rel=0

Song 4: Serbia

Before the lunch break the fourth country to rehearse was Serbia. Marko Kon and Milaan are singing about gold diggers in their song titled Cipela, meaning ‘shoe’. Marko has kept his distinctive hairdo, a huge afro with blond highlights and it might have even grown bigger since the national final. His image with the glasses is repeated in a projection above the stage. He is joined on stage by an accordionist, three bald male dancers doing a pantomime act and backing singers and one ballerina. They do a dance routine on stage and the ballerina is lifted at one stage by the men. The vocals are strong in this humorous number with local folk tones and Marko sings part in a very deep comic baritone voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix3KEBzG0e0&rel=0