Eurovision 2022 - Live in Turin: Rehearsals Day Eight (May 7)

• The Eurovision 2022 rehearsals reach day eight in Pala Olimpico, Turin with the Big-5 countries, among which the host nation, are making their second rehearsals.

  Wow time reallly flies even more in Eurovision terms as we have reached the last day of the rehearsals before the main Eurovision Live shows week begins. Today the Big-5 countries are making their 2nd rehersal among which this year is the host nation. 

  The rehearsal week has been divided into two primary phases: From today and up to Tuesday 3/5 the first rehearsals of all competing countries from the two semi finals take place while from Wednesday 4/5 till Saturday 7/5 the second rehearsals of all delegates in both semifinals will be held along with the first and second rehearsals of the Big-5 countries and the host nation. 

  This is how today's rehearsals will unfold in Pala Olimpico in CEST time:

  • 10:00 – 10:20 France: Alvan & Ahez - “Fulenn"
  • 10:25 - 10:45 Italy: Mahmood & Blanco - "Brividi"
  • 10:50 - 11:10 United Kingdom: Sam Ryder - "Space Man"
  • 11:15 - 11:35 Spain: Chanel - "SloMo'
  • 11:40 - 12:00 Germany: Malick Harris - "Rockstars"

   

   

  1.France: Alvan & Ahez - “Fulenn"

  

  France with Alvan & Ahez open today's short rehearsal schedule with the song 'Fulenn'. The French hopefuls pull through a really energetic performance that nails your attention to the stage. 

  The acts are dressed in their black outfits with gold patterns on them while the surrounding features green lighting and a lot of fire effects taking place. Alvan plays different instrumante while the Ahez are in motion on the stage. In addition the dance we saw in the national final performance features the stage. Vocally satifying , the French representative offer a really spectacular show ! 

   

  A few words for Alvan & Ahez

  Their song 'Fulenn' is performed entirely in Breton, a song based on Celtic codes to deliver an electro title for the less ambitious. The lyrics are also meant to be feminist. Alvan, from Rennes and 29 years old, revealed himself during the Transmusicales. He is accompanied by Ahez, three singers also of Breton origin Marine (23 years old), Sterenn (25 years old) and Sterenn (25 years old). 

  Alvan comes from the Rennes electro-rock scene. He started to professionalize himself in 2015. Before that, he worked in the medico-social field. He had several signing experiences with labels, promoters, etc.  He did his first concerts, as well as the first parts of Petit Biscuit and Ofenbach. He was also able to participate in the Trans Musicales de Rennes in 2020 and 2021. He tends to compose pieces that mix rock, world music and electronics. Moreover he is a guitarist.

  Ahez got their name from a Breton mythological figure, who is sometimes described as a goddess, sometimes as a witch. According to legend, it would have given its name to the town of Carhaix. It was at Diwan high school in the same city that the girls met in 2012. With Sterenn Le Guillou, Marine had met in college. They had already been singing with a third person. Sterenn Diridollou, whom they met next, also sang from a very young age. After high school, we started singing in traditional Breton music groups. Especially in the Eben group. Currently thet are in the process of inscribing traditional music in our time. 

  The group two of them Alvan and Ahez met in a bar last summer. They discussed their respective musical universes. Alvan had already written a piece, and he was considering the possibility of adding Breton voices. Marine listened to it , and she hooked directly on what he was proposing. In the process, she called Sterenn Diridollou and Sterenn Le Guillou.. They wrote the lyrics, and that's how Fulenn was born .

   

  2.Italy: Mahmood & Blanco - "Brividi"

  

  Next up the host nation, Italy! The Italian hopefuls Mahmood & Blanco take the stage for the second rehearsal of 'Brividi'. Today Blanco is attending the 2nd rehearsal after missing out the first one due to tour obligations. 

  The Italian duo once again why the conquered the Sanremo stage back in February. Mahmood is dressed in black and Blanco in white. Ina ddition the composer of the song, Michelangelo, joins them on stage playing the piano. The ighting is similar to the one we saw in Sanremo, dark with white lighting added. 

  There harmonies are captivating although they had some issues on the first run. From the seocnd onwards things ran smoothly and thw Italian duo literally create a magical atmposhpere. Italy is playing stong for a back to bak win! 

   

  A few words for Mahmood and Blanco

  Alessandro Mahmoud  born on  12 September 1992, known artistically as Mahmood, is an Italian singer-songwriter born in Milan to an Egyptian father and a Sardinian mother from Orosei, he was raised around Gratosoglio, a district of Milan.

  He rose to prominence after competing on the sixth season of the Italian version of The X Factor. In 2019, Mahmood won the Sanremo Music Festival with the song "Soldi", and went onto represent Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv, finishing in second place. His debut album, Gioventù bruciata, was released in February 2019 and reached number one on the Italian albums chart.

  Riccardo Fabbriconi  known professionally as Blanco, is an Italian singer and rapper born on  10 February 2003 in  Brescia.On 9 June 2020, he released his EP Quarantine Paranoid on SoundCloud After being signed by Universal, he debuted with the studio album Blu celeste on 10 September 2021, which peaked at number one of FIMI's album chart and was certified quadruple platinum.His most successful song to date, "Mi fai impazzire" with Sfera Ebbasta, topped the Italian singles chart for eight weeks and was certified sextuple platinum in Italy.

   

  3.United Kingdom: Sam Ryder - "Space Man"

  

  Sam Ryder is ready for his second rehearsal of 'Space Man', and is letting us take off with him in an outer space sensation. 

  Sam is back with his huge prop on stage and the song starts with a dark lighting of the set while he is wearing clothes that glow. Great vocals by Sam Ryder once again with the big metal construction unfolding as the final chorus and the lights going into a gold color. An amazing performance by Sam... don't be surpised if we head to the UK next year! 

   

  A few words for Sam

  Sam Ryder was born in 1990 in Essex, UK. He is a singer/songwriter, rhythm guitarist who has been in music with various projects since 2009. He rose to fame after his sounds and music on TikTok went viral with many well known TikTok stars started making videos on his songs. With over 12 million followers and 100 million likes on TikTok, he is currently the most followed UK music artist on the platform.

  He formed rock band The Morning After who released two albums on Rising Records UK and JVC Victor in Japan. Their albums "You Can’t Hurt Steel" and "Legacy" have since shifted thousands of copies.

  In 2010 Sam was then recruited to tour and write with 80’s style glam metal band Blessed By A Broken Heart (Tooth & Nail/EMI) and contributed to their Billboard charting album "Feel The Power". After Blessed called it quits, Texas punk/hardcore band Close Your Eyes (Victory Records) asked Sam to join as their front-man and writer. In 2013 they released "Line In The Sand" which resulted in multiple song placements on MTV, NHL 2015 and MGM feature film "Max".

  On November 2019, he released as a single a cover of N-Trance's 90's hit "Set You Free".

  Sam self-released his debut solo EP in March of this year and is putting the final touches of his full length album that he tracked in Nashville, TN with producer Bryan Wilson (Frightened Rabbit, John Newman).

   

   

  4.Spain: Chanel - "SloMo'

  

  Spain with Chanal is the next act to rehearse for the secodn time and its time to SloMo! A touch of latin element are added in the beginning of the song while the choereography that has gone viral over the last months has seen some minor changes towards the end. Great vocals by Chanel who delivers her song flawless despite been in ongoing motion with her dancers. 

  Great show which with the fireworkd and golden rain added in takes the audience in a total SloMo mode! 

   

  A few words for Chanel

  Chanel Terrero Martínez (born 28 July 1991), known as Chanel Terrero or simply Chanel, is a Cuban-Spanish singer, dancer and actress. 

  Chanel was born in Havana, Cuba, and moved to Olesa de Montserrat in Catalonia, Spain, at the age of three. Part of her family was already of Spanish origin from Catalonia.She has taken singing, acting and ballet classes from a young age. She has studied with important artists such as Víctor Ullate, Coco Comín and Glòria Gella. At the age of sixteen she started her career in musical theatre.

  Chanel moved to Madrid to start her acting career. During the 2010s she participated in stage musicals such as Mamma Mia!, Flashdance, El guardaespaldas and El rey león. As a dancer, she has worked with different artists. In 2010, she was part of danced Shakira's performance at the MTV Europe Music Awards

  Chanel took part in the castings for the Spanish stage production of West Side Story. She was one of the three finalists for the role of Anita. She also was between the five finalists worldwide for the same role in Steven Spielberg's film version of the musical, West Side Story.

   

   

  5.Germany: Malick Harris - "Rockstars"

  

   Last rehearsal for the week but not least is Germany's Malick Harris singing 'Rockstars'. Malick appears on the stage with his casual attire and at the beginning of the song while he gets hold of his guitaras the song progrsses. 

  Good vocals for Malick which doesn't need much to showcase his Rockstar quality on stage. A good rehearsal for Malick that connect with the audience. 

   

  A few words for Malik

  Malik Harris comes from near Landsberg am Lech. The German-American has already landed hits in the airplay charts and has released his first album "Anonymous Colonist". Malik has also already completed his first tour and has also supported the likes of James Blunt, Alex Clare, Jeremy Loops, Tom Odell and LP. He was the first German artist to be seen on a Times Square billboard in New York City for a week when his single "When We've Arrived" was released in October 2020. And Malik has a well-known father: ex-talk show host Ricky Harris.

  According to Malik, his Eurovision entry is the most personal song he has published to date. He says about his song: 
  

  Rockstars' is a 'song that means so much to me personally and is intended to offer a glimmer of hope, especially at this difficult time, while also showing that we're all in the same boat.' I can't wait to play the song live and to share it with many people." 

   

   

  News Source: Eurovision.tv

  Photo credit: Corinne Cumming

   

   

   

   

   

AUTHORS

Angelos D.
Loyal follower of the Eurovision Song Contest since 1987, I've made the competition one of the stories of my life. After attending as accredited press the event for 13 consecutive years along with the 2017-2024 JESC editions, I also enjoy the last three years sharing more Eurovision music through the Eurofans radio's project.