🇲🇰 TES Reviews : Vasil shines bright for North Macedonia

The fifth participant to rehearse today is North Macedonia who is represented by Vasil, who will be competing in this year’s competition with their entry ‘Here I Stand’.

What did we think of the rehearsal?

A silhouette of Vasil alone on stage starts the performance with a single spotlight. The camera follows around Vasil as he sings the first verse. On-screen graphics then appear on Vasil’s chest in the chorus, which slowly expands and trickles out in a Jamala tree-esque fashion.

The song’s dramatic build prompts a much brighter stage show, with golds and orange lights and backgrounds filling the stage. Vasil then proceeds to rip off the front of his shirt to reveal a disco-ball vest. Bright white lights are then shot onto these mirrors, creating a Dotter-style effect. In the final note, Vasil bends with a strong vocal delivery, before looking down and doing a power stance as the song ends.

Now, what did the team think of North Macedonia’s rehearsal?

Rory: For a song that was considered dead in the water, the staging for “Here I Stand” has elevated the message! Vasil looks strong standing on his own, emphasising the personal aspect of his song. I do enjoy the gold elements of this and the trickling lights in the first chorus really add some nice dynamics to the show. Not entirely sold on the mirrorball shirt, but I understand what he’s trying to go for. It’s definitely a respectable entry for North Macedonia and the sleek production after Australia will help to calm people down.

Jazzi: This staging was really good, Vasil is vocally amazing! I am unsure whether it will be enough to see North Macedonia through to the final given the strength of this semi, but this is definitely something Vasil and the North Macedonian team can be proud of.

Rosie: There are some really beautiful moments in this staging, and some great ideas, though ultimately it feels a bit cluttered and not cohesive enough to showcase what the big selling point of this song is – Vasil’s voice. Something a little simpler could have really helped here, and while every element works on its own (the first chorus with the heart and veins overlay is really beautiful!), it doesn’t quite form a full package to me. Vasil sounds fantastic, as we expected, though.

What do you think of Vasil’s first rehearsal? Let us know in the comments below or at social media. Don’t forget to follow ‘THAT Eurovision Site’ over at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

News Source: That Eurovision Site / EBU

Photo Source: Martin Trajanovski