Eurovision in Concert 2023 took place in AFAS Live in Amsterdam, last night, with 29 of this year’s entrants performing live.
The concert was hosted by Cornald Maas and Hila Noorzai. Cornald has been the Dutch Eurovision commentator since 2006. Hila is a radio DJ and member of the committee that selected this year’s Dutch representatives (Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper). She also hosted the Eurovision 2021 press conference in Rotterdam.
The artists that performed last night were the following:
Albania – Albina & Kelmendi Familija
Balcan sounds and consistent vocals is what we got from Albina and the Kelmendi Family! Might be the suprise entry of this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UKBP_v3BPY
Armenia – Brunette
Brunette singing about her Future Lover with ethereal vocals and the crowds singing along. Beautiful performance!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KspC8I7MXl0
Australia – Voyager
Voyager give what they promise! Rock and electronic sounds, so 2025! What is concerning though, is that even though their song is supposed to be very uplifting, the crowd was too static. Also falsetto was not always on point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx73Q68eWwU
Austria – Teya & Salena
That’s not a song where you can show off some unreal vocals, however it’s the song that will definitely make you dance! And Teya & Salena deliver, solid vocals and much much fun! One of my personal favourites and if you ask me, a finalist and highly likely a Top5 entry!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdh6cFfcfKo
Azerbaijan – TuralTuranX
TuralTuranX “tell us more” about their entry this year, however I’m still not getting it. A song that I could listen to the radio without complaining, but wouldn’t catch my eye/ear at the contest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XiT0RvJPn0
Belgium – Gustaph
The queerest entry of the year! His vocals are as good as the studio version! He is a fun guy! This is the kind of entries that I would like to qualify, even though that’s not the style of songs that I normally listen to!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgx-CPHRx5A
Czechia – Vesna
I can only comment on their vocals. They were okay. However, this entry started off as a potential winner, but I’m not getting that vibe, at least not yet. But hey! It’s just a party performance! Let’s wait for their contest rehearsals!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CocNlkxpxdg
Denmark – Reiley
Danish heart-throb Reiley, had his best performance to date. Some minor vocal issues, but overall a nice performance!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuT–QEIyag
Estonia – Alika
Nice song and great vocals! But for me, it’s no more than just that. I wouldn’t be surprised if Estonia got disqualified.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UKYFFFWjgU
Finland – Käärijä
Normally, that’s a song that I can’t stand listening to for more than 10 seconds. Strangely, combined to his eccentric looks and his super nice personality, I could now handle listening to his entire Amsterdam performance! Personal opinion aside, I can totally see why this is a contender for the win.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd0n_sNDiAo
France – La Zarra
Unfortunately, after a statement in her personal Twitter account, La Zarra announced that she has to cancel her appearance in Amsterdam, due to personal circumstances.
Germany – Lord of the Lost
I can’t be objective, I don’t like this style of music. I can only be objective about their vocal abilities, which are on point I must admit!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmPSRnNpd0A
Iceland – Diljá
That’s a song that I would add to my daily playlist, however, this song lacks something that I still don’t know what it is! Diljá’s voice is great admitedly!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjjsWy1R93k
Ireland – Wild Youth
“Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall” x “Ritmo De La Noche” x “We Are One” would be a great mashup! I low-key like this song and I loved their Amsterdam performance. But something tells me that they will struggle to qualify this year. Let’s see what happens!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NY6OODALZU
Latvia – Sudden Lights
Another performance that sounds exactly like the recorded version of their song! I didn’t see the love from the AFAS Live crowd.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1qFm5Wtkgg
Lithuania – Monika Linkytė
Monika definitely sounds even better than the studio version of the song. She will try to claim a high placement in the rankings of the jury voting in this year’s contest! In the beginning I didn’t quite like “Stay“, I can now say that I love her vocals on this track!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSO-3m9J1js
Malta – The Busker
They were not bad, not at all sounding bad live, but were they as good as it needs to be to qualify to the final show of Eurovision Song Contest? Song-wise I think not.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIswu3YrrfU
Moldova – Pasha Parfeni
Despite the technical issues with his Madrid performance, Pasha, the Moldovan 2012 representative and returning artist of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, managed to pull off his performance. Great vocals and energy overall!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7LsW-dA_0U
Netherlands – Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper
It’s really sad to see my 2nd place to perform questionably in their own country’s party concert. Their vocals sound a bit off at times and as a duo their vocals don’t seem to connect on their live performance. I hope they fix it till their semi-final, I don’t want to see them become the shocking non-qualifier of the year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toUGDak3o1Y
Norway – Alessandra
Very much improved vocally, Alessandra, gets carried away by the strength of her song and her fans are absolutely loving it! The whistle note was so-so. She will improve, I am sure!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F97_a4eMpK0
Romania – Theodor Andrei
Theodor has a nice voice, but this song is totally “Off and On” so one would either like it or not. I don’t.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gyin57pzpcc
San Marino – Piqued Jacks
Their are very very good vocally. Their lead vocalist sounds like Klaus Meine, frontman of Scorpions band. Their song is not at all bad after all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqne0dGawhQ
Slovenia – Joker Out
I simply love this band and this song! One of my favourites! I love how they sound in each and every appearance they make before the contest. I hope they continue delivering up until the Eurovision finals!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7brJYVqqgZc
Spain – Blanca Paloma
A blend of flamenco and modern sounds, bringing Spanish tradition to 2023. Her vocals are absolutely amazing. I just don’t get the hype around this entry, it is a great entry for Spain, but definitely not a top 3 entry as many fans are claiming over at social media!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ycUxy4l00M
Sweden – Loreen
Her vocals are out of this world! Another amazing performance of the former Eurovision 2012 winner and potential 2023 winner! And for those that claim that she sings with the assistance of an Auto-Tune device, I can assure you that even when she rehearsed in the corridors of Malmö Arena or Friends Arena during the Melodifestivalen season, she sounded exactly the same, or even better than the studio version! My winner for sure!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlBuzqzjnIk
Switzerland – Remo Forrer
I absolutely love his Amsterdam (and every single one of his) live performance! I can’t wait to see this song complete and staged and Remo joined by his four dancers! I think he will qualify! But let’s wait and see!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGsRTZ5sPcA
Ukraine – TVORCHI
I love TVORCHI and their song and their Amsterdam performance. They sounded really really good, I am a fan of their style of music, but I don’t see this entry winning. Let’s see another country winning this year!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOFkzKOkc_k
United Kingdom – Mae Muller
Come on, she doesn’t sound as atrocious as most of the Twitter people claim. And at least she enjoys it and the crowd loves her! I hope she will do much better in Liverpool!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EMepsNxZUU
Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news about the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool!
Photo: EurovisionInConcert
