Eurovision Song Contest fans were “moved to tears” by powerful performances during the contest’s first Semi-Final, which took place tonight (May 9, 2023) at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena.
The United Kingdom are hosting the 2023 contest on behalf of last year’s winners Ukraine who are unable to host due to the ongoing war.
The Semi-Finals and Grand Final will include emotive, exciting and unforgettable moments that underline this year’s contest slogan: United by Music, along with films celebrating host city Liverpool and last year’s winner’s Ukraine.
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As part of Semi-Final One, The X-Factor’s Rebecca Ferguson delivered a powerful and moving duet with Ukranian singer Alyosha, who represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010.
(Image: ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
Their performance told a story of hope, courage and support for the people of Ukraine from across the globe, as Aloysha and Rebecca sang a new arrangement of Duran Duran’s Ordinary World.
It also told Alyosha’s personal journey of having to leave Ukraine and loved ones behind, with the story told through mixed media and dance performances alongside Alyosha and Rebecca Ferguson’s incredible vocals.
Fans were moved to tears by the powerful performance, with many taking to social media as one viewer said: “Cried during Rebecca Ferguson and Alyosha’s touching tribute at #Eurovision dedicated to refugees from Ukraine – powerful visuals and genuinely beautiful performance.”
While another added: “Huge well done to the staging/lighting crew…the effects were amazing.”
A third wrote: “I was crying at the end of the song. It was so amazing just can not find the right words to describe it.”
(Image: Andy Von Pip/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)
The Semi-Final also opened with a film featuring a young Liverpudlian boy travelling across the city telling his family, friends and neighbours that the world’s greatest music competition was arriving in his hometown.
The film moved to the arena, where following a beautiful rendition of Electric Dreams, Eurovision Song Contest host Julia Sanina performed Маяк by her band The Hardkiss.
Translating from the Ukrainian for “Lighthouse”, the performance symbolised in many ways how the UK is “United by Music” with Ukraine through the hosting the 2023 Contest on behalf of the 2022 winners.
(Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
One viewer said of the start of the show: “Wow! The Opening Performance for #Eurovision2023was so powerful.”
While another beamed: “Definitely loving this #Eurovision. opening song”
The first Semi-Final saw 15 countries competing for a place in the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final on Saturday May 13, 2023 – with results of the first 10 acts going through to the final due to be announced tonight.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will be broadcast live from Liverpool on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. Semi-Final 1 is broadcast Tuesday 9 May at 8pm, Semi-Final 2 is broadcast Thursday 11 May at 8pm, and the Grand Final is broadcast on Saturday 13 May at 8pm.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
