Hungary | Joci Papai returns to the Eurovision Stage

This morning kicked off an exciting two week lead up to the final with the start of first rehearsals! Join us over the next four days as we take a look at the first rehearsals of all competing semi finalists. For the first day of rehearsals, the nine countries drawn to the first half of the first semi final will take to the stage.

Image Credit: Nikolett Kaszner (Eurovision.tv)

Up next and the final nation to rehearse before the afternoon break is Hungary! No stranger to the Eurovision stage, 2017's representative Joci Papai is back for another stab at taking the Eurovision title! Two years ago he placed eighth with 'Origo' but this time he is back with the very sentimental 'Az én apám' - a song about Joci's own father.

Hungary have qualified for the final every year since their return in 2011, securing three top tens in this time. Joci won the right to represent Hungary for a second time in three years after winning Hungarian national selection show 'A Dal' - beating out 29 other participants over 7 weeks. Since appearing in Eurovision back in Kyiv, Joci has released a string of original music which has all charted in Hungary and we are super excited that he will be bringing his gypsy folk tune to the Eurovision stage once again.

Image Credit: Andres Putting (Eurovision.tv)

HUNGARY - FIRST REHEARSAL

Joci starts his performance by sitting on a podium and performs intimately to the camera - he is also barefoot. The rest of the performance continued to be really pretty and for those who cannot speak or understand Hungarian, the imagery of the 'fathers' on the screens should be allow people to identify the song meaning. In contrast to his 2017 performance, Joci is a lot more reserved and it comes across more heartfelt.

The colours are mostly dark with golden star-like trails illuminate the stage. After the first chorus, the trails begin to disintegrate a photo of a father appears and then then faces of many other men appear (in black and white) and float around the backdrop around the stars - which consists of golden fragments rising from the ground. Overall the staging is magical - with a golden pyro curtain closing the final performance.