Here are more 2017 JESC thoughts on first set of rehearsals –

Cyprus: As expected, Cyprus comes with a visually beautiful show, so they are relying more on the performance than on the technical musical aspects. The song is, indeed, fun and atrractive for a contest like Junior Eurovision, it makes you feel like get up and dance and the chorus is easy to remember. Orange and yellow are the colors they chose and it’s perfect to create this greek summer atmosphere. The biggest problem is her vocals, she is struggling during the chorus and the long notes. Hope people can see her efforts and her passion. FABIANA

One of my personal favourites this year. Lots of energy on the stage. It is a great performance. The only slight negative is the clothing clashes with the background but there is still time to change this. IAN

It is a very catchy song and interesting dancers with orange shoes. The singer has an orange skirt but the jacket seems to clash with the background. Hopefully she will wave a star at the end of the performance on Sunday. ROY

FYR Macedonia: A fine and confident and mature performance. Mina owns the stage. The stage looks bright and colourful and she is looking good dressed in white. IAN

I guess the Macedonian delegation that they will be joining us in Lisbon. I can see this in Mina’s performance on the stage. I like her outfit with the hood. Her voice is sweet but there are lot of OOHs and AAAhs on the stage. Maybe too much. A little repetative. ROY

Macedonia came with some really good ideias, but not so good executions. One of the things that impresses is the slow motion during the ‘oh oh’, while Mina goes up and down the runway. The outfit is – sorry – terrible! Mina is such a beautiful girl, who should look amazing in every clothes, but not in a white surgical jacket with a hood. The only good thing about it is when she turns to the camera and the wind put the hood down. The background has a female silhouette dancing – predicatable – and some frenetical lines in green and pink. Vocally, an acceptable performance for the macedonian singer. FABIANA