Last finalists of the Eurovision festival are chosen today: everything about the second semi-final – Music

Malta, Albania, Greece, Switzerland, Czechia, Austria, Czechia, Austria, Denmark, Armenia, Latvia, San Marino, Georgia, Belgium, Estonia, Israel, Norway and the Netherlands compete this Thursday, May 9th, for a place in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest.

The second semi-final of the competition starts at 8pm (mainland Portugal time), but will only be broadcast on RTP1 after 10:30pm.

In the second round, 16 songs compete, but only 10 will win passage to the grand final, scheduled for Saturday, May 12th.

Performances of the 2nd Semifinal:

1. Malta – “Loop” by Sarah Bonnici
2. Albania – “Titan” by Besa
3. Greece – “Zari” by Marina Satti
4. Switzerland – “The Code” by Nemo
5. Czechia – “Pedestal” by Aiko
6. Austria – “We Will Rave​” by Kaleen
7. Denmark – “Sand” by Saba
8. Armenia – “Jako” by Ladaniva.
9. Latvia – “Hollow” by Dons
10. San Marino – “11:11” by Megara
11. Georgia – “Firefighter” by Nutsa Buzaladze
12. Belgium – “Before the Party’s Over” by Mustii
13. Estonia – “(nendest) narkootikumidest hey tea me (küll) midagi” by 5miinust & Puuluup
14. Israel – “Hurricane” by Eden Golan
15. Norway – “Ulveham” by Gåte
16. Netherlands – “Europapa” by Joost Klein

The first finalists

Portugal’s representative at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest, iolanda with the song “Grito”, secured on Tuesday, May 7th, passage to the final of the contest, scheduled for Saturday in Malmö, Sweden.

In addition to “Grito”, songs from Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Finland, Cyprus, Croatia, Ireland and Luxembourg were also chosen to advance to the final.

In the first semi-final, which was broadcast live in Portugal on RTP1, 15 songs competed for ten places. Poland, Iceland, Moldova, Azerbaijan and Australia were left out of the final.

In each semi-final, ten countries qualify for the final. Each country’s televote is worth 50% of the total score and the other 50% is up to the opinion of music industry experts, chosen by the country in question.

This year, 37 countries participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, but only 26 reach the final: the ten chosen in the first semi-final, ten who will be selected this Thursday, in the second semi-final, and the so-called ‘Big Five’ (France, Germany , Spain, United Kingdom and Italy) and the host country.

Portugal participated in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 1964, having, however, missed five editions (in 1970, 2000, 2002, 2013 and 2016). Between 2004 and 2007, inclusive, and in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2019, Portugal failed to reach the final.

Portugal won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first and only time in 2017, with the song “Love for both”, performed by Salvador Sobral and composed by Luísa Sobral. Following the victory, Lisbon hosted the competition the following year.

Last year, Portugal came in 23rd place in the Eurovision Song Contest, with Mimicat and the song “Ai Coração”.