Announced in this order, Latvia, Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Israel, Greece, Estonia, Switzerland, Georgia and Armenia are the last finalists qualified for the final of the Eurovision Festival, which will take place this Saturday, in Malmö, Sweden. .
Along the way were Malta, Albania, Czechia, Denmark, San Marino and Belgium.
The most recent finalists were selected in the second semi-final of the competition, which took place this Thursday night, and join Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Finland, Cyprus, Croatia, Ireland and Luxembourg in the final.
It should be noted that after being booed by the public inside the Malmö Arena at the general rehearsal in the afternoon, the performance of “Hurricane” by Eden Golan representing Israel took place without incident, at least on television: some initial boos were replaced by silence and then applause at some points.
16 songs were in competition at tonight’s gala, with only 10 making it to the grand final.
Performances of the 2nd Semifinal:
- Malta – “Loop” by Sarah Bonnici
- Albania – “Titan” by Besa
- Greece – “Zari” by Marina Satti
- Switzerland – “The Code” by Nemo
- Czechia – “Pedestal” by Aiko
- Austria – “We Will Rave” by Kaleen
- Denmark – “Sand” by Saba
- Armenia – “Jako” by Ladaniva.
- Latvia – “Hollow” by Dons
- San Marino – “11:11” by Megara
- Georgia – “Firefighter” by Nutsa Buzaladze
- Belgium – “Before the Party’s Over” by Mustii
- Estonia – “(nendest) narkootikumidest hey tea me (küll) midagi” by 5miinust & Puuluup
- Israel – “Hurricane” by Eden Golan
- Norway – “Ulveham” by Gåte
- Netherlands – “Europapa” by Joost Klein
iolanda and her “Scream”
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.
According to online bookmakers, the passage of the Portuguese song was very likely, but with her performance on the stage of the arena in the city of Malmö, iolanda managed to win over the public. On social media, the artist’s performance was also praised by fans of the contest.
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.
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”.
The controversy with Israel
Israel’s participation generated controversy, with several appeals from political representatives and European artists to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), to veto that country’s participation due to the war in the Gaza Strip.
At the end of March, representatives from nine countries, including Portugal, signed a letter in which they called for an “immediate and lasting ceasefire” in Israel’s war in Palestine and the return of all Israeli hostages.
In the letter, the artists began by stating that they recognize “the privilege of participating in Eurovision”, but that they do not feel “comfortable in remaining silent” given the “current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in particular in Gaza and Israel”.
In addition to the representative of Portugal, interpreters from Ireland, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Lithuania and Finland signed this letter.
At the time, the EBU recalled that the festival is an “apolitical” event. However, in 2022 it was decided to expel Russia from the competition following the invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, iolanda appeared on the ‘turquoise runway’ (where representatives from all countries parade, thus marking the beginning of the competition’s live shows), in Malmö, wearing a dress from a Palestinian brand and her nails painted. with the pattern of the ‘keffiyeh’, a scarf that is a symbol of Palestinian resistance.
Israel was the first non-European country to participate in the music competition, in 1973, and has won four times, including with transgender singer Dana International, in 1998.
Tags: Israel among Eurovision finalists complete list countries compete final Iolanda included Music
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