The Eurovision final is scheduled for this Saturday, May 11th, in Malmö, Sweden, and the songs that will perform at the festival have already been chosen. In total, there are 26 — from the two semi-finals there were 20 that went through to the next round, and they are joined by songs from the host country and the Big Five (United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy).
This year, the event that has always been characterized as apolitical is having a deeply politicized edition. After multiple calls for a boycott of Israel’s participation, the organization did nothing — and banned all flags that were not representative of countries or the LGBTQIA+ community. Several contestants subliminally showed their support for Palestine. On the day of the second semi-final, in which Israel was one of the competitors (which would go on to qualify for the final), thousands of people took to the streets in Malmö for the “end of the genocide” of the Palestinian people.
In the first semi-final, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Finland, Cyprus, Croatia, Ireland and Luxembourg qualified. These ten were joined, after being chosen in the second semi-final, by Latvia, Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Israel, Greece, Estonia, Switzerland, Georgia and Armenia.
According to bookmakers, Croatia is the big favorite for the 68th edition of the Eurovision festival, which will be broadcast this Saturday, live on RTP1, from 8pm.
Sweden: Marcus & Martinus — Unforgettable
The hosts will be the first to perform, without going through any semi-finals, and will have the typical Eurovision sound: a dance-pop that fits the festival, but does not promise high scores — the bookmakers put them in the middle of the table. The twins Marcus & Martinus are well-known faces in Sweden and released three albums between 2015 and 2016. In 2023, they competed in Melodifestivalen (Swedish equivalent to the Song Festival), having come in 2nd place, behind Loreen, winner of the 67th. th edition of the Eurovision festival.
Ukraine: alyona alyona & Jerry Heil — Teresa & Maria
The 2022 winner this year features a conversation between pop singer Jerry Heil and rapper alyona alyona, in which they evoke Mother Teresa and the Virgin Mary and show hope for the country’s future.
Germany: ISAAK — Always on the run
It will be the first of the Big Five to perform in the final of the Eurovision festival and is one of the Eurovision community’s least favorites, but it should be enough to surpass the 2023 result — Germany was ranked last, with just 18 points to go. Blood & glitter, from Lord of the Lost.
Luxembourg: TALI — Fighter
After 30 years out of the competition, Luxembourg returned to the competition and managed to reach the final, with Fighter, by TALI. The interpreter is of Israeli origin, moved to Luxembourg as a child and lives in New York. She traveled to Luxembourg to compete in the national finals of Luxembourg Song Contest and guaranteed the country’s presence in the Eurovision final. The country has not participated in the contest since 1993.
Netherlands: Joost Klein — Europapa
The song from the Netherlands is a European ode and declaration of love for the European Union. There are dances and a person dressed as a blue bird with the EU flag, on the screen behind Joos Klen images of European dishes are shown and in the chorus the performer repeats that he will stay in Europe “until he dies”. It’s one of the favorites to be in the top 10.
Israel: Eden Golan — Hurricane
Watching the broadcast of the second Eurovision semi-final, it seems that Eden Golan is being supported like any other performance. But videos from the audience shared on social media show the Israeli singer being booed during the performance. The ballad is one of the favorites to win — it is in second place at the bookmakers —, but demonstrations against Israel’s participation continue. On the day of the semi-final, more than 10 thousand people took to the streets for the “end of the genocide” and during the performance shouts could be heard for the “liberation of Palestine”.
Lithuania: Silvester Belt — Luktelk
Lithuania has never won the Eurovision contest — and it won’t be this time either. Lithuanian electro-pop Silvester Belt seems to follow the country’s previous entries and should be mid-table this year in Malmöin Sweden.
Spain: Nebula — Dolly
Even the Spanish Prime Minister has already spoken about the song that will represent Spain at Eurovision, after a feminist movement accused the nation of being misogynistic for using the word “zorra”, generally used in an offensive way towards women. The song’s authors, the duo Nebulossa, defended themselves, saying that the aim of the song was to criticize this misogyny. Pedro Sanchéz considered that “this type of provocation must come from culture”.
Estonia: 5MIINUST x Puuluup — (nendest) narkootikumidest hey tea me (küll) midagi
Estonia qualified in the second semi-final, but should not be able to come close to the 8th place they achieved last year with Bridgesby Alika.
Ireland: Bambie Thug — Doomsday blue
It’s one of this year’s favorite songs, contrary to what was expected when it won the national competition in Ireland. On the way to Sweden, Bambie Thug improved the scenarios, everything became (even) darker and stranger and, one day before the final, he is in the race for the top 3.
Latvia: Dons — Hollow
They are in last place at the bookmakers, but at least they are in the final, which hasn’t happened since 2016, the year in which Eurovision was also held in Sweden (this time, in Stockholm).
Greece: Marina Satti — Zari
She took to the stage sick in the second semi-final, passed and is a serious contender for the top ten places in the Eurovision final. Last year, Greece did not qualify for the final — which only happened three times in 43 appearances.
United Kingdom: Olly Alexander — Dizzy
The United Kingdom does not have to go through the semi-finals to reach the final as it is part of the five countries that are automatically qualified. This year, Olly Alexander, lead singer of the band Years & Years, was chosen to represent the country.
Norway: Gåte — Ulveham
Last year, Norway came 5th in Liverpool, but this year they look likely to be mid-table with Ulveham (wolf skin, in Portuguese), a type of folk metal with Norwegian elements.
Italy: Angelina Mango — La noia
Angelina Mango is the first woman to represent Italy since 2016, the year in which, also in Sweden, Francesca Michielin presented No degree of separation. Since 2017, the country has never dropped out of the top 6 and, in 2021, the band Maneskin won the Eurovision contest in Rotterdam.
Serbia: Teya Dora — Ramonda
The name of the song presented by the Serbian singer and songwriter refers to a flower, a symbol of remembrance of all the Serbian lives that were lost during the First World War. This is only the 16th time that Serbia has participated in the competition.
Finland: Windows95man — No rules!
The Finnish interpreter is wearing a cap and a short t-shirt with the Windows 95 logo. Down, almost nothing — just the inventive censorship of the Eurovision broadcast. After a great classification last year (Finland came in 2nd place), this edition promises a top 10.
Portugal: iolanda — Shout
O Shout by iolanda is an “ode to inner liberation”, as the interpreter told PÚBLICO. It was not certain — it seemed, in fact, unlikely — that it would go through to the final of the Eurovision festival, but it was one of those who qualified in the first semi-final.
Armenia: LADANIVA — Jake
The duo LADANIVA is inspired by sounds from around the world, particularly the Balkans, and brings them to their music. The country has only participated in the Eurovision contest 15 times and in recent years it has not been able to place at the top; this year seems to be no exception.
Cyprus: Silia Kapsis — Liar
Liar it’s another song in the Eurovision contest, it doesn’t particularly stand out, but there’s a lot of movement and bright clothes. Cyprus had its best ranking in 2018 with Fire, by Eleni Foureira. This year, everything points to it being in the last 10 places in the competition.
Switzerland: Nemo — The code
Switzerland is one of the countries in the race for 1st place in Eurovision. There are no screens or dancers, but Nemo fills the stage, jumps, runs, climbs an inclined platform and continues singing — in such a way that some people thought his voice could only be recorded.
Slovenia: Raiven — Veronica
Slovenia once again qualified for the Eurovision final, this time with Raiven, playing Veronica. Last year, the country came in 21st place and in the previous two years it had not reached the final. This Saturday, the 11th, it may be able to surpass last year’s classification, but not by much.
Croatia: Baby Lasagna — Rim tim tagi dim
Croatia is the big favorite to win Eurovision. Rim tim tagi dim It won over fans of the competition, who wrote in the comments on YouTube: “How nice of Baby Lasagna to have invited 17 countries to his concert.”
Georgia: Nutsa Buzaladze — Firefighter
2016 marked the last time Georgia qualified for the Eurovision final, when they finished 20th in the edition held in Stockholm. This year, he should get a better place — but not by much.
France: Slimane — Mon amour
This year, once again, França bet on a classic ballad that clashes with the tone of the other songs. The last time France had a good result was in 2021, with Voila by Barbara Pravi, but this year it seems possible to return to the top 10.
Austria: Kaleen — We will rave
We will rave is the song from Austria that Kaleen performs in the Eurovision final. It’s pop, it’s danceable, there are brilliant facts: success at Eurovision. Last year, Austria qualified for the final for the first time since 2018.
Tags: joins Iolandas Scream Eurovision finalist songs Eurovision
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