68th Song Contest
Ireland causes a scary alarm at the Song Contest
Starting signal for the 68th Song Contest! Our Kaleen was allowed to watch the first semi-final in peace and quiet, for her it won't get serious until Thursday. But on Tuesday evening, Malmö was already buzzing - with wild Croatian rockers, weird Finns and a creepy bambie from Ireland, among others. The grand final on Saturday was made up of Serbia, Portugal, Slovenia, Ukraine, Latvia, Finland, Cyprus, Croatia, Ireland and Luxembourg.
Malmö kicked off the 68th Song Contest on Tuesday with a colorful show, this year's motto being "United by Music". A total of 15 nations competed that evening for a ticket to the grand final on Saturday.
The wind machine is back!
The Song Contest finally kicked off this year with an absolute beach party feeling from Cyprus, as Australian singer Silia Kapsis got the hall boiling with her song "Liar".
And many a fan was delighted that the wind machine was already in action during the first song.
Serbia then struck a darker note: Teya Dora sang the song "Ramonda", a flower that stands for the armistice in the First World War in the Balkan country. Things continued on a brisker note with Lithuania, as Silvester Belt brought cool electro-synth pop with "Luktelk".
Creepy allowed!
On the other hand, Ireland's entry this year was scary. Because Bambie Thug probably gave many an ESC fan a fright with "Doomsday Blue".
"I would never have dreamed that you could be scared of Babmi," said many a viewer at home who couldn't believe what they were seeing. "Aha, gothy Billie Eilish," added another.
Divine assistance
The Ukrainian singers Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil probably entered the ESC stage with divine assistance - after all, they sang about Mother Teresa and the Mother of God in "Teresa & Maria".
"Why all the rocks?" asks one ESC fan on X. "Was the iron throne out of stock?"
Luna from Poland then floated across the ESC stage like a college girl from another galaxy. Her song "The Tower" is about believing in yourself and building your own tower - as the architect of your own life.
Croatia rocked the 1st semi-final
Baby Lasagna from Croatia are already the winners of hearts. No wonder, because you simply have to rock along to their song "Rim Tim Tagi Dim" - whether at home or in the hall in Malmö!
The ESC fans also have Croatia at the top of their list. "I've just booked Zagreb 2025," wrote one on X. "And the 'woooaa' to sing along to - perfect!" cheers another.
Not THE Björk and (almost) naked facts
Björk at the ESC? Yes! But not THE Björk, but Hera Björk. However, the Icelander is an ESC repeat offender and tried her luck at the Song Contest again this year after 14 years with "Scared Of Heights".
There were (almost) naked facts to marvel at in Slovenia. Because the blonde Raiven attracted everyone's attention in her nude suit. The song "Veronika" almost became a minor matter ...
This sexy outfit probably made many ESC fans at home blush. "As a gentleman, of course I only look at the parts that aren't transparent," joked one viewer. Another added: "In Slovenia, all the clothes shops are closed."
They're crazy, the Finns!
Just when you think you've seen it all at the Song Contest, Finland comes around the corner. With Windows95man, the Scandinavians have definitely won the prize for the most bizarre ESC act this year - although Alf Poier should like the choreography for "No Rules". A little bit of fun is a must.
"You always have to celebrate Finland!" says a song contest fan on X.
A millionaire's wife wants to know
Millionaire's wife Natalia Barbu has at least one - filthy rich - fan: her Romanian husband Nicolae Sota, 26 years her senior. But of course Moldova also kept its fingers crossed for the folklore song "In The Middle".
Azerbaijan's representative this year, Fahree, is actually a law graduate - who only decided to follow his childhood dream and become a musician during the pandemic. His ballad "Özünlə Apar" was therefore somewhat legalistic and sober ...
Australia with a cool sound
The duo Electric Fields from Australia, on the other hand, had a cool sound. The non-binary Aboriginal artist Zaachariaha Fielding and DJ Michael Ross used the language of the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara people for their song "One Milkali".
"Australia delivers - as always," said one ESC fan on X. Another was already worried about Austria's points: "I fear that the similarity in name to Austria has been costing us important points for a few years now."
A little melancholy is a must
Fado was back on the program for Portugal this year. Iolanda Costa, who sang about inner strength and the development of personality in "Grito", knows that a little melancholy is a must.
"Pyjama ballet, why not," said one fan. "The white Manda", added another.
Big ESC comeback from Luxembourg
At the end of the illustrious starting field of the first semi-final, Luxembourg celebrated its big comeback. It had to be 31 years before the Grand Duchy was represented at the Song Contest again. A big task that rested on the shoulders of young Tali and her song "Fighter" - and she mastered her task with flying colors.
Ex-song contestants set the mood
Before this year's candidates, however, ESC stars from previous years also took to the stage. Cyprus' Eleni Foureira and her hit "Fuego" sent the hall into a frenzy, but Spain's Chanel with "SloMo" was also celebrated.
The "Big Five" also performed
There is also a small innovation this year: the "Big Five" - Spain, Italy, Great Britain, France and Germany - and last year's winners Sweden have to perform live in the semi-finals this time, even though they already have their ticket to the final in the bag.
The first semi-final featured Olly Alexander from Great Britain, ISAAK from Germany and Marcus and Martinus from Sweden, among others.
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