Eurovision 2025

[EurovisionFanGirl]

We have had Super Saturday, A good dozen songs are confirmed.

We have controversy in the song from Malta and the Maltese word for singing. Essentially the whole of Finland’s song is arguably even more controversial. Ireland are singing about the Russian dog sent to space in the 50s. Our band has possibly been leaked as a country girl group. Mans might be back for Sweden.

Anyone getting excited yet? Any opinions on the songs so far?

Gah thread
No one is threatening me!!!

Thanks for the live semi thread - I have added it to my watchlist.

Looking at the list of songs for the first semi-, there are more than 10 that either I like or are probably popular enough to be safe so I’m probably going to be disappointed. I suspect Iceland and Portugal will be the ones that I like that don’t get through, I would rather lose Ukraine and either the Netherlands or Albania.

For semi-final, two, I agree with the top seven in the odds and after that I don’t mind so hopefully I’ll be happy.

Actually, I take that back. I would like Denmark and Armenia to go through as well and they are 12 and 14 in the semi-final two qualifying odds so fingers crossed for those two.

Portugal are very like Ukraine's entry this year. Of the two I do think Ukraine's is better and because it's Ukraine more likely to pick up votes.

The betting puts out Slovenia, Portugal, Iceland, Azerbaijan and Croatia, with Poland, Belgium and San Marino at risk. Everyone else looks fairly safe.

Of those I do think Croatia and Portugal are definitely toast. But I think there could be an upset or two from the others. San Marino may suffer from being the third Italian language song - keeping in mind that Italy can't vote for this semi too. They are currently 10th in the betting. They are my pick for unexpectedly not getting through.

I think Iceland has that so bad it's good vibe going on and it wouldn't surprise me if the UK or Ireland give it daft points due to Jedward.

I really think that a good performance by Azerbaijan or Slovenia might cause an upset if someone else under performs. Last year the surprise was Latvia's Dons getting through with Hollow, the year before it was Estonia getting through with Bridges. Both were big ballads and that's what Slovenia is. They don't tend to do well in the public vote - but the last two years they have precisely because there's not been many entries that have been solo ballads. So you never know.

Belgium had a shocker last year with strained vocals - he was expected to qualify but choked badly and was (rightly) eliminated. It was a song I really liked but it just was a terrible performance. So it does happen. This year's Belgium entry will not want a repeat so I bet there's some heavy rehearsals going on there!

There's two reasons I think Poland will probably qualify despite being in the danger zone; the visuals and the costume.

Looking at the odds for SF1, I can see Iceland going through at the expense of San Marino. The rehearsal video looked quite disjointed, and DJs tend to struggle at Eurovision.

I think both Greece and Lithuania could be shock non-qualifiers in SF2. Especially as neither country has a great place in the running order.

Also - let’s face it - singing whilst standing on a rock (Greece) isn’t exactly groundbreaking staging. And Lithuania is quite repetitive and downbeat and rather grey.

Yes San Marino is a bit odd live even though the song is really fun. It might not catch the imagination on the night. It just doesn’t fit with the live performance vibe (even though they have live singers)

I also noticed that both returning artists (Justyna for Poland, and Nina for Montenegro) got the #2 slots in the semis. Which seems like a weird coincidence.

Aww - Lithuania - I really liked it when I first heard it and was excited to have that sort of music in Eurovision but as I’ve listened over the weeks it just hasn’t grown on me and as you say it’s a bit too down beat and repetitive.

I think coming just before Malta could hurt Lithuania. Are they memorable enough to overcome that?

The betting has Ireland, Armenia, Latvia, Denmark, Montenegro and Georgia as the non qualifiers with Lithuania, Greece, Serbia and Luxembourg in the danger zone.

I'm totally with the comments about Lithuania. I just don't see it making it. I think a good performance will see Ireland scrap through at their expense.

I can't see Luxembourg dropping the ball. It's quirky and fun and that will see it through.

I think Denmark is toast. There are three plus size ladies in this semi and I think that seals her fate. The other two are racier and better. Likewise I think Montenegro and Georgia are out due to having no redeeming features.

Latvia is the only really unusual ethnic type of performance in the competition this year (the Balkan/Turkish/Greek and Latin sound are much less niche so I tend to not group as 'ethnic'. I'm somewhat missing good old Moldova this year on that score). Latvia is not that unlike Czechia's My Sister's Crown from 2023 which did well but it's darker and just not as good. I just can't see it escaping.

I don't mind Armenia, being on the heavier side might save it (there's nothing similar in the competition) but the treadmill won't and risks undermining the quality of performance. I don't fancy his chances as a result. Few can pull off that level of exercise / singing. But I am struggling to see who goes out in their place. I think Greece is unoriginal but it's in a popular niche with it's sound.

Serbia is Serbia and always defies all logic so I'm going to say they will qualify.

I think having no backing singers on stage and largely relying on the backing track for the chorus will count against Armenia. Or at least, that’s been bothering me since the national final.

He is half naked though. That will pull in some votes given the audience!

Yeah. Greece should really have brought drums played by gorgeous topless men and maybe a battle horn!!

I feel I should add that both my kids (they’re 19 and 20) dislike Armenia almost as much as they dislike Croatia this year. They’re well versed in Eurovision - we watched every year all the way back to 2010 during lockdown. With scorecards.

Azerbaijan's rehearsal perform had weak vocals. Doomed. I swear they have recycled their costumes from last year which were made from pleather and duct tape.

Croatia is truly awful isn't it?? Just next level BAD.

Is it bad that I can’t actually remember Azerbaijan’s song from last year? Or indeed anything about their performance.

Croatia is dreadful

Although songs about food/baking often are. Latvia in particular have had some shockers in this area (2014, 2022).

I didn't think Latvia 2022 was that bad!

Australia definitely bucks the trend. The costume change is brilliant. They are qualifying for that alone.

Azerbaijan exited at the semis last year.

It wasn't great. I only remember their costumes looked like someone had duct taped them together. We have much the same effect this year. Do they have clothing in Azerbaijan?

DD is absolutely convinced that Azerbaijan isn’t a real place. I don’t think they’ve done anything particularly memorable with staging since the bonkers horse head/stepladder year.

I’m unconvinced by France’s staging. She looks like she’s being sandblasted at the beginning of the rehearsal clip! I doubt that was what they were aiming for.

It looks like she is trying to sing whilst getting mouthfuls of sand! I think its towards the end of the clip. It must be horrible trying to get it out of your clothes and hair. Poor woman.

Denmark's used Sand in the staging last year. They were expected to qualify for the final, but they ended up coming 12th out 16th. I do think that the staging was why it suffered. She was so busy trying to keep sand up her sleeves and drop it at the right rate, she didn't belt it out.

Nerd fact, which I'm sure will be repeated a thousand times this week but to hell with it:

Formed in 2015, Ziferblat rose to prominence a few years later, when they took part in X-Factor Ukraine. On the 2019 edition of the show, they were mentored by Andriy Danylko – otherwise known to Eurovision fans as Verka Serduchka!

Estonia? WTAF