Sweden, Finland, Austria: Who will win the song contest?

One thing is certain: in the final, the cards will be reshuffled. Because this year the national expert juries – after irregularities in the previous year in the two semi-finals – were not entitled to vote for the first time. The qualified acts were able to score points with the audience – however, it is not known who did well and how well, the exact semi-final results will only be published after the final.

The juries are generally considered to be more conservative in their voting behavior. This could benefit the favorite Loreen in particular, who has given the Swedish pop manufacturer another hit with the well-known precise design “Tattoo”.

Favorite with small question marks

Loreen didn’t have to sing a note because they already had the betting shops in first place. But this advance praise has to be confirmed, especially by the audience: Compared to “Euphoria”, their winning song from 2012, “Tattoo” is much darker and only picks up speed quite late. The staging on stage is by no means carefree either. And the question must be allowed as to whether her ultra-long fingernails aren’t preventing one or the other from voting for her.

Finnish hardness

Exactly the opposite is the case with the Finnish rapper Käärijä, who has been the first challenger since Tuesday at the latest with “Cha Cha Cha”. His hard beats and the exalted stage show with bright green Hulk puff sleeves without a matching shirt probably appeals to a part of the audience. It remains to be seen how big this is and how those who prefer to hear beautifully sung songs will react. The juries are also considered to be rather reserved when it comes to numbers like this – and they could take it very badly if the Finn sings quite clearly on the right notes in the last, slower part of the song.

Austria back in the final

For the first time in five years, Austria also made it into the final on Thursday. Teya & Salena, who compete with their self-written song “Who the Hell Is Edgar?”, already caused a roaring hall in the semi-finals. In Liverpool, the two young women are considered to be one of those acts that reliably ensure a good atmosphere backstage and whose performances even erupt in cheers in the press center. Apart from their stage performance, Teya & Salena collect sympathy points in interviews and press conferences – also because behind the song suitable for parties there is not only a feminist message but also a criticism of the music business.

Ukraine as partner and co-favourite

It is difficult to predict the chances of those countries that did not have to go through the trouble of a semi-final, but are directly qualified for Saturday: the big countries France, Great Britain, Spain, Italy and Germany as well as last year’s winner Ukraine, who after the triumph of the Kalush Orchestra won the competition is not allowed to host it itself, but receives a lot of attention as a partner in the shows from the host Great Britain. And the Ukraine seems to live up to its reputation for contributing titles with good prospects to the song contest this year. At the start is the duo Tvorchi, the electro pop song „Heart Of Steel“ is catchy and can usually be found in the top five in betting shops.

Italy not in the top league this year?

Italy, which has stood out with exceptionally good contributions in recent years, sends Marco Megoni. His text-heavy song “Two lives” it may lack a bit of catchiness for a seat at the front. Better chances are given to the French singer La Zarra, who is known for the cool electronic chanson “Obviously” also literally delivers quite high quality.

Representing the host country is Mae Muller, who is with „I Wrote A Song“ contributes a thoroughly pleasing number. But it will probably not be enough for a result like last year, when her compatriot Sam Ryder took second place. The Spanish contribution turned out to be very Spanish. Blanca Paloma brings along “Eaea” lots of emotion and atmosphere on stage.

Don’t be afraid of wild men

And then there is Germany. The dark rock band Lord of the Lost was sent on their journey to Liverpool in the preliminary round, primarily thanks to the votes of the audience. „Blood & Glitter“ is a pretty brave and probably also catchy rock song, which is only supposed to seem wilder than it is because of the band outfit and a few emotive words in the lyrics. This should particularly appeal to those who suspect irony where there is none.

When it comes to real rock fans, the Australians Voyager are competing with the Germans. “Promise” is also a quite conventionally knitted song, which also comes in an 80s outfit, including hair crimes and strap-on keyboards.

You have to wait until start number 25 for the craziest act of the year. The Croatian rock cabaret band Let 3 delivers what feels like three songs in one and rock-hard political satire that’s as hairy as a leg after a strip in fine rib. Neighboring Slovenia completes the group of bands in the finale with a slightly nicer demeanor: with “Carpe Diem” Joker Out explores how far you can get with an indie number in the song contest.

women with and without opportunities

In addition to Loreen, there are also a few other solo artists in the running this year – but their chances in Liverpool are as varied as their performances. With Noa Kirel and “Unicorn”, Israel is sending a national pop star into the race, who only sings half the number to be on the safe side and then concentrates on almost naked floor dancing. The Norwegian candidate Alessandra, who is also well acted, is also missing her pants, but her Viking anthem “Queen of Kings” is much more brutal.

Poland likes to polarize and this year with top model winner and influencer Blanka. She smiles professionally and snotty at rumors of fraud at the national preliminary round in Liverpool, but with her performance on stage one could think she was performing at a Caribbean playback summer hit competition.

Timeless song contest material

For Armenia, Brunette and “Future Lover” are songs from the old song contest school – a ballad-like start, big build-up. Similarly Alika from Estonia with “Bridges” – a lot of voice, a lot of pathos – little recognition value. Unsurprisingly, Portugal’s Mimicat ranks at the bottom end of the bookmakers’ ranking – even reaching the final with the flamenco cabaret number “Ai coracao” was a surprise. But it was just as great about the advancement of Monika Linkyte from Lithuania, who could have competed (and eliminated) 20 years ago with “Stay” and her four-piece background choir.

Only trace elements from Ethnopop

The Czech Republic’s performance this year is difficult to assess: With “My Sister’s Crown”, the six-woman band Vesna delivers one of the most complex songs in the starting field. She scores with very little subtle Ukraine support message – others, like the performance with overly long braids, remain rather cryptic.

Albania, on the other hand, is not a big mystery. From there, the young singer Albina Kelmendi came to Liverpool, supported by three siblings and parents: Balkan folklore and a choreography with red scarves can almost never be missing from the song contest and will always get votes from somewhere. A genre that is also not well represented this year – ethno in the dance version – brings Pasha Parfeni to Moldova with “Soarele si luna”. With him he has an esoteric text in Romanian, a flute solo (since Go_A 2021 and the Kalush Orchestra last year also socially acceptable in the song contest) and dancers with horn hairstyles.

A double rarely comes alone

This year, two male participants trigger a double alarm in at least one case. Gustaph from Belgium, who mixes gospel and house for the feel-good number “Because Of You”, names Boy George as his role model, which he would find difficult to hide optically. With the Serbian representative Luke Black, on the other hand, the imitation of Trent Reznor – optically, facially and vocally – is unmistakable. The dark staging with LED mega monsters stands out, but it could still have a hard time finding fans.

standing and lying

The majority of the single men – who, by the way, were lying around on the floor relatively often this year – were already screened out in the semi-final shows. However, Remo Forrer from Switzerland made it into the final, whose anti-war piano ballad “Watergun” is one of those songs that you think you’ve known from somewhere forever. And Cyprus can continue with the Australian Andrew Lambrou, who with “Break a Broken Heart” offers full of fervor and hectoliters of LED waterfalls.