showbizThe results are in. Europe has chosen which countries will compete against each other in the final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday. Our entry Mustii still has to wait until Thursday, just like the Dutch candidate Joost Klein. Anyway: there was no shortage of spectacle today either. Who was allowed to continue, and who had to go home inglorious? You can read it here.
In this strong first semi-final, the bookmakers were largely right. Ukraine, Lithuania, Finland, Croatia and Ireland were certainties in the final, and did exactly what was expected of them. Serbia, Portugal, Cyprus and Luxembourg were also put forward by the bookies as certainties. Slovenia was thought to have no chance in advance, but Raiven proved them wrong.
Although her final place was not the only surprise that was noted. For example, the Swedish opening act Eric Saade had very subtly tied an Arafat scarf around his wrist, as a reference to the war and his father’s Palestinian roots. Nicole and Hugo were also discussed, and the late singer received a nice shoutout from the Swedish presenters. “Unfortunately, the fantastic Nicole passed away a year ago, with Hugo by her side,” it said. “If Hugo is now watching at home in Belgium: our thoughts are with you. Tonight we celebrate you and the late Nicole by seeing your beautiful legacy again in the Eurovision Song Contest, and by following in your brave footsteps.” After the match, VRT said that Hugo had no idea that such a tribute would follow.
view new updates
view important updates
23:19
These ten continue
Serbia, Portugal, Slovenia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Finland, Cyprus, Croatia, Ireland and Luxembourg.
23:17
And the tenth finalist is…
23:17
And the ninth finalist is…
23:16
And the eighth finalist is…
23:16
And the seventh finalist is…
23:15
And the sixth finalist is…
23:15
And the fifth finalist is…
23:15
And the fourth finalist is…
23:14
And the third finalist is…
23:14
And the first finalist is…
23:13
And the first finalist is…
23:07
Oh yeah…
The Swedish opening act did not follow the rules, and you can read all about that here.
23:02
There is the second intermediate act
Dance dance! Benjamin Ingrosso is there!
22:54
Done with voting
(but Belgium wasn’t allowed anyway)
22:43
And there is the middle act
Johnny Logan was allowed to come out (again)… to sing Loreen’s songs. Ouch.
22:36
The public has vestimentary doubts
This content contains cookies from social media or other external platforms. Because you have disabled these cookies, this content remains hidden. Accept cookies from social media to still display the content.
22:33
The return
No, not alone beatmeister Regi has a patent on ‘the return’ with Linda. Luxembourg, which stayed away from the Eurovision Song Contest for three decades, can also speak of a long-awaited return. The country has been there since the first edition in 1956 (with the exception of 1959, ed.), but decided to call it quits in 1993. However, Luxembourg could call itself a particularly successful candidate. Of their 37 entries, 20 ended up in the top ten, and Luxembourg actually won the Eurovision Song Contest five times.
Whether their 38th candidate Tali will add a sixth triumph? Not likely, but ‘Fighter’ does show that the Luxembourgers understand Eurovision music. The song is not only sung in French and English, but also has a catchy chorus.
This content contains cookies from social media or other external platforms. Because you have disabled these cookies, this content remains hidden. Accept cookies from social media to still display the content.
22:29
Endless
A high-quality song, in your own language. If there is one country that knows everything about this, it is Portugal. But unlike previous years – with The Black Mamba, Maro and Mimicat, among others – ‘Grito’ by singer Iolanda seems to be one of those songs where the record player got stuck, and therefore seems to last forever.
Too artistic for Eurovision, just like ‘Eaea’ by the Spanish Blanca Paloma last edition? Your Eurovision Song Contest wife thinks so.
This content contains cookies from social media or other external platforms. Because you have disabled these cookies, this content remains hidden. Accept cookies from social media to still display the content.
22:25
Doubtful case
This year will be the ninth time that Australia has attended the Eurovision Song Contest. The country took part for the first time in 2015, when the Eurovision Song Contest celebrated its sixtieth anniversary and Australia was invited as a (so to speak) one-off extra. Afterwards, the Aussies got such a taste that they have been there every year since then. In that time frame they have only failed to reach the final once, but that fate could befall them again this year.
According to the bookies, Electric Fields and their ‘One milkali (One Blood)’ – sung in English and an Aboriginal language – would just miss out in this first semi-final. Anyway: last year our entry Gustaph was also told that he would not qualify, and in the end he was happy for a seventh place.
This content contains cookies from social media or other external platforms. Because you have disabled these cookies, this content remains hidden. Accept cookies from social media to still display the content.
22:23
Is that you, Hugo Sigal?
Admittedly, they look alike.
And then the shoutout had to come!
load more
LOOK. Eurovision Song Contest presents stage
READ ALSO
A modern witch, a comic act and a comeback after thirty years: everything you need to know about the Eurovision Song Contest (+)
Why Australia may participate in the Eurovision Song Contest: “They will not easily admit the real reason”(+)
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss anything from the stars.
Yes, I want free unlimited access
Tags: REEXPERIENCE Impressive tribute Nicole Hugo ten final Eurovision Song Contest Eurovision songfestival
