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Eurovision 2025: First Semi-Final Brings the Heat (and the Sauna!)
Basel, Switzerland was buzzing Tuesday night! The first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 took place, and ten lucky countries punched their tickets to Saturday's grand final. Fifteen countries battled it out with elaborate performances, but only the best made the cut. Let's dive into the highlights (and lowlights) of the night!
A Night of Thrills and Spills
The atmosphere was electric. From the quirky to the classic, the performances were as diverse as Europe itself. One of the night's biggest highlights was Sweden's KAJ, whose sauna-themed song, "Bara Bada Bastu," lived up to its pre-contest hype. Despite not being the most visually spectacular act, their catchy tune solidified their place in the final, as expected by many Eurovision betting sites.
- Crowd-pleasers: The Dutch singer Claude, with his emotional ballad "C'est la vie," also charmed his way into the final, as did Ukraine's Ziferblat, whose 70s-inspired "Bird of Pray" had the audience soaring. Estonia's Tommy Cash, despite some pre-contest controversy, also made it through with his tongue-in-cheek "Espresso Macchiato."
- Other qualifiers: The first semi-final also saw Albania's Shkodra Elektronike, Norway's Kyle Alessandro, Poland's Justyna Steczkowska, Portugal's NAPA, and San Marino's Gabry Ponte advance to the next round.
However, not everyone's Eurovision dreams came true. Belgium's Red Sebastian, a pre-contest favorite with his electronic track "Strobe Lights," surprisingly failed to qualify. Apparently, a few missed notes proved costly. Other countries who didn't make the cut include Cyprus, Croatia, Azerbaijan, and Slovenia.
The show itself was a spectacular production, showcasing Switzerland’s rich culture and stunning scenery. The co-hosts, Sandra Studer (a Eurovision veteran herself!) and comedian Hazel Brugger, delivered a confident and entertaining performance, with a surprise guest appearance by last year's host, Petra Mede. Traditional Swiss elements, like alphorns and yodeling, were cleverly woven into the modern spectacle.
Austria's Hope
While the first semi-final concluded, the anticipation builds for Austria's JJ. He'll be taking the stage on Thursday with his ballad "Wasted Love," and bookmakers predict a strong performance, placing him among the top contenders for the overall victory. Austria's Eurovision hopeful is considered a rising star, balancing his classical opera training with pop sensibilities, and is a real contender.
Looking Ahead
The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 is well underway, with the first semi-final offering a thrilling glimpse into the diverse talent and captivating performances that await. Ten countries secured their place in the final, leaving others to reflect on what could have been. But the journey isn't over yet! We await Thursday's second semi-final with bated breath.
The Qualifiers:
- Albania - Shkodra Elektronike: "Zjerm"
- Estonia - Tommy Cash: "Espresso Macchiato"
- Iceland - VÆB: "RÓA"
- Netherlands - Claude: "C'est La Vie"
- Norway - Kyle Alessandro: "Lighter"
- Poland - Justyna Steczkowska: "GAJA"
- Portugal - NAPA: "Deslocado"
- San Marino - Gabry Ponte: "Tutta L'Italia"
- Sweden - KAJ: "Bara Bada Bastu"
- Ukraine - Ziferblat: "Bird of Pray"
