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The semi-finals of the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is currently captivating audiences in Malmö, Sweden.
Following Loreen’s triumphant victory in 2023 with her soul-stirring anthem, “Tattoo”, excitement is building in the Swedish city with the announcement of the next ten finalists tomorrow after the last of the semi-finals.
Five nations – known as the “Big 5” – including the UK, Italy, France, Spain, and Germany, will perform in the semi-final rounds but will receive automatic qualification. Meanwhile, the rest of the performers from across Europe will be subject to a vote as they hope they can make their way through the semi-finals and into the illustrious grand final.
With roots tracing back to its inception in 1956, Eurovision has evolved into an iconic celebration of music and cultural diversity, captivating audiences worldwide.
But Eurovision is never far from controversy, with the inclusion of Israel being met with criticism due to its continued war in Gaza, leading to petitions calling for the country’s removal. Event organisers will hope the boycott of the competition will not affect viewing figures.
Eurovision enthusiasts who are not boycotting the show can watch the grand final on 11 May, which will be broadcast live on BBC One at 8pm, and is accompanied by streaming options on BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2, and BBC Sounds.
Who gets automatic qualification?
This year marks a significant shift as the Big Five, along with host nation Sweden, will grace the semi-final stage for the first time. In Tuesday’s semi-final, the UK, Germany, and Sweden showcased their talents alongside other contestants – but will still receive automatic qualification like in previous years.
The concept of the Big Five originated in 2000 following a rule change that allowed countries to secure a direct spot in the grand final as they contributed the most money to the competition. Initially the UK, Spain, France, and Germany were the only nations who bought a ticket to the show, but the group expanded in 2011 with the inclusion of Italy.
UK – Olly Alexander – ‘Dizzy’
The 33-year-old performer is gearing up to grace the stage with his song “Dizzy”.
In the semi-final, Olly is seen captivating the audience with his dynamic dance moves and soulful vocals within a striking setting—a sprawling room adorned with weathered tiles and shower heads.
Before his selection for Eurovision, Olly had already left a mark on the global music scene as the frontman of the band Years & Years, boasting three successful albums, two of which soared to the coveted number one spot on the UK album chart.
Typically (except for 2022), the UK hover near the bottom of the leaderboard in Eurovision – and according to the bookies, this year will be no different, where he is ranked as an 81/1 outsider.
Sweden – Marcus & Martinus – ‘Unforgettable’
Sweden stands as one of the most triumphant nations in the Eurovision Song Contest, boasting a remarkable tally of seven victories.
The Swedish act for this year’s Eurovision, Marcus & Martinus, who have previously expressed their aspiration to win over ABBA enthusiasts in the competition – as the event commemorates the 50th anniversary of the iconic pop group’s triumph in the competition.
The set of twins debut their performance of “Unforgettable” during Tuesday’s semi-final, after having already secured a spot in Saturday’s final, courtesy of Sweden hosting this year’s event after winning the 2023 competition in Liverpool.
Spain – Nebulossa – ‘Zorra’
Nebulossa is a Spanish electropop duo hailing from Ondara – a Spanish village near Benidorm.
However, the selection of their song, “Zorra”, has sparked controversy within Spanish society. “Zorra,” which translates to “vixen” in English, carries connotations akin to derogatory terms like “bitch”, and the decision to feature a song with such loaded language has prompted intense debate.
While some view “Zorra” as a bold anthem for Spain’s feminist movement—a reclaiming of a term historically used to demean women—others are deeply troubled by its use in a national competition. The song’s portrayal of female empowerment clashes with the discomfort surrounding its potentially offensive nature.
But in typical Eurovision style, their controversial song was chosen at the Benidorm Fest 2024, granting them the honour of representing Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.
France – Slimane – ‘Mon Amour’
France’s Eurovision entry, “Évidemment” by La Zarra, landed them in the 16th spot with 104 points way back in 2023. But this year, they are poised for a stronger showing with Slimane Nebchi – performing “Mon Amour” – who is one of the bookies’ favourites to win Eurovision.
Following his triumph on The Voice – France edition – in 2016, Slimane’s sold two million albums and achieved two billion worldwide streams, and accumulated a staggering seven million social media followers.
France Télévisions handpicked Slimane internally to represent France at Eurovision 2024, with Silmane hoping to win over European audiences and secure France a top spot in the competition.
Germany – Isaak Guderian – ‘Always on The Run’
Germany is showcasing “Always on the Run” by Isaak Guderian.
Guderian, commonly known as Isaak, began his musical journey as a street musician, before he appeared on the TV talent show X Factor, delivering a memorable rendition of the Oasis hit “Wonderwall”.
Although he failed to impress and win the X Factor, he did not look back in anger, becoming a rock’n’roll star when he emerged victorious in Show Your Talent. He will now hope to impress Europe’s Eurovision audience and become the first German winner of the competition since 2010.
Italy – Angelina Mango – ‘La Noia’
With an impressive track record boasting four platinum records, two gold records, and a sold-out tour, Angelina Mango emerged as one of Italy’s standout stars of 2023.
At just 23 years old, she draws from a diverse range of influences including Italian and American rap, R&B, and instrumental music.
Mango’s crowning achievement came with her victory at the prestigious Festival di Sanremo, which earns Italians the esteemed opportunity to represent Italy at Eurovision 2024—an opportunity she graciously accepted with her song “La Noia”.
Notably, Mango holds the distinction of being Italy’s first female Eurovision representative since 2016 and the first female solo act to win Festival di Sanremo since 2014, symbolising an important milestone for female musicians in Italy.
Who qualified from the first semi-final?
Portugal – Iolanda Costa – ‘Grito‘
Iolanda Costa, who hails from the coast town of Figueira da Foz, has made her mark on the Portuguese music scene, performing at the Festival da Canção with her entry “Mar no fim”.
The recognition from her performance led to the release of her debut EP, Cura, in 2023, with the pinnacle of Costa’s career climaxing in 2024 when she clinched victory at Festival da Canção with her emotive anthem “Grito” (Scream).
Garnering unanimous acclaim from the juries and securing a commendable second place in the televote, Costa was selected to represent Portugal at Eurovision.
Slovenia – Raiven – ‘Veronika‘
Raiven burst onto the electro-pop scene in 2014, marking her debut in the vibrant musical landscape.
However, it was her presence in Slovenia’s esteemed national selection, EMA, that truly catapulted her into the spotlight of her country’s music scene where she released “Črno Bel, Zažarim” and “KAOS”.
In 2021, Raiven achieved a significant milestone by clinching victory at Slovenia’s renowned music festival, Popevka, with her captivating song “Volkovi”.
Ukraine – Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil – ‘Teresa & Maria‘
Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil, the dynamic duo representing Ukraine in this year’s Eurovision, made a bold pledge that has resonated deeply with the European audience: if they emerge victorious in the contest, they will sell the coveted trophy to aid in the reconstruction of bombed schools in Ukraine.
Hailed as “Ukraine’s most unlikely rap star” in Vogue, Alyona has been lauded by Ukrainian media as “the new rap star of Ukraine” and “the sensation of Ukrainian rap”.
Drawing comparisons to the renowned Azealia Banks, Alyona Alyona has teamed up with Yana Oleksandrivna Shemaieva – otherwise known by her stage name Jerry Heil.
Born on 21 October, 1995, in Vasylkiv, a city adjacent to Kyiv, Heil launched a YouTube channel in 2012, sharing vlogs and musical covers. With over 34.9 million views and 395,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel, she will be hoping her global reach will help reach Eurovision voters and gain another victory for Ukraine.
Finland – Windows95man – ‘No Rules!‘
Teemu Keisteri – also known by his captivating stage persona Windows95man – is a Finnish visual artist and DJ.
As a DJ, Teemu’s electrifying sets transport audiences back to the golden era of Eurodance and 90s techno,
Teemu’s latest triumph came with his participation in UMK 2024, Finland’s national selection for Eurovision, where he teamed up with singer Henri Piispanen to deliver the electrifying anthem “No Rules!”.
As Finland’s representative in Eurovision, Teemu and Henri are poised to showcase their unique blend of techno and vocals to captivate Eurovision’s audiences worldwide, in what will be an unforgettable entry.
Cyprus – Silia Kapsis – ‘Liar‘
Vasiliki Silia Kapsis, originally from Australia, is a Cypriot singer who unveiled her debut song, “Who Am I?”, in 2022 – a poignant composition that she both wrote and composed at the age of 12.
Now, Vasiliki embarks on a new chapter in her career as she represents Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest.
With her captivating presence and emotive performance, she is set to enchant audiences with her song “Liar”.
Croatia – Baby Lasagna – ‘Rim Tim Tagi Dim‘
The bookies’ favourite at 2/1, Baby Lasagna – also known by Purišić – is Croatia’s selection for the Eurovision Song Contest.
His initial success in Croatia came from an impressive debut at number 24 on the HR Top 40 chart, marking Purišić’s first chart entry in Croatia.
Following this success, he released his Eurovision entry “Rim Tim Tagi Dim”. Which soared to number one on the charts and captured the hearts of audiences nationwide.
Ireland – Bambie Thug – ‘Doomsday Blue‘
Hailing from Cork in Ireland, Bambie Thug is reshaping the musical landscape by blending the realms of pop, rock, electronic music and horror film, to create the unique sound she calls “Ouija-pop”.
Historically, Eurovision thrives with performances by those who indulge in the weird and wonderful —and Bambie Thug’s song is certainly weird – so the bookies have ranked her as an outside favourite.
This is Ireland’s first time back at the Eurovision finals after a series of acts failed to grab the attention of audiences, so Bambie Thug will be aiming to secure Ireland’s first win since 1996.
Luxembourg – TALI – ‘Fighter‘
Tali Golergant – known simply as Tali – is an artist born in Israel and now based in Luxembourg.
In December 2023, Tali emerged as one of the eight finalists in the prestigious Luxembourg Song Contest.
Tali’s musical style is a fusion of pop, indie, and R&B, showcasing her diverse influences which include the likes of Lizzy McAlpine, Sara Bareilles, and Lady Gaga, and will represent Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with her song anthem “Fighter”.
When is the second semi-final?
On Thursday 9 May, viewers can tune in to the second Eurovision semi-final, which will be broadcast live on the BBC starting at 8pm. Here’s the running order for the night:
- Malta – Sarah Bonnici – Loop
- Albania – BESA – TITAN
- Greece – Marina Satti – ZARI
- Switzerland – Nemo – The Code
- Czechia – Aiko – Pedestal
- France – Slimane – Mon amour
- Austria – Kaleen – We Will Rave
- Denmark – SABA – SAND
- Armenia – LADANIVA – Jako
- Latvia – Dons – Hollow
- Spain – Nebulossa – ZORRA
- San Marino – MEGARA – 11:11
- Georgia – Nutsa Buzaladze – Firefighter
- Belgium – Mustii – Before The Party’s Over
- Estonia: 5MIINUST x Puuluup – (nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi
- Italy – Angelina Mango – La Noia
- Israel – Eden Golan – Hurricane
- Norway – Gåte – Ulveham
- The Netherlands – Joost Klein – Europapa
