Italy - Night 3 - Ilya M

This year, Sanremo was led by Carlo Conti, both as host and artistic director. His focus was to keep things moving – no extended monologues, no sob stories, no comedians talking for half an hour. For a festival known to stretch late into the night, this was almost shocking. But while some appreciated the faster pacing, others felt it lost a bit of the usual drama. Still, viewership figures stayed high, proving that maybe people do enjoy getting to bed before sunrise.

Carlo was joined by three “travel partners”, as he called them, for the night - Miriam Leone, an actress and model; Elettra Lamborghini, who brought her signature energy and humor (even joking that her white dress was meant to highlight Carlo’s tan); and Katia Follesa, an actress and comedian.

The stage design was stunning as always, maintaining the festival’s signature grandeur. One of the most talked-about elements was the stairs -- this year they were built into the stage floor and would rise up on hinges when needed. While visually striking, the design made them slightly unsteady. Every descent became a nerve-wracking event, with Carlo practically acting as a personal escort to make sure no one took an unexpected tumble.

As for the performances, these four stood out the most:

Gaia’s performance, in particular, felt ready for Eurovision. While most performers stood alone on stage, she brought a full choreography, with dancers moving around her in a dynamic routine. Her song had this repetitive chant - Chiamo io chiami tu, chiamo io chiami tu – that got stuck in my head immediately.

On the international guest front, Duran Duran made a return performing a medley of their hits 40 years after their first appearance on the Sanremo stage. Another guest, Iva Zanicchi, who has participated multiple times and won in 1967, also performed a medley of her songs. While not perfectly in tune, her presence was a reminder of the festival’s deep history and legacy.

And that’s a wrap on the third night - more structure, less chaos, but still packed with memorable moments. Whether this new, on-time Sanremo format is here to stay remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the festival continues to be THE music event of the year in Italy.

Italy - Night 4 - Wayne R

Sanremo Night 4 is known for its cover songs and special guest performers, and it delivered! The gay gods also graced my review as this was the night we got a Mahmood medley with a shirtless dance break - super hot! Just my luck, haha.

We actually saw Mahmood a lot throughout the night as he was also a guest host. The looks were being turned all night. Even one for the intelligent man with....Mahmood in glasses.  

Carlo Conti’s other guest host for the night was Geppi Cucciari, who thankfully kept her shirt on. She looked glam and was obviously the funny one.

All 29 artists sang covers of Italian or international songs with a guest or even, for the first time, with other competitors. Another change this year was that the scoring didn’t count towards the overall Festival di Sanremo winner. Covers night got its own award.

Highlights for me were:

  • Achille Lauro & Elodie steaming up the screen with a hot performance of “A mano a mano” & “Folle città”

  • Annalisa (with Giorgio) finally having a win at Sanremo with a cover of Adele’s “Skyfall”

  • Clara & Il Volo giving Simon & Garfunkel’s “The sound of silence” some class

The voting was split between the radio jury (33%), the press jury (33%), and the televote (34%). The top ten results were:

  • 1st Giorgia & Annalisa - “Skyfall”

  • 2nd Lucio Corsi & Topo Gigio - “Nel blu, dipinto di blu”

  • 3rd Fedez & Marco Masini - “Bella stronza"

  • 4th Olly & Goran Bregović and The Wedding & Funeral Band - “Il pescatore”

  • 5th Brunori Sas & Dimartino and Riccardo Sinigallia - “L'anno che verrà”

  • 6th Irama & Arisa - "Say Something”

  • 7th Rocco Hunt & Clementino - “Yes I Know My Way”

  • 8th Achille Lauro & Elodie - “A mano a mano” & “Folle città”

  • 9th Clara & Il Volo - “The Sound of Silence”

  • 10th The Kolors & Sal Da Vinci - “Rossetto e caffè” 

Maybe a taste of things to come for Giorgia whose vocals have been the standout for the whole contest so far.

Italy - Grand Final - Ricardo A

As usual, the Sanremo Italian Song Festival was to be the place for choosing the Italian representative at this year's Eurovision.

This year there was no clear favourite on the fifth and final night in Sanremo. Unlike what happened for example in 2023 with Marco Mengoni as the hot favourite from the first night.

As every year, the most important talents of the Italian music industry and young promises were in competition. And former Eurovision contestants like Massimo Ranieri or Francesco Gabbani.

Even with no clear favourite, the three favourites in the odds were Fedez, Olly and Giorgia, who was the hot favourite and first in the odds.

So when it was announced that Giorgia was finally sixth, with her song “La cura per me”, the audience at the Ariston theatre booed for several minutes.

In the last ten years only one woman has won Sanremo,,, and this year the top 5 were all men. So the accusations of misogyny at the festival seem well founded…

Former Eurovision artist and favourite Achille Lauro, was 7th with “Incoscienti giovani”

The top five were:

  • 1 Olly “Balorda Nostalgia”

  • 2 Lucio Corsi “Volevo essere un duro”

  • 3 Brunori Sas “L’albero delle noci”

  • 4 Fedez “Battito”

  • 5 Simone Cristicchi “Qauando sarai piccola”

 During the week of the festival, the 29 songs entered the top 31 positions of the sales charts in Italy.

It looked like Olly was going to be Italy's representative in Basel, as the winner of Sanremo can represent Italy if he wants. But after a week, Olly gave up on this opportunity, so it will be Lucio Corsi, who came in second, who will travel to Basel.

Lucio is really involved and has spoken about how excited he is for this opportunity.

The song may not seem the most suitable for Eurovision, and Italy is not well positioned in the betting this year for the first time in many years. But the lyrics of the song and the message of it are beautiful, and it is a very good song. In fact, it was the winner of the press in Sanremo, second in the televote, and it was second by a difference of less than 0.5% with the winner.

Against them we have that the worst results of Italy in Eurovision since their return have been when they have not sent the winner of Sanremo, as this year.

But who knows?,,,, Italy, as always, will bring us quality... good luck!

Iceland - Semi Final 1 - Rachel G

Iceland’s Söngvakeppnin 2025 began with its first semi-final on Saturday, February 8.

Five songs were performed, with three making it to the Final based on a public vote.

The artists and songs, in order of performance, were:

Stebbi Jak – “Frelsið Mitt”Birgo – “Ég flýg í storminn”Ágúst – “Eins og þú”Bia – “Norðurljós”VÆB – “RÓA”

All performances were in Icelandic, and those who advanced to the Final now have the option to switch to English.

The public vote brought a few surprises, with some fan favorites falling at the first hurdle. The acts that made it through to the Final were:

VÆB – “RÓA” (Iceland’s version of Jedward – their vocals were a bit rough, but it was a fun song)Stebbi Jak – “Frelsið Mitt” (A soft rock band with solid staging and vocals – a well-rounded performance)Ágúst – “Eins og þú” (A pleasant, feel-good song, though not very competitive for Eurovision)

As for Bia, her cute musical theatre/pop song about the northern lights didn't make much of an impact, while Birgo’s catchy bop missing out was probably the biggest surprise of the season so far.

The second semi-final is next Saturday, and I’m eager to see how the public vote plays out this time!

You can check out the live performances here https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr3r5ZhK0uFw2zva4Yoe3cNXJo6qrOmyi&si=MWApNTfgzr4qyGl2

Iceland - Semi Final 2 - Doug B

2nd semi final, showcased five songs all of which were required to sing in Icelandic regardless if there was an English version. The top 3 advanced to the Final on 2/22

All songs for Semi Final 2 can be found here: https://eurovisionworld.com/national/iceland/songvakeppnin-2025 which includes their studio and live performance

First up was Dagur Sig with “Flugdrekar” or Carousel. The song was underwhelming. I don’t think the English version would have saved him, because it was not any better. For a song called “Carousel” he sings about life being a roller-coaster and a merry go round, before finally mentioning it was a carousel. The song title doesn’t sync with the lyrics --“up and down, inside out, when it goes faster now.” The staging had him standing on a round platform and walking down to sing in front of it; back and forth. The vocals were on point, but the song just didn’t seem to really go anywhere.

Next up was Júlí & Dísa with their song “Eldur” which translates to Fire. The song contains a bit of a slow opening that evolves into a rap section before giving us a powerful up tempo party with flashing lights on the stage. They make good use of the screen projecting their story. They have announced they will perform the finals in English. In the English version, the rap section is still in Icelandic which gives it a bigger impact and really showcases the Icelandic language.

Bára Katrín performed third with her song “Risum upp” or Rise Above. The staging was simple with her standing amongst a field of candles which transitioned to some sort of interpretive dancer joining her that also appeared to be signing the song. I spent more time being distracted by the dancer and wondering why they were there than appreciating her voice. It was a forgettable inspirational power ballad; the kind of song they play in a bad reality tv show.

Bjarni Arason - "Aðeins lengur" which translates to “A little longer” was up next and is one of two songs in this years Songvakeppnin that does not have an English version. This song is so dated it hurts. You could tell me this song won Eurovision in the 60’s or 70’s and I would believe it. He is a seasoned professional and song it very well, but everything was dated from his microphone to the white piano on stage and his undone bowtie. The lyrics translate to talk about wanting more time with someone. Was it going to advance? Sure… but only because it didn’t have much competition in this semi-final.

Last up was Tinna with "Þrá" or Words. The beat is seemingly taken directly from Dasha and her song “Austin” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyjnbSsZ2tc). Þrá is a lackluster country song with no energy. The backup dancers make an appearance about 2 minutes and does nothing to save this performance. Her vocals had some rough patches. Given the songs in this semi final, I’m not shocked it advanced.

Iceland - Grand Final - Tony P

Iceland’s national selection for a Eurovision entrance was Söngvakeppnin once again and the Final for 2025 was held on 22 February. 

Three songs had progressed to the Final from each of the previous semi-finals. The Final for 2025 introduced a new format, eliminating the superfinal and opting for a direct 50/50 split between international jury and public votes to determine the winner.

The show itself was hosted by Benedikt Valsson, Guðrún Dís Emilsdóttir, and Fannar Sveinsson.

The six finalists delivered a range of musical styles, and in running order were:

The voting results were as follows:

  • 1. VÆB – "Róa": 74 points from the jury and 93 from the public, totalling 167 points.

  • 2. Stebbi Jak – "Set Me Free": 57 jury points and 85 public points, totalling 142 points.

  • 3. Júlí and Dísa – "Fire": 63 jury points and 74 public points, totalling 137 points.

  • 4. Bjarni Arason – "Aðeins lengur": 44 jury points and 39 public points, totalling 83 points.

  • 5. Tinna – "Word": 53 jury points and 22 public points, totalling 75 points.

  • 6. Ágúst – "Like You": 45 jury points and 23 public points, totalling 68 points.

Winning both the jury and public vote, VÆB’s victory with "Róa" was well-received. Nice to see the fun song win and looking forward to seeing what they do with it in Basel

Poland - Danie T

The final of Polskich Kwalifikacji took place on February 14th in the Nowe Studio at Telewizji Polskiej in Warsaw.

Hosted by Polish journalist and TV presenter Artur Orzech and 2016 Eurovision artist Michał Szpak, they provided the perfect mix of the "straight guy" vs "the diva" and worked well together even with odd jokes about eleven person soccer teams. Music journalists Grzegorz Dobek and Aleksandra Budka provided hosting support in the greenroom, interviewing each artist after their performance.

While the show was very slick and professional, it did feel at times like a Baby Lasagna concert with a Eurovision national final built around it. Our Croatian special guest performed his 2024 song “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” as the opener, he then returned as part of the interval act with three other songs; "Biggie Boom Boom", "Don't Hate Yourself" and his new single "Stress". It wasn’t all about Mr Lasagna though, as Michał performed his 2023 song "Bondage" and his entry "Color of Your Life" complete with a small orchestra, an audience sing along, and a big outfit.

As for the 11 competing songs, you could tell it was 100% public televoting with a wide variety on offer.

We had the trio Chrust with their song "Tempo", that was a very ethereal song with fabulous costuming they made themselves. They said it was about a link to nature, and it came 4th.

Polish Harry Styles (his words) Kuba Szmajkowski performed “Pray”, an uptempo ballad with him in a red coat. This was his third attempt and ultimately, he came 5th.

Tynsky took to the stage with "Miracle", a personal ballad performed in moody black and white which was actually rather lovely. Musically inspired by Michael Jackson as he is timeless, Tynsky wanted to present something very different this year. He came 9th.

Daria Marx sang "Let it Burn", which was like a fantasy themed ballad with dancers in green and smoke machine. She tried out for Poland in 2022 and thought she'd figured out the winning formula. Sadly, she came last.

Sw@da and Niczos performed "Lusterka". A very arty song with a heavy dance beat with red and white staging, and sung in Podlachian dialect. It came second and hopefully we'll see it for OGAE Second Chance.

Janusz Radek who can apparently “get you to space faster than Elon Musk” performed a ballad named "In a Cosmic Mist". He tried to represent Poland 20 years ago and asked to perform 7th as it's his lucky number... He came 7th.

Marien brought a couch and sat down on the job. "Can't Hide" was a midtempo song about self-love. Her dream was to win this selection, sadly she must wait another year as she came 10th.

Teo, the wildcard entry and actual fisherman, sang "Immortal", which was a nice and earnest ballad. Did he win the girl in the end? Teo says yes. He also reeled in a respectable 6th.

If Kuba is Polish Harry Styles, Sonia Maselik is Polish Sabrina Carpenter. "Rumours" had all the things needed for an epic Eurovision entry – smoke machine, cloak-ography, and a costume reveal. Had a good beat and she always wanted to write a hit but this didn’t resonate with the public and came 8th.

To round out the show, we had “Hold the Light" by Dominik Dudek. I've actually heard this on ESC Radio without knowing, so is very radio friendly indeed. He wrote this for his partner and is currently preparing for his wedding but joked it won't be in May just in case. He can do ahead with those plans because the song came third.

But the night was really about Justyna Steczkowska and her attempt to break a record with returning to Eurovision after 30 years. A feast of a performance with everyone in black shiny fabric, some fire, a violin, a dance break, but a deep meaning. This was a clear crowd favourite. She said is more experienced and ready to represent Poland than she was in 1995. The voters agreed and gave her a ticket to Basel, amassing over 31,000 votes, double the amount given to second place Sw@da & Niczos.

Overall, this was a really fun national final with a worthy winner.

Estonia - Michelle S

What’s different- the National final was held as a “ one night only” event this year.

What’s different - genres included dance, metal, rap, electronic, ballads, pop, soul, European folk, blues, hip hop, rock and roll, musical theatre, drum and bass, r&b and Indie rock.

The first round where all 16 contestants performed, was narrowed down to 3 performers for a Super Final on the same night. The first round was decided by 50% jury and 50% public vote and saw three artists progress and it was a closely run race with Tommy Cash, Andrei Zevakin & Karita, and An- Marlen only separated by a few points.

But it was a different outcome in the Super Final with 100% public voting only and Tommy Cash won in a bloodbath. His song “ Espresso Macchiato” garnered 41, 414 votes (84% of the overall vote).

Runner up was Andrei Zevakin & Karita with their pop dance mishmash song “Ma ei tea Sind”. Andrei is listed as a well supported uTuber and Karita is introduced as an Influencer and professional Hairdresser. Seems a match made in heaven, but other than Karita’s perfectly tousled hair and shiny nails, this performance left me confused. It received 4, 334 votes.

An- Marlen placed third with her modern dance song  “Kulm”. Personally, I thought she had the best voice by far and presented a solid song with the Estonian lyrics all adding to her overall performance. She had a clear arresting voice and her dance number did keep me interested. She received 3,634 votes.

But, clearly the night belonged to Tommy Cash. A 33 year old Estonian rapper, singer and visual artist who cites Kanye West and Pharrell Williams as his main musical influences. He is a charismatic performer and popular artist in Estonia having won the Estonian Music Award for video of the year in 2018 and has collaborated with many European artists including Eurovision royalty Kaarija and Russia’s Little Big.

“Espresso Macchiato ” is certainly performance art and the vocals are secondary to the performance. It is an irreverent humorous song ( delivered with trademark deadpan expression - think “Little Big”) and will cause some angst for patriotic Italians and joy for coffee drinkers the world over! Cash co wrote the song with Johannes Naukkarinen - of Cha, Cha, Cha fame - and the performance includes very catchy, somewhat nerdy choreo in the chorus. Cash has a unique dance style. This will ensure it makes the final.

Estonia has a 50% strike rate with making the finals, and I think Tommy will tip the balance towards success. He will perform in the first half in Semi final 1.

Good Luck Estonia.

Ukraine - Madeline N

Vidbir 2025 was held on Saturday, February 8 in Kyiv. Ten acts with ten very distinct personalities competed for the chance to continue Ukraine’s extraordinary 100% qualification streak in the Eurovision Song Contest.

The show followed a format we have grown accustomed to in recent years: artists perform, receive feedback from a panel (that inevitably includes 2016 contest winner Jamala), and then gather in a small, secure space to receive their points. This year’s performances—recorded in an undisclosed location—took place on a larger stage than we have seen in Vidbir since Russia invaded the country in 2022. The close quarters of the “results bunker” remind the viewer that, despite the artists’ brave faces and the high calibre of their art, life is anything but normal in Ukraine after three years of brutal occupation.

The show began with Vlad Sheryf’s introspective power ballad “Wind of Change" and Abiye’s characteristically Ukrainian entry “Dim,” which speaks to the violation of borders in Ukraine broadly and in the context of sexual violence. Molodi were next with “My Sea”—a compelling homage to the Sea of Azov, off the coast of Russian-occupied Mariupol (the duo’s hometown). Future Culture changed things up with “Waste My Time” (and, spoiler, the voting public seemed to imply they had done just that); then, Masha Kondratenko—darling of My Eurovision Scoreboard and EurovisionWorld voters alike—gave a stunning performance of “No Time to Cry.” Khayat was next: a dark horse who showcased both his vocal and dancing abilities in the ever-dramatic “Honor.” Wildcard entry “Kultura” by Fiïnka celebrated culture and ancestry viewed through a Hutsul lens, and Krylata staged “Stay True” with an evocative interpretive dance. As memorable staging goes, Ziferblat (the penultimate act) stood out as well, with a veritable garden on stage to accompany “Bird of Pray”—a love letter to family members separated by war. Finally, DK Energetyk closed the show with the unique post-punk nostalgia of “Sil’.”

Badstreet Boys were hilarious, and Ruslana never disappoints, but JESC 2024 powerhouse Artem Kotenko was the true highlight of the voting interval. The thirteen-year-old, visibly moved, delivered a hard-hitting performance and a plea for Ukrainian freedom.

Back in the bunker, Vidbir inexplicably opted for a 10-9-8 voting system in place of the ESC-standard 12-10-8. Despite this, mental math was slow amongst the competitors as the hosts managed to create suspense where the numbers could not. Though Khayat took the top marks from the Ukrainian jury, it was televote winner Ziferblat who ultimately beat out close competitors Molodi and Masha to earn the Ukrainian ticket to Basel. And with that, Eurovision welcomes twins to the stage for a third consecutive year

Finland - Therese W

The 2025 edition of Finland's Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) was a blast! The competition had seven amazing acts, each bringing their own vibe and style, making for an exciting show. The final, held at Tampere's Nokia Arena on February 8, definitely didn't disappoint.

  • Erika Vikman took home the win with her song “Ich komme,” and honestly, it was well-deserved. She had such a strong stage presence and her energy was infectious. Her performance really stood out, and I can see her doing well at Eurovision.

  • Goldielocks, who came in second with "Made Of," had one of the catchiest tunes of the night. It's got a modern feel, and it clearly resonated with the audience, even if it didn’t quite grab the top spot. It was still a crowd favorite.

  • Viivi's “Aina” was another one that left a mark. It was a beautiful ballad, showing off her incredible vocals. While it didn’t win, it was definitely a standout for its emotional depth.

Other performances like Nelli Matula's "Hitaammin hautaan" and Costee's "Sekaisin" added even more variety to the competition. Both had something unique, and it was clear that this year’s lineup was incredibly diverse.

Overall, UMK 2025 really showcased Finland’s talent. The combination of different styles made for a memorable night. Erika Vikman’s win felt like a perfect mix of jury and public support, and I can’t wait to see her represent Finland at Eurovision

Latvia - Semi Final - Sean S

In the capital city of Latvia, Riga, 19 hopefuls competed for the chance to fill one of the 10 slots available in the Grand Final of Supernova. The main focus of the Semi Final show was on the acts — no superfluous guest stars, just the contestants. The show ran like this: host intro, parade, all songs, voting opens, recaps, interview with artists, more recaps, voting closes, results. One thing that makes Supernova stand out from other national finals is that, halfway through the televoting sequence, they show the current results. And so, we knew that Emilija, halfway through the voting, was leading with 13.36% of the vote. The top 10 at this point in the voting sequence closely resembled the final results. Sinerģija overtook Marta, who was in the 10 th spot partway through the voting, gaining them a spot in the final. The final results were chosen 100% by public vote.

Here are a few quicks thoughts and impressions of each of the 10 acts that made it through to the final:

  • Tepat – “Sadzejot” (By the way) Indie feel – Friends from high school vibes – A stand-out

  • Citi Zēni – “Ramtai” Shaggy monsters – Ridiculous – Were the other band members actually there?

  • Emilija – “Heartbeat” X Factor performance – Wanted more from the performance – Seemed to have nerves

  • LEGZDINA & Bel Tempo – “The Water” Enjoyed the performance better than the studio cut – Great vocals – Minimalist staging

  • PALÚ – “Delusional” Questioning if I was becoming delusional – Went all out – Memorable

  • The Ludvig – “Līgo” (Midsummer) Weird sex cult vibes – God complex vibes – Studio cut better than the live performance

  • Chris Noah – “Romance isn’t Dead” Professional performance – Better live than the studio version – Almost knocked over the drum kit

  • Tautumeitas – “Bur man laimi” (Bring me luck) Fully realised staging – Visually and audibly pleasing – Pleased to not have them become

  • Harmonija Disonance 2.0 Sinerģija – “Bound By The Light” Great costuming – Audibly pleasing – The other lady needs to just pretend that she’s singing to justify her having a mic

  • Markus Riva – “Bigger Than This” His dancing at times felt lazy (not the choreography) – Felt like the crowd was just happy to see Markus Riva perform – Generic

It’s been a strong year for Supernova, and on February 8 th , the Latvian public — along with a jury — will decide who will represent Latvia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel this May. They have many great options to continue their qualification streak that Dons started last year in Malmö. All the best to Latvia and I will be awaiting the results with bated breath on February 8 th .

Latvia - Grand Final - Seth K

The Supernova 2025 Grand Final was a mixed bag. The opening act was a fun remix and awesome lighting design and dancing. It definitely got the crowd ready for the show.

1. Chris Noah, with “Romance Isn’t Dead.” The 1975, Rolling Stones, and Cage The Elephant vibes.To me, this was a chill rock song that you’d hear at a sports bar or dive bar near a stadium. Good lighting and usage of screens augment the lyrics and were a great addition to the performance.

2. Palú, with “Delusional.” This is a great rock song, but not her song. I felt it needed a singer with a better rock voice (this Joan Jett). Her dancers seemed to steal focus at times. There was some polishing since the semifinal, but not enough to win.

3. Sinerġija, with “Bound By The Light.” It had great haunting melodies. The lighting and dancers added a good emphasis to the nature of the song. The dancers gave me forest sprites and I was here for it.

4. Citi Zēni, with “Ramtai.” It’s a fun dance anthem for the summer. The other band members dancing in their costumes gave car wash brushes but in a fun way. High energy, easy to sing along. This was my winner.

5. Tepat, with “Sadzejot.” Personally, not much more to say other than Starbucks song of the week vibes. Early 2000s indie ballad 20 years too late.

6. The Ludvig, with “Līgo.” With how little he sings, it’s obvious the backup singers and dancers carry the song. Changing the dancers’ outfits from midsommar to traditional Latvian was much better. There wasn’t much range in his singing, which was a safe move, but boring.

7. Markus Riva, with “Bigger Than This.” Basic song with not much behind it. Shaky vocals. When your song doesn’t have much to offer and you work out a lot, why not go shirtless? And then it just… ends.

8. Tautumeitas with “Bur Man Laimi.” This song and performance gate me utopian cult vibes. The song is somewhat repetitive but still fun. Fun lighting and use of video mapping. I really liked the rain at the start of the performance. They probably had the smoothest choreography. I would join this cult.

9. Bel Tempo x LEGZDINA, with “The Water.” This song is kind of a lower energy Goldfrapp, for those of us old enough to remember them. The harmonies are good and didn’t overpower the main melodic line. The audio balancing helped this song this week. It’s another coffee shop song, but the more I hear it, the less I hate it.

10. Emilija, with “Heartbeat.” High notes, baby. Nails them. Beautiful song. Great stage presence. Great crowd work. She was feeling it and loving it. This was my number 2. The voting ended in a three-way tie between Tautumeitas, Citi Zēni, and Emilija. The tiebreak was the popular vote, which went to Tautumeitas by a landslide. I don’t think this will be a winner, but I wish them the best of luck in Basel.

Norway - TJ T

On Saturday, 15 February, Norwegians descended on the Oslo Spektrum for the 2025 edition of Melodi Grand Prix to select the country’s Eurovision entry. 

Opting to abandon the format we’ve all been accustomed to in recent years, NRK has dropped the semi finals with gold pass entries “direkt til finale”, in favour of an abbreviated final-only show with a curated lineup of 9 songs vying for the nation’s top spot. 

Tone Damli had the first song: “Last Song” (because that’s not confusing at all). It was a bit of a throwback with a mix of the 80s with some Kylie Minogue vibes thrown in. A catchy song that could definitely be a song in rotation on the radio.

Second up was Sondrey with “Vagabond”: an R&B-trance-type number reminiscent of some mid-2010s hits by Chris Brown or Ne-Yo, maybe? For sure a strong pick, and great choreography to boot. 

Third was Nora Jabri and “Sulale”. I’ll call this a mix of Balkan and Latin flavour? I really don’t know. It could be either or, but I’m terrible with musical geography, so what do I know? After some excessive sulalalalalala lelelele’ing, the song was done. Pretty good overall!

Norway certainly didn’t follow in Malta or Italy’s footsteps for this final… No ads for a bank in Valletta or €60M in ad revenue here! (thank goodness!)  I was getting whiplash writing this. Nearly no time between songs. I finished writing about one song in the middle of the next… oh wait, a guy making a god awful state with a… popcorn cannon? Anyone see that Michael Jackson meme of the “crackle” sound a vacuum makes when picking up dirt? Well you will now.  I was thinking of that the whole time seeing that mess… 

Anyhow…

Fourth, was Wig Wam and “Human Fire”. The 80s have made another appearance? If Denmark couldn’t make it to the final in 2021, I’m not sure the 80s is the best choice in 2025. But this really was a great rock entry with a sick guitar solo. It really brought me back to the day.. when I was only a figment of someone’s imagination. Although I still think 80s when someone says “20 years ago”. How can I feel so old but make that comment at the same time? Anyway, moving on. 

Fifth? We heard from too many L’s in a row, and their song “Paracite”. Going into the live show, I believe this was one of the fan favourites to win. This performance was modern? Creepy? Alienistic? Those dancers were all over the singers like my cat with me when it’s feeding time. Maybe I actually have a parasite as a pet? Definitely checks out it seems. 

The sixth performance of the night was from The night’s winner, Kyle Alessandro, who’s off to Basel with “Lighter”. Music, vocals, and choreography? On point. The (medieval armour?) outfits? Please revisit this. I am confusion. Oooo fire from the floor! But I thought he was his own lighter? Still confusion. All jokes aside, I loved this though; my personal favourite of the night. 

Seventh was Nataleen and “The Game”. An amazing Dancefloor bop well deserving of second place. 

The penultimate performance was Ladybug with “Hot as Hell in Paradise”. Good performance. Okay song. Placed last for the night. 

Finally, another blast from the past with Bobbysocks! Literally from the 80s, having won the Eurovision Song Contest for Norway exactly 40 years ago. “Joyful” was just that. 

And I’ll leave it there for this review of the contest as I’m already over my word limit count (in case you couldn’t tell by the next to nothings I wrote for the last 3 songs) and you’ve probably stopped reading by now anyway!

Armenia - Darren S

For the first time since 2020, Armenia chose its winner through its national competition, Depi Evratesil.  With lots of glitz, flashing lights, and flag waving, the televised event got underway with 12 competitors for the evening’s performance.

Each number was preceded by a personalized video from the entrant with some bio background, filmed at a museum in Yerevan. Almost all the numbers were sung in a mix of English and Armenian.

PARG – “Survivor”

This was a post-apolcalyptic rock number with the singer wearing a human/android mixed outfit. His strong vocals and performance got the show off to a strong start.

SEVAGIR – “Falling”

This foursome band performed a winsome rock number with 3 guitars and 1 drummer. Unfortunately the vocals were very weak.

ANAHIT ADAMYAN – “Tiny Little Boo”

This female soloist did a cute and fun pop number in English, but she was way off key and had trouble hitting the notes.

MELS – “Losing”

This rap number in Armenian was well choreographed, with the singer in baggy white pants and an impressive number.

SIMON – “Ay Paparey Bye”

This was the oddest number of the evening. Kind of rap, kind of dance, kind of pop, it was all over the place.

FLORA BICHAKHCYAN – “Prayer”

This soloist had a powerful voice with a song that transitioned from more traditional Armenian music to a dance number about halfway through the song.

GEVORG HARUTYUNYAN – “Hey Man”

This was the first and only ballad of the evening. Simple choreography with no backup singers or dancers (unlike every other performance).

ALTSIGHT – “Dare to Dream”

This band of 3 did a rock number that had a good beat and high energy, but the vocals were pretty poorly executed.

ANAHIT HAKOBYAN & GASOLIA – “Wild”

This male/female duo performed a pop number with a rap vibe. He was giving his best rap, she was channeling Beyonce in a glittery miniskirt.

ARSEN GRIGORYAN FEAT. KAMIL – “Will You Marry Me?”

Providing the best costumes of the evening with backup dancers dressed as white roses, this pop number had a good dance beat, but once again the vocals were very off.

MILENA MIRIJANYAN– “Romantic Net”

This female soloist performed a soul number, but again, the vocals were not great.

ATHENA MANOUKIAN– “DaQueenation”

This female soloist was a fan favorite from the start. She did a riveting pop number in a revealing red and black leather outfit. With her 5 backup dancers, this was very well choreographed.

The total performance was only about an hour long, and then the public lines for voting opened.

Over the course of the next hour, there were several side shows. First there was a Eurovision retrospective. Then Aram MP3 sang a number on stage, his song “Not Alone” from 2014, a beautiful ballad.

Then Brunette did her number “Future Lover” from 2023 with 8 backup dancers, then a second number, “No Energy”, then “Superstar Illness”.

Finally the votes were in. Depi Evratesil has a strange voting system with not two, but THREE sets of votes – the Armenian jury, an international jury, and then finally the public vote.

While Simon was ahead after the first two rounds of jury votes, once the public vote came in, Parg took the lead, and so “Survivor” is headed to Eurovision to compete for Armenia!

Ireland - Niall D

Following Bambie Thug’s memorable performance in Malmo and achieving Ireland’s highest placing in the contest since 2000, once again, the Irish Broadcaster, RTE, held the national final, Eurosong, as a special episode of the Late Late Show. 

 Six songs were selected and announced in January 2025 and the running order was as follows:

 1.       Run Into The Night – Adgy

This is Adgy’s second appearance in Eurosong.  He participated in 2023 and finished in fifth position.  This time, he brought his sister along with him to play the violin.  His song Run into the Night, is a Celtic pop anthem written by Adgy and produced by Ivan Klymenko from (Kalush Orchestra (Eurovsion 2022 winner).

 2.       Powerplay – Bobbi Arlo

 Bobbi Arlo is singer-songwriter and has been making waves on the Irish music scene scoring a nomination for RTE Song of the Year at the Choice Music Awards. Her style of music is club heavy beats and Powerplay has a heavy metallic beat and synth elements.

 3.       Fire – Reylta

 Reylta is a singer from the west of Ireland and her style of music is rooted deeply in Irish tradition. Fire is an alternative folk song with traditional Irish music elements and was co-written with Ryan O’Shaughnessy, Ireland’s 2018 entrant.

4.       My Way – Samantha Mumba

 Samantha Mumba is a well-established singer, songwriter and actor and is perhaps best known for her debut single Gotta Tell You that became a global hit and reached the top 5 in Ireland, the UK and the USA in 2000.  Her song My Way starts off slowly and builds to showcase her impressive vocal range.


5.       Growth – Niyl

Niyl is an artist also from the west of Ireland and has an electronic sound with soaring vocals.  His inspiration comes from his surroundings and dramatic landscapes of the west.  Growth is an indie-pop song and the tempo continues to build throughout the song.


6.       Laika Party – Emmy

Emmyis a 24-year-old Norwegian singer-songwriter who previously participating in Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix in 2021.  She describes herself as a singer, songwriter, Tik Toker and graphic designer. Laika Party is an upbeat pop song with influences of 1990’s and early 2000’s music. It is about the dog Laika who was sent to space by the Soviet Union in 1957.

After each performance, it was over to the expert studio panel to provide their thoughts and this year they were more candid with their feedback.   The panel consisted of Dancing with the Stars judge Arthur Gourounlian, RTE radio presenter Laura Fox, previous Eurosong entrant and celebrity chef Donal Skehan, and Bambie Thug.

The voting format was confirmed as 33% international jury, 33% national jury and 33% Irish public.  In the event of a tie, the artist that scored highest in the public vote would be declared the winner.

The results were as follows:

International Jury Vote

  • 12 Points – Samantha Mumba – My Way

  • 10 Points – Emmy – Laika Party

  • 8 Points – Reylta – Fire

  • 6 Points – Bobbi Arlo – Powerplay

  • 4 Points – Niyl – Growth

  • 2 Points – Adgy – Run Into The Night

National Jury Vote

  • 12 points – Emmy – Laika Party

  • 10 points – Samantha Mumba – My Way

  • 8 points – Reylta – Fire

  • 6 Points – Bobbi Arlo – Powerplay

  • 4 Points – Niyl – Growth

  • 2 Points – Adgy – Run Into The Night

Public Vote

  • 12 points – Emmy – Laika Party

  • 10 points – Niyl – Growth

  • 8 points – Bobbi Arlo – Powerplay

  • 6 points – Adgy – Run Into The Night

  • 4 points – Samantha Mumba – My Way

  • 2 points – Reylta – Fire

The winner was Emmy who will be flying the flag for Ireland in Basel with Laika Party.

  • 1.       Emmy – Laika Party – 34 points

  • 2.       Samantha Mumba – My Way – 26 points

  • 3.       Bobbi Arlo – Powerplay – 20 points

  • 4.       Reylta – Fire – 18 points

  • 5.       Niyl – Growth – 18 points

  • 6.       Adgy – Run Into The Night Fire – 10 points

Slovenia - Ron A

EMA, Slovenia's vehicle for choosing their ESC representative took place on February 1 in Ljubljana with hosts Gregor Strasbergar and last years Raiven, who both wore .. let's say questionable outfits all evening. I could give you a huge run down on each act, but in the interest of keeping it fun, I'll share my one liner notes on each act of the night. 

  • Anna - Cau. Teen lite bop where the most exciting thing is the dancing boys in tier PVC pants. shiny!  this finished 9th

  • Zven - Divja. A bit of witchy ethno pop where some kind of exorcism happens in front of my very eyes 5th 

  • PolarAce - Kind. Oh. i feel like i'm watching a church talent show. He's so sweet. but so bad. i can't say more. 10th 

  • Astrid - Touche. I see what she was trying to do here. A rock vaudeville kind of number, but it's just messy in pretty much every way. 3rd 

  • Jon Vitezic- Vse Ti Dam. . Serves up some edgy dark late night pop. It's all very monotone though. 7th 

  • Kiki - O-Ou!  Finally, some character. Something that actually stands out among this list of songs. I like this. 4th 

  • Eva Pavli - Niti.. Gives an operatic ethno ballad, though that makes it sound way more interesting than it actually is. 8th 

  • Klemen - How Much Time Do We Have Left? A very emotional and extremely touching song that hits right heart strings. You can tell this one is real. Super finalist

  • July Jones - New Religion. You know when you can just tell someone is solely a studio artist and a showgirl?  This is a fine example of that. Super finalist. 

  • Zan Videc - Pusti Da Gori. A bit of blues funk with little to no personality. 11th

  • Trine - Grace. A cruisy mid tempo number with some great lyrics, but very poorly executed. 12th 

  • RAI - Fredericks Dead. Theatre rock! Fun! This works way better than it really should! 6th

Then we move to the superfinal with the two top scorers Klemen and July Jones performing again, before the voting opens for the second time. This time the votes are counted and the totals were 

July Jones 4400

Klemen 8895

Klemen will be in Basel singing for Slovenia, and us all !  

Greece - Luc SG

Finding the 2025 Eurovision Representative for Greece

So I sat down to watch Ethnikós Telikós 2025, Greece’s national selection for Eurovision in Basel.  From the ridiculous flying car ride featuring our host’s (Sakis and Helena) former performances throughout the years of the contest, to the cheesy entrance to the stage – there was no denying that these glorious humans have not only chemistry, but a love for the contest.

The somewhat empty theatre was not all that abuzz during the several covers that these accomplished performers started the event off with… A strained Waterloo, Helena stealing the thunder with Hold Me Now, and so on.

37 minutes later, we were finally introduced to the first act… (I must admit, I skipped though every interlude and interval and focused on the twelve performances only).

All that is left for this report, are my thoughts on the acts:

  • 1: Rikki: A triple dose of bonkers in this Mika-esque performance – but there was no love in this elevator for me.

  • 2: Thanos Lambrou: Another shirtless wonder with not-the-worst-Elvis-inspired jacket; pretty but a bit flat on the vocal.

  • 3: Kostas Ageris: Wailing!  But at least with some vocal depth… This was actually quite good.

  • 4: Andy Nicolas: After a striking acapella beginning, this moved into a pedestrian mid-tempo melody… The lyrics were good, but vocally flat.

  • 5: Klavdia: A FEMALE!  And those Giant Nana M glasses stand out from all the beige! A nice enough Greek wiling ballad.

  • 6: Constantinos and Kostas:  It is giving me Italy 2018 vibes, but in Greek… neither impresses me.

  • 7: Georgina and John: Great opening with an interesting jazz voice, but they seem to have forgotten to write a song? And now it is just musical theatre…

  • 8: Barbz: This captivated me entirely (until the whoa-oh-oh bit)… I really like this.

  • 9: Evangelia: That look is a choice… And while there is a tonne of backing track, this is a bit of fun, with little vocal ability but a lot of intention.

  • 10: Dinamiss: They pimped Sam Ryder’s outfit?  It is contemporary enough I suppose, just not my thing.

  • 11: Nafsica Gavrilaki: It’s okay… that is all.

  • 12: Xannova Xan: Interesting phrasing and enunciation.  Budget Efendi does pretty well with an annoying song.

And then, when all was said and done… Klavdia’s wailing won over the Greek Jury, and the televote, despite the International Juries preferring Evangelia and Barbz more… And took victory to represent Greece at Eurovision in Basel.  Bless.

Spain - Semi Final One - Aaron P

On 28 January, 2025, the Spanish national selection (Benidorm Fest) started with the first semifinal! It was held at the Palau Municipal d'Esports I'illa de Benidorm. The three hostesses were Paula Vásquez, Inés Hernand and Ruth Lorenzo. Eight different entries battled their way to the grand final, of which only half proceeded.

  • 1. Kuve - "LOCA XTI" A lively dance number, Live was accompanied by five backup dancers.

  • 2. David Afonso - "Amor Barato" This latin-flavoured song had a stand out performance, which looked great on stage with the four backup dancers.

  • 3. Chica Sobresalto - "Mala Feminista" This catchy tune was complemented by an aesthetic performance with four dancers wearing all white.

  • 4. K!ngdom - "Me Gustas Tú" A fun performance with the band and dancers wearing all red.

  • 5. Lucas Bun - "Te escribo en el cielo" This ballad was well backed by well suited LCD graphics, he was accompanied by two cellists on stage.

  • 6. Sonia y Selena - "Reinas" This fun song seemed to captivate the audience very well. The two ladies with four dancers and colourful clothing.

  • 7. Lachispa - "Hartita de Llorar" A rock song with raw vocals, this looked great on stage with the cool arches props adding an extra depth to the visuals.

  • 8. Daniela Blasco - "Uh Nana" This well orchestrated performance was a stand out, with a catchy tune and cool choreography.

While the scores were being tallied, we had two interval acts. Edurne (Spain 2015) and the band Ginebras took to the stage.

The jury vote counted for 50% and 50% from the public (25% televote, 25% app vote). In the end, the four successful entries were announced in no particular order. Live, Lucas Bun, Lachispa and Daniela Blasco. The second semifinal and the grand final took place on 28 January and 1 February respectively

Spain - Semi Final two - Angel A

This year, the full semi-final results were kept secret to avoid influencing the grand final’s voting. During the live show, both the jury (50%) and the public (25% free app vote, 25% televote) selected their top four acts. From there, the hosts announced the final qualifiers after tallying the complete vote.

Spain’s journey to Basel 2025 continued tonight with semi-final 2 of Benidorm Fest — the nation’s Eurovision selection process. The second round kicked off this evening, as eight contestants competed for the last four spots in Saturday’s grand finale. the action went down at the iconic Palau Municipal d’Esports l’Illa de Benidorm. And who better to guide us through the night than three absolute queens: Eurovision 2014- star Ruth Lorenzo, alongside Paula Vázquez and Inés Hernand, who again brought the energy — and they’ll be back to slay again for Saturday’s grand finale!

By the end of the night, 4 acts secured their spot for another shot at winning over Spain and completed the lineup for Saturday’s Grand Finale. DeTeresa secured a top four spot in the public vote but still fell short of reaching Saturday’s grand finale. Meanwhile, strong jury support for Mawot likely gave him the edge to surpass her and claim his place in the final — a surprising outcome for some fans, given his low standing in the odds.

Artists like J Kbello and Veteran Melody, who have gained traction as the show approached, are among the qualifiers. In fact, Melody and J Kbello ranked as the second and third fan favorites among our readers to win Benidorm Fest this year.

Final results

  • 1. Mel Ömana – “I’m a Queen” – qualified for the final

  • 2. Henry Semler – “No lo ves”

  • 3. DeTeresa – “La Pena”

  • 4. J Kbello – “V.I.P.” – qualified for the final

  • 5. Carla Frigo – “Bésame”

  • 6. Mawot – “Raggio Di Sole” – qualified for the final

  • 7. Celine Van Heel – “La Casa” 

  • 8. Melody – “Esa Diva” – qualified for the final

Spain - Grand Final - Juan O

The night started with last year's winner, Nebulossa, performing their hit "Zorra." Then, the hosts greeted the audience in all of Spain's official languages. After joking about the unattractive trophy, they explained that the money raised from ticket sales would be donated to the victims of last year’s landslides in Valencia.

The jury members included representatives from Croatia, the Netherlands, Italy, Ukraine, the United States, and Spanish radio and TV, who would account for 50% of the votes, with the remaining 50% coming from the televote.

Before the performances began, it was announced that the order of appearances had been determined by lottery, and the ballots were selected by the members of Nebulossa.

  • Daniela Blasco – "Uh na na" An upbeat song with the first breakdancing of the night. Another Chanel-style performance attempt. Quote: “We are stuck like gum.”

  • Kuve – "Loca por ti" Schlager vibes. Fire, wind, dancing, and high notes. Great production and a nice voice. Quote: “I’m crazy for you.”

  • Mawot – "Raggio di sole" This year’s dark horse. An 80s Sanremo vibe. He had previously participated in the former Festival de la Música Española de Benidorm in 2001. A total personal guilty pleasure. Quote: “Ti amo così tanto come un raggio di sole” (I love you as much as a ray of sunshine).

  • La Chispa – "Hartita de Llorar" A mix of electropop and flamenco. Unfortunately, her voice was off-key, and the stage setting was too dark and confusing, making it difficult to follow the lyrics. Quote: “My gaze became clouded. I have no more tears.”

  • Mel Ömana – "I’m a Queen" Urban music with great dancing and perfect vocals. Quote: “If you block my way, remember: I am the Queen.”

  • J Kbello – "V.I.P." Latin music, a handsome performer, and solid choreography. Quote: “Come down and fulfill my wish for you.”

  • Lucas Bun – "Te escribo en el cielo" A melancholic ballad with beautiful lyrics. The performance was much better in the semifinal. Quote: “Today, I feel like crying and missing you. Don't disappear from my side, and may I see you once more as if it were yesterday again.”

  • Melody – "Esa Diva" A bop from a well-known artist in Spain and Latin America. She was second in the 2009 Spanish National Final with "Amante de la Luna." Quote: “It’s the mother who wakes up early. It is the artist without a poster. Whether with money or without fortune, they are divas too.”

During the voting period, Amaral and Rigoberta Bandini (second place in 2022) performed.

I must confess that I voted for "V.I.P."

And now, the results:

Jury (50%)

  • J Kbello: 74 pts

  • Daniela Blasco: 71 pts

  • Melody: 70 pts

  • Mel Ömana: 61 pts

  • Kuve: 52 pts

  • La Chispa: 48 pts

  • Lucas Bun: 38 pts

  • Mawot: 18 pts

Televote (50%)

  • Melody: 80 pts

  • Daniela Blasco: 71 pts

  • J Kbello: 60 pts

  • Mel Ömana: 56 pts

  • La Chispa: 50 pts

  • Kuve: 44 pts

  • Mawot: 40 pts

  • Lucas Bun: 32 pts

Nebulossa awarded the Bronze Microphone trophy to Melody, who will represent Spain in Basel with her song "Esa Diva.”