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By Hanan Dervisevic
By Maddy Morwood
By Yasmin Jeffery
Topic:Music
It's Eurovision time!
After two tough, audience-voted semi finals, we have our 26 countries that will be battling it out for 2025 Eurovision supremacy.
Unfortunately, Australia's artist Go-Jo didn't make it through to the grand final, so we won't be hearing more of his epic ode to self-confidence and self-expression, Milkshake Man.
Follow along live.
By Hanan Dervisevic
Made up of best friends Charlotte, Holly-Anne and Lauren, Remember Monday have earned a reputation for their strong vocals and perfectly blended harmonies.
They first hit TV screens in 2019 when they reached the quarterfinals on The Voice UK. They're also stars of the West End, spending years honing their craft on the theatre stage.
Their song, What The Hell Just Happened?, chronicles the aftermath of a night out with friends.
It's definitely a fun, feel-good track, but the constant change of pace and blending multiple genres within 3-minutes could be a little jarring.
The song feels like a blend of Katy Perry's Last Friday Night meets Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.
LYRICS:
What the hell just happened?
What the hell just happened?
Went up on the roof, jumped into the pool
You should do it too, too, too, too
What the hell just happened?
No clue, but l liked it
The trio will be hoping to do better than Olly Alexander's performance last year, where he finished in 19th place and was unable to score any votes from the public.
By Hanan Dervisevic
I agree with you there wholeheartedly, Adam.
Even if Spain missed a cue Melody still performed well enough to make the top 10 at least, maybe even top five.
— Adam
By Hanan Dervisevic
Ziferblat consists of twin brothers Danylo and Valentyn, and drummer Fedir.
The lyrics tell the story of Ukrainians who have been separated since Russia invaded the country in 2022, with the titular bird conveying a message of hope — it's a bird of pray, not prey.
The lyrics are partially in English and partially in Ukrainian — I almost think they could have just kept the entire song in Ukrainian which would have flowed much nicer.
I must admit, the song doesn't hit the right notes for me, but the stage performance is pretty genius though — the soft, yellow light that the lead singer catches and disappears as he clasps his chest, with it appearing behind him like wings at the end.
LYRICS (translated):
Fly
Bird
I'm begging you
Begging you please just
Live
Share
My heart with someone who
Cares
Of
Me and my little bird of pray
By Hanan Dervisevic
It looks like Spain's Melody missed her cue coming out from the curtain as the chorus started.
She had a costume change and one can only assume they didn't rip off the black dress she had on quick enough to reveal the sparkly silver bodysuit.
What do you think?
By Hanan Dervisevic
Melody is an artist that has been in the spotlight since the age of 10.
And now she's ready to hit another international stage as she sings ESA DIVA (That Diva) for Spain at the 2025 Eurovision Contest.
ESA DIVA is an autobiographical number, referencing Melody's former songs and her progress to where she is today.
She recognises that a true diva is actually humble and should never dim the light of others to let their talent shine.
In the end, you, Melody and everyone really are that diva.
LYRICS (translated):
A diva is simple, like a mere mortal
A diva doesn't step on anyone in order to shine
Her voice makes her great, and so what?
If she's free, singing like a fish in the sea
A diva is brave, powerful
Her life is a garden full of thorns and roses
She rises once again, dancing
With more strength than a hurricane
By Hanan Dervisevic
Sweden — KAJ, Bara Bada Bastu
I go to bed singing Bara Bada Bastu. I wake up singing Bara Bada Bastu.
This song has an infectious hold on me that I just can't shake and I am obsessed.
It's bold without being try-hard, funny without losing musicality and charming from start to finish. And the fact that the staging matches the lyrics is a 10/10 for me. It's chaotic and 100% Eurovision spirit.
Poland — Justyna Steczkowska, GAJA
She's 52, looks 20, dances like she's 18 and sings like an eternal goddess.
Justyna does an entire workout on stage and hits every single note in her empowering pop banger. Thank you for inviting Eurovision to your concert, Justyna.
Spain — Melody, ESA DIVA
I'm a sucker for a basic pop song. And ESA DIVA is exactly that.
Melody can sing, dance, looks great on stage, and serves some Spanish flamenco power! She really is a DIVA. I'm here for it.
By Hanan Dervisevic
Katarsis are an experimental rock band and their song Tavo Akys (Your Eyes) paints a vivid story with few words.
It explores the emotions of sadness and sharing that with someone.
The opening bars are dark, brooding and captivating, but nothing really happens after that? It kind of lost me in the middle and then brought me back with the "tavo, tavo, tavo" at the end.
With a lot of quirky, stand out songs this year, I think it'll get a bit lost amongst the jury and public and likely finish somewhere towards the bottom half.
What do you think?
LYRICS (translated):
Your eyes see pain
For my eyes, it only gives a feeling
By Maddy Morwood
Israel's entrance this year is 24-year old Yuval Raphael, with the pop song New Day Will Rise.
Her country's entrance in this year's contest has garnered widespread opposition, but on Friday she advanced to the grand final with her pop song with verses in English, French, and Hebrew.
Raphael, who is a survivor of the Nova music festival attack during October 7, told Billboard the song was a message of grief and hope.
LYRICS:
New day will rise, life will go on
Everyone cries, don't cry alone
Darkness will fade, all the pain will go away
"Crying with someone else or someone that relates to your grief is something that is so healing… hopefully they'll take the message of embracing each other and bringing hope to each other," she said.
Israel's military campaign in Gaza in response to the October attack has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the territory.
By Yasmin Jeffery
Norway — Kyle Alessandro, Lighter
I'm an absolute sucker for 'Lighter's' medieval staging concept, the precise choreo and the fact that Kyle Alessandro can actually sing. Don't believe me? Listen to the acoustic version.
Add to that the slightly ludicrous lyrics ("I won't fall again, I'll be my own lighter") and the catchy hook and I feel it's my duty to declare Kyle the Eurovision twink of 2025.
Spain — Melody, Esa Diva
If there's one thing I want from Eurovision year in, year out, it's for an established but obscure European diva to tell me how it is. And that's exactly what Melody does with 'Esa Diva', her fiery love letter to divas.
There's an outfit reveal, Flamenco references, thigh high boots, a daring blink-and-you'll-miss-it stunt, and an irresistible beat that thrums throughout. Thank you, Melody.
Austria — JJ, Wasted Love
This intense track is one of the songs I was most curious to see brought to the stage because it's all about the high notes.
JJ doesn't just hit every note in 'Wasted Love'; his live rendition somehow transforms this pop/opera/techno song into a dirty track befitting the dankest of clubs. And the look on his face when he reaches the bridge tells us he knows it.
By Yasmin Jeffery
With lyrics like "I work around the clocko, that's why I'm sweating like a mafioso", you'll perhaps be unsurprised to hear Estonian rapper and singer Tommy Cash's Eurovision entry has been wildly unpopular with Italians.
Italian consumers' association Codacons even lodged a complaint about the track with the European Broadcasting Corporation in February, in which they asked whether it was "appropriate to allow a song that offends a country and an entire community".
The EBU didn't rule in their favour.
And Tommy has only leaned further into the elements of 'Espresso Macchiato' that prompted criticism. You can expect a broken Italian accent, and for Tommy to appear on stage flanked by beefed-up security guards, in front of the "winners cafe".
LYRICS:
Life is like spaghetti
It's hard until you make it
No stresso, no stresso
It's gonna be espresso
Tommy Cash may have done collabs with pop darlings Kim Petras and Charli xcx, as well as Eurovision royalty Joost Klein and Käärijä, but his voice was pretty shaky in the first semi.
Here's hoping he's got a handle on the nerves today, but regardless this song will likely crack the top 10 — Eurovision fans have rated this gimmicky beverage song higher than Australia's Milkshake Man for months now.
By Maddy Morwood
The voting polls have officially open! And even though we're not in Europe, it doesn't mean we can't vote.
If you see an act you like, take note of their number and head to esc.vote to vote.
There’s a limit of 20 votes per person and, fair warning, each vote does cost 70 cents.
Our winner tonight will be decided from a 50/50 split between the audience televote and the Eurovision National Jury (each country participating supplies a jury of music industry professionals).
By Maddy Morwood
Luxemborg are turning back time with the bobby, catchy La Poupée Monte Le Son.
Translated to "The dolls turns up the sound", the song is an ode to the country's 1965 Eurovision winning song Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son, which was sung by 17-year-old singer France Gall.
Gall told a story from the perspective of a doll, but Laura Thorn talks about a young woman who wants to be seen as her own person, rather than a doll.
LYRICS (translated):
If you thought I was fragile like porcelain
Or more malleable, like polyethylene
I'm not like that, I need oxygen carry the peace of being able to return
Not only does the song tell an interesting story, but Laura Thorn opened her semifinal performance with incredibly creative visuals inside a doll house.
The staging alone has won her a ton of support after her performance —but we'll have to see how that translates into votes among pretty strong contenders.
By Maddy Morwood
I would like to preface by saying that Go-Jo's Milkshake Man was originally in my top three, but his shock elimination has forced me to go back to the drawing board. RIP milkshake 🙁
Italy— Lucio Corsi, Volevo Essere Un Duro
In a sea of metallic jumpsuits and flashing lights, I couldn't but fall in love with little Lucio Corsi with his little harmonica. An ode to all the freaks out there, his authentic lyrics in Volevo Essere Un Duro struck a cord in my heart, and I'm rooting for him.
Malta — Miriana Conte, SERVING
This song was originally called Kant before the EBU ruled that it was too similar to the C-word— and that pretty much sums up Malta's entry. Mirana is serving sexy, serving kant, and I want to see her serving all the way to the top. Diva not down, I repeat, diva not down!
Germany— Abor & Tynna, Baller
This club classic is a dark horse in the competition. The brother sister act are giving Charli XCX and the sad party girl lyrics are practically begging me to sink 12 vodka sodas and hit the club. Let's go Germany.
By Yasmin Jeffery
Kyle Alessandro is the youngest Eurovision competitor in 2025, but he's no stranger to the stage; the 19-year-old made it to the final of Norway's Got Talent when he was just 10 years old.
This isn't his first go at Eurovision, either. Two years ago, Kyle competed in Norway's national selection as a member of the boyband Umami Tsunami, where he also made it to the final with 'Geronimo'.
I'm glad he wasn't chosen to represent Norway with that track, because 'Lighter' puts Kyle's undeniable talent front and centre in a way Umami Tsunami would never allow.
The lyrics also come from a far more meaningful place; the teen star wrote the pop song after his mum was diagnosed with cancer, and it's about finding inner strength.
LYRICS:
Somewhere along the way I lost my might
I had to walk a hundred thousand miles
I'm not afraid to set it all on fire
I won't fall again, I'll be my own lighter
This track has a strong staging concept, brilliantly executed choreo, and Kyle has worked so hard to bring his Eurovision dream to life (it's so hot on stage with all the pyro that his shoe melted during a rehearsal and had to be fixed the day before the first semi-final).
However, it's looking unlikely 'Lighter' will crack the top 10.
By Hanan Dervisevic
The first entry tonight is Norway, who'll be bringing the fire. Time to soaks in all these amazing performances.
By Hanan Dervisevic
There are heaps of fans in the official Eurovision arena.
But we've just found out that there are 36,000 more people in the next stadium over watching the grand final live.
How fantastic is that!
We also heard from host Hazel who said she was told "two women cannot host the Eurovision Song Contest".
Her answer was spot on: "They are absolutely right, it should be hosted by three women".
By Maddy Morwood
It's early, you might be a little squinty eyed, and you may be wondering exactly where to tune into.
You can watch the grand final live right now on on SBS and SBS on Demand.
The broadcast will kick off at:
Or, you can follow along with us in the blog!
By Hanan Dervisevic
The opening traditional grand final parade has started, where we get to see everyone before they perform!
I'm assuming they'll be nervous, excited and super hyped up to represent their country.
Swiss legends Yello are providing the soundtrack with The Race.
The crowd are cheering and so am I from my desk!
By Hanan Dervisevic
To start off on stage, we've got last year's winner Nemo singing The Code that brought Eurovision all the way to Basel, Switzerland.
It still gives me goosebumps.
There's usually about 20 minutes of preamble before we get into the first song.
By Hanan Dervisevic
Depending on who you talk to, the running order position can be instrumental in a country's success…or failure.
Here's how things will unfold this evening:
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