What can we expect and who will win tomorrow?

After a film with, again, beautiful images of the Netherlands, and yes, a role for Duncan Laurence, we go to the flag parade. DJ Pieter Gabriel accompanies the artists musically with his own adaptation of the worldwide hit “Venus” by Shocking Blue, also a hit from Dutch soil. Presenters Edsilia Rombley, Jan Smit and Chantal Janzen sing the song.

We open with Cyprus; often an uptempo pop song is chosen to open, this year too. Albania takes the cursed second place. However, Albania is not one of the potential winners anyway, so the second place remains where it is. Israel follows; she once bursted out in tears when the Eurovision song contest was canceled, but now Eden Alene is in the final, followed by Belgium. Hopefully Hooverphonic will remain in peoples memories in the beginning of the broadcast. The advantage is that the song may stand out even more after an uptempo song. However, Russia follows with a striking act and then Malta. What that does to Malta’s chances is a big question mark, but it is not favorable. Certainly not because Portugal will follow after Malta; they are the surprise of the contest. We wouldn’t even be surprised if Portugal ends up very high; The Black Mamba isn’t Salvador Sobral, but still. The end of the first block is formed by Serbia; The fact that the three ladies are through to the final was no surprise, but it will probably not be much more there. Or is Serbia lucky that all other countries of the former Yugoslavia are not there?

While advertisements are watched in some countries, the rest of Europe sees Nikkie Tutorials showcasing three winners of the #Eurovisionchallenge. Valentina, who won the junior Eurovision this year, will also say something. Emmelie De Forrest, Jamala and Duncan Laurence talk about their trophy. After that, Chantal Janzen and Jan Smit will make an appeal to share your photo of how you watch the Eurovision song contest.

The second block is opened by the United Kingdom. That is usually not something to be happy about. People are still refilling the glasses or sitting on the toilet. By the way, yesterday in the Dutch tv-show Op1 you could see how British journalists are already busy putting the blame for a low score apart from themselves, even before the contest is over. However, the UK entry is completely insignificant to Greece that performes next. Greenscreen is certainly not new, but it is smart to use it. In quality, however, the Greek entry is far surpassed by that of Switzerland. According to many, one of the strongest voices of the festival. Still, the song may soumd a little too much like “Arcade” to be a winner. Also a top song, possibly even a winner, is Iceland. Would it give Daði og Gagnamagnið sympathy votes that they are not allowed to be present live? The Icelandics are in any case followed by the not too strong entry from Spain, although, to be honest, it must be said that the singing of Blas Cantó improves with each rehearsal. Moldova will then take office. But it is still doubtful whether the name of Filipp Kirkorov (composer) will be good for a high score. Germany is a “love it or hate it” entry that can go in any direction. And after a song about a middle finger, the director has chosen to put the other middle finger song right after it. The song from Finland turned out to have a lot of fans yesterday. Whether it helps them on the scoreboard? We’ll know tomorrow night.

And then we see Edsilia Rombley at the top of the comment booths to chitchat with various commentators. Chantal Janzen and Jan Smit refer to the time when there was still a live orchestra. They promise an orchestra with a top DJ.

In the meantime, Bulgaria is ready with Victoria on her rock. Another strong entry. Then we see Lithuania again. At the bookies, the yellow-clad men have fallen somewhat; not because they are not good, perhaps because a large number of countries have an even stronger entry.

And then Chantal Janzen announces Duncan Laurence, who speaks to the viewer in a video. Why so soon? Well, it gives the crew time to prepare the scenery of Ukraine.

A trip, as Dutch commentator Sander Lantinga called the entry. of Ukraine We can imagine why. It would not surprise anyone if Ukraine ends up in the top of the rankings. Immediately after that, another top favorite follows: France. Take a good look, because this could well be the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. To be honest, the entry from Azerbaijan is fairly insignificant. Anyway, the King’s Commissioner in Friesland Arno Brok and Mayor of Leeuwarden Sybrand Buma give a voting advice: stim Azerbaijan (vote Azerbaijan, but in Frisian language). It doesn’t seem to be a coincidence, but after Azerbaijan, Norway will perform. All week, something seems to be going on between the Azerbaijani Efendi and the Norwegian TIX. It is very worthy to lsearch for #efentix.

Then NikkieTutorials and Edsilia Rombley take the floor and announce some entre-acts and… the entry of the Netherlands. Jeangu Macrooy is praised for his cast-iron voice. He seems to slightly do better among bookmakers. But after the Netherlands, another top favorite (there are quite a lot this year) follows: Italy. Would the glam rock-leaning group win the Eurovision song contest? We do not consider it impossible. Sweden is not one of this year’s top favorites. The entry is just not strong enough for a top score. Finally we see San Marino. And then the rule of applies: world stars do NOT win the Eurovision song contest. Whether it’s Cliff Richard, t.A.T.u., DJ Bobo or Bonnie Tyler, it doesn’t work. A high position is definitely not impossible, San Marino will break its own record for sure.

Then a spectacular entre act:follows: a classical orchestra of toung people and Afrojack accompany Wulf and Glennis Grace while they sing under the title “Music binds us”. We see images of people in Rotterdam, but the song and music come from the Erasmus Bridge.

NikkieTutorials comes again with a section of Eurovision Tutorials about the voting. Then she shows us images of how the festival in Ahoy is structured and how it works behind the scenes. Edsilia Rombley then meets several Eurovision winners, a film that was already shot before the Corona crisis. That is why Edsilia explicitly announces that she is hugging the former winners and not keeping a one and a half meter distance. Then we see a video in which Chantal Janzen explains how the audience has changed over the years.

And then we’re going to look at Teach In, Lenny Kuhr, Måns Zelmerlöw and Lordi. They sing from different rooftops in Rotterdam. Duncan Laurence then sings his hit “Arcade” and a new song. Not live, because he is at home with Corona, but a previously recorded rehearsal of his performance. And then…. The producers have even turned the countdown moment into something beautiful with dancers. The voting goes pretty smoothly. Of course something can go wrong, but there is no useless waiting. The scoreboard, with a lot of white, is easy to read. Edsilia and Nikkie are present in the greenroom while Jan and Chantal do the voting. Who is going to win remains uncertain for a long time, longer than ever. The bookmakers do not state a clear winner.

However, team Eurovision Universe has tried to predict the top 10. In a little more than 24 hours we know how right (or wrong) we are:

1.France
2.Italy
3.Malta
4.Switzerland
5.Ukraine
6.Bulgaria
7.Iceland
8.Portugal
9.Norway
10.Finland

photo credits: EBU

Picture of Martijn

Martijn

See all contributions

Related news
Uncategorized

Vienna 12 points: Of monsters, pink little stars and the Beatles

Several countries start their second rehearsals. As we still don’t have access to the rehearsals, we will do something else. Per entry, we highlight one subject and give you some more information. That can be something about the artist, the song, the lyrics or even something completely different.  Finland – Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen, “Liekinheitin” Running order: 7 | Rehearsal: 15:00–15:25 CEST Finland has moved to the top of the Eurovision 2026 betting odds, putting extra attention on Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen’s entry “Liekinheitin”. For Finnish fans, that leading position will inevitably bring back memories of the country’s greatest Eurovision night. In 2006, Lordi shocked and thrilled Europe with “Hard Rock Hallelujah”, a hard-rock anthem performed in monster costumes. The band won the contest in Athens with 292 points, giving Finland its first, and so far only, Eurovision victory. It was a turning point for a country that had often struggled at the contest and had waited decades for a win. Lordi proved that Eurovision could reward something loud, theatrical and completely different. Now, twenty years later, Finland once again finds itself at the centre of the race. The odds may still change, but the comparison with 2006 gives this year’s Finnish campaign an extra layer of excitement and expectation too.  Montenegro – Tamara Živković, “Nova Zora” Running order: 8 | Rehearsal: 15:35–16:00 CEST Pinkove Zvezdice, literally “Pink’s Little Stars”, was a Serbian television talent show for young singers, broadcast by RTV Pink from 2014. The format was aimed at children and teenagers up to 15, and quickly became a regional platform across the former Yugoslav area. Contestants performed well-known Balkan and international songs in front of a star jury, often turning emotional performances into viral moments. For Eurovision fans, the show has become a useful talent-map. Montenegro’s Tamara Živković was one of the young singers who took part, years before her Eurovision journey. Two Croatian Eurovision acts went even further: Marko Bošnjak, Croatia 2025, won the second season after breaking through as an 11-year-old, while Roko Blažević, Croatia 2019, also won Pinkove Zvezdice before moving on to Dora and Eurovision. The programme therefore helped shape several Balkan pop careers, and its name still carries recognition among regional viewers with strong musical memories today.  Estonia – Vanilla Ninja, “Too Epic To Be True” Running order: 9 | Rehearsal: 16:10–16:35 CEST “Club Kung Fu” was the explosive first calling card of Vanilla Ninja. The Estonian girl band entered the song in Eurolaul 2003, Estonia’s national selection for Eurovision. Written by Sven Lõhmus and Piret Järvis, it mixed pop-rock guitars with a cheeky party lyric and a martial-arts gimmick that made the performance instantly memorable. The jury was not convinced: the song finished near the bottom with 32 points. The public, however, reacted very differently. “Club Kung Fu” became the moment that introduced Vanilla Ninja to a wider audience and helped turn them from a new Tallinn band into a national pop phenomenon at home and soon abroad. Later that year it appeared on their self-titled debut album, which launched their early career. In hindsight, the song is classic Vanilla Ninja: playful, loud, slightly absurd and impossible to ignore. It was less a Eurovision failure than the start of a European story. 📷 EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett  Israel – Noam Bettan, “Michelle” Running order: 10 | Rehearsal: 16:45–17:10 CEST There are more songs called ‘Michelle’. Yet the best-known remains the tender ballad introduced by The Beatles on their 1965 album Rubber Soul. Written mainly by Paul McCartney, with John Lennon contributing part of the middle section, it blends English lyrics with a few French lines, giving the song its unmistakable continental charm. Although The Beatles did not release it as a single in Britain, it quickly became one of their most covered compositions. The Overlanders, a British harmony group, seized the opportunity in 1966 and turned Michelle into a major hit, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart. Their version is smoother and more folk-pop than the Beatles recording, but it keeps the melody’s quiet elegance. The song’s success shows how strong the composition was: even without The Beatles’ name on the label, Michelle could captivate listeners worldwide and become part of sixties pop history forever.    

Read More »
May 6, 2026 No Comments
Uncategorized
Martijn

Vienna 12 points: Of monsters, pink little stars and the Beatles

Several countries start their second rehearsals. As we still don’t have access to the rehearsals, we will do something else. Per entry, we highlight one subject and give you some more information. That can be something about the artist, the song, the lyrics or even something completely different.  Finland – Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen, “Liekinheitin” Running order: 7 | Rehearsal: 15:00–15:25 CEST Finland has moved to the top of the Eurovision 2026 betting odds, putting extra attention on Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen’s entry “Liekinheitin”. For Finnish fans, that leading position will inevitably bring back memories of the country’s greatest Eurovision night. In 2006, Lordi shocked and thrilled Europe with “Hard Rock Hallelujah”, a hard-rock anthem performed in monster costumes. The band won the contest in Athens with 292 points, giving Finland its first, and so far only, Eurovision victory. It was a turning point for a country that had often struggled at the contest and had waited decades for a win. Lordi proved that Eurovision could reward something loud, theatrical and completely different. Now, twenty years later, Finland once again finds itself at the centre of the race. The odds may still change, but the comparison with 2006 gives this year’s Finnish campaign an extra layer of excitement and expectation too.  Montenegro – Tamara Živković, “Nova Zora” Running order: 8 | Rehearsal: 15:35–16:00 CEST Pinkove Zvezdice, literally “Pink’s Little Stars”, was a Serbian television talent show for young singers, broadcast by RTV Pink from 2014. The format was aimed at children and teenagers up to 15, and quickly became a regional platform across the former Yugoslav area. Contestants performed well-known Balkan and international songs in front of a star jury, often turning emotional performances into viral moments. For Eurovision fans, the show has become a useful talent-map. Montenegro’s Tamara Živković was one of the young singers who took part, years before her Eurovision journey. Two Croatian Eurovision acts went even further: Marko Bošnjak, Croatia 2025, won the second season after breaking through as an 11-year-old, while Roko Blažević, Croatia 2019, also won Pinkove Zvezdice before moving on to Dora and Eurovision. The programme therefore helped shape several Balkan pop careers, and its name still carries recognition among regional viewers with strong musical memories today.  Estonia – Vanilla Ninja, “Too Epic To Be True” Running order: 9 | Rehearsal: 16:10–16:35 CEST “Club Kung Fu” was the explosive first calling card of Vanilla Ninja. The Estonian girl band entered the song in Eurolaul 2003, Estonia’s national selection for Eurovision. Written by Sven Lõhmus and Piret Järvis, it mixed pop-rock guitars with a cheeky party lyric and a martial-arts gimmick that made the performance instantly memorable. The jury was not convinced: the song finished near the bottom with 32 points. The public, however, reacted very differently. “Club Kung Fu” became the moment that introduced Vanilla Ninja to a wider audience and helped turn them from a new Tallinn band into a national pop phenomenon at home and soon abroad. Later that year it appeared on their self-titled debut album, which launched their early career. In hindsight, the song is classic Vanilla Ninja: playful, loud, slightly absurd and impossible to ignore. It was less a Eurovision failure than the start of a European story. 📷 EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett  Israel – Noam Bettan, “Michelle” Running order: 10 | Rehearsal: 16:45–17:10 CEST There are more songs called ‘Michelle’. Yet the best-known remains the tender ballad introduced by The Beatles on their 1965 album Rubber Soul. Written mainly by Paul McCartney, with John Lennon contributing part of the middle section, it blends English lyrics with a few French lines, giving the song its unmistakable continental charm. Although The Beatles did not release it as a single in Britain, it quickly became one of their most covered compositions. The Overlanders, a British harmony group, seized the opportunity in 1966 and turned Michelle into a major hit, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart. Their version is smoother and more folk-pop than the Beatles recording, but it keeps the melody’s quiet elegance. The song’s success shows how strong the composition was: even without The Beatles’ name on the label, Michelle could captivate listeners worldwide and become part of sixties pop history forever.    

Read More »
May 6, 2026 No Comments
© 2019 – 2026 Eurovision Universe / eurovisionuniverse.com

Maintained in cooperation with IT-M.art

Follow Us: