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

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Vienna 12 points: from traditions to a worldwide hit

Several countries start their second rehearsals in Vienna. 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.  Bulgaria — DARA, “Bangaranga” Running order: 1 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 10:30–10:55 CEST The Kukeri tradition in Bulgaria is one of the country’s most striking winter rituals. Dressed in heavy costumes, frightening masks and loud bells, Kukeri dancers move through villages to chase away evil spirits and welcome health, fertility and a good harvest. The custom is linked to ancient Balkan beliefs and is still passed on from generation to generation. Around New Year and before spring, communities gather for processions in which the sound, rhythm and costumes create a powerful, almost supernatural atmosphere. That makes the tradition a fascinating link to Bulgaria’s Eurovision Song Contest staging in Vienna this year. When the dancers appear with wild movements and ritual energy, they are not just adding drama. They are referring to a living folklore practice that many Bulgarians immediately recognise. For international viewers, the Kukeri tradition in Bulgaria shows how music, dance and symbolism can turn a pop performance into a cultural story.  Azerbaijan — JIVA, “Just Go” Running order: 2 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 11:05–11:30 CEST The Azerbaijan Eurovision AI rumours quickly became a talking point after JIVA released “Just Go” for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Some online discussions claimed that the song may have been created with artificial intelligence, partly because songwriter Fuad Javadov had been linked by fans to earlier AI-related demos. However, Azerbaijani broadcaster İctimai Television (İTV) has strongly denied the claims. In a statement, İTV said the allegations did not reflect reality. The broadcaster described “Just Go” as an original musical work, created through a professional process based on experience and creative labour. İTV also explained that JIVA was chosen after a multi-stage internal selection, with expert opinions and a focus group helping to decide the entry. For Eurovision viewers, the debate shows how sensitive the contest has become to questions about technology, authorship and transparency. For now, Azerbaijan insists that “Just Go” is a human-made Eurovision entry for Vienna 2026.  Romania — Alexandra Căpitănescu, “Choke Me” Running order: 3 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 11:40–12:05 CEST The Romanian Eurovision lyrics controversy around Alexandra Căpitănescu’s “Choke Me” has put the country’s 2026 entry under a sharp spotlight. After the song was selected for Vienna, some campaigners and fans argued that the repeated phrase “choke me” could be heard as a reference to sexual choking. They warned that, in a family show, such wording might normalise a dangerous practice rather than simply create drama. Romania’s delegation and broadcaster TVR rejected that interpretation. According to TVR, the stage concept is designed to underline the metaphorical nature of the message and rule out a literal reading of the lyrics. Căpitănescu has also explained that the song is about emotional pressure, inner fears, self-doubt and feeling suffocated by expectations. In that reading, “Choke Me” is not a call for violence or sex, but a dark image for anxiety and the struggle to reclaim one’s voice before the worldwide audience in May.  Luxembourg — Eva Marija, “Mother Nature” Running order: 4 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 12:20–12:45 CEST he Slovenian community in Luxembourg may be small, but it has a clear cultural presence in the Grand Duchy. For Eurovision fans, that background adds extra meaning to Eva Marija, Luxembourg’s 2026 contestant, who was born in Luxembourg to Slovenian parents. Around 768 Slovenian nationals lived in Luxembourg on 1 January 2025, according to STATEC. In such a multilingual country, the community connects Slovenian heritage with everyday Luxembourgish life. The Slovenian Association in Luxembourg, also known as Slolux, keeps that connection alive through events, language lessons, celebrations and informal support for newcomers. It promotes Slovenia, helps people integrate and brings families together throughout the year. In a country where almost half of residents are foreign nationals, Slovenes are part of Luxembourg’s wider European mosaic. Eva Marija’s story therefore clearly reflects both her Luxembourgish home and her Slovenian roots beautifully this year in Vienna for a wider Eurovision audience across Europe.  Czechia — Daniel Žižka, “CROSSROADS” Running order: 5 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 12:55–13:20 Mikolas Josef Eurovision history still matters for Czechia. In 2018, the Prague-born singer represented the country in Lisbon with “Lie To Me”, a playful pop song full of attitude, choreography and a memorable backpack. He finished sixth in the Grand Final with 281 points, Czechia’s best result at the contest so far. That record is now the benchmark Daniel Zizka may try to beat in Vienna 2026 with “CROSSROADS”. After Eurovision, Mikolas did not disappear from the music scene. He released singles such as “Me Gusta”, “Abu Dhabi” and “Acapella”, built an international fanbase and later continued simply as MIKOLAS. Recent years brought new music, including “Boys Don’t Cry”, “Delilah” and his debut album “ONE”. His post-Eurovision career shows how one strong contest result can become the start of a longer pop journey, not just a one-night Eurovision success story for Czech music fans and the wider Eurovision audience today.  Armenia — SIMÓN, “Paloma Rumba” Running order: 6 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 13:30–13:55 CEST Mikolas Josef Eurovision history still matters for Czechia. In 2018, the Prague-born singer represented the country in Lisbon with “Lie To Me”, a playful pop song full of attitude, choreography and a memorable backpack. He finished sixth in the Grand Final with 281 points, Czechia’s best result at the contest so far. That record is now the benchmark Daniel Zizka may try to beat in Vienna 2026 with “CROSSROADS”. After Eurovision, Mikolas did not disappear from the music scene. He released singles such as “Me Gusta”, “Abu Dhabi” and “Acapella”, built an international fanbase and later continued simply as MIKOLAS. Recent years brought new music, including “Boys Don’t Cry”, “Delilah” and his debut album “ONE”.

Read More »
May 8, 2026 No Comments
Uncategorized
Martijn

Vienna 12 points: from traditions to a worldwide hit

Several countries start their second rehearsals in Vienna. 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.  Bulgaria — DARA, “Bangaranga” Running order: 1 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 10:30–10:55 CEST The Kukeri tradition in Bulgaria is one of the country’s most striking winter rituals. Dressed in heavy costumes, frightening masks and loud bells, Kukeri dancers move through villages to chase away evil spirits and welcome health, fertility and a good harvest. The custom is linked to ancient Balkan beliefs and is still passed on from generation to generation. Around New Year and before spring, communities gather for processions in which the sound, rhythm and costumes create a powerful, almost supernatural atmosphere. That makes the tradition a fascinating link to Bulgaria’s Eurovision Song Contest staging in Vienna this year. When the dancers appear with wild movements and ritual energy, they are not just adding drama. They are referring to a living folklore practice that many Bulgarians immediately recognise. For international viewers, the Kukeri tradition in Bulgaria shows how music, dance and symbolism can turn a pop performance into a cultural story.  Azerbaijan — JIVA, “Just Go” Running order: 2 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 11:05–11:30 CEST The Azerbaijan Eurovision AI rumours quickly became a talking point after JIVA released “Just Go” for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Some online discussions claimed that the song may have been created with artificial intelligence, partly because songwriter Fuad Javadov had been linked by fans to earlier AI-related demos. However, Azerbaijani broadcaster İctimai Television (İTV) has strongly denied the claims. In a statement, İTV said the allegations did not reflect reality. The broadcaster described “Just Go” as an original musical work, created through a professional process based on experience and creative labour. İTV also explained that JIVA was chosen after a multi-stage internal selection, with expert opinions and a focus group helping to decide the entry. For Eurovision viewers, the debate shows how sensitive the contest has become to questions about technology, authorship and transparency. For now, Azerbaijan insists that “Just Go” is a human-made Eurovision entry for Vienna 2026.  Romania — Alexandra Căpitănescu, “Choke Me” Running order: 3 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 11:40–12:05 CEST The Romanian Eurovision lyrics controversy around Alexandra Căpitănescu’s “Choke Me” has put the country’s 2026 entry under a sharp spotlight. After the song was selected for Vienna, some campaigners and fans argued that the repeated phrase “choke me” could be heard as a reference to sexual choking. They warned that, in a family show, such wording might normalise a dangerous practice rather than simply create drama. Romania’s delegation and broadcaster TVR rejected that interpretation. According to TVR, the stage concept is designed to underline the metaphorical nature of the message and rule out a literal reading of the lyrics. Căpitănescu has also explained that the song is about emotional pressure, inner fears, self-doubt and feeling suffocated by expectations. In that reading, “Choke Me” is not a call for violence or sex, but a dark image for anxiety and the struggle to reclaim one’s voice before the worldwide audience in May.  Luxembourg — Eva Marija, “Mother Nature” Running order: 4 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 12:20–12:45 CEST he Slovenian community in Luxembourg may be small, but it has a clear cultural presence in the Grand Duchy. For Eurovision fans, that background adds extra meaning to Eva Marija, Luxembourg’s 2026 contestant, who was born in Luxembourg to Slovenian parents. Around 768 Slovenian nationals lived in Luxembourg on 1 January 2025, according to STATEC. In such a multilingual country, the community connects Slovenian heritage with everyday Luxembourgish life. The Slovenian Association in Luxembourg, also known as Slolux, keeps that connection alive through events, language lessons, celebrations and informal support for newcomers. It promotes Slovenia, helps people integrate and brings families together throughout the year. In a country where almost half of residents are foreign nationals, Slovenes are part of Luxembourg’s wider European mosaic. Eva Marija’s story therefore clearly reflects both her Luxembourgish home and her Slovenian roots beautifully this year in Vienna for a wider Eurovision audience across Europe.  Czechia — Daniel Žižka, “CROSSROADS” Running order: 5 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 12:55–13:20 Mikolas Josef Eurovision history still matters for Czechia. In 2018, the Prague-born singer represented the country in Lisbon with “Lie To Me”, a playful pop song full of attitude, choreography and a memorable backpack. He finished sixth in the Grand Final with 281 points, Czechia’s best result at the contest so far. That record is now the benchmark Daniel Zizka may try to beat in Vienna 2026 with “CROSSROADS”. After Eurovision, Mikolas did not disappear from the music scene. He released singles such as “Me Gusta”, “Abu Dhabi” and “Acapella”, built an international fanbase and later continued simply as MIKOLAS. Recent years brought new music, including “Boys Don’t Cry”, “Delilah” and his debut album “ONE”. His post-Eurovision career shows how one strong contest result can become the start of a longer pop journey, not just a one-night Eurovision success story for Czech music fans and the wider Eurovision audience today.  Armenia — SIMÓN, “Paloma Rumba” Running order: 6 | Rehearsal: 8 May, 13:30–13:55 CEST Mikolas Josef Eurovision history still matters for Czechia. In 2018, the Prague-born singer represented the country in Lisbon with “Lie To Me”, a playful pop song full of attitude, choreography and a memorable backpack. He finished sixth in the Grand Final with 281 points, Czechia’s best result at the contest so far. That record is now the benchmark Daniel Zizka may try to beat in Vienna 2026 with “CROSSROADS”. After Eurovision, Mikolas did not disappear from the music scene. He released singles such as “Me Gusta”, “Abu Dhabi” and “Acapella”, built an international fanbase and later continued simply as MIKOLAS. Recent years brought new music, including “Boys Don’t Cry”, “Delilah” and his debut album “ONE”.

Read More »
May 8, 2026 No Comments
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