Liverpool live: Sweaty sweaters, video games and red feathers

Road to Vienna: Poland As the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel approaches, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Today, we focus on Poland. Alicja Szemplińska: Poland’s Pop and Soul talent Alicja Szemplińska, born on 29 April 2002 in Ciechanów, Poland, is a talented singer and songwriter known for her powerful and emotional voice. She began singing at a young age, taking lessons at a local community centre and performing in a church choir. By the age of 12, she was already receiving professional vocal training, shaping her style with influences from pop and soul music. Breakthrough and Career Beginnings Alicja first gained national recognition in 2016 after winning the TV show Hit, Hit, Hurra!, earning training with renowned vocal coach Seth Riggs. Her career took a major leap in 2019 when she won The Voice of Poland. Soon after, she signed with Universal Music Polska and released her debut single “Prawie my,” which quickly gained over one million views. Growing Presence in Music and Media Beyond talent shows, Alicja has built a strong presence in Poland’s music scene. She has performed at major televised events and festivals, including the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2020. In 2022, she expanded her career by hosting the radio show 21 grams of soul. She also recorded “Stick Together,” the official song for the 2023 Men’s Handball World Championship. Major Achievements and Debut Album By her early twenties, Alicja had already won three major Polish talent competitions, highlighting her rapid rise. In 2024, she released her debut album Nie wracam, marking an important milestone and establishing her as a serious recording artist in the Polish pop industry. Eurovision Journey: From 2020 to 2026 Alicja was originally selected to represent Poland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with her song “Empires,” but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this setback, she continued developing her music career. In 2026, she made a successful return by winning Poland’s national selection with her self-written song “Pray.” This victory secures her long-awaited debut on the Eurovision stage in Vienna, confirming her growth as both a performer and songwriter. Pray: Faith, Freedom, and Self-Empowerment A Powerful Story of Growth Pray is a deeply emotional track that blends vulnerability with confidence. The song explores personal struggle, spiritual reflection, and the journey toward self-belief. It tells the story of an artist learning to grow, take control, and embrace independence. Searching for Freedom and Inner Peace At its core, “Pray” is about finding freedom—emotionally and spiritually. The artist feels incomplete and searches for meaning and balance. Faith plays a key role, creating tension between doubt and hope. Prayer becomes a way to cope, heal, and stay grounded. From Insecurity to Confidence As the song develops, the message shifts from self-doubt to empowerment. The artist begins to reject outside expectations and defines success on their own terms. This transformation highlights a relatable journey toward self-worth and authenticity. The Reality Behind Success “Pray” also reflects the pressure that comes with ambition. Even with growing confidence, challenges remain. The song shows that success is not perfect—it requires resilience, persistence, and strength. A Bold Message of Independence By the end, the artist takes full control, expressing confidence and determination. Faith remains a central theme, driving both personal and artistic growth. Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest Poland made its Eurovision debut in 1994 and achieved its best result that year, finishing second with Edyta Górniak‘s “To nie ja!” Since then, the country has participated numerous times, with varying degrees of success. They never made it to the top-5 again. Ich Troje was the most succesful group with “Keine Grenzen – Żadnych granic” in 2003.  The Bookmakers Poland is currently ranked 30th with the bookmakers—meaning a spot in the final seems unlikely… but who knows? It’s Eurovision, baby!