Basel Bulletin: lips, a rock, a curtain and a lot of white

📷 David Urban

This morning we saw lips, a rock, a curtain and a lot of white. Today we continue with the rehearsals of the second semifinal. We tell you everything we know about the four countries opening the second half of the show.

EBU has decided to release photo’s of it only the day after. But still we can show you (if available) the national final performance or any other live performance so you got an idea what the artists are capable of. Disclaimer: for the description of the performance, we have to do it with what the EBU tells us.

🇲🇹 Malta

Malta’s Miriana Conte rehearses Serving, a performance structured around bold visual transitions and symbolic costume changes. The routine begins with Miriana enclosed in a rotating prop shaped like a pair of sparkly red lips holding a disco ball, placed at the centre of the stage. She wears a voluminous yellow dress with a tiered skirt, which is removed as she emerges from the structure to reveal a black and red glittered catsuit. Four dancers join her on stage, wearing red fishnets, black strappy outfits, and red fur jackets. The choreography follows the MESC version closely. Visuals on the LED wall shift between floral graphics, animal prints, and lyrical typography, ending with the phrase “DIVA NOT DOWN.” Smoke jets accompany the choruses and final moments.

🇬🇪 Georgia

Georgia’s Mariam Shengelia rehearses Freedom, a ballad combining orchestral elements with traditional staging motifs. The performance begins with Mariam standing on a large geometric rock at centre stage, wearing a structured silver gown made from satin and layered organza. The shape of the dress blends into the rock, creating a unified visual. Four male dancers in traditional black Georgian chokha coats and headdresses perform choreography around the stage. During the second verse, they incorporate a choreographed flag routine using blue and white flags. The LED wall displays a rising moon that transitions into a red sun with clouds and neon rings. Midway through, Mariam steps out of her gown to reveal a red sequinned jumpsuit and moves to the frame stage for the final chorus. Low fog surrounds the rock at the start.

🇩🇰 Denmark

Denmark’s Sissal rehearses Hallucination, a performance built around movement, lighting, and costume transitions. The staging centres on a transparent four-part curtain that hangs from the ceiling to the floor, surrounding a black plinth where Sissal begins the song. A wind machine moves the fabric, creating a visual tunnel as neon lights and strobes pulse around her. She opens the performance wearing a voluminous blue and white organza coat. She removes it during the second verse to reveal a sparkly electric blue leotard with thigh-high boots. Four dancers interact with the curtain, later dancing with blue handkerchiefs and finally appearing fully wrapped in blue fabric. In the final chorus, Sissal leaves the plinth and joins them on the frame stage. No pyro effects are used.

🇨🇿 Czechia

Czechia’s ADONXS rehearses Kiss Kiss Goodbye, presenting a visually structured performance that gradually builds in intensity. He begins alone on a white stage, wearing silver wide-legged trousers and a fitted white top with sleeves and gloves. From the start, the focus is on minimalism, with the LED wall displaying shifting black geometric shapes that contrast against the white surroundings. As the performance moves into the second verse, four dancers in coordinated white outfits join him, adding movement and visual balance. Then, during the instrumental dance break, the atmosphere shifts: red strobe lighting fills the space as the lego lights descend, marking a sharp change in tone. Afterwards, the staging returns to its clean aesthetic. No pyrotechnics are used, keeping the focus on lighting, choreography, and camera work throughout.

Lips, a rock, a curtain and a lot of white, that is what it’s all about this morning. Keep following us for what happens in the afternoon!

 

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History

Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest, part 7

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest has been won by Austria. It was the 57th Austrian entry. Reason for us to go back to all the Austrian entries in history! For Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest, part 7, we look back at the start of the 21st century. Alf Poier participated for Austria, but there were also some unsuccesful entries. And there was a 3-year gap. 2000 – The Rounder Girls – All To You Austria’s 2000 entry “All To You” was internally selected by broadcaster ORF. The song was written by American songwriter Dave Moskin. Moskin gave the three-piece vocal group The Rounder Girls an up-tempo, gospel-influenced pop track. Performing last in the Stockholm final, the trio, with members from Austria, the US and the UK, delivered slick harmonies and choreography. They finished 14th out of 24 countries with 34 points. The Rounder Girls were a seasoned soul/gospel ensemble, and their Eurovision appearance raised their profile, though Austria’s middling result meant the country sat out the contest in 2001. 2002 – Manuel Ortega – Say A Word “Say A Word” by Manuel Ortega won Austria’s “Song.Null.Zwei” 2002 national final out of ten songs. this entry was an upbeat pop song with a catchy, boy-band style hook. It was composed by Alexander Kahr with lyrics by Robert Pfluger. At Eurovision 2002 in Tallinn, Ortega performed third and Austria placed 18th (26 points) in the final. Manuel Ortega, a young pop singer, had scored a summer hit in 2001 and was nicknamed “the Austrian Ricky Martin” for his Latin pop flair. His Eurovision song’s fun choreography and positive message reflected that image, though the result was a lower mid-table finish. 2003 – Alf Poier – Weil der Mensch zählt ORF organized the “Song.Null.Drei” 2003 selection. Petra Frey (ESC 1994) was the runner up. Comedian-singer Alf Poier triumphed with “Weil der Mensch zählt”. Poier penned this satirical song himself. Musically it’s a quirky folk-pop tune delivered in Styrian dialect. The performance, complete with cartoonish animal props, was a parody of Eurovision’s over-the-top style. At the Riga contest, this offbeat entry surprised many by scoring 6th place with 101 points. Alf Poier, an Austrian stand-up comedian known for absurdist humor, thus earned Austria’s best Eurovision result in over a decade. His comedic approach and catchy refrain turned him into a fan favorite that year. 2004 – Tie Break – Du bist Austria’s national final “Song.Null.Vier” chose Tie Break’s “Du bist” for Eurovision 2004. Waterloo & Robinson (ESC 1976!) were the runners up. Note that a song, written by popstar Falco, participated too. So posthumously, Falco did a Eurovision attempt!Written by composer Peter Zimmermann, “Du bist” is a tender schlager-style pop ballad performed in German. Tie Break, a trio of fresh-faced male singers (a boy band formed via a talent search), delivered tight harmonies in Istanbul’s final. Thanks to Austria’s top-10 result the year before, they pre-qualified directly for the final. Tie Break finished 21st out of 24 with 9 points. The group had gained national fame through the selection process, but on the Eurovision stage their gentle ballad struggled to stand out in a field dominated by more dynamic acts. 2005 – Global.Kryner – Y así In 2005, “Song.Null.Fünf” was held and the crossover folk band Global.Kryner won with “Y así”. They narrowly beated Alf Poier. The controversy was that Austria changed the rules of the voting on the very last moment. Would the original voting procedure be used, Alf Poier would have won. Band members Edi Köhldorfer (composer) and Christof Spörk (lyricist) combined Latin salsa rhythms with Austrian alpine polka to create this unique “salsa-polka-pop” song. Global.Kryner was a six-member ensemble known for blending folk and jazz influences. They opened the Eurovision semi-final in Kyiv with an energetic performance featuring yodels and Latin dance breaks. However, “Y así” did not advance to the final, placing 21st of 25 in the semi-final with 30 points. The group had earned acclaim in Austria and Germany, but their daring genre fusion proved too quirky for the Eurovision televote that year. 2007 – Eric Papilaya – Get A Life – Get Alive After a brief Eurovision hiatus, Austria returned in 2007 by internally selecting Eric Papilaya. His entry “Get A Life – Get Alive” – composed by Greg Usek with lyrics by Austin Howard. It was the official anthem of Vienna’s Life Ball AIDS charity event. This song is an upbeat pop-rock anthem with an inspirational message and flashy staging. Papilaya performed with a giant red ribbon on stage. Papilaya, a rock vocalist who rose to fame on the TV talent show Starmania, gave a spirited performance in Helsinki’s semi-final. Unfortunately Austria did not qualify for the final; he placed 27th (four points) in the semi. The entry drew media attention for its charity theme, but it wasn’t enough to overcome tough competition in 2007. 2011 – Nadine Beiler – The Secret Is Love Austria returned to Eurovision in 2011 through the national selection “Düsseldorf – wir kommen!”. The competition featured ten songs. However, well-known artists Alf Poier and Petra Frey failed to pass the online preselection. As a result, Nadine Beiler won the final with her soulful ballad “The Secret Is Love”. She co-wrote the song with veteran producer Thomas Rabitsch. Musically, the entry combines elements of gospel and pop, while it clearly highlights Beiler’s strong vocal range. Previously, Nadine Beiler had gained national fame by winning the television talent show Starmania in 2007 at the age of 16. Therefore, expectations were already high when she took the stage in Düsseldorf. Her Eurovision performance began a cappella and gradually built towards a powerful climax. Consequently, Austria qualified from the semi-final in seventh place with 69 points. In the grand final, Beiler finished 18th, scoring 64 points. Nevertheless, this result marked Austria’s first appearance in a Eurovision final in seven years and therefore signalled a credible and positive comeback.

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Weekly Update

It’s Tuesday, January 6, 2026, and time for another weekly update! This week, national finals season is heating up across Europe. Malta has released all 18 competing songs for its selection. Germany is planning a three-hour national final show and two Eurovision documentaries. Greece revealed a packed lineup of 28 artists for its national final. Meanwhile, the European Broadcasting Union has introduced a new ident as part of a brand refresh. Preparations for Eurovision 2026 continue in Vienna, with the Semi-Final allocation draw just days away. Here are this week’s top stories: National Finals 🇲🇹 Malta: All MESC 2026 Songs Revealed Malta has now released all 18 songs competing in the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2026. This week, Aidan’s entry “Bella” came out as the final song, completing the MESC 2026 lineup. With every song now available online, Maltese fans can preview the selection ahead of the competition. You can listen to all the songs here. The national selection kicks off with a semi-final on January 15. Jury and public voting will select 12 qualifiers for the final on January 17. The winner of that final will represent Malta at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. 🇩🇪 Germany: Three-Hour National Final & ESC Documentaries Germany’s broadcaster SWR has revealed new details about its Eurovision 2026 plans. The national final, Eurovision Song Contest – Das Deutsche Finale 2026, will take place on February 28. It will be a live show running from 20:15 to 23:15 CET. The three-hour event promises multiple acts and entertainment. In addition, SWR announced two special Eurovision programs. A 90-minute documentary titled 70 Jahre ESC – Die Doku will air in May on Das Erste to celebrate 70 years of the contest. Another series, Inside ESC 2026 – Der Weg ins Finale, is in the works. It will stream on ARD Mediathek in 1–3 episodes, offering a behind-the-scenes look at preparations for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. source: esc-kompakt.de 🇬🇷 Greece: “Sing for Greece” Participants Announced Greece’s broadcaster ERT has revealed the 28 artists competing in Sing for Greece – Ellinikós Telikós 2026, the national selection for Eurovision. A special TV show introduced all the competing artists and featured song snippets. Eurovision 2025 representative Klavdia also made a guest appearance during the broadcast. The lineup includes some familiar names. Notably, rock band Koza Mostra – Greece’s Eurovision 2013 act – is back for another shot. Several artists from last year’s Greek selection (such as Evangelia and Rikki) are returning as well. The competition will feature two semi-finals where the public will choose seven qualifiers from each. Fourteen acts will then advance to a final later this season to determine who will represent Greece in Vienna. Eurovision 2026 News EBU Rolls Out New Ident for Eurovision Broadcasts The European Broadcasting Union has rolled out a new ident as part of an update to its corporate branding. This ident will play at the start of all EBU broadcasts, including major Eurovision events. It replaces the previous opening ident, which had been used since 2012. The fresh ident made its debut during the Vienna New Year’s Concert on January 1. It will become a familiar sight to viewers as Eurovision 2026 approaches. Vienna: Semi-Final Allocation Draw on January 12 Preparations for Eurovision 2026 are in full swing in Austria. Host broadcaster ORF has confirmed details for the Semi-Final Allocation Draw and host city handover. The event is set for January 12 at Vienna’s City Hall (Rathaus). ORF 1 will broadcast the draw live from 17:25 to 18:25 CET. During the draw, Austria and the Big Five will learn which Semi-Final they will vote in. The draw will also decide in which Semi-Final and in which half each of the other 30 countries will perform. This event officially kicks off the Eurovision 2026 season. Vienna now takes over hosting duties from last year’s host city, Basel. source: eurovision.com   

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Martijn

Weekly Update

It’s Tuesday, January 6, 2026, and time for another weekly update! This week, national finals season is heating up across Europe. Malta has released all 18 competing songs for its selection. Germany is planning a three-hour national final show and two Eurovision documentaries. Greece revealed a packed lineup of 28 artists for its national final. Meanwhile, the European Broadcasting Union has introduced a new ident as part of a brand refresh. Preparations for Eurovision 2026 continue in Vienna, with the Semi-Final allocation draw just days away. Here are this week’s top stories: National Finals 🇲🇹 Malta: All MESC 2026 Songs Revealed Malta has now released all 18 songs competing in the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2026. This week, Aidan’s entry “Bella” came out as the final song, completing the MESC 2026 lineup. With every song now available online, Maltese fans can preview the selection ahead of the competition. You can listen to all the songs here. The national selection kicks off with a semi-final on January 15. Jury and public voting will select 12 qualifiers for the final on January 17. The winner of that final will represent Malta at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. 🇩🇪 Germany: Three-Hour National Final & ESC Documentaries Germany’s broadcaster SWR has revealed new details about its Eurovision 2026 plans. The national final, Eurovision Song Contest – Das Deutsche Finale 2026, will take place on February 28. It will be a live show running from 20:15 to 23:15 CET. The three-hour event promises multiple acts and entertainment. In addition, SWR announced two special Eurovision programs. A 90-minute documentary titled 70 Jahre ESC – Die Doku will air in May on Das Erste to celebrate 70 years of the contest. Another series, Inside ESC 2026 – Der Weg ins Finale, is in the works. It will stream on ARD Mediathek in 1–3 episodes, offering a behind-the-scenes look at preparations for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. source: esc-kompakt.de 🇬🇷 Greece: “Sing for Greece” Participants Announced Greece’s broadcaster ERT has revealed the 28 artists competing in Sing for Greece – Ellinikós Telikós 2026, the national selection for Eurovision. A special TV show introduced all the competing artists and featured song snippets. Eurovision 2025 representative Klavdia also made a guest appearance during the broadcast. The lineup includes some familiar names. Notably, rock band Koza Mostra – Greece’s Eurovision 2013 act – is back for another shot. Several artists from last year’s Greek selection (such as Evangelia and Rikki) are returning as well. The competition will feature two semi-finals where the public will choose seven qualifiers from each. Fourteen acts will then advance to a final later this season to determine who will represent Greece in Vienna. Eurovision 2026 News EBU Rolls Out New Ident for Eurovision Broadcasts The European Broadcasting Union has rolled out a new ident as part of an update to its corporate branding. This ident will play at the start of all EBU broadcasts, including major Eurovision events. It replaces the previous opening ident, which had been used since 2012. The fresh ident made its debut during the Vienna New Year’s Concert on January 1. It will become a familiar sight to viewers as Eurovision 2026 approaches. Vienna: Semi-Final Allocation Draw on January 12 Preparations for Eurovision 2026 are in full swing in Austria. Host broadcaster ORF has confirmed details for the Semi-Final Allocation Draw and host city handover. The event is set for January 12 at Vienna’s City Hall (Rathaus). ORF 1 will broadcast the draw live from 17:25 to 18:25 CET. During the draw, Austria and the Big Five will learn which Semi-Final they will vote in. The draw will also decide in which Semi-Final and in which half each of the other 30 countries will perform. This event officially kicks off the Eurovision 2026 season. Vienna now takes over hosting duties from last year’s host city, Basel. source: eurovision.com   

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