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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Former Bobbysocks member Elisabeth Andreasson sang, also in a duet, for Norway. And the Icelandic Sigga, who had participated in a group twice, now took part solo. That was quite a challenge. Her duo partner from two years earlier, Sissa, was actually supposed to sing the song “Nætur,” but she was sidelined by the Icelandic broadcaster. Portugal caught attention with Sara Tavares. She had won a singing competition in her own country; back then, she imitated Whitney Houston. Her song “Chamar a musica” impressed the audience. Germany opted more for a lot of cheerfulness. The all-female trio Mekado, formed especially for the occasion, performed the cheerful “Wir geben ‘ner Party.” It was sung in German, but with many international terms. And it was a song by Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger. The aforementioned Elisabeth Andreasson sang a duet with the much younger (and sadly enough deceased very young) Jan Werner Danielsen: “Duett,” a mystical song. Friderika Bayer from Hungary sang the serene “Kinek mondjam el vétkeimet?” For a moment, it seemed Hungary was going to win. The first juries all gave their 12 to the debuting country. Ultimately, Friderika finished fourth. Youddiph also came from Eastern Europe. She represented Russia with “Vechny strannik,” but above all with her dress. She constantly changed it into a different dress, keeping the viewer mesmerized and focused on it. The Polish Edyta Górniak had dressed much more simple. The song, too, stood out for its simplicity. It came in second. Because Ireland won, of course. That was how it was done in those days. Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan Rumour has it that Ireland had sent two middle-aged men with a ballad because they didn’t want to win again. If that was the case, that plan was not exactly successful. For it was precisely as anti-heroes that Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan made a huge impression. Halfway through the voting, they took a lead with their “Rock ‘n’ roll kids” that they never relinquished. The crowd went wild; Ireland was celebrating one big party. Except perhaps at the Irish broadcaster RTÉ, which now found itself facing the organization of the contest once again. Charlie McGettigan recently made the news by wanting to return his trophy, following in the footsteps of Nemo (2024). He, too, could not live with Israel’s participation. However, he could not find his trophy. Understandable, because anyone who looks closely at the award ceremony will see that only composer Brendan Graham received a trophy. 1995 Once again, a number of countries had to make way so that others could return. However, Italy and Luxembourg, both on the reserve bench the previous year, did not return. 23 countries participated in this festival. It was hosted by Mary Kennedy. The songs Arzu Ece participated for Turkey for the second time, having entered the Eurovision stage six years earlier as a member of the group Pan. She was the only artist returning. Justyna Steczkowska participated for Poland. Although she did not finish high, she did attract attention due to the atonal singing during her song. Also noteworthy: Eddie Friel for Ireland. His song “Dreamin’” was such a shameless copy of Julie Felix’s “Moonlight” (just listen to the two songs) that disqualification loomed. Anabel Conde was the participant for Spain. She finished in second place. The group Magazin represented Croatia, with opera singer Lidija Horváth as an additional vocalist. Whereas all group members sang at the national final, now only Lidija and group singer Danijela were visible. The rest had faded into the background. Danijela would not stay with Magazin for much longer. And then there was Alexandros Panayi: he was the fan favorite for Cyprus with “Sti fotia”. 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