Basel Bulletin: Rehearsals, statements and odds

Rehearsals, statements and odds: that is what it is all about today. All the participants of the first semifinal have their second rehearsal. We have no liveblog from EBU, however we are expecting 30 seconds videos later today. We also have pictures.

🇮🇸 Iceland

Following their first rehearsal in Basel, Icelandic duo VÆB expressed immense satisfaction with their performance. Speaking to RÚV, they shared, “Everything went perfectly! We’re only now realizing that we’re in Eurovision.” The delegation echoed this sentiment; Head of Press Rúnar Freyr Gíslason praised the artists’ work, noting only minor adjustments were needed. Staging director Selma Björnsdóttir added that the duo appeared very comfortable and confident on stage, with results exceeding expectations. (source: RÙV)

VÆB’s performance features a two-part white wooden boat, dynamic LED visuals with neon red and blue geometric landscapes, and silver-themed costumes for both the duo and their backing dancers. The staging aims to enhance the song’s narrative and visual appeal. Currently, Iceland ranks 36th in the betting odds for Eurovision 2025.

📷 EBU/Corinne Cummings

🇵🇱 Poland

Following her first rehearsal in Basel, Poland’s Eurovision 2025 representative, Justyna Steczkowska, shared her excitement about the performance. She described the experience as “electrifying,” emphasizing the powerful staging and intricate choreography. Justyna highlighted the visual elements, noting the dynamic LED displays featuring cosmic imagery, including spinning planets and elemental visuals like water, lightning, and lava, which aim to convey the song’s theme of creation and transformation.

According to betting odds, Poland has an 80% chance of qualifying from Semi-Final 1, indicating strong support for Justyna’s entry.

📷 EBU/Corinne Cumming

🇸🇮 Slovenia

In a press conference with RTV SLO, Klemen discussed the intense preparations for his performance of “How Much Time Do We Have Left.” He revealed that he has been practicing daily handstands against a wall to acclimate himself to being upside down during the performance, aiming to prevent dizziness and ensure a smooth execution of the staging concept.

Regarding the song’s message, Klemen emphasized its deeply personal nature, inspired by his wife’s battle with illness. He expressed a desire for the audience to perceive the song as a positive message, focusing on love and resilience in the face of adversity.

As for the betting odds, Slovenia is currently ranked 28th in the Eurovision 2025 betting odds, indicating a modest chance of winning the contest.

📷 EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett

🇪🇪 Estonia

Following his first rehearsal in Basel on May 3, Estonia’s Eurovision 2025 representative, Tommy Cash, shared his reflections in various interviews. He expressed enthusiasm about the performance, stating, “We’re excited and getting ready,” and noted that the stage visuals had impressed even seasoned professionals. source: ERR

In a recent interview, Tommy discussed the controversy surrounding his song “Espresso Macchiato,” which some have criticized for perpetuating Italian stereotypes. He responded by saying, “I love Italy and have the utmost respect for the country,” emphasizing that he never intended to offend.

Regarding betting odds, Estonia’s position has seen some fluctuation. Initially, after the selection of “Espresso Macchiato,” Estonia rose from seventh to fourth place in the betting tables. However, as of now, Estonia’s odds have stabilized at a 9th place, ranging between 13 and 15 times the bet, indicating a modest chance of winning the contest.

📷 EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett

🇺🇦 Ukraine

Following their first rehearsal on May 3 in Basel, Ukraine’s Eurovision 2025 representatives, Ziferblat, have shared insights into their performance and recent events impacting the band.

On May 6, Khrystyna Starykova, a member of Ziferblat, revealed that her home in Myrnohrad was partially destroyed by a Russian missile strike. She shared images of the damaged building on social media, expressing her sorrow and stating, “I dreamed so much of returning home.” Fortunately, her family and friends are safe. Khrystyna emphasized her commitment to performing at Eurovision, stating she would do so “for the good of our country” and to demonstrate the resilience of the Ukrainian people. source: ElHuffPost

Ziferblat’s performance of “Bird of Pray” features a blend of alternative rock with traditional Ukrainian elements, presented in both Ukrainian and English. The staging, directed by Maria Korostelova, is described as a significant departure from their national selection performance, aiming to convey the song’s themes of separation and hope. Designer Ivan Frolov, known for his work with previous Ukrainian Eurovision acts, has crafted the band’s outfits.

Also Eurovision Universe talked to Ziferblat:

As of early May, Ukraine’s odds of winning Eurovision 2025 have fluctuated. Initially among the top contenders, Ukraine has since moved to 11th place in the betting odds. Current odds for Ukraine’s victory range between 66/1 and 80/1, indicating a moderate chance of winning.

📷 EBU/Corinne Cumming

🇸🇪 Sweden

Following their first rehearsal in Basel on May 3, Sweden’s Eurovision 2025 representatives, KAJ, have been actively engaging with media and fans. The trio, known for their comedic-folk-pop style, is representing Sweden with the song “Bara Bada Bastu,” marking the country’s first Swedish-language entry since 1998.

In a recent interview, KAJ discussed the inspiration behind their song and performance. They emphasized the importance of bringing a sense of joy and cultural identity to the Eurovision stage, stating, “We wanted to create something that resonates with our roots and brings a smile to people’s faces.” The group also highlighted their unique position as a Finnish-born trio representing Sweden, aiming to bridge cultural connections through music. source: Sortiraparis

On social media, KAJ has been sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of their Eurovision journey. A recent Instagram reel from May 3 humorously posed the question, “Can Basel handle the sauna heat?” referencing their song’s theme and their energetic performance. The post garnered significant attention, with over 22,000 likes and numerous comments from fans expressing excitement for their act. source: Instagram

Regarding betting odds, KAJ is currently a strong contender in the Eurovision 2025 lineup. As of early May, they are leading in both the betting odds and the Eurovoix Model, indicating a high probability of success in the competition. source: Eurovoix

📷 EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett

Martijn
May 7, 2025
12:56 pm
2025, Basel, Estonia, Iceland, Poland, rehearsals, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine

Martijn

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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.

December 14, 2025 No Comments

Eurovision 2026

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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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