Basel Bulletin: the day after

It’s the day after the second semifinal. The semifinal has been held and now the final is completed. We have been looking for reactions of all the artists; the finalists and the non-qualifiers. Here you find all the reactions brought together.

🇦🇺 Australia (Go-Jo) – Did Not Qualify.

Opening the show with a wildly fun performance of “Milkshake Man,” Go-Jo (Marty Zambotto) narrowly missed the final. Despite the disappointment, he remained proud: “I know that I couldn’t have done anything better… I suppose I couldn’t have worked harder if I tried” He called the Eurovision journey “the most incredible thing I’ve ever experienced… I’m so grateful for that”, emphasizing that he has no regrets after giving his all on stage.  sbs.com.au

🇲🇪 Montenegro (Nina Žižić) – Did Not Qualify.

Nina Žižić delivered a powerful ballad “Dobrodošli” but sadly fell short of a final spot. Ever gracious, she voiced deep appreciation for her supporters. “This is the way an athlete or singer should be supported; thank you on behalf of all my colleagues,” she said. Nina thanked the audience “from the bottom of my heart”, grateful for the loud applause and ovations her emotional performance received at the arena source: rtcg.me.

🇮🇪 Ireland (EMMY) – Did Not Qualify.

EMMY’s space-themed pop song “Laika Party” did not advance, marking another tough year for Ireland. The 24-year-old singer was gracious in defeat and apologized to fans on Instagram. “I’m SO sorry, Ireland. We will forever love you and be grateful and honoured to have represented you,” she wrote. Though heartbroken, Emmy expressed pride in her team’s journey and thanked supporters for “shining so bright” with encouragement.  limerickleader.ie

🇱🇻 Latvia (Tautumeitas) – Qualified!

Folk-pop group Tautumeitas earned Latvia a place in the final with their ethereal song “Bur Man Laimi.” The six-member ensemble was overjoyed by the result, sharing that they were “very, very happy” and felt appreciated by the voters. “We are extremely happy. We feel appreciated and we wholeheartedly thank everyone for the support,” the band revealed right after the show. One of the singers exclaimed “We are very, very happy!” – as they celebrated, thanking fans “from the heart for all the support”. sejas.tvnet.lv

🇦🇲 Armenia (PARG) – Qualified!

PARG’s powerful performance of “SURVIVOR” struck a chord, sending Armenia to the final. The young artist (Pargev Vardanyan) was visibly moved and later said he poured everything into that moment. Earlier in the season he had noted, “I have so many emotions; I am happy and grateful to everyone who voted for me”. After qualifying, PARG thanked his team and fans, emphasizing that “aside from the result, this journey has been incredible”. He had approached Eurovision with “great responsibility” and was proud that Armenia’s streak of qualifications continues. panarmenian.net

🇦🇹 Austria (JJ) – Qualified!

Balladeer JJ delivered an emotional rendition of “Wasted Love” and secured Austria’s spot in the final. Backstage, JJ was ecstatic. “I’m so happy with my performance, and super satisfied with our show and our energy,” he told Austrian media. Fighting back tears of joy, the singer thanked the audience and jurors for believing in his song. Qualifying for Austria (after some years of near misses) felt like “a dream come true,” he said, promising to give even more in the Grand Final.

🇬🇷 Greece (Klavdia) – Qualified!

Klavdia’s soaring ballad “Asteromáta” earned Greece a spot in the final, but not before a suspenseful wait as one of the last names announced. Overwhelmed, Klavdia admitted, “I will never forget this moment in my life”. She thanked everyone for their support: “Thank you for the messages of love. People said, no matter what happens, we are proud… I love you, thank you, I have no words”. The young singer’s televised reaction – closing her eyes in prayer then bursting into tears and laughter – captured the “so intense” emotion of the night. “Whatever happens in the final, this was so crucial and intense,” she said, calling it a victory she’ll cherish forever. lifo.gr

🇱🇹 Lithuania (Katarsis) – Qualified!

The band Katarsis erupted with joy when Lithuania’s name was the first announced qualifier. The group later joked that the odds had been against them – “I calculated and there was only a 6% chance this would happen. We are very happy,” laughed member JokĹ«bas. Lead singer Lukas described their mindset on stage: “We feel a great power… it’s like our home up there”. Katarsis also revealed their secret to unity: “Muzika… we’ve been here two weeks and haven’t had a fight. We are happy together”. The Lithuanians were clearly thrilled to continue “the adventure” into the final. tv3.lt

🇲🇹 Malta (Miriana Conte) – Qualified!

With her upbeat anthem “SERVING,” Miriana Conte broke Malta’s streak of non-qualifications and could not contain her excitement. On social media the Maltese pop diva wrote, “FORZA MALTA!!!! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your support”. She dedicated the achievement to her fans, adding in Maltese, “Grazzi ħafna lil kulħadd!” The Maltese delegation celebrated wildly; Miriana later admitted through happy tears that hearing Malta’s name as a qualifier was “unbearable suspense turned into pure joy”. She promised to keep “serving” her best for the final. timesofmalta.com

🇬🇪 Georgia (Mariam Shengelia) – Did Not Qualify.

Georgia’s Mariam Shengelia delivered a heartfelt performance of “Freedom,” accompanied by the Erisioni dance ensemble, but did not make the final cut. Ever positive, Mariam shouted on stage, “Georgia, I love you! Thank you, Europe!”. She expressed love for her country and gratitude to Europe for listening. Post-show, the 23-year-old singer thanked the Georgian public for their immense support, saying the Eurovision experience was “priceless” and that she hoped she made her nation proud even in defeat.   kvirispalitra.ge palitravideo.ge

🇩🇰 Denmark (Sissal) – Qualified!

Sissal’s gothic pop entry “Hallucination” carried Denmark to its first final since 2019, and her reaction was one of the night’s highlights. Upon qualifying, Sissal was overcome with “pure joy” – viewers saw her burst into happy tears and laughter, utterly shocked at the result. “I’m truly living my dream here,” she had said earlier in the week, “and I’m so grateful for it”. The Faroese-born singer admitted the odds were against her, which made the moment even sweeter: “This is the fulfillment of a dream and something I will remember for the rest of my life”. Sissal thanked everyone “for the love out there” and vowed to keep making Denmark proud in the final. avisen.dk

🇨🇿 Czechia (ADONXS) – Did Not Qualify.

ADONXS (Adam Pavlovčin) represented Czechia with the synth-pop track “Kiss Kiss Goodbye,” but he narrowly missed the top ten. The Slovak-born singer remained gracious and positive. In a message to fans, he wrote that he was “thankful for the love” he received throughout the journey. ADONXS noted that performing on the Eurovision stage was “like a little Olympic moment” for him, and he’s proud of his team’s bold artistic statement. “We knew it was a risk, but the positive reactions we’ve gotten mean the world,” he commented. Though disappointed, he told supporters in Czech “Děkuju vám všem” – “Thank you all” – and urged them to enjoy the final even without Czech participation. seznamzpravy.cz

🇱🇺 Luxembourg (Laura Thorn) – Qualified!

In a triumphant return for Luxembourg after years away, Laura Thorn earned a final spot with the retro-pop “La poupée monte le son”. The 21-year-old singer was overwhelmed by emotion when Luxembourg’s name was announced – she burst into tears of happiness, letting out a jubilant scream as her dancers hugged her. Later, Laura told reporters, “I sang as if it were the last time I could do it on the Eurovision stage”. She described the qualification as “a dream come true”, given Luxembourg’s long absence. Laura thanked the audience “merci du fond du cœur” (from the bottom of her heart) and said this moment validated the homage her song pays to Luxembourg’s Eurovision legacy. virgule.lu

🇮🇱 Israel (Yuval Raphael) – Qualified!

Yuval Raphael’s uplifting song “New Day Will Rise” took Israel to the final, a deeply poignant achievement for the 24-year-old. After his performance, Yuval held up a peace sign and later posted a simple, heartfelt message: “Thank you. Merci. תודה ❤️”. He expressed gratitude in English, French, and Hebrew. On Israeli media, Yuval said he felt everyone’s embrace: “Thank you for hugging my heart each time, and thank you for giving me your voice”. 

🇷🇸 Serbia (Princ) – Did Not Qualify.

Stefan Zdravković – stage name Princ – performed the soulful ballad “Mila” but did not advance. Still, representing Serbia was a milestone for him. “This is the fulfillment of a dream and something I will remember for the rest of my life”. After the elimination, Princ remained upbeat and “prezadovoljan” (more than satisfied) with his team’s efforts. He congratulated the qualifiers and thanked the Serbian public for believing in him. “I hope I presented Serbia in the most dignified way possible to make people proud,” he stated, and promised this experience is just the start for him. dnevnik.rs.

🇫🇮 Finland (Erika Vikman) – Qualified!

Closing the semi-final in style, Erika Vikman brought disco flair with “ICH KOMME” and sailed into the final. Erika was radiant with joy afterwards. “I’m truly living my dream and I’m grateful to be here,” she said – . Achieving a childhood ambition, she added, “This is what I’ve wanted since I was a child”. The Finnish star also laughed about a staging surprise – a giant prop microphone exploded with confetti at the end of her act, giving her a scare and then a good laugh. Erika thanked the Finnish fans (who had selected her via UMK) for their “insane support” and promised to bring “röyhkeästi minä” – her boldly authentic self – to the final. kaleva.fi

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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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Eurovision 2026

Weekly update

📷 Fanny, Eurovision 1997 It’s Tuesday, December 30, 2025. Time for another weekly update! This week brings sad news for the Eurovision family with the loss of a former contestant. Meanwhile, fans can look forward to a major Nordic Eurovision event with big names revealed, and preparations for Eurovision 2026 continue with a key appointment in Vienna. Here are this week’s top stories: News about Past Participants 🇫🇷 France: Fanny Biascamano (Eurovision 1997) Passes Away The Eurovision community is mourning the loss of Fanny Biascamano. The French singer, who represented France at the Eurovision Song Contest 1997, passed away on 27 December 2025 at the age of 46. Her family shared the news on social media. Fanny was born in 1979 in Marseille. She became famous at a very young age. In 1991, she appeared on the TV show Sacrée Soirée. There, she sang “L’Homme à la moto” by Édith Piaf. The performance made her an overnight star. The single sold millions of copies in France and abroad. In the 1990s, Fanny released several albums. Her music focused on chanson and classic French pop. In 1997, she represented France at Eurovision in Dublin with “Sentiments songes”. She finished in seventh place, which was a strong result for the country at that time. Later, Fanny stepped away from mainstream pop music. She toured with programmes dedicated to Édith Piaf and worked on personal projects. She also wrote books, including cookbooks inspired by southern French cuisine. Fans remember her for her distinctive voice and early success. source: Facebook Eurovision Events 🇳🇴 Nordic Eurovision Party 2026 – First Guest Performers Announced The Nordic Eurovision Party has revealed its first guest performers. The event will take place on 21 March 2026 in Oslo. It is one of the major pre-parties in the Eurovision calendar. Among the first announced names are Elisabeth Andreassen and Jørgen Olsen. Both artists won the Eurovision Song Contest in the past. They will appear alongside other familiar Eurovision faces, including Poli Genova, Lindsay Dracass, Ovi and Ilinca. More performers will be announced in the coming weeks. The Nordic Eurovision Party traditionally attracts fans from across Europe.  source: instagram 📷 Elisabeth Andreassen Eurovision 2026 News 🇦🇹 Vienna: Marvin Dietmann Appointed Head of Contest Preparations for Eurovision 2026 continue in Austria. Broadcaster ORF has appointed Marvin Dietmann as Head of Contest. He will play a key role in the organisation of the event in Vienna. Dietmann has extensive Eurovision experience. He has worked as a stage director and creative producer on several editions of the contest. He was also involved in the production team in recent years. In his new role, he will oversee the overall contest production. Eurovision 2026 will take place in Vienna. The semi-finals are scheduled for 12 and 14 May. The grand final will follow on 16 May. Austria is preparing for a special edition of the contest. source: Eurovoix 📷 Marvin Dietmann, photo: CyBC

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Eurovision 2026
Martijn

Weekly update

📷 Fanny, Eurovision 1997 It’s Tuesday, December 30, 2025. Time for another weekly update! This week brings sad news for the Eurovision family with the loss of a former contestant. Meanwhile, fans can look forward to a major Nordic Eurovision event with big names revealed, and preparations for Eurovision 2026 continue with a key appointment in Vienna. Here are this week’s top stories: News about Past Participants 🇫🇷 France: Fanny Biascamano (Eurovision 1997) Passes Away The Eurovision community is mourning the loss of Fanny Biascamano. The French singer, who represented France at the Eurovision Song Contest 1997, passed away on 27 December 2025 at the age of 46. Her family shared the news on social media. Fanny was born in 1979 in Marseille. She became famous at a very young age. In 1991, she appeared on the TV show Sacrée Soirée. There, she sang “L’Homme à la moto” by Édith Piaf. The performance made her an overnight star. The single sold millions of copies in France and abroad. In the 1990s, Fanny released several albums. Her music focused on chanson and classic French pop. In 1997, she represented France at Eurovision in Dublin with “Sentiments songes”. She finished in seventh place, which was a strong result for the country at that time. Later, Fanny stepped away from mainstream pop music. She toured with programmes dedicated to Édith Piaf and worked on personal projects. She also wrote books, including cookbooks inspired by southern French cuisine. Fans remember her for her distinctive voice and early success. source: Facebook Eurovision Events 🇳🇴 Nordic Eurovision Party 2026 – First Guest Performers Announced The Nordic Eurovision Party has revealed its first guest performers. The event will take place on 21 March 2026 in Oslo. It is one of the major pre-parties in the Eurovision calendar. Among the first announced names are Elisabeth Andreassen and Jørgen Olsen. Both artists won the Eurovision Song Contest in the past. They will appear alongside other familiar Eurovision faces, including Poli Genova, Lindsay Dracass, Ovi and Ilinca. More performers will be announced in the coming weeks. The Nordic Eurovision Party traditionally attracts fans from across Europe.  source: instagram 📷 Elisabeth Andreassen Eurovision 2026 News 🇦🇹 Vienna: Marvin Dietmann Appointed Head of Contest Preparations for Eurovision 2026 continue in Austria. Broadcaster ORF has appointed Marvin Dietmann as Head of Contest. He will play a key role in the organisation of the event in Vienna. Dietmann has extensive Eurovision experience. He has worked as a stage director and creative producer on several editions of the contest. He was also involved in the production team in recent years. In his new role, he will oversee the overall contest production. Eurovision 2026 will take place in Vienna. The semi-finals are scheduled for 12 and 14 May. The grand final will follow on 16 May. Austria is preparing for a special edition of the contest. source: Eurovoix 📷 Marvin Dietmann, photo: CyBC

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