Five countries will act tonight

No less than five countries will show at least something today.

Moldova starts today. You can watch the live auditions at 14:00 CET here, where 35 artists will perform, in order to make a selection for the national final. 35, while 36 songs are in the race: Angel Kiss perform to songs. 

Norway continues with their semifinals. The show will start at 19:50 CET and can be watched here. The fourth one will contain four songs again, performed in duels:

  • Hege Bjerk, “Pang”
  • Magnus Bokn, “Over the sea”
  • Nordic Tenors, “In this special place”
  • Oda Loves You, “Love who we love”

At 20.00 CET also Israel will have another show: a semifinal of  Hakokhav Haba l’Eurovizion! You can watch it here. Four artists will perform and only two of them will head to the final….   The four artists performing tonight are:

  • Eden Alene
  • Ella-Lee Lahav
  • Lali Kolishkin
  • Ohad Shragai

Lithuania will also have a semifinal at 20:00 CET, which can be watched here and here.  It’s the first of three semifinals. The contestants tonight are:

  • KaYra, “Alligator”
  • Viktorija Miškūnaitė, “The ocean”
  • Baltos Varnos, “Namų dvasia”
  • Rūta Loop, “We came from the sun”
  • Gabrielus Vagelis, “Tave čia randu”
  • The Roop, “On fire”
  • Kristina Jure, “My sound of silence”
  • Alen Chicco, “Somewhere out there”
  • Aistė Pilvelytė, “Unbreakable”

And last, but not least: Melodifestivalen, the Swedish national final.  This contest also starts at 20:00 CET and can be watched here. Seven songs compete. Two will head directly to the final, while two other songs will go to “Andra Chancen”, the second chance festival of Melodifestivalen.

  • The Mama’s, “Move”
  • Suzi P, “Moves”
  • Robin Bengtsson, “Take a chance”
  • Malou Prytz, “Ballerina”
  • OVÖ, “Inga problem”
  • Sonja Aldén, “Sluta aldrig gå”
  • Felix Sandman, “Boys with emotions”

The Mama’s and Robin Bengtsson already have been at the Eurovision stage: The Mama’s last year as the backing choir of John Lundvik, Robin Bengtsson represented Sweden in 2017 with the song “I can’t go on”.  Malou Prytz became last in the final in 2019. Sonja Aldén has taken part as a songwriter several times, but as a singer we saw her in 2007 and 2012. Felix Sandman was in the final twice before: in 2017 with the boyband FO&O, in 2018 he was the runner up as a solo singer.

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Road to Vienna: Romania

Road to Vienna: Romania As the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna approaches, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Today, we focus on Romania.​ Alexandra Căpitănescu: Romania’s Pop-Rock Powerhouse Alexandra Căpitănescu was born on July 31, 2003, in Galați, Romania. While initially pursuing a degree in physics in Bucharest with ambitions of becoming a medical physicist, her passion for music quickly took over. At just 15, she gained national attention on Românii au talent (2019), impressing judges with a soulful Janis Joplin performance. Breakthrough on The Voice Romania Her major breakthrough came in 2023 on Vocea României (The Voice of Romania). Turning all four coaches during auditions, she joined Tudor Chirilă’s team and delivered standout performances throughout the season. Her powerful rendition of “Like a Prayer” became a highlight, leading her to win the competition in December 2023 and launch her professional career. Music Career and Style After her win, Alexandra signed with Universal Music Romania and released her debut single “Nu pot.” In 2024, she dropped her first EP Căpitanu’, showcasing a mix of pop-rock energy and emotional depth. Follow-up singles like “A ta,” “Arde,” and “Tare” further established her sound, while tracks like “Dilaila” and “Stea căzătoare” revealed her versatility. Her music is known for its intensity, strong vocals, and emotional storytelling. Live Performances and Stage Presence Alexandra has built a reputation as a powerful live performer, touring across Romania and captivating audiences with her dynamic stage presence. Memorable moments include her duet of “Shallow” and a theatrical performance of The Phantom of the Opera. Her shows combine vocal strength with raw emotion, making her a standout on any stage. Choke Me: Controversy & Impact “Choke Me” by Alexandra Căpitănescu quickly gained international attention thanks to its striking title and emotional intensity. Blending dark pop-rock with powerful vocals, the track stands out as a bold and deeply personal release that resonates with modern listeners. The Meaning Behind “Choke Me” Despite its provocative title, the song is not about violence. Instead, “choking” serves as a metaphor for emotional pressure, anxiety, and inner conflict. The lyrics reflect the feeling of being overwhelmed by self-doubt, expectations, and personal struggles. At its core, the song tells a story of vulnerability and transformation—turning internal battles into strength. This emotional honesty gives the track depth and makes it highly relatable. Themes of Self-Love and Growth “Choke Me” ultimately delivers an uplifting message. It encourages self-acceptance and highlights the importance of facing inner fears. Alexandra transforms themes of anxiety and insecurity into a narrative of empowerment, showing that growth often comes through struggle. The Controversy Explained The song sparked online debate due to its title and intense imagery. Some listeners initially interpreted “Choke Me” as referencing sexual or violent themes. This led to confusion and discussion across social media. However, Alexandra Căpitănescu clarified that the meaning is purely symbolic. The song focuses on psychological pressure and emotional overwhelm—not literal actions. Once explained, many listeners re-evaluated the track and connected more deeply with its message.   Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest Romania first took part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994. In the beginning, it was hard for Romania to do well. The first top-10 score was in 2002, when Monica Anghel and Marcel Pavel reached the 9th place. A very high score, 4th, was there for the afornamed Mihai. Two 3rd places were there for Romania: in 2005 (Luminița Anghel and Sistem even won the semifinal!) and for Ovi and Paula Seling in 2010. In more recent years Ilinca and Alex Florea became 7th with “Yodel it!”. The bookmakers Despite — or perhaps because of — the controversy about the song, Romania holds an impressive 8th place with the bookmakers. The real question is: how much higher can it go?

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Eurovision 2026
Anja Kroeze

Road to Vienna: Romania

Road to Vienna: Romania As the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna approaches, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Today, we focus on Romania.​ Alexandra Căpitănescu: Romania’s Pop-Rock Powerhouse Alexandra Căpitănescu was born on July 31, 2003, in Galați, Romania. While initially pursuing a degree in physics in Bucharest with ambitions of becoming a medical physicist, her passion for music quickly took over. At just 15, she gained national attention on Românii au talent (2019), impressing judges with a soulful Janis Joplin performance. Breakthrough on The Voice Romania Her major breakthrough came in 2023 on Vocea României (The Voice of Romania). Turning all four coaches during auditions, she joined Tudor Chirilă’s team and delivered standout performances throughout the season. Her powerful rendition of “Like a Prayer” became a highlight, leading her to win the competition in December 2023 and launch her professional career. Music Career and Style After her win, Alexandra signed with Universal Music Romania and released her debut single “Nu pot.” In 2024, she dropped her first EP Căpitanu’, showcasing a mix of pop-rock energy and emotional depth. Follow-up singles like “A ta,” “Arde,” and “Tare” further established her sound, while tracks like “Dilaila” and “Stea căzătoare” revealed her versatility. Her music is known for its intensity, strong vocals, and emotional storytelling. Live Performances and Stage Presence Alexandra has built a reputation as a powerful live performer, touring across Romania and captivating audiences with her dynamic stage presence. Memorable moments include her duet of “Shallow” and a theatrical performance of The Phantom of the Opera. Her shows combine vocal strength with raw emotion, making her a standout on any stage. Choke Me: Controversy & Impact “Choke Me” by Alexandra Căpitănescu quickly gained international attention thanks to its striking title and emotional intensity. Blending dark pop-rock with powerful vocals, the track stands out as a bold and deeply personal release that resonates with modern listeners. The Meaning Behind “Choke Me” Despite its provocative title, the song is not about violence. Instead, “choking” serves as a metaphor for emotional pressure, anxiety, and inner conflict. The lyrics reflect the feeling of being overwhelmed by self-doubt, expectations, and personal struggles. At its core, the song tells a story of vulnerability and transformation—turning internal battles into strength. This emotional honesty gives the track depth and makes it highly relatable. Themes of Self-Love and Growth “Choke Me” ultimately delivers an uplifting message. It encourages self-acceptance and highlights the importance of facing inner fears. Alexandra transforms themes of anxiety and insecurity into a narrative of empowerment, showing that growth often comes through struggle. The Controversy Explained The song sparked online debate due to its title and intense imagery. Some listeners initially interpreted “Choke Me” as referencing sexual or violent themes. This led to confusion and discussion across social media. However, Alexandra Căpitănescu clarified that the meaning is purely symbolic. The song focuses on psychological pressure and emotional overwhelm—not literal actions. Once explained, many listeners re-evaluated the track and connected more deeply with its message.   Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest Romania first took part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994. In the beginning, it was hard for Romania to do well. The first top-10 score was in 2002, when Monica Anghel and Marcel Pavel reached the 9th place. A very high score, 4th, was there for the afornamed Mihai. Two 3rd places were there for Romania: in 2005 (Luminița Anghel and Sistem even won the semifinal!) and for Ovi and Paula Seling in 2010. In more recent years Ilinca and Alex Florea became 7th with “Yodel it!”. The bookmakers Despite — or perhaps because of — the controversy about the song, Romania holds an impressive 8th place with the bookmakers. The real question is: how much higher can it go?

Read More »
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