Ukraine, Lithuania, Sweden, Norway and Iceland

No less than five countries start or continue with their national selections!

To start with Ukraine. It will be at 18.00 CET and you can watch it here. There are 8 songs, three of which will head to the final. The songs will be judged by televoters and a jury, consisting of Andriy Danilko, Tina Karol and Vitaliy Drozdov. The participants of tonight are:

  • [O], “Tam kudy ya ydu”
  • Jerry Heil, “Vegan”
  • Katya Chilly, “Pitch”
  • Krutь, “99”
  • Go-A, “Solovey”
  • Cloudless, “Drown me down”
  • Gio, “Feeling so lost”
  • Assol, “Save it”

Norway will have it’s last semifinal. There will be duels again, and one song will head to the final. It will start at 19:50 and can be watched here:

  • Elin & The Woods, “We are as one”
  • Jenny Jenssen, “Mr. Hello”
  • Kevin Boine, “Stem på mæ”
  • Liza Vassilieva, “I am gay”

Lithuania has it’s second semifinal. After tonight, the full line up of the final is known. The show starts at 20:00 CET and can be watched here and here. We will see:

  • Meandi, “DRIP”
  • Petunija, “Show ya”
  • Germanas Skoris, “Chemistry (Breaking Free)”
  • Moniqué, “Make me human”
  • Rokas Povilijus, “Vilnius calling”
  • Monika Marija, “If I leave”
  • Andy Vaic, “Why why why”
  • The Backs, “Fully”

The second semifinal of Melodifestivalen will also be on and can be watched at 20:00 here. The contestants are:

  • Klara Hammarström, “Nobody”
  • Jan Johansen, “Miraklernas tid”
  • Dotter, “Bulletproof”
  • Méndez featuring Álvaro Estrela, “Vamos amigos”
  • Linda Bengtzing, “Alla mina songer”
  • Paul Rey, “Talking in my sleep”
  • Anna Bergendahl, “Kingdom come”

Two former Eurovision participants will enter the stage: Anna Bergendahl and Jan Johansen. The latter replaces Thorsten Flinck, who was disqualified. Dotter participated before in 2018. Méndez was present in 2002, 2003 and 2018. Linda Bengtzing was there in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2016. Paul Rey took part last year.

The last one of the semifinals starts on 20:45 and can be watched here. It will be the Icelandic one. The songs will all be sung in Icelandic:

  • Brynja Mary, “Augun þín”
  • DIMMA, “Almyrkvi”
  • Elísabet, “”Elta þig”
  • Ísold & Helga, “Klukkan tifar”
  • Kid Isak, “Ævintýri”

 

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Blast from the past

Blast from the past: Ireland 1986

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today, we go back to 1986, when Luv Bug represented Ireland with the song “You Can Count On Me”. Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest Ireland debuted at Eurovision in 1965 and holds a joint‑record seven victories, remaining the only country to win three in a row (1992–94). The winners are: Dana (1970); Johnny Logan (1980, 1987); Linda Martin (1992); Niamh Kavanagh (1993); Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan (1994); and Eimear Quinn (1996). Johnny Logan also wrote Linda Martin’s winner. Recent scores show a mixed picture: in 2024, Bambie Thug’s “Doomsday Blue” placed 6th in the Grand Final with 278 points after finishing 3rd in its semi‑final;  in 2025, Emmy’s “Laika Party” finished 13th in Semi‑Final Two and did not qualify; and in 2023, Wild Youth missed the final. Before that, Ireland last qualified in 2018, when Ryan O’Shaughnessy’s “Together” finished 16th; 2021–23 all ended in the semi‑finals. The 2024 result was Ireland’s best in more than two decades overall for the country. Despite fluctuations, Ireland remains the record‑holder with seven wins, now shared with Sweden. Johnny Logan Irish National Song Contest 1986 The Irish national final in those days was called The Irish National Song Contest. A total of 9 different artists each sang one song. The contest was held on 30 March in the RTVÉ TV Studios in Dublin. Eleven regional juries made the decision. Fran Meen, “Here In The Night“, 12 pts, 5th Luv Bug, “You Can Count On Me“, 35 pts, 1st Theresa Lowe, “Only The Lonely Survive“, 2 pts, 8th The Rockets, “Life In The City“, 3 pts, 6th John Spillane & Mandy Murphy, “Ringo“, 3 pts, 6th Honor Heffernan, “Honey“, 19 pts, 3rd Loudest Whisper, “Johnny, Where Are You Now?“, 22 pts, 2nd Linda Martin, “If I Can Change Your Mind“, 14 pts, 4th Jim Walsh, “I’ll Never Love Again“, 0 pts, 9th   Linda Martin was already a familiar name in 1986, because 2 years earlier she represented Ireland. With a song penned by Johnny Logan, she would win in 1992. Also this year’s song was written by Johnny. Luv Bug Luv Bug is an Irish pop group from Newry, County Down. The group was formed in 1977 by siblings June, Hugh and Max Cunningham with Ricky Meyler and Majella Grant. After early charting singles on the Irish charts, including a cover of “Red Light Spells Danger” (1984) and the homegrown hits “Look at Me I’m Dancing” and “On My Own,” the band won Ireland’s National Song Contest in March 1986. That victory sent Luv Bug to the Eurovision Song Contest in Bergen with “You Can Count On Me” , a career‑defining moment that reached Ireland’s top five. Formed as a teenage band, Luv Bug turned professional in 1982 with manager Michael Magill and built a reputation as a live act across Ireland. Through the late 1980s the group toured widely, released an album, and briefly recorded for Virgin under the alias Heart of Ice. They returned to Ireland’s Eurosong in 1992 with “Close to Your Heart,” placing behind eventual Eurovision winner Linda Martin. Notably, Luv Bug were the first Northern group to represent the Republic at Eurovision. Today they remain an in‑demand live act for events and festivals across Ireland. You Can Count On Me “You Can Count On Me” was Ireland’s 1986 Eurovision entry, performed by Luv Bug and written by Kevin Sheerin. The song placed fourth in Bergen with 96 points after winning Ireland’s National Song Contest earlier that spring on RTÉ television. Musically it’s classic mid‑’80s pop: a bright, radio‑friendly ballad with synth gloss and warm backing vocals, balanced by Noel Kelehan’s live orchestral arrangement. The hook‑driven chorus and polished production helped it stand out on the night, and the single became an Irish hit, reaching No. 2 in Ireland. 

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Blast from the past
Martijn

Blast from the past: Ireland 1986

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today, we go back to 1986, when Luv Bug represented Ireland with the song “You Can Count On Me”. Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest Ireland debuted at Eurovision in 1965 and holds a joint‑record seven victories, remaining the only country to win three in a row (1992–94). The winners are: Dana (1970); Johnny Logan (1980, 1987); Linda Martin (1992); Niamh Kavanagh (1993); Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan (1994); and Eimear Quinn (1996). Johnny Logan also wrote Linda Martin’s winner. Recent scores show a mixed picture: in 2024, Bambie Thug’s “Doomsday Blue” placed 6th in the Grand Final with 278 points after finishing 3rd in its semi‑final;  in 2025, Emmy’s “Laika Party” finished 13th in Semi‑Final Two and did not qualify; and in 2023, Wild Youth missed the final. Before that, Ireland last qualified in 2018, when Ryan O’Shaughnessy’s “Together” finished 16th; 2021–23 all ended in the semi‑finals. The 2024 result was Ireland’s best in more than two decades overall for the country. Despite fluctuations, Ireland remains the record‑holder with seven wins, now shared with Sweden. Johnny Logan Irish National Song Contest 1986 The Irish national final in those days was called The Irish National Song Contest. A total of 9 different artists each sang one song. The contest was held on 30 March in the RTVÉ TV Studios in Dublin. Eleven regional juries made the decision. Fran Meen, “Here In The Night“, 12 pts, 5th Luv Bug, “You Can Count On Me“, 35 pts, 1st Theresa Lowe, “Only The Lonely Survive“, 2 pts, 8th The Rockets, “Life In The City“, 3 pts, 6th John Spillane & Mandy Murphy, “Ringo“, 3 pts, 6th Honor Heffernan, “Honey“, 19 pts, 3rd Loudest Whisper, “Johnny, Where Are You Now?“, 22 pts, 2nd Linda Martin, “If I Can Change Your Mind“, 14 pts, 4th Jim Walsh, “I’ll Never Love Again“, 0 pts, 9th   Linda Martin was already a familiar name in 1986, because 2 years earlier she represented Ireland. With a song penned by Johnny Logan, she would win in 1992. Also this year’s song was written by Johnny. Luv Bug Luv Bug is an Irish pop group from Newry, County Down. The group was formed in 1977 by siblings June, Hugh and Max Cunningham with Ricky Meyler and Majella Grant. After early charting singles on the Irish charts, including a cover of “Red Light Spells Danger” (1984) and the homegrown hits “Look at Me I’m Dancing” and “On My Own,” the band won Ireland’s National Song Contest in March 1986. That victory sent Luv Bug to the Eurovision Song Contest in Bergen with “You Can Count On Me” , a career‑defining moment that reached Ireland’s top five. Formed as a teenage band, Luv Bug turned professional in 1982 with manager Michael Magill and built a reputation as a live act across Ireland. Through the late 1980s the group toured widely, released an album, and briefly recorded for Virgin under the alias Heart of Ice. They returned to Ireland’s Eurosong in 1992 with “Close to Your Heart,” placing behind eventual Eurovision winner Linda Martin. Notably, Luv Bug were the first Northern group to represent the Republic at Eurovision. Today they remain an in‑demand live act for events and festivals across Ireland. You Can Count On Me “You Can Count On Me” was Ireland’s 1986 Eurovision entry, performed by Luv Bug and written by Kevin Sheerin. The song placed fourth in Bergen with 96 points after winning Ireland’s National Song Contest earlier that spring on RTÉ television. Musically it’s classic mid‑’80s pop: a bright, radio‑friendly ballad with synth gloss and warm backing vocals, balanced by Noel Kelehan’s live orchestral arrangement. The hook‑driven chorus and polished production helped it stand out on the night, and the single became an Irish hit, reaching No. 2 in Ireland. 

Read More »
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