The Eurovision Song Contest Semifinal features entries from various countries: Australia (‘Milkshake man’ by Go-Jo), Montenegro (‘Dobrodosli’ by Nina Zizic), Ireland (‘Laika party’ by EMMY), Latvia (‘Bur Man Laimi’ by Tautumeitas), Armenia (‘Survivor’ by PARG), Austria (‘Wasted love’ by JJ), Greece (‘Asteromáta’ by Klavdia), Lithuania (‘Tavo Akys’ by Katarsis), Malta (‘Serving’ by Miriana Conte), Georgia (‘Freedom’ by Mariam Shengelia), Denmark (‘Hallucination’ by Sisal), Czech Republic (‘Kiss Kiss Goodbye’ by ADONXS), Luxembourg (‘La Poupée Monte Le Son’ by Laura Thorn), Israel (‘New Day Will Rise’ by Yuval Raphael), Serbia (Mila by Princ), and Finland (‘Ich Komme’ by Erika Vikman).
Israel’s participation has once again sparked controversy, similar to last year. This objection comes notably from former contest participants and the Spanish public broadcaster.
More than 70 musicians, including Salvador Sobral, António Calvário, Fernando Tordo, Lena D’Água, and Paulo de Carvalho, have appealed to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to exclude Israel from the competition.
The appeal is articulated in an open letter, criticizing the Israeli television network KAN as being ‘complicit in the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.’
The letter, jointly released by the NGO Artists For Palestine and the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, is signed by various artists including singers, composers, musicians, dancers, and choir members from different countries.
Spain’s public broadcaster, RTVE, has called for a ‘debate’ regarding KAN’s participation at the Eurovision Song Contest in a letter addressed to the EBU.
RTVE’s request followed petitions launched in Finland in late March, urging the Finnish public broadcaster Yle to pressurize the EBU to exclude Israel from the 2025 edition due to the conflict in Gaza.
Today’s semifinal will not only feature the 16 competing entries but also performances from countries that have direct entry into the final — France (‘maman’ by Louane), Germany (‘Baller’ by Abor & Tynna), and the United Kingdom (‘What The Hell Just Happened?’ by Remember Monday).
The competing songs this Thursday are:
This year, 37 countries are participating in the Eurovision Song Contest, but only 26 will proceed to the final: ten selected today, ten chosen in Tuesday’s first semifinal, the ‘Big Five,’ and last year’s host country.
The first semifinal saw the selection of entries from Portugal, Norway, Albania, Sweden, Iceland, the Netherlands, Poland, San Marino, Estonia, and Ukraine.
That day also featured performances from Spain, Italy, and Switzerland.
