This week we are back on EuroVision watch here at Wall of Sound. After Voyager’s thrilling Top 10 finish last year (recap here), Australia is back again and whilst there’s not as much rock this year, there’s some wonderfully weird stuff. Malmo, Sweden is hosting (after Loreen’s win last year) and the Swedes know how to put on a show - it’s the seventh time they’ve hosted. It also marks 50 years since ABBA won with ‘Waterloo’.
The Australians
Yes, plural. Australia is primarily represented by electro duo Electric Fields, with ‘One Milkali (One Blood)’. It’s a bold choice, including the first time an Australian indigenous language (Yankunytjatjara) has been sung at Eurovision. It’s got 90s dance influences alongside indigenous heritage and it’s got a rousing chorus. It’s unclear how well it will fare but should get through to the grand final. https://youtu.be/tJ2IaHxCvdw?si=G4yPnQmdAqo41uEVSilia Kapsis from Sydney is there too! The 17 year old will be singing for Cyprus with a great pop jam ‘Liar’. It’s the second straight year an Aussie has featured for Cyprus, after Andrew Lambrou in 2023, and fair to say our public vote might sway their way. https://youtu.be/8q5QozrtEPABoth Australia and Cyprus will appear in Semi-Final 1 (dates and times below).
The Rockers
There’s no metal acts this year but we’ve got a few solid bands and performers. San Marino are sending Megara, whose song ‘11:11’ is one hell of an electro-punk jam. Should be a fun performance at Semi-Final 2, though San Marino rarely gets enough votes to get to the grand final. https://youtu.be/9NcAJtfhpWA?si=p_viF4S9n33o2I1-Semi-Final 2 has a couple of other acts to keep an eye on. Norway’s Gåte have an epic vibe with ‘Ulveham’, sung in their native tongue. Combining Norwegian folk and rock, it should be a very dramatic performance too. Czechia’s Solo has a great slice of pop punk (in the Olivia Rodrigo style) with ‘Pedestal’. She’s a rising star in her homeland and should make waves in Malmo. The dark horse in Semi-Final 1 is Ireland who have played it safe for a number of years but now unleash a potential new star. Bambie Thug has split EuroVision fans with ‘Doomsday Blue’. It’s a post-industrial tune with a melodic chorus that embraces a dark aesthetic and is an ode to the queer community. And they scream at the end. It could go over great with the live audience, they certainly have a presence, and fans at home, but could equally tank with the jury. Personally, I dig it and it’s likely to be Ireland’s first grand finalist in many years. https://youtu.be/ZGRXRrlIspY?si=yKV1bgMSZonF4180The WeirdIt’s rare that obvious novelty songs poll well but there’s a couple this year that could push to the top. Croatia unleashed Let3 on an unsuspecting audience last year so have doubled down this year with Baby Lasagna. ‘Rim Tim Tagi Dim’ is a hip hop banger with, I guess, a Crazy Frog influence!? Sounds stupid but it’s ridiculously catchy and is tipped to follow Käärijä’s second place finish last year. https://youtu.be/xTBrVNZtnys?si=1qXLW-7GzELg0JgzFinland has also embraced chaos with Windows95Man, whose song ‘No Rules!’ sounds like a EuroVision parody. It’s got a catchy hook, eurotrash beats but a real sense of conviction. Keep an eye on the giant denim egg at the center of their performance. Can it win? Might be a little too weird but stranger things have happened (like Finnish metal band Lordi winning). https://youtu.be/Tf1NS1vEhSg?si=_paFxAOp-OwJ_Y9dThere’s every chance you’ll hate The Netherlands’ entry from Joost, ‘Europapa’. It’s a complete earworm and you won’t ever forget it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT2wY0DjYGo
The Wonderful
Switzerland is one of the favourites with Nemo’s anthem ‘The Code’ having all the hallmarks of a Eurovision contender. The non-binary artist may ensure a Swiss victory with this powerful pop song that crosses genres. https://youtu.be/kiGDvM14KwgAngelina Mango from Italy is another who will get plenty of votes for ‘La Noia’, as will French ballad ‘Mon Amour’ by Slimane. Ukrainian duo alyona alyona & Jerry Heil also have a shot with their strong vocal performance on ‘Teresa & Maria’. I’m looking at the Denmark entry, ‘SAND’ by SABA, as a potential late climber. The Swedish hosts have a strong entry in ‘Unforgettable’ by Marcus & Martinus though I’m less enthusiastic about Olly Alexander’s‘Dizzy’ (UK). I dig Nebulossa’s‘ZORRA’ (Spain) and its message of empowerment but it’s not without controversy.
The format
The shows will be hosted by Petra Mede (who hosted in 2013 and 2015) and actress Malin Åkerman. The two semi finals will feature a split of 37 competing countries, with Australia drawn in Semi Final 1. This year the semi final results will be determined solely by televoting from viewers. The top 10 from each semi will go through to the Grand Final where they are joined by the Big 5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK) and Sweden (previous winner). In a big shakeup, the six prequalified grand finalists will perform in the semi finals, even though they are automatically straight in. The usual tradition of both jury (expert) votes and Televoting from viewers will determine the grand final winner.
Watching
Australian can watch via SBS or their streaming service OnDemandLIVE early morning broadcasts on SBS and SBS On DemandSemi Final 1 – Wednesday 8 May at 5:00am AEST ***FEATURING ELECTRIC FIELDS*** Semi Final 2 – Friday 10 May at 5:00am AEST Grand Final – Sunday 12 May at 5:00am AESTPrime time broadcasts on SBS and SBS On DemandSemi Final 1 – Friday 10 May at 7:30pm AEST ***FEATURING ELECTRIC FIELDS***Semi Final 2 – Saturday 11 May at 7:30pm AEST Grand Final – Sunday 12 May at 7:30pm AEST
Voting
Australians wanting to vote need to up bright and early for the live shows. We can’t vote for Electric Fields but you can ask your friends, relatives and colleagues in Europe to vote for them while the voting window is open!Join me on Twitter for the live shows!KJ Draven @kjdravenhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OUkfMb8UUo
