A total of 17 nations compete this Tuesday in an effort to reach the first semi-final, which will lead into the Saturday final on May 14. The top favorite heading into the event is the Ukrainian entry from Eurovision 2022, performed by Kalush Orchestra.
Specifically, Albania, Latvia, Lithuania, Switzerland, Slovenia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Moldova, Portugal, Croatia, Denmark, Austria, Iceland, Greece, Norway, and Armenia are contending in this round for ten spots in the final on Saturday.
A day before the semi-final, bookmakers list Ukraine, Greece, Norway, the Netherlands, Armenia, Portugal, Albania, Moldova, Latvia, and Switzerland as the ten most likely finalists. Denmarks, Slovenia, and Bulgaria are viewed as the three least probable contestants to advance, according to betting markets.
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The show can be watched on TVE’s La 1 at 9:00 pm and opens with Albanian artist Ronela Hajati, who performs with one of the night’s most talked-about tricks. Albania’s entry, Şekret, has drawn significant attention for its provocative presentation. Hajati and her team had voiced concerns earlier in the week that a dance moment was censored, but they ultimately delivered their performance during rehearsals.
Latvian act Citi Zēni continues with Eat Your Salad, a track that became widely shared online after its bold line about choosing vegetables over meat. The group keeps the moment playful while the crowd reacts loudly to the punchy phrase, though the explicit language is not spoken aloud on stage.
Next up is Lithuanian Monika Liu performing Sentimentai, described by her as a darkly themed disco ballad. Swiss entrant Marius Bear then takes the stage with Boys Do Cry, a performance rich in projections on both the stage and the artist’s face, culminating in a giant disco ball reveal. A Slovenian group, LPS, is featured with a disco-inspired element that nods to their high school formation.
Representing Ukraine, one of the event’s heavy favorites, the performance of Stefania stands in sixth place, with the ballad dedicated to the singer’s mother. The artist notes that the song has acquired new resonance after the passing of many mothers during the conflict surrounding the country.
Bulgaria follows in seventh place with Intelligent Music Project, then the Dutch entry S10 presents a somber ballad, De Diepte, which has been among the pre-contest favorites. Moldova’s Zdob si Zdub and Fratii Advahov close the segment with Trenuletul, a lively finale that invites the crowd to join the celebration.
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Portugal, the only participant affected by the coronavirus this year, is set to perform exactly as planned. Milhanas, one of Maro’s performers, had tested positive but is cleared to perform after several negative tests. The track is Saudade, saudade.
Croatian artist Mia Dimšić presents a heartbreak-driven pop ballad titled Guilty Pleasure, while Danish contestant Rejection brings a rock-flavored number with The Show. Austria’s Pia Maria collaborates with Lum!x for Halo, a high-energy track destined to lift spirits, followed by Icelandic group Systur performing in their native language.
The evening will close with performances by three leading favorites. Greek artist Amanda Tenfjord delivers the powerhouse ballad Die Together, widely acclaimed by press and fans. Norwegian duo Subwoolfer brings a playful moon-themed set with Give That Wolf a Banana, and Armenian singer Rosa Linn presents an elaborate staging for Snap, a headline moment of the night.