Culture Eurovision 2025: Who's through to the final after second...

Eurovision 2025: Who’s through to the final after second semifinal?

-

- Advertisment -
ADVERTISEMENT

The final lineup for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest is set after Thursday’s second semi-final, with 26 countries set to compete in front of thousands of fans in Basel, Switzerland in the grand final on Saturday.

Those who made the cut include classically trained Austrian countertenor JJ, a bookies’ favorite with his over-the-top pop-opera song “Wasted Love,” and Israel’s Yuval Raphael, who will be performing the song “New Day Will Rise.”

JJ from Austria performs the song "Wasted Love" during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2025.
JJ from Austria performs the song “Wasted Love” during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15, 2025.AP Photo/Martin Meissner

Also voted through to the final was Malta’s Miriana Conte, whose campy, diva-esque song “Serving,” performed on a set including a glitter ball and giant lips, is classic Eurovision.

Performers from Luxembourg, Denmark, Armenia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Greece also advanced to the final.

They will go up against contenders selected in Tuesday’s first semifinal including betting favourite KAJ, representing Sweden with a serenade to the sauna “Bara Bada Bastu,” Dutch singer Claude with soulful ballad “C’est La Vie,” and Ukrainian rockers Ziferblat with “Bird of Pray.”

Who were eliminated in the semifinals?

Eleven of the 37 acts who traveled to Basel have now been sent home, leaving 26 finalists.

Twenty were picked by viewers’ votes in the semi-finals, while Swisterland, the host country, and the “Big Five” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK), the countries that contribute the most financially to the contest, automatically qualified for the final.

Out of the 15 countries that participated in the first semi-final on Tuesday, five were eliminated, including Slovenia, Belgium, Azerbaijan, Croatia and Cyprus.

On Thursday, another 16 countries battled for a spot in the final. A total of six were elimated, including Australia, Montenegro, Ireland, Georgia, Czechia and Serbia.

Competition clouded by controversy

For a second consecutive year, the contest, whose motto is “united by music,” has been clouded by backlash over Israel’s participation. Despite calls for a boycott, Israel is taking part in the 2025 edition of Eurovision and will be represented by Yuval Raphael.

Raphael, a survivor of Hamas’ attack on the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023, is predicted to do well by bookmakers. However, many have contested her presence.

Yuval Raphael from Israel performs the song "New Day Will Rise" during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15 2025.
Yuval Raphael from Israel performs the song “New Day Will Rise” during the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Thursday, May 15 2025.AP Photo/Martin Meissner

Videos on social media showed a large Palestinian flag being extended in the crowd during Raphael’s rehearsal on Thursday. The organiser of the event, Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR, said security personnel had escorted those involved out of the hall.

Meanwhile outside of the venue, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in central Basel on Wednesday evening to demand an end to Israel’s military offensive and their expulsion from Eurovision.

ADVERTISEMENT

Many noted that Russia was banned from Eurovision after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“It should be a happy occasion that Eurovision is finally in Switzerland, but it’s not,” said one demonstrator at Wednesday’s protest. “How can we rightfully exclude Russia but we’re still welcoming Israel?”

Several public broadcaster, including Spanish, Irish, Icleandic and Flemish broadcasters, called for a discussion about Israel’s participation. The European Broadcasting Union, which runs Eurovision, defended its decision to allow Israel to participate and said the contest must remain politically neutral.

ADVERTISEMENT
A girl holds up a Pro-Palestinian placard during the opening ceremony of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Sunday, May 11, 2025.
A girl holds up a Pro-Palestinian placard during the opening ceremony of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Sunday, May 11, 2025.Til Buergy/Keystone via AP

Also more than 70 former Eurovision contestants signed a letter calling for Israel to be excluded, including last year’s winner, Nemo, who told HuffPost UK that “Israel’s actions are fundamentally at odds with the values that Eurovision claims to uphold — peace, unity, and respect for human rights.”

Last year, Israeli competitor Eden Golan received boos during her live performance. Raphael said she is expecting the same, but said “we are here to sing and I’m going to sing my heart out for everyone.”

On Thursday, a demonstration in support of Israel and against antisemitism was held in central Basel.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest news

Survivors and settlers returned to Pompeii ruins, new research shows

ADVERTISEMENT Though the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD turned Pompeii into a city of ash, killing up to a fifth of its 20,000 residents and leaving it in ruins, new evidence suggests that some survivors - and possibly newcomers - returned to the smouldering remains to rebuild their lives. Fresh excavations from

Former Superman actor Dean Cain says he’s joining Trump’s ICE agency

ADVERTISEMENT Dean Cain, the actor best known for playing Superman in the 90s TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, has announced he’s joining US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - the controversial agency central to Donald Trump’s intensifying immigration crackdown. Speaking to Fox News, Cain said he has spoken with agency

Mubi facing pressure from film industry over Israeli military ties

ADVERTISEMENT Global streaming platform Mubi is facing backlash over investor ties to Israeli military, with filmmakers calling on the production company and film distributor to end its relatioship with investment firm Sequoia Capital. The growing pressure aimed at the upstart distributor, which ushered The Substance to awards success last year, centres on a recent $100 million

Rare first edition of ‘The Hobbit’ sells for record price at auction

ADVERTISEMENT More than 50 years after his death, J. R. R. Tolkien’s fantasy masterpieces never cease to enchant audiences around the world. Now, a rare first edition of Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” has been sold for £43,000 (€49, 500) at an online auction on Wednesday. The first edition was expected to fetch between £10,000-£12,000 at auction, ultimately
- Advertisement -

Zdzisław Beksiński’s dreamlike works on display in Warsaw

ADVERTISEMENT Polish painter and photographer Zdzisław Beksiński invited viewers to enter a world of dreams. Disturbing, unclear, beautiful and above all, deeply surreal. Now, 44 paintings - including 11 never-seen works - are on display at the Museum of Fantastic Art in Warsaw. Kept in the homes of friends, these artworks were living traces of

Mexico accuses Adidas of cultural appropriation over shoe design

ADVERTISEMENT Mexican officials in the southern Oaxaca state have accused sportswear brand Adidas of cultural appropriation over a shoe design reminiscent of a traditional Mexican sandal. The black leather “Oaxaca Slip-On”, inspired by the classic huaraches, is expected to be released as part of a broader collaboration between Adidas Originals and American designer Willy Chavarria.

Must read

Survivors and settlers returned to Pompeii ruins, new research shows

ADVERTISEMENT Though the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD turned Pompeii into a city of ash, killing up to a fifth of its 20,000 residents and leaving it in ruins, new evidence suggests that some survivors - and possibly newcomers - returned to the smouldering remains to rebuild their lives. Fresh excavations from

Former Superman actor Dean Cain says he’s joining Trump’s ICE agency

ADVERTISEMENT Dean Cain, the actor best known for playing Superman in the 90s TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, has announced he’s joining US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - the controversial agency central to Donald Trump’s intensifying immigration crackdown. Speaking to Fox News, Cain said he has spoken with agency
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you