Eurovision 2025 Countdown: Semi-Final Predictions and Insights
In this episode, as we approach the final countdown to Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Steven Perkins is joined by friend of the show, journalist and superfan Adrian Bradley to preview the two semi-finals.
Who are the favourites?
Who are the underdogs?
What can we expect from two fiercely competitive semi-final showdowns?
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Transcript
Hello, London, we are ready for your vote.
Steven Perkins:Hello again.
Steven Perkins:It is Monday, 4th of May, which means it is officially Eurovision month.
The:First of all, it was the announcement heard throughout time and space on Friday as the BBC announced that this year's UK jury spokesperson is none other than the Doctor himself, Ncuti Gatwa.
His appearance will be part of a pretty epic crossover event on BBC One on 17 May, as there's an episode of Doctor who immediately before Eurovision called the Interstellar Song Contest, centred around a version of Eurovision in Space, written by the fabulous Juno Dawson and featuring a guest appearance from Eurovision's very own Rylan Ncuti, will be teleconferencing into Basel during the contest to reveal who has been awarded the maximum 12 points from the UK's panel of music industry experts.
es to the flag policy for the:As I mentioned in the last episode, while fans are now allowed to bring a much greater range of flags into the arena, including pride flags and flags of non competing countries. Artists are restricted to only carrying the official flag of their country whenever they participate in official Eurovision event.
In a bid to crack down on political statements from the artists.
However, Afratros is objecting to the fact that this prevents artists from carrying pride flags, saying at this time, when the human rights of the LGBTQI community are under pressure, it is not a good sign to ban those flags at the Eurovision Song Contest.
The broadcaster is awaiting a response from the ebu, but they are hoping that there will be a space for discussion and a potential amendment to the policy.
Elsewhere, Swedish representatives Kai, who lest we forget, are from the Voro municipality of Finland, have performed in their hometown for the Finnish president Alexander Stubb. During his visit, the President took questions from the crowd and said that he would consider a victory for Kai to be a victory for Finland.
d's actual representative for:Finnish media outlet Il Teleti reached out to Erika for a comment and she responded that she wasn't particularly surprised that the President was a fan of Kai, as she was already familiar with his tast in music, but also added fairly diplomatically, it would be nice to see great men stand beside women like me someday.
Steven Perkins: With the: Steven Perkins:Year'S entries for the semi finals and made some predictions as to which ones.
Steven Perkins:We can expect to see again in the Grand Final and who's going to be watching from the sidelines come Saturday.
Steven Perkins:And joining me to assess the chances.
Steven Perkins:Of those 31 nations is Eurovision journalist.
Steven Perkins:And friend of the pod, Adrian Bradley.
Steven Perkins:Adrian, welcome back.
Adrian Bradley:Thanks for having me back on.
Steven Perkins:Great to have you here.
Steven Perkins:We've got quite a lot to talk about, so I think we should just jump right in.
We'll start with semi final one, which I think is probably the slightly less fiercely bought of the two, but there's still quite a few strong ones here and some that might just miss out. So we'll go through them all in order. Opening this show on Tuesday, we have Iceland, which is Vaib with Roa.
Again, apologies to everyone for my terrible pronunciation on all of these. I'm sure this one, I'm going to start by saying I do really like this one.
Looking at the running order, looking at everything that's going on here, I'm a bit sort of on the fence with this one as to whether this one's going to qualify. I don't think it's a guarantee. What do you think?
Adrian Bradley:Yeah, I think I agree with you. I mean, normally you'd think that the semi final opener has been kind of put there for the reason that the producers think it's a pretty safe bet.
And I understand why it's the opener as well. I think it's going to be fun and I think it's going to be a good kind of warm up for the crowd.
The question is, and then having seen the Iceland final, whether they can quite deliver on that moment on stage or whether actually opening it, they might feel a bit lost. So it's one of those. It's definitely the one that I can see on the edge.
Obviously it's helped by having Swedish viewers watching it, but it's hard, hard to. They're definitely one that I wouldn't put a definite oh, yeah, they're safely through. Whereas normally you'd think semi final opener.
That's because it's a banger and people are going to vote for it. I also like you. I do like it and I think they're sweet.
I've quite enjoyed their YouTube campaign, their social media campaign and the sort of stuff that they're doing. They're quite funny, so it will be interesting to see what they can deliver on stage.
Steven Perkins:Yeah. This one, I think for me, it kind of feels like it's going to depend so much on how it goes for everyone else. Like if.
If some of the other people who are slightly more kind of feel like more sure things end up having a shocker, Iceland could sneak through. But I think they are slightly dependent on maybe someone who's a front runner stumbling a little bit to get through. Moving on the second spot.
Not the most promising of spots, but we've got here, Poland, Zycina, Stakowska and Gaia.
This one I do actually think is probably going to get through fairly handily if the national final performance is anything to go by, because she's a very strong performer. The staging looked in good form to me, so I. I would be fairly confident about this one getting through.
Adrian Bradley:I agree with you. I think it's interesting there's a few in this kind of style and I think Spain are also in this Wolves to be performing in this semi final.
Obviously not up for qualification, but so. And there are some similarities in the style of it, but I think it is. I think it's a banger.
I think she can really sell it and if anything, actually it might be bad news for Iceland because she's going to follow that and then maybe she's the one that ends up lifting the crowd. So. Yeah, I agree.
Steven Perkins:Safely free, I think, as well. The other thing to say is that obviously she's done Eurovision before and she's an incredibly kind of.
I hesitate to use the word because it's slightly loaded word, but she is a veteran, she's very experienced performer, so I think she's going to go out there with total confidence and no fear, and I think that's going to really, really help her as well. We'll move on to the third one, Slovenia. Clement, how much time do we have left?
I remember quite liking this one when I first heard it, but also thinking it probably wasn't going to get through. Nothing has particularly changed my feelings about that since then.
I just think, again, given where it is in the running order, given the sort of song it is. I'm just. I'm not very confident we'll be seeing this one on Saturday.
Adrian Bradley:I. So far, we're in complete agreement. I think it's fine. But is fine gonna be good enough?
Especially when you've got some, you know, really big, really big numbers coming up in this semi final. Is it going to encourage people to pick up the phone and vote for it? I'm not convinced.
Steven Perkins:Yeah, I think it's. It just, like, say it's fine. Fine is unlikely to be good enough. And I think that's the problem.
The only thing I can really think of working in its favor is I don't think there's necessarily much else in the semi final that's like it, but I just don't think, particularly again, going after Poland, that being sandwiched between Poland and Estonia, I think is going to hurt it quite badly. Saying that, moving on to Estonia in the fourth position on Tuesday, Tommy Cash. Espresso Macchiato.
I said when we did our roundup of various national finals, this one hasn't really worked for me as a song. I don't particularly get it, but. But, I mean, it's a televote only semi final again and I don't see this having any trouble qualifying whatsoever.
Adrian Bradley:I kind of get it. It's very much in the school of joust and, you know, they collaborate and they have something in common from last year. It will have a big fan base.
I can see why it does kind of work. I can also see why it slightly annoys the Italians. But I would. It would be an absolute shocker if this was not on Saturday night.
Steven Perkins:Yeah, I think, you know, it might be slightly divisive, but you don't vote against songs at Eurovision, you vote for them. And I think there'll be plenty of people who will see this. They'll enjoy the performance. And this one isn't even particularly a question mark for me.
I think this one's going to get through pretty comfortably.
Speaking of people with, you know, getting through fairly comfortably, I would say that also, I think for Ukraine there on next Bird Of Prey, this one, possibly not one of their stronger entries by Ukrainian standards, but they've yet to fail to qualify from a semi final. And I can't really see this being the year it doesn't happen for them. So I'm fairly confident they're going to be sailing through.
Adrian Bradley:Yeah, I think I agree. I mean, we're judging Ukraine against a really high bar and maybe this isn't at that highest of high bars, but it Is a cute song. It is catchy.
I mean, it's one of the ones that has stuck in my head the most. And they performed it well at their final. I'm. You know, I. I think. I agree. I think it is a. Is a comfortable qualifier.
It would be a surprise to me if it didn't make it through.
Steven Perkins:Yeah, I think I was briefly worried about them kind of early on, but I think, you know, maybe just because it doesn't feel like it's a. One of their stronger efforts, but.
And obviously we have to bear in mind it's probably very, very difficult to organise the selection process in Ukraine at the moment. But I do think that the more I kind of hear of this one, the more I think, actually I'm fairly confident about it.
I think the general goodwill towards Ukraine and the fact that they are just very good at Eurovision, I think will see them through comfortably. And speaking of people who are good at Eurovision, Sweden next. Kai with badabadabastu. I don't really think there's much of a discussion here.
This one currently favourite to win the whole thing, so not really any concerns about it getting through.
Adrian Bradley:And it's going to bring. Bring the house down in the arena as well. There's going to be a huge support for it in the arena.
Talk about Sweden, and that is a tiny question mark for Ukraine, is that Sweden are going to come on straight after them. We don't know if there'll be an advert break because we don't know how complicated Sweden's set will be or anything like that.
But that, especially with the reaction that Sweden are going to get, will Ukraine just get a bit forgotten in that mix? That's. That's a question mark to me.
Steven Perkins:Yeah, I think that's a very good point. With the unenviable job, shall we say, of following Sweden, we have Portugal, that is Napa and Deslocado.
This one I don't really see making it through to the final Saturday. Not because I think there's anything wrong with.
Feels like it's very much Portugal at Eurovision, doing what they like and not particularly worrying about what's commercial. And I don't really think this is going to kind of break through in any particularly strong way.
Adrian Bradley:It's just there's nothing special about it that stands out. It's perfectly pleasant. But it's going to be following Sweden. I don't think this is the year for little indie bands.
And again, they've come after Ukraine doing a little bit of a little indie band. So, yeah, they're definitely one of the ones where I'm not expecting to see them again.
Steven Perkins:Yeah, I think they're kind of. They're in a kind of a slight semi final of bangers. Although to be fair, both semi finals have got their fair share of bangers.
But I think it's that some of the slightly more kind of offbeat stuff might end up getting a little bit lost. And yeah, Portugal, I think, always do just kind of turn up with a very.
Kind of like they're doing what pleases them and if it gets through, then great. If it doesn't, they'll just try again next year and.
Steven Perkins:Fair enough, really.
Steven Perkins:Norway on next, Kyle Alessandro with Leiter. This one I think we are on fairly solid ground with.
It's not one of my favourites, but I do think it's probably going to do pretty well with the voters. I don't really have many concerns about it qualifying.
Adrian Bradley:No, nor do I. And it made me realise that I mentioned Sweden earlier when I was talking about Iceland and block votes.
And of course Norway are there too, which is an additional bit of help for Iceland that they might need. But for Norway itself, yeah, a comfortable televote, you know, will lean younger, perhaps in some of the voters. But he's a.
He's a very accomplished performer. He knows how to deliver it on stage. I think it will be. It will do well.
Steven Perkins:It's also interesting going back to what you were saying just now actually about kind of, you know, the space available for slightly more indie things. Obviously that's what Norway tried last year. It didn't really work out that well for them in the end.
They qualified, but scraped through and then sort of finished last in the grand final. So they've kind of gone back to, you know, the more tried and tested approach this year and I think that will serve them well. Belgium on after them.
Red Sebastian with strobe lights. This one, I kind of. I think it's probably a fairly safe qualifier. I think it may be slightly on the board, depending on how everything go.
But I've heard really good things about this one from the pre parties. People seem to be responding to it really well. So I. I think we'll probably be seeing this one on Saturday.
Adrian Bradley:So this is one that I have on the edge. A bit of a curse of the early announcement. The benefit is not being in the same group as Austria because I feel that kind of.
There are some similarities and that might make it stand out. If there was a shock non qualifier on the night, I think it would be Belgium, I think, you know, it's a bit of a curse of the early announcement.
You get your song out a bit too early and then people are forgotten about you a bit. Let's see what they can come up with.
Because you can often underestimate Belgium and then they surprise you on the night with some incredible staging and some incredible performances. But yeah, if there was going to be a shock, Belgium would be it.
Steven Perkins:I just, I don't want poor Belgium to be the shock non qualifier two years in a row because that just feels very unfortunate for them. Moving on Azerbaijan Managana with Run with youh this one again feels on the edge to me.
Azerbaijan kind of not had the best of runs with Televote in recent years. I think this is one of the.
Steven Perkins:Ones that could possibly sneak through because.
Steven Perkins:It'S kind of, it's a, it's, it's. There's enough space in the field for this one to just edge it, I think. But I don't think it's a guaranteed qualify by any means.
Adrian Bradley:No, I agree with you as well. It's. It's kind of a fine standard pop song that doesn't quite go somewhere special enough for me.
And especially after what is going to be quite an interesting song with Belgium that it then has to follow. Is that going to. Again, is it going to encourage people to pick up the phone and go, yeah, I want it. I, you know, I don't have it.
You know, I don't have it as a definite non qualified, but I think this one is on the edge.
Steven Perkins:Yeah. After them we have San Marino, Gabri Ponte with Tutel Italia.
Now this one, I've got this one borderline, because I think it's going to be really rousing. I think people are going to respond well to it. But at the same time it's San Marino. San Marino always kind of a question mark at Eurovision.
They don't really have that much of a block behind them and obviously the fact that this was the kind of the San Rainbow theme tune just kind of is such a wild card. So I think possibly a qualifier, but not staking my reputation on it.
Adrian Bradley:I don't think it's qualifying.
I don't think it like when San Marino do well at Eurovision in the semifinals is when they do something that's just that bit extra special or that bit different. And I don't think this is enough of that. As you say, it was kind of a filler at San Remo and that's maybe how it's going to feel.
In the running order.
Steven Perkins:Yeah, it'll be an interesting one to see. I feel like we don't quite know what their prospects are with that one.
So, yeah, that'll be the one that will get either the one that they announced really early on and we'll all be very surprised, or they'll keep them right to the edge. And if maybe they'll be the 10th people, the 10th country announced through. Perhaps we should wait and see. Albania after that.
I'm gonna attempt to pronounce this one. Skodra Electronica with Zam this one, I think is probably gonna get through because it's.
This one's very different and I remember this just being one of the very early ones to be announced and just thinking this one just feels like it's gonna go down really, really well at Eurovision because it's very distinctive. So I've got big hopes for this one.
Adrian Bradley:So I. My worry about this one is with Poland and Spain being in the same semi final as them. And I know they're not.
None of these are exactly the same, but they are of a theme, they're of a genre. But because those are better, it might make you think again about the Albania performance and what you thought about that.
So it's another one of my borderline ones. For me, it wouldn't be a surprise to me if it didn't make it.
Steven Perkins:Okay. Moving on to Netherlands, Claude with C'est La Vie. This one I have fairly high up as a fairly comfortable qualifier.
I think he's a very, very confident performer. The song is very strong and possibly also, I think maybe there will be an element of people wanting justice for the Netherlands after last year.
So I don't have many concerns about this one qualifying.
Adrian Bradley:I agree with everything that you said. I think it's a really good song as well. I'm looking forward to seeing it.
Steven Perkins:And Croatia rising high after last year and the very, very narrow miss. They're back. Marco Bosniak with Poison Cake. This one I do quite like. I don't really have much for hope of it qualifying, though.
I just don't think it's really going to resonate with people.
Adrian Bradley:I don't love it. It's not for me and I think it's. It's just not.
It doesn't come together, so it's kind of got the weirdness and maybe it's kind of inspired a bit by Bambi Thug from last year and things like that, but without the, you know, Bambi Thugs. Bambi. It came together, it had a story, it had an idea and this just kind of feels like we're just being a bit weird.
So for me, certainly don't think it's going to have the heights of Croatia last year and I don't think it's getting three.
Steven Perkins:And we're ending the night with Cyprus. Theo, Evan and. Shh. Now, this one, I. I think I've got this one as a kind of borderline qualifier. It's going on last, which should help it quite a lot.
I. I wonder how people are going to respond to it.
I think the live performance is going to make or break this one because there's something quite conceited about. About this song and how. How you interpret that on stage, I think is going to depend on how. How the audience receives it.
So people may be turned off by it, but I think this one's probably going to get through.
Adrian Bradley:Yeah, I agree with you. I'm not sure that it'll have an incredibly successful Saturday night, but I think it's probably safely free from the semi final.
Steven Perkins:Yeah, I think that would make sense. On to semi final two, then. That is opening with Australia. Gojo and Milkshake Man. This one, it's just. It's daft.
I'm not a big fan of this one, but I do think it is probably fairly likely to get through. I don't really see there being much in the way of this one.
Adrian Bradley:Oh, yeah, it's a nailed on qualifier. I think it's fun and he really sells it and he really sells for performances.
I think it's the opener of a semi final for a very good reason and I think the crowd are really going to. This is quite a party semi final and the Gojo will get the crowd going.
Steven Perkins:Yeah, I think people will be warmed up as well after Tuesday's always a little bit kind of trying to get everyone ready for Eurovision again, whereas Thursday everyone's fired up and ready to go. So, yeah, I think that'll be getting off things to a good head of steam. Very disappointed in second place or second in the running order.
I should say Nina Zizic for Montenegro with Dobrodosli, because I do really like this one.
But I think in light of how competitive this final is and the position she's been given in the running order, I'm just not seeing her making it through to Saturday.
Adrian Bradley:I agree, I agree with you. Unfortunately, I think, especially as this is one that six don't make it through. It's just that little bit harder.
And there are a few others that we'll talk about that also may struggle. So I reckon it's borderline, but it might not stand out when it comes to kind of phone vote only semifinals.
Steven Perkins:Yeah, I think that's fair enough. Third in the running order is Emmy for Ireland with Leica Party. This one I've got pretty much right on the edge.
Obviously Ireland, I'm much, very keen to carry on their good run from last year with Bambi Thug. This one, I just think, because it's quite a competitive semi final and there's nothing terribly distinctive about this song.
So I do think it may struggle to stand out a little bit.
Adrian Bradley:I agree. Unfortunately, I don't think it. I don't think it's making it through. I don't think it's quite got enough.
And I think again, especially after last year from Ireland, like, expectations will be so high and this perhaps won't meet them. And, you know, we shouldn't pay too much attention to kind of block voting, things like that.
It would have been helpful for Ireland to have been in the same semi final as Norway in this case, to have got a little bit of Emmy's home vote as an option, which isn't going to be there. Obviously, UK voters are in this semi final, so they can help. But I. I'm not. I. Again, this is one that.
It would not be a surprise to me if they didn't qualify.
Steven Perkins:Yeah, I think Ireland can probably kiss goodbye to hope of a 12 from the UK because they're in the same semi final as Lithuania, which we'll get to in a minute. And Lithuania does tend to always get a 12 from the UK.
Steven Perkins:Presumably there is a sizable diaspora.
Steven Perkins:I've never encountered it myself, but that's the only explanation I can think of. In fourth on the running order, Latvia, Fautumetas with Berman Lami. This one again, there's so many in this one that really.
It just depends how it goes on the night. It could sneak through. It might just miss out. I think I'm edging on it, not getting through, but I think the stars could align.
It could work because this one is quite distinctive. It's quite enjoyable. What do you think?
Adrian Bradley:Oh, I think it will get through. It absolutely stands out and I think it appeals. It has that kind of. That.
That folk music kind of cultural background that there aren't many others in that category and certainly not in this semi final. So I'm thinking back to similar songs from previous Eurovisions and for me, I don't have. Is that borderline, I think.
Steven Perkins:Ah, interesting. Okay, we will see how this one goes for them, but, yeah, I would love to see this one go through. So I hope that you are right and I am wrong.
Next up, we have Armenia. Survivor. I'm a survivor. Stay aliver. We've all made fun of the lyrics to this one. Another one here, which I think is.
You know, it's in the danger zone. It might scrape through, but it's a.
Again, it's a very competitive night, and I just don't know if this one's going to break through because it's on quite early.
Adrian Bradley:Yeah, I think this may struggle. Is it gonna have enough to get people to pick up the phone? I'm not. I'm not convinced. It's.
Especially in this semi final, especially when six aren't getting through, this doesn't feel like it's gonna be one of the lucky ones.
Steven Perkins:It does feel a bit like, you know, in a slightly weaker field, it might be all right, but there's gonna be a lot of songs here that I think people are gonna have very strong feelings for. And is this gonna generate that. That level of intensity? I'm not sure that it will.
Followed up by Austria, JJ with Wasted Love, one of the favorites again for the whole thing. I don't have any concerns about this one getting through.
I've seen a few people raising concerns about the live performance potentially, but I don't think that's going to sink it by any means.
Adrian Bradley:I agree with all of what you said. I think it's really. I'm really, really interested to see what the onstage performance is going to be that's been so touted.
Austria, obviously, is working with Sergio on the staging. I think the staging, by all accounts, is going to be really quite impressive. That.
That will certainly, for me, be enough to get it through to the final, and I think that will be the moment we know whether its early favorite status had anything in it or whether the pre party buzz hasn't done enough for it. So really interested to see it, but not concerned about whether it will qualify.
Steven Perkins:Greece next with Claudia and Astoromata. This one, I've seen quite a few people saying this one's going to be a fairly comfortable qualifier. I am less convinced.
I do really like it, but I don't know. It feels that maybe it's a little bit insular and a bit too kind of sort of contained to maybe break through in what is a very, very busy semi final.
So, yeah. What are your thoughts?
Adrian Bradley:Similar to you, I think, and especially if you look at Latvia and Montenegro, perhaps the competition in this space, how are they going to stand up against those two earlier on in the show? That those will be the comparisons that people have in their heads. I could see this. I could see this struggling. So it's a borderline one for me.
Steven Perkins:Coming up after that, we have Lithuania, Katarsis and Tavo AGIs. This one I think is probably gonna get through.
It might be sort of slightly borderline, but I'm fairly confident the United Kingdom is voting so they can pretty much guarantee 12 points from us. And again, I think probably just might have the edge of being distinctive.
Adrian Bradley:I'm not. I'm not as confident as you are. It didn't. It didn't. It isn't connecting with me as much and it isn't working.
The trouble that it may have with that idea of like a good diaspora block vote is there are big phone vote crowd pleasers in this semi final that might get a lot of people that wouldn't normally vote to vote in the uk. So we're going to talk about one of them next. We've already that coming, that coming after that might make a difference to it.
Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if it struggled again. Like you say, it's probably one of the ones that's going to be like somewhere between 10th, 11th, 12th.
Steven Perkins:Yeah, somewhere around that sort of borderline zone. Then let's move on to the one you just hinted at. Muriana Conte for Malta with serving. I don't think we've got anything to worry about here.
This one has had almost the dream pre contest amount of publicity. She appears to be absolutely knocking it out of the park at pre contest performances. This one is about as sure a thing as I can think of and.
Adrian Bradley:It'S going to be huge in the arena as well. And I think that. And it's going to get that sort of public support and people kind of voting for it in lots of different countries as well.
And you know, Lithuania have to perform before it. So will you remember Lithuania after it is the question.
Steven Perkins:It's a good point. And then following it up, we have Georgia, Mariam Shingelia with Freedom. This one, I haven't responded to this one particularly.
I don't really see this qualifying. I can't see who this is for other than people who are in Georgia and can't vote for it. So yeah, I'm not expecting to see this one on Saturday.
Adrian Bradley:So the only reason why I think it could be borderline is that of the ballads in the semi final, I think it's the best Of a lot and I think performance wise it's the best of a lot and that might help it through again. You'll have you know, this is where I worry a little bit about Greece.
Qualifying is kind of in the comparisons so maybe, maybe again it's another one of the borderline ones. But I'm not. I'm not certain. It's a non qualifier.
Steven Perkins:Yeah.
Adrian Bradley:But again not helped by its running order. By its running order. Position. Position.
Steven Perkins:Yeah, yep, absolutely. Denmark. After that sisal with hallucination they're looking to kind of break there.
They've got the longest non qualifying streak of or current non qualifying streak, I should say, of any country currently in the competition. This one again feels very borderline for them. I really like the song. I. I enjoy her as a personality and all of her tiktoks and.
And things but I don't know if this is going to be the one that's going to do it for them and that breaks my heart.
Adrian Bradley:I. Yeah, I think I'm in the same boat as you as well. I would like it to do well.
I kind of see it in a very similar boat to island and Emmy in that it's like. It's cute and it's nice but is it enough? And that's what we're gonna have to find out. But yeah, she's really good fun on social media.
She seems to be having a fun pre party. I'd love for her to make it through to a Saturday.
Steven Perkins:Yeah, so would I. I think the biggest problem for her is as you were hinting earlier that Sweden and Iceland and Norway are all in the other semi finals.
So she hasn' that block foot to shore her up, which is going to be a problem, I think. Czechia after her with Adonis. Kiss Kiss Goodbye. This one I think is a fairly safe bet for qualifying. Qualifying. What do you think?
Adrian Bradley:Yeah, I think it's a safe bet for qualifying still. I'm still disappointed after seeing a really quite good acoustic version of it, the Malta final to the version that was then released.
It will really come down to how well that sort of dance break and the choreography works performance. But yeah, I would. He's a very good performer. I'm pretty. I'm pretty confident that it will get free.
Steven Perkins:Yeah.
Steven Perkins:Up after that is Luxembourg.
Steven Perkins:Laura Thorne with La Poupet Montlusant.
This one has been an interesting one for me because I've seen people seem fairly confident about it to begin with but it does appear to be sort of dropping down a lot of people's Rankings, I think because she's had some slightly, well, disappointing really performances on the pre party circuit, it's been a little bit out of tune and some concerns about whether she's going to deliver on the night. So.
And also I think because this is so kind of tied into a song from many, many years ago that people just might not even sort of make the connection. So I don't know if that nostalgia factor is going to work for it.
Adrian Bradley:Yeah, I really do kind of like it and it is cute, but it is. She absolutely has to deliver it on the night really. And that's what it will kind of come down to.
And if she does and it may struggle for a number of reasons, again helped by France being in this semi final. So a few extra kind of friendly votes but we will see.
But I would like, especially if Luxembourg so recently back, I would like them to kind of keep some momentum going as well. So we'll be interesting to see.
Steven Perkins:Yeah, same here. I really like the song. It's one of the ones I've been listening to a lot in the route to the contest. But yeah, whether.
Whether it will actually break through live remains to be seen. Israel after that. Yuval Raphael New day will rise. So I say that again. Just forgot to clean it. Yuval Rafael New day will rise. This one.
I don't think we've got anything to doubt that this is going to qualify.
Adrian Bradley:I agree it will be safely free again will be interesting after last year as well to see how it goes down in the arena and that sort of reaction. But I don't quite think it will be as dramatic as last year as well. I think it's a slight.
The distance is slightly different as well, but it would be a real surprise if it didn't get three.
Steven Perkins:Yep. Penultimate performance is Serbia Prince Mila. This one again, I have this very, very borderline.
I think it will might just scrape through because of where it is in the running order that it's on quite late.
I think if you would like a ballad this will probably, you know, maybe scratch that sweet spot and it'll be more likely that you'll remember it at the end. But it's not a guarantee for me.
Adrian Bradley:No, I'm not very confident about it at all. I don't think it's a great running order slot for it especially kind of squeezed between Israel and the claser. It could struggle on the knight.
This is probably one that's helped by not being in semi final one though because it is a little bit on its own. It is a little bit on its own in kind of a male ballad, so maybe that will help it.
But it's one of the ones that I think is lower on the borderline, I think.
Steven Perkins:Yeah, we've got a lot just fighting for that very small piece of real estate that's right on the borderline here. One of them that isn't any question for qualification though, is our closing number for the night, Erika Vickman. Ichkomma for Finland.
If this one does not get through, then something has gone very, very wrong for everybody.
Adrian Bradley:Yeah, I agree, it's, it's so much fun. I think it's going to be a really fun performance as well. By all accounts, it was great at the Finland qualification, so looking forward to it.
And you know, opening on Australia, closing on Finland, it's. It's going to be quite a party.
Steven Perkins:Yeah. And I think from what I've heard as well from the, from the pre contest circuit, she's been kind of eating and leaving no crumbs.
So not, not concerned for Erika. I will look forward to seeing her on Saturday.
Steven Perkins:So that brings us to the end.
Steven Perkins:We have gone through all of them. We have made some firm decisions on some and some less firm decisions on the others. Adrian, thank you so much for joining me.
I gather people can catch you on, dare I say it, some other podcasts around the time of Eurovision. So would you like to tell us where people can find you?
Adrian Bradley:Well, absolutely. I'm going to be working with the Eurotrip from Eurovision and they have a live show in Basel.
So anybody that's in Basel on the Thursday, come down to the Eurovision Village to see a live show on stage, on the Village stage in the Eurovision Village. So that will be a lot of fun and I am sure you will see me on other TV and radio stations during the week.
Still hoping for a slightly less newsy Eurovision than last year would be nice. Let's focus on the contest and not the, not the behind the scenes, but we'll wait and see.
Steven Perkins: system couldn't take another: Adrian Bradley:No worries.
Steven Perkins:That's all for this week and thanks again to Adrian for joining us and sharing his thoughts.
As I mentioned earlier, we've got lots of lovely content planned for next week, including our traditional reaction episodes for the semi finals, which will be recorded immediately after the live shows and uploaded ready for the following morning. And we're hoping to have some friends of the pod joining us for those.
So do hit subscribe on your podcast platform of choice to ensure that you don't miss any of our special bonus episodes, and they'll be right there waiting for you as soon as we release them.
And if you could leave us a nice review while you're there, we would love that too, as it all helps us to grow this podcast and reach even more listeners. We will see you in a week's time. Until then, good night Europe and Good Morning Australia.
