Eurovision 2025: Looking back at the semis and predicting the final

Two semis done and dusted, some bubbles seriously busted, many may feel really disgusted but we’ve all got our mindsets adjusted – bye bye semis, hello Grand Final! Time for a quick look back and a quick look into the crystal ball. Have a ball, y’all!

Hi again, and Happy Eurovision day! It’s (unfortunately still) the kind of happiness with a blackened edge, but I’m not in the mood for being dragged down. Blackened because of the worldwide tensions, and even more blackened because Belgium didn’t make the final. But Eurovision Day remains special nonetheless, so let’s make up the balance after the semi’s and before the Grand Final.

Let’s take a look at the fallen tributes first, before we move on to trying to gauge what tonite might have in store for us.

Slovenia

It’s a nice ballad, which was performed nicely and provided a nice atmosphere – but nice doesn’t seem to cut it anymore. Perhaps Klemen really was too solitary on stage, and the emotions were really slapped in our faces rather than spoon fed to us. Or perhaps it was all just too flat. Either way: I had this in my top 10 and my predictions. Oops. Will miss you tonite!

Belgium

That sound mix sounded really off, which made it sound like Seb was really off and I can’t decide if it’s either/or or either/and. I thought the visual approach was splendid, even though I would have loved a more tight choreo from Seb. I personally loved it, but I’ll concede that this is a love or don’t care at all kind of entry. Pity that Europe leaned more toward the latter. 

Azerbaijan

This was doomed from the very get-go with those fragile first notes, which got repeated throughout. It’s a nice song, but the live version was kinda hard to sit through. Sorry about it.

Croatia

It’s a comment that I’ve given a couple of songs throughout both semi’s: this was A LOT to take in. Both as a song and a performance. My digestive system would have a hard time with this cake. Europe seemed to agree.

Cyprus

Another surprise non-qualifier, although I did have the hardest time making out where exactly the lead singer was during the performance. Why didn’t he just wear white to distinguish himself from the dancers? It was also too much kerfuffle and not enough actual showmanship. Plus: how much of it did he sing live? I guess those points should have made me cross to the ‘this won’t Q side’ but I didn’t listen to my gut instinct.

Result: got 7 from my personal top 10 and 7 in predictions. 

Australia

I never liked this to begin with and I should have followed my gut instinct – especially with thàt vocal performance. Still, I didn’t dare predict the opening song to not Q. Maybe I was just too entranced by Go-Jo’s physical contribution to the visuals. Maybe I just need a boyfriend and I should learn to keep my hormones out of the equation. 

Montenegro

Despite a shriek or two, I thought this was vocally really good. Too bad she got wasted on this nothingness of a song. The three minute version makes absolutely no sense and goes nowhere. No tension, no atmosphere. And contrary too many I even liked the oyster-sperm-duvet dress. Do better, Montenegro. 

Ireland

I always thought Iceland was too Junior ESC and this one walked the line a bit better, but I clearly got it the wrong around. I liked this, the vocals were on point and the visuals really worked. But it did also feel a bit too light. Still had this down as a borderline Q. Oops.

Georgia

This was really tiresome. What was it even trying to be? And why did she go FULL OUT all of the time? And what was with that outfit switch? So many questions, and I don’t even wanna know the answer to any of them. One of the easiest NQ’s to predict.

Czechia

Wow, the queer community really got a pounding this year – wait, I didn’t mean it like that. But it IS noticeable how almost all of the male soloists who walked the sexuality and/or gender line in their own way almost all got eliminated. I totally adored this, but there was a whiff of nerves that surrounded this and kind of overshadowed it. Loved the dance break but it made absolutely no sense in the context of the song. So I guess I kinda get why we’re not seeing this back tonite. But I would have loved it being there.

Serbia

That was an edgy performance for a totally not so edgy song, so color me slightly confused. It did lift it to another level for me, but i could imagine it lifted even more eyebrows across Europe. Plus, it was always hard to imagine this kind of ballad still working in a 2025 context.

Result: 7 correct from my personal top 10, and predicted 8 correctly.

 

And now, let’s look at some of the remaining tributes and how they might do in the arena tonite.
I won’t get into all of them, just the current favorites with the bookies and throwing in a couple of personal faves for extra flavor.

Bookies: Sweden

Maybe I’m just too used to this, but I’m not really feeling it as a fave to win tonite. They’ll go top five easily and it’s still fun, but that semi performance felt a bit forced. Dunno, can’t shake the feeling that this is the ideal candidate for silver.

Bookies: Austria

Again, a bag of mixed feelings. I like the vocals throughout, but the high notes in the semi were VERY borderline. And I have issue with the choices made for the visual approach. It’s too ‘a night at the opera’ and not enough ‘let’s translate this to the TV screen’. I’m not really feeling this either, but as I’ve learned throughout the week: my ESC radar has been ever so slightly off balance in 2025. But this, winning? Will believe when I see it.

Bookies: France

I have to admit that this is one of the best stagings this year and Louane really makes the most of it. Is it slightly contrived? Yes, but then again so is the song. Speaking of: I just can’t with that bucket of cheese. If this wins, it’s just your default compromise winner. I get why it would or could, I just firmly believe that it really shouldn’t.

Bookies: Finland

I’m a fan of Erika’s Girl Power and I love the performance, but this, winning? That smells more like wishful thinking. It feels way too raunchy to really score across the board. Still, out of the current bookies’ top 4, I would prefer this one to take the trophy. If only just for fun.

Bookies: Netherlands

Claude is a total hottie and he really sells this ever so well, even with a wobbly note here or there. But the song lacks just that spoonful of oomph to really make me think that this could actually walk with it. Still, it’s got enough elements that tick certain boxes, so who knows!

Bookies: Estonia

What is this doing in 6th? I mean, it might end up going top 10…but 6th fave to win? I might need an espresso myself to even digest the thought of that happening.

Bookies: Switzerland

I had this as the fave to win when I did my ‘listen only’ preview post and I still think this is in with a chance. They really need to nail this on the nite though – every single shot and every single note needs to be on point. This could really be the quiet shelter in a final full off whirlwinds of visuals and noise.

Dimivision: Albania

I really don’t get why this is closing the show, coming after san Marino. Totally ruins its chances for me, but I’m still hoping for the reverse effect. I’m simply blown away by this, and I would love it if juries and audiences throughout Europe would feel the same. An Albanian win would be the cherry on top of the very weird cake that is Eurovision 2025.

Dimivision: Latvia

Speaking of weird: this is a masterclass in selling a weird song on stage. Probably the best visual performance of the night. I can’t see it troubling the top five, but I’m counting on Europe to sneak in at least one surprise. And I would love for this to be the one that makes people go: didn’t see that coming. It’s what I said on Thursday anyway.

Dimivision: Lithuania

Oh, I know this doesn’t stand a chance in hell of winning but I’m throwing it in just for giggles. That said: this is the perfect soundtrack to the pre-dystopian vibe that 2025 is giving so far, so why not?

Dimivision: Greece

If I had to call that one sneaky little entry that could come out of nowhere and get the white smoke from the chimney, it probably would be this one. The rock might be too small and the tree might be too Jamala, but this feels very dangerous somehow.

 In other words: no clue at all. Which kinda feels awesome. Hoping to be pleasantly surprised with the results. I need to feel a bit more again after this hangover of a Eurovision season. May the odds be in all of our favors.

How about you? Who do you think will win, and who would you want to see as the winner?