The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Basel, Switzerland this Saturday. The anticipation is palpable — just two weeks until the event! This year’s free virtual event will feature dance performances from 26 countries around the world. It’s projected to bring in over 160 million viewers globally! This year’s contest features a rich tapestry of musical acts and faces significant controversies, particularly concerning Israel’s participation.
Last year’s winner, Nemo – a nonbinary, pansexual, andromeda Swiss singer – will be there for a collaboration as a guest performer. Nemo’s win during the 2023 edition in Sweden has only heightened the suspense surrounding this year’s battle. With songs sung in 20 different languages, this colorful and diverse lineup is going to leave you amazed! This highlights the contest’s international scope and cultural diversity.
Out of those participants, Israel’s Yuval Raphael will be sharing the song “New Day Will Rise.” Raphael’s appearance has triggered opposition, with pro-Palestinian protesters promising to demonstrate in downtown Basel on Saturday evening. This is the second year in a row that Israel’s participation has faced controversy and criticism.
“All 37 delegations, in difficult times, have behaved impeccably,” said Martin Green, the contest’s executive supervisor, emphasizing the professionalism of the participating nations despite ongoing tensions.
Finland’s Käärijä, who took second place last year with his song “Cha Cha Cha” will return again this year. Croatia went on to finish 2nd in 2024 with their entry Baby Lasagna and the song “Rim Tim Tagi Dim.” The diversity of themes and styles of this year’s songs shows a real change in the contest’s narrative central focus.
According to Dean Vuletic, a Eurovision historian, the entries themselves have changed dramatically since then.
“In the past it was about having a catchy, innocuous pop song, usually in English,” Vuletic noted. “But we’ve seen songs become much more socially and politically engaged, songs that present the audience with some sort of meaning.” He also emphasized that “An entry needs to be memorable and it needs to be authentic in order to succeed these days.”
The purpose of the contest, called Record Change, is to create a space for artists to wrestle with these difficult issues and realities. As part of its mission this year, the organizers hope to “re-establish a sense of unity, calm and togetherness” amid global challenges.
“We’re here to represent Sweden and we have prepared for this for all our lives and want to make the best of our moment as artists in this huge and legendary competition,” commented Axel Åhman from Sweden. “So our main focus is there, and the politics we try to leave that to the EBU and those actually making the decisions.”
Nemo’s expected performance will blow you away! There’s more! Celine Dion, the 1988 Eurovision winner, may even show up.
More than a talent showcase, this annual contest of the world’s largest democracy is a cathartic expression of current social, economic and political realities. As demonstrated by the diverse range of performances and the ongoing political discourse surrounding certain entries, it continues to be a stage for cultural expression and societal reflection.
