Eurovision is back after two years, and the 65th edition of the world’s biggest music competition doesn’t stand to disappoint.
There’s more global interest than ever this year thanks to Netflix’s Eurovision movie “The Story of Fire Saga,” starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams, which filled the void last year with bangers like “Jaja Ding Dong” when Eurovision was canceled for the first time in its history due to the pandemic.
The contest — in which a host of acts from European countries and a handful of others vie for the Eurovision crown — is also being made available for U.S. audiences on NBCUniversal-backed Peacock. Indeed, it’s never been a better time to tune in.
Tonight, live from Rotterdam in the Netherlands, finalists from 26 countries are taking part, with 20 of the group making it to the final following two semi-finals earlier in the week. Six countries — the ‘Big 5’ of the U.K., France, Italy, Germany and Spain, along with the host country, the Netherlands — were automatically pre-qualified for the contest.
Favorites going into tonight’s grand final include France’s Barbara Pravi and Italy’s Måneskin. Meanwhile, famous faces in the mix include Flo Rida, who is accompanying San Marino finalist Senhit in her performance. (The American rapper arrived in the Netherlands on Tuesday, after judging a bikini competition in Miami, just in time for the first semi-final.)
A strict COVID-19 health and safety protocol is being applied at this year’s event. All those working within the perimeter of the venue must have a negative COVID-19 test that isn’t more than 48 hours old.
Nonetheless, the pandemic has already claimed two live performances in the final.
On May 19, a member of the Icelandic group Daði og Gagnamagnið, one of the competition favorites, tested positive for COVID-19, while the rest of the delegation tested negative. They took the decision to withdraw from performing in this year’s live shows, as they only want to perform together as a group. The good news is that they’re still in the competition, using their rehearsal tapings.
Meanwhile, Duncan Laurence, winner of the 2019 Contest for the Netherlands, was scheduled to perform live during Saturday’s grand final but also tested positive. Regardless, organizers have promised that Laurence will “still feature in the show in a different form.”
Since April 6, when prep began at Rotterdam’s Ahoy arena, some 24,400 tests have been conducted among crew, volunteers, artists, delegation members and press. Only 16 of those (0.06%) have returned positive results.
Keep checking back for live updates.
Eurovision kicks off with Cyprus’ Elena Tsagrinou and a sultry performance of “El Diablo,” which is said to have been controversial among religious Christian groups in the country. The Spanish “El Diablo” translates to “the devil,” and the song contains the lyrics “I gave my heart to el diablo.”
Second up is Albania’s Anxhela Peristeri with “Karma,” followed by Israel with “Set Me Free.”
Israeli finalist Eden Alene was born to Ethiopian-Jewish immigrants, and was raised in Katamon, Jerusalem. While Israel’s participation in this year’s contest, amid almost two weeks of violence between Israel and Palestine, has been controversial, Alene has already proved to be one of the brightest participants in competition, hitting the highest note in Eurovision history — a B6 whistle — during her performance of “Set Me Free” on May 17.
Meanwhile, Belgium’s Hooverphonic performs a rousing performance of alternative track “The Wrong Place,” while Russia’s Manizha delivers a fantastically upbeat display with “Russian Woman.”
A favorite at this year’s competition, Malta’s Destiny — who is only 18 years old — shows off some powerhouse vocals in “Je Me Casse.”
The seventh song in the final comes from Portugal, whose outfit The Black Mamba croons “Love Is On My Side,” surely one of the night’s most toned-down performances. Whether it can cut through amid the more, er, flashy contenders, however, is anyone’s guess.
Serbia is up next with trio Hurricane performing the inexplicably catchy “Loco Loco,” followed by the U.K.’s James Newman with “Embers.” This year’s contest marks the first edition since the U.K. officially left the European Union. The country hasn’t won Eurovision since 1997, when Katrina and the Waves — best known for the song “Walking on Sunshine” — claimed the crown.
Dancers clad in green leotards are on hand for Greece’s green screen-heavy performance of Stefania’s “Last Dance.” Song 11 is Switzerland’s Gjon’s Tears with power ballad “Tout l’Univers.”
Iceland‘s six-piece Daði og Gagnamagnið is trolling TikTokers with their song “10 Years,” which seems to be leaning into the absurdist antics of Netflix’s fictional Icelandic contenders Fire Saga. Struck down by COVID-19, the taping is unfortunately from one of the group’s rehearsals rather than a live performance.
The second of the ‘Big Five’ countries following the U.K., Spain contributes the biggest prop ever used in Eurovision history with a massive, spherical moon hanging down above Blas Cantó. Shoot for the moon!
Delivering what’s believed to be the competition’s longest note ever is Moldova’s Natalia Gordienko with “Sugar.”
The third country of the ‘Big Five,’ Germany, is next up with Jendrik and his peppy “I Don’t Feel Hate.” (He just feels sorry.) Meanwhile, Finland is all killer no filler with Blind Channel’s heavy-metal tune “Dark Side.”
Next up is Bulgaria’s Victoria with “Growing Up is Getting Old,” followed by quirky fan favorite Lithuania. Dressed in all yellow, The Roop is all dance moves (some serious finger signing involved) and fun with “Discoteque.”
Song 19 is courtesy of Ukraine, whose Go_A delivers beautiful, folk-like vocals in the ethereal “Shum” — one of the best tracks of the night.
France’s Barbara Palvi, another fan favorite, brings the house down with “Voilà,” while Azerbaijan’s Efendi dazzles with a pyrotechnic-infused “Mata Hari.”
Norway’s Tix, the country’s most streamed artist in 2020, is next up with pop ballad “Fallen Angel,” which sees the artist in angel wings, chained to a quadruplet of dancing devils. As you do.
Host country the Netherlands has song 23 with Jeangu Macrooy’s funky “Birth of a New Age.”
Italy, the bookies’ favorite to win this year’s competition, rounds out the ‘Big Five’ countries. Heavy metal group Måneskin, which won Italy’s Sanremo Music Festival, gives it their all with a performance that’s more accessible than Finland’s Blind Channel, the contest’s other metal outfit.
The penultimate song is from Sweden’s Tusse with “Voices,” while San Marino’s Senhit closes out the competition with “Adrenalina,” accompanied by “Right Round” singer Flo Rida.
Exactly two hours after the 26 performances kicked off, voting is now open.