The rest of the countries took to the stage days ahead of the final
Laura Thorn representing Luxembourg (Image: Getty Images)
Eurovision is back for its 69th year and the competition has returned to its home country, Switzerland for the occasion.
Thanks to Nemo’s win in last year’s Eurovision Song Contest, Switzerland have returned to host this year with all 37 countries turning up to St Jakobshalle in Basel.
For those of us in the UK, the BBC who aired and have teased a week filled with Eurovision content on both radio and television for fans to dig their teeth into.
As per the rules, only 26 countries are allowed to participate in the Grand Final airing on Saturday 17th May.
During Tuesday May 13, the first semi-final saw Iceland, Poland, Slovenia, Estonia, Ukraine, Sweden, Portugal, Norway, Belgium, Azerbaijan, San Marino, Albania, Netherlands, Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Spain and Switzerland participate.
With Italy and Spain part of the “Big Five” countries, they’re automatically guaranteed a place in the final. Switzerland also qualified due to winning last year.
Sadly, Cyprus, Croatia, Azerbaijan, Belgium and Slovenia failed to qualify for the final and were eliminated from the competition.
The first semi-final bid farewell to five countries(Image: Eurovision on YouTube)
On Thursday 15th May the second semi-final commenced with the 16 remaining countries all battling it out to still be here on Saturday.
Australia, Montenegro, Ireland, Latvia, Armenia, Austria, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, Georgia, Denmark, Czechia, Luxembourg, Israel, Serbia and Finland participated
The “Big Five” countries who performed during the second Semi-Final are France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Full list of countries and songs in the second semi-final – with those who qualified to final in bold
- Australia: Go-Jo – Milkshake Man
- Montenegro: Nina Žižić – Dobrodošli
- Ireland: EMMY – Laika Party
- Latvia: Tautumeitas – Bur Man Laimi
- Armenia: PARG – SURVIVOR
- Austria: JJ – Wasted Love
- United Kingdom: Remember Monday – What The Hell Just Happened? (qualified automatically)
- Greece: Klavdia – Asteromáta
- Lithuania: Katarsis – Tavo Akys
- Malta: Miriana Conte – SERVING
- Georgia: Mariam Shengelia – Freedom
- France: Louane – maman (qualified automatically)
- Denmark: Sissal – Hallucination
- Czechia: ADONXS – Kiss Kiss Goodbye
- Luxembourg: Laura Thorn – La Poupée Monte Le Son
- Israel: Yuval Raphael – New Day Will Rise
- Germany: Abor & Tynna – Baller (qualified automatically)
- Serbia: Princ – Mila
- Finland: Erika Vikman – ICH KOMME
As mentioned UK, France and Germany automatically qualify and will be joined in the final by Armenia, Lithuania, Denmark, Israel, Austria, Luxemburg, Finland, Latvia, Malta, and Greece.
The will join the countries that qualified following the first semi-final which were Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Albania, Sweden, Iceland, Netherlands, Poland, San Marino, Estonia, Portugal, and Ukraine.
Eurovision Grand Final airs on Saturday 17th May at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.