{"id":110989,"date":"2025-05-18T06:12:11","date_gmt":"2025-05-18T06:12:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/110989\/"},"modified":"2025-05-18T06:12:11","modified_gmt":"2025-05-18T06:12:11","slug":"eurovision-song-contest-fans-left-baffled-as-they-spot-major-movie-star-in-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/110989\/","title":{"rendered":"Eurovision Song Contest fans left baffled as they spot major movie star in performance"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Albanian hopefuls in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Switzerland impressed fans at home with their powerful performance, but viewers pointed out an apparent resemblance<\/p>\n

23:08, 17 May 2025Updated 23:28, 17 May 2025<\/p>\n

\"Albania'sAlbania’s Eurovision hopefuls(Image: Zuma Press\/PA Images)<\/p>\n

The Eurovision Song Contest<\/a> hopefuls put on an impressive show on Saturday evening – but it wasn’t the singing that had some fans talking. As 26 countries took to the stage in Basel, Switzerland<\/a>, it was the last duo that had viewers at home saying the same thing.<\/p>\n

While Albania’s impressive vocals saw viewers praise their efforts, some couldn’t unsee an uncanny resemblance with a popular cartoon character. Electro-pop duo Shkodra Elektronike’s song Zjerm was a crowd favourite pre-vote. But one of the duo was continuously likened to a character from the Minions movies.<\/p>\n

On X, formerly known as Twitter<\/a>, one user wrote: “Albania is serving Gru #Eurovision2025 #eurovision,” while putting a comparison of the singer and the cartoon. Another joked: “We got Gru performing for Albania #Eurovision2025.”<\/p>\n

\"AlbaniaThe Albanian act impressed viewers<\/p>\n

A third added: “Good to see Gru representing Albania #Eurovision2025,” while sharing an image of the animated villain. And it wasn’t just the UK audience making the comparison, with a number of posts in other languages sharing the same view.<\/p>\n

Some weren’t keen on his addition, though. One user complained: “Albania – I\u2019ll take it without Gru and his random drumming and talk rapping #Eurovision2025 4\/10”<\/p>\n

\"GruFans compared the artist to Gru(Image: Copyright: \u00a9 2010 Universal Studios. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)READ MORE: Eurovision scoreboard – rate best and worst songs LIVE during show with Mirror’s interactive tool<\/a><\/p>\n

Earlier in the show, fans were quick to comment on Tommy Cash’s performance<\/a> of Espresso Macchiato. He performed the catchy tune for Estonia. The performer, whose real name is Tomas Tammemets, performed in the Swiss capital of Basel after the 33-year-old singer was chosen to be the country’s act following his Eesti Laul 2025 victory with his dance-pop hit.<\/p>\n

The star has been performing since 2012 and already has a loyal fan base, but not all Eurovision viewers would have heard of him. And they quickly took to Twitter\/X to let their feelings about his song be known.<\/p>\n

One confused fan wrote: “Vocally could be better, but this is one of the funniest songs, artists and performances of the year and as a person needing coffee, I relate.” Another added: “I love the funky Eurovision songs and Estonia gave me what Eurovision is all about!”<\/p>\n

\"EstoniaEstonia’s entrance had fans talking<\/p>\n

However, there was controversy following Israel’s performance. Two people tried to rush the stage during Israeli<\/a> singer Yuval Raphael\u2019s entry, organisers confirmed. A spokesman for SRG SSR said: \u201cAt the end of the Israeli performance, a man and a woman tried to get over a barrier onto the stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were stopped. One of the two agitators threw paint and a crew member was hit. The crew member is fine and nobody was injured. The man and the woman were taken out of the venue and handed over to the police.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was claimed that the competition’s bosses also chose to drown out the sounds of booing when she performed New Day Will Rise for a rehearsal on Friday night. Shortly after the performance on Saturday, bosses released a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It read: “For the Eurovision Song Contest, the host broadcaster SRG SSR is working with the ‘audio sweetening’ method, which is common practice for major international productions. This process helps to harmonise the sound of the transitions between moderations, video clips and the individual acts and to create a consistent soundscape for the TV audience.<\/p>\n

“It is used exclusively for the technical rounding off of the programme. This process is used equally and identically for all acts. The competition and its results are not affected in any way.”<\/p>\n

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