Claude on to final Songfestival, just like top favorite Sweden

With the French-speaking song ‘C’est la Vie’, the Dutch singer Claude has qualified for the final of the Eurovision Songfestival, which takes place on Saturday in the Swiss city of Bazel. The first semifinal took place on Tuesday evening, in which fourteen other participants found in addition to Claude. In total, ten countries qualified for the final on Tuesday.

In a show that was characterized by many bombastic performances and few quiet songs, 21-year-old Claude Kiambe was thirteenth on stage. He wore a burgundy costume and brought two dancers and three violinists. At the end of the song, Claude sang against an eleven-year version of himself on a screen, played by the 11-year-old boy who was also shown in the clip of the song. The performance was « right from the heart », according to Songfestival commentator Cornald Maas.

In addition to the Netherlands, top favorite Sweden, Norway, Albania, Iceland, Poland, San Marino, Estonia, Portugal and Ukraine also qualified for the final. Belgium, which was high with the bookmakers, was eliminated. Host country Switzerland and the large five countries Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom were already of a final place.

Controversy

The Songfestival is again the subject of this year controversy due to the participation of Israelthat will take on Thursday during the second semifinal. Organizer European Broadcaster Union (EBU) maintains that the Songfestival is « not a political event ».

The flag protocol also caused a fuss: artists are not allowed to wear a pride or Palestinian flag on the traditional flag parade on Saturday, only the flag of their own country.

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