These songs are in the first semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025

The Eurovision Songfestival has settled this year in the St. Jakobshalle in Basel. The fact that we are in Switzerland immediately becomes clear at the kick -off of the first semifinal: a few of the gigantic LED screens are in the form of mountains and alpine horns are involved in the bombastic opening. 15 countries are participating in this semi -final, including Claude. A few countries can also be seen that are already through to the final. Claud’s competition comes in many forms: jokes, scream singers, singers who hang on the head and acts that should mainly have fireworks. The presentation of the broadcast is done by Hazel Brugger and Sandra Studer, who will occasionally throw a few innocent Eurovision jokes in the broadcast.

At the end of the evening, Claude is the neighborhood, the thirteenth act.

1Iceland Væb Róa

https://youtu.be/s9p83nl6d1m?si=lo3WC6YXMFFFJCJX

Very energetic kick -off with a song from the bouncing brothers Matthías and Hálfdán Matthíasson. The two row in their song from Iceland to the Faroe Islands. Eurodance with a nice shouting moment in the bridge. « Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! »

2Poland Justyna Steczkowska Gaja

https://youtu.be/yxhhdjiclxa?si=nguh_qigi7fjmm

The Polish singer Justyna Steczkowska already participated once in 1995 and is back thirty years later with a performance that does not fit in the ‘subtle’ category. Steczkowska asks Mother Nature for help in processing a bad relationship and shouts. Note her flaming violin solo halfway.

3Slovenia Clamp How much time do we have left

https://youtu.be/qts2l0vcavi?si=fvtztleqaq_adnsy

Singer, actor and comedian Klemen Slakonja was afraid of losing his wife, the actress Mojca Fatur, after getting bone marrow cancer. Good news: Fatur got better and will be on the song festival stage with him. Less good news: the ballad that Klemen made is easy, although it is special that it hangs upside down after a while while sings.

4Estonia Tommy Cash Espresso Macchiato

https://youtu.be/5ms_fczs_98?si=xepx_nqfh_bybtrs

One for the lovers of Joost Klein. Singer and rapper Tommy Cash participated with Klein on the song ‘United by Music’ and has a similar viral humor. ‘Espresso Macchiato’ is an infectious tune with references to coffee, pasta and the mafia. In Italy, not everyone is happy with the stereotype references in the song. « No stresso, it’s gonna be espresso. »

5Ukraine Ziferblat Bird of Pray

https://youtu.be/oj1x2ail7ks?si=S1VI7CHOZR1V2J1N

Ukraine comes with a great GlamrockNummer about the desire to be reunited with loved ones. With the song ‘Bird of Pray’, Ziferblat is not really breaking out, but the message of the Ukrainian entry is tangible. Striking, seventy-off-decking.

6Sweden Kaj Bara Bada Bastu

https://youtu.be/wk3homhaeqy?si=JWVHXJNXQPE7GH5X

“ »Yksi Kaksi Kolme … sauna!« Long a favorite of the Bookmakers, this funny ode to the sauna of Kaj, a Finnish act that sings in Swedish. Inquisitive craziness without too much pretension. Bjorn Ulvaeus of Abba is a fan and shared his enthusiasm with a video From his own sauna.

7Portugal Napa Deslocado

https://youtu.be/-s1cc2uej3U?si=f5ffi23mfi4fo31

The Portuguese band Napa says it has been influenced by rock bands such as Arctic Monkeys and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. The solid song ‘Deslocado’ is a lot less energetic than the work of those bands.

8Norway Kyle Alessandro Lorger

https://youtu.be/pujwzq671MQ?si=ovqWHERU3YBEPGTX

Nineteen -year -old Kyle Alessandro comes with a modern pop track Fire misses, despite the text « Nothing can burn me, I am my own lighter. »

9Belgium Red Sebastian Strobe lights

https://youtu.be/scupivtoshu?si=tqOOG4Y3JG0RRRK

A dance clapper from the Flemish Seppe Herreman, artist name Red Sebastian. In the clip with the song, the singer plays with the difference between his ‘normal’ me and his alter-ego. « I enjoyed playing with the contrast between the everyday Seppe and the show animal that Red Sebastian is, » he told the VRT.

10Azerbaijan Mamagama Run With U

https://youtu.be/upbipj9ua70?si=aenbux4HCJXGNMSC

The Azerbaijani band Mamagama comes with a slick pop song in which a SAZ (drop -shaped lute) adds a local element. Best catchy, but not really memorable.

11San Marino Gabry Ponte Tutta L’Italia

https://youtu.be/le3wpalyrve?si=_Wejwpjsti3xwbHZ

Just like Estonia, San Marino also comes to Italy with a kind of tribute. DJ Gobry Ponte previously produced the Megahit ‘Blue (Da Ba Dee)’ of Eiffel 65. This will not be such a great success.

12Albania Shkodra Elektronike Zjerm

https://youtu.be/sfvb761eecm?si=evXG0VP_RXI_OFDZ

The Albanian Electropholk duo Shkodra Electronike, which lives in Italy, comes with a song in which they hope for a peaceful world without violence. A relevant message that not all world leaders will listen to.

13The Netherlands Claude C’est La Vie

https://youtu.be/hehwr5k9pd0?si=nzpvWVPGT108HQCN

From a modest memory on gentle piano agreements in the best tradition of the French chanson to a carefree party number. That is ‘C’est La Vie’, the French-English song that singer Claude (21) will bring to Basel. The singer remembers how his mother leaned him as a little boy with the words « C’est La Vie”. The song is The desired stress-road cleaner After the debacle with Joost Klein last year.

During his performance the camera is close to the singer, it starts alone. Then two dancers and three violinists join him. They are in a circle together, while the camera turns around him. Towards the end, the bouncer of the performance is the moment that Claude sees a young version of himself in the mirror, played by the boy who was also shown in the clip of the song. That part was recorded in advance because no young children are allowed on stage of the Songfestival. Striking about the direction is that a long shot has been chosen, almost without cutting.

14Croatia Marko Bošnjak Poison Cake

https://youtu.be/ie_V6QGCC5W?feature=shared

Marko Bošnjak recently came out of the closet and got a jump -off of online gay hatred – so bad that he temporarily lost his voice and did not dare out for five days. Enough reason to bake a poisonous cake for his teasing spirits while he dances with a strangle snake. « Take a bite from my sweet revenge ». You can say black humor, or melodramatic Dark Pop.

Switzerland Zoë Më Voyage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGX54ZREXR8&PP=YGUBC3DPDHPLCMXHBMQGZXVYB3ZPC2LVBIAYMDI1

As a host country, Switzerland can go to the final anyway. French -speaking chanson about a toxic relationship: « Flowers are more beautiful when you water them. But you have cut me off so often. » The singer sees it wider, she invites the audience to a « trip to more humanity ». There is so much hatred in the world, let’s give each other more love and respect, then we better flourish. Isn’t it true?

15Cyprus Theo Evan Shh

https://youtu.be/rbfqqwyqGJW?feature=shared

A mystery. Who is this song about? The unknown is famous for his beauty, but he was haughty and fell. « Who am I? » he wonders from the hereafter. « Silent, quiet, if you know my name, keep him secret ». Is it about Adonis, about Narcissus? Allegedly the unveiling of the identity comes on the Songfestival stage. Danspop on a bed of Psytrance.

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