10 nations have triumphed within the first semi-final of this yr’s Eurovision Tune Contest in Malmo, Sweden, when 16 nations competed to get by way of to Saturday’s Grand Last.
Ukraine, whose entry Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil spoke to Deadline final week once they pledged to present any prize cash to their nation’s warfare effort, have been one of many profitable nations to get by way of. They joined Serbia, Portugal, Slovenia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Finland, Croatia, Eire and Luxembourg.
This yr sees 37 nations participating. The host nation Sweden, plus “the large 5” nations – UK, France, Spain, Germany and Italy – all undergo robotically to the Last. The opposite 31 nations need to compete for 20 different spots in two semi-finals happening on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Favourites to win the competitors embody Switzerland and Croatia. Ukraine can also be creeping up the bookies’ chart to win.
The interval act on Tuesday’s semi-final noticed “Mr Eurovision” Johnny Logan, the Irish singer who beforehand received in 1980 and 1987, and wrote the 1992 winner, carry out Euphoria, the primary profitable entry by Swedish double Eurovision winner Loreen. Saturday’s Grand Last will see a tribute to Abba, the Swedish supergroup who started their worldwide profession 50 years in the past with Eurovision victory in Brighton, UK.
This yr’s Contest is happening towards a background of unprecedented political scrutiny. Israel beforehand needed to alter their tune title and lyrics, and Malmo is anticipating demonstrations this week from these protesting towards Israel’s inclusion within the competitors, whereas the nation continues army operations in Gaza.