The lineup for the highly anticipated Eurovision Song Contest has been solidified with an exciting array of finalists.
Israel, Georgia, and Switzerland are among the nations set to grace the grand final stage in Malmo, Sweden, on May 11, following the conclusion of the second semi-final on Thursday (09.05.24).
Israel’s entry ‘Hurricane’ by Eden Golan underwent a title change from ‘October Rain’ as part of its re-writing process to secure qualification after facing allegations of conveying a political message related to the Israel–Hamas conflict.
Georgia presents former American Idol contestant Nutsa Buzaladze with ‘Firefighter,’ while Switzerland’s Nero’s entry ‘The Code’ is generating considerable buzz as a potential winner.
These additions join a robust list of finalists including Armenia, Austria, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine, as well as pre-qualified entries from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and host country Sweden, bringing the total to 26 finalists vying for victory in Malmo.
Leading up to the star-studded event, bookmakers are favoring Croatia’s ‘Rim Tim Tagi Dim’ performed by Baby Lasagna, alongside contenders from Switzerland and Ukraine, Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil, with their track ‘Teresa and Maria.’
The 2024 Eurovision has not been without its controversies, notably regarding Israel’s participation amidst ongoing events in Gaza. Protests have emerged in Malmo, and reports indicate that Eden Golan faced booing during rehearsals.
In response, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), responsible for Eurovision, reiterated the non-political nature of the event, emphasizing its role in uniting audiences through music. The EBU stated, “The Eurovision Song Contest is a competition for public service broadcasters from across Europe and the Middle East…The Eurovision Song Contest remains a non-political event that unites audiences worldwide through music.”
