Fan favourites qualify for the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final
Fan favourites Sweden, Ukraine and the Netherlands are among the ten countries that have qualified for the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Dutch act Claude Kiambe, 21, went through with his track C'est La Vie - a blend of English and French that promotes a message of accepting life as it is. Also qualifying were KAJ, with the Swedish song Bara Bada Bastu, a playful tribute to Nordic sauna culture.
The first semi-final of the contest, held in Basel, Switzerland, where the competition began in Lugano in 1956, also saw Estonia's Tommy Cash qualify with Espresso Macchiato, which referenced typical Italian phrases, as well as Poland's Justyna Steczkowska with her dramatic entry Gaja.
Icelandic electronic musician brothers Matthias Davio Matthiasson and Halfdan Helgi Matthiasson, known as VÆB, made it through with RÓA, as did San Marino's Gabry Ponte with the catchy Tutta L'Italia, and Albania's Shkodra Elektronike with their folksy number Zjerm.
Portugal's Napa with the dancey Deslocado and Norway's Kyle Alessandro with Lighter were also revealed as qualifiers.
Ukraine's Ziferblat, with the haunting Bird of Pray, secured the final spot.
Cyprus' Theo Evan with Shh and Slovenia's Klemen with How Much Time Do We Have Left were among those who did not progress.
Also performing on Tuesday were Swiss entrant Zoë Më with Voyage, Italy's glam rocker Lucio Corsi with Volevo Essere Un Duro (I Wanted to Be a Tough Guy), and Spain's Melody Gutierrez with Esa Diva (That Diva) - all of whom are pre-qualified for the Grand Final.
Before the qualifiers were announced, co-hosts Hazel Brugger and singer Sandra Studer performed a tongue-in-cheek song about Swiss contributions to the world, including the Theory of Relativity, folk hero William Tell, and Eurovision itself.
Studer noted that this is the "most sustainable Eurovision ever", with around 80% of the outfits recycled.
While votes were being counted, Canadian singer and former Swiss winner Celine Dion delivered a pre-recorded video saying Switzerland has "always held a special place in my heart" as she spoke in French and English.
Watch: Celine Dion delivers a special message during the Eurovision semi-final on Tuesday
She also said she would want "nothing more but to be with you" in Basel as discussions continue with the organisers for her to make a stage comeback on Saturday during the final amid her health issues.
Switzerland had not triumphed until Nemo with The Code at Malmö 2024 after Dion won in Dublin 1988 with Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi, which was performed this evening in St Jakobshalle arena by previous Eurovision stars including Silvester Belt and Iolanda.
Ireland's entry, EMMY, is set to perform her catchy electropop track Laika Party as the third act of the night during the second semi-final at St Jakobshalle on Thursday.
Watch: EMMY performs Laika Party at Trinity College
The second Eurovision semi-final takes place on 15 May and will be shown live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 8pm.
The Grand Final airs on Saturday, 17 May, live on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player from 8pm.
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