Lift-off at Eurovision as first qualifiers revealed
BASEL - The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest kicked off with a semi-final filled with pyrotechnics, colour and a dramatic sweep of music, from Portuguese guitar ballads to banging Belgian techno.
Fifteen acts from across the continent battled on the state-of-the-art stage in Basel for 10 places in Saturday's Eurovision final.
After performing action-packed, three-minute set-pieces, their fate was decided not by the 6,500 Eurovision fans packing the St. Jakobshalle arena, but by millions of television viewers.
Comedy trio KAJ -- who are from Finland but represent Sweden -- are the bookmakers' hot favourites to win Eurovision this year with their "Bara Bada Bastu" song about the joys of having a sauna.
"The Eurovision crowd gave us all their love and support and we could hear them singing along. It's was absolutely everything you could dream of," the group's Kevin Holmstrom said after they made it through to the final.
Also through is Estonia's Tommy Cash.
He, too, brought a light touch with his wobbly-legged dancing in "Espresso Macchiato" -- an Italian-accented homage to coffee.
There was an upset when Belgium's Red Sebastian -- who had risen to third-favourite with several bookmakers -- was eliminated on his 26th birthday.
"We were robbed," shocked fan Ruben Verdonck said, with the Belgian flag draped around his shoulders. "I don't understand it," he told AFP.
AFP | SEBASTIEN BOZON
Besides Sweden, Estonia and the Netherlands -- who are considered among the front-runners -- acts from Albania, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Ukraine, Iceland and Portugal made it to Saturday's showdown.
There was heartache for Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Slovenia and last year's runners-up Croatia, who were eliminated alongside Belgium's Red Sebastian.
The spectacular stage in Basel is different for the 69th edition of Eurovision, stretching deep into the arena, with fans on three sides.
Switzerland last hosted Eurovision in 1989, after Canada's Celine Dion won the contest the year before, competing for Switzerland. That win helped turn Dion into a megastar.
Organisers are tight-lipped as to whether Dion, now in fragile health, might spring a surprise star turn.
"I'd love nothing more than to be with you in Basel right now," she said, in a video message screened at Tuesday's semi-final.
"Music unites us -- not only tonight, not only in this wonderful moment. It is our strength, our support, and our accompaniment in times of need."
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