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Time of India
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who are the favorites to win Eurovision?
A comedy song about saunas. A tear-jerking ballad about motherhood. A high-camp rock stomper, whose singer rides a giant flying microphone. All three of those tracks are among the favorites to win the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday in Basel , Switzerland , according to betting firms. Here are eight key acts. 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo Sweden: 'Bara Bada Bastu' by Kaj Kaj -- the favorite of most online betting sites Friday -- is a musical comedy act from a small town in western Finland, though, confusingly, it is representing Sweden. And its entry, a catchy, silly song called "Bara Bada Bastu," is about how Finnish people love sweating their worries away in the sauna. Live Events Axel Ahman, one of Kaj's singers, said he had no qualms representing the land of Abba and Ikea, because the bandmates are all members of Finland's Swedish-speaking minority, a group that makes up about 5% of Finland's population. "We are Finnish, but Sweden's a country that we feel really connected to," Ahman said. "It's the country who speaks our language and we're culturally so close, so it's a great honor to represent them." Still, Ahman said, it felt strange waving a Swedish flag. When he did it for the first time after the band won a television competition to become Sweden's Eurovision act, he felt "a bit confused," he said. Austria: ' Wasted Love ' by JJ Operatic voices don't usually feature at Eurovision, but JJ, Austria's representative, is an exception. In "Wasted Love," JJ, 24, gently coos about a recent heartbreak until he hits the chorus, when his voice soars in volume and pitch, making full use of his classical training. JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, is a countertenor, meaning his vocal range most closely matches a female mezzo-soprano. He is in the choir at the Opera School of the Vienna State Opera , and recently appeared onstage in Vienna in Mozart's "The Magic Flute." JJ said he hoped his Eurovision song would "awaken interest in classical music" among Eurovision's viewers, and some key figures in Vienna's opera scene have wished JJ luck, including Bogdan Roscic, the general director of the Vienna State Opera. "He's excited and happy for me," JJ said, "but he said he will not watch." Eurovision is still too much of a silly spectacle for some, even with JJ in it. Finland: 'Ich Komme,' by Erika Vikman Eurovision songs often feature winking sexual innuendo, but Erika Vikman, representing Finland, doesn't rely on hidden meanings in "Ich Komme," a bombastic track mixing U2-style rock with pounding beats. During the chorus, Vikman repeatedly sings the German words for "I'm coming," sometimes while straddling a microphone stand. During a recent interview, Vikman, 32, said that the song was, quite clearly, about having orgasms. With the track, Vikman said, she wanted to "express myself as a female, and show my sexual power." Women should be free to be open about their sex lives, she added. Vikman is a star in Finland, yet not all of her compatriots think she should be representing the country in Basel. In February, a youth arm of Finland's governing National Coalition Party said in a news release that "Ich Komme" turned women into sex objects. The song has been debated in the letters pages of Finland's major newspapers, with some writers comparing Vikman's lascivious performance to pornography and others calling Vikman an inspiration to women. Vikman said she had found the debate unsurprising. "People always find it very scary when a woman appears who's strong, knows what's she's doing, and does it in a sexual and flirty way," Vikman said, adding, "The world needs women like me." The Netherlands: 'C'est la Vie,' by Claude Claude Kiambe has had some journey to the Eurovision stage. At age 9, he moved with his family to Alkmaar, Netherlands, from Congo. Living in a center for asylum-seekers, Kiambe was watching television -- something his family could not do in Congo -- when he stumbled upon the Eurovision Song Contest while flipping channels. Kiambe was enraptured. "I immediately thought, 'What is this?'" he recalled. Enamored by the flags and the outlandish acts -- including Conchita Wurst, the Austrian drag queen who won that night in 2014 when Kiambe first tuned in -- he went on to watch the competition every year. Although, Kiambe said, he did not dare dream that he'd ever compete himself. Then, in 2022, Kiambe shot to the top of the Dutch charts with his debut single "Ladada (Mon Dernier Mot)," an upbeat track sung in both French (Kiambe's first language) and Dutch. The song "just exploded," Kiambe said, and many people noted that "Ladada," had a very Eurovision feel to it. So Kiambe decided he should give Eurovision a try and crafted "C'est La Vie," an upbeat pop track that Kiambe said he hoped would remind people to be grateful for what they have in life. France: 'Maman' by Louane When Louane was offered the chance to represent France at Eurovision, she immediately knew what she wanted to sing about: her mother. As a child growing up in a small town, Louane, whose real name is Anne Peichert, watched Eurovision with her parents and five siblings while gathered around the TV eating pizza. Even when it wasn't Eurovision season, Louane recalled, her mother would put on videos of Celine Dion's winning performance from 1988, and they would watch together. Those happy Eurovision sessions ended abruptly in 2014 when Louane's mother died of cancer. A star in France with five hit albums, Louane, now 28, said that, over the past decade, she had written many songs expressing grief and anger at her mother's death. Her Eurovision track, a powerful ballad called "Maman," has an altogether different message, however. "It's a letter to my mother saying: 'I'm finally fine. I'm finally good in my life. I am, myself, a mother,'" Louane said. "It's a super special song to me." Israel: 'New Day Will Rise,' by Yuval Raphael When Hamas attacked the Nova music festival in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Yuval Raphael went from dancing with friends to hiding in a bomb shelter. After attackers broke into the shelter and started shooting partygoers, Raphael played dead, then lay beneath bodies for eight hours until she was rescued. That experience, Raphael told the Israel Hayom newspaper earlier this year, changed her outlook on life. "When I was there, I realized that everything could be over in a moment, and you don't want your life to end without experiencing it," she said. Not long after the attacks, Raphael said, she resolved to follow her long-held dream to become a professional singer. Now, Raphael, 24, will perform "New Day Will Rise," at Eurovision, a ballad in which she sings, over twinkling piano, "New day will rise / Life will go on / Everyone cries / Don't cry alone." As Israel's retaliation to the Oct. 7 attacks grinds on, some Eurovision fans have called on the competition organizers to expel Israel from the contest over the country's conduct in the war. At last year's final, some audience members booed Israel's singer as she performed, though others cheered her. Raphael told the BBC this week that she was expecting a hostile reception during her performance and that she had been rehearsing with distracting sounds playing in the background. Indeed, on Thursday in Basel, a small group of protesters blew whistles and waved flags to disrupt one of Raphael's public rehearsals. Estonia: "Espresso Macchiato," by Tommy Cash When Tommy Cash, a rapper and singer from Estonia, won his country's Eurovision selection contest with "Espresso Macchiato," he barely had time to celebrate before a backlash began. In the song, Cash sings in a cheesy Italian accent that he is "sweating like a Mafioso" from working so hard, and just wants a coffee. "Me like mi coffee," he says: "Very importante." Cash's riff on Italian clichés did not go down well in some parts of Italy. Gian Marco Centinaio, a lawmaker with Italy's far-right League Party, posted on Instagram that Eurovision should ban the song. "Is this the idea of European brotherhood that the organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest have in mind?" he wrote. Cash said that he hadn't meant to insult Italians: "I love Italy. I love the people. I'm drawn to them because they're so passionate." In earlier songs, he had rapped in English with his own heavy Eastern European accent, he said, and he also made a track with a German-accented chorus. His comedic Italian voice in "Espresso Macchiato" was no different than those, he said. Cash -- who has made several tracks with Charli XCX -- said the flap had turned him into a star in Italy. On a recent trip to in Milan, he said, fans chased him down the street. For anyone who still felt insulted, he said he had a simple message: "Drink a coffee! Chill!" Malta: 'Serving,' by Miriana Conte Eurovision's organizer sometimes asks acts to change lyrics to remove political content. But Miriana Conte was asked to change her song for a different reason: phonetic rudeness. Conte's propulsive track was originally called "Serving Kant." "Kant" means "singing" in Maltese, Conte, 24, said in a recent interview, but, she added, her song's title was also a deliberate play on a vulgar phrase meaning to act in a fierce and feminine manner. Eurovision officials weren't happy with the possibility of viewers getting upset by that phonetic similarly and ordered Conte to change her title and chorus. Now, her entry is simply called "Serving," and Conte has replaced mentions of "kant" with breathy "ahhhhs." "To be honest, I like the second version more," Conte said: "There's space for people to sing whatever they want." Although, Conte added, whenever she performs it live, fans sing the "kant" anyway.
Irish Examiner
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Eurovision favourites KAJ were ‘really nervous' before making final
Sweden's Eurovision Song Contest act KAJ said they were 'really nervous' before learning they had won a place in Saturday's final. Touted as the favourites to win, the comedy trio, made up of Kevin Holmstrom, Axel Ahman and Jakob Norrgard, aim to spread Nordic sauna culture to the rest of Europe with their Swedish language entry Bara Bada Bastu. The group, formed more than a decade ago in Finland, qualified for the last stage of the contest in Basel, Switzerland, in Tuesday's semi-final, along with Ukraine's Ziferblat with the song Bird Of Pray, and Estonia's Tommy Cash with Espresso Macchiato, among others. At their hotel in Basel on Wednesday, Norrgard told the PA news agency he 'got really nervous' when he saw a clip of them performing played back during the voting process. KAJ, representing Sweden, perform their entry, Bara Bada Bastu (Martin Meissner/AP) He said he 'felt like there were so many great acts', and wondered whether they might be the first Swedish representatives in more than a decade to not reach the final. Ahman said it is 'very, very surreal' to be touted as the ones to watch, because the trio come from a small Swedish-speaking region of Finland. He added that he did not care at first, but they have 'stayed there (in the odds) and even risen a bit lately, so let's see'. 'It's exciting times, but anything can happen, we've seen that so many times (at Eurovision),' he said. Sweden is joint record-holder with Ireland for the most Eurovision wins, taking home seven trophies with mainly solo singers, including Loreen twice, and pop acts such as Abba, but this time Ahman said they have 'dared to try something new' with KAJ. Holmstrom said they also take being ambassadors for Nordic sauna culture 'very seriously'. 'We are hoping that people around Europe will take it seriously and consider the health benefits of going to the sauna every now and then,' he said, adding that it can help people mentally and physically. Their hotel in Basel does not have a sauna, but their hometown of Vora organised for someone to drive one to Switzerland for them to use. Irish fans will have to wait for the second semi-final this evening, when Emmy will perform Laika Party, to cast their votes for their favourite Eurovision act. Tuesday's first semi-final also saw a pre-recorded message from Canadian singer Celine Dion, a former winner for Switzerland, saying the country has 'always held a special place in my heart' as she spoke in French and English. She 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 during Saturday's final amid her health issues. Also through on Tuesday was Dutch act Claude Kiambe, Poland's Justyna Steczkowska, and Icelandic electronic musician brothers Matthias Davio Matthiasson and Halfdan Helgi Matthiasson, who perform under the name VAEB. The other qualifiers were San Marino's Gabry Ponte, Albania's Shkodra Elektronike, Portugal's Napa, and Norway's Kyle Alessandro. Speaking to PA in Basel city centre on Wednesday, Cash was self-assured, saying 'how can you perform in front of a couple of 100 million people', and not have confidence. He dismissed the odds on success, and appeared to suggest the controversy over his parody song Espresso Macchiato – where some have objected to the word 'mafioso', and highlights of stereotypes – had been overblown. Cash said: '(I've been) really embraced, really blessed, (I'm) always making pictures on the street with people when I'm in Italy, and it's even if I'm off in a little town. So it's really cute.' His act featured him in an oversized suit with a long red tie in a 'winner's cafe', and included a segment where a fake fan rushed towards him and danced before the screen behind him changed to an image of a sign that read 'Tommywood'. The Grand Final on Saturday will see the 10 qualifiers from each semi-final perform alongside the 'big five' – France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom – and reigning champion Switzerland, who as host are guaranteed a slot after their act, Nemo, was victorious last year. Read More Here comes the summer... 10 of the best music festivals in Ireland
Powys County Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Eurovision favourites KAJ were ‘really nervous' before making final
Sweden's Eurovision Song Contest act KAJ said they were 'really nervous' before learning they had won a place in Saturday's final. Touted as the favourites to win, the comedy trio, made up of Kevin Holmstrom, Axel Ahman and Jakob Norrgard, aim to spread Nordic sauna culture to the rest of Europe with their Swedish language entry Bara Bada Bastu. The group, formed more than a decade ago in Finland, qualified for the last stage of the contest in Basel, Switzerland, in Tuesday's semi-final, along with Ukraine's Ziferblat with the song Bird Of Pray, and Estonia's Tommy Cash with Espresso Macchiato, among others. At their hotel in Basel on Wednesday, Norrgard told the PA news agency he 'got really nervous' when he saw a clip of them performing played back during the voting process. He said he 'felt like there were so many great acts', and wondered whether they might be the first Swedish representatives in more than a decade to not reach the final. Ahman said it is 'very, very surreal' to be touted as the ones to watch, because the trio come from a small Swedish-speaking region of Finland. He added that he did not care at first, but they have 'stayed there (in the odds) and even risen a bit lately, so let's see'. 'It's exciting times, but anything can happen, we've seen that so many times (at Eurovision),' he said. Sweden is joint record-holder for the most Eurovision wins, taking home seven trophies with mainly solo singers, including Loreen twice, and pop acts such as Abba, but this time Ahman said they have 'dared to try something new' with KAJ. Holmstrom said they also take being ambassadors for Nordic sauna culture 'very seriously'. 'We are hoping that people around Europe will take it seriously and consider the health benefits of going to the sauna every now and then,' he said, adding that it can help people mentally and physically. Their hotel in Basel does not have a sauna, but their hometown of Vora organised for someone to drive one to Switzerland for them to use. British fans will have to wait for the second semi-final on Thursday, when the UK's Remember Monday will perform What The Hell Just Happened?, to cast their votes for their favourite Eurovision act. Norrgard said: 'I think it's going really well for Remember Monday, it's so, so fun. We met them and talked to them a lot in Madrid, at the pre-parties, and we realised that we're basically the same, we're a trio, and we've been doing it for a long time. 'And we're really, both groups, really into musical theatre, so they're the female version of KAJ.' Tuesday's first semi-final also saw a pre-recorded message from Canadian singer Celine Dion, a former winner for Switzerland, saying the country has 'always held a special place in my heart' as she spoke in French and English. She 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 during Saturday's final amid her health issues. Also through on Tuesday was Dutch act Claude Kiambe, Poland's Justyna Steczkowska, and Icelandic electronic musician brothers Matthias Davio Matthiasson and Halfdan Helgi Matthiasson, who perform under the name VAEB. The other qualifiers were San Marino's Gabry Ponte, Albania's Shkodra Elektronike, Portugal's Napa, and Norway's Kyle Alessandro. Speaking to PA in Basel city centre on Wednesday, Cash was self-assured, saying 'how can you perform in front of a couple of 100 million people', and not have confidence. He dismissed the odds on success, and appeared to suggest the controversy over his parody song Espresso Macchiato – where some have objected to the word 'mafioso', and highlights of stereotypes – had been overblown. Cash said: '(I've been) really embraced, really blessed, (I'm) always making pictures on the street with people when I'm in Italy, and it's even if I'm off in a little town. So it's really cute.' His act featured him in an oversized suit with a long red tie in a 'winner's cafe', and included a segment where a fake fan rushed towards him and danced before the screen behind him changed to an image of a sign that read 'Tommywood'. The Grand Final on Saturday will see the 10 qualifiers from each semi-final perform alongside the 'big five' – France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom – and reigning champion Switzerland, who as host are guaranteed a slot after their act, Nemo, was victorious last year.
South Wales Argus
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Eurovision favourites KAJ were ‘really nervous' before making final
Touted as the favourites to win, the comedy trio, made up of Kevin Holmstrom, Axel Ahman and Jakob Norrgard, aim to spread Nordic sauna culture to the rest of Europe with their Swedish language entry Bara Bada Bastu. The group, formed more than a decade ago in Finland, qualified for the last stage of the contest in Basel, Switzerland, in Tuesday's semi-final, along with Ukraine's Ziferblat with the song Bird Of Pray, and Estonia's Tommy Cash with Espresso Macchiato, among others. KAJ, representing Sweden, perform their entry, Bara Bada Bastu (Martin Meissner/AP) At their hotel in Basel on Wednesday, Norrgard told the PA news agency he 'got really nervous' when he saw a clip of them performing played back during the voting process. He said he 'felt like there were so many great acts', and wondered whether they might be the first Swedish representatives in more than a decade to not reach the final. Ahman said it is 'very, very surreal' to be touted as the ones to watch, because the trio come from a small Swedish-speaking region of Finland. He added that he did not care at first, but they have 'stayed there (in the odds) and even risen a bit lately, so let's see'. 'It's exciting times, but anything can happen, we've seen that so many times (at Eurovision),' he said. Sweden is joint record-holder for the most Eurovision wins, taking home seven trophies with mainly solo singers, including Loreen twice, and pop acts such as Abba, but this time Ahman said they have 'dared to try something new' with KAJ. Holmstrom said they also take being ambassadors for Nordic sauna culture 'very seriously'. 'We are hoping that people around Europe will take it seriously and consider the health benefits of going to the sauna every now and then,' he said, adding that it can help people mentally and physically. Their hotel in Basel does not have a sauna, but their hometown of Vora organised for someone to drive one to Switzerland for them to use. British fans will have to wait for the second semi-final on Thursday, when the UK's Remember Monday will perform What The Hell Just Happened?, to cast their votes for their favourite Eurovision act. Norrgard said: 'I think it's going really well for Remember Monday, it's so, so fun. We met them and talked to them a lot in Madrid, at the pre-parties, and we realised that we're basically the same, we're a trio, and we've been doing it for a long time. 'And we're really, both groups, really into musical theatre, so they're the female version of KAJ.' Tuesday's first semi-final also saw a pre-recorded message from Canadian singer Celine Dion, a former winner for Switzerland, saying the country has 'always held a special place in my heart' as she spoke in French and English. She 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 during Saturday's final amid her health issues. Also through on Tuesday was Dutch act Claude Kiambe, Poland's Justyna Steczkowska, and Icelandic electronic musician brothers Matthias Davio Matthiasson and Halfdan Helgi Matthiasson, who perform under the name VAEB. The other qualifiers were San Marino's Gabry Ponte, Albania's Shkodra Elektronike, Portugal's Napa, and Norway's Kyle Alessandro. The Grand Final on Saturday will see the 10 qualifiers from each semi-final perform alongside the 'big five' – France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom – and reigning champion Switzerland, who as host are guaranteed a slot after their act, Nemo, was victorious last year.
RTÉ News
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Eurovision favourites KAJ were 'really nervous' before making final
Sweden's Eurovision Song Contest act KAJ said they were "really nervous" before learning they had won a place in Saturday's final. Touted as the favourites to win, the comedy trio, made up of Kevin Holmstrom, Axel Ahman and Jakob Norrgard, aim to spread Nordic sauna culture to the rest of Europe with their Swedish language entry Bara Bada Bastu. The group, formed more than a decade ago in Finland, q ualified for the last stage of the contest in Basel, Switzerland, in Tuesday's semi-final, along with Ukraine's Ziferblat with the song Bird Of Pray, and Estonia's Tommy Cash with Espresso Macchiato, among others. At their hotel in Basel on Wednesday, Norrgard told the PA news agency he "got really nervous" when he saw a clip of them performing played back during the voting process. He said he "felt like there were so many great acts", and wondered whether they might be the first Swedish representatives in more than a decade to not reach the final. Ahman said it is "very, very surreal" to be touted as the ones to watch, because the trio come from a small Swedish-speaking region of Finland. He added that he did not care at first, but they have "stayed there (in the odds) and even risen a bit lately, so let's see". "It's exciting times, but anything can happen, we've seen that so many times (at Eurovision)," he said. Sweden is joint record-holder for the most Eurovision wins, taking home seven trophies with mainly solo singers, including Loreen twice, and pop acts such as Abba, but this time Ahman said they have "dared to try something new" with KAJ. Holmstrom said they also take being ambassadors for Nordic sauna culture "very seriously". "We are hoping that people around Europe will take it seriously and consider the health benefits of going to the sauna every now and then," he said, adding that it can help people mentally and physically. Their hotel in Basel does not have a sauna, but their hometown of Vora organised for someone to drive one to Switzerland for them to use. 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. 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.
