Around the world, music enthusiasts are preparing for Eurovision 2024. As I write this, Sweden's largest city, Malmö, is already welcoming Eurovision contenders. The stage is set and the lights are rigged. The movable cubes and other stage technology are undergoing their final checks. Aspiring performers often benefit from taking singing lessons to refine their vocal skills.
In short, everything is ready for the First Semi-Finals broadcast, on May 7. While Eurovision singers rehearse their numbers, we have time to preview this year's contest. This is our chance to:
- meet this year's Eurovision contenders
- discover participating countries' Eurovision record
- discuss the most anticipated Eurovision contenders
- explore Eurovision 2024 themes
The Eurovision Song Contest is the world's longest-running international song competition. This show is also the longest-running television programme in the medium's history. The Eurovision story, and how the show has changed over time, is a tale for another page. Today, we explore Eurovision 2024, and the musical thrills that await us.
? Meet the Eurovision 2024 Contenders
Avid Eurovision viewers know that this annual song contest welcomes participants from any nation with a European Broadcasting Union (EBU) licence. Those include Eurasian countries such as Israel, and Northern Africa - Morocco and Tunisia, among others. Australia is the only Eurovision participant from outside those boundaries.
Eurovision enthusiasts also know that the list of Eurovision contenders varies from one contest to the next. Across its 67-year history, contenders from 52 countries have graced the Eurovision stage. How many Eurovision singers will we see during this spectacle?
Among them, you can expect the Big Five acts. Those are Eurovision singers from France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Obviously, our host country, Sweden, will participate, as well. However, Eurovision 2024 promises a special treat.
The Big Five and Sweden will perform in the Semi-finals, even though they are pre-qualified for the Grand Final.
Besides those six nations, we have 31 more Eurovision contenders. Their performances are split roughly evenly across two broadcasts. The First Semi-final broadcasts on Tuesday, May 7, showcasing these 15 artists.
First Semi-Final Eurovision Contenders
| Artist/act | Song | Representing |
|---|---|---|
| Silia Kapsis | Liar | Cyprus |
| Teya Dora | Ramonda | Serbia |
| Silvester Belt | Luktelk | Lithuania |
| Bambie Thug | Doomsday Blue | Ireland |
| Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil | Teresa & Maria | Ukraine |
| Luna | The Tower | Poland |
| Baby Lasagna | Rim Tim Tagi Dim | Croatia |
| Hera Björk | Scared of Heights | Iceland |
| Raiven | Veronika | Slovenia |
| Windows95man | No Rules | Finland |
| Natalia Barbu | In the Middle | Moldova |
| Fahree, featuring Ilkin Dovlatov | Özünlə apar | Azerbaijan |
| Electric Fields | One Milkali (One Blood) | Australia |
| Iolanda | Grito | Portugal |
| Tali | Fighter | Luxembourg |
The second Semi-Final will air on Thursday, May 9. This spectacle treats us to performances by acts from 16 countries (and a few from the Big 5). This is the line-up for this show.
Second Semi-Final Eurovision Contenders
| Artist/Act | Song | Representing |
|---|---|---|
| Sarah Bonnici | Loop | Malta |
| Besa | Titan | Albania |
| Marina Satti | Zari | Greece |
| Nemo | The Code | Switzerland |
| Aiko | Pedestal | Czechia |
| Kaleen | We will Rave | Austria |
| Saba | Sand | Denmark |
| Ladaniva | Jako | Armenia |
| Dons | Hollow | Latvia |
| Megara | 11:11 | San Marino |
| Nutsa Buzaladze | Firefighter | Georgia |
| Mustii | Before the Party's Over | Belgium |
| 5miinust and Puuluup | "(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi" | Estonia |
| Eden Golan | Hurricane | Israel |
| Gåte | Ulveham | Norway |
| Joost Klein | Europapa | Netherlands |
The contest planners published these broadcast line-ups in March 2024. These contestants appear in no particular order, and their positions offer no advantage. Like most every singing competition, planners arrange these performances around the show's needs. Those include set changes, technical matters and even possible mishaps.
?? Participating Countries' Eurovision Track Records
As Sweden is home to the Eurovision 2024 stage, we must first pay tribute to our gracious hosts. This Scandinavian nation has participated in this contest 62 times. Of them, Swedish singing acts have placed in this contest's Top Five 26 times. Sweden's 1974 Eurovision winner, ABBA, is one of the most popular and successful musical groups of all time.
Sweden shares the Number One spot for winners of the Eurovision Song Contest with Ireland. Besides the most wins, these nations are the only two to boast contestants winning twice. Loreen snagged the title for Sweden in 2012 and 2023. Ireland's Johnny Logan captured the prize in 1980 and 1987.
Luxembourg returns to the Eurovision stage after a 37-year hiatus. This is remarkable for two reasons. First, Luxembourg was one of Eurovision's original seven contestants (1956). Second, because Luxembourgish performer, France Gall, revolutionised the Eurovision song format when she sang a pop song.
That was in 1964. Until then, ballads with orchestral accompaniment were the standard. Ms Gall endured brutal mockery during rehearsals. Criticism notwithstanding, her Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son won the trophy that year.
Like Luxembourg, Switzerland merits two levels of credit. Not only was it an initial contestant, but the 1956 Swiss contestant, Lys Assia, won the first-ever Eurovision Song Contest. Switzerland's next win came in 1988, when it introduced the world to Celine Dion.
Finland gets the credit for bringing heavy metal to Eurovision viewers. Lordi's Hard Rock Hallelujah (2006) marks the occasion, as well as Finland's first Eurovision win. That's a rather remarkable statistic, considering this Nordic nation has competed 56 times since its first entry (1961).
Norway claims several distinctions of the more dubious type. It's the only Eurovision contestant to finish last in the Eurovision final 11 times - the most 'last finish'es in the contest's history. It has also earned zero points (null points) four times. Norway shares that record with Austria.
With 55 competitions behind them, we might say Austria is a Eurovision staple. This nation took home the top prize twice - in 1966 and again, in 2014. Austria is remarkable for its track record of last place finishes, eight times, to be exact.
Much as it strives for inclusion, Eurovision sometimes rejects participating countries' entries. Such was the case in 2009, when the contest's gatekeepers deemed the Georgian song too political. Besides that withdrawal, Georgia has sent Eurovision singers every year since 2007.
?Favorites and Dark Horses: Eurovision Winners
Our favourite must be Olly Alexander, of course. We first met him in the series Summerhill (2008), a short school drama about the type of school every student dreams of. He then took to the silver screen to play John Keats' brother in Bright Star (2009).
I really wanted to become a singer or a musician ... All of a sudden, I was an actor.
Olly Alexander, in 2014
Olly broke into music in 2010, when he joined the group Years & Years. Two years later, they released their debut single, and kept releasing tunes until they became fan favourites. It only took five years for this band to rocket to the top of the UK music charts with their single, King.
We might well count Olly Alexander among the top British singing sensations. However, he's not the only unstoppable force to grace the 2024 Eurovision stage. Consider Australia's entry into Eurovision 2024, for instance.
The soul-pop duo, Electric Fields, have regaled audiences with effusively joyous tunes since 2015. Their contribution, One Milkali (One Blood), represents the didgeridoo's debut on the Eurovision stage. Electric Fields wrote this tune in 2019, as a possible entry for that year's Eurovision - Australia Decides competition.
They missed the win that time, albeit narrowly. Australian Eurovision fans are thrilled that this lively duo will represent them in Malmö this year.
If you are in Brighton, you might consider taking advantage of singing lessons brighton to polish your vocal skills.
By contrast, San Marino Eurovision enthusiasts are thrilled and hopeful, in equal measures. This year's contestant, Megara, marks this nation's 14th appearance on the Eurovision stage. San Marino Eurovision contenders failed to qualify for the final in all but two of those contests. Maybe this pop-punk tune with costumes will secure them the win.
Any aspiring singer could pick up performance techniques from this singing competition. Eurovision finalists typically blast their audiences with megadoses of stage presence and theatre.
If you are in Glasgow, consider exploring singing lessons glasgow to further enhance your vocal technique.
? Performances and Themes for Eurovision 2024
The Eurovision Song Contest isn't just about singers from various countries repairing to Malmö for their three minutes on stage. It is an all-encompassing spectacle with backdrops, lighting, and stage design. It features presenters, interval acts and guiding principles. This year's slogan best represents the Eurovision ethos.
United by Music
You might remember this slogan from last year's contest, in Liverpool. The EBU decided that it will be the competition's catchphrase from now on. Besides this unifying theme, Eurovision 2024 will premiere The Eurovision Lights.
Designers based this theme art concept on the types of vertical lines sound equalisers and auroras display. Viewers will see these Lights behind the contestants as they perform (when possible), and during 'postcard' displays.
These short video introductions entertain the television-viewing audience while the stagehands set up the next act. They include clips of 'postcard' nations' past Eurovision performances. They also feature the 2024 Eurovision contestants introducing themselves, selfie-style.
Eurovision 2024 Presenters
Swedish media personalities Petra Mede and Malin Åkerman will host this year's extravaganza in Malmö. For the UK broadcasts, Rylan Clark and Scott Mills will offer commentary on the semi-final rounds. Graham Norton will deliver the final commentary and Joanna Lumley will speak for the judges.
Eurovision 2024 Interval Acts
As the judges tally the votes, the Eurovision audience will enjoy hearing Helena Paparizou. This Greek singer is a former Eurovision winner (2005), as is Sertab Erener, who won the prize for Türkiye (2003). Swedish singer Charlotte Perrelli, who won in 1999, rounds out the interval act trio.
Eurovision - and Britain, add to their legacy of music competitions in 2024. Who are you the most excited to see and hear? Share your thoughts in the comments section. As for us, we want to hear them all!
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