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Evening Standard

World

Nuray Bulbul

Eurovision 2023: All the entrants performing in the grand final

Eurovision Eurovision 2023 Mae Muller

The second Eurovision Song Contest semi-final took place in Liverpool last night (Thursday).

We know now the full line-up for Saturday’s final.

There will be a total of 26 performers competing to be named the winner, so let's find out who they are.

The international singing competition will take place at the 11,000-capacity Liverpool Arena (BBC / Eurovision / PA)

How many countries are in the Eurovision 2023 final?

A total of 26 countries have qualified for the Eurovision final out of the 36 that applied.

Some of the countries that have been disqualified during the semi-finals include Iceland, San Marino, Greece, Romania, Denmark, and Georgia.

So, which countries will be performing in the final?

Albania — Albina & Familja Kelmendi,Duje

Albania’s entry was selected by separate voting during the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës, which was organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2022.

Kosovo-Albanian singer and songwriter Albina Familja Kelmendi rose to fame after placing as the runner-up on The Voice of Albania in 2014. Kelmendi and her family (Albina & Familja Kelmendi) are set to represent Albania at Eurovision.

Australia — Voyager, Promise

The Australian broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) internally selected the Australian entry for the contest. The song and artist were officially revealed by SBS as the Australian entrant on February 21.

Australia debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2015 by invitation from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), initially as a “one-off” special guest to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Eurovision.

Croatia — Let 3, Mama ŠÄ!

Mama ŠÄ!, according to Let 3, is an anti-war song. The band reported that after total Armageddon has been waged on Earth, a rocket would land on Earth, containing the letters “ŠÄ”.

Finland — Käärijä, Cha Cha Cha

Käärijä stated that the uniqueness of both the song and the performance may have assisted in representing Finland, saying, “UMK has never seen a song or performance like this before... you can go far even if you are not the most skilled singer or rapper”.

France — La Zarra, Évidemment

Fatima Zahra Hafdi is a 25-year-old French-Canadian singer, known as La Zarra. Born in Montreal to a family of Moroccan origin, La Zarra has a deep love for Eurovision. As a youngster, she often sang Marie Myriam’s winning song L’Oiseau et l’Enfant with her mother.

Germany — Lord Of The Lost, Blood & Glitter

Lord Of The Lost, who will perform Blood & Glitter, is a gothic metal band from Hamburg, founded in 2007, and has already toured with big names such as Iron Maiden in 2022.

Israel — Noa Kirel, Unicorn

Noa Kirel, an Israeli pop phenomenon, was the initial artist to be revealed for Eurovision 2023. She was internally chosen by Israeli network KAN to represent the country at Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool back in July 2022. Kirel did not, however, formally announce her attendance until August.

Italy — Marco Mengoni, Due Vite

Italian singer-songwriter Marco Mengoni has been performing since 1997. In 2009, he won the Italian version of The X Factor and shot to fame. A year later, he entered his first Sanremo competition with his song Credimi Ancora, finishing third overall. He went back to Sanremo in 2013 and won the festival with the song L’Essenziale, which later earned Italy's seventh-place finish at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö.

Moldova — Pasha Parfeni, Soarele Èi Luna

Pasha Parfeni also represented Moldova at Eurovision 2012 with the song LÄutar. He finished 11th in the Grand Final.

Norway — Alessandra, Queen of Kings

Alessandra, who is already a huge TikTok hit, wants to use her powerful anthem to win the Eurovision crown for Norway.

Portugal — Mimicat, Ai Coração

Marisa Isabel Lopes Mena, known as Mimicat, will represent Portugal after winning Festival da Canção 2023, the Portuguese national final for that year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

Serbia — Luke Black, Samo Mi Se Spava

In interviews, Luke Black reported he had written the song in April 2020 with the help of a Lebanese friend, Majed Kfoury. Putting the song away for years, after seeing Serbian artist Konstrakta win Pesma za Evroviziju ’22 with In Corpore Sano, he thought that he could send Samo Mi Se Spava to the contest.

Spain — Blanca Paloma, Eaea

Blanca Paloma Ramos Baeza was born on June 9, 1989, in Elche, in southeastern Spain. Blanca Paloma translates as white dove. Her sister, Sara Ramos Baeza, took part in Eurojunior 2003, the Spanish selection for Junior Eurovision 2003.

After graduating from Miguel Hernández University of Elche with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Blanca moved to Madrid to pursue a career in theatre in 2013.

Switzerland — Remo Forrer, Watergun

Watergun carries a strong anti-war message, with lyrics that call for us to put down our weapons.

“No, I don’t wanna be a soldier, soldier,” Remo Forrer sings. “I don’t wanna have to play with real blood… can’t turn around, no water guns, just body bags that we’ve become.”

Ukraine — Tvorchi, Heart of Steel

Tvorchi explains: “Our song is about everyone who, despite all hopelessness, carries a heart of steel in their chest and does not give up. Today, it is all of us. Our song has lines, ‘Don’t be scared to say just what you think. ’Cause no matter how bad, someone’s listening.’ We want our unbreakable spirit to be heard everywhere.”

UK— Mae Muller, I Wrote a Song

Mae Muller will represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest (Matt Crossick / PA)

Mae Muller co-wrote I Wrote A Song with Brit-nominated songwriter Lewis Thompson (David Guetta, Joel Corry, and Raye’s Bed) and Karen Poole, who has written for Kylie Minogue, Lily Allen, David Guetta, and Alisha’s Attic.