Finland’s Windows95man made it into the final of Eurovision 2024 with his outfit, or perhaps lack of, making the headlines.
Performing his song No Rules!, the singer used clever camera angles to make it appear that he was not wearing any pants during the show at Sweden’s Malmo Arena on Tuesday.
He will be joined by Bambie Thug who also continued Ireland’s involvement by qualifying from the first semi-final.
Qualification is not the cutthroat elimination of the Champions League as 26 of the 37 entered countries make it through to sing on the biggest stage.
The second semi-final is on Thursday night with Israel’s Eden Golan set to appear, hoping to shine a positive light on her country which is still at war.
“I’m focusing on my mission and on the good and on the fact we’re united here by music,” she said.
The final will be on Saturday and Britain will be there. The UK did not need to qualify from the semi-final, receiving a bye because of its contribution to the European Broadcasting Union. Perhaps this pseudo-bribery is necessary, given Britain’s recent form.
France, Germany, Italy and Spain also automatically qualify. Sweden, as host nation, got a free pass as well.
Here is who did and didn’t qualify for the final - a list which makes bad reading for Australians with Electric Fields travelling thousands of miles to fall at the first hurdle.
Who qualified from the first Eurovision semi-final?
Ten countries made it through are:
Serbia / TEYA DORA - RAMONDA
Portugal / iolanda - Grito
Slovenia / Raiven - Veronika
Ukraine / alyona alyona & Jerry Heil - Teresa & Maria
Lithuania / Silvester Belt - Luktelk
Finland / Windows95man - No Rules!
Cyprus / Silia Kapsis - Liar
Croatia / Baby Lasagna - Rim Tim Tagi Dim
Ireland / Bambie Thug - Doomsday Blue
Luxembourg / TALI - Fighter
Who failed to qualify from the first Eurovision semi-final?
It is goodbye to:
Poland / Luna - The Tower
Iceland / Hera Bjork - Scared of Heights
Moldova / Natalia Barbu - In the Middle
Azerbaijan / Fahree and Ilkin Dovlatov - Ozunle Apar
Australia / Electric Fields - One Milkali (One Blood)
Who is in the second semi-final?
Ten more nations will qualify from Thursday’s semi-final, which will be shown on the BBC, with six also departing at this stage. The final is on BBC One on Saturday.
Malta / Sarah Bonnici - Loop
Albania / BESA - TITAN
Greece / Marina Satti - ZARI
Switzerland / Nemo - The Code
Czechia / Aiko - Pedestal
Austria / Kaleen - We Will Rave
Denmark / SABA - SAND
Armenia / LADANIVA - Jako
Latvia / Dons - Hollow
San Marino / MEGARA - 11:11
Georgia / Nutsa Buzaladze - Firefighter
Belgium / Mustii - Before The Party's Over
Estonia / 5MIINUST x Puuluup - (nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi
Israel / Eden Golan - Hurricane
Norway / Gåte - Ulveham
Netherlands / Joost Klein - Europapa
