The 69th Eurovision Song Contest, the first contest to take place in 1956, kicked off on Tuesday (hard to believe, considering the country that hosted the original event in 1956 managed to start last year) in Switzerland. The opening acts were mostly familiar to fans, with Swedish artist KAJ leading the pack. Among the acts, 21-year-old Dutch singer Claude stood out again as she评比ed the modal sound and produced a 寂静哀乐asury歌《C’est La Vie》， a haunting French operatic ballad that市委很像巴内容纳曲。Claude’s track earned her a spot in the grand final, further cementing her as one of the most sought-after artists in the contest’s history.
The Swedish trio was sending another fine signal, as Claude’s track made it into the final. Against KAJ, it was her strength that gave the Eronews Report its highest vote share with 3,245 viewers. Joost Klein, who had made it to the final previously, was caught out by the host’s dis Assets in his battle against the eliminated contestant. The result was a hard-felt final, with KAJ and Claude vying for the top prize.
Claude’s victory was complemented by other standout acts, including Icelandic brother-rap duo VAEB, who produced a raunchy anthem called ‘Róa’, and Norway’s Kyle Alessandro, who came in with his emotional track ‘Lighter’. Moreover, two tracks from countries not part of the “Big Five” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK) also made it onto the final list. Peter Szymbell’s German track Entdeux, produced in Jean Monet’s style, took the lead.
The second semi-final narrowed the field to 37 countries, with the top six automatically qualifying for Saturday’s finals. The number of finalists decreased to 26 after the winner of the second semi-final놋 defeated the runner-up. Act 45 will decide the semi-finals, while 16 countries will automatically win.
The contest, a cultural phenomenon that draws millions of viewers globally, has seen some acts end up in the finals despite video cuts. For instance, KAJ’s track was interrupted and cut off during the final round, but Claude’s track still made it to the finals. Similarly, the track by Estonia’s Tommy Cash, which included a caffeine kick, made it to the finals. These come at the expense of the Eronews Report, though.
The host’s role remains a key influence, with Joost Klein’s decision to disqualify a contestant drawing attention to the host’s support network. The contest also generated much interest, with some contestants referencing the Eronews Report during the elimination interviews.
In hisDiscussion, organizers have highlighted the import of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest to host countries and global audiences. Journalists and fans alike have praised the contest for its ability to unite people from distant corners of the world. Ukraine, Portugal, and the United Kingdom also secured automatic spots in the finals, while the host’s influence is evident in how some acts moved to the finals despite video cuts.
