You will see these countries and artists in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest | Eurovision Song Contest

1. Cyprus – Silia Kapsis – Liar

At seventeen, Silia Kapsis is the youngest participant of 2024 and she can immediately kick off the Eurovision Song Contest. Her number Liar has a Dutch touch: Elke Tiel wrote the song for the Cypriot singer. Kapsis grew up in Sydney, Australia, and has been working on her own music since the age of 12.

2. Serbia – Teya Dora – Ramonda

One of the few ballads this year comes from Serbia. Teya Dora and a team wrote the lyrics for the somewhat darker song Ramonda, in which she sings about the flower that grows in the Serbian mountains. The ramonda is seen as a symbol of hope and represents new beginnings for Dora.

3. Lithuania – Silvester Belt – Lukteach

Luktelk means something like ‘waiting’ or ‘on a break’. Although it sounds like a festive song, the lyrics are quite heavy, Silvester Belt previously said Wiwibloggs. “The song is about being stuck between two stages: between real life and just existing.” Belt draws inspiration from his own life: the singer grew up in what he considers a homophobic environment in which he did not dare to express his own feelings, but he did feel them.

4. Ireland – Bambie Thug – Doomsday

Bambie Thug calls their own music ‘ouija pop’: a unique genre in which the occult meets pop music. Doomsday Blue is about the feeling that your potential is not seen and is an ode to the queer-community.

Already posted: United Kingdom – Olly Alexander – Dizzy

Olly Alexander is already assured of a place in the final, but this year the organization has decided that we will also hear the five countries that always advance (the big five) and winner Sweden in the semi-finals. If Olly Alexander looks familiar to you: the artist has already scored quite a few international hits with Years and Years.

5. Ukraine – Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil – Teresa & Maria

This year’s Ukrainian entry is once again a mix of rap and traditional music. Alyona Alyona is one of the most popular female rappers of her own time and the boss of a huge music label to which Kalush Orchestra (winner of 2022) is signed. Teresa & Maria is about the fact that it is possible for everyone to achieve great things and that you are in charge of your own actions.

6. Poland – Luna – TheTower

24-year-old Luna sings on the electronic pop song TheTower about creating your own happiness. The singer hopes to inspire people to work on their lives and decide for themselves what they want to invest their time and love in.

7. Croatia – Baby Lasagna – Rim Tim Tagi Dim

Spreading your wings, that’s what this rock song is about. And while it all sounds like fun, singer Marko Purisic also sings about the stress and anxiety that comes with leaving home. The song has been seen for months as one of the major contenders for victory this year.

8. Iceland – Hera Björk – Scared of Heights

It often happens at the Eurovision Song Contest: artists return. Hera Björk will also recognize the true Eurovision fan, because the singer also participated in 2010. On Scared of Heights she sings about falling in love again and how exciting that can sometimes be.

Already posted: Germany – Isaac – Always on the run

Germany has also been part of the big five for years and is therefore certainly one of the finalists. This year Isaak will try to win for Germany. It would not have made much difference if the Dutch Bodine Monet had been their entry: the singer participated in the preliminary rounds in Germany, but did not reach the final there.

9. Slovenia – Raiven – Veronica

Raiven is originally an opera singer and that is reflected to a small extent Veronica. The song tells the story of Veronika, who was convicted of witchcraft in 1425. Raiven makes a link between the fifteenth century and our current time, with her strongly feminist song.

10. Finland – Windows95man – No Rules!

No rules, that’s what the gentlemen of Finland hope for. But the Eurovision Song Contest is infested with it and so the Windows logo had to be blurred out on the cap and T-shirt of one of the singers. There are still questions about the skin-colored underpants. By the way, this entry has a Dutch touch: one of the dancers, Jesse Wijnans, is Dutch.

11. Moldova – Natalia Barbu – In the middle

Natalia Barbu will also look familiar to true Eurovision fan. The singer also competed for home country Moldova in 2007 and came tenth. Of In the middlewhich she wrote when she was inspired by the love she feels for her children, she hopes to achieve success again.

Already posted: Sweden – Marcus & Martinus – Unforgettable

Not only the big five are assured of a place in the final, last year’s winner also does not have to prove himself in a semi-final. This year, twins Marcus and Martinus will be on the podium for Sweden. They have already won a competition: in Sweden, the Melodifestivalen preliminary round is more popular than the Eurovision Song Contest.

12. Azerbaijan – Fahree ft. Ilkin Dovlatov – Ozunle Apar

A first: Azerbaijani can be heard for the first time during the Eurovision Song Contest. Fahree has consciously chosen not to write his entire text in English, as his predecessors always did. The song is an ode to the singer’s girlfriend.

13. Australia – Electric Fields – One Milkali (One Blood)

And another special language: Electric Fields sings in Yankunytjatjara, an Aboriginal language of the Anangu people. One Milkali is about the importance of balance in the world and the realization that we as people can make a difference and are at the same time part of a bigger picture.

14. Portugal – Iolanda – Grito

It is a theme that comes up more often at the Eurovision Song Contest: mental health. Iolanda mentions the heavy elements in her lyrics, but also sings about the transformation that can accompany them.

15. Luxembourg – Tali – Fighter

Luxembourg is participating in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 31 years. The last time was in 1993, when Modern Times became twentieth with Donne-moi une chance. Tali also sings about growing up and continuing to develop yourself.