Croatia’s Baby Lasagna Takes the Lead in First Eurovision Song Contest Semi-Final

In the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, ten of the fifteen countries booked a place for the final in Malmö, Sweden, next Saturday. Croatia is a favorite through; Baby Lasagna makes Rammstein-like music, mixed with folk and ending with a dance beat. At the international betting offices, the country is comfortably ahead for the final victory.

Apart from Croatia, Serbia, Portugal, Slovenia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Finland, Cyprus, Ireland and Luxembourg have also passed. The so-called ‘Big Five’ – Germany, France, Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy – are automatically through to the final. They have the largest public broadcasters and pay more than other countries.

Sweden, as last year’s winner and organizer of this edition, can participate in the final without a preliminary round. Poland, Iceland, Moldova, Azerbaijan and Australia are not through.

Luxembourg participated for the first time since 1993. The 23-year-old artist TALI has never been able to see her country live.

The Irish act particularly stood out. Bambie Thug showed incredible horror on stage with the song Doomsday Blue. This is one of the darkest and darkest tricks ever at the Eurovision Song Contest and it has references to witchcraft.

Only telephone voters (televoters) and voters via the Eurovision Song Contest app decided who would go on. Only in the final will the votes of the professional juries of the participating countries also take place.

Here are some highlights from the first semi-final:

During one of the opening numbers, Swedish partner Eric Saade – with Palestinian roots – had a black and white scarf around his wrist. At X, some see it as an anti-Palestinian protest and the group seems to see it that way. “Everyone who performs is aware of the rules and we are sorry that Eric Saade chose this,” the group told Swedish media. Saade has previously been critical of Israel’s involvement.

This edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is under great tension, says NOS editor Jorn Kompeer, who is present in Malmö. “No one walking through town these days can escape the many police officers who patrol and drive around, sometimes even with police vans that look more like a tank.”

The measures were taken due to the increased threat of terrorism, which many European countries have been dealing with for some time. The edition is also controversial for many people because of the war that Israel is participating in in Gaza.

Dutch actor Joost Klein performs his hit on Thursday A European Pope in the second semi-final. Following Ireland’s performance, the Netherlands have risen one place in the bookies’ predictions. The Netherlands are back in the top five and Ireland in sixth place.