This year as usual (sometimes) coming from the country of previous year's winner, Switzerland - an entry which, if anyone remembers the song at all, congrats to them!
It'll be hosted in Basel, a city I visited (along with Zurich) out of curiosity in the 1980s - a time when I was affluent enough to visit virtually anywhere I wanted on a whim, sometimes just for a w/e.
I've listened to all the songs twice, some three times - and for me there's only the one stand-out winner. Unfortunately on the latest betting odds that entry (identified at end of this post) has a less than 1% chance of winning, even lower than the U.K. which has a precisely 1% (as deserved) chance with their totally uninspiring entry:-
Above, U.K.'s 'Maybe Monday' (that's the name of the group!) a performing trio with their song 'What the hell just happened?', a song I just do not 'get', along with a title to match! Anyway they are currently 18th out of a current 37 in the betting. After the two semi-finals, viewers' votes will have whittled Saturday's finalists down to 25. (The U.K. along with France, Germany, Spain and Italy, being the biggest financial contributors to the annual event, are already placed in the final, with also the previous year's winner).
There's not such a visible, though beneath-the-surface, 'gay element' to this year's do, which is a pity even if the audience at least is bound to be livened up with prominently visible Pride flags as well the predictable national ones. (I always find it especially hard whenever the camera plays on or picks out particular male audience members, to decide whether such individuals are not gay! - a minority I'm sure).
One act I must single out is that of Poland (with an indifferent song, alas) - a female singer with a backing leather-clad dance quartet including two men. All four of them wear near-identical dress of mini-skirt consisting of leathery 'straps' hanging down, and stiletto heels! The gay allusion is clear. But whether they will get through to the final, I would doubt it. Currently they are 21st in the betting odds to win:-
Above, Poland's performer(s) - I can't find a pic to show all four dancers in full-length mode.
It's quite a surprise to find that country having permitted such an act to represent the nation when for a number of years until quite recently Poland was deemed the most homophobic (in terms of laws and government) in the entire European Union - that dubious 'honour' now bestowed on Hungary and its Prime Minister (and 47's dear friend) Viktor Orban. (Hiss hiss, boo!)
Russia has been booted out of the competition since President Putrid's invasion of Ukraine, the latter country being currently 14th in the odds, though their song is another barely inspiring one, even though it'll be bound to get a significant sympathy vote.
Every year now the most controversial inclusion is always Israel - demonstrations, bomb threats, death threats - all pretty much business as usual. I wonder why, with Russia being excluded and Israel allowed, should they not permit a Palestinian entry (or Gaza?) if only to balance it? Just asking the question.
Oh, and like they always now are, Australia is again taking part. Last year they didn't even make it to the final.
Present betting favourite to win - Sweden (yes, yet again!), which I'd rate as about the 6th or 7th best, so not too bad - followed by Austria, France and Israel.
And my own favourites? First, Luxembourg - in currently bookies' 24th placing to win - with an attractive, tuneful non-serious ditty which appealed to me on my first hearing, and with a generous nod (if anyone other than me recalls it) to the U.K.'s first ever win back in 1967. Our last outright triumph was in 1997 but since 2000 we've done spectacularly badly, creeping into last place no less than five times! True that in 2022 we came second with Sam Ryder singing the forgettable 'Space Man' though that placing turned out to be an exceptional freak.
Then my second favourite I would place the San Marino entry (bookies' 24th).
Very doubtful if my two choices, especially the first, even make it into Sat's biggie, but that's been the pattern for many years now. Maybe I've gotten just too old to fully appreciate today's prevailing tastes. However, we can but hope!
