By Neil Durham

WHEN?: 8pm (UK time) 11 May 2024

WHERE?: Malmo Arena, Sweden

HOW DO I WATCH?: BBC1 in the UK SVT Also eurovision.tv

The UK hosted Eurovision memorably last year in Liverpool and in 2024 former Years and Years frontman Olly Alexander competes to win the 68th edition in Sweden with his pop banger Dizzy.

• Read on for reasons including predictions about how we think these finalists will finish on 11 May

Sweden is tied with Ireland as Eurovision’s most successful country and this year hosts in Malmo and has selected 22-year-old Norwegian twins to represent itself.

1. SWEDEN: Marcus & Martinus Unforgettable (Jimmy ‘Joker’ Thörnfeldt, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Marcus Gunnarsen, Martinus Gunnarsen) PREDICTION: 6th to 10th

Last year’s Melodifestivalen runner-up Air was good but Unforgettable is next level. Co-writer Thörnfeldt had 4 other songs in this year’s Melodifestivalen finalen and this is a pulsating slice of Faithless-style dance music that is presented memorably with the stage restricted as Tattoo‘s was and something visually magical created that is as busy as the song.

2. UKRAINE: Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil Teresa & Maria (Aliona Savranenko; Anton Chilibi; Ivan Klymenko; Yana Shemaieva) PREDICTION: 6th to 10th

Alyona’s rapping combines well with Heil’s more traditional chanting and this is a haunting and powerful entry that could come from no country other than Ukraine. It’s a song about hope inspired by the Roman Catholic saint Mother Teresa and the Virgin Mary and we could all do with some of that. Memorably staged.

3. GERMANY: Isaak Always On The Run (Greg Taro; Isaak Guderion; Kevin Lehr, Leo Salminen) PREDICTION: 21st to 25th

Germany has finished no higher than 25th in all but 1 of the contests since 2015 and this is neither the song nor performer to break that run. Isaak is giving us James Newman vibes which is to say this is well performed but the song is in no way memorable.

4. LUXEMBOURG: Tali Fighter (Ana Zimmer; Dario Faini; Manon Romiti; Silvio Lisbonne) PREDICTION: 21st to 25th

Returning to Eurovision for the 1st time in 31 years, this is a well-performed slice of French pop with a fun slip into English near its close. Tali is Israeli-born which will be a talking point and this should have enough about it to make the final. Co-writer Faini is better known as Dardust and co-wrote Italy’s entry this year also.

5. NETHERLANDS: Joost Europapa (Donny Ellerström; Joost Klein; Paul Elstak; Teun de Kruif; Thijmen Melissant; Tim Haars) PREDICTION: 6th to 10th (DISQUALIFIED)

A song of the month for us in March when we said: ‘We’re holidaying in Barcelona and leaning into the flood of Eurovision songs just released and this Netherlands entry stands out on 1st listen for its riffing on 90s Dutch superstars 2 Unlimited and their best known charttopper No Limits. Joost … should expect to see his way clear to the final 2 days later thanks to the lack of juries in the televote-only semis. We don’t see this as a Eurovision winner but its funnier than Finland’s No Rules by Windows95Man which should make the final from semi 1 2 days earlier and we’re loving the cheesy flourishes which appear to understand why European pop and Euro living can be such a joy.’

6. ISRAEL: Eden Golan Hurricane (Avi Ohayon; Keren Peles; Stav Beger) PREDICTION: 6th to 10th

Important to remember that this is a song contest, and, on the basis of that, despite its lyrical rewrite at the request of the EBU we think this is a well-performed ballad that should make the final. It’s impossible to ignore the implication of conflict in Gaza on a public vote however and whether Israel should have been permitted to attend the Contest is 1 for others to debate.

7. LITHUANIA: Silvester Belt Luktelk (Tomorrow) (Džesika Šyvokaitė; Elena Jurgaitytė; Silvestras Beltė) PREDICTION: 11th to 15th

Belt beat a strong contender from The Roop who finished 8th in 2021 with the brilliant Discoteque. Bisexual Belt is a University of Westminster in London graduate of commercial music performance and co-wrote this entry which is strong on electronic, rave and techno influences. Not especially to our tastes but we would imagine it would find its audience.

8. SPAIN: Nebulossa Zorra (Bitch) (Maria Bas; Maek Dasousa) PREDICTION: 11th to 15th

This was our 3rd favourite of the 16 songs before seeing the performances in this year’s Benidorm Fest and we said: ‘Nebulossa are a synthpop duo formed by María Bas (vocals and production) and Mark Dasousa (synthesizers, production). Poliédrica de mí (Polyhedral of me) is the title of the debut album that the duo released in 2021, after previewing songs such as Glam. There’s an insistent 80s buzz to the music with Maria reclaiming a word often used to criticise. The catchy song recently topped Spotify’s Viral 50 Spain list.’ The Benidorm Fest performance contrasted cleverly with Chanel‘s iconic 2022 strut, the audience clearly loved it as you can hear them singing along and yet we don’t think juries will be impressed.

9. ESTONIA: 5 minust and Puuluup (Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi (We know nothing about these drugs) (Kim Wennerström; Kohver Lancelot; Marko Veisson; Päevakoer; Põhja Korea; Ramo Teder) PREDICTION: 11th to 15th

Who let those older guys with musical cheese graters in here? Flying out of these semi finals without juries. A combination of folk and rap that was our favourite for Eesti Laul even before we saw the anarchic and memorable staging which sealed the deal.

10. IRELAND: Bambie Thug Doomsday Blue (Bambie Ray Robinson; Olivia Cassy Brooking; Sam Matlock; Tyler Ryder) PREDICTION: 6th to 10th

Ireland’s Eurosong stepped up its game this year and, although this wasn’t the entry we wanted to win, it similarly offers something fresh in the form of an unpredictable Charli XCX-type banger with some real changes of mood. Bambie Thug is non-binary and brings a witchy, theatrical feel to proceedings which is likely to divide the audience. Staged simply but brilliantly.

11. LATVIA: Dons Hollow (Artūrs Šingirejs; Kate Northrop; Liam Geddes) PREDICTION: 16th to 20th

Fans of the anthemic Take Me To Church by Hozier will find much to love in this well-performed, throaty, bluesy number. It’s not a song we seek out however and so we saw it struggling to make it out of its competitive semi.

12. GREECE: Marina Satti Zari (Dice) (Gino the Ghost; Jay Lewitt Stolar; Jordan Richard Palmer; Konstantin Plamenov Beshkov; Marina Satti; Nick Kodonas; Oge Solmeister; Vlospa) PREDICTION: 16th to 20th

Self-described as a song that aims to tell the ‘real characteristics’ of young Greek people and their culture, the song was co-written by Satti with 8 other songwriters and feels a bit of a mess to us. Heavy on the dance breaks and incorporating traditional elements. Despite our initial reservations, coming together rather well.

13. UK: Olly Alexander Dizzy (Olly Alexander; Danny Harle) PREDICTION: 6th to 10th

Dizzy by former Years and Years frontman Olly Alexander was our song of the month for March and we said: ‘Last year we described Mae Muller’s I Wrote A Song as ‘the UK’s best Eurovision entry since Gina G’ and we’d say the same of this extremely catchy and tasteful track which draws on Pet Shop Boys influences.’ Co-written with Dua Lipa songwriter Daniel Harle, Dizzy isn’t quite the banger we were hoping for but it is extremely catchy and we think it’s more likely to top the charts at home than win Eurovision. Staged brilliantly but we’ll be hoping for a stronger vocal on Saturday night.

14. NORWAY: Gåte (Riddle) Ulveham (Wolf pelt) (Gunnhild Sundli; Magnus Børmark; Jon Even Schärer; Marit Jensen Lillebuen; Ronny Graff Janssen; Sveinung Ekloo Sundli) PREDICTION: 1st to 5th

Not the song we wanted to win this year’s Melodi Grand Prix but it was clear well before the finalen that it was the song that had captured the Norwegian public’s imagination eventually triumphing thanks to the home televote rather than the international jury. The 1st entry since 2006 in Norwegian. It’s a mixture of folk rock and metal that is 1 of a number of authentic songs which could win the whole thing this year.

15. ITALY: Angelina Mango La Noia (Boredom) (Angelina Mango, Dario Faini, Francesca Calearo) PREDICTION: 2nd to 5th

It worked for the Pet Shop Boys’ Being Boring because the tune is far from it but calling a song Boredom is asking for trouble. Mango gives us attitude and performance which elevates the song which won’t benefit from the live band of the San Remo Festival. We preferred Sinceramente but notoriously underestimate Italian entries which we’ve remedied this year with our prediction.

16. SERBIA: Teya Dora Ramonda (Andrijano Kadović; Luka Jovanović; Teodora Pavlovska) PREDICTION: 21st to 25th

A ramonda is a flowering plant native to shady, rocky places in north eastern Spain, the Pyrenees and south eastern Europe. This song has been described as a ‘magical lullaby’ but we think of it as the final’s toilet break but it proved on Tuesday that a moody ballad given a strong vocal could outperform more obvious crowdpleasers.

17. FINLAND: Windows95man No Rules! (Henri Piispanen; Jussi Roine; Teemu Keisteri) PREDICTION: 11th to 15th

From the moment we heard it we knew that this was the song to beat, and that we didn’t want it to triumph, in Finland. Comedy songs like this (see Joost also for the Netherlands in this year’s 2nd semi) are always going to find it easier to qualify now the semis don’t have juries. At its best, this has a throwback 80s heavy rock chorus that people will respond with fondness for. The visuals may be an acquired taste not attracting much jury love.

18. PORTUGAL: Iolanda Grito (Shout) (Alberto Hernández; Iolanda Costa) PREDICTION: 16th to 20th

Portugal can always be relied upon to enter a song that sounds like it comes from nowhere else. Languid and enchanting to some, too laidback for others, this was the runaway favourite to win selection show Festival da Canção although Portugal should have chosen televote winner João Borsch.

19. ARMENIA: Ladaniva Jako (Audrey Leclercq; Jaklin Baghdasaryan; Louis Thomas) PREDICTION: 16th to 20th

Giddy if a little aimless folk from this French-Armenian world music group originally from Lille in France. The duo, founded in 2019, consists of Armenian singer Jaklin Baghdasaryan and French multi-instrumentalist Louis Thomas. Their musical style is inspired by music from around the world, particularly traditional Balkan music, maloya and Armenian folklore which may mean we’re underestimating its international appeal.

20. CYPRUS: Silia Kapsis Liar (Dimitris Kontopoulos; Elke Tiel) PREDICTION: 16th to 20th

Greek co-writer Kontopulous is behind a number of beloved Eurovision hits including 2008 runner-up Shady Lady. Kapsis is an Australian singer, dancer and actress who will likely benefit from her having her home country voting here. The song is catchy pop about a woman betrayed by her lover. A strong package.

21. SWITZERLAND: Nemo The Code (Benjamin Alasu; Lasse Midtsian Nymann; Linda Dale; Nemo Mettler) PREDICTION: 1st to 5th

‘Somewhere between the 0s and 1s …’ goes the song and this is a very clever leaning into the non-binary world that may strike a chord with some. Vocally it’s very Mika/Queen and going to be a real challenge to perform live and musically this has Eminem and Bond theme flourishes. We think it’s a dark horse for the win and will do far better than people are currently predicting.

22. SLOVENIA: Raiven Veronika (Bojan Cvjetićanin; Danilo Kapel; Klavdija Kopina; Martin Bezjak; Peter Khoo; Sara Briški Cirman) PREDICTION: 21st to 25th

Co-writer Cvjetićanin is the lead singer of band Joker Out which finished 21st last year. Sara Briški Cirman was selected internally following 3 attempts to represent her country, 2 of which resulted in 2nd place. She performed live at the Croatian national final and her background in opera is well reflected in this dark dramatic number. We were underwhelmed by the presentation but the vocal was strong.

23. CROATIA: Baby Lasagna Rim Tim Tagi Dim (Marko Purišić) PREDICTION: 1st to 5th

As we write, this is the big favourite to win the whole contest after enjoying a landslide televote victory in Croatia. It’s the story of young people leaving this country to find their fortune abroad and is performed with the same commitment that saw Finland’s Käärijä finish a strong 2nd to Sweden’s Loreen in 2023. The song itself is part rap, part 80s-inspired rock chorus and boasts a pulsating rhythm that is going to win over televoters rather than juries.

24. GEORGIA: Nutsa Buzaladze Firefighter (Ada Skitka; Darko Dimitrov) PREDICTION: 21st to 25th

Heavy on the dancebreak, a shrieky vocal and light on actual song. Dimitrov is North Macedonian and wrote Proud for Tamara Todevska which finished 7th in 2019. This is feisty and uptempo and shouldn’t be discounted. Nutsa is a singer songwriter who grew up in Turkey, has worked in the US and currently lives in Dubai. The anti-Fuego if you will. But performed brilliantly.

25. FRANCE: Slimane Mon Amour (My love) (Meïr Salah, Slimane Nebchi, Yaacov Salah) PREDICTION: 1st to 5th

The French conundrum is that, while they’ve won Junior Eurovision in 3 of the last 4 years, they’ve yet to repeat their 1977 victory in the main competition. Slimane is an internal selection and a popular singer/songwriter at home since 2017 where 3 of his 4 albums have topped the domestic charts. The title couldn’t be more quintessentially French, the song rather over-earnest and the live performance impressive jury bait. The semi 2 performance was just a wow moment.

26. AUSTRIA: Kaleen We Will Rave (Anderz Wrethov; Jimmy ‘Joker’ Thörnfeldt; Julie Aagaard; Thomas Stengaard) PREDICTION: 11th to 15th

Jimmy ‘Joker’ Thörnfeldt had 5 co-writes in the Swedish Melodifestivalen finalen with 1 even boasting the lyric: ‘Now I rave on my own and I don’t even think of you.’ 90s dance was an inspiration being drawn on heavily there as it is here. It’s a dance track that screams Cascada with a video short on subtlety. Love the false ending though. Suitably upbeat finish to a long night.

• Main picture via Facebook courtesy Eurovision Song Contest
• Have you seen a Eurovision Song Contest before and are what did you think of this production? Tickets Check out our predictions for Semi Final 1 and Semi final 2 predictions
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