LIVE - 1st ESC Semifinal 2025 in Basel in the Ticker

Now it gets serious: With the 1st semi-final in Basel, the Eurovision Song Contest officially starts its 69th edition today. The first round of the competition is quite something, featuring top favorites like the Swedish fun group KAJ with their sauna song "Bara Bada Bastu" or the pop beau Claude ("C'est La Vie") from the Netherlands. What you almost search for in vain: women. Only Justyna Steczkowska from Poland can be found here.

For Austria, Thursday will be relevant when JJ enters the competition with his popera song "Wasted Love." The betting odds predict the 24-year-old a guaranteed entry into the final and currently see Austria in 2nd place there. So, it remains exciting in every respect.

Live ticker for the 1st ESC semi-final 2025

On Tuesday evening, the first 15 acts are competing for ten final tickets for the ESC final on May 17. We report live from the 1st semi-final show starting at 8:30 PM:

The running order in the 1st ESC semi-final 2025

01 - Iceland: VÆB, "Róa"
02 - Poland: Justyna Steczkowska, "Gaja"
03 - Slovenia: Klemen, "How Much Time Do We Have Left”
04 - Estonia: Tommy Cash, "Espresso Macchiato”
05 - Ukraine: Ziferblat, "Bird of Pray”
06 - Sweden: KAJ, "Bara Bada Bastu"
07 - Portugal: NAPA, "Deslocado”
08 - Norway: Kyle Alessandro, "Lighter”
09 - Belgium: Red Sebastian, "Strobe Lights”
10 - Azerbaijan: Mamagama, "Run With U”
11 - San Marino: Gabry Ponte, "Tutta l'Italia”
12 - Albania: Shkodra Elektronike, "Zjerm"
13 - Netherlands: Claude, "C'est la vie"
14 - Croatia: Marko Bošnjak, "Poison Cake”
15 - Cyprus: Theo Evan, "Shh”

Leading the way, the Swedish fun group KAJ with their sauna song "Bara Bada Bastu" is expected to perform - having been seen by betting offices as the number 1 in the final for some time. The Estonian participant Johnny Cash with his satirical homage to Italy "Espresso Macchiato" is also considered a sure qualifier for the final round, as is Belgium's representative Red Sebastian with "Strobe Lights," who is expected to secure a spot in the top 5 in the final.

And of course, as every year, the eyes (and ears) are also on the participant from the embattled Ukraine. This year, they are sending the rock band Ziferblat with "Bird of Pray" into the race. And an exceptional singer is representing Poland: Justyna Steczkowska with "GAJA." Not because the number is exceptionally good, but because the entire 1st ESC semi-final is without solo female artists - except for Ms. Steczkowska.

Audience Decides on ESC Tickets

Austria is not participating on Tuesday evening and therefore cannot vote in this round. The decision is made solely by the audience, with the professional juries only having a say in the ESC final. This makes the final day on Tuesday all the more exciting from a viewer's perspective - not least because some of the favorites for the overall victory, and thus tough competitors of JJ, who is still ranked 2nd in the betting odds, will be presenting themselves in the St. Jakobshalle.

ORF 1 will broadcast live from 9 PM, with Andi Knoll commenting on the event, which he traditionally kicks off at 8:15 PM with an episode of "Mr Song Contest proudly presents."

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.