Eurovision week is here, and no, I’m not calm.
It’s that sacred time of year where glitter becomes currency, tactical voting sparks mild international shade, and somewhere, someone is trying to out-sing a pyro effect. But don’t worry — your trusty Dan’s here with the cheeky-but-actually-insightful lowdown on Eurovision 2025.
This isn’t for the casual crowd who still think ABBA might show up. This is for those who’ve watched the national finals, tracked every revamped version on Spotify, and know exactly what juries like versus what the public will torch on Twitter.
So, what’s the vibe this year? Who’s bringing the drama, who’s coasting on name alone, and who’s about to get robbed harder than Finland in 2023? Buckle in.
🎢 The National Final Season: A Fever Dream in Sequins
The 2025 national final season was chaos incarnate — and I loved every glitter-soaked minute.
From surprise withdrawals to shock winners, it felt like every country was trying to outdo the last in sheer unpredictability. Sweden sent a sauna song. Albania brought folklore rave energy. Germany hosted a show titled “Chefsache”, which translates to “A Matter for the Boss,” and I can confirm it was a choice.
Italy gave us one of the most artistic Sanremo line-ups in years, with Lucio Corsi being selected after the original winner turned down the gig (their loss, tbh). The UK, going internal again, pulled a curveball with Remember Monday — a harmony-driven country-pop trio with a solid online fanbase. Austria said: “We’re sending an opera singer in his twenties who’s been breaking hearts across Vienna. You’re welcome.”
🌍 2025 Vibe Check: Sauna Pop, Operatic Angst, and Balkan Fire
Musically, it’s a big ol’ mixed platter this year — and thank the glitter gods for that.
There’s a refreshing lack of safe entries. You’ve got operatic vocals next to electronic folklore bangers, next to retro glam, next to… whatever it is that Germany’s doing. This is a year of risk, of countries sending what feels authentic to them rather than Eurovision-by-numbers filler. And honestly? I’m here for the chaos.
🔥 Dan’s Ones to Watch (and Drag, Respectfully)
🇦🇹 Austria: JJ – “Wasted Love”
Prediction: The one to beat.
JJ — real name Johannes Pietsch — is 23, Viennese, and sings like he’s narrating your deepest heartbreak from the rafters of an opera house. A classically trained countertenor who’s already performed at the Vienna State Opera and studied at the prestigious MUK conservatory, JJ brings a level of musicality most pop entries can only dream of.
His track “Wasted Love” is minimalist, haunting, and vocally divine — like if Benjamin Clementine and Loreen had a baby raised on string quartets. Written alongside Teodora Špirić and Thomas Thurner, it’s a slow burner that explodes by the end — and the juries will eat. it. up.
🇦🇱 Albania: Shkodra Elektronike – “Zjerm”
Prediction: My personal fave — fiery, weird, and brilliant.
Shkodra Elektronike are a duo blending heritage and hedonism. Formed by Kolë Laca and Beatriçe Gjergji, both Albanian-born but raised in Italy, they fuse traditional folk music with analogue synths, creating a sound that’s part Balkan rave, part cultural reclamation. Think Goldfrapp but with Albanian roots.
“Zjerm” (translation: Fire) lives up to its name. It’s hypnotic, pulsating, and unapologetically Albanian. With lyrics that explore identity, longing, and ancestral pride, it’s not your usual Eurovision fare — but if performed with passion (and please let there be smoke machines), this could become the fan-favourite underdog of 2025.
🇸🇪 Sweden: KAJ – “Bara Bada Bastu”
Prediction: Televote magnet, jury side-eye incoming.
Let’s talk about Sweden — and no, they haven’t sent another slick diva with laser beams. They’ve sent… three guys in towels.
KAJ, a Finland-Swedish comedy-folk trio from the town of Vörå, made Melodifestivalen history by bringing a song entirely in the Vörå dialect — a quirky variety of Finland Swedish rarely heard on a stage this big. And the topic? Sauna life. Literally. “Bara Bada Bastu” is an ode to steamy relaxation and cultural pride, wrapped in humour, harmonies, and a whole lot of towel choreography.
It’s giving: “You’re drunk in Helsinki and someone hands you a tambourine.” Will it win? Probably not. But the televote could have a field day — even if the juries quietly pretend they didn’t see it.
🇮🇹 Italy: Lucio Corsi – “Volevo Essere Un Duro”
Prediction: Classic jury magnet with quirky cool vibes.
Lucio Corsi is what would happen if Ziggy Stardust bought a villa in Tuscany. His glam-folk style and theatrical flair make him a standout in a line-up full of minimalists.
“Volevo Essere Un Duro” (“I Wanted to Be a Tough Guy”) is a retro-sounding journey through masculinity, vulnerability, and irony — layered with poetic lyricism and all the Italian flair you expect from Sanremo’s second-best dressed. It may not be a televote magnet, but it’s classy, quirky, and distinctly Italiano.
🇲🇹 Malta: Miriana Conte – “Serving”
Prediction: Could be a moment — if they nail the performance.
Miriana Conte wasn’t the initial frontrunner — but she’s grown into the role. “Serving” (renamed after the original title “Kant”) is bold, brash, and very Gen Z-coded. Think power pop meets sass anthem.
With strong vocals and choreography that could give us our only true “pop diva moment” of the night, this one’s a risk. But if Malta stages it well? It could snap, strut, and steal a few douze points.
🇨🇿 Czechia: ADONXS – “Kiss Kiss Goodbye”
Prediction: The dark horse. Sexy, emotional, and gorgeously produced.
ADONXS (real name Adam Pavlovčin) is Slovakian pop royalty, best known for winning Czech-Slovak SuperStar. He’s out, proud, stylish, and so damn polished.
His entry “Kiss Kiss Goodbye” is atmospheric electropop — think The Weeknd meets Troye Sivan — and emotionally raw. Czechia has been quietly levelling up the past few years, and this might be their best shot at a Top 5 yet. Don’t sleep on this one.
🇵🇱 Poland: Justyna Steczkowska – “Gaja”
Prediction: A haunting return from a Eurovision veteran.
Justyna is back, and she’s not here to play nice. After first representing Poland in 1995, she returns in full dark goddess mode with “Gaja” — a swirling, haunting track blending Polish and English lyrics, tribal percussion, and metaphor-heavy vocals about Mother Earth reclaiming her power.
The fanbase? Obsessed. The visuals? Possibly iconic. The message? Dramatic, mystical, and absolutely on-brand. If the live performance delivers, this could go big.
🇸🇲 San Marino: Gabry Ponte – “Tutta l’Italia”
Prediction: EDM chaos that might actually work.
Wait — is San Marino about to serve? Like… really serve? Because this entry is kind of a banger. Gabry Ponte, known for Blue (Da Ba Dee) and his stomping club remixes, is bringing all the Italian tourist-trap energy to Basel. “Tutta l’Italia” is like a pizza-fueled Eurodance explosion, complete with mandolins, accordion flourishes, and rave whistles.
It shouldn’t work. But it just might. And if nothing else? It’s going to go off in the EuroClub at 3am.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Remember Monday – “What The Hell Just Happened?”
Prediction: Probably near the bottom, but not for lack of trying.
A country-pop girl group from Surrey may not sound like Eurovision firepower, but Remember Monday have heart. Their harmonies are tight, their lyrics relatable, and the title alone deserves points.
Sadly, it risks getting lost in a line-up that’s louder, weirder, and more memeable. I hope they do well — genuinely. But I’m bracing for pain. Again.
🇩🇪 Germany: Abor & Tynna – “Baller”
Prediction: Absolute chaos energy — could flop or fly.
Germany, babes. Finally giving us something that doesn’t sound like a beer advert.
“Baller” is unhinged in all the right ways — a hyperpop-rap hybrid from Austrian-born siblings who are more TikTok than Telemelody. It’s noisy, it’s bold, and if they can keep it tight live, it might just work. Or completely faceplant. Either way? I’ll be watching.
💥 Dan’s Bold Prediction:
- Austria will win. Book it.
- Albania will climb higher than anyone expects.
- Poland could quietly slay.
- San Marino might finally have a moment — and honestly, they deserve it.
- UK and Germany will continue to suffer, albeit stylishly.
💬 Final Thoughts:
Eurovision 2025 isn’t about safe bets — it’s about artists taking swings. Some will land, some will crash harder than a Lithuanian LED cube, but one thing’s certain:
May the best key change win.
And if all else fails — there’s always the memes.
Got a fave? Think I’ve undersold your country’s glittery masterpiece? Slide into the comments — I live for a respectful Eurovision bicker.
All photos courtesy of eurovision.tv
Studio DJC 