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| Eurovision 2025: Céline Dion makes rare appearance as five countries are kicked out | Eurovision 2025: Céline Dion makes rare appearance as five countries are kicked out |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Céline Dion filmed a message to mark Eurovision returning to Switzerland for the first time since she won the 1988 contest | Céline Dion filmed a message to mark Eurovision returning to Switzerland for the first time since she won the 1988 contest |
| Céline Dion made a rare appearance during the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest with a brief, pre-recorded message. | Céline Dion made a rare appearance during the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest with a brief, pre-recorded message. |
| The star won the contest for Switzerland in 1988, and it had been rumoured she would take the stage as the ceremony returns to the country this year. | The star won the contest for Switzerland in 1988, and it had been rumoured she would take the stage as the ceremony returns to the country this year. |
| "I'd love nothing more than to be with you," she said in a video, apparently ruling out that possibility. "Switzerland will forever hold a special place in my heart. It's the country that believed in me and gave me the chance to be part of something so extraordinary." | "I'd love nothing more than to be with you," she said in a video, apparently ruling out that possibility. "Switzerland will forever hold a special place in my heart. It's the country that believed in me and gave me the chance to be part of something so extraordinary." |
| The semi-final saw 10 acts qualify for Saturday's grand finale, including Swedish entrants KAJ, whose song Bara Bada Bastu is the runaway favourite. | The semi-final saw 10 acts qualify for Saturday's grand finale, including Swedish entrants KAJ, whose song Bara Bada Bastu is the runaway favourite. |
| KAJ - whose name is an acronym for their first names, Kevin, Axel and Jakob - are favourites to win the 2025 contest | |
| Their song, an accordion-led comedy number whose title translates to "let's take a sauna", has a 40% chance of winning, according to bookmakers. | Their song, an accordion-led comedy number whose title translates to "let's take a sauna", has a 40% chance of winning, according to bookmakers. |
| If the prediction comes true, it would be Sweden's eighth Eurovision title - making them the most victorious country in the contest's history (they are currently tied with Ireland, on seven wins each). | If the prediction comes true, it would be Sweden's eighth Eurovision title - making them the most victorious country in the contest's history (they are currently tied with Ireland, on seven wins each). |
| Fifteen acts performed at Tuesday's semi-final in Basel's St Jakobshalle. These are the ones who made the cut. | Fifteen acts performed at Tuesday's semi-final in Basel's St Jakobshalle. These are the ones who made the cut. |
| Norway: Kyle Alessandro – Lighter | Norway: Kyle Alessandro – Lighter |
| Albania: Shkodra Elektronike – Zjerm | Albania: Shkodra Elektronike – Zjerm |
| Sweden: KAJ – Bara Bada Bastu | Sweden: KAJ – Bara Bada Bastu |
| Iceland: VÆB – RÓA | Iceland: VÆB – RÓA |
| Netherlands: Claude – C'est La Vie | Netherlands: Claude – C'est La Vie |
| Poland: Justyna Steczkowska – GAJA | Poland: Justyna Steczkowska – GAJA |
| San Marino: Gabry Ponte – Tutta L'Italia | San Marino: Gabry Ponte – Tutta L'Italia |
| Estonia: Tommy Cash – Espresso Macchiato | Estonia: Tommy Cash – Espresso Macchiato |
| Portugal: NAPA – Deslocado | Portugal: NAPA – Deslocado |
| Ukraine: Ziferblat – Bird of Pray | Ukraine: Ziferblat – Bird of Pray |
| That means that the Eurovision dreams of Azerbaijan, Belgium, Cyprus, Croatia and Slovenia have all ended for 2025. | That means that the Eurovision dreams of Azerbaijan, Belgium, Cyprus, Croatia and Slovenia have all ended for 2025. |
| Of those, the biggest surprise was Belgium's Red Sebastian, whose rave anthem Strobe Lights had been predicted to finish among the top five. | Of those, the biggest surprise was Belgium's Red Sebastian, whose rave anthem Strobe Lights had been predicted to finish among the top five. |
| His disqualification came on the day of his 26th birthday. | His disqualification came on the day of his 26th birthday. |
| Ten more acts will progress to the main competition after Thursday's second semi-final. | Ten more acts will progress to the main competition after Thursday's second semi-final. |
| The "Big Five" countries, who contribute the most financially to the competition (France, Germany, Spain, the UK and Italy) qualify automatically, as do last year's winners, Switzerland. | The "Big Five" countries, who contribute the most financially to the competition (France, Germany, Spain, the UK and Italy) qualify automatically, as do last year's winners, Switzerland. |
| Celine Dion represented Switzerland at the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin, where she beat the UK entrant, Scott Fitzgerald, by one point | Celine Dion represented Switzerland at the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin, where she beat the UK entrant, Scott Fitzgerald, by one point |
| Dion's video message came during the ceremony's interval, as votes were being cast. | Dion's video message came during the ceremony's interval, as votes were being cast. |
| Although she was unable to be there in person, it was a coup for organisers. The singer has stepped away from the limelight in recent years due to health issues related to stiff-person syndrome (SPS), a neurological condition that causes muscle spasms and makes it difficult for her to walk. | Although she was unable to be there in person, it was a coup for organisers. The singer has stepped away from the limelight in recent years due to health issues related to stiff-person syndrome (SPS), a neurological condition that causes muscle spasms and makes it difficult for her to walk. |
| After a four-year break, she made an emotional comeback at last summer's Paris Olympics, singing Edith Piaf's classic Hymne à l'Amour from the Eiffel Tower. | After a four-year break, she made an emotional comeback at last summer's Paris Olympics, singing Edith Piaf's classic Hymne à l'Amour from the Eiffel Tower. |
| Speculation over a potential Eurovision appearance has been mounting since Swiss singer Nemo won the 2024 contest. | Speculation over a potential Eurovision appearance has been mounting since Swiss singer Nemo won the 2024 contest. |
| In her video, Dion said it was "beautiful and emotional" to see the young singer lift the trophy, and recalled that her victory in 1988 "was a life-changing moment for me". | In her video, Dion said it was "beautiful and emotional" to see the young singer lift the trophy, and recalled that her victory in 1988 "was a life-changing moment for me". |
| "To the people of Switzerland, thank you for your love," she continued. "This night is yours and I hope you feel as proud as I do." | "To the people of Switzerland, thank you for your love," she continued. "This night is yours and I hope you feel as proud as I do." |
| After repeating her message in French, several former Eurovision contestants appeared on stage to cover Dion's winning song from 1988, Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi (Don't Leave Without Me). | After repeating her message in French, several former Eurovision contestants appeared on stage to cover Dion's winning song from 1988, Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi (Don't Leave Without Me). |
| However, organisers said they had not given up hope of the star appearing at the final this weekend. | However, organisers said they had not given up hope of the star appearing at the final this weekend. |
| "We are still in close contact with her," they said in a statement. | "We are still in close contact with her," they said in a statement. |
| Polish star Justyna Steczkowska floated above the stage during her performance | Polish star Justyna Steczkowska floated above the stage during her performance |
| Tuesday's semi-final opened with Icelandic group VÆB, two brothers with the unregulated energy of former Irish entrants Jedward. | Tuesday's semi-final opened with Icelandic group VÆB, two brothers with the unregulated energy of former Irish entrants Jedward. |
| They were followed by Polish star Justyna Steczkowska, who hung precariously above the stage on two ropes, as she sang her witchy hymn to mother earth, Gaja. | They were followed by Polish star Justyna Steczkowska, who hung precariously above the stage on two ropes, as she sang her witchy hymn to mother earth, Gaja. |
| The acrobatics continued with Slovenian musician Klemen, who was suspended upside down during his ballad How Much Time Do We Have Left? | The acrobatics continued with Slovenian musician Klemen, who was suspended upside down during his ballad How Much Time Do We Have Left? |
| The song was a tribute to his wife, who has recently recovered from cancer, but the emotional performance wasn't enough to clinch him a position in the final. | The song was a tribute to his wife, who has recently recovered from cancer, but the emotional performance wasn't enough to clinch him a position in the final. |
| Taking a lighter note was Estonia's Tommy Cash, whose quirky anthem Espresso Macchiato was interrupted by a "stage invader" - actually a dancer who replicated his noodle-limbed dance moves. | Taking a lighter note was Estonia's Tommy Cash, whose quirky anthem Espresso Macchiato was interrupted by a "stage invader" - actually a dancer who replicated his noodle-limbed dance moves. |
| Tommy Cash danced with a "stage invader" fan before security guards pulled her away | Tommy Cash danced with a "stage invader" fan before security guards pulled her away |
| The arena was awash with Ukranian flags for Ziferblat, whose prog-pop anthem Bird Of Pray is a message of hope and resilience to families separated by the country's ongoing war with Russia. | The arena was awash with Ukranian flags for Ziferblat, whose prog-pop anthem Bird Of Pray is a message of hope and resilience to families separated by the country's ongoing war with Russia. |
| Italy's Lucio Corsi brought 70s glam rock vibes with his track Volevo Esse Un Duro, which even featured a visual call-back to David Bowie and Mick Ronson's iconic 1972 performance of Starman on Top Of The Pops. | Italy's Lucio Corsi brought 70s glam rock vibes with his track Volevo Esse Un Duro, which even featured a visual call-back to David Bowie and Mick Ronson's iconic 1972 performance of Starman on Top Of The Pops. |
| Croatia's singer Marko Bošnjak was all black eyeliner and sinister energy for his kill-your-enemies anthem Poison Cake, while Dutch singer Claude took the opposite approach, brimming with positivity throughout his upbeat performance of C'est La Vie. | Croatia's singer Marko Bošnjak was all black eyeliner and sinister energy for his kill-your-enemies anthem Poison Cake, while Dutch singer Claude took the opposite approach, brimming with positivity throughout his upbeat performance of C'est La Vie. |
| And Swiss singer Zoë Më was bathed in a sea of mobile phone lights as she performed Voyage , an understated and rather beautiful plea for kindness and understanding. | And Swiss singer Zoë Më was bathed in a sea of mobile phone lights as she performed Voyage , an understated and rather beautiful plea for kindness and understanding. |
| Italy's Lucio Corsi (left) recreated David Bowie's iconic Top Of The Pops performance with Mick Ronson during his song, Volevo Essere Un Duro | Italy's Lucio Corsi (left) recreated David Bowie's iconic Top Of The Pops performance with Mick Ronson during his song, Volevo Essere Un Duro |
| However, KAJ were the artists to beat - with the entire audience stomping along to their goofy sauna anthem ("Damn it, turn up the heat!") | However, KAJ were the artists to beat - with the entire audience stomping along to their goofy sauna anthem ("Damn it, turn up the heat!") |
| The song, performed in the Vörå dialect, is a radical departure from Sweden's tried and tested formula of slick pop anthems. | The song, performed in the Vörå dialect, is a radical departure from Sweden's tried and tested formula of slick pop anthems. |
| It was the surprise winner at the Melodifestivalen, the hotly-contested show that selects the country's Eurovision entry, and has gone on to top the Swedish pop charts for 11 weeks. | It was the surprise winner at the Melodifestivalen, the hotly-contested show that selects the country's Eurovision entry, and has gone on to top the Swedish pop charts for 11 weeks. |
| Speaking to the BBC, the band - who are actually from the Swedish-speaking part of Finland - said it was strange to enter the contest as the presumed favourite. | Speaking to the BBC, the band - who are actually from the Swedish-speaking part of Finland - said it was strange to enter the contest as the presumed favourite. |
| "We are feeling the pressure a bit," they admitted, "but we're gonna go out there, have fun, bring the steam, bring the sauna culture, and we'll see how far it goes." | "We are feeling the pressure a bit," they admitted, "but we're gonna go out there, have fun, bring the steam, bring the sauna culture, and we'll see how far it goes." |