Chapter 17: My favourite 2025 Eurovision songs
We interrupt our regular programming for a fun post highlighting my favourite songs at this year's competition and photos of me in those countries.
The Eurovision Grande Final is this Saturday in Basel, Switzerland. The first semi-final was held yesterday and the second will be tomorrow.
Now, I’m a massive Eurovision fan. I watched the 2019 edition (winner Duncan Laurence from Netherlands) on a boat in Stockholm and in 2024 (winner Nemo from Switzerland) I watched it at The Late Birds in Lisbon. The other editions I’ve watched either at home or with friends.
Since COVID-19, multiple Eurovision songs have made my Spotify Wrapped list. For the last two years, my most played song was a Eurovision entrant - Cha Cha Cha by Käärijä (2023) and La Noia by Angelina Mango (2024).
I have even written two posts dedicated to the impact Eurovision has had on my journey. You can read Chapter 1: La Noia or Chapter 16: The Not So EasyJet to Mahmood.
This post is unlike my others, it’s purely just a fun, stupid piece about my favourite songs at the 2025 contest and a photo journey of my travels that dates back to 2015.
We’ll be back to regular programming next week, but I hope you enjoy this.
Czechia
Entry: Kiss Kiss Goodbye by ADONXS
Status: Did not advance
I love ADONXS. He is a queer activist who rose to fame after winning the Czech-Slovak version of Idol called SuperStar. He was the face of a campaign that challenged the definition of the word “love” in the Slovak dictionary, which defines the word as affection between two opposite genders only.
The artist says his song is “the story of a flawed, wounded hero who, at a crucial moment, is willing to sacrifice a great leap for humanity in the hope of healing a painful wound in his heart. It’s about how love drives and shapes us—but so does its absence.” I personally love when he staccatos the words “kiss” and then holds the word “goodbye,” which is followed by a choir chanting the three words.
Germany
Entry: Baller by Abor & Tynna
Status: Automatically advanced to the Grand Finale
Germany has sent some awful songs over the last few years - not as bad as the UK though. My Eurovision hot-take has always been that this “Big Five” country (one of the biggest financial supporters to the song contest and therefore gets to skip the semi-finals) should be punished for their choices by participating in a semi to get a reality check on how unlikeable their songs are.
Then they selected this banger, the first song fully sung in German since 2007. It’s a song I imagine people dancing to at Berghain…actually I don’t know what people dance to in Berghain, because I’ve never made it in. Regardless, it is a certified hit that could resonate on charts across Europe - a rare feat for Eurovision entrants. I can imagine the brother and sister duo turning the arena in Basel into a nightclub and this song being a public favourite during voting.
Iceland
Entry: RÓA by VÆB
Status: Advanced to Grand Finale
These Icelandic twinks in their shiny silver cheesy-futuristic Back to the Future-esque jumpsuits are hilarious and their song is literally all about rowing a boat. The chorus is “Rowing today, rowing tonight. Rowing to where the stars are bright. And nothing's ever stopping me now…”
Brothers Matthías Davíð Matthíasson and Hálfdán Helgi Matthíasson are from a musical family and in 2022, formed VÆB after posting a comedy song on TikTok that went viral in their homeland.
My favourite part of the song is the use of the violin/fiddle, especially at the end as it makes me want to link arms with someone and spin around. Also their is something in the way they sing “Það getur ekkert stoppað mig af” (or “And nothing's ever stopping me now”) at the very end of the song that to me really embodies the drive to win. It’s for sure an ear-worm.
Ireland
Entry: Laika Party by EMMY
Status: Did not advance
This song is very bubblegum pop and complete departure from last year’s demonic (and amazing) entry Doomsday Blue by Bambie Thug. EMMY is a Norwegian artist representing Ireland with a song about a Russian dog sent to space named Laika.
In 1957, Laika became the first creature launched into orbit. She was a stray dog from the streets of Moscow, who became a cosmic pioneer. Sadly, she never returned to earth nor was she ever meant to. Re-entry technology was not yet developed and she passed hours into the flight from hypothermia.
While the story is sad, EMMY turns the moment into a “tearjerker with beat” as described by people. The lyrics imagine Laika surviving in space and throwing a party in the sky happy as can be. Honestly, anything that has to do with dogs wins my heart.
Malta
Entry: Serving by Miriana Conte
Status: Advance to Grand Finale
When this song won the Malta national it was called Kant, which in English means “Singing.” However, the BBC complained to the EBU that “Kant” sounded too much like “C*nt.” Conte had to rename the song to Serving and removed the word “Kant” from her lyrics - though I am hoping, praying and wishing the audience will just scream “Kant” when the time comes.
In an interview with a UK television outlet, the artist said her intention was never to offend anyone as she was only trying to say “I’m Serving Singing.” Leave it to the UK to ruin all the fun at Eurovision 69 and to have a problem with a foreign language.
Netherlands
Entry: C’est La Vie by Claude
Status: Advanced to Grande Finale
If the stage performance is choreographed like the music video we are in for quite treat. I love this English-French song from Congo-born Claude, who says the song is a tribute to a parent - in this case is his mother. The beat gives the song a dance vibe, while fusing elements of a French ballad I’d expect to hear from France.
Norway
Entry: Lighter by Kyle Alessandro
Status: Advanced to Grande Finale
Norway always delivers solid Eurovision entries and Kyle Alessandro is no exception. . Kyle got his start when he received the Golden Buzzer on Norway’s Got Talent at 10. I think Eurovision will catapult him onto the wider European stage.
His song has a mix of baroque and medieval elements with Norwegian folk - which after being told this, I can definitely hear. The song is about the singer’s mom, who was diagnosed with cancer and how she told him to never lose his light.
Sweden
Entry: Bara Bada Bastu by KAJ
Status: Advanced to Grande Finale
This group is known for having comedic songs and stage performances and they didn’t dial it down for their Eurovision entry, which is considered the front runner. While the jury is typically not a fan of comedic tunes, this might be the song that unites the jury and public votes.
The group, that is actually from Finland, is entering with a song about going to the sauna. The lyrics include “We’re gonna sauna, sauna. Steam it up and let go of all stress today. Sauna brothers, we’re the ones who glow…”
Switzerland
Entry: Voyage by Zoë Më
Status: Automatically advanced
While it doesn’t compare to last year’s winner, this is probably the only ballad this year that really resonated with me - which is surprising. Plus, I thought I looked cute in this photo and felt you all needed to see it.
Other songs I like from countries I have yet to visit include: Milkshake Man by Go-Jo (Australia, Did not advance), Espresso Macchiato by Tommy Cash (Estonia, Advanced to Grande Finale) and Tutta L’Italia by Garby Ponte (San Marino, Advanced to Grande Finale).