The Results of Eurovision 2025 First Semi-Final Are Here
The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 has officially kicked off. Thus, the results of the first semi-final in Basel, Switzerland, are known. Ten countries earned their ticket to Saturday’s grand final, promising a grand show. So, fans can see in the final a mix of electrifying performances, playful absurdity, and deeply personal messages defining the night.
Among the standouts was the Netherlands’ Claude Kiambe. His bilingual track C’est La Vie delivered a smooth blend of French and English. The track was wrapped in a laid-back anthem about embracing life’s chaos. Sweden’s genre-bending trio KAJ also cruised through with Bara Bada Bastu, an infectious tribute to Nordic sauna culture. And yes, there were towels and steamy visuals present.
Also, the first semi-final marked a homecoming, as Eurovision returned to Switzerland for the first time in decades. The country that birthed the competition back in 1956. Staged in the iconic St. Jakobshalle in Basel, the show opened with panoramic visuals of the Swiss landscape. Thus, presenting a slick reimagining of the 2024 winner, Nemo’s The Code.
Eurovision and The Blasting Performances
Returning to competitors. Estonia’s entry delivered one of the night’s most memorable and unapologetically bizarre moments. The provocateur Tommy Cash stormed the stage with Espresso Macchiato, a surreal parody dripping in faux-Italian clichés. Having on stage a mock Hollywood sign rebranded as “Tommywood.” Sparked with a true fan frenzy staged encounter that ended in a choreographed dance-off, it was a true blast.
Ukraine’s Ziferblat brought a more solemn energy with Bird of Pray. The song was a haunting, atmospheric ballad that carried them to the final after a tense wait. Icelandic electronic duo Vaeb opened the show with shimmering outfits, syncopated synths, and a euphoric finish on Roa.
Poland and Albania are also heading to the finals. Justyna Steczkowska will present Poland with the brooding and operatic Gaja – Progress. Meanwhile, Albania’s retro-futurist collective Shkodra Elektronike, with their folklore-tinged Zjerm. They are joined by San Marino’s Gabry Ponte, who turned up the BPM with the club-ready Tutta L’Italia. Also, there is Portugal’s Napa with the funky Deslocado and Norway’s Kyle Alessandro, who ignited the stage with Lighter.
Some fan-favorite underdogs didn’t cut. Slovenia’s Klemen delivered a raw, emotional take on How Much Time Do We Have Left. Meanwhile, Cyprus’ Theo Evan served sultry whispers on Shh—both fell just short.
Thus, as Eurovision continues to evolve—more global, more diverse, more unpredictable—the first semi-final was a bold reminder of why this contest remains a cultural juggernaut: where kitsch, politics, avant-garde art, and pop bangers all collide on one very glittery stage.
