Tonight (21:00 CET) it is finally going to happen, the Grand Final of the 67th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in this year’s host city, Liverpool, in the United Kingdom! The 2023 contest is a joint venture, because Ukraine is the winner of the 2022 contest, but because of the war with Russia, the Ukrainians are not able to organize a contest on home soil, whilst the United Kingdom stepped in to organize the contest for them.
Who is the clear winner? No idea, it is pretty much everybody’s game, because the hype surrounding some acts has been unreal for months, and for some the hype started when footage of their first rehearsals was disclosed. I got the chance to see the first dress rehearsal of the Grand Final yesterday and I have to say that halfway I was just jumpy and pumped because of the visual impact of most of the songs, it is a great show. In short: It is going to be an exciting evening!
The contestant of the 2023 Grand Final
Below you can find all 26 contestants of this year’s Grand Final and a bit of context about their performance.
Austria
Teya & Salena – Who the hell is Edgar?
This is a fun opening of this year’s Grand Final. The song, that is also a bit of middle finger to today’s unempathetic, internet-driven society, is well-performed and is catchy like no other.
Portugal
Mimicat – Ai Coração
Burlesque mixed with fado, who knew that this was even a thing?! Mimicat’s voice reaches every corner of the arena, and I am sure she will do well.
Switzerland
Remo Forrer – Watergun
Remo has the looks of a 14-year old, but the voice of somebody who is twice his age, and he is an amazing soul and performer. We are rooting for him and his performance.
Poland
Blanka – Solo
A lot has been said and written about this Polish entry, but let’s be honest here, whether she will do good tonight or not, I can totally imagine myself in a car, windows down, and playing this Summer song. I am actually pretty sure she is going to do well though.
Serbia
Luke Black – Samo mi se spava
This song is for the Kpop, Japanese, manga-loving, emo type of youngsters, and I. This song has all the elements I love, but not necessarily for the Eurovision Song Contest. Great performance though.
France
La Zarra – Évidemment
For me, this song can go both ways; or it does really well, because of its magical staging, or it is just there, and does not seem to go nowhere. I love the whole thing, but the live version is also repetitive and less powerful than the recorded version.
Cyprus
Andrew Lambrou – Break a broken heart
Beautiful Cypriot man sings with a powerful voice. Great! The thing is though, that in a mix with 25 other songs this song might get lost. Wonderful, impactful staging nonetheless.
Spain
Blanca Paloma – Eaea
Personally I love this artistic interpretation of authentic Spanish flamenco type of music. Well-sung and the staging is amazing. I do think that people might not get that this is typical Spanish music, and they will simply interpret it as a lot of screaming. It is in my personal top 10 though.
Sweden
Loreen – Tattoo
I have to say that I love Loreen, this woman has so much energy and good vibes oozing out of her pores, but because this song is so hyped, I feel that I already know it upside-down and inside-out. The public may not, and will hopefully vote Loreen to a second or maybe even first place.
Albania
Albina & Familja Kelmendi – Duje
This is what ‘’Eurovision’’ is for me, a whole family singing an ethnic song in their own language, and it perfectly fits this year’s theme, “United by music”. I was surprised that they got into the Grand Final, and I hope they will make it to top 10.
Italy
Marco Mengoni – Due vite
Italy sends the enigma Marco Mengoni. His voice is impeccable, and he has the good looks to support his message. Do I think that this is the type of song the Italy has send numerous times already? Yes. Will it do well tonight? Also yes. Will reach top 10.
Estonia
Alika – Bridges
Not a whole lot of ballads in this year’s contest, which makes it easier for Switzerland and Estonia, I guess. This song means the world to me because of its lyrics. I was mesmerized that the audience voted Alika to the Grand Final, and I hope she will do well, maybe not top 10, but maybe 11.
Finland
Käärijää – Cha cha cha
I like this song from Finland, although my “personal” thing with it is that the nay-sayers might be saying that when you wear a crazy costume and you have frantic staging, you can win the contest. I do get why youngsters will probably vote this to a top 3 position, because this song is catchy as $#%@, and Käärijää has shown during his Eurovision adventure that he is the nicest!
Czechia
Vesna – My sister’s crown
The message of this song I like, but the staging is off for me, and I cannot subside from that. Will this song do well? On its own, yes. In a mix with 25 other acts? I do not think so.
Australia
Voyager – Promise
Cool ‘80’s synth pop for the ages, and I am totally here for it! I think that Slovenia’s Joker out and Australia’s Voyager were the bands to beat this year, and they are both in the Grand Final, so I like to see how this plays out.
Belgium
Gustaph – Because of you
Belgium’s Gustaph brings ‘90’s house with a fierce LGBTQIA+ vibe and the same kind of queer community message, and I love it. Why not use the contest to convey a message of love and understanding. Everytime Gustaph performs the crowd goes wild.
Armenia
Brunette – Future love
The staging of this song might be the biggest surprise of the Semi-finals. The interpretation of this song, that is really about mental health issues, is so meticulously done that it is fantastic. I hope this will do really well.
Moldova
Pasha Parfeni – Soarele si luna
My ‘’personal’’ least favourite of this year. I do not like the shaman, Game of thrones-style of the staging and the song itself, I do have to admit to the musical chorus being catchy. Not my thing, sorry.
Ukraine
TVORCHI – Heart of steel
This song on its own is a nice RnB jam, but nothing more, but combined with the really cool LED visuals the staging has to offer, this song is lifted to new heights. Will probably do well, but will not reach third or fourth place, like the bookmakers state (or maybe it does?).
Norway
Alessandra – Queen of kings
For me, this is also a song that has been hyped for months when it was out there alone or with a couple of this year’s entries, but in the 2023 Grand Final it now feels as not the best out there. Sure, Alessandra might make it to top 10, but I somehow think the overall result might be disappointing.
Germany
Lord of the lost – Blood & glitter
The staging of this song is really cool, and it really feels like a mini rock concert, but there is too much of everything: An angry sunding song, grunting, screaming, and much more. At the end of its three minutes you feel all jumpy. Check out other music from Lord of the lost though, they are good!
Lithuania
Monika Linkytė – Stay
I was kind of surprised when this song made it into the Grand Final, because although it is well-sung, the staging is off for me; Monika walking to every member of her all-female choir as to ask “are you Ok?” The song, with a high Lion King-vibe does have its attractions, but not to be in the top.
Israel
Noa Kirel – Unicorn
Everybody rise for Eurovision 2023’s queen of pop, Noa Kirel! This song has it all: Strong singing, frantic dancing, hair flips, a dance break, great visuals on the LED screens, and a hot singer. This will do well, because youngsters will eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! And yes, it is kind of phenome, phenome, phenomenal!
Slovenia
Joker out – Carpe diem
The guys are nice, the song is a bop, the staging I could do without. This song and its on-stage interpretation shows that Eurovision is about so much more than just a catchy song, because the guys of Joker out ae so charming and Harry Styles-inspired that when you live in the now you almost must like them.
Croatia
Let 3 – Mama ŠČ
How manic this song and performance might be, it is a great interpretation of the crazy times we live in. Life seems to fan out in all sorts of different ways, both positive and negative, and that is also what Let 3 wants to say with this song, “choose love not war”, and come together. Great!
United Kingdom
Mae Muller – I wrote a song
Although this song is a bop, if I ever heard one, it also kind of fizzles out when it comes down to its live interpretation, it is just there, and nothing more. The staging is impeccable, and Mae looks pretty, it is the “interpretation” of the song that does not work for me.
Prediction
The final battle will be between Finland and Sweden, and in this regard I hope Sweden will win. I silently hope that there will be a surprise between the professional jury votes and televotes, because there are just two songs of the 26 that I could do without. So excited!
EUROVISION 2023
The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will take place on May 9th, 11th, and 13th 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. 37 countries will compete for the crown. This year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be a joint venture, since last year’s winner Ukraine cannot organize the contest on home soil because of the ongoing war with Russia.
