The lights dimmed inside the St. Jakobshalle in Basel this Wednesday afternoon as the first dress rehearsal of the second semi-final of Eurovision 2025 took place. Though not broadcast live, this technical run-through offered press and insiders the chance to see the full show in motion — including postcards, interval acts, and most importantly, how each delegation plans to bring their song to life on the Eurovision stage.
From fog-covered mountain ranges to techno clubs and tear-stained runways, this semi-final packs an emotional, visual and sonic journey across 16 competing countries — plus performances from France, Germany and the United Kingdom, who also vote in this show. Here’s everything that went down.
🇦🇺 Australia – Go-Jo – “Milkshake Man”
The show kicks off with Go-Jo in a full-blown retro TV infomercial fantasy, complete with a giant blender, mock presenters, and a hilarious transformation plot. There’s an elderly woman who turns into a glamorous assistant, Go-Jo himself tears off his suit mid-song, and even a mock Super Bowl-style interaction with cameras. By the end, we’re back in the 1950s credits with a wink and a shake.
🇲🇪 Montenegro – Nina Žižić – “Dobrodošli”
Montenegro opts for a stark, theatrical performance in tones of white and grey, led by Nina Žižić cloaked in symbolism. Visuals of moons and balance scales appear and dissolve as the camera wraps around her. The final reveal of a structured cape falling away adds an extra layer to a minimalist yet conceptual staging.
🇮🇪 Ireland – Emmy – “Laika Party”
This astronaut-themed number begins with Emmy in a futuristic helmet, standing atop a platform that mimics a space station. Her brother joins her on keys, while dancers surround the scene with low-gravity gestures. Visuals include space dogs, spaceships, and constellations. A late burst of pyrotechnics and Emmy’s command of the stage help lift the energy right before the first pause.
🇱🇻 Latvia – Tautumeitas – “Bur man laimi”
Latvia’s entry is rooted in visual poetry. They emerge from shimmering curtains like forest spirits, dressed in metallic traditional garb. Using dramatic lighting and intricate movement, they shape-shift from stone formations to a tree, with digital projections that suggest tails and transformations. Vocally united and visually mesmerizing.
🇦🇲 Armenia – Parg – “Survivor”
Parg begins his song running on a treadmill, surrounded by minimal lighting and white desaturated tones. As he stumbles and collapses, he appears to rise stronger. Fire elements and mirror effects accompany his revival, ending in an intense moment where he punches through the chaos. One of the most physically demanding performances of the night.
🇦🇹 Austria – JJ – “Wasted Love”
JJ delivers his number from aboard a black-and-white dreamlike sailboat, complete with fog and storm visuals. As he navigates loneliness, a paper boat flies above him, almost touching his hand. A lighthouse emerges from the sea as the final destination, drawing parallels to a shipwreck survivor seeking light. A poetic and vocally rich performance.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom – Remember Monday – “What The Hell Just Happened?”
This British trio leans into their theatrical roots, starting in a Victorian boudoir and ending in a vanity mirror shaped like a heart. Dramatic zooms, modern choreography and unexpected screen visuals keep the performance layered. Their harmonies are flawless, and the final “what the hell” moment lands with confidence.
🇬🇷 Greece – Klavdia – “Asteromata”
A spiritual, transformative performance led by Klavdia, who starts atop a rock in total darkness. A line of white light splits the screen and transforms into fire, while a dancer appears as her mirror soul. Birds fly. Statues weep. Flames circle her. And in the end, dressed in white, she’s reborn. A favorite among the press room.
🇱🇹 Lithuania – Katarsis – “Tavo akys”
Katarsis brings a post-apocalyptic ballad to life with floating debris, a collapsing house and cracked frozen lakes. Band members join the lead singer across the stage, and the camera slows for emotional punch. Lighting pulses with each “Tavo,” and it ends with a primal scream into the void. Stark. Raw. Cinematic.
🇲🇹 Malta – Miriana Conte – “Serving”
This is camp turned up to eleven. Miriana emerges from a giant pair of lips, struts in leopard projections, tosses a skirt into the crowd and sings while dancers wave yoga balls. A colosseum, a disco ball, and a giant golden heart all appear before the finale — which reads in bold letters: “Diva Not Down.” Eurovision at its boldest.
🇬🇪 Georgia – Mariam Shengelia – “Freedom”
Draped in white, Mariam opens motionless on a rising platform. Her dancers carry white flags of peace, and a memorable costume change shifts her into a red-and-white bodysuit. There’s a powerful duet-like sequence with a dancer that mirrors her, and the final lift as she extends her arms brings the crowd to its feet.
Interval Segment: Commentators and Cabins
During a scheduled break, the spotlight turned to the commentary booths, where we met the Icelandic commentator(complete with a brief attempt at Icelandic from the host), the Danish representative, and finally the veteran French-language commentator for Switzerland, who’s covered 34 editions of the contest. Meanwhile, arena crew members began spreading sand across the stage, preparing for what came next.
🇫🇷 France – Louane – “Maman” (Pre-qualified)
Louane brings emotion with sand raining down on her from above, as she lies in it, clutching a glass hourglass. Her voice is haunting, though perhaps slightly overwhelmed by the visual concept. A mirror hidden beneath the sand, delicate projection work, and a final whisper of “maman” — voiced by her daughter — close the act on a deeply personal note. Visually poetic, despite a minor camera hiccup.
🇩🇰 Denmark – Sissal – “Hallucination”
With a revamped, more electronic version, Sissal stuns in a white coat that’s pulled away to reveal a shimmering electric-blue bodysuit. Her platform becomes a chamber of swirling lights and shadows, while she walks the runway in a flurry of colors and fog. A mic drop moment arrives when she’s lifted mid-song, cloaked in pink tones, amidst light bursts and a theatrical final note. Technical slip-ups with camera angles aside, this is a strong visual upgrade.
🇨🇿 Czechia – Adonxs – “Kiss Kiss Goodbye”
Czechia delivers one of the most minimalist yet emotionally piercing stagings. Adonxs, in monochrome, sings while a monument-like structure looms behind him (visually similar to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe). The dance break flashes red before returning to white. The final a cappella note, paired with the bookending black horizontal stripes, leaves a subtle yet unforgettable impression.
🇱🇺 Luxembourg – Laura Thorn – “La poupée monte le son”
A France Gall-inspired opening sees Laura in a dollhouse setting, shown on a vintage TV. She begins lying down, then is lifted into a full set. Slick choreo with dancers in a line, and a seamless costume reveal to a sparkling evening gownbring glamour. The final chorus erupts as the dollhouse explodes behind her. Much improved from earlier rehearsals — crisp, focused, and vocally commanding.
🇩🇪 Germany – Abor & Tynna – “Baller” (Pre-qualified)
A full-blown Berlin club fantasy unfolds as Tynna emerges from behind a curtain of smoke, leading us through a rave inside speaker-like structures. She tosses her skirt into the audience, sings next to her brother on cello, and is lifted into position for the explosive bridge. Flames, flashing words (Baller), and high-risk choreography build up to a pyro-packed conclusion. Energetic, chaotic — and it works.
🇷🇸 Serbia – Princ – “Mila”
Princ delivers an art performance of light and shadow, dressed in deep red and surrounded by dancers in black. The staging moves from a symbolic ocean and eye, to a descent into fire and darkness, to his ascension into a heavenly blue light. Projections of his face, a fiery scream, and a final elevation with his fist raised create one of the most emotionally charged arcs of the show.
🇫🇮 Finland – Erika Vikman – “Ich komme”
Erika Vikman closes the semi-final in grand diva fashion, starting inside a low cage-like platform before striding down a runway that shifts colors beneath her. Live vocals are supported by hidden backing singers, but she commands attention alone. For the final act, she returns to her golden microphone, climbs atop it, and is hoisted into the air as flames surround her. “Ich komme” blazes across the screens. A breathtaking finish.
Final Thoughts
From the explosive camp of Malta to the raw artistry of Serbia, and from Finland’s elevation to Greece’s ethereal journey — this semi-final is packed with inventive staging, risky choices, and powerful storytelling. While technical tweaks are still expected, several entries made a clear case for qualification and even top spots in the final.
The second semi-final of Eurovision 2025 airs live on Thursday, 15 May, and ESCplus International will be bringing you full coverage and analysis live from Basel.