On Saturday 5 April 2025 no less than 30 (of the 37 competing 2025 acts) took the stage in the AFAS Lives venue in Amsterdam (The Netherlands) to showcase their entry for an international live audience. This pre-party marks the opening of the Eurovision 2025 pre-party seasons in which all 2025 artists promote their songs in different countries.
Reviews of the 30 performances
In this article our reporter, Denis, made an attempt to review all the 30 performances of Eurovision in Concert 2025. Keep in mind that these reviews are short “personal” opinions about the dressed-down versions of what the performances will look like on the grand Eurovision stage, as some acts do not have dancers, the lighting used in Eurovision, other outfits, etc. The reaction of the audience might be a bit of an indication though, because Eurovision is in the end all about the fans.
The reviews
Norway: Kyle Alessandro – Lighter
An energetic, solid performance in which 19-year old Kyle sings and dances. Will do well with youngsters. The crowd really liked it. The dance break made the whole performance complete.
Azerbaijan: Mamagama – Run With U
Mix of electro-pop and also ethnic beats, which is great. The high-pitched singing might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but overall a great live performance. Surprising song from Azerbaijan.
Ireland: Emmy – Laika Party
Sweet song about the legendary Russian stray dog, Laika, who was sent into space as one of the first living earthly creatures. The hook of this song will stick with you. Catchy, cutes, and very likable.
Ukraine: Ziferblat – Bird of Pray
Will do well, but the song also feels like multiple songs are pressed together and are presented as one. Not my thing, but certainly not bad. It feels like for a specific taste, which can work or not.
Georgia: Mariam Shengelia – Freedom
Powerful ballad, but not very memorable, it is just there. Mariam looks pretty as can be, so it might be the combination of her great singing and her appearance that brings her good results.
Denmark: Sissal – Hallucination
A great type of Eurodance song by Sissal. Well-sung, very powerful. Denmark needs some extra love this year, as they were not in the Grand Final for 4 consecutive years. Must qualify!
Luxembourg: Laura Thorn – La Poupée Monte Le Son
Catchy song, but also sounds very dated, like Luxembourg’s France Gall has returned to sing her winning 1965 song “Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son”. Well-sung by Laura, just not very “now”.
Montenegro: Nina Žižić – Dobrodošli
Well-sung, pretty singer, good performance, but so not my thing. I think this will do very well with the Balkan countries, but I do not think there is enough there to discover for other audiences.
Croatia: Marko Bošnjak – Poison Cake
On social media you can feel the buzz from youngsters really liking this song, but to me this tune feels all over the place. The chorus is Marko angrily singing “Poison Cake” a great many times.
United Kingdom: Remember Monday – What the Hell Just Happened
This song might not be for everyone, because the chorus starts confusing, but those harmonies though! These girls sing on-point. Amazing! It will be do or die for the UK with this entry.
Poland: Justyna Steczkowska – Gaja
The Polish are living for this, I can tell on social media. To me this song and performance are a lot of everything, but nothing sticks. The stage presence of Justyna is omnipresent though.
Armenia: PARG – Survivor
The chorus of this song is simple and effective, so to me this is definitely a qualifier. Everything about this song will stick in especially the Semi-Final. Memorable chorus, good voice, cute guy.
Malta: Miriana Conte – Serving
The BBC gave Miriana some extra promo when they demanded she would change the chorus and the name of the song, but obviously the crowd present will add the specific word for her. Has written qualifier all over it.
Belgium: Red Sebastian – Strobe Lights
I really like the ’90 rave-theme of this song, but somehow, after this performance, I was a little underwhelmed. Might be because it is the dressed-down version. Rooting for this song though.
Portugal: NAPA – Deslocado
Definitely not my personal favourite of the songs presented, but Portugal qualified before with a song like this, so who knows. There is no hook to this song for me, it feels “just there”.
Iceland: VAEB – RÓA
Iceland sends their version of Jedward, and yes, these brothers are just as catchy. I do not know whether the international likability factor is there, but who cares, it is a party on stage anyway.
Slovenia: Klemen – How Much Time Do We Have Left
This song will be hit or miss for Slovenia. Klemen looks very likable, the song is a little grim though. It is a welcome song after a lot of up-tempo ones, but I do not know how much it sticks.
Spain: Melody – Esa Diva
Better than 2024’s Nebulossa, more international than 2023’s Blanca Paloma, but unfortunately none of the 2022’s Chanel vibes. Will be received well, but the overall result might not be as expected.
Czechia: ADONXS – Kiss Kiss Goodbye
Well-sung and very energetic. This song has the potential to qualify and do well. There is a dance break, which enhances the performance. Yeah, Czechia might be in the Grand Final again.
Germany: Abor & Tynna – Baller
Very now. Has CharliXCX vibes, which is a good thing. The chorus sticks like no other. I really dig this song, also because it is in German, which gives it authentic vibes. Pretty cool!
Australia: Go-Jo – Milkshake Man
This is not only about the song, this is all about the overall performance. The song is too thin to spread, so Go-Jo needs to come up with a crowd arousing performance. Very sink or swim.
San Marino: Gabry Ponte – Tutta L’Italia
I am always amazed by the extensive national final of San Marino, and the representative they eventually distil from it. The song is Ok, but if the music is not live, why send a DJ, or is that just me?
Lituania: Katarsis – Tavo Akys
This song and performance is so not me, but maybe youngsters or more alternative music lovers of the contest will dig this. Hard to judge this, it is giving me nothing. Personal opinion of course, mind you.
Serbia: Princ – Mila
I think this song and performance will do really well with the Balkan audience. It is a Balkan ballad like we have heard many times before, sung well by a Disney-like “Princ” this time around.
Albania: Shkodra Elektronike – Zjerm
Electric and authentic. I like this a lot. Albania is one of those countries that is not necessarily annually looking for a Eurovision song, but rather a song the Albanians like. This might qualify.
Austria: JJ – Wasted Love
This is a-ma-zing! JJ is this peat-high boy with a modern opera voice that reaches all corners, and more, of an arena. Very high on the Nemo vibes, but this whole performance just hits all nerves.
France: Louane – Maman
The best ballad of this year, if it is up to me personally. Somehow I do miss the kick that, for example, a Céline Dion song has after the bridge, but still a pretty solid entry from France.
Finland: Erika Vikman – Ich Komme
A great vocal and overall performance by this female Finnish power house. The song is so absurd that you cannot do anything else than jump around and clap. Be aware she is coming! Certain qualifier.
Estonia: Tommy Cash – Espresso Machiato
Weird, catchy, and that spaghetti dance, what is there not to love about this song? This song will stick with you (far) beyond Eurovision, and also has European (and beyond) Summer hit potential.
Netherlands: Claude – C’est la Vie
I am Dutch, so I am biased. On social media this song gets a lot of buzz, but I am not so certain of the potential winner vibes, now that I have seen 29 other performances. Makes me (re)think…
Overall
At first, and I am just being honest here, I thought it was not going to be the most exciting of years in the land of Eurovision, but I have changed my thought on the matter after this edition of Eurovision in Concert 2025. The countries that will do well are not written in stone just yet. So, there is a lot to be excited for when all countries take the Eurovision stage upcoming May. There are ballads, there are up-tempo songs, there are sweet lyrics, there are ones that will make you blush, and there is much more to enjoy this year. Cannot wait! Can you?
Eurovision 2025
The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 will take place in Basel (Switzerland), in the St. Jakobshalle to be precise. The dates of the contest are 13, 15, and 17 May 2025.