Eurovision 2025 is beginning to take shape as several participating countries have announced their representatives for the upcoming contest. The spotlight is particularly on Austria and Greece, where selections have captured attention, alongside updates from the UK and other participating nations.
Austria has chosen 23-year-old opera singer JJ, whose full name is Johannes Pietsch. Hailing from Vienna, the countertenor is currently affiliated with the state opera there. JJ will perform a song co-written by Teya, who previously represented Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with the track 'Who the Hell is Edgar?' Although the title of the song remains under wraps, JJ reveals it will blend the worlds of opera and pop, promising to impress audiences. "It's gonna be cooler than me," he quipped, creating buzz around the entry. The song is expected to be released sometime in March 2025.
Meanwhile, Greece crowned Klavdia as the winner of its national selection show, Ethnikós Telikós 2025, which took place at the Christmas Theatre in Galatsi, Athens. Klavdia triumphed with her song "Asteromata" (Starry-eyed) against eleven competitors. The event, hosted by Eurovision 2005 winner Helena Paparizou and Eurovision veteran Sakis Rouvas, featured performances from past entrants, reinforcing Greece's rich Eurovision history. The voting mechanism combined points from both national and international juries, resulting in Klavdia's win with 44 points, marking her as the representative for Greece at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.
The event saw the following artists and their respective points: Evangelia with 'Vale' (42 points) took second place, with BARBZ and their entry 'Sirens' coming third with 30 points. Klavdia's upcoming performance will occur during the first half of the second semi-final on May 15, 2025, set to be hosted in Basel, Switzerland.
The anticipation for Eurovision 2025 heightens with the UK yet to reveal its entry. Scott Mills, who has been teasing updates on his BBC Radio 2 program, shared with listeners, "I heard our Eurovision song yesterday... It's good." He refrained from disclosing the artist but confirmed the act will be kept under wraps until March, when the European Broadcasting Union imposes its deadline for song reveals.
While interest builds around the UK’s entry, excitement also lingers over the voter's favorites from early Eurovision entries. A recent poll revealed Luxembourg’s Laura Thorn leading with her song 'La poupée monte le son,' accounting for 39.79% of the votes. The competition aims to continue with artist selections from Belgium, Greece, Spain, and Slovenia shortly.
Notably, the grand final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 will take place on May 17, after two semi-finals on May 13 and 15, all hosted at St Jakobshalle. This reflects Basel's successful hosting of the event following Nemo’s win with 'The Code' in 2024.
Klavdia's entry and JJ's opera-pop fusion demonstrate the wide-ranging styles and genres participating this year, making Eurovision 2025 one to watch. The event not only showcases talent but also builds on the commitment of the European Broadcasting Union to create safe and inclusive spaces for artists, following controversies from previous years.
Indeed, the stakes for aspiring Eurovision participants are high, and the stories behind each entry contribute to the vigor of the contest. The new measures implemented by the Eurovision organizers aim to protect the well-being of performers, fostering a more supportive environment than previous years.
With voting from various nations expected to stir discussions and opinions, what will be the ultimate climax at Eurovision 2025? Will JJ's unique proposal outshine Klavdia’s starry-eyed charm? With the selection process still underway and much left to reveal, Eurovision fans are set for thrilling months leading up to the contest.