The City of Paris will hold an open-air broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Grand Final at Place de la Bastille, inviting fans to gather for a unique night of music, celebration, and national pride. This marks the first time the French capital has organized a public viewing event for the contest’s final. The event will take place on May 17, 2025, when the contest is held live from Basel, Switzerland. Hundreds of fans are expected to attend, filling the square with flags, songs, and high hopes for a French victory.
France will be represented this year by Louane with the song "Maman," a heartfelt ballad that has already caught the attention of Eurovision fans and bookmakers alike. A popular figure in French music, Louane brings both vocal power and emotional depth to her performance, placing her among the favorites to win. It would be the first victory for France since 1977 ("L’oiseau et l’enfant") and the first French-speaking song to receive the Crystal trophy since 1988 ("Ne partez pas sans moi"). As a member of the Big Five, the countries that automatically qualify for the final, France is guaranteed a spot in the Grand Final on May 17, 2025. In addition to the final, Louane will also appear in the second semi-final on May 15, 2025, as France is set to vote in that show.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands is also gearing up for the competition. Claude, representing the Netherlands, has just completed his second rehearsal on the stage of St. Jakobshalle in Basel. He is performing "C’est La Vie," a heartfelt tribute to his mother, who inspired him to embrace optimism in the face of adversity. The song carries a powerful message: even when life feels overwhelmingly dark, there is always a bright side worth holding on to.
Claude, originally from Congo, moved to the Netherlands at the age of nine. He recalls that he and his family first encountered the Eurovision Song Contest not long after he had moved, with all of them cheering together as Conchita Wurst won for Austria. A new annual tradition was born, and Claude has continued to follow the Eurovision Song Contest ever since. His love for music developed further, and with his unique voice and talent, Claude managed to conquer the music scene at home in the Netherlands. His breakthrough came in 2022 with the debut single "Ladada (Mon Dernier Mot)," which has gone on to amass over 57 million streams.
In 2024, Claude released his debut album "Parler Français," on which he co-wrote all the songs himself. With it, he’s been able to tour the Netherlands and Belgium with his band. In 2024, Claude also took on the role of Ambassador of Freedom, an honorable appointment that he found meant something extra special to him due to his own past. Claude now continues to impress on an international scale. The English-French version of "Ladada" has charted in over 15 countries, including Italy, where it reached the Top 10. And now with the international release of "Layla," Claude has strengthened his position as an artist with global allure.
During his rehearsal, Claude stepped onto the stage in a striking purple suit detailed with pearls—a look many fans may already recognize from his recent Instagram post. But it’s not just fashion that captures attention here. The rehearsal’s most visually impactful moment comes at the end: a sudden burst of vivid pink and blue floral graphics floods the screen, stretching across the LED wall, floor, and camera frame in a way that feels almost alive. This restrained use of digital effects earlier in the act makes the finale all the more breathtaking. Musically, the performance begins with gentle piano notes that introduce a sense of calm. That calm steadily builds into something more dynamic, peaking in the chorus with a deep, infectious bassline. It’s at this moment that the energy shifts from intimate to explosive.
Throughout the performance, Claude exudes a kind of effortless stage presence. His interaction with the camera isn’t forced—it’s intuitive, magnetic. Two contemporary dancers drift around him, entering and exiting the frame in a way that feels spontaneous, like movement in a dream or fleeting visitors to a celebration. Rather than following a linear narrative, the performance layers emotion, sound, and visuals in waves—culminating in a joyful crescendo that lingers long after the final note.
Looking ahead, the Dress Rehearsal for the Netherlands and the rest of the Semi-Final 1 participants is set for Monday, May 12. Fans are eager to see how Claude's performance unfolds in front of a live audience, as anticipation builds for the Eurovision Song Contest.
In addition to the excitement surrounding the performances, there are also changes afoot in the way Semi-Final qualifiers will be announced. Executive Producers Reto Peritz and Moritz Stadler confirmed that a new Semi-Final qualifiers announcement format is planned. Speaking to The Euro Trip Podcast, they stated that it looks fantastic and will bring "more emotions and more excitement to the show." This new format was last tested in 2023 at the contest in Liverpool, where all participants joined the hosts on stage for the announcement of the qualifiers, similar to what is seen on shows such as The X Factor.
While unable to provide explicit details on what the exact changes will be, the Executive Producers are clear that the new format will not be similar to what was trialed in Liverpool. The changes will be trialed during the Dress Rehearsals for Semi-Final One, which will take place on May 12, 2025.
Eurovision 2025 will take place in Basel, Switzerland, following Nemo's victory at the 2024 contest with their song "The Code," which scored an impressive 591 points, 365 from the jury and 226 from the televote. The 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will occur on May 13, 15, and 17, 2025, promising to be a memorable event filled with music, culture, and camaraderie.
