At 22:02, Isaak maintains top 10 standing as Netherlands allots points amid boos
Germany hasn't reached 12 points yet. Switzerland, Ukraine, and sometimes France usually get the highest score. However, Isaak still manages to hold onto a respectable 10th place after two-thirds of the jury votes. Das Hall boos loudly when the Dutch jury gives Österdahl their points. The Netherlands were banned from competing, but they were allowed to give out points. A hefty 12 points go to - you guessed it - Switzerland.
00:08: Jury FavoritesWe see the jury scores from each country next, followed by audience points. Germany gets points often, but Switzerland usually takes the lead. After 14 countries, Nemo has amassed 148 points.
23:57: ESC Chief Gets Booed - First Points for GermanyThe voting lines close, and ESC mastermind Martin Österdahl announces, "We're ready to go." There are quite noticeable boos from the crowd, possibly due to the decision not to let Joost Klein compete. The first points for Germany come from both Ukraine and England.
23:43: Last year's winner Loreen Croons a New SongThe reason behind hosting the ESC in Malmö this year is Loreen. She won the European music contest twice last year. Tonight, she's providing a non-competing performance - but she's not completely ruling out a third stint in the future.
23:30: All Acts Displayed - Conchita Wurst Covering "Waterloo"We've seen all 25 performances now. The viewer votes were just shown again in a fast-forward sequence. Alcazar performs "Crying at the Discoteque," a classic that's been around for 14 years, to bridge the time until points are announced. Then, an AI-generated ABBA tribute commemorates Sweden's ESC victory 50 years ago. The winners sang "Waterloo" at the time - and so will Conchita Wurst now.
23:11: Will a Latecomer Take Home the ESC Crown?There's a fantastic vibe in the hall during Croatia's performance, despite Baby Lasagna's "Rim Tim Tagi Dim" being a late entry after the Croatian pre-round. The air of victory is palpable in Croatia itself, as the Croatian Public Broadcaster has already booked the Zagreb Arena for next spring.
22:52: First Reference to the Gaza WarPortuguese singer Iolanda is the first one to allude to the Gaza conflict during the show. She sports a kufiya pattern on her nails. After her set, she says farewell with, "Peace will prevail."
22:33: Spain's Entry Takes Center StageSo far, Spain and Greece have received the best reactions in the hall. Thousands are singing along to the song "Zorra" by the duo Nebulossa in the room. The Greeks' Marina Satti's number sounds a lot like South American Latin pop. Finland's "Windows95man" is currently on stage. There are still nine acts left before the voting.
22:12: Irish Performance As Planned - Missing RehearsalThe Irish performance and Greece's Marina Satti's go smoothly, just as scheduled. Both Ireland's Bambie Thug and Greece's Marina Satti had skipped the dress rehearsal. The reasons for their absence are unofficial, although Bambie Thug stirred controversy earlier today by demanding Israel's exclusion.
21:46: Greta Thunberg Arrested by PoliceGreta Thunberg, the Swedish climate change activist, has been detained by police earlier, according to Swedish newspaper "Expressen." A journalist present describes a highly tensed environment.
21:39: Protests and Heated Exchanges during Israeli PerformanceNow we've moved on to the musical portion of the evening inside the hall. The hosts, Sweden, start things off, followed by contributions from Ukraine and Germany, both met with applause. After Luxembourg, the Netherland's Jewel Gardens get skipped. The song "Hurricane" by Israeli singer Eden Golan generates some booing in the hall, but the performance generally goes well.
21:21: Outdoor ProtestsOutside the Malmö Arena, there are loud protests. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators are yelling, "Shame on you," as spectators make their way to the arena, according to an AFP reporter on the scene. There have been multiple skirmishes between protesters and police. The police manage to hold back some protesters trying to reach the security zone in front of the arena and bust through it.
21:08: The Artists Enter the StageThe program starts with the entrance of all the nations, accompanied by famous Swedish pop songs. The Israeli artist Eden Golan's entry causes a little commotion for a moment.
7:50 PM Israel's Foreign Minister Speaks in Support of Contestant
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz publicly supports singer Eden Golan prior to the finale of the Eurovision Song Contest. Katz takes to social media platform X and shares his admiration for Golan: "Eden proudly endures immense hatred and anti-Semitism." He goes on to declare, "Today we show all the haters who is in the lead." As Israel competes in the biggest music show, they've faced significant opposition. Due to the ongoing war in Gaza, there have been demands to exclude Israel from the competition.
Follow the latest updates on the Eurovision Song Contest live ticker.
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Isaak's music continues to impress, maintaining top 10 standing even amid boos during the Netherlands' point allocation. Sweden, known for its strong presence in the Eurovision Song Contest, is gearing up to celebrate its 50th ESC victory anniversary with an ABBA tribute, which will include Conchita Wurst singing "Waterloo."
Source: www.ntv.de
