Jury evaluations show a clear standout favorite.
First is the showcase of the jury scores from various nations. This is then followed by the number of points earned by the spectators. Germany appears on the scoreboard frequently, but Switzerland is usually the leader. At this point, 14 countries have awarded a total of 148 points to Nemo.
23:57 - ESC boss booed as Germany receives initial pointsThe audience voting process has ended, and ESC's Martin Österdal announces, "We're good to go." There's widespread booing against Österdal, likely due to him preventing Joost Klein from performing. The first points for Germany originate from both Ukraine and Great Britain.
23:43 - Last year's winner Loreen performs a new songThe reason why the ESC is being held in Malmö is Loreen, the singer who won the competition twice last year. Today she entertains the crowd outside the competition. She's mulling over the possibility of a third participation in the future.
23:30 - All songs are shown, Conchita Wurst sings "Waterloo"As all 25 songs have been showcased, the viewers are treated to a quick recap of these performances. Swedish band Alcazar fills the time between points with the song "Crying at the Discoteque" from 2003. This piece is followed by an AI-generated ABBA tribute that resembles Sweden's ESC victory 50 years ago. ABBA's iconic "Waterloo" is also performed live, with Conchita Wurst included in the performance.
23:11 - Is there a chance for a late entrant to win?The venue is abuzz with excitement during Croatia's presentation, despite the fact that baby Lasagna's "Rim Tim Tagi Dim" was only a backup act during the Croatian preliminaries. The confidence in a victory in Croatia is palpable, with the public broadcaster already booking Zagreb Arena for the upcoming season.
22:52 - A performer references the conflict in GazaPortuguese artist Iolanda becomes the first one to allude to the current situation in Gaza during the broadcast. A kufiya pattern is illustrated on her nails. Upon completing her performance, she wishes "Peace will prevail."
22:33 - Spain's entry garners a positive response in MalmöThe Spanish and Greek artists have generated much enthusiasm from the audience. Thousands join in singing "Zorra" by duo Nebulossa. Greek singer Marina Satti's performance showcases the South American Latin pop style. Finland's "Windows95man" is currently being performed. With only eight entries left, the voting process is almost underway.
22:12 - Rehearsal absences from Ireland and GreeceIreland's Bambie Thug and Greece's Marina Satti both skipped the dress rehearsal without an official reason. There were rumors surrounding Bambie Thug's absence, as she previously advocated for Israel's exclusion from the festival.
21:46 - Police confront pro-Palestinian demonstratorsPrior to the start of the final, a group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators reportedly had a physical altercation with the police outside Malmö Arena, as per a Swedish newspaper. The atmosphere is "agitated", and Climate change activist Greta Thunberg was taken into custody by police.
21:39 - Audio: distressing whistling during Israel's performanceAs the musical aspect of the event unfolds in the hall, Sweden kicks it off, followed by positive responses to Ukrainian and German contributions. The song "Hurricane" by Israeli artist Eden Golan was met with whistles in the crowd. Apart from that, the performance went smoothly.
21:21 - Loud protests nearby the arenaA protest against the ESC is occurring outside the Malmö Arena. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators can be heard yelling, "Shame on you," at the spectators as they enter the building. There were multiple altercations between protestors and police, with police successfully preventing some demonstrators from breaking through the security perimeter.
21:08 - Each country enters the stageThe evening kicks off with all participating nations entering, accompanied by popular Swedish songs. The Israeli artist, Eden Golan, receives some negative reactions upon entering the stage.
20:50 - Israel's Foreign Minister implies support for ZionismIsraeli Foreign Minister Isaac Katz supports singer Eden Golan right before the final. "Eden embodies pride against deep-seated hatred and antisemitism," he writes on Twitter. "Today we demonstrate to all the haters who is in command." Israel's participation faced severe backlash for its related conflict in Gaza, with calls to oust Israel from the festival.
Get ready for the most massive music event on the planet! The Eurovision Song Contest finals are happening right now in Malmö, Sweden. Although Dutch singer Joost Klein has been disqualified, 25 nations are still rocking it. Stay updated with real-time updates in our live ticker.
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Despite Sweden being known for its music and being the host nation for the Eurovision Song Contest, Nemo from another country, not Sweden, has gained a significant lead with 148 points from 14 nations. (Sweden, Music, Eurovision Song Contest, Points)
Later in the event, viewers are treated to a tribute performance of ABBA's iconic "Waterloo," featuring Conchita Wurst, representing the reconciliation and integration of different music styles at the Eurovision Song Contest. (Sweden, Music, Eurovision Song Contest, Entertainment, Conchita Wurst, ABBA)
Source: www.ntv.de
