Will a novice reign as the ESC champion?
The energy in the hall is intense as Croatia makes its way onto the stage. Surprisingly, "Rim Tim Tagi Dim" by Baby Lasagna was initially allocated as a substitute following Croatia's preliminary round. Nonetheless, this doesn't hamper the home team's confidence. The Croatian public broadcaster has already scheduled the Zagreb Arena for the subsequent spring.
22:52 Reference to the Israel-Gaza conflict
Portuguese performer Iolanda is the first to address the Israel-Gaza conflict during the show. An emblem of a kefiyah can be seen on her nails. Following her performance, she takes her leave by saying "May peace prevail."
22:33 Spain and Greece's entries grab attention
So far, the entries from Spain and Greece have garnered good attention in the hall. Nebulossa's "Zorra" and Marina Satti's performance have both received an enthusiastic response. At present, Windows95man from Finland is performing. There are still nine entries yet to come before the voting begins.
22:12 Absent at rehearsal: Irish and Greek entries stick to the script
The Irish and Greek entries proceed as planned, as does the first absence during rehearsals. Bambie Thug from Ireland and Marina Satti from Greece had opted not to attend the final rehearsal. No official reason has been provided for their absence; however, Bambie Thug had previously made headlines by advocating for Israel's exclusion.
21:46 Greta Thunberg detained by the police
As reported by the Swedish paper "Expressen," a chaotic situation broke out between the pro-Palestinian protesters and the police. Greta Thunberg, a renowned climate activist, was taken into custody by the police.
21:39 Audio issues during the Israeli entry
The musical portion of the event is kicking off in the hall now. Host Sweden opens the scene, followed by Ukraine and Germany. After Luxembourg's contribution, the Netherlands is skipped. During Eden Golan's performance of "Hurricane," there is some commotion in the audience. Other than that, the performance goes smoothly.
21:21 Artists filing into the hall
The event commences with every country making their entrance, along with iconic Swedish pop songs. The atmosphere becomes slightly unnerved for a brief moment when the Israeli artist Eden Golan takes the stage.
20:50 Israel's Foreign Minister: Let's show the haters who's in charge
Prior to the commencement of the final, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz expresses his support for Eden Golan. "Eden bravely confronts overwhelming hatred and antisemitism," Katz states. "Today, we show all the detractors who's in charge." Israel's participation and performance faced considerable opposition in the lead-up to and during the music competition due to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Multiple calls for Israel's exclusion were instigated.
The most significant musical event in the world is in full swing. The Eurovision Song Contest's final unfolds in Malmö, Sweden. Twenty-five nations are still vying for victory. Keep up with the action as it unfolds in real time in our live ticker.
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Sweden is known for its rich music scene, contributing numerous entries to the Eurovision Song Contest over the years. Sweden's PR agency, Essential Media & Events, is also responsible for organizing the contest, demonstrating the country's strong involvement in this global entertainment event.
After a successful performance at the Eurovision Song Contest, many Swedish acts, like ABBA and Eurovision winner Loreen, have gained international popularity and showcased Swedish music to the world, further solidifying Sweden's reputation as a musical powerhouse.
Source: www.ntv.de
