From our correspondent in Liverpool (UK)
Who will succeed the Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra? The answer on the night of Saturday to Sunday, after the Eurovision final at the M & S Bank Arena in Liverpool. On paper, a favorite stands out clearly among the twenty-six songs in the running, but the games are not over. 20 minutes reviews the artists best placed to win the trophy and imagines what the top 10 might look like.
1. Finland (Käärijä)
The Finn in the fluorescent green bolero is the candidate who has the most wind in his sails this week. He made an impression during Tuesday’s semi-final with his Cha Cha Cha sassy. The song is incredibly effective and the staging is memorable. It passes in the middle of the show, just after two ballads, those of Italy and Estonia, so it will stand out more. The way seems paved for his victory, unless…
2. Sweden (Loreen)
Unless what many predict comes to pass because, of course, we must not forget Loreen, the great favorite of fans and bookmakers who, at the time of this writing, estimate that she has a one in two chance to impose. The singer, who already won the competition in 2012 with Euphoriawill sing Tattoosa piece that allows him to deploy his vocal power on an epic scenography.
3. Spain (Blanca Paloma)
Attention heartbreak. This is undoubtedly the song in the running that has the greatest quantity of the unstoppable ingredient to win Eurovision: authenticity. Blanca Paloma’s “very personal” song is a tribute to her grandmother and, through her, to women and their strength. Flamenco mixes with modern sounds for a pagan musical ritual. It’s bewitching. But also very divisive, which could cost him a few points.
4. Israel (Noa Kirel)
Last year, the Spaniard Chanel finished third with SloMo, a rather generic and all-purpose up-tempo song that she sublimated with her charisma and a dance bridge that left her speechless. This Saturday, it will be the Israeli candidate who will shine in this register.
5. Italy (Marco Mengoni)
He is a star in Italy. He is crowned with 71 platinum records for a career that began in 2009. And he is about to embark on a stadium tour in Italy. Suffice to say that Marco Mengoni does not need Eurovision to shine. This guy is charm and quiet strength, but with just enough vulnerability to win us over completely. With Due Quicklyit should particularly attract the favors of the juries…
6. France (La Zarra)
Impossible is not French. La Zarra may prove it this Saturday evening but the task of winning the trophy promises to be difficult. Firstly because the competition is very strong, but also because she will be on stage relatively early. She will be the sixth to perform and twenty other artists will follow. If she assures vocally and that public and juries are not destabilized by the tricolor flag and the passage on “great France”, then a good place awaits her. Obviously.
7. Australia (Travelling)
promise, it’s well-rounded synth-metal that will stand out in a second half of the finale that’s a little flat-flat. The eighties side is enticing and the band’s performance on stage is a burst of energy. We can’t help but shake our heads while chanting “ah-oh, ah-oh, ah-oh, oh-oh”. There is no doubt that the jury will be able to reserve a good stock of points for Voyager. The unknown is on the side of the public who tend to snub Australia.
8. Belgium (Gustaph)
We would not have bet much on the Belgian candidacy this year, but we must recognize that Because of You remains in the lead and proves to be unifying. It feels more like being in a New York club than in an Antwerp club, but that’s also Eurovision: opening up horizons and ignoring borders.
9. Croatia (Let 3)
If it is necessary to bet on a “surprise” guest in the top 10, we put a piece on the Croatian punk group which will undoubtedly benefit from its passage in penultimate position on stage. Big mustaches and kangaroo briefs, the colorful performance, although vocally imprecise, will inevitably find aficionados to vote for it. We can predict a flop on the jury side and a comeback on the public side.
10. Ukraine (TVORCHI)
“Our song is about people who stay strong in the face of adversity,” the duo told us. Of course, in the context of the war in Ukraine, the subject takes on a more intense dimension, but heart of steel does not have the same emotional potential as Stephania with which Kalush Orchestra won Eurovision last year. Also, if there are support votes, they are likely to be significantly limited compared to the compassion wave of 2022.