{"id":444009,"date":"2026-05-16T01:39:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T01:39:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/444009\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T01:39:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T01:39:16","slug":"eurovision-final-sex-violins-and-seven-other-things-to-look-out-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/444009\/","title":{"rendered":"Eurovision final: Sex, violins and seven other things to look out for"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Eurovision Song Contest reaches its grand final on Saturday night, with Finland, Greece and Australia among the favourites to win.<\/p>\n

The show is taking place in Vienna, which seems to have prompted half of the contestants to throw an operatic riff into their song, whether it needs it or not.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, you can expect death-defying dance moves, sexually suggestive rock anthems and the longest sustained note in Eurovision history.<\/p>\n

Here’s a guide to (some of) the highlights. You can watch the show live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 20:00 BST on Saturday.<\/p>\n

1) A Greek cinderella story\"Akylas<\/p>\n

[Getty Images]<\/p>\n

Eight months ago, Greek singer Akylas was down on his luck.<\/p>\n

“I was in Athens, I was working as a waiter, and I quit my job to start singing in the streets,” he tells the BBC.<\/p>\n

“I had so many people telling me that I was wasting my time. People would bully me in the street [while] I was busking, trying to pay my rent and my bills. I was struggling \u2013 so it’s crazy that now I’m representing my country at Eurovision.”<\/p>\n

The 27-year-old is tipped for a top three finish with Ferto, a hyperactive dance anthem that smashes together rave synths, video game sound effects and traditional Greek instruments like the lyra.<\/p>\n

Lyrically, Akylas looks back at his childhood during the Greek financial crisis.<\/p>\n

“It’s about all the parents, who are trying to provide the best for their children, and all the sacrifices that they make, like my parents did,” he says.<\/p>\n

2) Could Australia win? And why are they at Eurovision in the first place?\"Delta<\/p>\n

[Getty Images]<\/p>\n

Australia has been obsessed with Eurovision since Abba won in 1974. As a gesture of goodwill, they were invited to take part in the contest’s 60th anniversary in 2015, as a one-off wildcard entry.<\/p>\n

They embraced the show with such enthusiasm they’ve been invited back every year since \u2013 but after crashing out in last year’s semi-final, they’re determined to win in 2026.<\/p>\n

Taking no chances, they’ve sent actual platinum-selling pop star Delta Goodrem, with a power ballad so polished you can see the whites of her eyes in it.<\/p>\n

It’s called Eclipse. It has a chorus that would make Celine Dion jealous, and features a baroque piano breakdown before an almighty key change in the final refrain.<\/p>\n

After Thursday’s semi-final, bookmakers slashed Delta’s odds, making her a frontrunner for the trophy.<\/p>\n

No-one’s quite sure what happens if she wins<\/a> \u2013 but Graham Norton has some gossip.<\/p>\n

Speaking on the Wanging On podcast earlier this week, the BBC’s Eurovision host said he’d been discussing this very topic with Australian broadcaster, Joel Creasey.<\/p>\n

“He was saying that every year Australia make a deal with someone, in case they win, so that someone will host [the contest] for them.”<\/p>\n

We put the question to Eurovision organisers the EBU, who were non-committal.<\/p>\n

“We’re currently focussed on the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, with 25 incredible songs and artists from across Europe and Australia competing,” they said.<\/p>\n

“Discussions on the hosting of next year’s event will take place, as always, after we have our winner on 16 May.”<\/p>\n

3) Finland fears for their fiddle\"Pete<\/p>\n

[Getty Images]<\/p>\n

But forget about Australia for a moment. Finland are the current favourites to win, with their tempestuous love song, Liekenheiten.<\/p>\n

It’s performed by pop star Pete Parkonnen and classical violinist Linda Lampenius \u2013 a hook-up that’s the Finnish equivalent of Harry Styles doing a duet with Nicola Benedetti.<\/p>\n

“Pete’s, like, the sexiest man in Finland or something,” Linda teases. “He’s got all those labels.”<\/p>\n

But all the focus in the run-up to the final has been on the moment where Linda has to sprint the entire length of the catwalk in high heels<\/a> while clutching her precious violin \u2013 a 1781 Gagliano, worth an estimated \u00a3500,000.<\/p>\n

“I run and jump up and down on a chair, and I’m standing next to a fire. So I’m quite nervous during those three minutes.<\/p>\n

“I’m thinking about the violin all the time.”<\/p>\n

4) Moldova are skipping it\"Satoshi<\/p>\n

[EPA]<\/p>\n

Not literally, of course \u2013 they’re delighted to be in the final after two years’ absence from the competition.<\/p>\n

But their singer, Satoshi, has a very strict routine, 30 seconds before he bursts onto the stage with his gregarious party anthem, Viva, Moldova!<\/p>\n

“I simulate rope jumping to get my energy levels up,” says the 27-year-old, who’s also an amateur boxer.<\/p>\n

“I’ve been doing it so much that one of the guys who hands us our microphones bought a rope and gave it to me.”<\/p>\n

As the title suggests, Viva, Moldova! is full of pride and patriotism \u2013 written to mark the 35th anniversary of independence.<\/p>\n

Along the way, it names some of the country’s biggest cultural figures, including musician Eugene Doga, author Maria Mirabela, and poet Grigore Vieru, who holds a very special place in Satoshi’s heart.<\/p>\n

“Grigore wrote a poetry book which is, to this day, one of the main ways for kids to learn the alphabet. That’s how I learned the letters, as did many, many kids throughout Moldovan history.”<\/p>\n

Now he’s taken that alphabet and turned it into a certified Eurovision banger. Result.<\/p>\n

More on the Eurovision Song Contest 2026:<\/p>\n

5) Will Israel face further protests?\"Noam<\/p>\n

[Getty Images]<\/p>\n

Five countries are boycotting Eurovision over Israel’s participation, citing the country’s actions in Gaza and the death toll of the war.<\/p>\n

At Tuesday’s semi-final, the country’s contestant Noam Bettan faced a mixture of cheers and booing from the audience.<\/p>\n

Four protesters were later removed from the arena.<\/p>\n

Speaking to the BBC afterwards, Bettan said he had been surprised by the protests.<\/p>\n

“I heard there was booing and everything, and there was a moment of, like, a wow effect, you know? A little bit of shock.”<\/p>\n

At the same time, the singer admitted he’d practised being booed during rehearsals, after Israeli contestants faced similar chants in 2024 and 2025.<\/p>\n

Further protests seem likely at Saturday’s final – but Israel is nonetheless predicted to do well in the contest.<\/p>\n

Bettan delivers his song, a lovestruck ballad called Michelle, with sincerity and passion, nimbly moving into his falsetto over a mix of electronic beats and Middle Eastern instrumentation.<\/p>\n

6) Sweden’s vanishing vocals\"Felicia<\/p>\n

[Getty Images]<\/p>\n

Swedish star Felicia is known for wearing a protective face mask during her performances – which is more to do with body image than a fear of disease.<\/p>\n

But during Tuesday’s semi-final she suffered a wardrobe malfunction and the mask slipped off. Within 24 hours, she’d lost her voice and was put on strict vocal rest.<\/p>\n

“It’s a catastrophe for me because I hate being silent!” she posted on social media.<\/p>\n

“But I just have to follow the advice I’ve been given – stay quiet, rest, and drink water.”<\/p>\n

Luckily, her voice sounded fine during Friday’s dress rehearsal; and the singer gave us an insight into the lyrics behind her song, My System, which literally talks about catching an infection\u2026 of emotion.<\/p>\n

“If I have a bad day, it can about a relationship that has ended, or the struggle I had with the record label I left.<\/p>\n

“And if I have an amazing day, it could be like a friend or a crush that I can’t stop thinking about.”<\/p>\n

If she wins, Sweden would become the most successful Eurovision nation of all time \u2013 breaking its seven-way tie with Ireland.<\/p>\n

“No pressure,” Felicia laughs. That would be crazy.”<\/p>\n

7) Mum’s the word\"Look<\/p>\n

[EPA]<\/p>\n

There’s no beating about the bush – the UK’s recent track record at Eurovision has been terrible.<\/p>\n

We’ve tried sending chart-topping pop stars like Olly Alexander, and accomplished vocal harmony groups like Remember Monday. But every year, we’re left scrambling for points at the bottom of the leader board.<\/p>\n

This year’s hopeful is Sam Battle \u2013 aka Look Mum No Computer – an inventor, YouTuber and museum curator from Ramsgate, who is madder than a box of mad frogs doing Bikram yoga<\/p>\n

He wrote his entry – Eins, Zwei, Drei – on a synthesiser he built in his garage, and it has sounds like Fat Les’s Vindaloo, as performed by Kraftwerk.<\/p>\n

“What we’re doing is Marmite – you either love it or hate it – but I think there’s a slot open for our sort of thing,” he told BBC News earlier this week.<\/a><\/p>\n

The song certainly stands out in a sea of windswept ballads and crunchy club anthems. And Sam’s kooky persona is either going to win people’s hearts or crash out spectacularly.<\/p>\n

If it comes to that, he’ll look on the bright side.<\/p>\n

“It’s a really good t-shirt – ‘Look mum, no points’.”<\/p>\n

8) Sexual shenanigans\"Jonas<\/p>\n

[Getty Images]<\/p>\n

Norwegian star Jonas Lovv was told to censor his performance of the rock song Ya Ya Ya after thrusting his hips one too many times during rehearsals.<\/p>\n

Speaking ahead of the semi-finals, Jonas revealed the feedback he’d received from contest organisers.<\/p>\n

“Without joking: too sexy,” he told reporters.<\/p>\n

The head of Norway’s Eurovision team confirmed that adjustments were necessary.<\/p>\n

“We were told to tone down the sex appeal because it isn’t family-friendly enough,” Mads T\u00f8rklep explained.<\/p>\n

Specifically, the production team asked for a reduction in “sexualised movements” and rhythmic gestures.<\/p>\n

Now PG-rated, Jonas has becalmed his sinful hips, but still gives a cheeky wink and a little bum waggle to the camera.<\/p>\n

9) Bangers, smashes, screams and shushes\"Dara<\/p>\n

[Getty Images]<\/p>\n

Bulgarian singer Dara has the night’s best staging on Bangaranga – a nonsensical typhoon of tropical pop, based around a word from Jamaican patois that means “a joyful kind of disorder”.<\/p>\n

Her performance is a cross between an AA meeting and The Exorcist, as dancers in plastic chairs twitch and shake to the song’s ever-changing tempo. I love it to bits.<\/p>\n

Romania’s Alexandra C\u0103pit\u0103nescu has provoked controversy with the lyrics to her song Choke Me. Campaigners have criticised the track for glamourising sexual violence – but Alexandra says it’s really about suffocating under the weight of society’s expectations.<\/p>\n

Sounding like Lady Gaga fronting Evanesence, she performs it while tethered to her guitarists with giant neon ropes.<\/p>\n

Ukraine’s delicate ballad Ridnym includes a breathtaking 30-second-long high note; while Serbian band Lavina unleash a blood-curdling scream at the end of their metalcore ballad, Kraj Mene.<\/p>\n

And we shouldn’t forget France \u2013 whose singer Monroe is this year’s youngest contestant. The 17-year-old’s track, Regarde! mixes elements of pop and R&B with a stunning operatic vocal.<\/p>\n

“Regarde is all about universal love,” she tells the BBC. “It’s about taking the busy moments in your life and just saying, ‘Shhhh, everything is going to be fine’.”<\/p>\n

And after a week of covering Eurovision in Vienna, that’s exactly the message I needed.<\/p>\n

You can tune into the grand final on BBC One, BBC iPlayer,<\/a> Radio 2<\/a> and BBC Sounds<\/a> from 8pm BST on Saturday night. <\/p>\n

There will also be full coverage, including a comprehensive live page, on the BBC News Website.<\/p>\n