Eurovision 2023 has arrived and is in full swing, and the semi-final performances have not disappointed.
Thousands of people packed the M&S Arena in Liverpool on Tuesday to witness 15 performers compete in the semi-finals in the hopes of playing in Saturday’s Grand Final.
The battle is wide open, with Eurovision queen Loreen, new favourite Kaarija, and many of other strong contenders.
Voting has officially begun, and we’re not far from having the first ten performers for the 2023 Grand Final.
And, in case you missed it, here’s who performed last night and how their songs fared.
Norway – Alessandra – Queen of Kings
The amazing Queen of Kings opened off the first night of the semi-finals for Alessandra.
It’s difficult to listen to the ultimate anthem without clapping or stamping your feet – and that’s precisely what the M&S Arena did.
It’s easy to picture Norway finishing in the top five in the Grand Final because Queen of Kings has been a fan favourite since the beginning.
Malta – The Busker – Dance (Our Own Party)
Malta’s answer to the Jonas Brothers brought all the nostalgia as the night’s second performance with their song Dance.
If you felt like you were at a teen party in the 1980s, complete with glitter and a sax solo, that’s exactly what they were trying for.
The Busker got the crowd rocking with their pure joyous pop – a great Eurovision song.
Serbia – Luke Black – Samo Mi Se Spaa
Welcome to the ultimate fever dream that is Serbia’s entry, and make the most of it.
Luke Black enchants the audience with his sinister whispers and seductive motions while singing about wanting to sleep forever, all as really dramatic dreamscapes erupt around him.
The audience appreciated it, and we expect a few interesting nightmares tonight.
Latvia – Sudden Lights – Aija
Sudden Lights’ strong Aija is Latvia’s entry for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.
It begins mesmerising before transitioning into a strong and dramatic music that would not be out of place on the Twilight franchise soundtrack.
The band’s staging is somewhat low-key, focused mainly on the song and guitar solo. The semi-final crowds were ecstatic, but will it be enough?
Portugal – Mimicat – Ai Coracao
As she came onto the stage with her crazy hit Ai Coracao, Portugal had the audience stamping and clapping.
Her cheeky stage persona and dancing routines, as well as those of her back-up dancers, only add to the rapid and catchy melody.
Things are heating up at the fifth track in the semi-finals.
Ireland – Wild Youth – We Are One
The only country to win Eurovision three years in a row, Wild Youth hope to bring glory back with their track We Are One.
The genuinely uplifting track had a huge reaction from the audience, with frontman Conor O’Donohoe having a great command of the stage in a sparkling gold jumpsuit.
It captures the heart of Eurovision for sure – but what will voters think?
Croatia – Let 3 – Mama SC!
Now that is a performance.
Croatia’s hopefuls brought true madness to the stage with their track Mama SC, and if Serbia’s staging was a ever dream, this is a hallucinogenic trip.
Dressed in military clothes and hoisting prop missiles across the stage before stripping down to their vests and underwear for by far the most mind-blowing performance so far, Let 3 are far from forgettable – which is exactly what you want in the semi-finals.
Switzerland – Remo Forre – Watergun
One of the slower entries from tonight’ss semi-finals, Switzerland’s acts being more low-key actually helps it stand out.
The anti-war track Watergun shows off singer Remo Forrer’s powerful voice, with military-like drumming amplifying the message.
It sends a powerful message – how will Europe respond?
Israel – Noa Kirel – Unicorn
Israel is back with another solid track this year as Noa Kirel’s Unicorn gets a huge reaction in the M&S Arena.
A seriously strong pop song with hooks in the bridge, chorus and everywhere else, Unicorn is a major contender at this yeaar’s semi-finals.
The staging and dancing – including from Noa itself – makes it one of this year’s most memorable tracks.
Moldova – Pasha Parfeni – Soarele şi Luna
Moldova brought folk and legend together with their track Soarele si Luna, which saw the band sway on stage in a hypnotic rhythm as rings of fire burst across the screens in the background and stage floor.
As well as being a solid song with a catchy flute hook (we don’t have enough of those, honestly), the performance of the song was almost more like watching a stage show.
The intricate costumes and characters makes Moldova certainly one to watch.
Sweden – Loreen – Tattoo
A whole 12 years since she won Eurovision for Sweden, Loreen is back – and to say she’s still got it is an understatement.
Already a favourite to win again this year, Loreen’s new track Tattoo has everything fans love in a Eurovision track, from the voice to the stage presence.
Loreen is totally on form tonight and showing exactly why she’s a favourite – she is an absolute professional, and the reaction from the crowd is, so far tonight, unmatched.
Azerbaijan – TuralTuranX – Tell Me More
After a lot of staging and dance routines, Azerbaijan stripped it back with a classic indie rock song.
Tell Me More sees duo TuralTuranX combine their guitars and voices, relying on the music to impress the audience.
The nostalgic-sounding song seems straight out of 1970s Eurovision – it’s something special, but what will the votes reflect?
Czechia – Vesna – My Sister’s Crown
Feminist anthem My Sister’s Crown starts off powerful and only keeps the pressure rising.
Crowds responded in force to the semi-final performance, with the artists dressed in matching pink jumpsuits and walking down the stage as though on a carousel.
There is seriously tough competition tonight – but My Sister’s Crown should still have done enough to stand out.
Netherlands – Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper – Burning Daylight
The Netherlands have gone for a bit of a tearjerker with emotional duet Burning Daylight.
Duo Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper’s voices sound incredible together, and their chemistry on stage is palpable – only amplified by the stars and dry ice filling the stage alongside them.
It’s a different sort of song than we’ve heard so far in the competition, and could work in their favour.
Finland – Kaarija – Cha Cha Cha
It is brilliant. It is insane. It is Eurovision, baybey!
Finland’s absolutely bonkers track Cha Cha Cha looks to be the only song in the running to knock Loreen off her crown, and it’s clear from the Semi-Final performance why.
Kaarija’s energy, on-stage acting and the pure fun of it all makes it a favourite among critics and fans alike, and there’s going to be a lot of people walking away tongiht with this stuck in their heads – potentially for days.
The acts have now all finished up, and voting will soon begin.
It’s still all up in the air as to who will get through – there’ve been plenty of surprises before.
Eurovision 2023 semi-finals can be viewed on BBC and BBC iPlayer.
