We meet up with the highest 5 favourites

[ad_1] Mark Savage Music Correspondent

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/dcf6/live/a3895950-322d-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/dcf6/live/a3895950-322d-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/dcf6/live/a3895950-322d-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/dcf6/live/a3895950-322d-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/dcf6/live/a3895950-322d-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/dcf6/live/a3895950-322d-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/dcf6/live/a3895950-322d-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/dcf6/live/a3895950-322d-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Sarah Louise Bennett / Alma Bengtsson / Getty Images A montage of Eurovision contestants Erika Vikman, Kaj, Louane, JJ and Claude" class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> Sarah Louise Bennett / Alma Bengtsson / Getty Photographs Bookmakers have tipped them for fulfillment (L-R): Erika Vikman, Kaj, Louane, JJ and Claude

The Eurovision Tune Contest reaches its grand closing on Saturday evening in Basel, with 26 international locations preventing for the coveted glass microphone trophy.

The competitors feels much less predictable than latest years, when acts like Loreen (Sweden, 2023) and Kalush Orchestra (Ukraine, 2022) had been ordained to win earlier than they'd even sung a observe.

Presently, bookmakers have put in Sweden on the prime of the desk, with their delightfully bonkers sauna sonnet, Bara Bada Bastu.

However here is the factor: A novelty quantity has by no means gained. Voters sometimes favor songs about overcome adversity, and stonking nice pop anthems.

Ideally, they need a stonking nice pop anthem about overcome adversity, and there are many these sprinkled by means of tonight's operating order.

We spoke to the 5 contestants with one of the best odds, to search out out what makes their Eurovision entries stand out.

SWEDEN: KAJ – BARA BADA BASTU

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/92f8/live/52fde220-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/92f8/live/52fde220-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/92f8/live/52fde220-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/92f8/live/52fde220-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/92f8/live/52fde220-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/92f8/live/52fde220-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/92f8/live/52fde220-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/92f8/live/52fde220-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Kaj on stage" class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> Getty Photographs Probability of successful: 39percentLanguage: SwedishGenre: EpadunkSpotify streams: 43.9m KAJ are the primary Finnish act to symbolize Sweden on the Eurovision, hailing from the coastal city of Vörå, the place Swedish remains to be the principle language.

A comedy troupe who met at college, they have been performing collectively for greater than 15 years – and had been the shock winners of Sweden's Melodifestivalen, the place the general public selects the nation's Eurovision entry, earlier this yr.

Their tune, Bara Bada Bastu, is an accordian-led tribute to sauna tradition (Finland has greater than three million saunas, one for each two individuals).

"It felt like a pure factor to sing about," says Kevin Holmström. "We actually just like the sauna. It is common."

The primary Swedish-language entry since 2012, the tune extols the apply's stress-busting virtues. Is that why Finland is persistently ranked because the world's happiest nation, I ponder?

"It is a hen and an egg scenario," laughs Jakob Norrgård. "I do not know which got here first, the happiness or the sauna, however the sauna positively brings your pulse down."

The trio have introduced a mock sauna to the Eurovision stage this yr, full with birch branches, sizzling coals and dancers in skimpy towels. Within the lyrics, they ask, "how lengthy are you able to final?".

"Oh, we are able to make it final all night," confirms Jackob. "A sauna celebration that lasts for hours."

"I love to do it with lots of intervals," says Axel Åhman. "Two to a few hours, going out and in, having one thing to drink, possibly even snack on a sausage exterior, after which return in – simply to make it a peaceful and lengthy session."

And the way does Finland really feel concerning the truth the trio are representing their neighbour and Eurovision rival?

"Finns love a cut price, so that is nice," laughs Jackob.

"Sweden will get to pay for every thing, nevertheless it's a Finnish win as properly."

AUSTRIA: JJ - WASTED LOVE

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/41d2/live/5b854370-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/41d2/live/5b854370-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/41d2/live/5b854370-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/41d2/live/5b854370-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/41d2/live/5b854370-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/41d2/live/5b854370-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/41d2/live/5b854370-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/41d2/live/5b854370-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images JJ on stage" class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> Getty Photographs Probability of successful: 22percentLanguage: EnglishGenre: Pop-operaSpotify streams: 6m Austria has one of the best opening couplet of the yr: "I am an ocean of affection / And also you're fearful of water."

"It is about my private expertise with unreciprocated love," says singer Johannes Pietsch, who performs underneath the title JJ. "It felt like I used to be strolling a one-way avenue."

The 24-year-old is moonlighting at Eurovision from his day job on the Vienna State Opera, the place he is had roles in The Magic Flute and Von der Liebe Tod.

"A sold-out present on the opera holds 1,600 individuals, in order that's nothing in comparison with the Eurovision viewers," he says (final yr's TV broadcast was seen by 163 million individuals).

Pietsch's tune, Wasted Love, is a turbulent ballad that makes spectacular use of his counter-tenor, with an EDM twist.

On stage, he performs in a ramshackle crusing boat, clinging to the mast because the ocean threatens to devour him. It is one of many evening's most arresting performances, and it requires lots of preparation.

"That is the opera singer in me, I apply day by day." he says. "I've to do vocal warm-ups to maintain the voice lively and earlier than I am going on stage, I all the time do ten push-ups and one-minute planks."

Reaching the Eurovision closing has been a dream since he watched Conchita Wurst win for Austria in 2014. Might he replicate that success in Switzerland?

"That might be nice for Austria. I might love to try this. I might name Conchita my mom, so I would like to make her proud."

Eurovision 2025 on the BBC FRANCE: LOUANE - MAMAN

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/e4aa/live/84c039c0-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/e4aa/live/84c039c0-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e4aa/live/84c039c0-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/e4aa/live/84c039c0-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/e4aa/live/84c039c0-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/e4aa/live/84c039c0-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/e4aa/live/84c039c0-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e4aa/live/84c039c0-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU Louane" class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU Probability of successful: 8percentLanguage: FrenchGenre: Torch songSpotify streams: 6.9m "I am surrounded by a sand storm, a sand twister, and I will be sporting a customized Rabanne costume."

French singer Louane is describing the straightforward, however beautiful, staging for her ballad, Maman.

The sand is actual (how she avoids inhaling it, I will by no means know) nevertheless it serves a function: The tune, which was impressed by her mom's demise from most cancers, is all concerning the passage of time.

"It is a tune that claims that, even by means of unhappiness and deep ache, you'll be able to lastly really feel nice," she says.

Maman is technically a sequel to a 2015 tune of the identical title, written within the depths of Louane's despair. "I've misplaced my style for enjoyable / I can not discover that means," she sang.

The 2025 model consists of a number of callbacks to the primary tune. For instance, the unique opened with the lyric: "Lovers transfer from mattress to mattress", however the replace finds her singing, "No extra lovers, no extra beds."

Having a baby of her personal helped Louane raise the veil of grief.

Within the tune, she talks about how holding her daughter's hand introduced again reminiscences of the instances her mum had finished the identical - solely this time, the ache of remembering was gone.

In Maman's closing bars, we briefly hear her daughter's voice.

"She will not be right here in Basel," says Louane. "She's going to be watching on TV, as a result of she's solely 5."

"However she's tremendous proud. She retains on telling me, 'Maman, you must deliver the trophy house.

"She's simply cute'."

NETHERLANDS: CLAUDE - C'EST LA VIE

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/f34b/live/92ec9cf0-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/f34b/live/92ec9cf0-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f34b/live/92ec9cf0-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/f34b/live/92ec9cf0-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/f34b/live/92ec9cf0-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/f34b/live/92ec9cf0-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/f34b/live/92ec9cf0-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f34b/live/92ec9cf0-322e-11f0-96c3-cf669419a2b0.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Claude" class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> Getty Photographs Probability of successful: 6percentLanguage: French and EnglishGenre: Chanson Spotify streams: 17.2m The Netherlands initially requested final yr's entrant, Joost Klein – who was barred from the ultimate after an alleged altercation with a digital camera operator — the prospect to return again for 2025.

Though he'd already written a tune for the competition, he declined, saying his disqualification nonetheless "stings".

As an alternative, the honour went to 21-year-old Claude Kiambe, who moved to the Netherlands from the Democratic Republic of Congo when he was 9 years previous.

"It wasn't all the time secure in Congo," he says. "I could not afford to go to highschool… and I like faculty."

His mum ultimately managed to smuggle the household in another country, and it is to her that his Eurovision tune is devoted.

Titled C'est La Vie, it is a joyous mix of Afropop and French chanson that repeats the recommendation she used to present Claude and his siblings within the asylum centre in Alkmaar.

"She used to inform me, 'C'est la vie. Life is gorgeous, even whether it is arduous generally.'

"So once I heard about Eurovision, I used to be like, 'Wait, if I am going there, I need to deliver that message to the world'.

"I've lots of respect for her. She fought by means of life, and we're nonetheless right here."

Claude comes into the competition with a little bit benefit, as he is identified all through Europe for his huge 2022 hit Ladada. However he is needed to decide up a brand new talent for Eurovision: Choreography.

"I would solely ever finished one dance transfer earlier than, however once I was writing the tune, I used to be like, 'It is time for me to step out of my consolation zone and dance round'."

Studying the choreography took three days, he reckons. "We began at 11 and ended at 9. I needed to understand it so properly that I might do it in my desires."

FINLAND: ERIKA VIKMAN - ICH KOMME

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/6a3e/live/9c614470-322e-11f0-8947-7d6241f9fce9.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/6a3e/live/9c614470-322e-11f0-8947-7d6241f9fce9.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6a3e/live/9c614470-322e-11f0-8947-7d6241f9fce9.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/6a3e/live/9c614470-322e-11f0-8947-7d6241f9fce9.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/6a3e/live/9c614470-322e-11f0-8947-7d6241f9fce9.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/6a3e/live/9c614470-322e-11f0-8947-7d6241f9fce9.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/6a3e/live/9c614470-322e-11f0-8947-7d6241f9fce9.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6a3e/live/9c614470-322e-11f0-8947-7d6241f9fce9.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Erika Vikman" class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> Getty Photographs Probability of successful: 4percentLanguage: Finnish, GermanGenre: EurodanceSpotify streams: 11.8m Ask Erika Vikman to explain her tune, and he or she does not pull any punches.

"It is about orgasm."

Stuffed with pummelling techno beats and what seems to be a Welsh male voice choir, it is a type of tracks that is assured to turn out to be a part of Eurovision folklore, regardless of the place it comes within the closing.

Vikman was as soon as hailed because the queen of Finland's tango scene however gave it up for pop, "as a result of I can not be very wild with that sort of music."

Citing artists like Madonna, Cher and Woman Gaga as inspiration, she's one of many few artists to take to the stage with out dancers.

"Why? As a result of I am egocentric!" she laughs. "I would like consideration."

"No, it is as a result of once I go the stage, I really feel like a rock star, and once I really feel like a rock star, I actually do not want dancers, as a result of it is proudly owning my energy and myself."

She definitely owns the stage – ending her tune atop a large gold microphone that spurts hearth as she's hoisted into the sky.

Eagle-eyed viewers may discover, nevertheless, that her costume is rather less revealing than the one she wore for Finland's choice present, Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu.

"They stated that it will not go if we do not tone down one thing," she says, "and one of many solutions was my outfit."

"So I used to be like, 'Okay, if that, that is worth to pay, we cowl my butt'."

That does not imply she's pleased about it.

"The tune is about proudly owning your sexuality, after which somebody comes and controls me, saying, 'you'll break each little one who's watching this present'. It is a double commonplace."

Censorship or not, Vikman's odds of successful shortened dramatically after a barnstorming efficiency within the semi-finals.

"I've a sense about it," she smiles. "I may be the darkish horse."

WHAT ABOUT THE UK?

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/5b22/live/a41d8d90-322e-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/5b22/live/a41d8d90-322e-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5b22/live/a41d8d90-322e-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/5b22/live/a41d8d90-322e-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/5b22/live/a41d8d90-322e-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/5b22/live/a41d8d90-322e-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/5b22/live/a41d8d90-322e-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5b22/live/a41d8d90-322e-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU Remember Monday" class="sc-4abb68ca-0 ldLcJe"/> Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU Probability of successful: 1percentLanguage: EnglishGenre: Musical theatreSpotify streams: 3.1m After Thursday's semi-final, UK act Bear in mind Monday shot up the chances... properly, form of.

Previously predicted to return seventeenth, they're now gunning for eleventh place.

However the trio - who're the primary girlband to symbolize the UK because the 1999 - are decided to have enjoyable, it doesn't matter what the result.

"That is all so surreal, past something we might have imagined," says singer Lauren Byrne.

"It sounds so tacky, however it's genuinely every thing we have ever needed," says her bandmate Charlotte Steele. "Who will get to face up and carry out their music, with their two greatest pals, to hundreds of thousands of individuals? It is psychological."

"And pay attention," provides Lauren. "If we do actually badly, we're simply gonna maintain coming again till we win."

Of their favour, Bear in mind Monday's efficiency is chirpy and enjoyable, drawing on their background in musical theatre. There is a dress-ripping nod to former UK winners Bucks Fizz, and their reside harmonies are beautiful.

Ace Bowerman talks about Bear in mind Monday's Eurovision staging

"They've an insane quantity of expertise," says Ace Bowerman, a artistic director for Dua Lipa and Blackpink, who designed their staging.

"Their efficiency is continually transferring, and bringing the viewers in. In the end, the power we need to create is that individuals will need to be part of this band."

Perhaps followers have underestimated Bear in mind Monday's possibilities as a result of West Finish present tunes are an untested amount at Eurovision - however the UK's monitor document does not bode properly.