It’s a busy night on the Eurovision calendar. Tonight, five countries host national selection shows to help decide their acts for Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool.
We’ll be keeping an eye on heats in Lithuania, Sweden and Latvia, and watching the action unfold at finals in Spain and Norway. You can follow all the results via our Twitter and Instagram throughout the evening. And as usual, you can join in the conversation right here on wiwibloggs via our live discussion posts.
Here’s a quick rundown of what’s happening, when it’s on and how to watch.
Saturday 4 February: Eurovision 2023 selection shows
Lithuania’s Pabandom is Naujo! 2023
Semi-final 1
Time: 20:00 CET (GMT + 1)
? NEW ENTRY ??
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) December 31, 2022
?? Lithuania’s Monika Liu debuts on the #esc250 at #41 pic.twitter.com/mJI1wB7Wxl
Ten acts become five at the first of two semi-finals in Lithuania’s Pabandom is Naujo! 2023. Big names to look out for include Ruta Mur, who claimed top points from both the jury and the public televote in the first qualifier heat.
Watch Pabandom is Naujo online via LRT
Latvia’s Supernova 2023
Semi-final
Time: 20:10 CET (GMT + 1)
It’s almost crunch time in Latvia. But first, the 14 acts competing in Supernova 2023 will have to battle it out in tonight’s semi-final. There are ten grand final spots up for grabs. The lineup features some familiar faces including Latvia’s Eurovision 2016 star Justs and eight time Supernova veteran Markus Riva.
Watch Supernova online via LTV1
Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix 2023
Grand final
Time: 19:50 CET (GMT + 1)
In the first of tonight’s two finals, Norway makes its choice for Liverpool. Nine acts will compete in the grand final of Melodi Grand Prix 2023. Competing in the final is Ulrikke Brandstrop, who returns to the competition after winning the 2020 edition — but missing out on Eurovision due to COVID-19. Also in the lineup is wiwibloggs readers’ favourite to win Alessandra with her epic empowerment anthem “Queen of Kings”.
Watch Melodi Grand Prix online via NRK
Sweden’s Melodifestivalen 2023
Heat 1
Time: 20:00 CET (GMT + 1)
Melodifestivalen 2023 kicks off tonight in Gothenburg as seven acts compete for their chance to represent Sweden in Liverpool. Tonight’s lineup sees a plethora of fan favourites return to the mix. Loulou Lamotte, who represented Sweden at Eurovision 2019 alongside John Lundvik and later won Melfest 2020 as part of The Mamas, is going solo with “Inga sorger”. She’s going up against fellow Eurovision 2019 alum Victor Crone, who sang “Storm” for Estonia in Tel Aviv.
Watch Melodifestivalen online via SVT Play
Spain’s Benidorm Fest 2023
Grand final
Time: 22:00 CET (GMT + 1).
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Llegó la mami. Benidorm Fest 2023 reaches its epic conclusion tonight as Spain chooses a new Eurovision superstar. The winner of tonight’s show will fly the Spanish flag in Liverpool this May. It’s expected to be a close battle for the trophy, with fan favourites Agoney and Blanca Paloma picking up major hype after their semi-finals.
Watch Benidorm Fest online via RTVE Play
Which of tonight’s shows will you watch? Let us know in the comments below.
Omg she’s done it! Blanco has won!
I love that Skrellex & Swing’It were second and third with the public while the jury murdered them lol.
A sign of things to come on May 09 and 11…..
Allesandra 211 points
Ulrikke 138
70 point gap, over 50% more than Ulrike’s total
Figures are wrong sorry, the win was even bigger.
Allesandra 233
Ulrikke 138
Almost 100 point gap
Both the jury and the public agreed on the winner and just like last year Norway picked smart.
I don’t love Queen Of The Kings but it did grow on me slightly watching it tonight and it’s performed so well!
Congrats to Alessandra!!!
Allesandra wins by a landslide!
Alessandra won! I liked her improved outfit but I find the song slightly overhyped compared to some of the female bops. However, this was probably a fair victory considering both the jury and televote agreed! Thought the results were VERY fair APART from Unami Tsunami coming DEAD last! What was THAT about? A lot of really good songs this year. I would encourage all the artists to come back again because that was all in all a good MGP!
Wow! Ulrikke is tanking with the juries and the juries are giving Alexandra more attention like the fandom and Atle got the points he DESERVED!
I love that Ben & Gaute took their Keith & Jim off. I hope that doesn’t mean the characters retired.
I wonder how many people still thought they were Ylvis lol
I feel conned. I really believed they were from the moon. Liars.
xD
Well, technically they are. A1 are from the Moon, or at least, a handful from Mars.
I must have been silly to think it was Bobbysocks
During the MGP interval, Subwoofer took their masks off!
Thanks for all the links Wiwibloggs. In the UK we’ve never ever had a selection shows on the scale of any of these. It’s strange to watch.
Slovenia song is out now. Has anyone listen to it and what do you think of it?
At the moment, one of the best of the chosen songs. I only saw a video clip, though.
I love the video and I’d love to know what’s about but musically it doesn’t do anything for me.
English language captions are available for the music video.
The Slovenian song is out. What a disappointment.
I see there’s no thread up for Slovenia releasing their song, but we’ve just had the first performance of their song, and hey, I really like it. It’s in Slovenian, I think it just needs to hit a liiiittle harder in the chorus.
My Masterpiece!!
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT MY LOVE IS FOR YOU!!!
Alexandra appeared at the start of MGP with a GREAT CROWN and cape! She has upped the production value of her performance and is going for the win…it is clear. Ulrikke had this sad looking moment with her manager/’friend’ before her song.The crowd love her!
Well Jone just killed it.
Link to PIN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRZ8XE1vRUI
The TikTok wild card finalist has been selected for jury selection. Of course, it’s the terrible German language song Lied MIT Gutem text. Let’s hope Germany doesn’t screw up and choose that song for eurovision.
Hey guys! I have to log in to NRK to be able to watch from the Netherlands, and to confirm I’m a Norwegian resident (which I’m not). Any idea how to avoid this?
Will we as international viewers be able to vote at MGP and if yes – how?
I Don’t think people outside Norway can vote. this isn’t the Czech Republic.
Hm, I don’t know why I was left with the impression that we could… thanks
Yes you can, once all songs are done performing they will leave link where you can cast only one vote
I’ll be watching Latvia’s semifinal, steer clear of Scandinavia, have an eye on the Slovenian song reveal and will then switch to Benidorm.
2 more songs… let’s goooo!!!
3 songs – don’t forget the release of Joker Out’s song Carpe Diem
I’ll be watching MGP on the TV and Melfest on my phone, and then it’s Benidorm Fest finale all the way baby
It will be nice to finally get two or three confirmed entries on the ‘quality’ side of the board. In addition to Norway and Spain, I’m looking forward to Joker Out’s song. I’m also holding out hope for Petunija in Lithuania; the song needs some tweaks but the competition in the semifinal actually seems more forgiving than what she had in Heat 2 last weekend. Good time for a change. She’s not a favorite, but I’m looking forward to seeing Luize in Latvia because I love her song and it doesn’t seem like there’s a lot out there about her.
Luize is 16 or 17 (she is first year in music school, so assuming that is her age), and this is the first song she has ever written. It is nothing outstanding, but very good for a first song. We can expect great things from her in the future.
As much as I first side-eyed the PIN semi final assignments because they looked like they barely changed anything over other than two songs per heat, I realized being placed with the mostly heat 1 qualifiers might actually be beneficial to Petunija. I think her song is stronger than most of the heat 1 semi finalists and that could get her a higher finalist place, 3rd to 5th (jury wise at least; she didn’t do so hot with the televote last week with only two points). Hopefully she has made the right adjustments to grab more televote points, although it… Read more »
I’ll watch MGP first, and then Benidorm second.
I wish for Victor Crone, Donata, Gabrielius, Petunija, Sudden Lights, and Raum to qualify, but I’ll find out tomorrow. Gosh, these “Super Saturdays” would really need some dispersion. How about Fridays and Sundays too? Or starting in November? Ok, I’ve said it all already, so whatever. Good luck to everyone tonight! Hoping for the best songs to win / qualify.
Saturdays are the best to get high TV ratings, which is more important than having international fans watching the show.
I know the reason, but it’s still underwhelming.
“Half of Lithuania’s first semi is already better than the entire Irish one.” Wow, that is saying something considering that I think most of the heat 1 qualifiers there are weak as hell (Other than Ruta Mur, Gabrielius Vagelis, and Just? Kraujelyt?, okay the last one isn’t my favorite but it was a great peformance). I think Ireland’s problem is less about the songs themselves and the horrible execution of the live show. Come to think of it, having seen all 30 PIN songs over the last two weekends, I realized that Lithuania put on a much better show than… Read more »
I love Wiwibloggs. Thanks for adding the links where we can watch these national finals.
Tip for Atle. Please have your child sitting in the audience, on their mother’s knee. Blow her a tearful kiss at the end of your song. You need something to compete with Ulrikke’s story. Assuming the child is happy to oblige, of course.
Or maybe show pictures of your daughter as part of the staging visuals?
I’m worried that people won’t even realise the song is not just another love song. The lyrics don’t actually say, it’s not hard to figure out but we’re so used to the usual stuff.
I wasn’t actually serious. I just find it a little annoying, perhaps unfairly, to see Christoffer always present for Ulrikke’s song.
that’s just a sign that they themselves also think their song is too weak to speak for itself. I really touching message speaks for itself.
It doesn’t even make sense to me, because the song does not have a happy ending… which makes it out of date. Especially considering Christoffer is also a songwriter on it, so even when they were writing it they were not terrified anymore. Confusing. Am I too harsh?
No, that’s just honest. The lyrics are lazy and uninspired. Let’s call a spade a spade, as Phoebe Buffay once said. I do enjoy Ulrikke’s voice and the big production, but I’m not gonna pretend it’s good songwriting. The lyrics do not tell a story.
If you think tonight is packed, wait until next week. There will be nine shows, seven of them selecting their act that night. It’s going to be a busy super Saturday.
Melodi Grand Prix is literally one of my favorite national selections ever this year. It’s THAT good, I’m so committed to almost every song and it’ll be heartbreaking to not see them all at Eurovision cause they have at least 5 top 10 acts. It’s insane how high the quality is this year. Benidorm Fest has great production and staging but the songs aren’t on the same level. They both give me the excitement I have for the actual Eurovision though! Can’t wait
Benidorm has great songs, but most of them are great only in studio version – they are not so suitable for live performances.
Can’t wait for MGP
I’m not mentally prepared yet to say goodbye to Elsie Bay’s entry again. I want her to win so bad but I know it’s gonna be Ulrikke (who isn’t bad by any means, just not as good imo). Still, Norway’s got the strongest selection of the year so far. Nearly all songs there (except Queen of Kings which I find extremely dumb and overrated) are worthy of finishing in the top 10 in Liverpool.
Ulrikke would finnish 20th at best
Queen of Kings has good potential for ESC. Not my favorite either. I root for Elsie Bay, it is the best song in all selections, but not Eurovision-friendly.
Why is “Eurovision-friendly” a requirement? It doesn’t work anymore. Look what Ireland picked, at best a borderline qualifier.
The fact that Ulrikke is nowhere to be seen in either Spotify or Itunes in Norway, gives a clear sign she wont win tonight.
Alessandra has a huge chance to take the trophy though.
That may or may not mean anything. We’d like to think that the most popular song on Spotify iTunes, or YouTube in a selection, with signify that that would win said selection, but that doesn’t always happen.
Neither am I! She needs to represent Norway one of these years if not this one.
I think I’m going to pick-pocket some of these performances. I want to see Ruta Mur and Gabrielius in Lithuania, then I want to see Raum, Inspo and Sudden Lights in Latvia, all of that while I take look to the MGP final and the Melfest 1st SF. At 10pm I’m up for my national final! I’ll be rooting for Alice Wonder, Megara and Blanca Paloma, maybe Fusa if she is capable of changing the whole perfomance and show us some vocals.
Oh, and also at 8pm I’ll be ready for the Slovene song which I think I’m going to like it!
The Slovene song will be published on Eurovision’s YouTube channel at 8:45PM. They are having a show at 8PM with interval acts (LPS, Konstrakta and someone else), and then Joker Out will perform their Eurovision entry by the end of the show.
Going to watch MGP tonight and straightforward I will switch to Benidorm. I was thinking about Melfest too, but, even though I was a huge fan the past years, it really starts to annoy me too the fact that it is the same every year. Cant wait for Benidorm!!!
Same
I agree with Melfest. They should reinvent the selection process by not focusing on the template they created years ago. Add some spice to it, Sweden! Some diversity would be appreciated, everything is so predictable at Melfest.
But I guess it has worked for them, so they do not want to change it.
Let’s see… I’m most hopeful for Slovenia’s release. Fingers crossed for Agoney in Spain. Fingers crossed for Atle in Norway. But if I remember correctly, I also liked Jone’s studio version and it’s in Norwegian so that one is fine too. Fingers crossed for Jon Henrik in Sweden. Good luck to Latvia, surprise me with anyone. Also good luck to Lithuania, I hope you’ll come up with something great like last year where Monika Liu became one of my favorite acts of the entire season.
Note on Lithuania: I only listened to Aiste’s song because I really find her awesome and oh dear, I think I’ve lost all my respect for her. No self-respecting artist should accept to sing trash like that. I mean “Unbreakable” was… a choice, but at least it was a well-produced catchy choice. I got really into it. Aminata’s wolf song was awesome and she sang it excellently. But to accept trash like “We’re not running”? Why? I shouldve known by the terrible title that it wouldn’t be good but it’s far worse than I imagined. Bad Aiste.
I suppose, then public made the right decision giving her 0 Europoints. Overall, she finished 22nd in #PIN2023. It’s one of her worst entries, if not the worst. Well deserved. 🙂
I’m not holding my breath for her to come back anymore after this. She really destroyed her legacy, in my opinion. None of her Eurovision songs were bad since at least 2007, which was a great one. But the 2023 one is so bad that I feel kinda done with her story tbh.
Well, she absolutely deserved to be left behind in the heats. You can’t just coast on your name and legacy. You Need a good song too and she did not have it this year.
I’ll be watching MGP live and probably just wait for the results of Benidorm Fest to be revealed later at night. Busy night ahead of us as we are in a dire need for some good songs for this year’s line-up
*2 finals, 2 semi-finals and 1 heat + release of a Slovene song. People, by the end of this night, we will have 3 more songs officially making a lucky seven of season 2023!
MGP is so equaly strong this year. I feel Like 5 songs can win And I would not get Mad If other 4 win either. Good luck to Everyone tonight!
I’m definitly tuning for melfest