Last week the BBC shared the star-studded list of artists performing as guests in the Eurovision 2023 semi-finals. And on Monday they kept the hype going by revealing the singers who will wow and dazzle during the grand final.
Eurovision grand final: Go_A and Verka Serduchka lead flag parade
The grand final flag parade will see all 26 finalists march onto the stage. And of all the flags, it’s Ukraine’s that will be the most prominent thanks to guest performances from Ukrainian icons including Tina Karol (Eurovision 2006), Go_A (Eurovision 2021), Verka Serduchka (Eurovision 2007 runner-up) and Jamala (Eurovision 2016 winner).
The BBC has teased “a new twist” on their Eurovision entries and said they’ll be weaved together with British classics.
#Eurovision2023 Grand Final reveal!
— BBC Eurovision (@bbceurovision) April 17, 2023
We can't wait to welcome Kalush Orchestra, Sam Ryder and Eurovision icons, including GO_A and Verka Serduchka, to Liverpool for their Grand Final performances ?
Read all about it here: https://t.co/z1VKT5awxZ pic.twitter.com/MTtszypyNT
Naturally the reigning champs of Eurovision — Kalush Orchestra — will get plum billing in the grand final too. They said:
“We’ve been looking forward to performing in Liverpool ever since it was announced as host last year. The city has a world-renowned musical heritage and we’re delighted to finally be able to announce what an honour it will be for us to be there.”
“While we’re sad that we couldn’t bring the Eurovision Song Contest back to our home country, we’re really grateful to the UK for hosting this party on our behalf. We will perform for everyone in Ukraine to remind us that better days and our country’s victory is ahead, as well as to show the world what Ukraine is fighting for.”
Sam Ryder to perform during first interval
After all 26 countries have performed, voters will pick up their phones and vote for their faves. As they make their choices, the U.K.’s Sam Ryder will storm the stage and remind us precisely why he finished second in last year’s contest.
“What an honour to be invited back to the Eurovision stage for a second time!” he said in a statement. “I can’t wait to be back amongst the beautiful chaos of it all and to watch the incredible artists perform this time around, while bringing you a special performance of our own. Big love!”
The Liverpool Songbook
The song switch-up back in Tel Aviv was among the best Eurovision intervals ever. And it would seem that it’s back in some form as the BBC have invited six fan favourites to perform. They’ll “put their own spin on some classic hits.”
Mahmood (Italy 2019)
Netta (Israel 2018)
Daði Freyr (Iceland 2020 and 2021)
Cornelia Jakobs (Sweden 2022)
Duncan Laurence (The Netherlands 2019)
Sonia (UK 1993)
Who excites you the most? Let us know down below…
Cornelia Jakobs singing Eternal Flame will be an iconic moment
Is this a joke? I understand the reasons why the invite Sam Ryder to sing as he was second and his country is hosting the ESC. But I find rude, unfair and naff not to invite the third position (Chanel) but to invite the fourth one. It’s something I can’t accept. I’m very disgusted not with Cornelia, who is great and also is well-deserved, but with the organization.
Kinda tired of Verka but i get she’s a legend so no surprises there.
Surprised they did not choose Ruslana and the 2009 singer.
A shame that the Shady Lady is excluded from the show (it makes sense since she lives in Russia though)
MARUV would have been great but oh well
Yes, where is Ruslana?
Love how they invited Ukrainian artists! Wish they’d chosen some former UK entrants also. They had so many iconic entries from the 80s and 90s. They could’ve invited their endless second places and winners.
A good mixture! Plenty of Ukrainian touches, I don’t like Verka but hopefully won’t hog all the attention. Jamala and Go_A are excellent and it’s great to see them again. It looks like the switch song will look to be a tradition and all the artists for it are great!
I was kinda hoping Paul McCartney would perform, but he doesn’t have/need to and I’m glad Liverpools contribute to popular music will be acknowledged. And he may attend as a guest!
It is grossly unfair that Chanel was not invited. She came in third and second in the televoting. And yet Cornelia is invited? Incredible contempt and great disappointment.
We don’t know she wasn’t invited. She may have declined
We dont know if they invited Chanel and her team said no, calm down.
She wasn’t invited.
Mishmash….What will be the role of so many acts? The UK seemingly want to prove ESC is a clown show which deserves no respect. One or two acts from both the UK and Ukraine would have sufficed.
What
Verka Serduchka is so annoying. I’m ready for the downvotes but it’s true.
I’m with you! Can’t bear Verka, never have. Far too obnoxious, and seen far too often. People moan about Mans being overexposed, but we’ve had Verka in 2010, 2014 semi, 2016 voting, 2017 interval, 2019 interval- but heaven forbid you don’t like Verka!
I agree, tired of the persona BUT I know that everyone loves her (hardcore ESC fans and casual viewers).
Yes ok this lineup is great, I’m just shocked how the BBC couldn’t pull off getting a big artist from the UK to perform besides Rita Ora (Keane, Robbie Williams, Dua Lipa, there are endless other options), if the Swedes managed to get Justin Timberlake in 2016 then the Brits should have managed to get something even bigger this year (I know the contest is based on Ukrainian culture, this is just a thought)
Why would you even want that? Personally I found the involvement of Justin Timberlake and even more so Madonna unnecessary, and that’s also the feedback I got from some of my friends. No one will watch a 4 hour show just to see Robbie Williams, so what’s the point of inviting big (or have-been) stars?
JT was very good, entertaining and slick. Tied to America broadcasting it (even if they couldn’t show him!) and links to Swedish writers/producers in American pop. However Mandona thought she was being very profound and making a statement, but it was messy, boring and pretentious. So I don’t care for more megastars, it’s a good opportunity to promote local talent like Glennis Grace or Diodato!
And it was a very last-minute addition according to rumor re: Madonna.
Such artists demand big money fees
Maybe they couldn’t satisfy the demands of a big artist. Also, a big artist of the level of Robbie Williams would never agree to do the semifinal, they would require to perform in the grand final.
Rita Ora isn’t a big artist so she obviously wanted to perform in the semifinals.
Also guys please remember that BBC is hosting on behalf of Ukraine so they could not invite many British acts as they had to find a balance between British and Ukrainian acts.
Maybe they’ll let Netta give that trophy to Noa Kirel, wouldn’t that be EPIC! 😀 I don’t see anyone else winning! So boring songs this year? I remember 2019 was an amazing year!
My ultimate go was to have Go_A and they even gave me Dadi and Mahmood as a bonus. 😀
a dream
I personally love this line up showing a diverse selection of Eurovision acts only thing that would have topped this off is having Ruslana and other Imaani since she was our last 2nd place before Sam
And before Imaani it was Sonia. I would have loved to have seen both as well
they chose Sonia because she is from Liverpool and it’s been 30 years since her ESC participation.
I love Verka!
Me too ??
Wrote a heart not ?? !!!
I wouldn’t be surprised if Chanel was invited and she just declined. She’s so good at making the worst choices when it’s about her post eurovision musical career
it’s not her, it’s her team. Performing for one minute in Eurovision wouldn’t elevate her career. Plus, she would not perform her own songs but a cover, and I bet her team isn’t interested to have Chanel do that.
Oh god i hope a country like Armenia or Spain wins so we dont have to be anywhere near the “favourites”. If Spain wins i dont want a single swedish or dutch person in sight. I want Rosalia, enrique iglesias and Chanel to perform. I want spanish hosts and everything else Spanish. Same thing if Armenia won
So stupid comment !!!
No way they will win & what was that about swedish & dutch persons?!?
I do not think there is enough budget to have Rosalía and Chanel together. I know it can sound nonsense, but believe me though.
Mans Zelmerlow: “Loreen will probably win this year so I’ll have to wait for my return to Melodifestivalen”.
Who even decided that Loreen would win? We haven’t even seen Noa’s performance yet. This is going to be on the level of a Super Bowl performance and beyond! #MarkMyWords
No.
One day you’re normal, another you’re totally excessive, are you several persons? Anyway, I’m more excited to see what will bring Loreen on stage to replace her melfest staging, what will do La Zarra, she said she will do something dangerous, that scares her, she wants people to be shocked with a wow factor, excited to see what will be the staging of Croatia, golden tractor?, Excited to see the Swiss staging, what will bring Kaarija too, cha cha cha dancers? Will Brunette levitate lol but you see there are many others exciting acts not only Noa.
Why does he think that he can do well if he returns? He didn’t even win the televoting in 2015.
So Netta has another Chance of predicting the wrong host city for 2024 xD
I love that the BBC is putting up so much effort this year
Sonia performed at Walthamstow Pride last year and she can still belt it out, she has a great voice. Plus she was funny and charming, so pleased to see her included. Plus the lovely Mahmood of course.
I have been asking where is Sonia. She campaigned for Liverpool to host and finally the BBC have acknowledged her near success in 1993 when she came 2nd. Local girl did good she really deserves her Eurovision history place.
Yes Ukraine last year but once they could not host it so why is the BBC making a show so much Ukraine the end of the day we are paying for this show the TV licence people are is absolutely shameful
It’s held in Liverpool not the rest of Europe what’s the point of being host if we’re not even having any British singers
Sam Ryder, Sonia, Rita Ora, Rebecca Ferguson and probably the drag artists.
Did you vote for Brexit?
How exciting to see previous entrants back to join in the fun! Can’t wait to see Daði Freyr. Eurovision is such a joy every year and always different. But some people will always find negatives ?
Just relieved it’s not Mans tbh.
I was getting worried there
Damn. As always the wiwifolk in the comments are always so negative!
I for one am excited to see these amazing artists hit the stage again, and can’t wait for what else the BBC has in store for interval acts! Wish I could be in Liverpool!! 🙂
Im genuienly confused on why they invited Cornelia and her boring ass that no one outside the fandom remembers and not someone like Konstrakta, Chanel and Rosa Linn. Literally no one wants too see Duncan or Cornelia or Netta again. Why do they invite the same five people and then some random girl who came 4th that no one remembers?
Baby baby, don’t you know, she’s Swedish?
That’s why.
Though I completely agree, many more iconic acts and previous winners that could have been there, but I guess any “avengers Assemble” interval will have to have the token Swedish name in there.
Let’s just be thankful it’s not Mans though I’m expecting him to rock up somewhere during the week. Doesn’t he live near Liverpool or something now?
I want to see Cornelia and her chaotic energy all the time. And on the same stage as Loreen nonetheless!
I want to see Duncan, if only because he missed his chance to appear as defending champion in both 2020 and 2021.
I love Cornelia and Hold Me Closer, amazing entry IMO. I do find it a bit weird they brought her to the interval act to sing with past winners and other ESC staples, since I don’t think she left enough of a mark to be included in this group.
Cornelia has made much more of a positive impression than any of Verka, Netta or Sonia, we don’t need the stereotypical ESC staples coming back every single year also so I will just go ahead and certify her inclusion.
Yeah because Chanel did really a lot with her fame from last year and is now a worldwide celebrity. Oh wait…
Well she is releasing a song on the 28th with one of the biggest singers in Spain. And its already going viral, sooooooo;)
Still this wannabe Bieber is successful and has chart hits so it’s all that counts.
I saw Duncan’s song in Amsterdam this weekend and while not my glass of tea, my and my companions agreed that it will probably qualify, between place 7 and 10.
i agree, Cornelia did not make a big impression (apart from the ESC fans). I was surprised to see her name next to winners and iconic artists with big success. Guess someone cancelled and she was the next available artist.
Cornelia – because everything always has to revolve around Sweden. ALWAYS. 40+ countries participate every year, but it ALWAYS has to be Sweden. Eat your porridge! Don’t question this!
Here we go again…
The complete fandom is going to collapse during grand final night, mark my words.
Including me, ofc!
Not this again.
Why does anyone keep expecting Switch Song 2.0?! Did they confirm/insinuate it somewhere and I just missed it? To me Liverpool Songbook sounds like that – songs from Liverpool. I expect them to sing their versions of songs by The Beatles and other famous Scousers rather than singing each other’s songs that have nothing to do with Liverpool…
Yes exactly. The invited guests will be showcasing songs made famous by artists from Liverpool, eg The Beatles, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Atomic Kitten, OMD, Dead or Alive, The Farm, Cilla Black to name a few.
Fingers crossed that Sonia does a medley of Relax and You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)
I meant everyone. Guess I shouldn’t walk and type lol
exactly, it won’t be a Eurovision medley or at least not one like Tel Aviv. Maybe Sonia will perform her own ESC song but the others will do Liverpool songs most likely.
There must be more interval acts to be revealed? This line up so far won’t last the normal 50 minutes?
I’m pretty sure they only announced the grand final guest artists who are previous ESC participants, and there will be more acts who are not ESC relatated (like Rita Ora and Rebecca Ferguson who will perform in the semis)
So happy to see Go_A, one of my favorites Eurovision acts ever <3
I’m happy for Sonia, I can see her big smile now.
So no Foureira or Zelmerlow this year
With all the respect for the artists, but I expected something more from the BBC… Even Italy managed to give us great performances last year (Dardust ft Benny Benassi e Sophie and The Giants, Mika and all the best Italian contestans), in 2019 we had Madonna…
Anyway I’m really hyped for this potential song switch-up and I’m glad that BBC chose many artists from Ukraine (even if I’m really tired of Verka). Can’t wait to listen GO_A on the stage with Mahmood, Duncan and Daði Freyr
Where did they say that?
I’m most pleased for Duncan as he missed out in both 2020 and 2021 from returning to the Eurovision stage. But where is Ruslana?
Listen I can not be the only ESC fan tired of Verka! Like yes she got second place with a fun novelty song but really? Are the really no other acts besides that from Ukraine? Ani Lorak? Tina Karol?
Also looking at that line up It’s like BBC is not hosting at all. Where is the British local flavour that was so proudly exclaimed by BBC?
“The Liverpool Songbook” would be one place.
Ani Lorak wouldn’t sit right for many Ukrainians as she is a Putin supporter. Same for Maruv.
This year sounds like the BEST ESC EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 GLORY TO UKRAINE! THANK YOU TO EUROPE (most of Europe, I should say).
This sounds like it’ll be really fun actually
Why same people nearly every year like Verka? Really? I would rather have Konstrakta. Bye.
Ok I forgot that Verka is from Ukraine, so it makes sense. Anyway, they could add Konstrakta to the lineup.
And what about Chanel?
Cornelia Jakobs? I forgot her already- she stands out in this line up.
I thought they could’ve invited Rosa Linn in the medley.
Snap was the Esc 2022 hit. And also for having Armenia as I wish more different countries were more represented in this kind of things.
People do but not really in the same sense as Dadi, Verka or Netta, who are acts who showcase the TV nature of ESC, whereas Rosa Linn was more of a showcase of its musical side – Snap’s best success was outside the show because, awesome as it was, it wasn’t really made for a TV show, even with fantastic staging
Verka Seruchka is the lamest thing ever. Banal and trivial humor… it’s everything bad about Eurovision…
I’m so happy that for Daði!
CORNELIA!!!
We could live without Netta and Jamala but ok!
The greatest thing by far about Netta winning was that Jack White somehow became an ESC-winning songwriter without ever even attempting to enter it, one more reason why Jack is such an icon.
he just got a bit robbed… otherwise yes
Those two could have skip it, yes
I totally agree
Mahmood and Duncan on the same stage, I love it! I’m also very happy for Daði Freyr
They are hosting for Ukraine, so this is completely understandable, and I am looking forward to so many acts from Eurovision’s gone by.
I do hope in the near future the UK wins in it’s own right and we get something that showcases British music. Because right now all the BBC are showcasing is Rita Ora.
(And Rebecca Ferguson who I do really love)
Oh not Sam Ryder. Will be skipping that part of the show
Remind us why he finished second? Nobody knows to this day l!
I don’t really like Sam Ryder, but stop spreading hate everywhere… If you don’t like him you can easily skip this part without writing it online
It’s not hate, just me expressinflg dislike for Sam Ryder. There are much harder comments on this forum than this one. However, Apologies if my comment was too hard
A lot of people did like him though, Tom. If you don’t skip that part, you’ll hear them.
I know that there are much harder comments here, but I simply think that your comment isn’t meaningful and that it sounded polemical
Wow Sonia 1993