In less then two week’s time, semi-final 1 of Eurovision 2023 will be taking place. A total of 15 acts will be battling it out for ten spots in the grand final.
Back in March, we opened up a poll so that y’all could tell us who you wanted to see win the first semi-final. You responded in your thousands, with a total of 30,034 valid votes being submitted.
Now it’s time for us to reveal the results.
Finland’s Käärijä a favourite to win Eurovision 2023 semi-final 1
There were two big favourites in this poll who both secured over 4,000 votes each. But in the end, Käärijä managed to sneak ahead and secure the gold medal. He’s got all of us dancing the “Cha Cha Cha”, and soon he’ll have all of Liverpool doing the same.
The Finnish star picked up 4,422 votes, which is 14.72% of the total.
Following in second is Sweden’s Loreen. She already knows what it takes to win Eurovision, having stormed to victory in 2012. She’s been ingrained in Eurovision history ever since — just like a “Tattoo”. Speaking of, Loreen’s 2023 entry picked up 4,015 votes in our poll — that’s 13.37% of all those cast.
Semi-final 1 is looking to be a Nordic knockout. The final spot on the podium in this poll goes to Alessandra of Norway. She racked up 2,632 votes (8.76%) for her banger “Queen of Kings”. She’ll certainly be a standout opening to the semi-final.
Looking at the other end of the results, if it was up to our readers the five non-qualifiers would be: Croatia, Switzerland, Malta, Ireland and Azerbaijan.
Full results: Who should win Eurovision 2023 semi-final one?
- Finland – 14.72%, 4,422 votes
- Sweden – 13.37%, 4,015 votes
- Norway – 8.76%, 2,632 votes
- Czechia – 7.95%, 2,388 votes
- Serbia – 7.66%, 2,301 votes
- Israel – 7.31%, 2,194 votes
- Portugal – 6.90%, 2,071 votes
- Moldova – 5.80%, 1,742 votes
- Netherlands – 5.77%, 1,733 votes
- Latvia – 5.75%, 1,728 votes
- Croatia – 5.45%, 1,638 votes
- Switzerland – 4.05%, 1,217 votes
- Malta – 3.02%, 907 votes
- Ireland – 2.02%, 607 votes
- Azerbaijan – 1.46%, 439 votes
Total Votes: 30,034
What do you make of the results? Is Käärijä your number one pick for semi-final 1 of Eurovision 2023 as well? Let us know in the comments below.
It’s a bloodbath and following the ESC tradition there with be s shocking NQ or even a few. However here my wish in an random order :
Finland, Latvia, Switzerland, Serbia, Croatia, Azerbajan, Malta, Ireland, Sweden and Norway.
*My final, complete TOP 15 of the ESC 2023 Semi-Final 1 (updated, before rehearsals):* *MY QUALIFIERS:* 1. Finland – “Cha Cha Cha” (10/10)* 2. Serbia – “Samo Mi Se Spava” (9.5/10) 3. Portugal – “Ai Coração” (9.5/10) 4. Czechia – “My Sister’s Crown” (9/10) (-0.5) 5. Malta – “Dance (Our Own Party)” (9/10) 6. Moldova – “Soarele ?i Luna” (8/10) 7. Sweden – “Tattoo” (7.5/10) 8. Latvia – “Aij?” (7/10) 9. Israel – “Unicorn” (7/10) 10. Azerbaijan – “Tell Me More” (7/10) – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –… Read more »
I just need Latvia to qualify and Finland to win the sf.
Mama sc appreciation! Love to see it!
Honestly, I don’t feel capable of predicting who’s in and who’s out atm, but this is my top:
1. Finland
2. Latvia
3. Serbia
4. Moldova
5. Portugal
6. Malta
7. Ireland
8. Croatia
9. Czechia
10. Sweden
_____
11. Azerbaijan
12. the Netherlands
13. Norway
14. Switzerland
15. Israel
Looks like an unlikely and unpopular top, but it was hard to put them in order and –in any case, at least two tracks that I like will stay behind 🙁
I LOVE YOUR QUALIFIERS SO MUCH!!
Thank you! 😀
Well apart from Ireland, EVEN WITH CROATIA I wouldn’t have any problems to see them qualify! I’m mostly ecstatic for your placements of Norway, Malta and Israel! 🙂
Me too….
At least a number of people in the comments are seeing the Israeli song for what it is.
I’m glad to see I’m not the only one jajaja but I feel bad for Noa, bc I knew about her before she was announced as Israel’s representative and I like her voice and some of her songs. ESC could’ve been her ticket to international stardom but her team messed up big time 🙁
Absolutely crap. Only Poland is worse.
My prediction (by running order) :
1.Norway
2.Serbia
3.Latvia
4.Portugal
5.Croatia
6.Israel
7.Moldova
8.Sweden
9.Czechia
10.Finland
I am pretty certain Sweden, Finland, Norway, Moldova, Czechia, Serbia, Israel, Portugal and Croatia will qualify.
Then I reckon it’s between Malta, Switzerland & Netherlands for the last spot.
I personally like Ireland, Latvia and Azerbaijan but I can’t see them qualifying.
I could only see Czechia NQ’ing if their live is REALLY BAD otherwise the ones you mentioned I def agree are in. Malta got death slotted and has very weak voting power so it’s between Switzerland & Netherlands for the last spot for me and I’m currently going with Netherlands.
Neither Switzerland nor the Netherlands have the juries to help them out this time and both acts are pretty flawed
Honestly, I can’t see Israel, Czechia and the Netherlands as sure qualifiers yet, for different reasons. I can see at least Latvia (but Malta, Ireland and/or Azerbaijan could too if they do things right) sneaking in.
I had my doubts about Norway as well, but Alessandra’s legit (now we know she can sing live w/o autotune)
My prediction
My wish
Not really.
My top 10 now
1. Czechia
2. Sweden
3. Italy
4. Slovenia
5. Norway
6. France
7. Finland
8. Greece
9. Armenia
10. Ireland
Yes..I know it’s unpopular, but it’s mine
The important thing is that it’s yours!
Before the rehearsals…. everything can change and will change…
That’s the interesting part.
My pre contest personal top of SF1:
1.Israel
2.Croatia
3.Serbia
4.Finland
5.Czechia
6.Moldova
7.Portugal
8.Norway
9.Sweden
10-15: Netherlands, Switzerland, Latvia, Malta, Azerbaijan & Ireland
My current SF1 predictions:
1. Sweden
2. Finland
3. Norway
4. Serbia
5. Israel
6. Moldova
7. Croatia
8. Portugal
9. Czechia
10. Netherlands
11. Switzerland
12. Latvia
13. Malta
14. Azerbaijan
15. Ireland
I have almost the same list but I would skip Netherlands with Switzerland
I wouldn’t be shocked if you were correct it’s just that Netherlands have stronger voting power and a better running order draw. So I am leaning towards them. The reason why I am not considering Latvia is cus at least 2 out of the first 5 songs always get eliminated (Since 2016) so since I know for sure that Serbia & Norway are going through and I’m putting Malta out I’m gonna gamble on Portugal being in over Latvia and Netherlands over Swiss.
That won’t matter if they don’t improve their flaws, it wouldn’t be the first time an act seemed to have everything to their favor and stayed behind anyways