Eurovision 2023 preview: Your country-by-country guide to the grand final

Thirty-seven countries competed, but only twenty-six have made it to the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. Tonight in Liverpool they’ll sing-it-out in the winner-takes-all extravaganza. So, as the contestants slip into their tightest pants and as producers warm up the wind machine, we thought we’d gather some notes on the proceedings so you know what to expect tonight. Consider this our pre-recorded commentary.

Eurovision 2023 Grand Final Running Order

1.  Austria: Teya & Salena — “Who the Hell is Edgar?”

Memorable lyrics: “Zero dot zero zero three, give me two years and your dinner will be free”

Here’s a wild one for your bingo card — macabre gothic horror meets funky dance-pop. “Who The Hell is Edgar?” is an absurdist commentary piece about artists’ treatment in the music industry, suggesting that even 19th century poet Edgar Allan Poe would only receive pennies for his contributions to the arts in today’s economy. Prepare for another dance routine the whole family can enjoy. And yes: The 0.003 does refer to the amount of money artists get per stream

2.  Portugal: Mimicat — “Ai coração”

Memorable lyrics: “My chest is burning, my mouth is dry, I don’t know what to do, love I can’t do it like this”

“Ai coração” is about heartache and desperation. Hopelessly in love, Mimicat descends into madness as she waits for her lover — “I feel dizzy, and worse every day” / “My pulse is racing”. 

In Portuguese, “Ai” an exclamation equivalent to “oh” or “ouch” in English. As the song progresses and the music becomes more frantic, Mimicat adds one more “Ai coração” to each subsequent chorus, illustrating her emotions spiralling as the heartache becomes stronger. 

3.  Switzerland: Remo Forrer — “Watergun”

Memorable lyrics: “Can′t turn and run, no waterguns, just body bags that we’ve become”

The Swiss entry for Eurovision 2023 “Watergun” was conceptualised two years ago. In 2021, Swiss producer Pele Loriano started writing and composing the song — which means the war in Ukraine was not the reason to create this song, as Loriano stated during recent interviews. Remo starts the song by critically thinking about a childhood memories when he — and many other boys that age — pretended to fight in war. Back then, he thought of it as very playful, not realising the seriousness of war.

But later, Remo recognises that war isn’t playful at all. Many young men around his age in many different countries have to fight and risk their lives at war — not with waterguns like Remo’s childhood self, but with real guns. With lyrics like “I don’t wanna have to play with real blood”, Remo realises his childhood delusions were far more sanitised than the reality of war. “Watergun” reminds listeners to be thankful for living in peaceful countries. Remo said he’s aware of the topic being very emotional and recognises the sensitivity at risk, but he thinks it’s important to spread the message of peace.

4. 🇵🇱 Poland: Blanka — “Solo”

Memorable lyrics: “Baby, it’s kinda crazy”

Bejba has arrived. Polish star Blanka has been the topic of much conversation amongst Eurovision fans this season, who have embraced her unique pronunciation of “baby”. The stage fills out with tropical colours, and an easy to follow dance routine that transports viewers to the hotspot clubs of the Ibiza strip. “Solo” is bound to be a Just Dance favourite.

5.  Serbia: Luke Black — “Samo mi se spava”

Memorable lyrics: “Who’s taking control of me?”

Have you ever felt so lonely and worn out by the world that all you can do is play video games to forget it all? Well, for all the gamers out there, Luke Black understands your pain. “Samo mi se spava” translates to “I just want to sleep” – and honestly, don’t we all sometimes?

“Samo mi se spava” stands out for its memorable use of metaphors that reference video game language throughout, with phrases including “I don’t wanna choose my fighter, who’s taking control of me?”, and “Hello? Game over”.

The lyrics describe Luke’s desire to escape feelings of hopelessness and despair. Right from the start, he paints a bleak picture: “Baby watch the world on fire, it is all a game to me”. Throughout the song, Luke repeats: “I just want to sleep forever, like it better when I dream” to escape a painful reality. That reality is empty and scary — a world of war, famine, and monsters.

When Luke asks “Hello?”, there is no one around to answer him back. The phrase “game over” that follows then becomes a desperate plea for whoever is controlling him to release him from this terrible game.

6.  France: La Zarra — “Évidemment”

Memorable lyrics: “It is always too good to be true But it is never too ugly to be false”

La Zarra — born Fatima Zahra Hafdi — is a 25-year-old French-Canadian singer. Born in Montreal to a family of Moroccan origin, La Zarra has a deep love for Eurovision. As a youngster, she often sang Marie Myriam’s winning song “L’oiseau et l’enfent” together with her mother. 

Entirely self-taught, she quickly began to write her own compositions inspired by her experiences, confessions and other sharp emotions. Her warm and distinguished voice allows her to communicate to the public her desires, her hopes but also her disillusions with singular verisimilitude.

The young woman has achieved massive success there last year with her song “Tu t’en iras”, which has accumulated more than 19 million views on YouTube. 

La Zarra describes “Évidemment” as a “universal love song” and a “hymn that can be sung by all”. Her song takes the listener on a journey as La Zarra discovers her resilience blooming from the ashes of a turbulent relationship. In the midst of adversity, the young woman seems to find who she really is and changes for the better.

La Zarra suggests her ex-lover fed her false and unmeaningful compliments, with lyrics such as “all of these beautiful promises that I hear, they’re nothing but wind” and “I look for love, I find none”. But in spite of the toxic relationship, La Zarra grows to become a stronger person, saying goodbye to the young naive person she used to be — “she will never be the same again, the girl from before”.

7.  Cyprus: Andrew Lambrou — “Break a Broken Heart”

Memorable lyrics: “You lift me up and leave me in the gutter”

Australian singer Andrew Lambrou represents Cyprus with his Imagine Dragons style dark pop track “Break A Broken Heart”. Honouring the glorious British weather, this stage show goes through all the seasons as Andrew sings in rain, wind, and blazing heat. Cyprus missed out on the final last year. Will Andrew Lambrou take them back to the Eurovision final?

8.  Spain: Blanca Paloma — “Eaea”

Memorable lyrics: “My child, when I die may they bury me in the moon”

It is actually hard to translate the lyrics of Eaea (pronounced as /ˌeaˈea/), as they are deeply entangled with Spanish history, culture and literature, and there’s several layers to them despite the fact that they are not so long.

Blanca Paloma’s song is a lullaby and the lyrics are directed to a child. However, she has explained on several occasions that this should not be taken as something literal. It is, primarily, a message from her grandmother’s culture and roots to herself. 

In fact, Blanca has explained that the song’s inspiration and the reason because it is a lullaby is also linked with her grandmother. When she was a child, her grandma Carmen used to sing a song for her that made fun of death, something that hailed form her Sevillan roots. 

The song uses several concepts that are common in flamenco, and for many classic Spanish authors. Federico García Lorca, one of the country’s best known authors from the 20th century has been an inspiration for Blanca Paloma. Several interpretations have been made about the symbolism of the song, both on her side, and from the fans: The moon as a shrine or a representation of death, the night as the unknown, the child as the innocence and ingenuity, death as a reference to the after life, are some of them. There are also some biblical references, like the tears of the Nile as a simile of neglect.

“I am a lover of Lorca’s work”, Blanca explains. For those of you who don’t know him, Federico García Lorca is one of Spain’s most celebrated authors from the 20th century, and a core member of the country’s Generation of’27, which incorporates other popular artists such as Salvador Dalí or Luis Buñuel. “Lorquian” is an adjective in Spanish, so you can figure his reach. 

A pioneer of the rediscovery of Spanish folklore, Lorca wrote major works of Spanish literature, such as the Gypsy Ballads and The House of Bernarda Alba. He mixed Andalusian and avant-garde motifs, and women had always a strong presence on his work. That have made many people link “Eaea” to that tradition.

Lorca was murdered in the early days of the Spanish Civil War by the ultra-right wing Francoist forces because he was gay and a socialist. His remains are yet to be found today. His legacy is, however, well respected and esteemed by Spaniards. 

9.  Sweden: Loreen — “Tattoo”

Memorable lyrics: “This is not our time, it’s time to say goodbye”

Loreen co-wrote “Tattoo” alongside Peter Boström and Thomas G:son — the team behind her Eurovision 2012 song “Euphoria” — and Melfest songwriting veterans Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt and Jimmy Jansson. Also credited is Moa Carlebecker, who competed in Melodifestivalen 2022 under her stage name Cazzi Opeia with the song “I Can’t Get Enough”. 

“Tattoo” is a dark dance-pop track about holding on to love through pain. Despite proclaiming “it’s time to say goodbye”, Loreen says “this is not the end” and there will come a time when she and the subject of the song are reunited. With lyrics like “I don’t care about the pain, I’ll walk through fire and through rain”, Loreen promises she’ll do whatever it takes to get back to her love. 

The “Tattoo” stage show is inspired by Loreen’s nomadic heritage. She told wiwibloggs: “I am from the mountains, so I felt like I wanted to created this nature-ly environment.” She continued: “Beautiful elements like stone and sand and sky and all these beautiful things that we sometimes forget”.

10. 🇦🇱 Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi – “Duje”

Memorable lyrics: “Something inside me is suffocating”

Albania’s Eurovision entry is a family affair. Albina Kelmendi is joined on stage by her sisters Vesa and Sidorela, brother Albin, and parents Bujar and Albana. It’s a tribute to the highs and lows and family life, showcasing traditional Albania culture through striking visuals and fashion. 

11. 🇮🇹 Italy: Marco Mengoni – “Due vite”

Marco Mengoni is a 34-year-old Italian singer and songwriter. He first found fame in 2009, when he won the Italian version of The X Factor. A year later, he made his Sanremo debut, placing third overall with his song “Credimi ancora”. In 2013, he returned to Sanremo and won the festival with his song “L’essenziale”, which went on to place seventh for Italy at Eurovision 2013 in Malmö.

Marco has released seven studio albums, achieving 68 platinum certifications along the way. He’s a multi-award winning singer-songwriting, picking up accolades for Best European Act and Best Italian Act at the MTV European Music Awards. Elsewhere, he was the first Italian artist ever to perform at the Billboard Film and TV Music Conference in Los Angeles and at MTV World Stage in Milan. 

“Due Vite” translates to English as “two lives”. The metaphor-filled song is about how the lives of two former lovers drift apart after a breakup. The pain of Marco’s breakup makes him feel like he is “stuck in time”, as the significant other is metaphorically transformed into a desert that seems unknown to him — “And I don’t know your desert well yet”.

He describes the pair’s separation using vibrant imagery: “We’re a book on the floor, in an empty house that looks like ours”, “You look like a blurry photo”. 

The chorus is an emotional display of remorse, nostalgia, tension and regret. “If this is the last song and then the moon will burst, I will be there telling you that you’re making a mistake you’re wrong and you know that”. Yet, the song seems to leave a door open for a different scenario, a hope for a return of the loved one and the chance of a brand new start.  

12.  Estonia: Alika — “Bridges”

Memorable lyrics: “There is always time to get back on track”

If you’re a fan of a classic ballad, this one’s for you. Estonia’s Alika channels raw emotion with a powerful vocal performance, accompanied by a self-playing piano. It’s one of the very few ballads in this year’s lineup, and is a breath of fresh air from the other uptempo entries amongst the competition. Alika wears a light blue gown with a train, singing against the backdrop of rippling blue fabric emulating water. 

13.  Finland: Käärijä — “Cha Cha Cha”

Memorable lyrics: “There’s no tomorrow when I grab a pint tightly”

Käärijä — real name Jere Pöyhönen — is a 29-year-old singer and rapper from Vantaa, Finland. The multi-faceted star released his debut single “Urheilujätkä” in 2016. He has followed Eurovision since he was a little boy, citing Verka Serduchka’s “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” as a memorable performance. 

Käärijä entered Finland’s Eurovision 2023 selection show UMK in February. His song “Cha Cha Cha” won the competition, scoring a landslide 539 points — 72 points from the professional juries and 467 points from the voting public.

Käärijä co-wrote “Cha Cha Cha” with Johannes Naukkarinen, Aleksi Nurmi and Jukka Sorsa. The song is a party track cutting across genres. Käärijä said: “Finland is a party country, a heavy metal country and a pop country – this song brings all of those together”.

The lyrics describe Käärijä’s progressing feelings on a night out. Starting out feeling melancholic, Käärijä heads to the bar with the intention to “mess my head up and to free my mind of fear”. A few piña coladas later, the singer heads to the dancefloor and shakes his troubles away — “this world ain’t making me scared no more”. 

14. 🇨🇿 Czechia: Vesna — “My Sister’s Crown”

Memorable lyrics: “Choose love over power”

There’s a good reason “My Sister’s Crown” ran away with the title for ESCZ 2023 — it has an instant hook that locks you in from the very first beat. Whilst we have heard Eastern European elements mixed with modern melodies before, this is so different. It inspires feminism and power. It creates something bigger, which comes through in the pained images of women’s handprints on the screen — and the face of a woman screaming. That these women wear pink but convey power says everything. They are not your dolls. 

15.  Australia: Voyager — “Promise”

Memorable lyrics: “Cross my heart ’til the sky turns red in the sunrise”

Closing out tonight’s show is rock gods Voyager. The Perthian metal heads go full 80s synth with a stylish white car on stage — and a keytar. Lead singer Danny Estrin is an immigration lawyer in his day job, but turns up the fire for this energetic performance. Another contender to do very well in tonight’s semi. 

16.  Belgium: Gustaph — “Because of You”

Memorable lyrics: “When the world got me going crazy, I carry on”

Gustaph celebrates chosen family with “Because of You”, an ode to queer resilience. The stage show is inspired by the New York ball scene and features a dancer performing traditional vogue steps. Gustaph dons unique fashion, sporting a large white brimmed hat and flared pink trousers. If you’re hosting a Eurovision party, this is the first song of the night that will get everybody up and dancing. 

17.  Armenia: Brunette — “Future Lover”

Memorable lyrics: “Drink smoothies at near cafes”

She’s not blonde — she’s Brunette. And Armenia’s girl didn’t come to play. “Future Lover” is about Brunette’s longing for the perfect relationship, as she dreams about making art and drinking smoothies with her one and only. Her stage show is psychedelic and hypnotic, and features the first of tonight’s multiple dance breaks. The song includes lyrics about panic attacks. Her strategy to overcome? Be good. Feel good. Look good.

18.  Moldova: Pasha Parfeni — “Soarele si luna”

Memorable lyrics: “The sun and moon will hold…our wedding crown”

The Moldavian artist returns to Eurovision after 11 years with the hope of taking Moldova to the grand final for a third straight edition. The Etapa Națională 2023 winner loves his wife dearly. His entry is a reminder of the deep connection they share — and suggests that the universe blessed it from above. 

“Soarele și  Luna” describes a love as magical as the folk stories it alludes to. The English title is “The Sun and The Moon”, and the entire song is built around metaphors, folk symbols and natural elements. Together they give love a brand new dimension and elevate it to something holy and spiritual, driven by the force of the cosmos. 

From the very start, we learn that this song is about a wedding: “Dense leaf forest/ I think I’ve found my bride.” The Sun and the Moon seem to take control of the nuptials, giving their most powerful blessings to the couple: “The Sun and the Moon…will hold our wedding crown”. 

The lyrics include the presence of numerous natural elements. Notably, the forest and the the Nistru River create complete harmony between the lovers and the nature surrounding them. The “seventh evening” carries still more folk significance. In folk stories, the seventh day — Sunday — is the one on which God rested after he finished creating the world. It is also known as “The Day of Sun” and it is dedicated to rest, family and love. 

The music video presents characters from folk stories: the women with horns symbolise “muma pădurii” — Mother Forest, who protects the wild but also the love described in the song. The man with a pan flute represents “Statu-Palmă-Barbă-Cot”, a folk character and very small old man, who also protects their love. The song transports us to a folk fairytale where nature and magic create a holy and cosmic weeding. This love is pure and never-ending. 

19.  Ukraine: TVORCHI — “Heart of Steel”

Memorable lyrics: “Don’t care what you say Or how you feel Oh, I got a heart of steel”

Jimoh Augustus Kehinde (also known as Jeffrey Kenny), 25, and Andrii Hutsuliak, 27, formed TVORCHI in 2018 while they were both students at Ternopil National Medical University. They earned the right to represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2023 by winning Vidbir 2023, scoring top marks from the voting public. 

Jeffrey and Andrii started writing “Heart of Steel” after watching the Ukrainian army defend the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works from Russian aggression in Mariupol. TVORCHI are aiming to subvert narratives about sadness and despair, and instead showcase the strength of Ukraine.

“A lot of people misunderstand what we’re trying to do this year. This year there’s nothing about sadness its about strength […] Ukraine has been already more than one year fighting and standing strong, and that’s what we want to put out to the world — everyone around the world, have hearts of steel.”

20.  Norway: Alessandra — “Queen of Kings”

Memorable lyrics: “Her name is SHE, queen of the kings”

Alessandra isn’t just queen of the kings — she’s queen of the stage. Our girl emerges from the darkness with utter confidence before her backing dancers emerge with light sabres. 

“Queen of Kings” is a triumphant anthem with lyrics rooted in female empowerment. With lyrics like “broken her cage, threw out the keys”, Alessandra reminds the listener of their power to overcome adversity and take control of their own destiny. 

21.  Germany: Lord of the Lost — “Blood & Glitter”

Memorable lyrics: “Blood and glitter, sweet and bitter, we’re so happy we could die.”

This musical project was formed in 2007 by Chris Harms, originally under the name of Lord, but then changing it to the current name to avoid possible copyright disputes against the German band The Lords, and a Finnish band you probably have heard of before.

Tenderness and roughness. Two polar opposites, yet sides of the same coin. “Blood & Glitter” elaborates on how we as humans possess a depth of characteristics, qualities, and flaws that makes us whole. That is a cause of celebration and the feeling that fuels our life.

It doesn’t come with obstacles or disappointments — “we do fall before we rise” — but when we reach that, we’ll see it’s a bliss worth striving for — “we’re so happy we could die”.

22.  Lithuania: Monika Linkyte — “Stay”

Memorable lyrics: “Čiūto tūto, Čiūto tūto”

In 2015, Monika sang “This Time” for Lithuania at Eurovision in Vienna. This year, she’s back as a soloist with her healing ballad “Stay”. The main “ciūto tūto” hook is a traditional Lithuanian chant used in folklore, and is insatiably catchy. You’ll be singing this one all night long. One of the few power ballads this year, she really pops out in the running order. 

23. 🇮🇱 Israel: Noa Kirel — “Unicorn”

Memorable lyrics: “I got the power of a unicorn Don’t you ever learn?

Unicorns are mythical beasts with a single horn, known for their magical qualities and unrivalled beauty. And on Wednesday evening Noa Kirel made the case that she too is a divine creature by sharing “Unicorn” — Israel’s Eurovision 2023 song.

This song is all about perseverance and unleashing your inner strength. As Noa sings: “I’m gonna stand here like a unicorn, out here on my own, I got the power of a unicorn.”

“Don’t you ever learn? That I won’t look back, I won’t look down, I’m going up, you better turn around. The power of a unicorn. The power of a unicorn.”

In a clever play on words, Noa chants “feminine” and “phenomenon” in quick succession, suggesting that women really do have that inner power. It’s feminine-feminine-phenomenonal.

In the video we see Noa scaling the ceilings to orchestral accompaniment before slipping into a fierce jump suit and later turning into a half-woman, half unicorn beast of beauty.

The song really comes into its own in the final minute when Noa and her backing vocalists chant Un-i-corn. The heavy beat and fierce rhythms are perfect for a dance break.

24.  Slovenia: Joker Out — “Carpe Diem”

Memorable lyrics: “We’ll be dancing all night long”

Boyband lovers, this one is for you. Joker Out — that’s Bojan, Jure, Kris, Nace and Jan — are one of Slovenia’s best selling bands. With the Britpop-esque “Carpe Diem”, the boys are letting loose and telling the audience at home to seize the day. Taking pointers from Harry Styles’ wardrobe, Joker Out have enough energy and stage presence to have a huge televote demographic lapping at the palm of their hands. 

25.  Croatia: Let 3 — “Mama ŠČ!”

Memorable lyrics: “Mama bought a tractor”

The chaos and mayhem smack of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. But Let 3 use satire to comment on Russian aggression against Ukraine. “It’s not a political song, it’s a song against war,” they told Croatia’s N1 Info. “Our only wish is for the war to stop as soon as possible and for peace and love to emerge.”

With that in mind, fans and commentators have developed their own interpretations of the lyrics. Generally speaking, the song mocks dictators whose thirst for control and power puts the world at risk. Armageddon is a not-so-subtle reference to Russian nukes: “Armageddon nona…that little psychopath, a little vile psychopath.”

The “tractor” is thought to reference the relationship between Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Back in October, Lukashekno gave Putin a tractor for his 70th birthday. And then in February, Russian forces invaded Ukraine from Belarus. Minsk has continued to support Russia with supply lines and medical care for troops, among other things. In that sense Belarus is a “vehicle” for Russia to wage war. 

In the song it’s “Mama” who buys the tractor for a particular idiot — and it’s clear the group don’t approve: “Mama kissed a moron, I’m going to war.” They’ve been explicit with their dismay. In a recent TV interview, they said Putin “thinks the planet is his toy.”

26.  United Kingdom: Mae Muller — “I Wrote A Song”

Memorable lyrics: “Wanted to trash your Benz, tell all your friends, how cruel you were to me”

The 25-year-old Londoner will fly the British flag on home soil this May as she takes to the Liverpool Arena stage with her spicy breakup anthem. 

Mae Muller is a 25-year-old singer-songwriter from London. Her signature feel-good pop sound is inspired by the likes of Gwen Stefani, The Chicks and Lily Allen.

She first found fame in 2019 when her song “Better Days” — a collaboration with Swedish group Neiked and American rapper Polo G — charted in the UK top 40 and reached the US top 30. She went on to perform the track on Jimmy Fallon’s late night talk show. Elsewhere, she supported girlband Little Mix on their UK tour.

Mae co-wrote “I Wrote A Song” alongside Brit-nominated songwriter Lewis Thompson and Karen Poole. The 25-year-old Londoner describes the song as an empowering pop anthem about taking the high road.

Featuring a tasty summertime hook, polished production and a spoken-word bridge showcasing Mae’s North London origins, “I Wrote A Song” brings contemporary Britpop to the Eurovision lineup.

On TikTok, Mae wrote: “This song is for the girlies that went through heartache, hurt or pain and came out of the other side, who persevered and came out stronger, who took the high road and chose to love themselves.”

With lyrics like “I was ready for a sentence”, Mae tells her ex how she really feels — ready to get revenge at the risk of a criminal record. But instead, she puts her emotions into words. After writing her anger down in verse, she’s ready to party with her girlfriends: “I feel much better now, me and my girls are out”.

“Wild Dances: My Queer and Curious Journey to Eurovision” is available now.

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