Imagine the class is over, you’ve just come home, you turn on the TV and grab your snack: some fresh milk (almond milk if you prefer), chocolate, and a croissant because why not.The TV is showing a series, but your mind is elsewhere. You’re thinking about the day, because it was amazing.
(I didn’t have a picture of my snack, so I used a brunch time…)
You didn’t believe Diego when he told you about the Castells competition in Tarragona, near Barcelona, until he showed a photo of himself as part of the 10-meter human tower.
Then you remember your Swedish friend who talked about fika, that coffee break tradition that comes with seven cakes. Why seven? Oh right, because for them, it strikes the perfect balance : not too little, not too showy ^^
As for you, you got to see their amazement when you confessed why you were always late whenever you were invited over. Yes, always about 15 minutes late, but why? Well, it’s because in France, you give your host some extra time to tidy up and get everything super neat and ready. You give them about 15 extra minutes.
Those 15 minutes are called: “le quart d’heure de politesse” or…
And after you, there was also James, Maddalena, Nyko… it was awesome because no one judged anyone. Everyone teased each other, everyone cared about each other, and after all, nobody ever died of embarrassment. What if, on the contrary, being a little ridiculous could actually bring us together?
I’ll keep it short. Eurovision is a song contest, and in 2025, 37 countries are competing. There are three main events (info for France):
– The First Semi-Final on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 9pm on France 4 (channel 14 on TNT)
– The Second Semi-Final on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 9pm on France 4 (channel 14 on TNT)
– The Final on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 9pm on France 2, hosted by S. Bern and L. Boccolini.
Each country has a jury that awards points to other countries. Of course, a country can’t vote for itself.
Then, viewers also get to vote, and based on the number of votes, new points are proportionally added to each country.
I feel like there’s some kind of running joke about the United Kingdom…
Yes, that’s pretty harsh.
But let’s finally get to the main point of what I wanted to share (yes, that’s how I am : I go from very general, to general, to specific, I’m sorry about that).
Here is a little selection of what I liked about Eurovision 2024.
And then my top 3 picks of this year.
« I’ll miss you all but mostly the cat »
I loved “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” by Baby Lasagna for its energy! They finished 2nd, but what a performance ! It felt like we stepped out of the competition for a moment. It turned into a wild rock-aristo-techno concert, and when the crowd joined in on the chorus, you knew it was something special.
Have you ever seen a pair of jean shorts drop from the sky like an imperial relic?
“No Rules” by Windows95man is a staging masterpiece. Eurovision truly delivers when it comes to spectacular stagecraft and technology in the service of human eccentricity. I love it… I’m a bit embarrassed but I love it XD. They finished 19th, and I think this song is a tongue-in-cheek response to Eurovision’s complaint about Finland, since the 2023 singer performed shirtless.
Alone, yes, but center stage and bathed in light.
Finally, “Mon Amour” by Slimane. Eurovision has a bit of everything, and sometimes there are real moments of brilliance. For Slimane, that moment comes just after 2 minutes and 5 seconds, an iconic highlight that, in my opinion, was worthy of the win. He finished 4th, after Switzerland (the winner), Croatia, and Ukraine. I highly recommend watching his entire performance to really immerse yourself in his world. The camerawork was also perfect.
And now, without further ado, here’s my Top 3 for this year:
3) Maman, by Louane
Alright, I’m allowing myself this little exception : I’m voting for my own country XD
The song she’ll perform at Eurovision couldn’t have come to life without her unique story, especially now that she’s become a mother.
When she was 16 or 17, Louane sadly lost her father, and a year later, her mother. Every line of this song is written straight from the heart, and while life and time push us to move forward, there are just some loves you can never let fade away…
Country : France
P.S : Louane has released an English version of this song.
2) Espresso Macchiato, by Tommy Cash
I stumbled upon it by chance, and the melody just stuck with me. And the music video too, and that video… Turns out a guy with a split personality dancing in a bizarre way really works for me XD. I think the “Espresso” personality is definitely less friendly than the “Macchiato” one…
I know there’s been some controversy, since the song plays with stereotypes, but I also know that a lot of Italians enjoyed it and took it with a sense of humor.
Country : Estonia
1) What the hell just happened, by Remember Monday.
It’s a trio made up of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull, and Charlotte Steele. They’re incredibly talented, harmonize beautifully, and show real vocal virtuosity. Their song sweeps you up, a bit like a famous Queen track, with a wild universe and a simple, super-effective concept: they wake up, but what happened the night before??
Country : United Kingdom
As a conclusion, I’d say I’m not naïve : Eurovision can’t escape politics or controversy, it’s not just about talent. Some songs have hidden meanings, more or less obvious, that let countries talk about their situations.
What I love most is the idea behind Eurovision: this Europe enriched by its cultures and by healthy competition. The world is beautiful when it sings, when it smiles, and sometimes when it trolls…
If you have the time, I really recommend watching at least the Final on Saturday, May 17. And if you have even more time, you can check out the film “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” on Netflix. It’s a joyful and musical movie that’s sure to make you smile.
It’s kitsch, sometimes cringe, but also beautiful and full of kindness. I’ll talk more about it someday…
And in the meantime, I’m curious : what do you think about Eurovision? You can tell me in the form below, or on my Instagram @bermudes_photo. Bye ^^