The Pop Corporation

Some of the songs that will feature in the 2025 have been released, but not all. We looked at the betting for some of these songs, and honestly, we can’t see how they’ve fallen like they have, but we only have our gut to work with, rather than analytics and whatnot.

The favourites at the moment are Sweden. Sweden always perform well, but KAJ represent the Eurovision giant this year, and it’s a bit novelty for our tastes. It’s very old-school Eurovision, so it might do well on that, but it’s really not feeling like a winner to us.

Ireland – another big gun – went hard last year, and alienated some of the vote. This time around, it’s a glitzy, alien Eurorave number and very enjoyable it is too. Will it win? It feels a little thin, but you imagine if it sits between some overly earnest ballads, it’ll have living rooms and the event itself, bouncing. Good work, EMMY.

Meanwhile, the Australians continue to get it. We all know they’re not European, but honestly, they’ve contributed hugely to the show since their first invite. Throw all logic out of the window, the Aussies have sent a gaudy, brash banger which sounds like horny, muscular German industrial pop, and it’s a shedload of fun.

However, when it comes to dishing out bottles of poppers and removing our tops, the clear favourite from the banger-set is Belgium. A fiercely fun, straight-faced trance window rattler from Red Sebastian.

It’s giving great face, business casual, and one of the most outrageous drops in the whole competition. Crack open the hard liquor for this one as you’ll want to be doing shots on the night of the live show.

Exactly what Eurovision should be about.

Speaking of what Eurovision should be all about – it is mandatory that there’s at least one entrant that could be described as ‘a tiny, glamorous nightmare’.

This year, Spain keeps that tradition alive with someone called Melody who has brought a dancefloor friendly arm-waver, and she looks like she is the kind of woman who would wear shoes so uncomfortable and impractical, that she might need to be carried from her car to the club, before breaking into a high octane dance routine with some oiled-up, buff guys.

It really wouldn’t be Eurovision without a whirling dervish like this, so well done Spain. We rate it.

There’s always one operatic, biiiiig ballad that is fancied at Eurovision. While most of them usually stink (for our tastes), we can’t deny Austria’s entry from JJ.

‘Wasted Love’ is a massive, massive song and you imagine that during it, every light-up wristband in the arena will be glowing and in the air. It might win. You’d be wise to bet on this, if you’re that way inclined!

And so, to Malta, who already have a hit on their hands despite it only being released last week. Originally, singing “serving Kant”, but sounding very much like something else, you know that during the show, everyone in the audience will be filling in the blanks, as it has now been re-dubbed just ‘Serving‘, as a result of a ruling from the European Broadcasting Union requiring the word “Kant” to be removed from the entry.

Boo hiss, etc.

It’s a bop though, and it could well win. It’s modern, fun, camp – all the things you want from a Eurovision song.

You imagine that, if Miriana’s people are smart, there’s going to be a number of 12″ lengthed uncensored remixes and versions of the song making their way to DJs as we speak, because the “serving Kant” refrain is absolutely aching to be played as loud as is unreasonable on as many sweaty dancefloors as humanly possible.

An instant classic.

We covered the absolutely berserk tempo changes and slabs of harmony for the UK entry last week, and it’s a huge swing from the usually reserved United Kingdom Eurovision team. We don’t think it’ll win, and calling it ‘What The Hell Just Happened?’ does leave room for everyone who sarcastically say exactly that after hearing it. We’re okay with it though – the UK are not playing it safe, and that’s a broadly good thing.

Israel are, bafflingly, quite fancied this time around with a pretty run-of-the-mill powerful ballad you’d see in the hands of an X Factor winner of yore. Political controversy and Eurovision go hand-in-hand, regardless of what the organisers would have you believe, and this year is going to be fascinating to watch with this lot. Expect booing.

Ukraine likewise, will be favourably look at with their mildly operatic rock. Ziferblat’s ‘Bird of Pray’ doesn’t sound like a winner to us, but it’ll almost certainly do well in the public vote and, honestly, it is astonishing that they managed to send anyone at all.

There’s a lot more songs too, and we’ve not covered them all. We’ll save that for closer to the time. However, we are pleased to announce that we’re not set for a ballad heavy year as there’s enough uptempo songs to keep us dancing on the carpet and unscrewing the wine bottles for the evening.

It should be a great evening.

Last time we checked, the odds look a bit like this (they may have changed, so if you’re a betting person, do your own homework).

SWEDEN 15/8

AUSTRIA 4/1

ISRAEL 5/1

FRANCE 6/1

NETHERLANDS 10/1

FINLAND 16/1

BELGIUM 20/1

ESTONIA 28/1

UNITED KINGDOM 33/1

UKRAINE 33/1