It’s that time in May. First comes the Met Gala, then on one weekend it’s the Cannes Film Festival and the Eurovision Song Contest – May is just the month that keeps on giving. It’s been some time since I’ve been sat for Eurovision, however, since the University of Warwick days when the campus would play the final all night on the big screen in the piazza because our campus was majority EU background – it was always an excuse to kick back with a drink and be social and throw ourselves into the camp and light-hearted fun nature of the contest while finding some hidden gems along the way.

Update following results: The UK unfortuantely received zero points from the audience a second year running despite a decent performance from our girl group which was the first since 1999. The countries judging panels got it right, however, the audience messed things up royally with favourites below receiving lower points from the audience in comparison to the panels. Ultimately, Austria lifted the microphone trophy and won with grace.

Personal favourites:

Spain

The singer dressed the part, appearing like Shakira or Queen Bey herself, then when it came time to take the stage she gave the first serious performance of the night – stage presence, settings, dancers, vocals, it was all there.

Austria

The opera he delivered, the range from alt rock in the verses back to the falsettos in the chorus, the wavering paper boat that went off camera and flew back into his hand at the end. To close, the song got even better when it changed keys into a dance tempo in the outro, all while the singer convincingly rode a boat on stage like he was lost at sea.

Latvia

The siren outfits were spectacular and absolutely on the mark. The stage set up gave Beyoncé Lion King and the girls admittedly did steal it from the UK girl group who performed prior.

Germany

A dance song that I’m going to download outside of this, instead of being the usual Eurovision camp splendour or gimics, this was genuinely a techno song we should be hearing in clubs abroad. The sibling duo went to number one in Germany with the track, with the sister dubbed as German Charli XCX, and the neon lit-up cello already had me sat in the first few seconds.

Switzerland

Another song I’ll download outside of the competition. Indie goodness, and what doesn’t sound good when sang in French? Basel’s own singer took the stage in her home city for the final with ease.

Malta

From the giant open lips with a disco ball on stage (very Bratz and Beyoncé Renaissance tour coded), to the red hair and burlesque outfits. “Do-re-mi-fa-serving c***” will forever be in our heads and such a moment.

Honourable mentions:

Poland

Greece

The two Michelle Visage look-a-likes poured their all into this, Poland’s own is 52 years of age and dancing with ease, as well as sprinting up the runway of the stage. This coupled with Greece’s last second dramatic outfit change as the stage faded to black, is exactly what we expect from Eurovision, brava.

Denmark

A dance track that should go far in a Eurovison song contest.