Eurovision Song Contest 2025: Seven questions and answers about the pop spectacle in Basel

We find ourselves in the year 2025 AD. All of Europe is gripped by multiple crises. All of Europe? No! A glittering spaceship populated by indomitable partygoers continues to resist the general gloom. This year, it lands in Basel, Switzerland, virtually on neutral ground. Following last year's victory by the pink Swiss turntable bird Nemo ("The Code"), the 69th Eurovision Song Contest will take place there. Among them: 36 contenders for the European pop crown. And Germany, too.

Europe meets on neutral ground: The facade of the St. Jakobshalle in Basel is decorated with hearts for the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2025.

Source: Georgios Kefalas/KEYSTONE/dpa

At the center of local interest is an ESC veteran who is poised to outdo Ralph Siegel in terms of ESC obsession: Stefan Raab wants to lead the sibling duo Abor & Tynna, who are competing for Germany with their electro-pop hit "Baller," to victory on May 17. But of course, in the brutalist event bunker known as St. Jakobshalle (which the people of Basel affectionately call the "Joggelihalle"), there's much more at stake than Raab's ego and a bit of glitter dust.

Turin 2022 and Liverpool 2023 were dedicated to solidarity with the battered Ukraine. Then, in Malmö in 2024, the Eurovision Song Contest devolved into a scandalous and embarrassing bullying show, with over-excited participants targeting Israeli singer Eden Golan over the Gaza War – culminating in the expulsion of Dutchman Joost Klein for "misconduct." Eurovision officials have established new rules of conduct, backstage safety zones, and a hotline for victims of harassment. They say there have been no concrete terrorist threats, but they are prepared for planned attacks, cyberattacks, or protests that get out of hand. This time, 24-year-old Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, will be competing for Israel. She, too, expects massive headwinds. For example, Nemo, which won for Switzerland a year ago, spoke out against Israel's participation because of the Gaza War. Seventy former Eurovision participants expressed similar views in an open letter. Spain and several other countries also demanded that participation be discussed. And what does Yuval Raphael say? "Nothing scares me anymore."

Three cheers for the sauna! The Swedish trio KAJ is celebrating the benefits of the sauna at the Eurovision Song Contest – and is considered the favorite to win.

Source: IMAGO/TT

Somewhere in the Swedish forests, there must be a secret hit factory where ABBA's Benny Andersson, as the Petrosilius Zwackelmann of pop, bakes a series of Eurovision hits according to a magical incantation. Sweden again! The trio KAJ celebrates the blessings of a sweat bath in their blazing polka-infused earworm "Bara bada bastu" (Just Go to the Sauna) and is considered the overwhelming favorite by the bookmakers (also due to over 40 million streams on Spotify). Following behind is the Austrian countertenor JJ ("Wasted Love"), whose aggressive voice can be described as something between "spectacular" and "mind-melting," depending on your interpretation. Also highly rated are the Dutchman Claude with the danceable, pain-filled ballad "C'est La Vie" – and Israel. The Ukrainian band Ziferblat, on the other hand, is unlikely to stand a chance despite the solidarity effect.

An Austrian brother and sister with Hungarian-Romanian roots, deeply relaxed to the point of emotional absence, sings hilarious electropop for Germany. And – for the first time since Roger Cicero's "Frau'n regier'n' die Welt" (Women Rule the World) from 2007 – they're doing it in German. This pleases traditionalists. However, not even Raab will win the Eurovision Song Contest through sheer force of will. However, one can hope for a mid-table finish for Germany – as a major financial sponsor, as always, for the final.

"You're welcome to insult me ​​if this goes wrong: Stefan Raab plays the ukulele alongside ARD program director Christine Strobl at the presentation of his ESC plans in Berlin this spring.

Source: Willy Weber/RTL/dpa

The Cologne native, grinning with a tile grin, sees himself as a "source of ideas" - and wants to win. "That's the only thing I'll be judged by," he says. "You're welcome to insult me ​​if this goes wrong. Believe me: I'll be furious. And I'll find someone to blame." As a reminder: all of his Eurovision entries have reached the top ten so far. Between the two Eurovision semi-finals on May 13 and 15, Raab will be broadcasting his own Eurovision show on RTL ("Chefsache ESC 2025") on Wednesday, May 14, at 8:15 p.m. RTL reportedly shelled out €90 million for Raab's TV comeback for a reason. NDR is also showing the documentary "Stefan Raab: Mein ESC" (available in the ARD media library from May 12).

Means everything ironically: Estonian Tommy Cash with fans.

Source: IMAGO/ABACAPRESS

Of course! The days of fancy dresses, singing turkeys, and figure skating seem to be over—but the joy of sophisticated nonsense is undying. Estonian Tommy Cash, dancing like a lovelorn accountant, pokes fun at Italian clichés with "Espresso Macchiato." Finnish disco whiz Erika Vikmann sings "Ich komme" (I'm Coming) (in German) with little subtlety. And Maltese singer Miriana Conte had to reword her song "Kant" (singing) because the BBC's word sounded too much like the vulgar "cunt."

Host of the Eurovision Song Contest final: Michelle Hunziker.

Source: IMAGO/M.Charming

The Eurovision semifinals will be hosted by Swiss Eurovision veteran Sandra Studer (56, fifth place in 1991) and comedian Hazel Brugger (31). Both will be supported in the final by Michelle Hunziker (48). Organizers are keeping a big secret about a guest appearance by Celine Dion. Given her condition (stiff person syndrome), which is accompanied by muscle cramps, the winner will be determined by her form on the day.

Russia is out. Still. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) suspended the country in 2022, just as it did Belarus three years earlier. In a kind of political-cultural fit of defiance, Vladimir Putin has announced a rival contest: The "Intervision" competition, with reportedly 25 participating countries (including China, Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa), is scheduled to take place this fall. Presumably without Stefan Raab.