Sweden’s the song to beat as Australia’s Go-Jo generates buzz at Eurovision

Seven-time Eurovision winner Sweden has emerged as the country to beat as 32 countries remain in the race for the 69th annual Eurovision Song Contest.

The Swedish group Kaj dazzled the audience at the first semi-final, held overnight in Basel, Switzerland.

Swedish group Kaj perform Bara Bada Bastu at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest.Credit: Alma Bengtsson

Whether Australia has a shot at wresting the trophy from its European rivals remains to be seen, but buzz for Australian singer Marty Zambotto, known professionally as Go-Jo, is incredibly strong on the ground.

A clear fan favourite, the 29-year-old West Australian is drawing crowds and generating strong radio airplay across Europe.

Though the competition is known for its signature hectic blend of European disco pop and campy eccentricity, the reality is that a shrewdly prosecuted marketing strategy is now as important as a dazzling stage performance; any potential winner must earn a high score from the TV audience as well as the professional juries.

The 10 winning countries from the first semi-final – Norway, Albania, Sweden, Iceland, Netherlands, Poland, San Marino, Estonia, Portugal and Ukraine – now progress to this weekend’s final. That means Slovenia, Belgium, Azerbaijan, Croatia and Cyprus are out of contention.

Norway’s Kyle Alessandro performs Lighter at the first semi-final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest.Credit: Alma Bengtsson

Australia is competing in the second semi-final, held Friday morning Australian time, in which 10 more countries will be selected to move into the final, and six more countries will be sent home.

Those 20 qualifying countries will then meet the so-called “Big Five” – France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK – and the hosting country (Switzerland), which automatically book a slot in the final.

A winner is then crowned via an archaic scoring system much-loved by diehard fans of the competition, which involves crossing to each competing country to add their points to the cumulative total.

Aside from Sweden, the other strong contenders in the competition are Austria’s Johannes Pietsch, known by the stage name JJ, performing Wasted Love, and France’s Louane, performing Maman, a moving tribute to her mother, who died in 2014, when the singer was still a teenager.

Australia’s Go-Jo rehearsing Milkshake Man earlier this week in Basel, Switzerland.Credit: Sarah-Louise-Bennett

The first semi-final also teased out three additional strong, crowd-pleasing performances: Albania’s Shkodra Elektronike with Zjerm, Estonia’s Tommy Cash with Espresso Macchiato, and the Netherlands’ Claude, performing C’est La Vie.

Among the highlights of the first semi-final broadcast was a package of Swiss pop classics, introduced by hosts Hazel Brugger and Sandra Studer, which included one of Switzerland’s greatest pop exports, The Chicken Dance, composed by Swiss accordion player Werner Thomas in 1957.

Pop icon Céline Dion, who won Eurovision 1988 representing Switzerland when she was just 20 with the song Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi, pre-taped a message for this year’s event.

“I would love nothing more than to be in Basel with you now,” Dion said. “Switzerland will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s a country that believed in me and gave me a chance to be a part of something extraordinary.”

Claude performs C’est La Vie for the Netherlands at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest.Credit: Alma Bengtsson

The Canadian-born singer said Eurovision was “a life-changing moment for me, and I am so thankful for everyone who supported me”. “Now, 37 years later, it’s so beautiful and emotional to see Switzerland winning and hosting the competition again. Thank you for your love, the night is yours.”

Recently, the 57-year-old singer has battled the rare neurological disorder stiff person syndrome (SPS), which has affected her ability to move and sing.

Last year, Dion defied expectations and delivered a stunning performance at the Paris Olympics. There is still intense speculation about whether she will appear in person at the weekend’s final.

Brugger and Studer led an elaborate presentation, Made in Switzerland, highlighting innovations pioneered by the host country, including processed cheese, the electric guitar, the zipper, Muesli, cellophane, the garlic press and the Eurovision Song Contest itself, which was first staged on May 24, 1956, in Lugano.

All the world’s a stage … the curtain rises on the 69th annual Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland.Credit: Corinne Cumming / EBU

This is Australia’s 10th year in competition, and despite being a relatively young competitor in the 61-year-old contest, we have an impressive track record, finishing everywhere from 20th place (Jessica Mauboy in 2018) to second place (Dami Im in 2016).

Only on two occasions – Montaigne in 2021 and Electric Fields in 2024 – have we failed to qualify for the final, and three Australian artists (Im, Kate Miller-Heidke in 2019 and Voyager in 2023) hold the honour of being ranked first in their semi-final performances.

This year’s competition is noticeably calmer than last year, where protesters objecting to Israel’s inclusion crowded the streets of Swedish host city Malmö, Dutch entrant Joost Klein was disqualified after a backstage altercation with a camera operator, and several countries threatened to quit.

The 2025 competition features artists and songs from 37 countries performing in 20 languages. It is being staged at the St Jakobshalle stadium in Basel.

The second Eurovision semi-final, featuring Australia, will air live at 5am AEST on SBS on Friday; the grand final will air live at 5am AEST on SBS on Sunday.

Eurovision will be replayed in primetime on Friday (semi-final 1), Saturday (semi-final 2) and Sunday (grand final) on SBS from 7.30pm.