On May 7, the city of Malmo in Sweden hosted the first semi-final of the international song contest «Eurovision 2024». The competition featured representatives from 15 countries, all vying for a chance to move on to the final round. The live broadcast of the show was streamed on the YouTube channel of «Susilne Yevrobachennia» (Public Eurovision) – the main Ukrainian broadcaster of the event.
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual musical competition that has been running since 1956, with the purpose of promoting unity and cultural exchange between European countries. The contest has gained immense popularity over the years, making it one of the largest television events in the world, with an estimated audience of over 180 million viewers.
This year’s semi-final in Malmo was a highly anticipated event, as it marked the first time that the city has hosted the competition. The stage at the Malmo Arena was decked out in an impressive display of lights and visuals, creating an electrifying atmosphere for the performers and the audience alike.
The evening kicked off with a performance by last year’s winners, Italy’s rock band Måneskin, who set the tone for the evening with their high-energy performance. The 15 participating countries then took the stage one by one, showcasing their unique styles and talents in hopes of securing a spot in the final round.
Each performance was judged by a panel of music industry professionals and viewers at home, who could vote for their favorite acts via the official Eurovision app. The voting results were a mix of jury points and viewer votes, making the competition even more exciting and unpredictable.
The first semi-final featured a diverse range of musical genres, from pop and rock to traditional folk and electronic dance music. It was a true celebration of the diversity and richness of European cultures, with each performance telling a unique story.
One of the stand-out performances of the evening was from Ukraine’s own Go_A, who delivered a stunning and energetic performance of their song «Shum» (Noise). The fusion of traditional Ukrainian folk music with modern electronic beats had the audience dancing along and earned them a spot in the final round.
Other notable performances included France’s Barbara Pravi with her powerful ballad «Voilà», Iceland’s Daði og Gagnamagnið with their catchy electro-pop song «10 Years», and Malta’s Destiny with her soulful performance of «Je Me Casse».
As the votes were tallied, the tension in the arena was palpable. In the end, the 10 countries who received the most votes secured their spot in the final round, while the remaining participants unfortunately had to bid farewell to the competition.
The 10 finalists will now take the stage again on May 8 for the final round, where they will compete against the pre-qualified «Big Five» countries (France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom) and the host country Sweden. This year’s final promises to be a spectacular show, with extravagant performances and a highly anticipated announcement of the winner.
The first semi-final of Eurovision 2024 in Malmo was a night to remember, filled with unforgettable performances and a display of unity and cultural exchange between European countries. Congratulations to all the participants and good luck to the 10 finalists in the final round. May the best song win!
