We catch up with the top five beloved

The Eurovision Song Contest goes to its grand finale on Saturday night in Basel, and 27 countries are fighting for a coveted glass microphone trophy.

This year, the contestants are a traditional combination of spectacular, stupid and sincere.

Australia notes the 69th edition of the Malkskake Men engineer’s competition; Bird of Ukraine is a message about the hope among the fierce war with Russia; And Ireland’s entrant Amy dancing on a Russian spacecraft singing about a convicted Cosmo dog, Laika.

The competition feels less predictable than in recent years, when such actions as Lorin (Sweden, 2023) and Kalush -archestra (Ukraine, 2022) were scheduled to win before they even sang a note.

Currently, bookmakers have been installed Sweden at the top of the table, with its beautifully sonnets of the sauna, the Bada Bar.

But here’s the matter: the novelty number has never won. Voters usually prefer songs about triumph over the hardships and stones of great pop.

Ideally they want a stone big pop -hin about There are many those who are sprinkled with today’s order.

We talked to the six contestants with the best chances to find out what stood out their records in Eurovision.

• Chance to win: 39%
• Language: Swedish
• Genre: epadunk
• Spotify streams: 43.9 m

Kai is the first Finnish act presented by Sweden in Eurovision, originally from the coastal city of the pad, where the Swedish language remains the main language.

They performed the comedy troupe for more than 15 years – and were unexpected winners of Sweden’s Melodifestivalen, where the public selected a recording from the country earlier this year.

Their song, the Basie Basta Bar, is a tribute to the Sauna of Culture (in Finland more than three million saunas, one for two people).

“It felt like a natural thing to sing,” says Kevin Holmest. “We really like the sauna. It’s versatile.”

The first Swedish language has been recorded since 2012, the song glorifies virtues that reduce stress. Is it interesting why Finland is invariably considered the happiest nation in the world?

“This is a chicken and an egg situation,” laughs Jacob Norrgar. “I don’t know what came first, happiness or sauna, but the sauna certainly reduces your heart rate.”

This year, the trio brought the Sauna layout for Eurovision, complete with birch branches, hot charters and dancers in skin towels. In the texts they ask, “How long can you hold on?”

“Oh, we can do it last night,” Jackob confirms. “The Sauna Party, which lasts for hours.”

“I like to do this with a lot of intervals,” Axel Ahman says. “Two -three hours, going and go out, drink something, maybe even a snack on the sausage on the street, and then go back -just to make it a quiet and long session.”

And how does Finland refer to the fact that the trio represents its neighbor and Eurovision competitor?

“Finns love the deal, so it’s great,” Jacob laughs.

“Sweden gets a fee for everything, but it is also a Finnish victory.”

• A chance to win: 22%
• Language: English
• Genre: Pop Opera
• Spotify Streams: 6m

Austria has the best compartment opening in the year: “I’m an ocean of love / and you’re afraid of water.“

“It is about my personal experience with unemployed love,” says Singer Johannes Pitche, who is under the name of JJ. “It seemed I was going to a one -sided street.”

A 24-year-old man at Eurovision with his daily work in the Vienna State Opera, where he played roles in the magic flute and von der Lib Tod.

“The showed show in the opera has 1600 people, so this is nothing compared to the Eurovision audience,” he says (163 million people were noticed last year).

Pitche’s song “Take Love” is a stormy ballad that makes the entertaining use of its counter-tenor, with an EDM turn.

On stage, he performs in a bewildered sailing boat, clinging to the mast when the ocean threatens it. This is one of the most arrested performances and it requires a lot of preparation.

“This is an opera singer in me, I practice every day.” he says. “I have to make vocal warm -up to keep the voice active, and before you go on stage, I always make ten push -ups and one -minute boards.”

Exit to the Eurovision final has become a dream since he watched As Conchita Wurst would win Austria in 2014. Can he repeat this success in Switzerland?

“That would be great for Austria. I’d like to do it. I would call Conchita mom, so I would make her proud.”

• Chance to win: 8%
• Language: French
• Genre: Song Torch
• Spotify streams: 6.9 m

“I am surrounded by a sandy storm, sandy tornado, and I will wear a robban dress.”

French singer Luan describes a simple but stunning production for her ballad Maman.

The sand is true (as it avoids inhalation, I will never know), but it is a goal: a song that was inspired by the mother’s death from the cancer is the passage of time.

“This is a song that says that even through sadness and deep pain you can feel normal,” she says.

Maman is technically continued the song of the same name in 2015, written in the depths of the despair of Luan. “I lost the taste to fun / can’t find meaning“She sang.

The 2025 version includes several return appeals to the first song. For example, the original opened with the lyrics: “Fans are moving from bed to bed“But the update finds her singing,” “No more lovers, more beds“

The birth of their own baby helped Luan raise the veil of sadness.

In the song, she tells about how holding her daughter’s hand, she returned the memories of the times when her mom did the same – only this time the pain from the memory gone.

In the final bars of Maman we will briefly hear the voice of our daughter.

“She won’t be here in Basel,” Luang says. “She will watch on TV because she is only five.”

“But she is very proud. She continues to say, ‘Maman, you have to bring the trophy home.

“She’s just charming.”

• Chance to win: 6%
• Language: French and English
• Genre: Song
• Spotify Streams: 17.2m

Initially, the Netherlands was asked last year’s participant Joost Klein, who was banned from the finals after allegedly quarreling with the camera operator – the opportunity to return to 2025.

Although he had already written the song for the competition, he refused, saying that his disqualification was still “biting”.

Instead, the honor was the 21-year-old Claude Kiambambe, who moved to the Netherlands from the Democratic Republic of the Congo when he was nine years old.

“Congo was not always safe,” he says. “I couldn’t afford to go to school … and I love school.”

His mother eventually managed to smuggle his family outside the country, and her Eurovision song is dedicated.

Titled by C’est La Vie, it is a joyous combination of Afropopus and French Chantson, which repeats the tips she used to give Clood and his siblings in the Center for asylum in Alkmara.

“She told me, ‘C’est la vie. Life is beautiful, even if sometimes difficult. “

“Therefore, when I heard about Eurovision, I liked, ‘Wait when I go there, I want to bring this message to the world.”

“I respect her very much. She fought in life and we’re still here.”

Claude comes to the competition with a slight advantage, as it is known throughout Europe by its massive 2022 blow. But he had to pick up new skills for Eurovision: choreography.

“If I did only one dance movement before, but when I wrote the song, I liked it:” It’s time to get out of my comfort zone and dance around. “

The study of choreography took three days, he said. “We started at 11 and ended at nine. I wanted to know it so well that I could do it in dreams.”

• Probability to win: 4%
• Language: Finnish, German
• Genre: Eurodance
• Spotify streams: 11.8 m

Ask Eric Vikman to describe her song, and she pulls no beats.

“It’s about orgasm.”

Full of Pummeling Techno Beats, and what the Welsh Men’s Voice Choir seems to be one of those tracks that is guaranteed to become part of Eurovision folklore, no matter where it goes to the finals.

Vickman once was recognized as the Queen of Tango, Finland, but gave up pop, “because I can’t be very wild with that type of music.”

Referring to artists such as Madonna, Cher and Lady Gaga as inspiration, she is one of the few artists who took the stage without dancers.

“Why? Because I’m selfish!” She laughs. “I want attention.”

“No, it is because when I go on stage, I feel rock -star, and when I feel rock -star, I really don’t need dancers because it possesses my strength and I.”

She certainly owns the stage – ending her song on a giant gold microphone, which pushes fire as she rose into the sky.

However, Eagle-view viewers may notice that her suit is slightly less revealing than the one she wore for the Finland selection show, Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu.

“They said it wouldn’t go if we don’t dance something,” she says, “and one of the proposals was my outfit.”

“So I liked,” Okay, if that’s, it’s the price to pay, we cover my example. “

That doesn’t mean she’s about it.

“The song about possession of your sexuality, and then someone comes and controls me, saying,” You ruin every child who watches this show. “This is a double standard.”

Censorship or not, the chances of Wikman to win sharply shortened after the performance in the semifinals.

“I have a feeling about this,” she smiles. “I can be a dark horse.”

• Chance to win: 1%
• Language: English
• Genre: Musical Theater
• Spotify streams: 3.1 m

After the semi -finals Thursday, on Monday, a chance emerged on Monday … Well, view.

Previously, he predicted 17th place, now they are 11th.

But trio – who are the first girl who has represented the UK since 1999 – is determined to have fun, no matter what the result.

“It’s all so surreal, except for all we could imagine,” says Singer Lauren Birne.

“It sounds so brazen, but that’s really everything we wanted,” says Charlotte Style’s teammate. “Who can stand up and perform your music with your two best friends, millions? This is mental.”

“And listen,” Lauren adds. “If we do very bad, we just continue to come back until we win.”

In their favor, remember that Monday’s performance is chirped and fun, based on their history at the Music Theater. There’s a dress nodded at the former UK’s winners of the Buck Phiz, and their live harmony is exquisite.

“They have a crazy amount of experience,” says Eisma Bauerman, Creative Director Dua Lipa and Blackpink, who have developed their production.

“Their performance is constantly moving and attracts viewers. Ultimately the energy we want to create is that people will want to be participants in this group.”

Perhaps fans underestimated to remember that the chances of Monday because West End Show tunes are an unverified Eurovision number – but UK is not good.

You will have to wait and see what the hell is going on.