ESC 2019 – Semi Final 1 – Winners

The exciting first Semi Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 has ended with 10 acts who ‘Dare to Dream’ of winning the world’s biggest live music event booking their place in the Grand Final on 18 May.

A total of 17 acts competed in tonight’s show from the Expo Tel Aviv.

Following the performances, the votes were counted and after much suspense, the 10 finalists were announced by hosts Bar Refaeli and Erez Tal to cheers from the thousands watching in the arena.

They will join acts from the pre-qualified ‘Big Five’ countries; France, Germany, Italy, Spain and United Kingdom and this year’s host country Israel.

The first 10 finalists are:
Greece (ERT) – Katerine Duska, Better Love
Belarus (BTRC) – ZENA, Like It
Serbia (RTS) – Nevena Božović, Kruna
Cyprus (CYBC) – Tamta, Replay
Estonia (ERR) – Victor Crone, Storm
Czech Republic (CT) – Lake Malawi, Friend Of A Friend
Australia (SBS) – Kate Miller-Heidke, Zero Gravity
Iceland (RUV) – Hatari, Hatrið Mun Sigra
San Marino (RTV) – Serhat, Say Na Na Na
Slovenia (RTVSLO) – Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl, Sebi

A draw will decide whether the 10 qualifiers will perform in the first or second half of the Grand Final on 18 May.

The Eurovision journey has unfortunately ended for the seven countries which failed to qualify

These are:
Montenegro (RTCG) – D Mol, Heaven
Finland (YLE) – Darude, Look Away
Poland (TVP) – Tulia, Fire of Love
Hungary (MTVA) – Joci Pápai, Az én apám
Belgium (RTBF) – Eliot, Wake Up
Georgia (GPB) – Oto Nemsadze, Sul tsin iare
Portugal (RTP) – Conan Osíris, Telemóveis

Each country’s score was calculated based on points awarded by the national expert juries and audiences voting via the Eurovision app and phone at home. These points were then combined to create an overall score for each act which determined the final result.

The expert jurors voted on last night’s dress rehearsal. Televoting took place tonight in all the participating countries and Spain, France and Israel.

10 more songs will qualify for the Grand Final on 18 May from the second Semi Final on Thursday.

The full-line up for the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final will be known around 22.00 CEST on 16 May. 41 EBU Member broadcasters are taking part in this year’s event, 26 of them will compete in the Grand Final

The 18 acts competing on Thursday, in order of appearance, are:

Armenia (AMPTV) – Srbuk, Walking Out
Ireland (RTE) – Sarah McTernan, 22
Moldova (TRM) – Anna Odobescu, Stay
Switzerland (SRG/SSR) – Luca Hänni, She Got Me
Latvia (LTV) – Carousel, That Night
Romania (TVR) – Ester Peony, On A Sunday
Denmark (DR) – Leonora, Love Is Forever
Sweden (SVT) – John Lundvik,  Too Late For Love
Austria (ORF) – PAENDA, Limits
Croatia (HRT) – Roko, The Dream
Malta (PBS) – Michela Pace, Chameleon
Lithuania (LRT) – Jurij, Run With The Lions
Russia (RTR) – Sergey Lazarev, Scream
Albania (RTSH) – Jonida Maliqi, Ktheju Tokës
Norway (NRK) – KEiiNO, Spirit In The Sky ( #5 on LGBTQ Music Chart – week 20)
Netherlands (AVROTROS) – Duncan Laurence, Arcade
North Macedonia (MKRTV) – Tamara Todevska, Proud
Azerbaijan (ICTIMAI TV) – Chingiz, Truth

The confirmed line-up for the Grand Final so far is:

Pre-Qualified
France (FT) – Bilal Hassani, Roi
Germany (ARD/NDR) – S!sters, Sister
Israel (IPBC/KAN) – Kobi Marimi, Ktheju Tokës
Italy (RAI) – Mahmood, Soldi
Spain (TVE) – Miki, La Venda
United Kingdom (BBC) – Michael Rice, Bigger Than Us

Semi Final 1 winners:`
Greece (ERT) – Katerine Duska, Better Love
Belarus (BTRC) – ZENA, Like It
Serbia (RTS) – Nevena Božović, Kruna
Cyprus (CYBC) – Tamta, Replay
Estonia (ERR) – Victor Crone, Storm
Czech Republic (CT) – Lake Malawi, Friend Of A Friend
Australia (SBS) – Kate Miller-Heidke, Zero Gravity
Iceland (RUV) – Hatari, Hatrið Mun Sigra
San Marino (RTV) – Serhat, Say Na Na Na
Slovenia (RTVSLO) – Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl, Sebi

The Eurovision Song Contest second Semi-Final will take place at Expo Tel Aviv on Thursday 16 May followed by the Grand Final on Saturday 18 May.

The Eurovision Song Contest is a co-production between the European Broadcasting Union and its Israeli Member KAN