CLASSIFICATIONS
Eurovision 2023: the songs in the finals and their meaning
In 2023, as every year, Eurovision, one of the biggest music events in the world, will take place. This year, the city chosen to host the competition is Liverpool, England, and it will be held from 9 to 13 May, culminating in the final evening. There will be 37 participating countries, each with a representative selected for Eurovision. The city of Liverpool was chosen as the venue after Ukraine's victory in the previous edition, held in Turin. Let's see which nations made it to the final.
Croatia - Let 3 - Mama šč!
Let 3 sing Mama šč!. The song is an anti-war anthem and a satire on dictators. The title refers to the letter Shcha in the Russian alphabet, which according to the group is on the rocket that will destroy the Earth after Armageddon. The song was a big hit in Croatia.
Belgium - Gustaph - Because of You
Because of You is the musical project that aims to relaunch Stef Caers' career. The song is a hymn to love yourself and those close to you, in line with the Eurovision spirit of inclusion and brotherhood.
Albania - Albina & Familja Kelmendi - Duje
The Kelmendi family sings 'Duje'. The song is about a family on the verge of a crisis that afflicts especially the children, who do not want to lose the family unit that is so important to them.
Poland - Blanka - Solo
The song was written by Blanka together with other authors, and extols the idea that being alone and having fun can be better than being in a monotonous relationship. It is also a celebration of sexual freedom.
Cyprus - Andrew Lambrou - Break a Broken Heart
Break a Broken Heart is a ballad about the strength to move on after the end of a relationship. Lambrou expressed the hope that the song will inspire people to fight and rise from their ashes stronger than before.
Australia - Voyager - Promise
The band, which combines rock and electronic elements, is the first musical group to represent Australia in this contest, after the country had until now only sent solo singers. The lyrics of the song exhort to try new experiences and indulge in adventure, promising an unforgettable experience to the listener.
Armenia - Brunette - Future Lover
Elen Yeremyan has written and will sing Future Lover. The lyrics, in English with a closing in Armenian, are about a love letter to her future partner, expressing her hopes and wishes for their relationship.
Slovenia - Joker Out - Carpe Diem
Carpe Diem was written by frontman Bojan Cvjetićanin together with the other band members. The song calls for seizing the moment and not missing the opportunities that life offers. The selection was made by Radiotelevizija Slovenija.
France - La Zarra - Évidemment
Zarra, a Moroccan-Canadian pop star living in France, will represent the country at Eurovision 2023. His song Évidemment, written by several authors, focuses on the illusion of an unfulfilled love, which irreversibly changes the protagonist.
Italy - Marco Mengoni - Due vite
Marco Mengoni tells of a relationship that develops through the experiences of the protagonists. The song has been modified to comply with the three-minute maximum duration rule with respect to the original presented at the Sanremo Festival.
Estonia - Alika - Bridges
Alika is the winner of the national festival Eesti Laul 2023. Bridges is an inner monologue by the singer, inspired by an episode in which she composed a melody on the piano after locking herself in the bathroom crying. The song is a slow melancholic ballad born out of a piano session.
Czech Republic - Vesna - My Sister's Crown
My Sister's Crown celebrates the unity of women to counter gender inequality. The song is mainly in English, but a refrain is also sung in Ukrainian to honour the country at war.
Austria - Teya & Salena - Who the Hell Is Edgar?
The lyrics of the song refer to the Gothic writer Edgar Allan Poe and criticise the current music industry in an unconventional way. The song has gone viral for its controversial meaning.
Moldova - Pasha Parfeni - Soarele şi Luna
Moldavian singer Pasha Parfeni has written a lyric with Andrei Vulpe and Iulia Parfeni that, entirely in the Moldavian language, talks about a wedding under the stars, as well as having a political meaning, with a reference to Transinistria. This is Parfeni's second time participating in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Lithuania - Monika Linkytė - Stay
Stay is the winning song of the Lithuanian festival Pabandom iš naujo! The lyrics are about the difficulty of healing from pain and include a Lithuanian folk saying used in ancient rituals. Monika participated for the second time in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Israel - Noa Kirel - Unicorn
Unicorn is a song that uses the imagery of fairy tales to spread a message of acceptance and love for oneself and others, celebrating diversity. The title plays on the unique appearance of the fantasy animal.
Serbia - Luke Black - Samo Mi Se Spava
Luke Black said that the lyrics speak of the sense of isolation and alienation he felt during the pandemic and sends a message about the need to wake up, as evil is always lurking. 'Samo mi se spava' means 'I'm sleepy'.
Portugal - Mimicat - Ai Coração
Mimicat wrote and produced the song that won the Festival da Conçao, the competition that selects the Portuguese representation at the Eurovision Song Contest. Ai coração is a song that celebrates Portugal and its many influences, blending modern and traditional elements, nostalgia and pop.
Norway - Alessandra - Queen of Kings
The song Queen of Kings celebrates the strength of women and all individuals, promoting the importance of accepting oneself. Bisexual woman Alessandra used her personal experience as inspiration for the lyrics of the song.
Switzerland - Remo Forrer - Watergun
The song reflects on the brutality of war and how it takes on a different meaning in adult life. Forrer states that he does not want to be a soldier in the face of the destruction and pain caused by war.
Germany - Lord of the Lost - Blood and glitter
The rock band Lord of the Lost was the winner of the Unser Lied für Liverpool competition. The lyrics of the song represent the duality of life through the combination of opposites such as blood and glitter, sweet and bitter, happiness and death.
Spain - Blanca Paloma - Eaea
Blanca Paloma surprisingly won the Benidorm Fest. This will be the first time in 40 years that flamenco will be present at Eurovision. The lyrics of 'Eaea' tell the story of a mother and her son, which through religious and biblical quotes celebrates love and protection. The song is a mixture of flamenco and electronics.
United Kingdom - Mae Muller - I wrote a song
Mae Muller's lyrics reflect the protagonist's frustration after discovering her partner's infidelity during a business trip, which is expressed through songwriting.
Ukraine - TVORCHI - Heart of steel
The Ukrainian music duo Tvorchi wrote a lyric influenced by the war situation in Ukraine and sends a message of resistance against life's adversities.
Finland - Käärijä - Cha Cha Cha
In the song Cha Cha Cha, completely in Finnish, it is about a day that is coming to an end and the only thing you want to do is dance and have fun with some cha cha cha. The main theme is about getting rid of inhibitions and forgetting problems.
Sweden - Loreen - Tattoo
The song 'Tattoo' is about a past love and the singer's desire to be loved. However, the time for this passion is over and she is forced to look back on the happy times they spent together.