Sweden's Loreen wins Eurovision for the second time
With Daniel Rosney in the arena, Andre Rhoden-Paul and Gem O'Reilly at the Eurovision Village fan zone, and Helen Bushby, Emma Saunders and Mark Savage watching live in Liverpool
With Daniel Rosney in the arena, Andre Rhoden-Paul and Gem O'Reilly at the Eurovision Village fan zone, and Helen Bushby, Emma Saunders and Mark Savage watching live in Liverpool
Live Reporting
Edited by Marita Moloney and Jasmine Taylor-Coleman
All times stated are UK
Moldova’s mythological mash-up is a fever dream
Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue
This is a distinctive one - we'd expect no less given it’s Eurovision.
You can’t miss all the references to folklore. Moldova’s lead singer Pasha Parfeni takes centre stage as his fellow performers swirl around him, in what could be described as a bit of a fantastical fever dream.
We just hope the huge tusks on the women’s heads aren’t too heavy.
The pipe player looks like he’s channelling Mr Tumnus, the faun in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, in his shaggy trousers. Cosy!
18) Moldova – You are cordially invited to a wedding
Mark Savage
Watching at the venue
Some of the best Eurovision entries this year fuse the traditional, ethnic music of their countries with modern pop production.
Among them is Moldova’s Pasha Parfeni, whose Soarele Si Luna is based on Moldovan and Romanian folk tales where the sun and the moon bless a couple’s union as they marry one another, surrounded by nature.
The performance is also based on those folk tales, with horned backing dancers representing woodland creatures who vow to protect the couple, and a magical character playing the pan flute - Statu-Palmă-Barbă-Cot - who guides the ceremony.
Bingo!
Jasmine Taylor-Coleman
Live reporter
A bit earlier we invited you to join in as we cross off our bingo cards here in the BBC newsroom. I'm not sure many of my colleagues are taking it as seriously as me, but I'm proud to say I have won this particular contest.
Käärijä got me over the link with his 'moustache' - the last word I needed (see the photo of him at the top of this page for proof).
If you'd like to join in look back at our post a little earlier here.
Wishful thinking from Brunette with Future Lover
Emma Saunders
Watching at the venue
The stage is plunged into darkness before subtle lighting reveals Armenia’s Brunette lying on a slope covered in candy pink and purple swirls as she begins her hypnotic ballad, a plaintive plea to her Future Lover.
The set then switches abruptly to a stark black and white backdrop as she stands up to...rap. Not sure about you but I wasn’t expecting that!
She’s looking serene yet powerful in a fringed white skirt and laced bodice with thigh-high platform boots, with her hair flowing way past her bum. Very sleek and not a split end in sight.
Beyond the Eurovision universe (we know it’s hard to imagine there is another world out there right now) Brunette is part of a girl band. She has no-one alongside her on stage tonight but she’s more than holding her own.
17) Armenia – A perfectly-balanced Brunette
Mark Savage
Watching at the venue
Up next is 21-year-old Elen Yeremyan, AKA Brunette, who’s singing for Armenia.
She sings while perched perilously on a tilted LED screen, which she has to navigate in towering high heels. As a colleague noted during rehearsals, she’ll have very antagonised calf muscles.
But if she’s in pain, it doesn’t show. She gives a remarkably assured performance of her song, Future Lover, about searching for the perfect partner
"I wanna explore with him and visit old bookstores / And cute little things, like drink smoothies at near cafes,” she daydreams.
I don’t know if you’ll see this at home, but the lighting for this performance is spectacular - especially in the second verse, where Brunette is alternately lit from the side by spotlights, then plunged into darkness, appearing in silhouette against the video screens.
Just 10 acts to go
Marita Moloney
Live reporter
What a show it's been so far, we've seen 16 acts so far with just 10 left to go.
Graham Norton, who's "working a double shift" as both presenter and commentator tonight, is joking about getting pizza and watching old Eurovision DVDs.
Lots of dancing off-stage too
Daniel Rosney
Eurovision reporter, inside the arena
The artists in the green room are dancing to their competitors now.
They’ve all worked so hard to get to this point and they all support each other.
Eurovision has to be one of the kindest contests there is.
Support for Belgium but Sweden likely to win, say fans
Andre Rhoden-Paul
Reporting from the Euroclub
Back to the Euroclub now, where's there's an electric atmosphere.
I bump into Robert Grosvenor, wrapped in a Union Jack at the bar.
He tells me: "It's fantastic here with everybody. The big screen, the lighting, the sound. It's not the same as watching at home." Robert is supporting Belgium tonight, but so far he's been won over by Australia.
"They impressed me," he says.
When Eurovision favourite Loreen came on, there was a massive cheer and crowd was jumping.
Dancing and singing along with Loreen was Rudy Swart.
Speaking on her performance, the Dutch man says: "She is the queen of Eurovision. I've been in the arena for rehearsals and semi-finals, and this performance was the best."
The superfan, who has been to six Eurovision Song Contests, estimates: "I think the jury vote will go to Sweden and she will get the most points overall."
Belgium's 'unabashed love letter to freedom'
Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue
This a joyous number that makes you want to leap up and join in the fun.
You can’t miss Belgium’s lead singer Gustaph in his giant white hat and pink jodhpurs, with a backdrop of voguing dancers.
He’s called this song an “unabashed love letter to freedom” and “an ode to the queer community”.
Keep your eyes peeled for the dancer Puss Cee with the long tail and thighs of steel - full respect!
16) Belgium – Parachute pants ahoy!
Mark Savage
Watching at the venue
Zipping straight from the 80s to the 90s, we have Belgian singer Gustaph with an unabashed anthem to positivity, Because Of You.
The 42-year-old dedicates his song to the friends and allies who constitute his"chosen family, which happens a lot in the queer world".
And while Eurovision is awash with songs about overcoming discrimination, Gustaph sings it like he means it.
The performance climaxes with Voguing superstar Pusscee West, who gyrates across the stage, cat-tail and all, while Gustpah strikes a high note in his pink parachute pants. What’s not to love?
Post update
Over in our WhatsApp group of Eurovision superfans, some aren't sure what to make of Finland’s Käärijä.
"Omg. What am I watching???" Mark says, "Is that a human centipede???"
"Hold on, it’s so weird you’ll like it," Maria tells him.
"It's crazy," Philippe says.
"Well. I think this is the leader of the night. Wow!! I don’t know what to say," Mark tells the group.
"He has definitely changed the meaning of 'cha-cha-cha'," Volodymyr says.
Village's 'cha cha chas' for Finland
Gem O'Reilly
Reporting from the Eurovision Village
People are still not over Finland's performance and the Eurovision Village is cha cha cha-ing!
Richard and Gabriel were dressed in bright green, showcasing Finland’s style.
Richard said: “It’s the most iconic costume this year, our friend who is Finnish made it. The entry is fun every club plays it. All the crowd go wild. Cha cha cha is international.”
The two friends hope Finland’s going to win. I ask Gabriel if he’s cold he laughs and says “a little”.
Rev up your engines for an epic voyage
Emma Saunders
Watching at the venue
Voyager are the first band from Australia to take part and it’s the Perth group’s third crack at representing their country in this competition.
We LOVE a big prop at Eurovision and there been no expense spared here, folks. There’s a big white sports car taking centre stage in front of a cityscape backdrop bathed in red lighting.
Frontman Danny Estrin leaps up from the driving seat, golden locks flowing (no, it’s not Sam Ryder, relax!) Danny’s wearing a dogtooth check sequinned suit with shoulder pads that would make Five Star jealous.
Please can you take your foot off the car bonnet though. No insurance company is going to let that claim go through.
15) Australia – Promise us it’s going to be alright?
Mark Savage
Watching at the venue
The fun continues with Australia, who burst onto the stage in a frenzy of pyrotechnics and synth solos for a trip back to the ‘80s.
Their representatives are prog-metal band Voyager, who’ve been trying to wangle their way into the contest since Australia became an honorary participant eight years ago.
Having succeeded, they’re taking zero chances, with a song that combines chunky guitar riffs and Mad Max sci-fi vibes, while singer Danny Astrin pilots a vintage Toyota hatchback.
It’s delightfully silly, and insidiously catchy. I have this one in my top five.
Czechia bring the girl power
Emma Saunders
Watching at the venue
We love a bit of baby pink - especially when it’s a trouser suit accompanied by trainers. Comfort first, always.
The six-piece Czechia outfit are wearing ridiculously long hair plaits that would be extremely impractical in real life - but this is Eurovision of course, so Vesna are using them as props.
The plaits are swirled around - and even slapped against the floor - during their assured performance of My Sister’s Crown.
The playful choreography, featuring some staccato puppet-like moves, is very cool. Not so keen on the disturbing visuals on the LED screen featuring hands pawing at a window.
But we’re sure there’s some hidden, meaningful message behind it. Vesna will be hoping to better the 22nd position achieved by We Are Domi last year.
14) Czechia – The braid-y bunch who are not your dolls
Mark Savage
Watching at the venue
Video content
One for the polyglots, My Sister’s Crown is sung by girl group Vesna in a combination of Bulgarian, Czech, English and Ukrainian.
It’s a choice that reflects their background – the members are drawn from all across Europe, and met at music school in Prague.
Importantly, the Ukrainian elements are a message of solidarity."My sister won't stand in the corner / Nor will she listen to you," they chant."We're with you in our hearts."
The six-piece perform on stage with long, ankle-length braids, a symbol of the strength of sisterhood. And they claim never to have got tangled in their tresses.
“We have carefully planned the plaits not to be longer than our ankles,” said singer Patricie Kaňok.
”Of course, tripping over has happened in our nightmares, but it hasn't happened in real life. And It won't happen.”
Finland’s Käärijä is this year’s breakout star
Mark Savage
Watching at the venue
Finnish rapper Käärijä has become a Eurovision phenomenon. Everywhere you go in Liverpool, you see people dressed in his trademark green bolero sleeves.
One of them was even mistaken for the real deal and made it onto the news.
It’s just the same back at home, where the famous“stone men” of Helsinki train station have temporarily transformed into Käärijä clones.
In real life, the singer, whose real name is Jere Pöyhönen, is incredibly sweet, despite his on-stage, tongue-wagging antics.
A professional gambler, he told me he’d refused to bet on himself because he was certain Sweden would win. And he confessed that the green sleeves were his armour against nerves.
“The first time I saw them, I said, ‘Give me that’,” he recalled.
“I love it, because when I put it on, I feel like a superhero.”
Roars of approval for Finland in the press room
Helen Bushby
Watching at the venue
They're second-favourites to win, but Finland just got the biggest cheer in here so far.
The fans' room next door is shouting: "Cha cha cha cha cha cha chaaaaaa!" I suspect they can be heard nearby on the Wirral!
Finland are going down well with audiences too - they're providing some serious competition for Sweden's Loreen.
Cha! Cha! Cha!
Daniel Rosney
Eurovision reporter, inside the arena
People who have been sat down throughout the show are now stood up and jumping to Finland.
Cha! Cha! Cha!
The one many of us have been waiting for
Emma Saunders
Watching at the venue
We know lots of you at home will have been waiting for this one!
Finland’s Käärijä is pacing up and down in a wooden crate but never fear, he soon breaks out of his box.
If you haven’t already clocked his bright green cabbage worm sleeves and black spiky trousers, where have you been all week?!
The dancers dressed in neon pink are the perfect complement (they’re attached to what we can only describe as a maypole - but one you’d definitely not see at your local village fete).
We’ll leave it to you to decide what Käärijä’s up to behind his dancers, who form what can only be described as a human caterpillar. But it’s certainly got the crowd going.