Eurovision is an iconic musical event across Europe and a few other countries, but Americans tend to overlook it.
This is probably for the best (we don’t have to impose ourselves everywhere). However, as someone with immigrant parents and EU citizenship, I thought it was time to actively participate in the spectacle this year. So, I decided to listen to and rate every song in the 2025 contest. Here we go!
NOTE: I’m judging based on song quality and originality, not geopolitics.
Albania: “Zjerm” by Shkodra Elektronike
This song is mesmerizing. It feels like someone is casting a spell on me. It might or might not be a curse, but I don’t care.
Rating: 10/10
Armenia: “Survivor” by Parg
I’ve heard a hundred songs that sound exactly like this one. It sounds like it could’ve been on the Arcane soundtrack but was rejected.
Rating: 3/10
Australia: “Milkshake Man” by Go-Jo
Unhinged, but in a fun way.
Rating: 5/10
Austria: “Wasted Love” by JJ
If JJ can sing this live the same way he does in the studio, this performance will EAT. This is the kind of drama I want to see.
Rating: 9/10
Azerbaijan: “Run With U” by Mamagama
It’s not a bad song, but I wish they had leaned more into the folksy parts.
Rating: 5/10
Belgium: “Strobe Lights” by Red Sebastian
Pretty generic club bop, but I appreciate Red Sebastian’s commitment to an aesthetic (and crazy high notes).
Rating: 6/10
Croatia: “Poison Cake” by Marko Bošnjak
I’m Croatian-American, so I’m biased, but I really enjoy Marko’s music (“Spokojan” is a banger). Croatia is in its villain era after not winning last year, and I’m here for it.
Rating: 7/10
Cyprus: “Shh” by Theo Evan
This song is more style over substance, so I think its staging will determine how well it does in the competition.
Rating: 5/10
Czechia: “Kiss Kiss Goodbye” by Adonxs
This man’s tone is to die for! I also love how cinematic the song is. Many songs seem to copy the formula of last year’s winner “The Code,” and this one is reminiscent of that song while still being original.
Rating: 9/10
Denmark: “Hallucination” by Sissal
I’m obsessed with Sissal’s rich and deep voice. I just wish she had gotten to use it on a more interesting song.
Rating: 6/10
Estonia: “Espresso macchiato” by Tommy Cash
I will be shocked if this song doesn’t show up on my TikTok feed. “No stresso, no need to be depresso” is peak 2020s humor.
Rating: 7/10
Finland: “Ich komme” by Erika Vikman
Finland does whatever it wants in Eurovision, and I love it for that! This felt as hyped as a Superbowl halftime performance.
Rating: 10/10
France: “Maman” by Louane
The marching band intro was everything. And Louane’s vocals are heartbreakingly beautiful.
Rating: 8/10
Georgia: “Freedom” by Mariam Shengelia
Mariam is a talented singer, but this song left me confused. It ended so abruptly that I had to sit and blink at my screen for a few seconds before moving on to the next song.
Rating: 2/10
Germany: “Baller” by Abor & Tynna
Germany is shamelessly hopping onto the Brat Summer trend, but I don’t hate it.
Rating: 7/10
Greece: “Asteromáta” by Klavdia
I love the women with glasses representation! But in all seriousness, this song is ethereal.
Rating: 10/10
Iceland: “Róa” by Væb
It’s giving sea shanty rap-pop, and that’s a fun combo!
Rating: 7/10
Ireland: “Laika Party” by Emmy
This had 90s-2000s Eurovision vibes, and I appreciate the throwback! The reference to Laika the space dog is also very campy.
Rating: 7/10
Israel: “New Day Will Rise” by Yuval Raphael
It’s hard to put real-world atrocities aside to judge this entry. But even without that context, I don’t think this song ever reached the heights it should have. Still, I enjoyed its trilingual nature!
Rating: 6/10
Italy: “Volevo essere un duro” by Lucio Corsi
It was hard to tell whether the song was good because the music video kept interrupting it! It’ll be interesting to see this one’s live performance.
Rating: 7/10
Latvia: “Bur man laimi” by Tautumeitas
I’m a sucker for Eurovision entries that sound like modernized folk songs, and this one’s no exception!
Rating: 8/10
Lithuania: “Tavo akys” by Katarsis
I appreciate the change of pace that a brooding rock song brings to the lineup. But as a rock song outside of the competition’s context, it’s pretty meh.
Rating: 6/10
Luxembourg: “La poupée monte le son” by Laura Thorn
I planned to rate this lower, but I can’t get it out of my head! The song is catchy and the instrumentation adds an extra dimension.
Rating: 8/10
Malta: “Serving” by Miriana Conte
I hate the “do re mi fa so-so-serving” line, but the rest is actually a serve.
Rating: 7/10
Montenegro: “Dobrodošli” by Nina Žižić
While the song tries to bring some drama, I just don’t feel it. It sounds like a weaker version of a Bond song.
Rating: 5/10
Netherlands: “C’est La Vie” by Claude
This is a bop and a half, but also kind of heartbreaking?! I don’t know what kind of wizardry created this crying-in-the-club effect, but Claude nailed it.
Rating: 10/10
Norway: “Lighter” by Kyle Alessandro
I was going to rate it lower for its basic-sounding lyrics, but that drop went HARD. It gets an extra point for the ass-shaking quality alone.
Rating: 8/10
Poland: “Gaja” by Justyna Steczkowska
This is giving similar witchy vibes to Albania’s song, but scarier.
Rating: 7/10
Portugal: “Deslocado” by Napa
Napa is channeling previous Portuguese winner Salvador Sobral, and I’m into it. This hit me in the soul with its nostalgia and saudade (to use a Portuguese word).
Rating: 9/10
San Marino: “Tutta l’Italia” by Gabry Ponte
This is the weakest of the three aggressively Italian songs in this competition.
Rating: 3/10
Serbia: “Mila” by Princ
I was bored until the short instrumental interlude. That was pretty! I wish the rest of the song was that interesting.
Rating: 4/10
Slovenia: “How Much Time Do We Have Left” by Klemen
I appreciate the sincerity and the story behind this song. However, the lyrics should have been in Slovenian. The English lyrics are clunky and unnatural-sounding.
Rating: 5/10
Spain: “Esa diva” by Melody
It’s catchy, but there’s not much going on beyond that.
Rating: 5/10
Sweden: “Bara bada bastu” by KAJ
This might be the catchiest song of the bunch! I also love a good key change. But I don’t know if I agree with those calling this the frontrunner.
Rating: 8/10
Switzerland: “Voyage” by Zoë Më
The strings in this give me LIFE. I could see this song playing during a pivotal scene in a coming-of-age movie.
Rating: 8/10
Ukraine: “Bird of Pray” by Ziferblat
Ukraine always brings something unique to Eurovision, and this entry did not disappoint! This feels floaty and ethereal, yet deeply melancholic.
Rating: 9/10
United Kingdom: “What The Hell Just Happened?” by Remember Monday
I’m living for these harmonies! The constant tempo changes are a little jarring, but it’s still a fun song.
Rating: 7/10
Overall, the songs this year are solid! I also appreciate how many artists sing in their native languages this year.
The songs I’m rooting for this year are: “Zjerm” (Albania), “Ich Komme” (Finland), “Asteromáta” (Greece), and “C’est La Vie” (Netherlands).
Which song do you want to win? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image via Loegunn Lai on Unsplash
