Switzerland found (in) Nemo the victory at Eurovision 2024

The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2024 took place this Saturday at the Malmö Arena. Switzerland is the winner, with the song The Code by Nemo. It’s the first time the country wins the contest since Céline Dion in 1988.

 

Results

(Detailed results of jury and televote at the end of the article)

(Click on the song titles to watch the performances)

1st. Switzerland/Nemo: The Code – 591 points

 

• 2nd. Croatia/Baby Lasagna: Rim Tim Tagi Dim – 547 points
• 3rd. Ukraine/alyona alyona & Jerry Heil: Teresa & Maria – 453 points
• 4th. France/Slimane: Mon Amour – 445 points
• 5th. Israel/Eden Golan: Hurricane – 375 points
• 6th. Ireland/Bambie Thug: Doomsday Blue – 278 points
• 7th Italy/Angelina Mango: La noia – 268 points
• 8th. Armenia/Ladaniva: Jako – 183 points
• 9th. Sweden/Marcus & Martinus – Unforgettable – 174 points
• 10th. Portugal/iolanda: Grito – 152 points
• 11th. Greece/Marina Satti: ZARI – 126 points
• 12th. Germany/Isaak: Always On The Run – 117 points
• 13th. Luxembourg/ Tali: Fighter – 103 points
• 14th. Lithuania/Silvester Belt: Luktelk – 90 points
• 15th. Cyprus/Silia Kapsis: Liar – 78 points
• 16th. Latvia/Dons: Hollow – 64 points
• 17th. Serbia/ Teya Dora: Ramonda – 54 points
• 18th. United Kingdom/Olly Alexander: Dizzy – 46 points
• 19th. Finland/Windows95man: No Rules! – 38 points
• 20th. Estonia/5MIINUST x Puuluup: (nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi – 37 points
• 21st. Georgia/Nutsa Buzaladze: Fire Fighter – 34 points
• 22nd. Spain/Nebulossa: Zorra – 30 points
• 2rrd. Slovenia/Raiven: Veronika – 27 points
• 24th. Austria/Kaleen: We Will Rave – 24 points
• 25th. Norway/Gåte: Ulveham – 16 points

 

The summary of the show

The beginning of the final showcased a VT featuring greetins by Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden that served as a prelude to the entry into the arena, with the «northern lights» on their way to the Malmö Arena. There, the opening act was by Björn Skifs with the song Hooked on a Feeling. Then, there was a flag parade to the sound of I Love It by Icona Pop, Beautiful Life by Ace of Base, The Look by Roxette, I Follow Rivers by Lykke Li, Sun Is Shining by Axwell & Ingrosso, and Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) by ABBA.

The Winner Takes it All by ABBA was the song that welcomed presenters Malin Åkerman and Petra Mede onto the stage. After the usual introductions and interaction with the audience, the song parade began… as well as public voting opening just before the first song as per the new rules.

 

1. Sweden: Marcus & Martinus – Unforgettable

• Postcard: Carola(1983) and Loreen (2023, winner)
• Performance: It can’t be said that the host country wanted to win again. Marcus & Martinus were the performers, starting the performance in a kind of corridor where the walls played with lighting in white and red tones, alternating with darkness. Four dancers also participated, adding even more movement to the entire dance-pop number.

 

2. Ukraine: alyona alyona & Jerry Heil – Teresa & Maria

• Postcard: Ruslana (2004, winner) and Go_A (2021)
• Performance: Another proof of why Ukraine never fails to reach the final. This year, alyona alyona and Jerry Heil brought a song that perfectly mixes emotional pop and hip hop. The stage was dominated by orange-yellow lighting and colors. The finale was a tribute to femininity, with the two performers lying on the stage where images of various women were displayed.

 

3. Germany: Isaak – Always On The Run

• Postcard: Mekado (1994) and Lena (2010, winner)
• Performance: Seeking to put an end to the poor results of recent years, Germany competed with Isaak. The singer started in what seems to be a small living room, dressed in dark clothing. Fire took over that structure, from which Isaak emerged to one of the corners of the main stage. The ending was with an open shot and the orange lighting gradually fading.

 

4. Luxembourg: Tali – Fighter

• Postcard: France Gall (1965, winner) and Lara Fabian (1988)
• Performance: After three decades of absence, Luxembourg returned with qualification for the final. And it’s not surprising. Tali was accompanied by five dancers, inside a small structure from which they emerged when the chorus arrived. Warm and vibrant colors, dance, attractive graphics like a leopard on the LED screen in the background, pyrotechnics. Luxembourg showing that it takes this return very seriously.

 

5. Israel – Eden Golan: Hurricane

• Postcard: Duo Datz (1991) e Dana International (1998)
• Performance: Intense performance with a lot of emotional depth. Eden Golan started within a ring-shaped structure, enveloped in mist, accompanied by five dancers. They all exited the structure later on, moving across the stage. At the peak of the rhythm towards the end, the sun appeared, signaling a sort of new beginning after the hurricane that devastated the protagonist of the lyrics. This sun then extinguished at the end.

 

6. Lithuania: Silvester Belt – Luktelk

• Postcard: Donny Montell (2012) and The Roop (2021)
• Performance: Once again in the final with a Lithuanian song, Lithuania had singer Silvester Belt accompanied by four masked dancers. The graphics complemented the performance well, characterized by shades of blue and red.

 

Before Spain’s performance, there was a tribute to the host of the 1975 ESC, Karin Falck… who then appeared in a brief conversation with this year’s presenters. Additionally, some ESC rules and guidelines for the hosts were recapitulated.

 

7. Spain – Nebulossa: Zorra

• Postcard: Massiel (1968) and Chanel (2022)
• Performance: The three minutes of Spain on stage were marked by red, as well as by the black attire. The lead singer of Nebulossa started between two dancers (who later stripped off most of their clothes), in front of a circular structure reminiscent of a couch, where she remained almost motionless for most of the performance. In the end, mist emerged at the back of the stage along with fireworks.

 

8. Estonia – 5MIINUST x Puuluup: (nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi

• Postcard: Tanel Padar, Dave Benton & 2XL (2001) e Urban Symphony (2009)
• Performance: Extravagant, Estonia secured its spot in the final with the irreverent performance of 5MIINUST x Puuluup. The lead vocalist did something rarely seen, starting very close to the audience before joining the rest of the group on stage. The lighting, rich and with many different colors, was very dynamic, as were the members who moved and danced constantly. Perhaps the less good was that the camera movements didn’t always match the speed demanded by the musical rhythm.

 

9. Ireland: Bambie Thug – Doomsday Blue

• Postcard: Johnny Logan (1987, winner) and Jedward (2011)
• Performance: Returning to the final six years later, Ireland had one of the most disruptive performances of all. Bambie Thug and the dancer, dressed with the witchcraft theme as well as the staging, had one of the most striking and truly… chilling moments.

 

10. Latvia – Dons: Hollow

• Postcard: Marie N (2002) e Aminata (2015)
• Performance: One of the surprises in the grand final was Latvia. Dons was alone, dressed in blue, starting within a large ring structure. In the more intense part, he exited that structure and moved to the edge of the stage where he ended. The graphics on the LED screens and the play of colors and lights helped to create a more intense atmosphere, as the song and its message demand.

 

11. Greece – Marina Satti: ZARI

• Postcard: Marinella (1974) e Helena Paparizou (2005)
• Performance: Marina Satti exudes energy all on her own, and it was no different in this performance, where she was accompanied by four dancers. However, she appeared to start alone, in a close-up shot with an effect as if she were live on social media. Colorful and dynamic lighting complemented a song that gets everyone dancing.

 

12 . United Kingdom: Olly Alexander – Dizzy

• Postcard: Sandie Shaw (1967, winner) and Sam Ryder (2022)
• Performance: The performance of the United Kingdom and Olly Alexander emphasized the title of the song, «Dizzy», thanks to the constant camera movements. The singer and the four dancers were part of the performance in a structure that imitated the interior of a bathroom, from which they later emerged.

 

End of the first part of the performances, with a humorous video clip featuring Lynda Woodruff singing You’re Good to Go.

 

13. Norway – Gåte: Ulveham

• Postcard: Ketil Stokkan (1986) e Alexander Rybak (2009)
• Performance: Gåte is a folk band, just like the song Ulveham, which also blends in modern elements. The staging, set in a dark and mystical environment, reflected this perfectly. The vocalist remained constantly in a central position relative to the rest of the group. The cameras, along with the lighting, graphics, and the Gåte members themselves, brought movement to the performance.

 

14. Italy – Angelina Mango: La noia

• Postcard: Umberto Tozzi & Raf (1987) and Måneskin (2021)
• Performance: In a staging where roses and rose bushes were a constant presence in the LED screens’ graphics, Angelina Mango started alone, later joined by five dancers. There was a lot of dancing, as the song itself demands and implies, as well as fireworks. In the end, the singer was on a throne of rose bushes and roses.

 

15. Serbia: Teya Dora – Ramonda

• Postcard: Marija Šerifović (2007, winner) and Konstrakta (2022)
• Performance: In one of the emotional ballads of this final, Teya Dora represented Serbia. She began on a «rock», shrouded in mist, and then rose up. The staging was filled with dark tones, and the graphics on the LED screens in the background always featured the flower that gives the song its title.

 

16. Finland: Windows95man – No Rules!

• Postcard: Catcat (1994) and Käärijä (2023)
• Performance: If Ireland is disruptive, the same can be said of Finland in a different way, for sure. Windows95man and Henri Piispanen started inside an egg, coming out to move around the stage a lot. During part of the performance, Windows95man was practically naked. There were also two dancers contributing to a very lively and truly unusual performance.

 

17. Portugal: iolanda – Grito

• Postcard: Doce (1982) and Salvador Sobral (2017, winner)
• Performance: With a record of four consecutive finals, Portugal was represented by iolanda. With the singer, who started alone a capella, were four dancers masked with lace. All members were dressed in white, which also featured in the lighting to contrast with the darkness of the stage background. A performance full of emotion, with the highlight being the scream: “Aaaaaaarde”. Chilling.

 

18. Armenia – Ladaniva: Jako

• Postcard: Inga & Anush (2009) e Rosa Linn (2022)
• Performance: Contrasting with the emotional weight of Portugal, Ladaniva and Armenia brought the party to the stage. Jako is a song with some folk elements, and the performance conveyed that through the instruments and attire. The vocalist moved constantly, interacting with the band, which remained somewhat more static on a central structure. About three lively minutes that left no one seated or silent during the chorus.

 

19. Cyprus: Silia Kapsis – Liar

• Postcard: Hara & Andreas Konstantinou (1997) and Ivi Adamou (2012)
• Performance: Cyprus chose Silia Kapsis for ESC 2024, accompanied by four dancers. It was a performance with somewhat dark lighting and graphics, but full of movement and contagious energy.

 

20. Switzerland – Nemo: The Code

• Postcard: Céline Dion (1988) e Gjon’s Tears (2021)
• Performance: One of the possible contenders for victory, Switzerland didn’t hold back on stage. Nemo is dressed in a salmon-colored feathered outfit at the top, alone on the brightly lit stage to contrast with the black background. In the final phase, yellowish tones were also seen. For much of the performance, Nemo was on a rotating disc-shaped platform, essential for part of the movement effect.

 

21. Slovenia: Raiven – Veronika

• Postcard: Nuša Derenda (2001) and Zala Kralj and Gašper Šantl (2019)
• Performance: Perhaps few predicted it, but it happened: Slovenia qualified for the final again singing in Slovenian. Raiven started alone on a dark stage shrouded in mist, before joining five dancers. The LED screen in the background complemented the staging with graphics of clouds and a stormy ocean. Another of the emotionally charged performances tonight.

 

After Switzerland’s performance, there was a short break in the song parade for a commercial break on some TV channels, resuming afterward with Slovenia.

 

22. Croatia: Baby Lasagna – Baby Lasagna

• Postcard: Doris Dragović (1999) and Let 3 (2023)
• Performance: Baby Lasagna was, in principle, one of the top candidates for victory. Lace adorning the instruments, plenty of pyrotechnics, color, graphics of the animals mentioned in the lyrics, constant energy and movement, even a peculiar dance. Everything was «on point» and different to justify the favoritism.

 

23. Georgia – Nutsa Buzaladze: Fire Fighter

• Postcard: Sopho (2007) e Nina Sublatti (2015)
• Performance: Who would have thought! Seven years later, Georgia returned to a Eurovision final. And the pop dance that Nutsa Buzaladze brought in Fire Fighter contributed a lot, as did the staging. Warm colors close to red dominated in terms of chromatics, as well as the fire and ember effects. The singer, accompanied by four dancers, started and ended within a platform, but also participated in dance movements in some parts of the song. A very dynamic performance with many fire effects, very appealing for dancing.

 

24. France – Slimane: Mon Amour

• Postcard: Marie Myriam (1977) and Barbara Pravi (2021)
• Performance: Simplicity aptly describes Slimane’s performance. Dressed in white, which was the predominant color, he stood alone on stage. He interacted with the cameras using his hands and transitioned from a nearly lying position on stage to standing when the intensity of the music increased.

 

25. Austria – Kaleen: We Will Rave

• Postcard: Conchita Wurst (2014) e Cesár Sampson (2018)
• Atuação: Perhaps one of the surprises in the grand final, Austria was the last to take the stage. Kaleen, accompanied by four dancers as the rhythm intensified, had a staging with triangular shapes marking the lighting, as well as blue and purple tones. A festive atmosphere, with constant motion and contagious dance captivated the entire arena and viewers at home.

 

After the initial recap of the songs, there was a performance by Alcazar in a disco atmosphere. This was followed by a tribute to ABBA, featuring performances by Charlotte Perrelli, Carola, and Conchita Wurst. The Swedish band also appeared, as avatars.

Another recap of the performances followed before the customary brief highlight of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest (JESC) and a visit to the green room. Then, the spotlight was on Loreen for another interval act. It was an elaborate performance with many props, during which Loreen premiered her latest single, Forever. She also performed a new version of the song with which she won last year, Tattoo.

A final recap of the songs (now in reverse order) was broadcast before the closing of the televote. The green room opened behind the stage to begin announcing the jury votes. Switzerland was outstanding, with a total of 365 points. After the jury results were known, the decisive moment arrived to reveal the public votes. With 337 points, Croatia won the vote.

However, in the overall tally, Switzerland had 591 points to win with the song The Code by Nemo. Croatia (Baby Lasagna, Rim Tim Tagi Dim) came in second with 547 points. The podium was rounded out by Ukraine (alyona alyona & Jerry Heil, Teresa & Maria) with 453 points.

The show ended, as tradition dictates, with last year’s winner Loreen handing over the trophy to this year’s winner, Nemo, followed by the winning performance.

 

Jury vote

1. Sweden/Marcus & Martinus – Unforgettable – 125 points
2. Ukraine/alyona alyona & Jerry Heil: Teresa & Maria – 146 points
3. Germany/Isaak: Always On The Run – 99 points
4. Luxembourg/ Tali: Fighter – 83 points
5. Israel/Eden Golan: Hurricane – 52 points
6. Lithuania/Silvester Belt: Luktelk – 32 points
7. Spain/Nebulossa: Zorra – 19 points
8. Estonia/5MIINUST x Puuluup: (nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi – 4 points
9. Ireland/Bambie Thug: Doomsday Blue – 142 points
10. Latvia/Dons: Hollow – 36 points
11. Grece/Marina Satti: ZARI – 41 points
12. United Kingdom/Olly Alexander: Dizzy – 46 points
13. Norway/Gåte: Ulveham – 12 points
14. Italy/Angelina Mango: La noia – 164 points
15. Serbia/ Teya Dora: Ramonda – 22 points
16. Finland/Windows95man: No Rules! – 7 points
17. Portugal/iolanda: Grito – 139 points
18. Armenia/Ladaniva: Jako – 101 points
19. Cyprus/Silia Kapsis: Liar – 34 points
20. Switzerland/Nemo: The Code – 365 points
21. Slovenia/Raiven: Veronika –  15 points
22. Croatia/Baby Lasagna: Rim Tim Tagi Dim – 210 points
23. Georgia/Nutsa Buzaladze: Fire Fighter – 15 points
24. France/Slimane: Mon Amour – 218 points
25. Austria/Kaleen: We Will Rave – 19 points

 

Televote

1. Croatia/Baby Lasagna: Rim Tim Tagi Dim – 337 points
2. Israel/Eden Golan: Hurricane – 323 points
3. Ukraine/alyona alyona & Jerry Heil: Teresa & Maria – 307 points
4. France/Slimane: Mon Amour – 227 points
5. Switzerland/Nemo: The Code – 226 points
6. Ireland/Bambie Thug: Doomsday Blue – 136 points
7. Italy/Angelina Mango: La noia – 104 points
8. Greece/Marina Satti: ZARI – 85 points
9. Armenia/Ladaniva: Jako – 82 points
10. Lithuania/Silvester Belt: Luktelk – 58 points
11. Sweden/Marcus & Martinus – Unforgettable – 49 points
12. Cyprus/Silia Kapsis: Liar – 44 points
13. Estonia/5MIINUST x Puuluup: (nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi – 33 points
14. Serbia/ Teya Dora: Ramonda – 32 points
15. Finland/Windows95man: No Rules! – 31 points
16. Latvia/Dons: Hollow – 28 points
17. Luxembourg/Tali: Fighter – 20 points
18. Georgia/Nutsa Buzaladze: Fire Fighter – 19 points
19. Germany/Isaak: Always On The Run – 18 points
20. Portugal/iolanda: Grito – 13 points
21. Slovenia/Raiven: Veronika – 12 points
22. Spain/Nebulossa: Zorra – 11 points
23. Austria/Kaleen: We Will Rave – 5 points
24. Norway/Gåte: Ulveham – 4 points
25. United Kingdom/Olly Alexander: Dizzy – 0 points