内容摘要：This year’s contest was roiled for a second year by disputes over Israel’s participation. Raphael — a survivor of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on a music festival in southern Israel that triggered the Gaza war — was met by a mix of cheers and boos as she sang.

This year’s contest was roiled for a second year by disputes over Israel’s participation. Raphael — a survivor of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on a music festival in southern Israel that triggered the Gaza war — was met by a mix of cheers and boos as she sang.

, representing Sweden with serenade to the sauna “Bara Bada Bastu”; Dutch singer Claude with soulful ballad “C’est La Vie”; andwith “Bird of Pray.”

Australia, Montenegro, Ireland, Georgia, Czechia and Serbia were eliminated on Thursday.Eleven of the 37 acts who traveled to Basel have now been sent home, leaving 26 finalists. Twenty were picked by viewers’ votes, while six countries automatically qualify for the final: the host, Switzerland, and the “Big Five” who pay the most to the contest — France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K.Music fans across Europe and beyond have traveled to the northern Swiss city of Basel, which is hosting Eurovision because

won last year’s contest in Sweden.The contest, whose motto is “united by music,” has been roiled for a second year by disputes over Israel’s participation. Dozens of former participants, including

have called for Israel to be excluded over its conduct in the

. Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protests have both taken place in Basel this week.JJ from Austria who performed the song “Wasted Love” reacts to voting during the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, early Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

JJ from Austria who performed the song “Wasted Love” reacts to voting during the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, early Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)The show was a celebration of Europe’s eclectic, and sometimes baffling, musical tastes. Lithuanian band Katarsis delivered grunge rock, while Ukraine’s Ziferblat channeled prog rock and the U.K.’s Remember Monday offered country pop.

Italy’s Lucio Corsi evoked 1970s glam rock, while Icelandic duo VAEB rapped about rowing, Latvia’s six-woman Tautumeitas offered gorgeous, intertwined harmonies and leather-clad Finn Erika Vikman belted out the innuendo-filled electro-pop song “Ich Komme.”There were divas aplenty, including Spain’s Melody, Poland‘s Justyna Steczkowska, participating in Eurovision for a second time after a 30-year gap,, and Malta’s outrageous Miriana Conte, who performed the saucy “Serving” on a set including a glitter ball and giant lips.