Welcome to our new series of posts!
The moment of truth has arrived, and all 37 competing songs for Eurovision 2025 have been revealed.
So we are ready for an extended review of them and a ranking of the songs.
Each post in the series will focus on 5-6 songs.
This 4th post will focus on 6 of the countries competing in semi-final 2: Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Serbia
You can find the previous chapters here:
- Part 1: Azerbaijan, Croatia, Poland, Slovenia, Ukraine
- Part 2: Albania, Cyprus, Estonia, Portugal, San Marino
- Part 3: Belgium, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and The Netherlands
Emmy – “Laika Party“
Emmy Kristine Guttulsrud Kristiansen is a 24-year-old Norwegian singer and songwriter.
In 2015, she participated in “Melodi Grand Prix Junior” with the song “Aiaiaiai”.
She is well-known, due to her participation in “Melodi Grand Prix 2021” with “Witch Woods”
Nowadays, she is a famous TikTok personality, singer, and graphic designer.
In 2023, she was a member of the Norwegian jury for Eurovision 2023.
In 2024, she was one of the writers of “Woman Show”, a song that competed in “Melodi Grand Prix 2024”.
So far, the singer has released more than 30 singles, some of them as collaborations.
In 2025, she won the Irish selection for Eurovision 2025 – The Irish “Eurosong 2025″.
She will perform “Laika Party” in Eurovision 2025:
Allocation in Semi-Final
Ireland was allocated to perform in the 3rd position in semi-final 2.
The country will perform after Montenegro and before Latvia.
Initial Personal Ranking
23rd overall, 13th in semi-final 2
Musical Review
- It is a techno-electro dance-pop song, with wide influences of the 1990s music. The song is a tribute to Laika, the Soviet dog that was sent on a mission in space.
- The song starts with an electronic keyboard loop and a pre-recorded male voice. The first verse is based on a constant electronic beat, Emmy sings softly with her unique voice. The first pre-chorus doesn’t feature the tempo from previously. In this part, the melody is based on synth elements and electronic keyboards. She sings in this more powerfully and meaningfully. The first chorus is similar to the first verse; it brings back the electro beat, but this time, it is closer to techno. It ends with resonating dense electro drop. The chorus ends with humming and continuation of this electro beat until it explodes.
- The second verse is quite similar to the first one. The second pre-chorus is more emotional (and sad). It relies on electronic keyboards and sampled strings. She sings this part with slightly longer notes. The chorus is upbeat, bringing the electro drop and the techno loop. Towards the end, we get a modulation, which takes Emmy’s voice to an almost unnatural height. This is another typical “trick” of the 1990s music. The song ends with one last chorus.
- Emmy is a great singer with a musical stamp. But I feel like the song doesn’t do good with her. It sounds like an attempt to ride the wave of the “1990s music”. The modulation, in the end, isn’t essential at all. Finally, the song has a cyclic structure, with barely any changes between its two halves. On the other hand, the song is quite catchy and danceable.
Poetry Analysis
The song tells the story of the Soviet dog Laika, who was sent to space and never returned. The song suggests an alternative ending, in which Laika is having her party in the sky.
Laika is introduced as a “brave little girl” – The personification is meant to present her in a more aware way and to emphasize what she has been through on her journey. Later on, it is mentioned that “she saved the world”, which means that her story left a mark on human history.
The song continues by describing her feelings and emotions while coping with this mission – “she was alone in the dark big space”. The song is meant to show Laika’s side in the story, which has never been discussed. The imaginary “cheering crowd” emphasizes her loneliness and lack of appreciation. The separation moment is described as painful: “Rockets going high, then they say goodbye.”
The chorus expresses the desire for Laika’s spirit to remain alive. Her legacy is described as joy and happiness rather than sorrow – “she has a party in the air”.
While Laika is alone in space, she still remembers her favorite things – “she is howling for her bones”. Her journey highlights her desire and resilience.
Her contribution is described as primary and pioneering, as she paved the way for additional discoveries. Her story will stay forever, as well as the meaning of her story- “forever hero for humankind.”
The impact of the allocation in semi-final 2
Among the countries that usually vote for Ireland, 5 of them will vote in semi-final 2: The UK, Australia, Austria, Denmark, and Czechia
Betting Odds
The song was selected as the Irish entry for Eurovision 2025 on February 7th, 2025.
In the first two weeks, Ireland moved in the 15-19 places, 17 at average.
Since then, Ireland has moved within a range of 18-23 places, 20 on average.
Early Prediction
Ireland is on the fence when it comes to estimating its chance to qualify.
On the one hand, Emmy has a distinct voice, and the song is uplifting. I believe that people who like the 1980-1990’s music might like it. On the other hand, the running order doesn’t do it any favours, being allocated in the 3rd position. I think Ireland will end in the 8-12 place in the final, which means it can be a borderline qualifier or just miss the final by a small margin.
If it qualifies, Ireland will probably end up in 17th- 23rd place in the final.
Tautumeitas – Bur Man Laimi
Tautumeitas is a Latvian folk/world music band, consisting of 6 vocalists and instrumentalists: Asnate Rancāne, Aurēlija Rancāne, Annemarija Moiseja, Laura Marta Līcīte, Gabriēla Zvaigznīte, and Kate Slišāne.
The band was formed in 2015, and over the years, it has had some line-up changes.
In 2017, they collaborated with Auļi on the album “ai māsiņa rotājās!“. The album was dedicated to engagements and weddings. The album was awarded the Best Folk Music Awards in Latvia.
So far, the band has released 3 studio albums as independent artists: Tautumeitas (2018), Dziesmas no Aulejas (2019), and Skrejceļš (2022).
In 2025, they won the Latvian selection for Eurovision 2025 – “Supernova 2025″.
They will perform “Bur Man Laimi” in Eurovision 2025:
Allocation in Semi-Final
Latvia was allocated to perform in the 4th position in semi-final 2
They will perform after Ireland and before Armenia.
Initial Personal Ranking
9th overall, 5th in semi-final 2
Musical Review
- It is a folk song with electronic elements.
- The song opens with all of them singing and develops into harmonies. The melody is based on flute and percussion elements. We can hear some whispers as well.
- The chorus comes after a short instrumental part. We get a beautiful combination of low and high voices, some of them humming. The technique is “white voice” singing.
- The second verse is similar to the introduction, but some of them sing it in a lower tone. The atmosphere is tribal and reminds me of the forest.
- The second chorus follows; the melody is based on rich percussion and keyboard playing.
- The bridge is more laid back, the emphasis is on their voices. They sing in a mid-low tone of voice.
- The tempo becomes faster, they sing harmonies. Some electronic elements are brought to the main part. It becomes original and innovative as we get plenty of different singing techniques together, including some animal voices and a significant high note.
- I feel like it is something different that we have never received from Latvia. As I see it, this is a risk that will pay off. Their voices and harmonies can’t be ignored. It is also worth mentioning that the song is performed in Latvian. The last time Latvia sent a full song in Latvian was in 2004.
- Overall, a very original song, which is an interesting choice for Eurovision. The staging we saw in “Supernova 2025” was magnificent- well done!
Poetry Analysis
The song describes the desire to be happy, even in difficult times. It delves into the complexity of always being in such a situation. The phrase “Bring me” (Latvian: Bur Man) repeats, and it serves as a mantra of the narrator, who is longing for joy and happiness. It reinforces the idea that happiness is a pursuit worth striving for despite the obstacles one may face.
The narrator is determined to stay happy. She won’t let anyone drag her down – “You can’t bring me down” (Latvian: Nevar manis izpostīt).
The song continues with an oxymoron – Some people build bridges, while the narrator grows an oak. It represents the contrast between the fragility of the human-made figure (the bridge made of copper can be ruined easily) and the oak, which symbolizes life, eternity, strength, durability, and resilience.
This also suggests that real happiness is rooted in life. nature and personal growth, not in material things.
The song ends with the “dramatic” statement “I didn’t know my happiness until I met misfortune!”. It means that one needs to go through pain and bad things in order to appreciate happiness and preserve it.
The impact of the allocation in semi-final 2
Among the countries that usually vote for Latvia, 6 of them will vote in semi-final 2: Lithuania, Ireland, the UK, Georgia, Malta, and Denmark.
Betting Odds
Latvia selected its song for Eurovision 2025 on February 8th, 2025.
The country has been ranked in the 26-34 places, mostly around 30-32 places (in average: 31).
Early Prediction
It won’t be an easy way for Latvia.
I can see a scenario where it qualifies due to the harmonies, amazing vocals, and unique folk sound. However, Latvia has struggled to qualify for the finals in recent years, with only one qualification between 2017 and 2024.
Another problem is that this semi-final features mainly female vocalists.
On the other hand, Lithuania and some diaspora countries (The UK, Ireland, etc might help.
Overall, I think Latvia has around a 40% chance of qualifying.
If they qualify, they will end around 16-21 in the final.
Katarsis – Tavo akys
Katarsis is a Lithuanian alternative rock band that was formed in 2020.
The band members are Lukas Radzevičius (vocals, guitar), Alanas Brasas (lead guitar), Emilija Kandratavičiūtė (bass), and Jokūbas Andriulis (drums).
In 2025, they won the Lithuanian selection for Eurovision 2025 – “Eurovizija LT 2025”.
He will perform “Lighter” at Eurovision 2025:
Allocation in Semi-Final
Lithuania was allocated to perform in the 8th position, after Greece and before Malta.
Initial Personal Ranking
18th overall, 10th in semi-final 2.
Musical Review
- It is a rock song performed in the Lithuanian language.
- The song starts with an electronic guitar playing. Katarsis opens the first verse with a mid-low tone of a husky voice. The pre-chorus is pretty short; he sings with much longer notes, and the drums are added. The first chorus is slower and darker. The melody is based on bass, electronic guitar, and drums. The phrasing of the words within the sentence is meticulous. He is supported by backing singers with a higher tone of voice. The structure of the chorus is cyclic, and it is quite long. The chorus is finalized by a gloomy instrumental part composed of bass and electric guitars.
- Katarsis continues with an outcry. The second verse is more upbeat and is dominated by guitar riffs. He sings this part with a different attitude, one that comes from control and power.
- The song ends with an outro, which is composed of one word only – “Tavo”. The melody is based on keyboards and guitars. Later on, the drums are added ,and it becomes more powerful but too repetitive.
- Vocally, I appreciate this effort. But the song isn’t appealing enough. Dark rock can also be interesting, but here, there’s a very heavy atmosphere floating in the air. Not much is happening here on the lyrical dimension. However, the rock quality of the song is one worth mentioning. Personally, it is a grower for me.
Poetry Analysis
The song discussed topics like depression and the complexity of relationships. The song starts with the sentence, “Empty speeches only fuel the fire” which means that speaking without a defined aim or message can exacerbate the existing turmoil. The imagery of “burning houses” represents a relationship that is about to collapse. In addition, we can think about it as an emotional and physical destruction. The eyes are described as windows to the soul – “From her eyes the greatest rain/ You see everything”.
The addressee is aware to the narrator’s sorrow – “Your eyes see pain/ To my eyes they only give a feeling”. The narrator tries to limit the way he reflects his sorrow. However, in the subconscious world, he let how sorrow and despair to take over – “You, don’t be afraid / I weep in your dreams”.
The impact of the allocation in semi-final 2
Among the countries that usually vote for Lithuania, 6 of them will vote in semi-final 2: Latvia, Ireland, the UK, Georgia, Australia, and Denmark
Betting Odds
Lithuania selected Katarsis for Eurovision 2025 on February 15th.
Since then, the country has moved in the range of 14-21 places, most of the time it is around 17-18.
Early Prediction
It won’t be an easy pass for Lithuania.
The song isn’t as popular as previous songs they have sent to Eurovision.
However, Lithuania is almost the only country to send a rock song (with only Armenia close to that genre, with a more commercial pop-rock song).
Lithuania has a strong and faithful diaspora base, which is located in many countries. Some of the voting in semi-final 2: Ireland, The UK, Germany, Australia and Rest of The World. As well as a friendly neighbouring country like Latvia.
Even in 2019 (when many believed Lithuania wouldn’t qualify), the country was a televote qualifier.
So overall, I would say it has around a 70% chance of qualifying.
If it qualifies, they will be around 14-19 in the final.
Laura Thorn – La Poupée Monte Le Son
Laura Thorn is a 25-year-old Luxembourgish singer-songwriter.
Laura has been trained in music theory, piano, cello, keyboard, chamber music, and dance from a young age. She started performing at the age of 5.
Laura has completed a master’s degree in music theory and pop singing from IMEP in Namur.
She is a music teacher in the Esch-sur-Alzette Conservatory of Music.
In 2025, she won “The Luxembourg Song Contest 2025”.
She will perform the song “La Poupée Monte Le Son“:
Allocation in Semi-Final
Luxembourg was allocated to perform in the 13th position after Czechia and before Israel.
Initial Personal Ranking
25th overall, 11th in semi-final 2
Musical Review
- It’s a cabaret pop song performed in the French language.
- The song opens with orchestral string elements and piano playing. The first verse is quite long. The rate is precise: Starting with longer musical boxes and ending with shorter ones. Laura is also supported by backing vocals.
- The pre-chorus is faster and has a more modern production. The chorus continues in the same way. It is more memorable (probably due to the “Na Na Na”), and the interpretation is a bit sweeter and younger. It ends out of the blue.
- The second chorus is more classical but features an electric guitar as well. The violin plays the main role, and the same applies to the second pre-chorus. The second chorus is similar to the first one. However, the production features light electronic elements. The chorus transforms into a short synth instrumental part. Bridge is more modern and based on fast singing, backed up by drums and bass. A long note leads us to the last chorus: Some parts of it are perfomred by backing singers, while Laura sings the high notes.
- Overall, the song fits the idea of what Luxembourg should send to the contest. It is a classic French music throwback (especially from around the 1960’s and 1980’s). The song’s title references Luxembourg’s entry in Eurovision 1965. The fusion of modern and classic is an interesting one. Good effort.
- However, I don’t know how it will resonate with the voters. The genre of the song might speak more to the older ages, while the performance itself might be more appealing to the younger voters (as it is a more Junior Eurovision-friendly entry)
Poetry Analysis
The song discusses topics like self-empowerment and self-assertion, focusing on gender dynamics. The title of the song, “The Doll Turns up the Sound”, is a metaphor for one finding her voice and amplifying it amidst societal pressures.
The imagery of a doll represents innocence, childhood, and the passive role in life.
The narrator wants to be seen beyond external appearance – “If in me you only see a perfect doll/ Who smiles and shuts up when you want it/ Forget it, I’m not your puppet”. It also serves as criticism to the way that women are objectified.
Later on the narrator says “If you believe that a man like yourself is manipulating me/ Run back to your mommy” – This part of the song sets the feminist tone of the song. The narrator is a grown-up woman, who won’t be tricked anymore by men. The female character is even more empowered, as the so-called “strong man” is invited to go to his mommy as a comforting solution.
As the song progresses, she feels stronger and more independent – “I can do everything without you”.
The narrator knows exactly what she needs; it isn’t about protection, but mostly freedom –
“If you thought I was fragile, made of porcelain, / … / I’m not like that, I need oxygen”.
The narrator announces that “A new world is calling”, which means she is aware to the modern place of independent women who stand on their own. But she doesn’t only sees herself, but speaks for all the women in the world – “If you were planning to showcase me/ With your whole collection of figurines”.
She is determined to choose her own fate – “but only I determine where my heart goes”.
The impact of the allocation in semi-final 2
Among the countries that usually vote for Luxembourg, 8 of them will vote in semi-final 2: Portugal, Ireland, France, Finland, the UK, Israel, Germany, and Austria.
Betting Odds
Luxembourg chose its entry for Eurovision 2025 on January 25th, 2025.
The country was ranked in the 31-36 place by the bookies, mostly around 32-33.
Early Prediction
Luxembourg will be in the “yellow range” which means it is on the thin margin of being a borderline qualifier or just missing the final by a few points.
My prediction is around 8-12 in the semi-final.
Having France and Germany voting in the semi-final might help, but this semi-final is much more challenging. On the other hand, the song is allocated to be performed somewhere between France and Israel – both of which will perform (partly or fully) in the French language,
If it qualifies, it will be around 16-20 in the final.
Nina Žižić – Dobrodošli
Nina Žižić is a 39-year-old Montenegrin singer.
In 2013, she was selected to represent Montenegro in Eurovision 2013, together with the Who See band. They performed the song “Igranka”, and failed to qualify for the final.
In 2021, she was part of the internal selection jury that selected the country’s entry for Eurovision 2022.
In November 2024, she competed in the national selection for Eurovision 2025 – “Motesong 2024” and finished in 2nd place. However. The winner, Neonoen, withdrew because the song was performed before the date allowed by the EBU. Nina was selected to represent the country at Eurovision 2025.
She will perform the song “Dobrodošli“
Allocation in Semi-Final
Montenegro was allocated to perform in the 2nd position, after Australia and before Ireland.
Initial Personal Ranking
7th overall, 4th in semi-final 2.
Musical Review
- It is a lyrical, low-mid-tempo ballad. The melody is based on piano playing and resonating percussion effects.
- Nina sings the song with a smokey, velvet voice. The intro is based on the orchestral instrumental part which brings James Bondish quality to the song, it is composed of piano and string elements.
- The first verse is performed considerably slower. The first pre-chorus follows; it is a bit faster.
- The first chorus is emotional and short, and the melody is quite uniform.
- The second verse’s melody features drums. This part is more dynamic, and Nina shows more of her vocal range.
The second pre-chorus and second chorus rely on more classical elements like violin playing. This is the point where the song becomes more dramatic. - Nina sings with some twirls and powerful vocals. The song ends with a short instrumental part.
- The song ends in a cyclic way, as the instrumental part from the beginning closes the song.
- By listening to the song, it is quite predictable that Darko Dimitrov is one of the composers. It has the quality level of other songs like “Proud” (North Macedonia 2019).
Poetry Analysis
The song delves into the complexity of love, and the endurance of the human spirit in different times and situations. where we are always required to stay positive and hopeful.
The song starts with the imagery of night awakening, which is a metaphor for the transition from darkness to light. It also tells us about the narrator’s introspection of who is about to take a journey to his thoughts and future. The awakening is a hint to the past burdens.
The narrator is tired of life difficulties, but at the same time wonders “Will she come or will she dream?” – she is uncertain about the future.
The narrator is looking for empathy and someone to be close to her – “Where’s everyone now? Hiding behind bitterness”. She wonders whether everyone sinked in sorrow and bitterness , while she was busy with ignoring her problems (anything happened before the awakening).
The imagery of a floral wreath suggests the duality of life, where joy and beauty are mixed with pain and sadness.
The chorus mainly repeats on “Smile, endure it all, it will pass”, which is the narrator’s hope for a better future, but is also served as a mantra. By this, the narrator acknowledges the difficulties, but still hopes for the best, claiming the difficulties will be behind her.
The narrator sees this as a universal/global phenomenon. She invited others to join her journey.
The song emphasizes the empathy and caring as key factor in getting better – “How are you? Are you doing well?.
Towards the end, she states “It will be gone, it will stop, but when will it?” – This means that the struggle is temporary, even if it feels endless.
The impact of the allocation in semi-final 2
Among the countries that usually vote for Montenegro, 3 of them will vote in semi-final 2: Serbia, Armenia, and Greece.
Betting Odds
Nina was officially selected to represent the country on December 8th, 2024.
The song has been in the bottom two positions of the bookies, which means it’s around 36-37 place.
Early Prediction
With a heavy heart, I think Montenegro won’t qualify for the final.
The song is a high-quality ballad, but it doesn’t speak to many people.
The fact it is allocated in the 2nd position won’t help it.
The song would probably get more votes from the jury, but the semi-final results will be based on a 100% public vote.
Princ – Mila
Stefan Zdravković (better known as Princ or Princ od Varnje) is a 31-year-old Serbian singer and instrumentalist (guitarist and drummer).
He has a professional background in Karate. Princ has also graduated from the University of Belgrade, where he studied Scandinavian Languages, Literature and Culture, and Norwegian Language.
At the of 15, he started to engage in music. First, he founded the band Šesta Žica with his friends.
Since 2016, he has been the lead singer of the band Sisyphus.
In 2020, he was cast in the lead role in the rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar”.
In 2023, he participated in the national selection “Pesma za Evroviziju 2023”, where he ended in the 2nd place.
In 2025, he won “Pesma za Evroviziju 2025“. Princ will perform “Mila” at Eurovision 2025:
Allocation in Semi-Final
Serbia was allocated to perform in the 15th position in semi-final 2
The country will perform after Germany (automatic qualifier) and before Finland.
Initial Personal Ranking
33rd overall, 15th in semi-final 2
Musical Review
- It is a Balkan ballad.
- The song starts with a short instrumental part composed of piano playing, Princ opens the first verse with a mid-tone of voice and a lot of vibrato. Later on, guitar and violin are added to the melody. He pronounces it word by word, slowly. The first chorus opens with the piano playing. He lengthens part of the words. He performs the chorus with a higher tone of voice, and for some reason, it sounds like the pitch doesn’t fit his voice. Princ sings it almost out of air and not very accurately. As the first chorus progresses, we get some backing vocals, guitar playing, and more elements in the production.
- The second verse is slightly faster. This time, the melody is mainly based on string elements. This vers is shorter and sounds like Princ’s comfort zone vocally. The second chorus starts with a cappella singing. The melody is based on string elements. The backing vocals are present in this part as well. Towards the end, we can hear more elements in the melody, like keyboards playing and xylophone. The post-chorus is a short instrumental part, that combines Balkan elements with even Latin elements (like the guitar). It continues to bass and guitars, which welcome an additional chorus. The third chorus is faster is more upbeat. It closes with choir singing, drums and bass, and towards the very end the melody is based on simple guitar and keyboards playing.
- Overall, it feels like the song goes nowhere. The text is meaningful, and the melody has some beautiful moments. But the outcome is just not memorable enough. Princ challenges himself vocally, and sometimes, it does not sound accurate (even though he is a professional singer). The chorus is more memorable, but it is probably due to the repetition of the word “Mila”. Balkan ballads are always welcome in Eurovision, but this one stays in the very dated and kitsch side of the genre. The new arrangement elevated it a bit, but the song itself to begin with, isn’t strong enough.
Poetry Analysis
The song delves into the story of love, sacrifice, and pain.
The narrator dedicates the song to Mila (this can either be her name or the word “Darling” in Serbian).
The song is shaped like an unsolved love letter. The narrator unfolds his feelings to the addressee.
The song starts with his longing for the woman he loves. She is distant from him, both physically and emotionally. Her scent and the sweet memories she left are still on his mind.
The narrator acknowledges the suffering that his love brought to her, but she is still important to him. He wished she would find a new love, but would never stop thinking about her
The impact of the allocation in semi-final 2
Among the countries that usually vote for Serbia, 5 of them will vote in semi-final 2: Montenegro, Austria, France, Germany and Czechia
Betting Odds
The song was selected as the Serbian entry for Eurovision 2025 on February 28th, 2025.
Since then, Serbia has been in the 31-36 place in the odds, usually around 32-34.
Early Prediction
Serbia selected a song that might be less popular with the public. It will compete in semi-final 2, where there are two additional Balkan ballads: Greece and Montenegro.
The only ex-Yugoslavian country to compete in this semi-final is Montenegro, which will probably give 12 points to Serbia. However, I am not sure about the overall chances of this song. Especially when, as a ballad, it isn’t powerful enough.
Whether it qualifies, it will be by the skin of its teeth.
I tend to say it has around 30% of qualification, so it is more towards non-qualifying.
If it qualifies, Serbia will end in 19th- 25th place in the final.
In the next chapter, we will review 5 additional countries of the countries from semi-final 2
Eurovision 2025 will be held in Basel, Switzerland, on the 13th, 15th, and 17th of May 2025
Follow our HOMEPAGE for all the Eurovision 2025 news
