Sawt Falasteen - Austrian opera, Finnish lust through to Eurovision final

Sixteen countries battled in the second semi-final for the last 10 places in Saturday's showpiece final.

Thursday's event brought more of the drama and kitsch that the world's biggest live television music event is used to.

Austria, Israel and Finland were the bookmakers' favourites to qualify from the show in St Jakobshalle arena in Basel, and voters across Europe and beyond duly sent them into to the final, when 160 million to 200 million TV viewers are expected to tune in.

Armenia, Denmark, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Malta also made it through.

Australian social media powerhouse Go-Jo opened Thursday's show with "Milkshake Man", a song dripping in innuendo and 1970s glam vibes.

But there was a shock as he crashed out, as did competitors from the Czech Republic, Georgia, Ireland, Montenegro and Serbia.

- 'Ich Komme' -

Austria's JJ performed "Wasted Love", a personal song of unrequited emotions which combined high-pitched operatic vocals and modern beats.

"I was excited, I was also in my feels, feeling everything that we wrote, all of the emotions that we had in the song, and just very happy to have finally performed in front of Europe," he said.

Finland's Erika Vikman has been gaining momentum during Eurovision week and closed Thursday's show in memorable fashion with "Ich Komme".

The leather-clad performer's raunchy song is about falling into the trance of lust -- and finished with the singer riding a golden microphone suspended in the air.

And as she awaited the viewers' verdict, she tried a Swiss fondue, dripping hot melted cheese on the floor.

Maltese diva Miriana Conte's performance of "Serving" featured a giant pair of lips, a glitter ball, furs and fans, and ended with her bouncing around on a rubber ball.

Georgia's Mariam Shengelia brought snow queen vibes to her dramatic ballad "Freedom".

But it was not enough to see her through.

- Protests over Israel's participation -

Israel's participation in Eurovision 2025 has drawn protests over the war in Gaza.

Raphael survived the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war, hiding beneath bodies as Hamas gunmen attacked a music festival, killing hundreds.

"The second I went on stage, I saw a few friends of mine in the audience and my heart just went silent, and I'm like, 'just enjoy: you have one of the most incredible experiences in life; just enjoy the moment'. And that's what I did," she said.

Outside the arena, dozens of protesters milled about on Thursday with Palestinian flags on their shoulders.

Elsewhere in Basel, dozens attended a rally in support of Raphael, waving large Israeli flags.

At the final dress rehearsal, six demonstrators who disrupted Raphael's performance with oversized flags and whistles were ejected, the host broadcaster said.

- Hot pink and sequins -

Some 6,500 hyped-up Eurovision fans filled the arena, dressed to the nines in leopard print, sequinned dresses and even hot-pink zebra stripes.

Austrian fan Marcel Fina said JJ had every chance to win the final.

"Definitely, it's a very good song. It's unique, it's special, that's what you need for Eurovision. He sings incredibly, and we have very good chances this year," he told AFP.

Twenty-six countries will take part in Saturday's show.

Sweden are the overall hot favourites to win Eurovision, followed by Austria, then Netherlands, France, Finland and Israel, according to the bookmakers.

Comedy trio KAJ -- from Finland but representing Sweden -- are making their competitors sweat with their song "Bara Bada Bastu", about the joys of having a sauna.

They came through Tuesday's first semi-final, as did Estonia's Tommy Cash with his Italian-accented "Espresso Macchiato" and Poland's Justyna Steczkowska, who first appeared at Eurovision in 1995.

M.Qasim--SF-PST