I’ll keep the annual Eurovision post short this year because even though I had a great watch party with friends and am okay with most of the results, I still need to emotionally recover from the shame that is the amount of public votes Australia’s entry got. Still so proud of you Sheldon 
Australia was repped by 23-year-old Sheldon Riley. His song Not the Same was inspired by his experience of being diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, growing up in public housing and battling with his sexuality in a religious household.
And while his song got an enthusiastic reaction from the live audience and a solid amount of points from the juries he ended up placing 15th because he didn’t score many points from the public vote. The above video is sadly not available in the U.S. but if you’re interested you can watch his performance during Australia’s national Eurovision finals.
Other than that my favourite song of the evening was Fulenn performed by Alvan & Ahez for France. Not only because of the much appreciated Pagan Folk representation and the song being an actual banger, but also because I’m incredibly proud of France for sending a song in Breton, a critically endangered Celtic language that was supressed by French officials for decades. Let’s hope the undeserved poor result doesn’t mean the country will go back to sending the same lame French chanson every year.
Other than Australia and France my top 5 included Spain, Lithuania and Ukraine (even though I think their entry last year was actually better). Finland was pretty fun too, I’m glad Sweden secured its top 5 spot as per usual and kind of surprised Norway didn’t get more votes from the zoomers. Overall it was a very solid year with the top entries being just slightly weaker than in 2021.
PS: This is the song the German public wanted to be their entry. Alas Germany’s broadcasters who decide who goes to Eurovision decided otherwise despite huge petitions and everything. Look where that got them… this song would have been a guaranteed top 5.