2 months ago

Dates: Semi-final 1: 14 May 2019 - Semi-final 2: 16 May 2019 - Final: 18 May 2019
Host venue: Expo Tel Aviv, Israel - Presenters: Erez Tal, Bar Refaeli, Assi Azar, Lucy Ayoub
Directed by Amir Ukrainitz, Sivan Magazanik - Executive supervisor: Jon Ola Sand
Executive producer: Zivit Davidovich - Host broadcaster: Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC/Kan)

The Eurovision Song Contest 2019 was the 64th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Tel Aviv, Israel, following the country's victory at the 2018 contest with the song "Toy" by Netta. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC/Kan), the contest was held at Expo Tel Aviv, and consisted of two semi-finals on 14 and 16 May, and a final on 18 May 2019. The three live shows were presented by Israeli television presenters Erez Tal, Assi Azar and Lucy Ayoub, and Israeli model Bar Refaeli.

Forty-one countries participated in the contest, with Bulgaria and Ukraine not returning after their participation in the previous edition. Bulgaria cited financial difficulties as the reason for its absence, while Ukraine, which had originally planned to participate, ultimately withdrew as a result of a controversy surrounding its national selection.

The winner was the Netherlands with the song "Arcade", performed by Duncan Laurence and written by Laurence along with Joel Sjöö, Wouter Hardy and Will Knox. Italy, Russia, Switzerland and Sweden rounded out the top five; due to a voting error, Norway was originally placed fifth, but placed sixth after a correction. The Netherlands won the combined vote, but placed third in the jury vote after North Macedonia and Sweden, and second in the televote after Norway. Further down the table, North Macedonia and San Marino achieved their best results to date, finishing seventh and 19th respectively.

The EBU reported that the contest had an audience of 182 million viewers in 40 European markets, a decrease of 4 million viewers from the previous edition. However, an increase of two percent in the 15–24 year old age range was reported.

The lead-up to the contest was met with controversy on multiple fronts, primarily on issues surrounding the Israeli–Palestinian conflict – this eventually led to demonstrations by interval act performer Madonna and Icelandic entrants Hatari during the broadcast of the final.

The EBU initially announced on 7 November 2018 that 42 countries would participate in the contest, with Bulgaria opting not to participate for financial reasons. Ukraine announced its withdrawal from the contest on 27 February 2019, thereby reducing the number of participating countries to 41.

On 6 March 2019, the EBU confirmed that North Macedonia would take part for the first time under its new name, instead of the previous name of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia which had been used since the country's debut in 1998.

Semi-final 1
The first semi-final took place on 14 May 2019 at 22:00 IDT (21:00 CEST). Seventeen countries participated in the first semi-final. Ukraine was originally allocated to participate in the second half of the semi-final, but withdrew from the contest due to controversy over its national selection. Australia won the most points, followed by the Czech Republic, Iceland, Estonia, Greece, Slovenia, Serbia, San Marino, Cyprus and Belarus. The countries that failed to reach the final were Poland, Hungary, Belgium, Georgia, Portugal, Montenegro and Finland. All the countries competing in this semi-final were eligible to vote, plus France, Israel and Spain.

The first semi-final was opened by Netta performing a new version of her winning song "Toy", while the interval featured Dana International with "Just the Way You Are". The French, Israeli and Spanish artists were then interviewed, and clips of their competing songs were played.

Participants and results of the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019

R/O Country Artist Song Points Place
1 Cyprus Tamta "Replay" 149 9
2 Montenegro D mol "Heaven" 46 16
3 Finland Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman "Look Away" 23 17
4 Poland Tulia "Fire of Love (Pali się)" 120 11
5 Slovenia Zala Kralj and Gašper Šantl "Sebi" 167 6
6 Czech Republic Lake Malawi "Friend of a Friend" 242 2
7 Hungary Joci Pápai "Az én apám" 97 12
8 Belarus Zena "Like It" 122 10
9 Serbia Nevena Božović "Kruna" 156 7
10 Belgium Eliot "Wake Up" 70 13
11 Georgia Oto Nemsadze "Keep On Going" 62 14
12 Australia Kate Miller-Heidke "Zero Gravity" 261 1
13 Iceland Hatari "Hatrið mun sigra" 221 3
14 Estonia Victor Crone "Storm" 198 4
15 Portugal Conan Osíris "Telemóveis" 51 15
16 Greece Katerine Duska "Better Love" 185 5
17 San Marino Serhat "Say Na Na Na" 150 8