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.

Final

Madonna performed "Like a Prayer", "Dark Ballet" and "Future" as an interval act in the final.
The final took place on 18 May 2019 at 22:00 IDT (21:00 CEST). Twenty-six countries participated in the final, with all forty-one participating countries eligible to vote.

The final was opened with the traditional flag parade introducing the 26 finalists, which featured Dana International performing "Tel Aviv" and "Diva", Ilanit performing "Ey Sham", and Nadav Guedj performing "Golden Boy". In the interval, five former Eurovision participants were featured in the "Switch Song" interval act: Conchita Wurst performed "Heroes", Måns Zelmerlöw performed "Fuego", Eleni Foureira performed "Dancing Lasha Tumbai", Verka Serduchka performed "Toy", and Gali Atari, together with the four above-mentioned artists, performed her winning song "Hallelujah". Idan Raichel then performed "Bo'ee – Come to Me" together with the Idan Raichel Project. Netta then performed her new single "Nana Banana", followed by Madonna performing "Like a Prayer", "Dark Ballet" and "Future", the latter with Quavo. Actress and model Gal Gadot also appeared in a short video skit on Tel Aviv as a tourist destination.

Madonna's interval performance in the final was heavily criticised due to her poor vocal showing, and further criticisms were raised when her official YouTube channel uploaded a video of the performance with the vocals auto-tuned. Madonna's representatives at Live Nation were subject to a lawsuit by host broadcaster Kan in September 2019, four months after the contest ended. The Belarusian jury was dismissed following the revelation of their votes in the first semi-final, which is contrary to the rules of the contest.

Participants and results of the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019

R/O Country Artist Song Points Place
1 Malta Michela "Chameleon" 107 14
2 Albania Jonida Maliqi "Ktheju tokës" 90 17
3 Czech Republic Lake Malawi "Friend of a Friend" 157 11
4 Germany Sisters "Sister" 24 25
5 Russia Sergey Lazarev "Scream" 370 3
6 Denmark Leonora "Love Is Forever" 120 12
7 San Marino Serhat "Say Na Na Na" 77 19
8 North Macedonia Tamara Todevska "Proud" 305 7
9 Sweden John Lundvik "Too Late for Love" 334 5
10 Slovenia Zala Kralj and Gašper Šantl "Sebi" 105 15
11 Cyprus Tamta "Replay" 109 13
12 Netherlands Duncan Laurence "Arcade" 498 1
13 Greece Katerine Duska "Better Love" 74 21
14 Israel Kobi Marimi "Home" 35 23
15 Norway Keiino "Spirit in the Sky" 331 6
16 United Kingdom Michael Rice "Bigger than Us" 11 26
17 Iceland Hatari "Hatrið mun sigra" 232 10
18 Estonia Victor Crone "Storm" 76 20
19 Belarus Zena "Like It" 31 24
20 Azerbaijan Chingiz "Truth" 302 8
21 France Bilal Hassani "Roi" 105 16
22 Italy Mahmood "Soldi" 472 2
23 Serbia Nevena Božović "Kruna" 89 18
24 Switzerland Luca Hänni "She Got Me" 364 4
25 Australia Kate Miller-Heidke "Zero Gravity" 284 9
26 Spain Miki "La venda" 54 22