Accessibility links

Breaking News

Songs About Greek Crisis, Gay Marriage Reach Eurovision Final


Armenian rock band Dorians performs during the second semifinal of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest.
Armenian rock band Dorians performs during the second semifinal of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest.
A gay-marriage anthem and a song inspired by the Greek debt crisis are among the entries that have made it through to the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest, set for May 18 in Malmo, Sweden.

In the second qualifying semifinal on May 16, Finland's "Marry Me" by Krista Siegfrids, popular with the country's gay-marriage campaigners, emerged as one of the winners.

Greece's "Alcohol Is Free" by Koza Mostra also made it through, filled with metaphors about the plight of the crisis-stricken country.

The 26 countries competing in the final are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Norway, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and Britain.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters

Quiz: Are You Too Cool For Eurovision Kitsch?

Quiz: Are You Too Cool For Eurovision Kitsch?

Test your knowledge!

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG