The Eurovision 2023 semi-final 2 has finished in Liverpool, with the final ten acts qualifying for the Eurovision Grand Final on Saturday evening (Sunday morning in Australia).
Now we take a look at some interesting facts and insights into the repercussions of the semi-final 2 results from qualification to the Grand Final and languages!
**There will be spoilers below!**
Before we look at each country let's look at the semi-final as a whole.
Notably it was a bad night for the youth. The two youngest competitors at this year's Eurovision were battling it out in this semi-final, and both failed to make it to the Saturday night show. They were Romania's Theodor Andrei who is 18 years old, and Greece's Victor Vernicos who is 16.
It was a good night for those who sang their entire song in their native language. The countries that did this - Albania (who sang in Albanian), Slovenia (Slovene) and Australia (English) - all made it through to the grand final.
It was also a contrast in fortunes of the Nordic countries in this semi-final compared to the first show on Tuesday. Whilst all the Nordic nations in the first semi-final (Finland, Norway and Sweden) qualified to the grand final, Denmark and Iceland who were in the second semi-final did not make the cut.
Now let's look at each country individually.
Denmark
The fact that 2023 marks ten years since their last victory did not prove a lucky charm for the Danes. For the third successive contest the Nordic nation was left stranded in the semi-final. Unfortunately it must be breaking Reiley's heart, and the rest of Denmark's.
Armenia
The first part of Brunette's aim to follow in Rosa Linn's successful footsteps has been achieved, with Armenia reaching the Eurovision final for the second year running.
More impressively, Brunette's qualification makes it the first time since 2017 that a song performing in the second slot in the semi-finals has qualified. Austria's Nathan Trent with 'Running on Air' was the last act to do this.
Armenia will be performing 17th in the grand final. The last time an act won from that position was Sweden's Loreen in 2012, who is coincidentally participating this year.
Romania
Romania's recent dismal run in Eurovision semi-finals continues. This is now the fourth time out of the last five contests that the Balkan nation has failed to reach the final.
Estonia
The Baltic country qualifies for the final for the second consecutive year. Interestingly Estonia's last three final appearances have been with single word songs: 'Storm' in 2019, 'Hope' in 2022 and now 'Bridges' in 2023. Given the country failed to qualify with 'The Lucky One' in 2021, Estonia may be well-advised to stick to this single-word title formula.
Estonia has been placed in the 12th position for the grand final. In recent years this has produced many winners including Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra last year and the Netherlands' Duncan Laurence in 2019.
Belgium
Gustaph makes it three years on the trot Belgium has qualified for the final. For the past two years Belgium has finished in 19th place in the grand final results, so it will be interesting to see if 'Because of You' continues this trend.
Belgium has been awarded 16th position in the running order for the Saturday night show.
Cyprus
The Mediterranean island nation has bounced back from last year's non-qualification by qualifying for the Saturday night show. Cyprus has a fantastic recent record at Eurovision, having qualified for seven out of the last eight contests.
Australian-born Andrew Lambrou will be hoping to go one better than Eleni Foureira's runner-up finish in 2018 and deliver Cyprus its first ever Eurovision win. He is the first Cypriot male soloist to reach the Eurovision final since Hovig sang 'Gravity' in 2017.
Cyprus will perform seventh in the grand final.
Iceland
The only Nordic nation that has never won Eurovision will unfortunately have to wait another year. Iceland misses the final for the first time since 2018.
Greece
After two consecutive years with top ten finishes, Greece fails to make it past the semi-final stage. Like with Iceland, another three contest Eurovision final streak is broken.
Poland
Blanka builds on Ochman's success last year by propelling her country into the final for the second consecutive contest. She is the first Polish female soloist to make the Eurovision final since Kasia Moś sang 'Flashlight' in 2017.
Poland will perform fourth in the running order in the Saturday night show. Turkey's Sertab Erener in 2003 was the last winner from this position.
Slovenia
Joker Out helps put Slovenia into a Eurovision final for the first time since 2019.
For the second consecutive year Slovenia has been represented by a boy band. However given LPS's failure to qualify for the final last year, Joker Out become the first ever Slovenian all-male group to reach the Saturday night show.
Joker Out has been awarded 24th position in the Saturday show night running order by the producers, traditionally a strong spot. In 2021 Italy's Måneskin won from this slot. It has been a good grand final draw for the Balkan nations, with Slovenia's neighbours Croatia following immediately after them at 25th.
Georgia
Not even a former Junior Eurovision winner could change Georgia's dire adult Eurovision fortunes. Despite being predicted to qualify for the final by the bookies, Iru was sensationally dumped by Europe's voters. The country with the most Junior Eurovision wins continues its terrible non-qualification streak in the adult version. It is now the sixth consecutive contest Georgia has failed to qualify for the final.
Iru also becomes the first Junior Eurovision winner to not qualify to the Saturday night show of the adult contest.
San Marino
Eurovision's smallest country fails to reach the final for the second consecutive year. The micronation has now only made the Saturday night show three times in fourteen attempts.
Austria
Teya and Salena end a five year non-qualification streak for the central European nation. They are the first all-female act to represent Austria in the grand final since Zoë in 2016 and the first Austrian group in the Saturday night show since The Makemakes in 2015. Never before has an all-female duo represented Austria in the grand final.
The bookmakers also have the duo a good chance of finishing in the top ten in Saturday night's show. They will be opening the grand final, a tough slot given no winner has won from there since 1984. But in Teya and Salena's favour is the fact that all three winners that opened the show have been bands. They are: Netherland's Teach In in 1975, UK's Brotherhood of Man in 1976, and Sweden's Herreys in 1984.
Albania
Albania qualifies for the final after last year's non-qualification.
Since 2016 every Albanian entry that consisted solely of Albanian language has reached the final, whilst any entry that has English lyrics has failed to qualify. Albina and Familija Kelmendi, and their entirely Albanian offering this year, continue this interesting language streak.
Albania has been awarded tenth position in the running order for the Saturday night show. The last winner from that position was Sweden's Måns Zelmerlöw in 2015.
Lithuania
Semi-final 2's result makes it three years on the trot the Baltic nation has reached the final. Monika Linkytė personally maintains her 100% qualification rate, having made the final in her other Eurovision participation in 2015. It is also the second consecutive year that a Lithuanian lady named Monika has made the final, after Monika Liu's success last year.
Lithuania has been put in 22nd place in the running order for the Saturday night show. This could be a good omen for Monika given two female soloists have won from that slot this century: Germany's Lena in 2010 and Israel's Netta in 2018.
Australia
Another qualification for Australia means we have made the Eurovision final in seven out of our eight participations. Voyager becomes the first Australian band to make the Saturday night show. They will be hoping to do one better than Dami Im's runner-up finish in 2016 and become the first ever Australian act to win.
Australia will be performing 15th in the grand final. Whilst on paper this may not seem auspicious given it is the second earliest possible position in the second half, all is not bad. Norway's Keiino performed from the 15th slot in 2019. They won the televote in the final that year and finished sixth overall.
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