Go-Jo misses out at Eurovision but does Australia proud
Charlotte McLaughlin |
Australia’s Go-Jo (Marty Zambotto) has taken to the stage in the second semi-final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, with the tongue-in-cheek Milkshake Man, but has missed out on qualifying for the grand final.
He was the first to perform on Thursday night, and is the tenth musical act to represent Australia at the world’s most popular singing contest.
Appearing to echo 1960s TV advertisements, Go-Jo started with a segment promoting a blender, before going into a cubicle to transform into a blue sparkly jumpsuit, which saw a part of it dramatically taken off.
Several people in the audience were seen waving Australian flags.
But his performance wasn’t enough to land Australia a spot in the grand final, following Electric Fields missing out in 2024.
Lithuania, Israel, Armenia, Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Latvia, Malta and Greece were the 10 countries that made it through.
British group Remember Monday harmonised their song What The Hell Just Happened? with Bridgerton-inspired outfits, and are already through to the grand final in Basel, Switzerland, as “one of the big five”.
Their performance kicked off with Lauren Byrne in the middle as they moved in synch with a collapsed chandelier on stage, calling back to a line in their song.
Her along with Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele, strutted down the stage, and looked for camera angles to showcase the dramatic moments in the song, before ending in a group hug.
Austria’s JJ (Johannes Pietsch), who is among the competition favourites with song Wasted Love, opted for a black and white staging, which looked like a disastrous boat trip as he sang about someone they cared about being overwhelmed.
Also putting in a good show was Maltese singer Miriana Conte, who went full diva with Serving, and Czechia representative Adonxs with the punchy Kiss Kiss Goodbye.
Luxembourger Laura Thorn was posed like a doll by her dancers while she belted La Poupee Monte Le Son and had a costume change mid-song to reveal a new outfit.
Last to perform was Finland’s black leather-wearing Erika Vikman, who performed her song Ich komme.
Earlier, protesters “disrupted” Israeli singer Yuval Raphael’s rehearsal for the semi-final, organisers said.
The singer, 24, was performing New Day Will Rise during the preview show on Thursday night when six people with “oversized flags and whistles” obstructed her act.
The group was quickly ejected from the St Jakobshalle arena.
A spokeswoman for SRG SSR said: “During the dress rehearsal for the second semi-final of the ESC this afternoon, the performance of Israeli singer Yuval Raphael was disrupted.
“Six people, including a family, disrupted the rehearsal with oversized flags and whistles.
“Security personnel were able to quickly identify those involved and escort them out of the hall.
The Eurovision grand final will take place at 5am AEST on Sunday.
PA
