Voting for the annual ESC250 celebration closed on the 16th of December 2024, and now we have a nervous wait to find out the results! The event is hosted by songfestival.be, with the results revealed on the 31st December 2024 on EFR12 Radio to close out the year. Find out more about it here! While we wait to find out the official results, members of the TES team will be sharing their votes for this year and explaining the reason for their picks. This time it’s Kittens’ turn to reveal how they voted.
Kittens’s chaotic voting record
This is my third year of actually remembering to vote in ESC250 – although in true Kittens last minute fashion, I did vote on the Thursday before the deadline. I’ve not strayed that far from my votes last year, but that’s because, well, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. As usual, as it’s me, expect this to be heavy on (although not exclusive to) the bangers, because as Euan would put it, I don’t listen to anything under 130 BPM. This is of course, untrue, but it’s not stopped Euan believing it so far.
1 point: Luktelk – Silvester Belt (Lithuania 2024)
Well I had to include a little nod to my favourite non-winning entry this year. “Luktelk” took the fandom by storm last year and I was no different. Easily one of my bangers of the year, and a core memory will always be finding out Silvester Belt was in Euroclub and yelling at our video editor Ben to go and say hello. Iconic men in red pleather outfits this year, between Silvester and Benjamin Ingrosso, what a time.
2 points: “Alcohol is Free” – Koza Mostra feat. Agathon Iakovidis (Greece 2013)
In my efforts to combat a little bit of my recency bias, I pulled in this solid banger from Greece – and it could have gone to this or to “OPA”, but this one pulled through. Honestly it’s just banging fun, and very yellable, while still touching on those social issues (see also my 6 points. It’s almost like it’s a pattern or something).
3 points: “Because Of You” – Gustaph (Belgium, 2023)
A man and a hat and a queer anthem. “Because of You” took my heart when it came out, and I was so glad to hear a song inspired by my other passion (house music) on the Eurovision stage. The moment I heard this track I was absolutely in love with it, and the performance shows off his vocals and his personality so well. This has actually gone up since last years vote – aging like a fine wine.
4 points: “Molitva” – Marija Šerifović (Serbia, 2007)
Yes it is shocking that I am so into a big, big ballad. But this is definitely a much more interesting ballad than most. “Molitva” feels so big, sweeping and iconic that it’s hard to ignore. I’d be really into the musical that this would be the iconic first half number for. I do love ballads that move and progress through as the song unfolds, and this is perfect for me on that front.
5 points: “Popular” – Eric Saade (Sweden, 2011)
The real spark of my love for the contest as a whole again, “Popular” may have clichés in spades, but it is what it is, a perfect piece of pop music performed with style. One of the few times I’ve truly enjoyed what Sweden send – and still an absolute banger to this day. What a joy to see this back on stage this year as well. Eric Saade you will always be famous!
6 points: “Trenulețul” – Zdob şi Zdub & Advahov Brothers (Moldova, 2022)
TRAIN DADS TRAIN DADS TRAIN DADS. I may not be able to spell it or say it properly but “Trenulețul” is an absolute joy from start to finish. Personally the pre-revamp version excelled, but regardless it’s still 3 minutes of fun that still has to be played (compulsory, don’t fight me) on any train journey. On the Moldova podcast, we discussed how Moldova get so much better when they lean into their weird, and this is the perfect example. Hey ho, lets go, Moldova, don’t ever stop doing your thing.
7 points: “Space Man” – Sam Ryder (United Kingdom, 2022)
It is no surprise to anyone that I am somewhat of a Sam Ryder fan now, but when I first heard the recording of this, I was absolutely ready for another middling year for the UK. Hearing it live and at close range at London Eurovision Party changed all that. The extraordinary live performance elevates this far beyond the recording, and the guitar solo now always gets me in the feels. A joy to watch over and over and over, and will forever be special to me.
8 points: “The Code” – Nemo (Switzerland, 2024)
It’s no secret that I was absolutely wowed by Nemo this year, so they had to find their way into the votes somewhere. I was always concerned that they wouldn’t be able to deliver as well on stage as well as in the recording but BOY was I proved wrong. From the very first preparty, Nemo proved themselves so well and clearly well enough to wow both jury and televote, giving them that win in Malmö. Might have cried a little bit (and then made Daniel sit through 25 minutes of me getting very excited about it).
10 points: “Shum” – Go_A (Ukraine, 2021)
I remember listening to this song for the first time and basically sitting there stunned and enraptured by the whole affair. Go_A have since become one of my favourite bands to see live (If you get the chance to go, don’t hesitate) and the staging, the outfits, the whole thing is just pure class. I had the chance to see them again in Malmö this year, and I am really hoping for a UK date on a Go_A tour in 2025.
Special mentions
Before I reveal my 12 points, I would like to give a special shout-out to a few entries that came so close to making my top ten. They are:
- “Fulenn” – Alvan & Ahez (France, 2022) – Still slightly salty about how much this was robbed in the final….don’t bring it up!
- “Be my guest” – Gaitana (Ukraine 2012) – So much fun and what a belter voice! Wish this got remembered more.
- “Cha cha cha” – Käärijä (Finland 2023) – The energy of a lifetime. Just slipping out of my list since last year as I’ve kinda overheard it a bit, but I think it’ll be back in after a little break.
- “Echo (You and I)” – Anggun (France 2012) – 2012 had some great songs and this is another overlooked anthem!
- “(nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi” – 5MIINUST x Puuluup (Estonia, 2024) – The other track from this year I considered putting in over “Luktelk”, but “Luktelk” won over in the end.
And Kittens’ 12 points go to…. “Beauty Never Lies” – Bojana Stamenov (Serbia 2015)
Yes, it’s cringe. Yes, it’s camp. But this big ol’ banger is exactly what I want from a Eurovision song and performance. High camp, high drama, starts out anthemic and slow and bumps up the tempo, some amazing vocals that bring the house down, 10/10, no notes, delivers every time. This song is so iconic to me, and while I’m probably the only person to give it a 12 (again), the joy of watching this at Euroclub this year and yelling the lyrics with my friends is a core memory I’ll never forget.
Listen to our collective ESC 250 playlist on Spotify
Enjoy our collective ESC 250 playlist on YouTube
Now that Kittens has revealed their votes for ESC 250 this year, what do you think of their picks? Who received your 12 points this year? As always, please let us know what you think by commenting below. Be sure to follow ‘THAT Eurovision Site’ on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky for all of the latest Eurovision news.
News Source: That Eurovision Site
Photo Credit: Nemo by Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU, Bojana by EBU, Sam Ryder by EBU/Corrine Cumming
Euan T