Editorial: A Guess into Running Orders for Eurovision 2025 (Part 1: Semi-Final One)

Running orders are particularly hard to draw, not just in Eurovision but in any competition. Organisers need to balance variety with style, while also considering that there is a show to run. In the context of Eurovision, running orders can also help or hinder you and your competition.

Why are running orders so important?

As mentioned, running orders can put you in good stead or ruin your chances depending on where you fall and what the songs on either side of you. If a song requires a big bombastic moment, putting it next to other high-energy songs will do little to make the impact the delegation hoped for. Similarly, if a song is stripped back, having a string of emotional ballads will make it harder to stand out.

But it isn’t just the delegations that should be kept in focus – the viewer also takes precedence. Think back to 2012, when Englebert Humperdinck kicked off the grand final -with a pared back and intimate love song. Eurovision is a collection of music, by all means, but many switch off the first song if it’s deemed to be tiring or a “buzzkiller”. For a television producer, it’s a logistical nightmare – which in part – helped to inform the change to a producer-led running order from 2013.

Semi-Final 1: A potential running order

With this in mind, this is my (personal) attempt to create a running order for the first semi-final for Eurovision 2025. This is the third year that I have done this editorial, having skipped last year. Each year, however, while I may not get the exact running order right, it’s clear there is a formula producers are using.

Semi-final 1 is a bit of a nightmare for producers. Here, you have just two (competing) women in the show. You also have a number of major upbeat songs, each of which could cancel each other out. So, how would I go about it?

#1 – Ukraine – “Bird of Pray”

I’ve opted to put Ukraine at the start of Semi-Final 1. Ziferblat have definitely got a vibe that packs a punch at the very beginning of the song. This gentle introduction before you go straight into the soft-indie feel of “Bird of Pray” would be a great way to kick off proceedings. The band also use a great pallet of colour and – assuming they have the garden from Vidbir – producers will be happy to get one prop out of the way right off the bat. Now we’re up and running!

#2 – Slovenia – “How Much Time Do We Have Left”

Next up in the hypothetical running order would be Slovenia’s heart-wrenching ballad from Klemen. In comparison to Ukraine, this song is a lot more stripped back and requires very little in terms for staging. Colourwise, this will also be very muted – which can work in both country’s favour. Musically, the contrast is also quite strong and helps both Ukraine and Slovenia to shine on their own merits. I also think the stripped-back staging of this will help producers prepare for later acts, all while Klemen continues to captivate with “How Much Time Do We Have Left”.

#3 – Poland – “Gaja”

Traditionally, #3 in a semi-final is rocky territory, but in recent years more risky entries have been placed here and have qualified comfortably. I’m talking “In corpore sano” and “Zari” here. So, for #3, why not go for something a little more experimental and put Poland in? It breaks up the streak of men we have so far; it’s (mostly) not in English and it delivers on impressive choreography and staging. Going from something quiet to bombastic is a tried and tested method in Eurovision, so Justyna performing at this spot would help her stand out the most and increase her chances of qualifying.

#4 – Italy – “Volevo essere un duro”

Okay, now it’s time for the first of the three automatic qualifiers that will perform during the show. Currently, we don’t know whether the Big 5 + Switzerland will be performing like last year, but let’s run on the assumption they are. After the chaos and drama of “Gaja”, it’s time to bring the vibe back and refocus the audience with another touching moment. Italy’s song is the perfect answer to this. Lucio can really stand out with his soft-rock ballad, and keep a touch of weird with his overall ensemble.

#5 – Estonia – “Espresso Macchiato”

I’ve seen a lot of people hypothesise that Estonia could open the show, but for as big a name as Tommy is, I cannot see producers wasting viewership by putting him on so early. This song also flows well by fitting after Italy with the use of Italian, but picks up the energy a tad, and also ups the camp energy that we need to keep the show going. And it means that fans don’t have to wait long for one of the big hitters of the competition.

#6 – Sweden – “Bara Bada Bastu”

At this point, I would expect an ad break so that producers can get another big prop on stage – this time, coming from Sweden. Logistically, it makes sense so that the stage can be prepped for a huge prop. But also, fans will be able to get ready for their second consecutive fan-favourite. This also nicely ties in with Tommy to create a small streak of “weird” songs, but their stage concepts are so vastly different it would be hard to get the two mixed up, which means the flow of the show is even better.

#7 – Portugal – “Deslocado”

Time for a bit of a gear shift as we bring in the second ballad of the evening – “Deslocado” from Portugal. Similar to Slovenia, the band’s pared-back performance would help to chill the vibe of the show – which would be desperately needed. However, the stripped-back performance will allow producers some breathing space for the next set of props to be prepared. Portugal always thrives when it’s smashed in between big songs and big stagings, so this would be the perfect place for Napa to show what they’re worth.

#8 – Iceland – “RÓA”

This leaves just one song left from the first half that is left to compete – Iceland’s “RÓA”. This – when compared to the sleepy vibe of Portugal – will get audiences back on their feet and dancing, with positive vibes (get it!) radiating from the duo. This also lends itself well to big and messy staging, with pyros galore – offering Iceland the best chance they can be afforded at a shot at the final.

#9 – Switzerland – “Voyage”

Time now for another of the automatic qualifiers to take to the stage – this time, it’s host nation Switzerland. After the intense energy of Iceland, Switzerland can really help to breathe some freshness and delicacy into the show, in an almost MARO-like way. Putting Switzerland bang in the middle of the show also means that people won’t be inclined to turn away from the show, had it been put at the beginning or the end of proceedings – plus it also helps to break up the sausage fest that we’ve been having so far.

#10 – Netherlands – “C’est la Vie”

Kicking off the second half of the semi-final requires a colourful punch, and this could easily be done by Claude from the Netherlands. This also continues the French language trend from Switzerland, but adds a dance flare to bring the energy back up again. His rich and deep voice will also dramatically contrast from Zoe Me, and the overall staging will be a lot brighter than the dark feel of “Voyage”, so this can be a great bridge into what we can expect in the second half.

#11 – Croatia – “Poison Cake”

With the second half officially underway, it’s worth bringing something with a little more grit to really show the shift in the show’s proceedings. Step forward, Marko from Croatia. This song can really open wide so Marko can impress with his vocals, and the mix in genres will help to make it stand out even further on the big stage. Visually as well, this could provide a massive contrast with Claude as it can really lean in on the cake motif and leave an impression on viewers.

#12 – Azerbaijan – “Run With U”

By this point, we are on a real slick production streak, and we are now in dire need of a folk or a traditional instrument. Mamagama would be the perfect fit for this need as they can blend the synth-wave and folky sounds fantastically. Azerbaijan’s out-of-the-box approach to the music video – if brought to the stage in Basel – could offer a bold switch-up from the drama of Croatia, and with those trademark vocals, I think the band could really stand out. This is a good spot for Azerbaijan, but the staging would need to be over-the-top to really give Mamagama their best shot at making it through to the final.

#13 – Spain – “Esa Diva”

I would expect another commercial break following Azerbaijan, and when we come back, it would make sense to bring the vibe up again with another huge moment on stage. The perfect candidate would be our last Big 5 nation, Spain. Melody’s performance at Benidorm Fest was huge, with props and swings galore – and I would imagine this kind of staging would take some time to set up, so Spain performing here would be the optimal choice. On top of this, having another woman perform to break up the slew of men we would be getting would be absolutely fantastic.

#14 – Norway – “Lighter”

Time to switch things up again as we head back to the male bangers, this time from Norway. I believe Kyle Alessandro has said he is offering up an interesting performance for viewers in Basel, and a great way to kick off the final leg of competing songs would be his track “Lighter”. That being said, this is my least confident prediction, as three dance-heavy tracks next to each other (Spain, Norway and San Marino) could cancel each other out. This could do well, dependant on how NRK will stage this; perhaps the EBU will give Kyle the benefit of the doubt!

#15 – San Marino – “Tutta L’Italia”

Time to bring the energy up just a smidge, and San Marino’s Gabry Ponte would work fantastically well here. Much like Estonia, I’ve seen several people opt to see San Marino close the semi-final. However, I feel the show would benefit from a more definitive ending, which this doesn’t necessarily have. That being said, a general party song to switch up from the slick choreography from Norway would really get fans on their feet again, and have an earworm that will stick in their head all throughout the voting sequence.

#16 – Cyprus – “Shh”

If we’re on a Eurodance streak, we might as well keep it going with Theo Evan from Cyprus and his floor-filler banger, “Shh”. This is quite similar to Norway in terms of slick choreography being given over a driving electronic beat. But what makes this a better fit for this late in the running order is that it has a punch that can really get the crowd going as we enter the final stretch. This will also have big and flashy staging, which will definitely help it stand out in comparison to what it stands next to.

#17 – Albania – “Zjerm”

With two songs left, Albania’s “Zjerm” is a perfect penultimate song for viewers. Shkodra Elektronike help to bring the tempo down just a little bit, while still commanding attention and authority from the pair. The message of the song can still carry through, and with a bright and vibrant red staging, this is a fantastic spot to offer contrast between Cyprus and Belgium. Also, as a fan favourite, people watching will be waiting to see what the duo bring to the stage and with an elevated FiK performance on the cards, the simplicity of this performance will be music to producers’ ears.

#18 – Belgium – “Strobe Lights”

And just like that, it’s time for the final song of the evening! With just one song left, I bet that Belgium will be the closing song of the first semi-final. It is clear that VRT have some intriguing stage plans, given Red Sebastian’s explosive Eurosong performance. However, while the red staging may clash slightly with Albania, the vocal delivery and the excess use of strobe lights will just punch through to viewers and bring the overall show to a dramatic end, making a lasting impact and giving Belgium their best shot at making it to the final.

Of course, this is just a prediction and not the official running order. Predictions could be wildly off or exact, but any exact placements are just a coincidence.

What do you think of our attempt to pitch a running order for Semi-Final One? Do you agree with our reasonings? If not, how would you put the running order for the events? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. As well as this, be sure to follow ‘THAT Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more editorials!

News Source: That Eurovision Site

Photo Source: EBU