Voting for the annual ESC250 celebration will close on the 7th of December 2025, 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 2025 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 Rory’s turn to reveal how he voted as this year’s countdown gets underway.
Rory’s votes
Typically, this is quite often a formality for me, as I tend to have several songs that tend not to stray too far from my top. This can be seen from all my previous tops that I have revealed during my time at TES. However, this could be about to change, as I have looked back at the nearly 20 years in which I have been a fan of the Contest and decided to give my list a bit of a refresh. To add to this, I have also been reintroduced to much of the beauty of Balkan Eurovision songs, thanks to my darling boyfriend so that has definitely played into my choices. But otherwise, let’s get into it!
1 point: “Hajde da ludujemo” – Tajči (Yugoslavia 1990)
Kicking us off here is Tajči’s iconic hometown performance of “Hajde da ludujemo”. This song is just so full of fun and an innocence that you don’t really get in Eurovision anymore. With my partner living so close to the concert hall that played host to the Contest in 1990, I am often reminded of how good this song is, and how it has managed to hold up, even in the modern age. Those who do not know this song, get educated.
2 points: “Three Minutes to Earth” – The Shin and Mariko (Georgia 2014)
This is perhaps my most left-field selection, but I do just love how kooky and random this track is. When it was released in 2014, I loved it, and I still love it now. Both Mariko and the members of The Shin are just experimenting and jamming in a jazzy sense but still harks back to a tradition Georgian flavour. I do really miss the times when Georgia took risks and experimented like this; GPB, please come back to *this* era!
3 points: “1944” – Jamala (Ukraine 2016)
If you’ve followed my votes for years, you will know this is the lowest I have ever placed Jamala in my rankings. While this is not due to me not liking the song anymore, it is just because other songs I am falling in love with all over again. But despite this, it goes without saying that this is an amazing song with a beautiful and poignant staging. And to top it off, it is sung by a woman who singlehandedly changed the Contest for the better, adding a true sense of artistry and conviction to Eurovision songs, which had been lacking for years.
4 points: “Water” – Elitsa & Stoyan (Bulgaria 2007)
I am a real sucker for anything with traditional drums and rhythms, and “Water” is a perfect fit for me. Fun fact: This was the first song I ever remember fully sitting down and watching on the TV, and I feel that is a perfect way to explain how I love more experimental music in the Contest. For 2007, this feels very ahead of its time, and to be Bulgaria’s best result for 10 years shows how amazing this duo were; justice for Samo Shampioni too, while we’re here.
5 points: “Moja štikla” – Severina (Croatia 2006)
Now, this has definitely been influenced by my partner and my love for the Croatian music scene. Severina is quite possibly one of the biggest acts, not just in Croatia, but in the entire former Yugoslavia. So, hearing this song anywhere and everywhere across Croatia is almost expected. That is perfect for me, because I absolutely love hearing this amazing blend of tradition and modernity, and with a slight tongue-in-cheek approach, it really just does stand out. Another fun fact for you, future ESC act Let 3 appear in the music video for this song!
6 points: “Hora din Moldova” – Nelly Ciobanu (Moldova 2009)
My love for all things Eastern European also comes into play with “Hora din Moldova”, performed in 2009. When I think of Eastern European music, I think of upbeat music with plenty of horns, and a LOT of dancing and traditional costume. “Hora din Moldova” has all of that combined! I also find this song is incredibly overlooked by Eurovision fans, as Moldova admittedly has songs that do stick in more people’s minds than this. But this is still an absolute joy and one to party to, and now I really want to dance a hora.
7 points: “Bur man laimi” – Tautumeitas (Latvia 2025)
Tautumeitas is the only 2025 act I am including in my ESC250 ranking, which may come as a surprise, given I was such a fan of “Zjerm” in the run-up to Basel. However, this song is incredibly hypnotising and manages to cast a spell on me, using only six-part harmonies and a hefty amount of drums. This almost tribal feel makes me feel positive and happy, which is right on point for the lyrics. And OH MY GOD, is THIS a masterclass in classy staging!? I adore this and I am grateful I got to see this live because….wow, it really deserves a lot more love.
8 points: “Visionary Dream” – Sopho (Georgia 2007)
Once again, we’re back with “Visionary Dream”, one of the most experimental Eurovision songs we’ve ever had. To think that Georgia, on their debut, would send something so daring, bold, expressive and representative of their culture is something we should be eternally grateful for. This style of music still holds up well, even today, and I think that the consistent love for this should point and guide Georgia in future endeavours; I really am willing for more vibes like this. Not even from Georgia; any of the other countries have a lot to learn from this song.
10 points: “Saudade Saudade” – MARO (Portugal 2022)
It would not be a Rory vote without there being a high vote for MARO and the absolutely amazing track that is “saudade, saudade”. There is a reason why this song is so well-respected from so many artists entering Eurovision nowadays. I am just very grateful to MARO for creating this amazing song and all the other tracks she has come out with since; it’s been a pleasure to see her journey as an artist and really become the popular star she deserves to be.
Honourable Mentions
Before I reveal my 12 points, I’d like to give a shoutout to a few songs that just missed out on making my list for ESC250.
- Pokušaj (Bosnia & Herzegovina 2008) – I adore this track! There’s a zaniness in this that is really missing in Eurovision nowadays, we need Bosnia back!
- Sanomi (Belgium 2003) – Such a dark and emotive song, despite being in an imaginary language, and I love that blend of modern and traditional, once again.
- Le dernier qui a parlé (France 1991) – Always will respect this song and the boundaries it broke to be a part of the Contest. And in my eyes, the rightful winner of 1991.
- Fly With Me (Armenia 2017) – Really gotten back into this song recently! 2017 is way too overhated by fans; like, listen to this!
And Rory’s 12 points go to… “ZARI” – Marina Satti (Greece 2024)
We have our first 12 points of the season, and they go to none other than Marina Satti! I still am as obsessed with this song as I was when I first heard it last March. I loved Marina even before she did Eurovision, and since then, I have been in love with her full repertoire. We need this kind of confidence at the Contest, and with someone who has such a clear artistic and moral vision for their music, Marina Satti is proof that collaboration creates greatness. Also, check out her cover of a remix of a Björk song, it’s absolutely divine.
Listen to our collective ESC 250 playlist on Spotify
Listen to our collective ESC 250 playlist on YouTube
Now that Rory has revealed his votes for ESC250 this year, what do you think of his 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: EBU
Euan T