Voting for the annual ESC250 celebration closed 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 Shiloh’s turn to reveal how he voted.
Shiloh’s Votes
Fun fact: this year is my first ever 250! I previously did not know that just anyone could vote and sat out for almost a decade. My good friends here at the site corrected me, though.
Unlike some of my colleagues, I don’t have a convoluted set of rules for song selection–the only restriction I placed on myself was that no two songs could come from the same year. So, without further ado, my inaugural set of ESC250 votes!
1 Point: “Voy a quedarme” – Blas Cantó (Spain 2021)
I’m not usually a massive appreciator of this song, but for some reason it’s just called to me this year. It’s a beautiful ballad and, well, sue me, I’m in the honeymoon phase of a new relationship and I’m feeling so so sappy about it.
2 Points: “Zero Gravity” – Kate Miller-Heidke (Australia 2019)
It’s good fun, alright? Glinda the Good Witch from Australia rocketing around in the air and singing beautifully. What’s not to love. This has been a favourite of mine since the first time I heard it and yeah, maybe it’s not high art, but I WILL defend it.
3 Points: “When We’re Old” – Ieva Zasimauskaitė (Lithuania 2018)
Still in sappy hours! No, but I’ve appreciated this one from day one. It’s so gentle and soft and has given me complex emotions since my first listen–which predates, in fact, the first relationship I was ever in. Ieva’s sincerity and unique voice really make this stand out, and her costuming and staging elevate it even more.
4 Points: “Grito” – Iolanda (Portugal 2024)
The power in her vocals! The drama in this entire song! But especially the vocals, Iolanda is a GODDESS for this delivery.
5 Points: “Something Better” – Softengine (Finland 2014)
I miss Softengine… their entire We Created The World album was on heavy rotation in my angsty teenage years, and it all started with watching this performance. Sad, but ultimately hopeful, you know?
6 Points: “Hold Me Closer” – Cornelia Jakobs (Sweden 2022)
Yes, I know, including a Swedish entry undermines my indie cred here at the site–but at this point my cred is 50% indie and 50% basic, so it’s fine. One of the better generic Swedish entries in recent years and ENTIRELY carried by Cornelia–like, I like the song, but her delivery, both vocally and emotionally, lifts it to the next level.
7 Points: “Blackbird” – Norma John (Finland 2017)
Oh man, this was my first national final pick back in the day, and it surprised everyone by winning UMK too (anyone remember Circle of Light?). And then it just barely didn’t qualify and I cried. Genuinely. In front of my parents, too. Beautifully, beautifully sung, and captures that post-relationship grief so well.
8 Points: “Et uus saaks alguse” – Birgit (Estonia 2013)
I’m aware that this is a deep cut, especially for this high on my list, but there’s something so genuine and clean about this entry. Birgit is happy to be here and she looks GREAT in that dress.
10 Points: “Há Um Mar Que Nos Separa” – Leonor Andrade (Portugal 2015)
It’s dark, it’s moody, it’s criminally underrated. This entry is close to my heart and it’s a crying shame that nothing Leonor has put out since is to this level. Not only is it fun to watch, it’s fun to sing!
Honourable Mentions
Before I reveal my 12 points, I’d like to give a shoutout to a couple of songs that just missed out on making my list for ESC250.
- Love Injected (Latvia 2015) – Iconic for a reason. So atmospheric.
- C’est la vie (Netherlands 2025) – It took the entire leadup to the big contest for this one to grow on me, but I just love it now.
And Shiloh’s 12 points go to… “Quédate Conmigo” – Pastora Soler (Spain 2012)
Yes, it’s the oldest song on my list, and it’s my 12. It’s a timeless ballad, the likes of which you could probably continue to find at Eurovision–well executed, including staging, and believe me, staging in 2012 was HARD. And her vocal power. Unreal and some of the best of that year. There’s a reason why this one endures.
Listen to our collective ESC 250 playlist on Spotify
Listen to our collective ESC 250 playlist on YouTube
Now that Shiloh 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: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU
Euan T