Here is my ranking for 2025! Sorry I'm late. I have been too tired to type it up 😴
First, a few that just missed out:
15. France
An emotional ballad, with beautiful staging. When we first seen this live in the Semi Final, a few of us looked at each other and said "well, we've just watched the winner". Sadly for Louane, something didn't quite click in the final.
14. Greece
This song went up and down in my ranking all season, never once cracking the top 10, but never dropping lower than 20th either. Kladvia is a fantastic performer and really sold this.
13. Norway
Kyle was floating around the tail end, or just outside, my top 10 all year and ultimately he stayed there until the very end. So talented at such a young age, if he decides to come back I could see him winning the whole thing.
Still think he's singing NORWAY, NORWAY though 😉
12. Denmark
I actually gave this a point for 10th in the fanclub rankings earlier this year, but in the end it just dropped out of my top 10. A throwback to high energy club songs, it's infectious and has you belting your lungs out!
11. Serbia
A lovely song, and a lovely guy as it turned out. It probably would have been in my points if not for the slight revamp, but sadly it just misses out by one spot.
I asked how he managed to hit those notes while being dragged to hell on his back and he claimed it was actually easier lying down. With the amazing performance he delivered, I'm inclined to believe him!
A range of songs could have taken these places, and some were actually in my top 10 at various times. Countries like Luxembourg, Australia, UK, Portugal, Sweden, Italy, Czechia, Montenegro, Croatia, and probably others too. Azerbaijan was even in my top 5 until I first heard it live this season then it sadly fell away, while Spain was 6th until their drastic revamp.
Now for my top 10!
10. Slovenia
Speaking of lovely guys, I really thought Klemen might overcome the odds and make it to the final. I think if he had, the jurys would have loved this song. Alas, it wasn't meant to be.
He delivers a stunning message. I have shed more than a few tears to HMTDWHL? along the way. Thankfully his lovely wife is healthy now and hopefully they can live happily ever after!
My partner had a bit of a moment with Klemen when she told him about the night I said what I thought were my final goodbyes a few years ago. I think the image of them looking at each other, feeling each other's pain, will haunt my mind forever 😭😭😭
9. Finland
This has been the grower of 2025 for me. I initially didn't gel with the song for several reasons, but eventually Erika's star quality and stage presence broke me down and now I can't get enough of it!
8. Iceland
I simply love the brothers from Iceland! There is something to be said about artists that just really seem to love being there, and that is the vibe I get from, er, VAEB! The first song so far that didn't leave my top 10 all year.
7. Netherlands
Claude is a really charismatic guy, and you just can't help but love him when he's on that stage singing his heart out! I thought he could go all the way this year, but sadly Europe didn't agree with me 😔
6. Switzerland
What a voice! Zoe could sing me the phonebook, and I'd listen to every single word. Twice. I wasn't at all surprised to see her jury score, but I sure was shocked when the public vote was announced...
5. Ireland
Emmy kind of felt like the personification of ESC 2025 for me. A lot of people didn't get this song I think though. I even seen people complaining that she was advocating for animal cruelty when the song couldn't be any more the opposite in reality. Who wouldn't want to believe Laika is having a party somewhere instead of admitting the painful truth? I know what I choose.
4. Belgium
The only country to remain in my top 5 from last year. Strobe Lights never fails to get me howling into the aether. Hopefully none of you can hear me!
Just like 2024 though, Belgium didn't qualify for the final, despite Red Sebastian giving an incredible performance. The Belgian delegation must be wondering just what they need to do at this point.
3. Ukraine
2025 was a year of revamps. In every single case this year, I preferred the original version. The only song that didn't drop in my ranking after being "improved" was Bird of Pray. It is still a beautiful, haunting, piece of sweet proggy goodness, even if I slightly preferred the first version.
2. Albania
The first song I heard this season, and I immediately thought "well if no other songs get released, it's still gonna be an amazing year!"
Such an unusual choice for Albania. I normally love Albanian entries, but even so, I'm glad they tried something new this year because this is an absolute masterpiece. The way Beatriçe owns the stage is utterly mesmerising. This would have been my number one in just about any other year.
1. Latvia
Tautumeitas put me in an unusual position this year. I already listened to their music heavily before ESC, so when I found out they were trying to represent Latvia, I was really nervous that the song wouldn't be "them" and I'd hate it. I shouldn't have worried, as soon as I heard it, I fell in love. The national selection was really nerve-wracking, but thankfully they got picked and I could breathe again!
Several times I over-analysed my ranking - was I favouring this because I already liked them? Did I put them first even though Albania actually deserved it more? After ripping myself apart and second guessing my actions over and over again, I came to the conclusion that, no, the opposite was true - I was actually being harsher to them and holding them to higher standards than everyone else. I love this song so, so, much, and it's a worthy number 1 of 2025 for me.
