Eurovision 2025: My Top 20 National Final Songs
- Narukoopa
- Apr 19
- 13 min read
Introduction
I have been a Eurovision fan ever since 2009, and yet, despite all that time watching the contest, seeing both semi finals and the finals, I never actually looked into the national finals until 2022. I felt that if I did it would somehow ruin my appreciation for the songs since I would’ve heard them countless times.
Needless to say, anyone who watches these national finals will tell you that’s a load of nonsense, and they are right. If anything, it makes you appreciate the contestants even more, since you’ve had the time to experience their work and witness their journey to the competition.
Another major advantage of seeing these national finals is the plethora of songs that you would’ve otherwise never have heard. So many people miss absolute bangers that could’ve become major hits if they went to Eurovision. It’s tragic.
So if you are one of those people who missed last year’s national finals (I will be making a similar article for NFs this year too!), and you want to give some a listen but don’t know where to start, I have made a simple top 20 list of my favourite songs that participated in various national finals. There’s plenty more that I could write about, but I settled on 20.
I will include videos of the studio track and the live performance where applicable, as well as bits of info and opinions on each song. I won’t analyse them too much since that would take forever. Plus I’m not a music expert. Without further ado, let’s begin!
20. Divja by ZveN (Slovenia)
This might be a very specific thing that I have, but I love it when songs have a good plot twist. You think it’s going in one direction, when all of a sudden it takes a completely different turn and transforms into something else.
Divja by ZveN does exactly that and it completely blew me away the first time I heard it. The performance lures you in rather easily since it’s difficult to tell what kind of song it is. The outfit is mysterious, and her eyes are creepy, but the melody is soft and calming.
Then the twist happens. Seriously, watch this live performance. I’m stunned that this didn’t win. It would likely get annihilated at Eurovision, because it’s too good for it, but the contest hasn’t seen anything like this. Her excellent stage presence is the main selling point of this track, making it one of those songs that has to be seen live to fully appreciate.
19. Lusterka by Sw@da, Niczos (Poland)
As far as Poland was concerned last year, I was pretty much always team Gaja from the start, but Lusterka is another track that stood out to me in the Polish selection. I’m far from a music expert so I couldn’t even begin to describe what genre this falls into. Dark, techno-club pop?
Whatever it is, it's pretty damn cool. Lyrically it’s rather subdued, but the backing track has a certain edge to it that makes it so satisfying to listen to. It’s a hard beat to forget, and equally difficult to not dance to.
The live performance excels it even further by adding a dance section at the end. I know, dance breaks are becoming rather cheesy, but this one works, I promise! The backing track does drown out the live vocals a bit, but it’s still a great performance, and a worthy second place. I do hope they return in the future.
18. Fuorilegge by Rose Villain (Italy)
Sad girl bop let's go!!! Eurovision needs more of these really. Honestly I’m kind of gutted this didn’t win Sanremo. Then again, this sort of thing is right up my alley so it would make sense for me to say that.
Fuoriliegge is a song that has continued to grow on me as time goes on (The fact that it’s 18th on this list shows how good these songs are). The verses carry the emotion like a ship sailing the seas, and then the chorus gives it a punch that does just enough to stick in your head.
Speaking of punches, that “pop pop pop” beat that plays during the chorus hits just right. So simple, yet so cool. The choreo makes it even more memorable. Unfortunately, since Sanremo are weird, you can’t watch the full live performance anymore. It’s a shame because it was just as good as the original track.
17. The Unluckiest Boy Alive by Adel the Second (Denmark)
Sad boy bop let’s go!!! Although this one has the twist of combining a serious topic with an upbeat melody. The live performance then adds a comedic choreography that reflects the bouncy tempo of the track. It has a bit of everything really.
When you listen to The Unluckiest Boy Alive, please listen to the lyrics, as doing so more carefully gave me a bigger appreciation for the song. It’s something a lot of people can relate to, but the way that topic is approached with this danceable melody makes it feel less heavy. You feel the joy in being sad together!
It’s also sung in cursive, which, a man singing in cursive is not something you hear often (it’s also one of two songs sung in cursive in this list). I’m fully confident that if this went to Eurovision, it would also qualify. It was also Adel’s first debut track, which is very impressive.
16. Dim by Abiye (Ukraine)
A crime has been committed. How on earth did this come second to last in its selection? Genuinely how? I’ll admit, I wasn’t as impressed with Vidbir last year as I have with previous years, but this should’ve been a clear front runner.
Nevertheless, Dim is excellent. The instrumentation is gorgeously arranged, and Abiye’s voice is soothing even despite the intensity of the song. The live performance is what makes this stand out even more though.
This woman’s stage presence is out of this world. There’s a moment near the end of the song where the beat stops and the atmosphere becomes sinister. Seeing how they did that in the live performance gave me chills. I really like Bird of Pray, but this should’ve gone to Eurovision.
15. I Wanna Destroy U by HENKA (Portugal)
The first of many Portuguese entries on this list, I Wanna Destroy U is a song that, regardless of your opinion of it, has a way of making a strong impression on you. It’s also something that Portugal never really sends to Eurovision, which is why this song did not go to Eurovision. Fun is not allowed.
In all seriousness, and this is a serious track, I Wanna Destroy U is far from my favourite type of music, and yet the impact this has is enough to cement it on this list. Henka is by far the best aspect of the song. Her performance is utterly convincing, and the way she switches her vocal style on the fly is outstanding.
Which is why it is absolutely baffling that the juries tanked it so hard. There were plenty of suspicious things about Festival Da Canção last year, but this stood out the most. Twelve points from the public, zero from the juries. One day Portugal will send something like this to Eurovision, and I imagine it’ll do very well.
14. The Water by Bel Tempo, LEGZDINA (Latvia)
I have my own personal genre of music that I made up to describe songs that sound like they would appear in the TV show Shameless (US). It’s very specific, and you wouldn’t know how to identify it unless you have watched it, but this song definitely fits into that category.
One of my favourite aspects of The Water is the sound design. I love the vocal effects on the voices and the way they harmonise with each other. It creates a timeless atmosphere that persists throughout the entire track.
I also love the lyrics. It’s a sad song, but it’s endearing, and genuine. Its subtlety is what makes it feel special. It wasn’t rated high in the selection, but it was in my top 5, and I’m so glad it qualified to the final.
13. Aina by VIIVI (Finland)
Now for the first song on this list that made me cry. Normally I’m not swayed much by these ‘lovey dovey’ type songs, but this one is so much more than that. Like the last song, this one feels genuine and deeply personal.
It’s a love song. It’s about loving someone so much that you want to spend the rest of your life with them. It’s about being excited by that prospect. And it’s about accepting that if you pass before they do, you will always be with them even when you are gone.
The last 30 seconds of this song are the most beautiful 30 seconds of any song I’ve heard in this entire Eurovision season. The live performance is pure perfection and I highly recommend watching it.
12. FEBBRE by CLARA (Italy)
My personal winner of Sanremo. Pop girl bops aren’t usually my favourite types of songs, but I suppose Italy is just built different. I mean, they definitely have a much better pop scene than we do here in the UK, but I digress.
Unfortunately, since Rai does what Rai does, you cannot find the live performance of this online, which is a shame because I actually think that is better than the studio cut. Nevertheless, the studio version is still fantastic.
Febbre is incredibly catchy, and has one of the most memorable choruses in this list. Even during its calmer, string-driven sections, the song has an intensity and drive throughout its entire duration, which makes it hard not to dance to.
11. Lisboa by Capital da Bulgária (Portugal)
Time for my second self-made genre: songs that sound like they belong in Heartstopper. This is very much Portuguese-Heartstopper coded. This is a special song. It’s about moving to a new place far different from your own all the while loving someone in the process.
It’s an emotional soundscape that is so beautifully composed. I was in love with it the first time I listened to it, and even as I’m writing this I am tempted to move it up the list. I highly recommend watching the music video for extra wholesomeness.
Sadly, Lisboa was the victim of another crime; it didn’t qualify to the final. Alas, there were plenty of things wrong with Festival Da Canção as I’ve already mentioned, and there totally wasn’t any sus voting going on. Such a strong selection of songs completely fumbled by an inept and incompetent jury and broadcaster.
10. Hartita de Llorar by Lachispa (Spain)
Finally made it to the top 10, and we’re starting off with Hartita de Llorar by Lachispa. To say this one has impact is putting it mildly. I still remember the first time I listened to it and that chorus completely took me off my heels.
It’s a song about depression, but instead of giving into it and suffering, she decides to say f*ck this, I don’t have any tears left, I’m going to get through this hell no matter what. In a way, even without knowing Spanish, you can feel the meaning of the song through the amount of emotion Lachispia puts into it.
The live performance… it had issues. The semi final performance was not good at all, but to her credit, she did significantly better in the final. I can understand why it didn’t go to Eurovision, and I doubt it would’ve done well anyway, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that this is an incredible song.
9. Sadzejot by Tepat (Latvia)
Latvia proved to be quite the underdog last year, coming second in their semi final when many believed them to not qualify at all. Their line up was filled with incredible variety, and Sadzejot by Tepat is a significant one that stands out.
Listening to this feels like a journey because it’s very difficult to tell where it is going to go. Starting quiet and getting progressively louder, with new instruments being introduced in each section, it really is a pleasure to listen to.
The live performance is just as good as the studio cut. The lead vocalist is marvelous, and even when there’s a lot going on, there’s still an underlying delicate edge to the track. Plus the way it ends is the chef's kiss. I really hope Tepat comes back.
8. Medo by Fernando Daniel (Portugal)
Now we’re getting into the songs that I really, really love. Medo wasn’t my winner of the Portuguese selection, but even if it did win, it would still be my favourite song in the contest last year, which is a testament to how good their selection was.
All I can say about Medo is man, what a voice. It’s somehow even better in the live performance. He doesn’t fumble, he doesn’t miss a note, he even adds additional elements that weren’t in the studio which just make it even better.
I actually thought this was a guaranteed winner, not just because of how popular Fernando Daniel is in Portugal, but just because of how brilliantly his song is. How foolish of me to consider logic and common sense I suppose.
7. Külm by An-Marlen (Estonia)
One of the songs I have listened to the most during this season, Külm is another case of being let down by the broadcaster. In the super final for Eesti Laul, Estonia’s national final, it was a three horse race between an Andrew Tate lover, Tommy Cash who doesn’t even like Eurovision, and An-Marlen, whose vocals were leagues ahead of the other two. Of course, she came last in the super final.
Külm is a track that has the ability to put you into a trance. Its soundscape is very different from any of the other songs on this list. It’s very techno, but there’s also a buttery smoothness to it that gives it a nostalgic atmosphere. It’s something you can dance to, but it’s also something you can sway to.
The music video is probably my favourite music video out of all of these. As for the live performance, it’s great, but the production lets it down a bit. Staging is lacklustre, and the camera angles are abysmal. Still, An-Marlen did great, and she should’ve won.
6. Dva Srca by Baryak (Montenegro)
This might be a surprise since I’m not sure how many people actually remember this song, given how early Montenegro’s national final was in the season. There was plenty of drama with that one which I won’t get into here.
Dva Srca by Baryak was my favourite in the selection, and clearly a lot of people in Montenegro felt the same way since it won the televote. It’s a post-apocalyptic rock anthem with plenty of masculine harmonies and screaming, with a female vocalist providing some balance along the way.
It blew me away the first time I heard it, and despite the limits of the production, the live performance was brilliant. I am glad, however, that Nina went to Eurovision instead of these guys, since I think they would be fighting against Lithuania, which was my favourite last year.
5. Made Of by Goldielocks (Finland)
This is an earworm. It’s something that grows on you the more you listen, and it’s been executed to perfection. This is the second song on this list to be sung in cursive, which will make it divisive, but for me, it hits the spot to an impeccable degree.
The music video is great, but the live performance is where it excels. The staging is some of the best I have ever seen, ever. To think, her vocals in that performance are from her jury show, as she was deemed too sick to perform live, and she still slayed.
Now for my potentially controversial opinion. I think Goldielocks has what it takes to not only come back and represent Finland at Eurovision, but to win the whole competition and take the trophy as well. I fully believe that.
4. ADAMASTOR by Peculiar (Portugal)
Hey look, it's Portugal again! This time we have the best sea shanty of the season, with a sprinkling of R&B. This is a track that requires an open mind since it doesn’t follow the usual structure you would expect from a song.
This, in my opinion, is what makes ADAMASTOR a work of art. It’s as unpredictable as the tides on the ocean. And yet, if you appreciate it throughout its duration, you are rewarded with an incredibly well-produced package.
Even though I expected slightly more from the live performance, the choreography matches the pace of the song, and Peculiar more than delivers. If this went to Eurovision it would be my first place by a long shot, and I’ve now begun listening to his other tracks, which I also highly recommend.
3. LĪGO by The Ludvig (Latvia)
Now for the party anthem of the season, which is great because that is basically what this song is about. The Latvian selection of songs were a massive surprise given how many good ones there were, but one that significantly stood out to me was LĪGO, by The Ludvig.
The production of this track is something you’d expect to see from Vidbir (Ukraine’s national final). This is three tracks in one, and while it should be all over the place, somehow it all fits together. It’s incredibly catchy, upbeat and full of life, which is exactly what you would expect from a song about midsommar.
The live performance was… messy, if we’re being honest. The semi final performance was not good at all from a staging standpoint. To be fair, they changed it a lot for the final and it was better, it was just poorly planned and felt like a rush job. This was by far my winner, but in the end I was glad that Tautumeitas went to Eurovision instead.
2. Heaven Sent by Kristy Spiteri (Malta)
This song is more addictive than crack! The best girl bop I have heard in a long time. Mark my words, I’ll be listening to this until the day I die. It’s the kind of song that I would definitely do drunk karaoke to and embarrass myself. This could’ve challenged JJ with the jury points last year.
Listen, Kant is iconic. Miriana Conte is the queen and she owned the Eurovision stage. But Heaven Sent was my favourite in that selection. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a pop-opera song like this before, and I didn’t even think it could work, but Kristy Spiteri proved me wrong.
It is an immense package of drama, catchiness and impact. You can tell this was co-written by Teya (Austria 2023). Kristy absolutely nails the live vocals, and while Kant was probably the more entertaining stage show, Heaven Sent left its mark, and if this went to Eurovision instead, it would absolutely be in the top 10.
1. Tristeza by JOSH (Portugal)
This song not representing Portugal at Eurovision was nothing short of a tragedy in my mind. I still can’t believe I stayed up late to watch the results for Festival Da Canção; it went on until 1am and I had work the next day. I was miserable all day.
In my opinion, JOSH had the best vocals in this entire Eurovision season. This song is sung in a wide range of tones, and it is not easy to sing at all, but JOSH makes it look like a breeze. It is an incredibly dramatic track with so many little hidden details that would probably go unnoticed by most; and yet, despite that, they are there and they tremendously enhance the song.
It would not have surprised me at all if this won Eurovision. It has all the makings of a Eurovision winner. The staging was far from perfect, but it could’ve easily been improved on the big stage, and the song is filled with so many wow moments that would’ve secured him with the trophy. But alas, it wasn’t meant to be.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it. That was my top 20 favourite national final songs for last year’s Eurovision season. I could’ve listed so many more, restricting myself to 20 was actually quite a difficult challenge.
For those who are interested in my honourable mentions, the ones who just missed the cut, be sure to check them out below. Nevertheless, it was a pretty strong year as far as national finals are concerned, and I’m looking forward to hearing more songs from these artists. Hopefully some will get to represent their countries at Eurovision in the near future.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article. Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter if you wish to see more Eurovision articles like this one. I’ll see you in the next post!
Honourable Mentions:
-Diana Vilarinho: Cotovia (Portugal)
-Chrust: Tempo (Poland)
-Masha Kondratenko - No Time to Cry (Ukraine)
-Khayat - Honour (Ukraine)
-Kantera - Lalaratatakeke Lalaratakabum (Malta)
-Barbz - Sirens (Greece)
-Basically the rest of UMK (Finland)
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