For the first time during the semi-finals the six countries qualified by right to the final will perform in full: the “Big 5”, i.e. Italy (with Angelina Mango), France, Germany, United Kingdom and Spain and the host country, Sweden
The challenge begins and from Tuesday 7 May the match comes to life, with the first semi-final (EVERYTHING ABOUT THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST), broadcast at 9.00 pm on Rai 2, hosted by Mara Maionchi, live from Rome, and Gabriele Corsi from the Malmö Arena. To get into the festival atmosphere, Gabriele Corsi will show an unreleased Malmö with a preview at 8.15pm, again on Rai 2. After a long journey together with the Italian representative Angelina Mango, who will perform on Thursday and Saturday, the proven pair of hosts will finally arrive at the story of the Malmö edition.
GUESTS OF THE FIRST SEMI-FINAL
The guests of the first semi-final will be, at the start, the Eurovision superstars Eleni Foureira, second for Cyprus in 2018 with “Fuego,” the Swede Eric Saade, third in Düsseldorf in 2011 behind Azerbaijan and Raphael Gualazzi’s Italy, and the Spanish Chanel, bronze at the PalaOlimpico in Turin in 2022. A year ago, Sweden equaled Ireland with seven Eurovision victories and Loreen won for the second time, as only the Irish Johnny Logan had been able to do. Just “Mr. Eurovision” Johnny Logan will be a guest, in an ideal twinning between Ireland and Sweden, singing “Euphoria,” Loreen’s song in 2012. The last guest of the evening will be Benjamin Ingrosso, seventh at Eurovision 2018, just behind Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro. Born in Stockholm to father Emilio Ingrosso, a dancer of Taranto origins, and mother Pernilla Wahlgren, Swedish singer and actress, he is also Diodato’s cousin. Benjamin speaks Swedish, English and a few words in Italian. His latest release is the single “Kite,” in high rotation on Italian radio.
in-depth analysis
Eurovision Song Contest, the winners of the latest editions
FIFTEEN NATIONS COMPETING ON THE FIRST EVENING
In the first semi-final on Tuesday 7 May, 15 nations will compete, and each artist’s performance will be preceded by a postcard which, after showing two historic Eurovisual successes of the country in sequence, will allow the artists to present themselves as if they were making a post on a social network. For the first time, during the semi-finals the six countries qualified by right to the final will perform in full: the “Big 5”, i.e. Italy, France, Germany, United Kingdom and Spain and the host country, Sweden. Until now they were only featured in a short excerpt on weekly evenings, but today their full performance becomes part of the setlist. In the semi-final on Tuesday there will be Olly Alexander for the United Kingdom, Isaak for Germany and the Norwegian twins Marcus & Martinus competing for Sweden. The Italian public will be able to televote in Thursday’s semi-final and in the final, when a super jury of five members will also take to the field. Only ten countries for each semi-final will be admitted to the final on Saturday 11 May, broadcast at 9pm on Rai 1 screens. Rai Radio2, official radio of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, will broadcast live radio and video on digital channel 202 terrestrial and TivùSat with Diletta Parlangeli and Matteo Osso at the microphones. They will give space to great international music, curiosities, behind the scenes and will talk about the top 15 semi-finalists in the competition. Rai Pubblica Utilità will subtitle and audiodescribe the live broadcast, also available in streaming on RaiPlay. The Semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest will be visible on RaiPlay and broadcast throughout the world thanks to Rai Italia.
