Based on Luxembourg 1978
Baccara — Parlez-vous français ?

María and Mayte are enjoying their summer holiday. Lunchtime is approaching and Mayte knows that María gets hangry and can’t make decisions. Hence, Mayte has prepared accordingly. As they head towards the restaurant carefully preselected by Mayte, María is losing her patience…
 

Now, let’s move Mayte!

Come on and let’s get some food, some ribs or pasta?

Hm… (smiles) Or a crêpe, María?

You know more!

Wrong.

Did you go behind my back again and make a plan?

Hm… We’ll find food, don’t you fear. (walks to preselected restaurant)

Let’s go there maybe and see!

 

Herring with some salsa?

A pot pie with kiwi?

Bird curry?

Please hurry!

Don’t worry

I worry!

Come along, just be strong

The right bar seems (moping sounds from María) rather far, right?

Obscurely tucked away...

Let’s walk more

No, not more!

Or this joint? (points at preselected restaurant)

Yes, this joint!

True, this place may be where we belong

 

Let’s do a BBQ buffet

They serve fondue, chicken satay

A charming young waiter leads us to a table

He says his name is Carl-Hortense

 

Here at the BBQ buffet

We can eat like it’s Boxing Day

Just ignore the staring, no need for despairing

As we race through what’s on display

 

Check out that waiter, hmm, cute yet commanding

Carl-Hortense, for you I’m longing! (evil glares exchanged)

You’re a con

You’re too slow

You’re so gone

You’re a hoe

We just can’t get enough of his meat

 

Inside this BBQ buffet

A threat with abs has come our way

We don’t want to share him so now we’re declaring:

Who eats most food gets his sorbet

Let’s play!

 

María and Mayte are destroying their BBQ buffet, devouring all possible body parts of animals considered edible. Their two-hour time limit is approaching, and Mayte knows that María gets insane and can’t control herself. Hence, Mayte secretly knows she’ll win. As they are stuffing themselves, María is losing her will to live. But then they observe their hunky waiter leaving the restaurant holding hands with another man…

 

Carl-Hortense…

Are you still okay?

(whimpers)

We were such fools, all led astray

(whimpers, followed by melodic vomiting sounds)

Grab all your belongings, don’t want to prolong this

I don’t feel wanted and it hurts

 

Nothing left to say

We feel distressed beyond the pale

We try not to care but lunch has been digested

Let’s do a… Mexican buffet?

Based on Albania 2025
Shkodra Elektronike — Zjerm

I’m caught in doom and distress, feel such annoyance (Wow!)
No therapy ever could destroy that (Oh!)
Must endure intrusive thoughts, all my self-worth adds to nought
As it’s hard to get by, I’ll choose avoidance
(But please strive to get by, don’t choose avoidance!)

I’ll withdraw from it all, be no one’s burden
I’m overcome by this gloom, getting stuck, feeling little
As this cycle of despair’s beating the hell out of my head
I can’t go on – full closure’s urgent (Hopes up!)

I must gather my remaining forces
To either heal or else make life cease, but
I might miss the next me…
I shan’t miss the next me!

So even if my mind’s now fettered
Tamely surfing the unknown
I might see my life get better
Grow in all its spheres
I shall fret – still not a winner
But at least, no towel thrown
I shan’t let this voice, so inner
Recall spent tears ‘n’ fears ‘n’ jeers ‘n’ sneers

SHARE all the unsaid traumas in your head
Truth hurts, so you must push through regardless
DARE, face those demons and just persist
And hope that you will defeat them
Start reviving endured mischief
THERE, among that endless scorning and mourning
New days will come when all skewed thinking fades
And self-harm cravings are
RARE
Ditch responses like flight or freeze
For the only true chance in life is: Fight!

I must learn to deal with heavy thought trains
‘Cause that’s the key to perhaps believe that
I might meet the next me…
I shall meet the next me!

I’ll persevere in the endeavour
To recover from this low
Grind’s extreme, but it will never
Lose its bright appeal
You can spare a thought for me if
I’m found clinging to my woe…
As I dare, the world shall see if
My soul can feel ‘n’ reel ‘n’ squeal ‘n’ heal

Based on Slovenia 2019
Zala Kralj and Gašper Šantl — Sebi

Constantly supreme performance
In physics, maths, chemistry and biology
Though she scored below her classmates
Compromised because the teachers
Found presentation skills are not quite
Solid due to stifling stage fright
But this class project's set to redeem her
Never more an underachiever

While most kids made lava lamps
Saba studied sand instead
Rigorously building her dream
Academic excellence
Only way to stand out when
You're Black, nerd, and LGBT

So through nanoengineering she
Formed the insurmountable
A nineteen metre sandy arch that
Spans across the science lab
How come it did not fall?
That made no sense to them
Mesoscopic planning
Of microstructural
Alignment of shale, gypsum, quartz, chalk and glauconite

Teachers were a bit impressed
Saba sought increased success
Her endeavour had to proceed
Needing larger setup base
Denmark having little space
Had to take her work into sea

Leading sedimentary grains aground
Building an aquatic force-resistant mound

Breaching slow and steady from the tide
Visions of a sandy isle that won't subside

Was a school experiment
Geographic monument
Which she'd built for eighty-four years
Even though she beat the waves
She just couldn't fight old age
Posing threat to life-long career

Science helped her plan her death
Made her cells disintegrate
Into sand, her last fantasy
Life is thriving on her sands
Now part of the Netherlands
Far in the Caribbean Sea

Based on Greece 1989
Mariana Efstratiou — To diko sou asteri

I’m flat on my back, buried in sand,
descending, dried up is my lava.
Mind full of doubt, in disarray,
exhaling the breath once inside me.

Anxiety kicks, punches and weeps.
It clouds the stars above me, leaves a scar.
Meadows not seen, sunsets undreamed.
Vivid suns extinguished in a snap.
Impacting my soul, feelings unfold.
A metal chain of sweating and distress.
Fight with my bed, nightmares in head.
Thickening my skin seems a big task.

Like drifting astray, way into space,
my mind’s in some galaxy further.
A glimmer of hope still ushers me,
enough to distinguish the bad days.

My poem’s in smoke, words I forespoke,
they form a state of hurricane so strong.
Hard to explain, it feels mundane,
sunless days of people in a song.
The things left to do, kids to feed too.
The bills to pay and masters to obey.
Shows left to see, coffees to drink.
People that are not with us no more.

My hard life or some neighbour’s next door
burdens carried, stories left untold.
Being bled out, paper cuts.
In between a small or bigger house.

Irritating crowd of scattered thoughts
found this little place to slowly thaw.
Facing the dark of our whole,
gives a better sense of where to go.

At darkest of nights, follow the light,
of the star that shines from outer space…

Based on Belgium 2003
Urban Trad — Sanomi

Let us free ourselves from evil habitudes
Or from all immoral influences in the outside world
Come and see yourself that changing attitudes
Keep us safe from all the bad things that unfurl

Entry to where we gather is pursued now and then
Deemed important and intentions are routinely adequate
Use the rules and have fun but ignore fools if you can
Please pray hard for our immortal dear MB

It may seem the past lives on under our roof
No contemporary technology in the way we chat
All believe that man’s upheaval will fall through
During revotes on songs we already had

Until you’ve proven yourself to be true to our Text
Nod and smile as you are pulled in our collection of contests
Going through to the final in BOTY/ASF
Earning a Cowgirl Reprise in ALC

Once per year we go out, paint a town red, don’t pose a threat
No one is forced to stay up until cockcrow
Welcome to all who love ethnic songs that juries forget
Instilling happiness matters wherever we go

Take a leap of faith and join our interest group
Heed our warning for when you choose otherwise

Life will be hell when ignoring our vow, wondering how?
Use all first letters of lines to let you know
Maybe you’re scared - you can change here and now, fear and avow

Based on France 1995
Nathalie Santamaria — Il me donne rendez-vous

One morning logged onto MB to a crucial quest’
“Which day would you erase, if you could live life the best?”
I thought back, considered which day would win the prize
Decided on the day that surely was my demise
The thirteenth of the month May of the year ninety-five
The day that my career finally took a nose-dive

I deleted a day, so come on, come what may, let’s just see what transpires
The world suddenly shakes, some green mist all invades, and I shrink and expire
I deleted a day, now my hair’s looking great, it’s all black, long, on fire
I see Friends on TV, plus the River Liffey, and three pints cost a fiver

I deleted a day without thinking ‘bout this
Let’s see what now follows as consequences

In May ’95, the day is Sunday fourteenth
And RTÉ announces: “We forgot ESC”
“We’ll try it again upon next Saturday eve”
So now my path to victory is all but decreed
Next week brings opportunities I cannot pass on
If France won I could be the brand new Céline Dion

Stone and Stone’s on the loo, poisoned Love City Groove, did the same to Justyna
Sabotaged Frédéric, Secret Garden’s so weak, ripped the dress of Liora
Aud Wilken’s all in shock, as are Darja and Mike, all because of my Taser
Plus I’ve hid Arzu’s glove, Anabel is a mug - earpiece, volume maxima

I burned all flags and drapes of Alex Panayi
And pushed Jan Johansen into River Liffey

Now I enter the stage! After crucial keychange, Europe’s all at my feet now
And all over the world, echoes France douze, France twelve, finally I’m the winner!
I deleted a day, and the win came my way! I’m on top of the world, yeah
Now the green mist returns, time to go home and earn, for I’ll be a rich bitch, hey

What is all this back home?
It’s a nuclear
Wasteland

Based on Ireland 2025
EMMY — Laika Party

(EMMY, you’re up next)

What the strangest of days
And my head is ablaze
How to answer at this interview

Fight a duck-sized horse?
Why are manholes all round?!

Don’t think I’ve impressed in this big bored room

Well, I hummed and hawed
Must have sounded odd

Had been taking sips
Of water to my lips
But something’s amiss
Now I neeeeed a piss

Fled out like a curving ball
And found the nearest bathroom stall

Cursed to myself for bad luck while I let my bladder spill

It was then that I noticed to my right a glory hole
With a boner poking through

Naughty favour for the job!!

So I opened up my gob

- Sounds of vigorous fellatio -
- performed in Norwegian Style -

After minutes, maybe hours
All I’m hearing is soft ahs
Feeling no sign for an end to come

In order was a break: I will e-e-edge him great
Fingers and a thumb always satisfy

Then I had to sneeze
Knickers at my knees

Let us stomp our feet
Heats me as I beat meat

If you think I lie
Then why don’t you try!

Wow his member’s amplified
My skill set cannot be denied

But have I met the standard at this stage? Have they been swayed?
Perhaps some initiative will prove that I can make the grade

I will climb aboard, alright!

But which orifice to choose?

Lucky I’ve got lots of lube

- Sounds of -
- well, you can work it out -

What’s the verdict from this guy? Yes! Yes! YES!

Coital probing got me hired! Yes! Oh! Yes!

- Sounds…very flexible -

Now I work for Fucks4Less!

Based on Ireland 2022
Brooke — That's Rich

Yes I'm lying on the floor
How'd I end up here, you may well question
What happened right before my fall?
What caused my state of total apprehension?

I'm slowly coming around
No longer cowered
I've a tale to tell
How my day it soured

There's no keeping me down
I'm back up on my boots
The dirt I'm dusting off now.....

Goddamnit
Ostrich
Coming at me anew
An ostrich
Well I guess I'd better move
Ostrich
Need to escape this emu
Well, ostrich

This ain't cool
Deja vu
What to do?

I just came to buy some eggs
A dozen, sold by my local farmer
Sign said that I should help myself
If only I had seen the warning feathers

I've got no problem with cows
I love my llamas
Who knew something fowl
Lurked on the pastures

When I first looked around
Just saw goats and a ewe
Had my head in the ground

That stupid
Ostrich
Hidden just out of view
An ostrich
Making a real sudden move
Ostrich
Should be locked up at the zoo
This ostrich

Flightless ghoul
Bug-eyed too
It's so cruel

My cautionary tale should be for you sufficient warning
With it I lured you over, made you listen to my story
My forever gratitude that you came here to help me
You showed up, thought to save me
But see that now you are me

(Now you are me)
This ordeal for me now is over
(Now you are me)
As I have brought the beast another
(Now you are me)
Goodbye, I mean it now with love yeah
It's my time to recover

The ostrich
now it's coming for you
An ostrich
and I'm no longer in view
Ostrich
But wait, hold on there are two
Ostriches

I've been duped
Trapped us both
Me and you

What to do
Deja vu

I'm the fool

Based on Italy 2024
Angelina Mango — La noia

Considering the fact
I’m dangled nearly flat
Soaked some bread with weeder
An unfortunate feeder
And now we wait!

Connected up a set of pad pressures
One's secured on the side of a bowl
I’ve tied banana leaves around all the edges
I mean it’s not like I’ve not thought this through, and really
Where exactly could it go to if it ran?
There’s a wire tied to me to finish off the trap
I'm poised here hoisted upside down
Mousy mousy will be caught out with a snap
Because this furry Muridae has had its day!

Decoying squeak squeak-squeak
Deploying
Denying squeak squeak-squeak
Destroying

It makes sense, there’s a reason
That this place stinks of mouse pee
And when it ventures out feeding
It goes straight for my pantry
War’s declared and today’s the day
Restaurant’s shut, end of party
Incredible, it seems fearless
Yes, this guest I simply detest!

Ah, I can see it through the hallway… mmm…
Now it’s running to the foyer
not now
Oh, it’s over by the boiler… argh…
It's legged it past the toilet
not now

Browsed the internet for “catching prey, traps, kill, maim, stab, poison”, but initial results didn’t look quite right…
And for the first time since I left school, I fully realised I have what others don’t: I won sixth place gymnastics inter-college!

Fitness we’ll have to witness
If these days I can still get my body fully contorted? hmm…
Winches holding my inches
Rehearsed - it’s as much in preparation as action

I intensely believe that
This could not be the finale
There's a sense, just a feeling
It might not just be the one here…
Nonetheless I’ll get rid of it
Question not my resolve here
Enough’s enough, can’t be clearer
A final rest will come to this pest!

Ah, it’s come running from the corner… uh ha…
A bit more then I’ll pull this wire
not now
Oh, it’s nearly where I want it… argh*mph*
My hanging hair’s annoying!
not now

*several hours pass*

I know this rigging prewarns it
Swinging and swinging come morning?
I’m not going to entertain yawning
I’ll keep quiet until I’ve contained it

Come here, bugger, just come here
My wrist itch is just unparalleled, can’t feel my right leg
And I really must confess here: I’ve lost my vest top
It slowly came loose this way up, floated that way, doesn’t matter! Ugh:
It’s toying squeak squeak-squeak
Avoiding
Enjoying? squeak squeak-squeak
Rejoicing!?

My bare breasts droop freely
And out of my jeans falls money
The whole purpose so feeble
How I’d enjoy a large brandy
Nonchalance now seems really lame
Messed this up so completely
My lines caught up, I’m just spinning
So distressed, a mess, and undressed

Now my bra's caught up in the fryer… argh…
I do believe I’m now on fire
not now
Ugh, the mouse is ambling to the wire… Oh, argh…
Could it be I die here?

not now

squeak, NOW!

*mouse smiles and slowly walks off to the pantry*

Based on Denmark 1988
Hot Eyes — Ka' du se hva' jeg sa'?

Tonight, I’m attending the Danish Music Awards
This year the guest star is a singer whose name is Beyoncé
Everybody speaks like she is the best thing in the world
She might sing so well, and she might dance so well but
I don’t know who she is

Can’t you see, Beyoncé?
I say to her as we meet,
that you don’t have enough charisma
Can’t you see Beyoncé
that your styling is so meh?
You need to do something with that hair

Get orange highlights,
put on some hair gel
You know, spiked hair is back in style
But, can’t you see Beyoncé
green does not suit you?
I wear it so much better than you

She’s now performing, while people watch with interest
“she has a halo” is what an older woman behind said
Meanwhile I almost fell asleep, I cannot understand
the key to her success, she is overrated
I cannot help but tell her:

Can’t you hear, Beyoncé
that you were always offkey?
You sounded like my good friend Wilfried
Can’t you hear, Beyoncé
your voice sounds flat and shrill?
While I make Danish sound melodic

Get singing lessons,
hire vocal coaches
I can teach you all my techniques
But don’t you see, Beyoncé?
The music world is rough
and you just don’t have what it takes

Erm… Kirsten, my darling,
you are making a scene
Have you forgotten your pills? (oh! she forgot her pills!)
Let’s go home already
And let’s leave poor Beyoncé alone
(leave poor Beyoncé alone!) Don’t wanna go:

Can’t you see, Beyoncé
that your dance moves are OK?
But mine are so much sharper than yours
Can’t you see, Beyoncé
you move like that mangup girl?
I guess you are still a single lady

Get some dance classes, rehearse every day
You really need to up your game
So, can’t you see Beyoncé
That you need some good props? we had a
hard cardboard guitaaaaar
Søren drags Kirsten out of the venue while everybody applauds.