Europapa or Baby Lasagna? Contestants to look out for at Eurovision 2024
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 [May 04, 2024]
By Isabelle Yr Carlsson
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The Eurovision Song Contest, a music kitsch-fest
watched by some 200 million people, kicks off in Malmö, Sweden on Sunday
with its "turquoise carpet" gala, in what fans say is a wide-open year
with half a dozen countries having a shot at the title.
Bookmakers have Croatia, Switzerland and Ukraine as the top three
favourites to win, while streaming data from Spotify suggests a strong
chance for the Netherlands, Italy or host nation Sweden.
"This year is so exciting because there are four or five countries who
really have a good shot at winning," William Lee Adams, editor of
Eurovision fan site Wiwibloggs, told Reuters.
"Eurovision is so boring when you have one clear favourite months in
advance. But this year there is so much left to play for."
Croatia's contestant Baby Lasagna (real name Marko Purišić, 28) this
week overtook Switzerland as bookmakers' favourite with song "Rim Tim
Tagi Dim" about a young Croatian who leaves his home aspiring to become
a "city boy" with better opportunities.
The song contest, which has been held since 1956, has increasingly
embraced inclusivity and acceptance among the LGBTQ+ community. That's
the theme of Swiss rapper and singer Nemo, 24, who will perform "The
Code" - a drum-and-bass, opera, rap, and rock song about their journey
of self-discovery as non-binary.
Ukraine, which won the contest two years ago months after it was invaded
by Russia, is represented this year by duo alyona alyona, 28, and Jerry
Heil, 32, with "Teresa & Maria", a folk-inflected pop song with a strong
dance beat and fast-paced rap. The winner normally hosts the following
year, but last year's contest was held in Britain because of the war.
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A person walks past a sign for the Eurovision Song Contest outside
the Malmo Arena, the venue for the contest, in Malmo, Sweden, May 2,
2024. REUTERS/ Tom Little/File Photo
 Another top contender is Joost
Klein, 26, of the Netherlands with his song "Europapa" which mixes
tunes of pop with happy hardcore. Klein, who lost his parents at a
young age, says the song is about an orphan who travels around
Europe trying to find himself, as his father taught him to believe
in a Europe without borders.
Also in the running is Italy's Angelina Mango, 23, with her song "La
Noia" which translates to "Boredom". Host country Sweden is seen as
having a chance for back-to-back wins, represented by Norwegian twin
brothers Marcus and Martinus Gunnarsen performing their song
"Unforgettable".
Four-time winner Israel, represented by Eden Golan, 20, is also
ranked by bookmakers in the top 10. Her song "Hurricane" was
Israel's third proposed entry after the European Broadcast Union
rejected two songs over lyrics deemed political.
(Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen)
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