Ukraine is the hot favorite to win this year’s Eurovision Song Contest amid the country’s Russian invasion.
The competition takes place tonight with 25 bands performing to a live audience in the northern Italian city of Turin, while millions more watch on television worldwide.
Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra are heavily backed by bookmakers, who give the group, which mixes traditional Ukrainian rhythms, costumes and dance moves with contemporary hip-hop, a 60% chance of winning.
Their song “Stefania” was written as a tribute to the frontman’s mother, but has morphed into an anthem to the war-ravaged nation since the Russian invasion on February 24.
Frontman Oleh Psiuk’s lyrics, “I always find my way home, even when all the roads are destroyed,” have taken on special meaning since the invasion.
The six-piece, all-male band received special permission to leave the country to represent Ukraine and Ukrainian culture at the music competition. One of the original members stayed to fight and the others plan to return once the competition is over.
Kalush Orchestra band members Oleh Psiuk, Tymofii Muzychuk, Ihor Didenchuk, Vitalii Duzhyk, Oleksandr Slobodianyk and Vlad Kurochka performing on behalf of Ukraine
Brit Sam Ryder (pictured) and Swede Cornelia Jakobs each have a 10% chance of winning, while Italian duo Mahmood & Blanco have a 6% chance of winning
Singer Chanel performs on behalf of Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 final in Turin tonight
The competition runs tonight with 25 bands performing to live audiences in the northern Italian city of Turin
Romania’s WRS performs at the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin tonight
The Rasmus from Finland singing Jezebel perform during the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest at Arena Palaolimpico in Turin
Members of the band “Subwoolfer” perform on behalf of Norway at the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022
The winner will be chosen equally by panels of music experts in each participating nation and voted for by the viewing public, leaving room for surprise.
Brit Sam Ryder and Swede Cornelia Jakobs each have a 10% chance of winning, while Italian duo Mahmood & Blanco have a 6% chance of winning. All eyes are also on the nations that may not vote for Ukraine after Russia and Belarus were excluded during the invasion.
The winner takes home a glass microphone trophy and a potential career boost.
The event is hosted by Italy after Italian rock band Maneskin won in Rotterdam last year.
The win launched the Rome-based band to international fame, opening up for the Rolling Stones and appearing on Saturday Night Live and numerous magazine covers in their typically genderless costume code.
Twenty bands have been selected in two semi-finals this week and compete alongside the Big Five of Italy, Britain, France, Germany and Spain, who have secured spots thanks to their financial backing of the competition.
Russia was excluded this year after its invasion of Ukraine, a move organizers say should keep politics out of the competition that promotes diversity and friendship between nations.
Ukrainian music fan Iryna Lasiy said she felt global support for her country at war and “not just for the music”.
Back in Ukraine, in the ailing northeastern city of Kharkiv, the Kalush Orchestra’s participation in the competition is seen as yet another platform to bring international support to the nation.
“The whole country is rising up, everyone in the world is supporting us. That’s very nice,” said Julia Vashenko, a 29-year-old teacher.
Chanel from Spain singing SloMo performs during the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest at Arena Palaolimpico
Alvan and Ahez from France perform live during the grand final of the 66th Eurovision Song Contest in Turin tonight
Alvan & Ahez from France singing Fulenn perform during the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest at Arena Palaolimpico
“I think wherever there is Ukraine now and there is an opportunity to talk about the war, do we need to talk? said Alexandra Konovalova, a 23-year-old makeup artist in Kharkiv. “All competitions are important now because through them more people know what’s going on.”
Anastasia Khardikova, a 24-year-old Ukrainian living in Sweden, said she intends to vote for the Kalush Orchestra and is persuading her friends abroad to do the same.
Graham Norton returned for his 13th contest to keep a close eye on the action while delivering his usual barbs.
Eurovision entrant Sam Ryder will take the stage 22nd in order to boost Britain’s standing during tonight’s grand finale.
The 32-year-old TikTok star will perform his uplifting pop song Space Man, which he co-wrote with Grammy-winning actress Amy Wadge, who has previously worked with Ed Sheeran and Max Wolfgang.
This year’s final includes the 20 successful nations from the two semi-finals of the week as well as the so-called Big Five Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.