Céline Dion appears at Eurovision, as Sweden qualify for the final

Céline Dion made a rare appearance during the Eurovision Song Contest's first semi-final. She shared a brief, pre-recorded message.

Dion won the contest for Switzerland in 1988. Rumors suggested she might perform this year.

In her video, she said, "I'd love nothing more than to be with you." She added that Switzerland holds a special place in her heart. It gave her the chance to be part of something extraordinary.

The semi-final featured 10 acts qualifying for Saturday's grand finale. Swedish group KAJ is currently the favorite with their song "Bara Bada Bastu."

KAJ stands for Kevin, Axel, and Jakob. Their song translates to "let's take a sauna." Bookmakers give them a 40% chance of winning.

If they win, it would be Sweden's eighth Eurovision title. They are currently tied with Ireland at seven wins each.

Fifteen acts performed at Tuesday's semi-final in Basel’s St Jakobshalle. Here are the ten that qualified:

- Norway: Kyle Alessandro – Lighter
- Albania: Shkodra Elektronike – Zjerm
- Sweden: KAJ – Bara Bada Bastu
- Iceland: VÆB – RÓA
- Netherlands: Claude – C'est La Vie
- Poland: Justyna Steczkowska – GAJA
- San Marino: Gabry Ponte – Tutta L'Italia
- Estonia: Tommy Cash – Espresso Macchiato
- Portugal: NAPA – Deslocado
- Ukraine: Ziferblat – Bird of Pray

This means Azerbaijan, Belgium, Cyprus, Croatia, and Slovenia are out for 2025. The biggest surprise was Belgium’s Red Sebastian. His anthem "Strobe Lights" was expected to finish in the top five.

His disqualification happened on his 26th birthday.

Ten more acts will qualify after Thursday’s second semi-final. The "Big Five" countries automatically qualify due to financial contributions (France, Germany, Spain, UK, Italy). Last year's winner Switzerland also qualifies automatically.

Céline Dion represented Switzerland at Eurovision in 1988. She won by beating Scott Fitzgerald from the UK by one point.

Dion’s video message aired during the ceremony's interval while votes were cast. Although she couldn't attend in person, her presence was significant for organizers.

Dion has stepped back from public life due to health issues related to stiff-person syndrome (SPS). This condition causes muscle spasms and difficulty walking.

After four years away from performing, she returned last summer at the Paris Olympics. She sang Edith Piaf's classic "Hymne à l'Amour" from the Eiffel Tower.

Speculation about her potential Eurovision appearance grew after Swiss singer Nemo won in 2024. In her video message, Dion called it “beautiful and emotional” to see Nemo win.

She recalled that her own victory in 1988 was life-changing for her. Dion thanked Switzerland for their love and expressed pride in their achievements.

After repeating her message in French, former contestants covered Dion’s winning song from 1988—“Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi.” Organizers remain hopeful about her attending the final this weekend and stated they are still in contact with her.

During Tuesday’s semi-final performances included Polish star Justyna Steczkowska floating above the stage while singing “Gaja.”

Icelandic group VÆB opened with high energy reminiscent of former Irish entrants Jedward.

Slovenian musician Klemen performed upside down during his ballad “How Much Time Do We Have Left?” His tribute to his wife recovering from cancer did not secure him a spot in the final.

Estonia’s Tommy Cash had an unexpected moment when a dancer interrupted his performance of “Espresso Macchiato.”

Ukrainian flags filled the arena as Ziferblat performed their anthem “Bird Of Pray,” which conveys hope amid war with Russia.

Italy’s Lucio Corsi brought glam rock vibes with “Volevo Esse Un Duro,” referencing David Bowie’s iconic performance on Top Of The Pops.

Bosnian singer Marko Bošnjak delivered an intense performance of “Poison Cake.” Dutch singer Claude maintained positivity throughout his upbeat song “C'est La Vie.”

Swiss singer Zoë Më captivated audiences with “Voyage,” calling for kindness and understanding.

However, KAJ stood out as crowd favorites with their catchy sauna anthem encouraging everyone to join along.

Their song is a departure from Sweden's usual slick pop style and topped Swedish charts for eleven weeks after winning Melodifestivalen.

Speaking to BBC News, KAJ admitted feeling pressure as favorites but planned to enjoy themselves during their performance.