Tonight: Semi-final 1 of Eurovision Song Contest 2022

The 66th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest begins tonight!

17 songs will compete, but only 10 will qualify for Saturday's Grand Final. The show starts at 21:00 CEST, live from the Pala Olimpico Arena in Turin, Italy. The hosts are Mika, Laura Pausini and Alessandro Cattelan. The running order has been decided by Italian producer RAI based on an allocation draw.

On Thursday, Semi-final 2 will find the last 10 qualifiers out of 18 songs.

Lineup Semi-final 1

After the 17 songs from the first Semi-final, a 1-minute preview of two of the five pre-qualified countries will be shown: France and Italy. These previews were recorded yesterday at the jury rehearsals.

Opening: Leo, the flying machine

It all starts in an inventor's laboratory. There's a man who's trying to build what seems to be an electronic device, but it apparently fails as the device explodes. However, a few seconds later it starts flying thanks to the magic of music, leaving the man in shock. It's a drone.

This is a reference to Gepetto (Pinocchio's father) as well as to Leonardo da Vinci, who had already suggested the creation of flying machines.

The inventor in his lab understands that the device won't hurt him, and allows it to leave his room and fly away above Turin. The drone is named "Leo, the flying machine" and it flies to the Pala Olimpico arena where the show officially begins.

We're now inside the arena where we'll travel into space and witness the creation of the sun (which is now known as that "black structure" in the middle of the stage), the central element of this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

This is the part where it all truly begins. The surrounding area is filled with blue lasers, and the dancers "play" on the lasers to the famous aria "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's opera "Turandot."

The music shifts to a different version of last year's winner, "Zitti E Buoni" by Måneskin, played by a woman surrounded by dancers. Once the guitarist leaves, another woman steps onto the stage to sing the theme song, "The Sound of Beauty."

Many wide angles are used to show the majesty of the Eurovision Song Contest stage. Fire, smoke and fireworks do help as well.

A voice announces the hosts: Laura Pausini, Alessandro Cattelan and Mika, who are greeted with applause. It doesn't take too long for Laura, in her long pink dress, to say the magical words: "Good evening, Europe! Good morning, Australia!"

The power of music uniting people is one of the topics discussed during this first approach giving place to a three-way hug between the hosts.

Still on stage, the hosts introduce the competition and reinforce a few notes that the public should know.

LET THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2022 BEGIN!

Postcards

Before each of the 17 songs we'll see a small "postcard" while the stage is being prepared for the song. Each of the 17 postcards feature the same idea:

Leo, the drone is in charge of taking us through the different locations of Italy, and of the postcard overall. Each card starts in the blue skies with a few white clouds and gives place to a specific region or city of Italy. Pictures of the acts, as holograms, are shown in those different locations, and by the end it is Leo's job to project the final moving hologram of the act.

Commercial Breaks

After song number 6 (Ukraine), the evening's first commercial break takes place:

For the viewers without commercials, we have Laura Pausini and Mika reminding you that you need to wait until the very end of the show to vote. A video promoting the city of Turin is shown.

In it, a joke is made and it's said that the city of Turin was built a long, long time ago just for the Eurovision Song Contest. This is the clue to speak about the stage and how it was built. Amongst other things, it's said that the amount of cables used at this year's event would be enough to wrap up 14 Towers of Pisa. A big thank you is made to the volunteers and to the technicians: "Vini Vedi Eurovici."

After song number 12 (Denmark), the second commercial break takes place:

In this commercial break, Mika delivers an empowering message about love and acceptance: "We are gorgeous! We are weird!" he states.

It's time to see what happened at the opening ceremony's Red (Turquoise) Carpet, with several shots of the many acts.

Interval Act: The Sound of Dance and Diodato

After all 17 songs have been performed, it's time to start the voting. All countries in Semi-final 1, along with the two qualified countries France and Italy, can vote in this Semi-final.

In new outfits, the three presenters explain the rules and are quick to open the voting:

EUROPE! START VOTING NOW!

A recap follows. After that, the trio are reunited and present the very first interval act: "The Dance of Beauty." The atmosphere turns into a live discoteque, and a journey through popular Italian music beings. The segment is guided by Dardust, he's accompanied by flutist Sylvia Catasta, Benny Benassi and Sophie and the Giants.

Once again, the main elements are used to make it even more impressive with a massive usage of fire, smoke and fireworks. Before the second recap, an homage to Rafaella Carrà is made.

EUROPE! STOP VOTING NOW!

The voting is now closed and it's time for Diodato to finally have his chance on the Eurovision stage with a stunning performance of his song "Fai Rumore." For those who don't know, Diodato was supposed to represent Italy at Eurovision 2020. With the cancellation of the show, he didn't get the chance to sing at Eurovision. This is the first time we see the black structure moving on the stage.

It's now time to remember some iconic Eurovision entries. In a segment titled "Eurovision Confidential," images of Elena Tsagrinou (Cyprus 2021) and TIX (Norway 2021) are used to show the big contrasts within the show. Many more entries are remembered.

As it wraps up, Alessandro is joined by Malèna to speak about her victory at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021. Images of her performance and of her moment of victory are aired, and shortly after a promotion to Armenia's capital, Yerevan, where the show will be held in December this year.

Pre-qualified countries

There are five countries that are automatically pre-qualified for the Grand Final which make up the "Big-5" countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Before the announcement of the result, we're presented with two of the five pre-qualified countries for the Grand Final. These two countries will also broadcast and vote in Semi-final 1.

In this Semi-final, it's France and Italy.

A short interview with the two artists is followed by a preview of their songs, recorded yesterday evening.

We're ready to know the 10 qualifiers, and Martin Österdahl, the boss who oversees everything related to Eurovision, announces that all is set for the qualifiers announcement.

THE 10 SONGS QUALIFIED FOR THE GRAND FINAL ARE...

🏳️🏳️🏳️🏳️🏳️🏳️🏳️🏳️🏳️🏳️

GOOD NIGHT EUROPE!

Voting

The voting procedure will be the same as the previous five editions. Each country will have two sets of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 points to give. One set for each country's jury, and one set for each country's televoting.

• The 10 songs with most points will qualify for the Grand Final.
• Each of the 17 countries participating in Semi-final 1 will vote.
• The pre-qualified countries France and Italy will broadcast and vote in Semi-final 1.
• Each country has a national jury who gave one set of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 points.
• Each country will have televoting, which also results in a set of 1 ,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 points.
• The voting results will not be revealed before the Grand Final has finished on Saturday.
• Only the 10 qualified songs will be revealed, and in random order.
• Televoters and national juries have equal weight in the voting.
• The national juries voted yesterday evening (Monday, 9 May) during the second dress-rehearsal.