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Fully
AI-generated text, partially manual
post-edited, with internal and external links. Please note that this is a
music-focused opinion piece. Therefore, anyone wishing to comment is kindly
asked to keep their remarks strictly music-related. Final additions have
been made in the personal opinions section near the bottom of the article. the ultimate update icnldes some of the most interesting comments for the greek song in two parts while for the other song is a resume of more than 200 coments which all are very short All with the video links
Greece and Israel at Eurovision 2025:
Introduction
The Eurovision Song Contest 2025, held in Basel, Switzerland, from May 13 to 17, was a vibrant celebration of music, culture, and unity, despite underlying tensions. Greece and Israel delivered standout performances, with Greece’s Klavdia finishing 6th and Israel’s Yuval Raphael securing 2nd place. For me, these two songs—Greece’s "Asteromata" and Israel’s "New Day Will Rise"—stood out musically, regardless of political undertones, and I’m thrilled that Greece defied low expectations to win the hearts of Greeks everywhere, as it did in 2005.
This article explores their 2025 journey, historical context, the contest’s mechanics, voting patterns, and the cultural impact, weaving in my personal reflections and the provided sources.
Historical Context
Greece’s Eurovision Journey:
Greece debuted in 1974 with Marinella’s "Krassi, Thalassa ke t’ Agori Mou," placing 11th, and has competed 44 times, with a landmark victory in 2005 via Helena Paparizou’s "My Number One" Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest. The country achieved nine top-10 finishes from 2004 to 2013 but faced challenges recently, failing to qualify in 2016, 2018, and 2023. The 2025 entry marked a triumphant return, resonating deeply with Greeks, much like in 2005 when Paparizou’s win united the nation.
2025 Performances
Greece: Klavdia’s "Asteromata":
Klavdia, mentored by Helena Paparizou on The Voice of Greece, won the national final Ethnikós Telikós 2025 on January 30, 2025, with "Asteromata," a poignant semi traditional ballad in Greek . Greece in Eurovision 2025. Unlike past jury-driven selections, this contest relied solely on televoting, reflecting public support. The song, which has garnered positive reviews, subtly references the Turkish genocide against Pontian Greeks in northern and western Turkey (Asia MInor) , where they’ve lived since Byzantine times Asteromata Official Video. Klavdia is a Pontian Greek
Its indirect approach contrasts with Mariza Koch’s 1980s song addressing the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, earning praise from Koch and Nana Mouskouri, who offered warm support Greek Singers’ Support. In the second semi-final on May 15, Greece qualified 4th with 112 televote points, and in the final, Klavdia secured 6th place with 231 points (126 jury, 105 televote), defying betting odds ranking Greece 18th Eurovision 2025 Results. Personally, I’m elated that "Asteromata" soared beyond predictions, capturing Greek hearts.
Israel: Yuval Raphael’s "New Day Will Rise":
Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack at a Jerusalem music festival, performed "New Day Will Rise" in English, French, and Hebrew, symbolizing a postwar era of hope Israel’s Eurovision 2025 Performance. Ranked 4th in betting odds, her semi-final performance on May 15 topped the leaderboard with 203 televote points. In the final, Israel finished 2nd with 357 points (165 jury, 192 televote), leading the public vote with 297 points New Day Will Rise Video. Her performance, starting in blue light and ending with fireworks, faced protests, with arrests for stage disruptions, reflecting European debates about Israel’s participation Eurovision 2025 Results. Despite the strong political controversies, I found the song musically compelling,.
Contest Mechanics: Three Days of Competition
Eurovision 2025 unfolded over three days, hosting 37 countries Eurovision 2025 Overview:
- First Semi-Final (May 13, 2025): 15 countries competed, with 10 qualifying via public televote, including votes from pre-qualified countries and "Rest of the World" Eurovision 2025 Semi-final 1 Results.
- Second Semi-Final (May 15, 2025): 16 countries, including Greece and Israel, competed, with 10 advancing Eurovision 2025 Semi-final 2 Results.
- Grand Final (May 17, 2025): Featured 26 countries (20 qualifiers, Big Five, and Switzerland), with jury and public votes (50% each) determining the winner How Eurovision Works. Contrary to the assumption of 32 finalists, only 26 competed.
Voting combined jury scores (1-12 points based on dress rehearsals) and public televotes (via phone, SMS, or app, up to 20 votes per viewer), processed by the Pan-European Response Platform Voting at Eurovision. For Greece, juries placed Klavdia mid-rank, but televoting propelled her to 6th, while Israel’s strong public support secured 2nd place.
Voting Patterns
Greece’s Voting Breakdown:
Greece received:
- Jury Votes (126 points): 12 from Australia, Cyprus, Israel, Montenegro; 10 from Malta; 8 from France; 6 from Albania, Germany, Serbia; 5 from Georgia; 4 from Croatia, Poland; 3 from Ireland, Finland; 1 from Portugal, United Kingdom Greece’s Voting Results.
- Televote (105 points): 12 from Albania, Cyprus, San Marino; 10 from Germany, Luxembourg; 8 from Armenia, Serbia; 7 from Australia, Israel, Switzerland, Rest of the World; 6 from Belgium; 5 from Netherlands; 4 from France, Montenegro; 3 from Sweden; 2 from Italy, United Kingdom.
Greece awarded Israel 1 jury point and 7 televote points.
Israel’s Voting Breakdown:
Israel earned:
- Televote (192 points): Led with 297 points, receiving 12s from Australia, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Rest of the World, United Kingdom, driven by public empathy.
Personal Reflection with intesting trivia.
In Greece, Eurovision 2025 achieved a record 70.8% average audience share, peaking at 85.7% during the winner announcement, reflecting national pride in Klavdia’s performance Viewership in Greece. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis praised Klavdia for making Greeks proud Mitsotakis’ Statement. The song’s resonance with Pontian history and endorsements from icons like Mouskouri and Koch amplified its impact. By chance, Pontian genocide has a memorial today 19/5.
For me, "Asteromata" and "New Day Will Rise" are musical gems, transcending politics.
I’m particularly delighted that Greece jumped from an 18th-place
betting rank to 6th, proving doubters wrong. This joy drove me to craft
this detailed piece, spending extra time to celebrate both nations’
achievements. Israel’s , despite protests, highlighted
music’s power to bridge divides, though controversies persisted Israel Controversy.
As a result, this song joined the whole Greek generation with its very deep emotional lyrics. Below, you will find the lyrics, FYI. These lyrics, as mentioned, REALLY resonate with the original Pontian community. Additionally, the singer received some negative comments from a well-known TV commentator during the morning television segment. This rather unfavorable criticism turned into a creative opportunity for the Greek team to enhance their performance on the final day. Interestingly, the commentator eventually offered an indirect apology to the team.
The singer and the team received significant support not only from fans of the song on YouTube and other social media platforms but also from several European online national newspapers in the UK and Germany.
Finally this music mix together the highly emotional rendition of Clavdia who was even stronger in the final day is something that cannot be described so easily. Surely this is my top performance.
Here are are the lyrics translated into English : (with linx)
https://lyricstranslate.com/el/klavdia-asteromata-english#songtranslation
https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2025/greece
My star, my star
My sweet mom, don't you cry even if they put black clothes on you
My faded body is not defeated by the flames
The swallows of fire even if they cross the seas they never forget the soil of their roots My little Starry Eyed Girl turn so I can kiss you so I can extinguish my lips in your holy tears
My little Starry Eyed Girl turn to me so I can catch you and rest my forgotten wings
Ah, my star, my treasure My sweet mom, don't you cry My life is a boat that looks for a way back and the wind is my sail My little Starry Eyed Girl turn to me so I can catch you and rest my forgotten wings
Ah, my star, my treasure Ah, my star, my treasure
Here are the lyrics for the Israeli song. Once again,
I emphasize that its music, though less complex than the Greek , impressed me very much. I
appreciated the rendition of the basic message in French, English, and finally
Hebrew I rank her as second to my favorites.
Source https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2025/israel
New Day Will Rise
And even if you say goodbye You'll never go away You are the rainbow of my sky My colors in the grey My only wish upon a star Sunshine in the day The only song that my piano ever plays
And even if you say goodbye You'll always be around To lift me up and take me high Keep my feet close to the ground Are you proud of me tonight Dreams are coming true I choose the light Nothing to lose if Iose you
New day will rise Life will go on Everyone cries Don't cry alone Darkness will fade All the pain will go by But we will stay Even if you say goodbye
Et même si tu dis adieu Tu ne partiras jamais T'es l'arc-en-ciel de mon ciel bleu Mes couleurs dans le gris Et mon seul souhait sous un ciel d'art Un rayon dans ma journée La seule chanson que mon piano peut jouer
New day will rise Life will go on Everyone cries Don't cry alone Darkness will fade All the pain will go by But we will stay Even if you say New day will rise Life will go on Everyone cries Don't cry alone
Darkness will fade All the pain will go by But you will stay The love of my life
מים רביםMayim rabim לא יכבוLo yekhabu את האהבהEt ha'ahava ונהרות לא ישטפוהUNeharot lo yishtefuha
New day will rise Everyone cries Don't cry alone Darkness will fade All the pain will go by But we will stay Even if you say goodbye
A new day will rise New day will rise
And even if you say goodbye You'll never go away You are the rainbow of my sky My colors in the grey My only wish upon a star Sunshine in the day The only song that my piano ever plays
And even if you say goodbye You'll always be around To lift me up and take me high Keep my feet close to the ground Are you proud of me tonight Dreams are coming true I choose the light Nothing to lose if Iose you
New day will rise Life will go on Everyone cries Don't cry alone Darkness will fade All the pain will go by But we will stay Even if you say goodbye
Et même si tu dis adieu Tu ne partiras jamais T'es l'arc-en-ciel de mon ciel bleu Mes couleurs dans le gris Et mon seul souhait sous un ciel d'art Un rayon dans ma journée La seule chanson que mon piano peut jouer
New day will rise Life will go on Everyone cries Don't cry alone Darkness will fade All the pain will go by But we will stay Even if you say New day will rise Life will go on Everyone cries Don't cry alone
Darkness will fade All the pain will go by But you will stay The love of my life
מים רביםMayim rabim לא יכבוLo yekhabu את האהבהEt ha'ahava ונהרות לא ישטפוהUNeharot lo yishtefuha
New day will rise Everyone cries Don't cry alone Darkness will fade All the pain will go by But we will stay Even if you say goodbye
A new day will rise New day will rise
Additionally: The French song, another of the blogger’s favorites, was by chance related to 11.5 ie, Mother’s Day. I ranked it as my third best of the year. In the meantime, as an AI content maker, I had made my own song on Greek an a few weeks before in English for Women’s Day, which was also referred to as Mothers’ Day by chance.
i was also impressed by the Austrian singer's very high pitched ie a soprano voice But i cannot call him as a top performer.
And finally, to note the humorous song From
Estonia with Tommy Cash
singing Espresso Macchiato . a very cool song with firesure virality for this summer. This is
what older Spanish groups made in the older ESC. Surely I
will keep it in my playlist though i cannot feel him as a top performer..
Statistics in Youtube [final day ] of my positive and negative picks at 18z time zone
Austria 7.1 million 11300 comments
Estonia 3.3M 4.200 comments
New day : 2.03 million views 12300 comments
Sweden 1511k views 2800 comments!!
Asteromata 1.7 million views 4800 comments
France 0.55M views 1.20 comments
Netherlands 347k views 1000 comments
Conclusion
Greece and Israel’s Eurovision 2025 performances are my top among a few more as noted above The contest’s three-day format and dual voting system ensured fairness. For me, these songs’ musical brilliance and Greece’s unexpected success made Eurovision 2025 unforgettable, echoing the pride of 2005 and affirming music’s unifying force.
Key Citations:
- AI text powered by grok
Addenda - a few viewers comments for Asteromata
And here are the comments that impressed me in the pre-final day on 15.5 most o them are in English with a few typed in italics as translated into English.
Source : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP9n_cO-6V4 stereo sound
Note that the final day's audio is monophonic
(A) Greek comments , translated:
"Finally, a worthy song in this competition."
"Anyone who speaks Greek and didn’t tear up — something must be wrong… Her voice was overwhelming; it took me far back, even though I haven’t lived through any of it. It felt like my soul was being torn out."
"‘Asteromata’ makes us realize that singing in your native language is exactly what Eurovision was created for!"
"At last, after years, we’ve sent a song of real value. It doesn't matter what place it gets. The girl came out and sang beautifully, the stage presence was exceptional, and the message — profoundly moving."
"I still haven’t managed to listen to it without crying… I’m proud of this year’s choice. Almost no one cares about the song’s ranking — what matters is that this dark page of our history was voiced, with such a powerful voice."
English comments :
She's otherworldly and ethereal. Can't believe she's a human. That vocal range is out of this world
Why this song makes me cry?? So beautiful song and i love greek language. Good luck from
This song is pain and hope. You don't need to know the language to feel pain and hope. You just need a soul.
0% nude 0% insult BUT 100% TALENT • VIBE • MELODY • FEELING • EMOTION • HISTORY. This song should be supported and given the place it deserves. Let’s support ASTEROMATA! GOOD LUCK GREECE
There’s something about the way Greece tells a story through music — it doesn’t just reach your ears, it goes straight to the heart. This is more than a song; it’s a feeling.
The best and strongest performance of the day and probably of the competition. It's not just her vocals that are on fire, but her presence alone, so simple yet so dynamic, filled the stadium. The lyrics, the melody, the story behind the song, combined with the stage presentation, all resulted in such a high-level spectacle that served pure voice, emotion and dignity!!! Beautiful work Greece!!! Go Klavdia! Go!!! 🇬🇷🩵
Your song, Klavdia, is a true star that illuminates the sky of emotions. We felt every note, every verse that speaks of an unyielding spirit and a deep connection to roots—a connection that we, in Moldova, cherish immensely as well. The best song!
I may not understand the lyrics, yet this performance transcended language. It was a masterclass in artistry ,no need for provocation or spectacle, just sheer talent, grace, and emotional depth. She was radiant, captivating in her presence, and vocally exquisite. This is the kind of performance that reminds us why we love Eurovision. Bravo, Greece ,you truly stirred the soul
I was mesmerized from the very first listen—I just knew she was my winner. So I was on the verge of a breakdown until they finally announced her. She is truly something else. This year, Greece and Italy chose art and emotion, and I couldn't be prouder. I feel like a true Greek, even though I'm Serbian.
Realistically Asteromata is the best participation vocally, aesthetically, essentially. If countries vote without national prejudice Greece will get the 1st place which absolutely deserves it!! Good luck Asteromata, good luck Greece!!!
Such an angelic voice, a majestic yet simple performance (that final Ancient Greece-like costume change is my favorite part) and above all a quite not obvious and a more relevant than ever lyrics, plus personally I'm so in love with Greek folk songs because they have a magnetic charm to me and I feel every time I listen to them such a unique inner energy...
When I heard the song, I didn't know what it was about, but I felt it: a lost birthplace, a dream of a peaceful life, hope for a bright future... these are familiar and painful topics for us Armenians. Thank you, Claudia As Pargi's song says, "No one can extinguish the light burning in your soul, Never forget who you are."
I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song that carries the pain of uprooting and loss with such quiet strength. Asteromata doesn’t shout—it remembers. It aches. It speaks the language of exile without naming it. For those of us with Pontic roots, these words aren’t just lyrics. They are echoes—of homes abandoned, of voices lost, of ancestors who crossed seas with nothing but memory. But this isn’t just a Pontic story. It’s a thread woven through the history of so many peoples.
To Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks of Asia Minor, and all those who’ve carried the weight of displacement across generations—this song is for you too. Because remembrance isn’t about anger. It’s about truth. And truth is sacred. Thank you, Klavdia, for singing what many of us still carry in silence.
Biggest slap of the night for me. I got emotional. I wasn't planning to vote in this semi because my faves were in the other semi but I threw her some votes. It's going in my top 3 after spending so long around 15th place in my ranking
Greece was the only country that started without music and you only heard the voice and it was so fantastic, and when they play all the instruments in other songs they cover the voice. Simply Klavdia is the queen of the voice in 2025
(A) Greek comments , translated:
"Finally, a worthy song in this competition."
"Anyone who speaks Greek and didn’t tear up — something must be wrong… Her voice was overwhelming; it took me far back, even though I haven’t lived through any of it. It felt like my soul was being torn out."
"‘Asteromata’ makes us realize that singing in your native language is exactly what Eurovision was created for!"
"At last, after years, we’ve sent a song of real value. It doesn't matter what place it gets. The girl came out and sang beautifully, the stage presence was exceptional, and the message — profoundly moving."
"I still haven’t managed to listen to it without crying… I’m proud of this year’s choice. Almost no one cares about the song’s ranking — what matters is that this dark page of our history was voiced, with such a powerful voice."
English comments :
She's otherworldly and ethereal. Can't believe she's a human. That vocal range is out of this world
Why this song makes me cry?? So beautiful song and i love greek language. Good luck from
This song is pain and hope. You don't need to know the language to feel pain and hope. You just need a soul.
0% nude 0% insult BUT 100% TALENT • VIBE • MELODY • FEELING • EMOTION • HISTORY. This song should be supported and given the place it deserves. Let’s support ASTEROMATA! GOOD LUCK GREECE
There’s something about the way Greece tells a story through music — it doesn’t just reach your ears, it goes straight to the heart. This is more than a song; it’s a feeling.
The best and strongest performance of the day and probably of the competition. It's not just her vocals that are on fire, but her presence alone, so simple yet so dynamic, filled the stadium. The lyrics, the melody, the story behind the song, combined with the stage presentation, all resulted in such a high-level spectacle that served pure voice, emotion and dignity!!! Beautiful work Greece!!! Go Klavdia! Go!!! 🇬🇷🩵
Your song, Klavdia, is a true star that illuminates the sky of emotions. We felt every note, every verse that speaks of an unyielding spirit and a deep connection to roots—a connection that we, in Moldova, cherish immensely as well. The best song!
I may not understand the lyrics, yet this performance transcended language. It was a masterclass in artistry ,no need for provocation or spectacle, just sheer talent, grace, and emotional depth. She was radiant, captivating in her presence, and vocally exquisite. This is the kind of performance that reminds us why we love Eurovision. Bravo, Greece ,you truly stirred the soul
I was mesmerized from the very first listen—I just knew she was my winner. So I was on the verge of a breakdown until they finally announced her. She is truly something else. This year, Greece and Italy chose art and emotion, and I couldn't be prouder. I feel like a true Greek, even though I'm Serbian.
Realistically Asteromata is the best participation vocally, aesthetically, essentially. If countries vote without national prejudice Greece will get the 1st place which absolutely deserves it!! Good luck Asteromata, good luck Greece!!!
Such an angelic voice, a majestic yet simple performance (that final Ancient Greece-like costume change is my favorite part) and above all a quite not obvious and a more relevant than ever lyrics, plus personally I'm so in love with Greek folk songs because they have a magnetic charm to me and I feel every time I listen to them such a unique inner energy...
When I heard the song, I didn't know what it was about, but I felt it: a lost birthplace, a dream of a peaceful life, hope for a bright future... these are familiar and painful topics for us Armenians. Thank you, Claudia As Pargi's song says, "No one can extinguish the light burning in your soul, Never forget who you are."
I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song that carries the pain of uprooting and loss with such quiet strength. Asteromata doesn’t shout—it remembers. It aches. It speaks the language of exile without naming it. For those of us with Pontic roots, these words aren’t just lyrics. They are echoes—of homes abandoned, of voices lost, of ancestors who crossed seas with nothing but memory. But this isn’t just a Pontic story. It’s a thread woven through the history of so many peoples.
To Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks of Asia Minor, and all those who’ve carried the weight of displacement across generations—this song is for you too. Because remembrance isn’t about anger. It’s about truth. And truth is sacred. Thank you, Klavdia, for singing what many of us still carry in silence.
Biggest slap of the night for me. I got emotional. I wasn't planning to vote in this semi because my faves were in the other semi but I threw her some votes. It's going in my top 3 after spending so long around 15th place in my ranking
Greece was the only country that started without music and you only heard the voice and it was so fantastic, and when they play all the instruments in other songs they cover the voice. Simply Klavdia is the queen of the voice in 2025
and from the final day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qbWRl6h6to
Being a great-grandchild of a Asia Minor refugee, the roots within me made me shiver all over and tear up. A stunning performance.
You didn’t just step onto a stage, Klaudia. With you rose lost souls, severed roots, homelands that never had the chance to become memories. With respect, with emotion, with a voice that seemed to carry entire centuries of pain and dignity. You honored us all. And above all, you honored those who never had the chance to be heard.
It played a huge role that this year, for the first time, the Greek public was asked to choose who would go to Eurovision. Let them allow the people to choose every year, and we’ll achieve better rankings!! We deserve it, and we chose correctly!! A highly dignified young woman with integrity, an incredible voice, and a captivating performance full of soul. She absolutely deserved it!! We are proud!
You gave value to a competition that has been devalued for years. With authenticity, sincerity, passion, and love for what you perform. I’m certain that among Greece’s many Eurovision entries, this one will be etched indelibly in the memory of most of us. Bravo, Klaudia, not only for your voice but also for your personality.
============
45 seconds of pure vocals with no instruments in the opening... perfection!
She had the strongest and most emotional voice of the night.
She should have been at least in the top 3
To me, she is the true winner!
I vote last night for our neighbor 🇹🇷🇬🇷
She should have been at least in the top 3. The juries barely voted for her! How is that even possible? Most juries didn’t give her a single point. Are you all serious, those of you who are voting? At least the public had (and still has) a different opinion. The girl gave it her all and worked hard for this moment. She was born for this.
My boyfriend cried during Greece's performance, we translated the lyrics because we don't know Greek, my boyfriend cried even more, his mother died when he was 15... Beautiful, emotional voice, beautifully presented pain, despair, longing
I don't understand why this singer and this song weren't chosen among the top three finalists. The rhythm, the catchiness of the song, and a singer who can sustain her voice so perfectly, even with embellishments, are truly astonishing. And she really can touch hearts with her voice
Honestly, no one can convince me otherwise: 'Asteromáta' was pure art. Klavdia didn't need fireworks or gimmicks, just raw emotion. You didn't need to understand a single word to feel it. It's a shame it didn't win, but some songs don't need trophies to become timeless.
This song resonates with such deep emotion and historical sorrow that it transcends cultural boundaries—though I am Armenian, I feel the weight of Greek pain as if it were etched into my own memory. Its haunting melody and poignant expression awaken a shared human grief, reminding me of the collective suffering and resilience that bind our peoples across time and borders 🇦🇲 🇬🇷
============
Comments Summary for Yuval Raphael’s “New Day Will Rise” final day
Yuval Raphael’s Eurovision performance of “New Day Will Rise” received widespread acclaim from commenters for its emotional depth, powerful vocals, and touching narrative. Many praised her stunning voice, describing it as angelic, precise, and deeply moving, with some noting it brought them to tears. The song was frequently called beautiful, magical, and the best of the competition, with numerous fans asserting Yuval deserved first place over her second-place finish, citing her audience vote lead. Her personal story of resilience resonated strongly, turning trauma into a heartfelt performance that inspired global support from countries like Brazil, Ukraine, Portugal, and Israel. Commenters highlighted the song’s meaningful lyrics, elegant staging, and Yuval’s ability to convey raw emotion, with some calling her the “real winner.” However, the performance sparked controversy, with accusations of comment deletions, political bias in voting, and debates about Israel’s participation, alongside a few negative remarks like “Free Palestine.” Despite this, the overwhelming sentiment was one of admiration for Yuval’s talent and the song’s hopeful message.
