The first time that the same Eurovision entry had been performed back-to-back occurred in 2016. The feat was then repeated just one year later.

At the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, Belgium’s Laura Tesoro closed out the second semi-final with a high-energy performance of What’s The Pressure. She then had to wait until the final moments of the show to find out if she would be performing it again on the Eurovision stage.

Petra Mede: “And, finally, the last finalist. Tonight’s 10th winner is …” 

A camera shows a very nervous Laura amongst others awaiting the next word.

Finally, it comes. “Belgium!”

That word sparked wild celebrations from her as she jumped up and down on the couch in the Belgian section of the green room.

Laura didn’t have long to celebrate, however, as she and her team went back to work the following morning, shortly after she discovered that she would be opening the final. That meant that What’s The Pressure would be performed back-to-back, making it the first song in Eurovision history to earn that distinction.

It turned out that the tension surrounding the order in which the finalists were announced was, in the end, unnecessary as her entry ended up finishing third in that semi-final and was in no danger of missing out on the final. Of course, nobody knew that at the time. What’s The Pressure then came in 10th in the final.

The uniqueness of having a song be performed back-to-back, however, did not remain unique for long.

In 2017, Israel’s IMRI closed out the second semi-final with his own high-energy entry: I Feel Alive. Like What’s The Pressure, his song also finished third in its semi.  But, fortunately for him, he didn’t have to wait as long to find out that he would be moving on to the final.

Oleksandr Skichko: “Our sixth finalist is … Israel!” 

Still, wild scenes in the Israeli section of the green room followed as IMRI celebrated with his Israeli flag.

Then he discovered that he would also be opening the final. Unfortunately, I Feel Alive was not received nearly as well as What’s The Pressure had been by the juries and televoters as it finished in 23rd place.

Although the sample size is exceptionally small, it doesn’t appear that performing last in the second semi-final and then first in the final has much of an affect on that entry’s result in the final. Regardless, it is has got to be an interesting experience to go from closing out one show to opening the next.

Article by: MATT MACDONALD