The 2025 escbetting Awards

3 Jun

Best National Final Choice

Nominees: Latvia, Albania, Greece, Sweden

With the proviso that to be nominated here you have to have been both “clearly” a better option and not have been obvious (e.g. Estonia) I think most national final choices this year are clouded in a bit of mystery. There’s a few who did well that could have done even better perhaps. You can infer those from their absence here. Sweden’s eventual result of 4th does rear the question of what Mans' could have achieved but spending the season as a fan favourite instead and potentially dodging a PR disaster earns them a spot here. Latvia made a highly questioned decision at the time but one that worked out very well in the end. Greece were proved correct in resisting the temptation of the basic ethno bop Evangelia had which would have seen them around 10 places lower, but the same also applies to neighbours Albania who made the even ballsier call of going with the unknown Shkoder Elektronike over Elvana Gjata.

Winner: Albania

Worst National Final Choice

Nominees: Portugal, Croatia, Spain, Moldova.

Again, there’s a lot of countries that didn't leave anything significantly better on the table. Croatia made one of the more left field picks and could have made the final perhaps but even that is not a given and Spain had a couple of options to perhaps escape the bottom 5. Portugal were looking the standout here but their shock qualification muddies that. We will touch on Portugal again but there was a higher ceiling for them or at the least a more safe, upper mid table runner in ‘Medo’. The decision however of Moldova to cancel their National Final and withdraw (if we take them at their word over the “quality” rationale) is the only correct answer here. Most assumed Bacho was being sent internally as an easy qualifier and top 10 threat but apparently TVM felt differently…

“Winner”: Moldova

Best Staging

Nominees: Austria, Latvia, Sweden, Armenia

The winner will typically get a nod here and Austria are worth a mention with their cinematic approach working far better than France’s who might be worth a nod despite their result where it not for a certain shot. Latvia pick up another positive nomination with their visuals working and earning a lot of plaudits. Sweden showed they can stage a novelty song just as well as a pop entry with their sauna prop and the centrepiece and being replicated well from melfest. Armenia made probably the biggest step forward from their National Final and deserve a lot of credit for that, continuing their run as one of the better countries at staging on the whole. Maybe my biases are still showing, but I’ll narrowly give this to Sweden.

Winner: Sweden

Worst Staging

Nominees: Serbia, Ireland, Montenegro, Azerbaijan

Serbia turned a copy paste job into a bizarre homoerotic rebrand with Princ misreading the fandom's meh response to him, instead of ignoring them and focusing on his base. The shot of him being dragged across the stage, ass first, is the ridiculous cherry on top of Serbia's worst ever result and poor viewing figures. Ireland too flattered to deceive and Emmy struggled to bring Laika back to life, marrooning herself on a podium. Nina Zizic's styling as a sanitary towel gives Montenegro a shout, as does that semi final performance if vocals contribute (it really did happen, don’t let the EBU gaslight you) and Azerbaijan, what's happened lads? You used to be one of the more reliable at staging even if there’s been a downward trend but completely misjudged this one. I don’t think there was anything horrific this year, but the awkwardness of that live and resulting 0 from the public gets them this award.

“Winner”: Azerbaijan

Best Price of the Year

Nominees: Israel 70+, Austria 20s, Estonia 40+, Switzerland 300+

Israel did have a very narrow path to victory this year and were just one more televote flop away from sneaking a huge upset and win for backers. Austria were vocal about their ambitions this year and whilst lows of 17 pre song felt dirty, in the end following the noise would have actually paid off in this instance. Given the low points total it’s hard to be too positive still however. Estonia were one of the early hyped countries but ended up being overlooked, particularly after the Melfest result and landed a top 3 placing and nice E/W odds, as well as shortening back in running. Switzerland finished further off the pace and in the end their televote 0 suggests the market were correct to rule out the hosts, but still, this was languishing all of the season and timing correctly the buy and sell could have won a circa 6x return, one of the better trading chances this year.

Winner: Israel

Worst Price of the year

Nominees: Sweden <2, Netherlands 16 ish, Portugal 13, Belgium 25

Well, I'm loathe not to shout out Czechia officially (post song) and France also deserves a mini nod but we have stronger contenders. Anything trading odds on that fails to win is hard to beat, but the most egregious Swedish price was in play during the jury voting with them well off the pace there. Granted, many others were but that was the real time to see this wasn't landing as well outside the bubble. The Netherlands’ semi final result (albeit not a great points tally) backs up the odds a little but failing to make the top 10 and a sub 50 televote score has to put them on the list - and saves the longer priced slightly better performing Finland from a nomination. Belgium was 5th favourite just before semi 1 which seems completely inexplicable with no vocal supporters out of the betting folk and just some “actually staging is alright” concessions. I get early optimism and can forgive high expectations then, but there were zero positive signs for Red Seb to be anywhere near those odds in May given all the metrics and the NQ seals the nomination. Portugal have to get a consideration from way back in March and FdC when Josh was all the hype. What could he have done?, who knows because in the end Austria had many of the same issues as that and won, but the problem was more with his chances at even making it to Basel, duly crashing out and by a distance with Portugal soon heading to 500-1+, having turned over better alternatives too.

“Winner”: Belgium

Over-Performance of the year

Nominees: Greece, Italy, Latvia, Armenia

Reserved for the country exceeding expectations the most, we have two strong contenders in Italy and Greece with their 5th and 6th place finishes. Italy had its fans, as did Greece earlier in the season but the pair did finish higher than most everyone expected by the day of the final. Latvia also have a very strong case with their silver medal in semi 2 from a borderline/unlikely qualifier that many had them as earlier in the season although their final mid table spot was more reasonable. Armenia also had one of the bigger glow ups as already mentioned and qualified easily, getting the absolute max out of their entry with the juries too so I’ll throw them in here but they are again more filling out the nominees.

Winner: Latvia

False Hype of the year

Nominees: Czechia, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland

Czechia and Belgium have already been mentioned but it's worth saying the latter gets bonus points for talking up their National Final as having winning contenders in December. Finland spent the season as a/the big fan favourite and even scared off many of the layers towards the end so fair play to Erika for that but neither juries or public matched the enthusiasm. Cyprus are really coming up on Belgium's tail however with their big talk of past winning writers and never before seen staging, a mystery and riddle to solve, all to fail to qualify from a 15 song semi, from the pimp slot. In the interest of splitting up these awards, l'll give this to them.

“Winner”: Cyprus

Most Likely To Return

Nominees: Tommy Cash (Estonia), Miriana Conte (Malta), Vaeb (Ireland), Kyle Alessandro (Norway)

God this is a hard category this year. I'm trying to think who realistically has anything to gain or prove, and hasn't been scarred in one way or another by their score. Tommy is a bit of a troll and teaming up with either/both of his mates Kaarijaa and Joost is the sort of random stunt they might pull and increases his odds. Longhsot, but his appearance to begin with this year had felt that too. Miriana's past efforts and Malta's small pool brings her into the conversation although that public score might sting. Diva down? VAEB were far happier with their performance and Iceland's smaller pool will throw up opportunities I’m sure. Jedward participated twice after all so that's another comparison they may wish to draw. Finally, Kyle Alessandro has time on his side as the youngest this year and despite doing pretty decent and 'Lighter' always being liked, I do feel he is better than the song. I'll go Vaeb but there's nothing in it between the Nordics.

Winner: Vaeb

Personal Favourite

Nominees: Estonia, Sweden, Greece, Albania

I don't give this top 4 a seconds thought and they are to me head and shoulders above everything else this year. Two brooding Balkan ethno numbers and two northern novelties - I can appreciate both extremes at the contest. Depends on my mood, but more often it feels Albania is the answer out of the four.