Eurovision final lineup confirmed after 5 more countries are sent packing

Azerbaijan's Jiva came next with a solo performance before billowing white screens.

Contestants sang their hearts out on Thursday in the Eurovision Song Contest's second semifinal, with touching ballads and heavy metal in contention for the last 10 places in the grand final.

Despite Eurovision’s insistence it is apolitical, politics has always been part of the continent-wide song contest, as much a feature as whatever constellation of pyrotechnics and power ballads are on display that year.

With blasts of dry ice and jets of flame, the Eurovision party got started inside the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, where 11,200 revved-up fans saw 15 acts do battle for 10 places in Saturday’s grand final.