However the actual star of the half-time present was Eire’s Johnny Logan.

The crooner was the primary individual ever to win Eurovision twice, with What’s One other 12 months in 1980 and Maintain Me Now in 1987.

He travelled to Malmö to honour Swedish pop diva Loreen, who final 12 months equalled his Eurovision file along with her second victory.

On stage, he sang a lush, orchestral model of her 2012 entry Euphoria.

Behind the scenes, he has additionally praised Eire’s entry, calling Bambie Thug a possible winner.

“The one factor in regards to the Eurovision Tune Contest is that yearly folks attempt to copy the tune that received earlier than, as a result of they suppose that’s the key to profitable it,” he instructed Eire’s Sunday World newspaper, exterior.

“This 12 months’s Irish entry doesn’t do this. It’s in all probability the most effective and most authentic entry that Eire has had for so long as I can keep in mind.”

The viewers will get to resolve whether or not he is proper at Eurovision’s grand ultimate on Saturday night time.

Earlier than then, nevertheless, is Thursday’s second semi-final.

There, 16 acts will compete for the remaining 10 locations within the contest – together with hotly-tipped singers from Switzerland (Nemo), Israel (Eden Golan) and Greece (Marina Satti).

Sweden is internet hosting the competition within the coastal metropolis of Malmö.

It follows within the footsteps of Liverpool, which held final 12 months’s competitors on behalf of 2022 winners Ukraine, who had been unable to take action throughout the ongoing conflict with Russia.