For the first time ever, Australia didn’t advance from the semi-final step. For other countries, it’s unfortunately something they are used to. In the case of Georgia and Latvia, then they haven’t been in the final since 2016.
With often over 40 participants in total, and only 26 countries in the final, of which six acts were pre-qualified, the semi-finals are always the end station for some countries. This year, we only had 39 participating countries, but still – saying goodbye to 13 acts, just as we were getting to know them and love their songs, was tough. It’s even tougher for the acts themselves. They have worked so hard for their song, and then their journey ends before it really got fun. It’s not easy for Eurovision fans in those countries either; for most of us it’s natural that we want to support our own country and take part in the celebration when our representative do well.
A closer look at the countries we missed in the Eurovision 2021 final
For some countries, it’s an unfamiliar feeling not to qualify for the final, for others; it’s unfortunately becoming a bad habit. Here we focus on recent results from the 13 countries that didn’t advance from semi-final to final at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest.
Australia
It was a so-called ‘perfect strike’ that was destroyed when Australia’s Montaigne didn’t qualify for the final. In their Eurovision debut in 2015, the country was pre-qualified for the final as it was supposed to be a one-time-only participation. They returned as semi-final country in 2016 – and they have been that since. In their six appearances, the country has achieved many fantastic results including Dami Im’s second place in 2016 with the song Sound Of Silence.
At the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest Montaigne finished in 14th place at the semi-final.
Austria
In 2019, the previously held Eurovision Song Contest, Austria’s Paenda didn’t reach the final either. In fact, with a 17th place in the semi-final, she unfortunately wasn’t even close. She ended a five-year period which had brought the country a Eurovision winner in 2014, a third place in 2018, two mid-placings and unfortunately also the worst result for a host country; 0 points and a last place to The Makemakes in 2015.
At the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest Vincent Bueno finished in 12th place at the semi-final.
Croatia
We have to go back to 2017 to find the last Croatian appearance in the Eurovision final. Jacques Houdek and his My Friend finished 13th in the final. In 2016, Nina Kraljić also reached the final, but before those two acts; the semi-finals had put an end to the Croatian acts four years in a row.
At the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest Albina finished 11th in the semi-final. She was just five points short of being equal to Norway in 10th place.
Czech Republic
In 2018, Czech Republic achieved their best ever Eurovision result when Mikolas Josef finished in 6th place with the song Lie To Me. Prior to that the country had taken part six times and only reached the final once: in 2016. The good result from Mikolas in 2018 wasn’t to stand alone as also in 2019, the Czech participant Lake Malawi did well, and finished just outside the top 10 with an 11th place.
At the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest Benny Cristo finished 15th in the semi-final.
Denmark
Many Danish Eurovision fans just want to forget about 2015 and 2016. If you can look aside from those, the country had qualified for the final every year from 2008 and onwards. But we can’t just erase Anti Social Media (Denmark 2015) and Lighthouse X (Denmark 2016) from Eurovision’s history books. As such, it was ‘just’ a three-year qualification row that ended when Fyr og Flamme didn’t reach the final this year. Their song Øve Os På Hinanden will go down in history books as well, as it was the first since 1997 that Denmark participated with a song fully in Danish. Denmark last won in 2013, and their best result in the past five years is Rasmussen’s 9th place in 2018 with the song Higher Ground.
At the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest Fyr og Flamme finished 11th in the semi-final.
In the video below, you can watch a small clip from Fyr og Flamme and their entry Øve Os På Hinanden at a rehearsal. Below the video, we continue with the other countries that unfortunately didn’t reach the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest final.
Estonia
The Estonia Eurovision journey has always been a bit up and down when it comes to semi-finals. Since 2004, the country qualified for the final seven times, and missed ten. Elina Nechayeva finished 8th in the final in 2018. She was followed by Victor Crone and the song Storm, which also reached the final. Before that, the country had been out two years in a row. Estonia have won the Eurovision Song Contest once, in 2001. Their best recent results since are a 6th place from 2012, a 7th place in 2015 and then Elina’s 8th place in 2018.
At the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest Uku Suviste finished 13th in the semi-final.
Georgia
It’s not easy being a Georgian Eurovision fan these days. Unfortunately, we have to go back to 2016 to find the last Georgian act to reach the Eurovision final. Nika Kocharov & Young Georgian Lolitaz finished 20th in the final. In their 13 Eurovision participations, Georgia has been in the final seven times. While that’s not too bad, it’s now been four years in a row. Twice Georgia has finished 9th at the Eurovision Song Contest; in 2010 and 2011. Those are the country’s best results to date.
At the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest Tornike Kipiani finished 16th in the semi-final.
Ireland
They hold the record as the most winning Eurovision country with seven victories, one more ahead of Sweden’s six. The last Irish victory dates back to 1996. Half of Sweden’s victories were achieved after that. Unfortunately Ireland hasn’t been near an 8th victory in recent years. In 2018, we last saw Ireland in the final when Ryan O’Shaughnessy and his song Together represented the country. He ended a four-year period where the country’s Eurovision journey ended after the semi-finals. Since the introduction of semi-finals in 2004, the best Irish result is Jedward’s 8th place in 2011.
At the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest Lesley Roy finished 16th and last in the semi-final.
Latvia
In 2016, Justs and the song Heartbeat represented Latvia. Unfortunately, that was the last time we saw Latvia in the final. The country was also in the final in 2015 when Aminata finished 6th. Her qualification was such a relief to the Latvians who hadn’t been able to advance to the final a total of six year. Before that, the country had regular appearances at the final.
At the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest Samanta Tīna finished 17th and last in the semi-final.
In the video below, you can watch a small clip from Samanta Tīna and her entry The Moon Is Rising at a rehearsal. Below the video, we continue with the other countries that unfortunately didn’t reach the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest final.
North Macedonia
Here’s a country that has suffered more than others when it comes to not being able to reach the final. Since 2008, North Macedonia have ended their Eurovision journey after the semi-finals a total of 11 times. In that period, only Kaliopi in 2012 and Tamara Todevska in 2019 made it to the finals. The latter finished in a great 7th place when the song Proud won the televote. That is the best ever Eurovision result from North Macedonia. It was the same year we came to know the country, previously known as FYR Macedonia, under its new name.
At the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest Vasil finished 15th in the semi-final.
Poland
The last time we saw Poland in the Eurovision final was in 2017. Kasia Moś and her song Flashlight finished 22nd. Unfortunately, her successors Gromee feat. Lukas Meijer and Tulia had to leave the competition after the semi-finals. Kaisa ended a 4-year-long strike where Poland always reached the final. The year before, in 2016, Michał Szpak had even finished in 8th place in the grand final. That was Poland’s best result since Ich Troje in 2003. Since the semi-finals started, the country has twice had three-year-periods without qualification; from 2005 to 2007 and again from 2009 to 2011.
At the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest RAFAŁ finished 14th in the semi-final.
Romania
Up until the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest, Romania had a ‘perfect strike’, always qualifying for the finals. That changed with The Humans and their entry which quite ironically was called Goodbye. As Ester Peony didn’t qualify in 2019 either, and Roxen didn’t this year, the last time we saw Romania in the Eurovision final was in 2017. Back then Ilinca and Alex Florea represented the country with the song Yodel It!, which finished in 7th place. The country’s best results are two third places; in 2005 and in 2010.
At the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest Roxen finished 12 in the semi-final.
Slovenia
For Slovenia, the Eurovision Song Contest includes some ups and some downs, but nothing too exciting as their best ever results are twice finishing 7th; in 1995 and in 2001. With the introductions of semi-finals in 2004, the country has been in the final six times, and 11 times have they failed to advance from the semi-finals. Up until 2021, they however made it both in 2018 and in 2019. The latter, Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl finished in 15th place with the song Sebi.
At the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest Ana Soklič finished 13th in the semi-final.
In the video below, you can watch a small clip from Ana Soklič and her entry Amen at a rehearsal from the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest.
