Earlier today, Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR and Lithuanian band The Roop announced that the latter will perform as a guest act during the second semi-final of Eurovision 2025 in Basel. The band will sing their 2020 entry, “On Fire”.
A second semi-final performance for Eurovision fans
The announcement came at around 10 o’clock this morning, from the SRG SSR and Eurovision Instagram accounts. The video was also completed by a post from The Roop themselves on their social media
This is a wonderful recognition and joy for us, that we are being invited and that our music will once again resonate widely. At the same time, this invitation brings back memories of how close we were to a big victory
Vaidotas Valiukevičius, frontman of The Roop
The Lithuanian band will perform on May 15, during the second semi-final. Recent updates from SRG SSR have revealed that each show will have a theme, with the second semi-final dedicated to Eurovision fans. Efendi from Azerbaijan, who represented her country in 2020 and 2021 will also appear, very likely in the second semi-final too. With The Roop singing their 2020 entry “On Fire” instead of “Discoteque”, it is likely that Efendi will sing “Cleopatra”. It looks like the Basel team may be preparing a live Eurovision 2020 medley for the fans.
Gjon’s Tears (Switzerland 2020 and 2021) is also among the guest list, but it appears that he will perform in the first semi-final, dedicated to the history of Switzerland in Eurovision.
The Roop, early favourites of the 2020 contest
In 2020, “On Fire” was one of the fan-favourites, and was fourth in the bookmaker’s rankings before the cancellation of the contest. The Roop had won Pabandom iš naujo 2020, the Lithuanian national selection, on February 15th, and were the favourites to represent their country at the time.
In 2021, LRT organised a new edition of its national selection, but gave The Roop an automatic spot in the final. They won it again, with “Discoteque”, which ended up opening the first semif-final of Eurovision 2021 in Rotterdam, bringing audiences back into the contest after two years. Three years later, in 2024, they took part in the national selection again with “Simple Joy”. They finished third in the superfinal, which was won by Sylvester Belt and his song “Luktelk”.
Are you happy to see The Roop back? Would you like to see other 2020 representatives coming back in Basel for a special tribute act? Who else, then? Tell us more in the comments below or on social media at @escxtra!
