Eurovision 2024: Bambie Thug breaks Ireland's semi-final 'curse'

But the real star of the half-time show was Ireland's Johnny Logan.

The crooner was the first person ever to win Eurovision twice, with What's Another Year in 1980 and Hold Me Now in 1987.

He travelled to Malmö to honour Swedish pop diva Loreen, who last year equalled his Eurovision record with her second victory.

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

Behind the scenes, he has also praised Ireland's entry, calling Bambie Thug a potential winner.

"The one thing about the Eurovision Song Contest is that every year people try to copy the song that won before, because they think that’s the secret to winning it," he told Ireland's Sunday World newspaper, external.

"This year’s Irish entry doesn’t do that. It’s probably the best and most original entry that Ireland has had for as long as I can remember."

The audience will get to decide whether he's right at Eurovision's grand final on Saturday night.

Before then, however, is Thursday's second semi-final.

There, 16 acts will compete for the remaining 10 places in the contest - including hotly-tipped singers from Switzerland (Nemo), Israel (Eden Golan) and Greece (Marina Satti).

Sweden is hosting the contest in the coastal city of Malmö.

It follows in the footsteps of Liverpool, which held last year's competition on behalf of 2022 winners Ukraine, who were unable to do so during the ongoing war with Russia.