Anti-work anthems, Boy George and controversial lyrics: A guide to all 35 Eurovision songs

Anti-work anthems, Boy George and controversial lyrics: A guide to all 35 Eurovision songs7 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleMark SavageMusic CorrespondentBBC / EBUSome of this year's Eurovision hopefuls (L-R): Cosmó, Felicia, Boy George, Antigoni and Lion CeccahLike a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest has arrived to dispel the gloom of a weary world.With 35 countries taking part, it's the most compact competition since 2003 - due to a partial boycott over Israel's presence.If you can put the politics aside (and many fans feel they can't), the competition presents its usual mix of mayhem and spectacle.This year's hopefuls include a man entirely covered in silver paint, a fake gorilla, an actual Boy George - and the longest high note in Eurovision history.With the semi-finals starting in Vienna this Tuesday, here's a guide to all 35 songs, sorted into poorly defined musical categories - because no functionally accurate system could define this madness.Fandoms of the operaFrance TélévisionsFrench contestant MonroeAria paying attention? OK, let's begin.The last two Eurovision winners – Switzerland's Nemo and Austria's JJ – both deployed operatic vocal runs in their songs. So, naturally, there's a whole Liszt of copycats in 2026.Best of the bunch is French prodigy Monroe – who, at the age of 17, is this year's youngest entrant.Her song, Regarde!, combines a frenetic string section, glitching drum beats and Queen of the Night vocals in a way that suggests, "Hello, I have listened to the output of Spanish recording artist Rosalía" (this is a compliment).Described as a "celebration of the richness of all of France's musical cultures," it builds to an earth-quaking climax, with stunning live vocals. With the right staging, it looks set for a Top 10 finish.Montenegro's Tamara Živković takes a maximalist approach, plonking a Greek Chorus onto a jack-...