Croatia's ‘Mr Voice,’ Hungarian gypsy singer among Eurovision finalists

KIEV — Croatian pop-opera, Romanian yodelling, and Hungarian gypsy fusion will all feature in the final of the 2017 Eurovision song contest, after the three countries were among 10 to qualify in the second round of heats in Kiev.

Forty-two countries competed in this year's Eurovision, an annual pageant of the colourful, the camp and the cheesy, but only 26 will take part in Saturday's grand final in front of a television audience of millions.

The Netherlands' all-female trio Og3ne singing 'Lights and Shadows.' Reuters

In Thursday's semi-final, singer Jacques Houdek, known as "Mr. Voice" in Croatia, won a place in the last round by melding pop and operatic singing styles in the song "My Friend."

Houdek's costume was half-tuxedo, half-leather jacket — a sartorial illustration of the musical crossover.

Croatia's 'Mr. Voice' Jacques Houdek singing 'My Friend.' AFP

Other performers also reached the final with untypical fusions of different musical traditions.

Joci Papai, Hungary's first Roma entrant for Eurovision, performed "Origo" — a mixture of electronic beats and gypsy vocal flourishes.

Romanian duo Ilinca and Alex Florea combine rock, rap and yodelling in their song "Yodel it!"

Thursday's other qualifiers for the final were Bulgaria's Kristian Kostov, Belarus' Naviband, Denmark's Anja, Israel's IMRI, Norway's, JOWST, the Netherlands' Og3ne, and Austria's Nathan Trent.

Austria's Nathan Trent singing 'Running On Air.' AFP

Eight countries missed out on a final place, including Macedonia's Jana Burceska, but any disappointment she felt was likely eased by a surprise marriage proposal from her partner live on air. — Reuters