Gracie, we love you, but we're not sorry
30th Griffin entry is ready for Endórë
VILABRADWÕT, WESTERSUND - The 25th edition of Griffin Empire’s beloved national music festival, Griffiniskaja Laul, concluded with a resounding victory for Foreõsvdetrre, as Gracie Abrams took home the top prize with her emotional ballad
I Love You, I’m Sorry. Collecting a total of 141 points, Abrams not only charmed the hearts of the televoters but also swept the international jury vote, securing a historic fourth victory for her principality.
This latest win solidifies Foreõsvdetrre’s status as one of the true powerhouses of Griffiniskaja Laul. With four victories, eight second-place finishes, and four third-place finishes, they have officially climbed to the top of the contest's hall of fame, leaving behind all but one formidable competitor. Meremaa, though fewer in second and third-place finishes, remains a fierce rival with a staggering six victories overall.
The runner-up in this year’s competition was Färzas - Lætingmaa, who surprised many with their entry, Coloured Concrete, performed by Nehmasis. This principality has long been considered an underdog, and their second-place finish with 120 points marked a breakthrough moment. Meanwhile, third place was claimed by Õklingsmaa, represented by the ever-popular Alessia Cara and her "Dead Man". Cara’s performance earned them 106 points, just narrowly missing the silver.
Halle Bailey, actress and singer, presented the final votes on behalf of the Principality of Westersund.
Griffiniskaja Laul 25 held steady with its traditional format: each principality awarded their favourite songs with 1, 5, 8, 10, and 12 points through televoting, while eight international juries from Dwyforland, Effiland, Dalisska, Meridia, Ugaly, Södermalm, Svobodnia, and Rumia weighed in with the same voting system. As is customary, principalities were not allowed to vote for their own entries.
These international juries not only influenced the festival’s outcome but also had the final say in selecting Griffin Empire's representative for the 233rd Nation Song Contest. Abrams, with her dual victory, will now take her heartfelt anthem to the NSC stage, representing the Empire on the world stage. It’s a fitting honour for the young star and a boost for Foreõsvdetrre’s already stellar reputation.
The grand event took place in the vibrant Westersundic city of Vilabradwõt, at the Stadijümi Vilabradwõtiskaja, which was renovated with a sparkling new roof just in time for the contest. With a seating capacity of 16,700, the stadium was buzzing with excitement as the crowd eagerly awaited the results. Hosting duties for the evening were handled by none other than actor Chris Evans, whose charm and wit kept the night flowing smoothly. As always, the opening and interval acts paid tribute to both Griffin Empire’s musical past and present, with special performances referencing the start of the Griffin's 4th decade at NSC that had the crowd on their feet.
Chris Evans, who hosted the event, faced criticism on Twitter for his outfit selections, despite them being chosen
by the GTV production team. Additionally, the Effilandic presenter mistakenly identified him as fellow actor
Aaron Taylor-Johnson while announcing the votes.
The 25th edition of Griffiniskaja Laul was not without its fair share of memorable moments. One of the standout surprises came when Halle Bailey, actress and singer, appeared to present the final votes on behalf of Westersund, the hosting principality. Traditionally, the host presents the last results of the evening, but Bailey’s involvement caught everyone off-guard. Rumour had it that Bailey had initially been approached to host the entire event, but she reportedly declined the offer, making her appearance all the more unexpected. The audience welcomed her warmly as she gracefully delivered Westersund's points.
But the real bombshell of the night came at the post-show press conference. When asked about the future of Griffiniskaja Laul, the executive supervisor of the contest assured the public that the festival would continue its long-standing tradition, much to the delight of its dedicated fanbase. However, when a curious journalist questioned why themed editions had ceased after the 5th and 10th jubilees, the supervisor explained that creating a theme for every five editions had proven impractical. While they considered doing something special for the 20th edition, it was ultimately scrapped due to time and logistical concerns.
Then, the executive supervisor dropped a major tease, sending fans into a frenzy: GTV, the national broadcaster, is seriously considering a return to a themed edition for the 30th Griffiniskaja Laul, and there’s a high chance the public will vote on the theme (a thrilling callback to how the 10th edition theme was chosen). While he remained tight-lipped on specifics, he did hint at one possible theme currently in development, cryptically dubbed MEGALAUL. Naturally, when pressed for more details, he refused to divulge anything further, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. And as for where the next contest will be held, he coyly responded, "What do you think?" Fans quickly took to social media platform Greffit, where eagle-eyed users pointed out that the city of Kralingslæting had already reserved Graisplaits Arrenaa, an interesting detail, but not a confirmation, as a formal bidding process will still take place.
Meanwhile, the star of the night, Gracie Abrams, was positively beaming at the press conference. Still in shock from her victory, she expressed her gratitude to everyone who voted for her, especially the international juries who propelled her to success. When a journalist cheekily asked if she had it easier in the competition as a "nepo baby," Abrams burst out laughing, responding with a playful "y'all insane," before quickly redirecting the conversation.
Gracie’s charm didn’t stop there. When asked about her next stop at the Nation Song Contest, she confidently declared that she’s ready to take her song to Endórë, albeit mispronouncing the country’s name with her thick Kralingslatingian accent. What followed was a humorous, if slightly awkward, moment where she admitted she had no idea where Endórë was or that it even existed. The gaffe led to the Griffin Minister of External Affairs quickly issuing a light-hearted apology on Twitter to the Endórian ambassador, humorously begging Gracie to "try and avoid starting international conflicts."
THIRTY FREAKIN' YEARS
The 25th Griffiniskaja Laul wasn’t just a celebration of music; it marked a significant milestone for the Griffin Empire as it selected its 30th representative for the Nation Song Contest. Throughout the night, the show paid tribute to the Empire’s remarkable 30-year journey at NSC. These references, woven into the performances and the interval acts, reminded viewers just how far the Griffin Empire has come since its debut.
For GTV, the national broadcaster, the event wasn’t just about picking the next representative. It was a victory lap for their work behind the scenes over the last three decades. GTV takes pride in how they brought the Griffin Empire back to the WLSC, followed by the Empire’s debut at the NSC. Since then, the results have been nothing short of spectacular.
During the post-show press conference, the head of GTV reflected on the impressive achievements of the third decade of Griffin Empire’s participation at the NSC. The numbers spoke for themselves: in the last ten years, the Empire failed to qualify for the grand final only twice, a rare hiccup in an otherwise stellar run. Twice they broke into the Top 5, and every Griffiniskaja Laul winner from this period managed to land on the left side of the scoreboard, each time cracking the Top 15.
However, while the results were commendable, the head of GTV did express some regret regarding the lack of language diversity. Out of the last ten Griffin entries at NSC, only three different languages had been represented, a disappointing trend for a nation as linguistically rich as Griffin Empire. He was more content with the diversity of musical genres showcased, although he hinted that there was room for improvement in that area as well. "We can definitely push the boundaries more," he commented, suggesting that future editions could feature even more unique styles and sounds.
When asked about Griffin Empire's most successful entry of the last decade, the head of GTV proudly pointed to the song
"Led", performed by
Miach ft. Grše. The duo had won the
21st Griffiniskaja Laul and took the NSC by storm, finishing in
4th place with
147 points at the
225th Nation Song Contest held in
Aimūlli. The song was hailed as a defining moment for the Griffin Empire at NSC in its third decade, and it remains one of the country’s most beloved entries to this day.
In closing, the head of GTV made one thing abundantly clear: the Griffin Empire has no plans to step back from the Nation Song Contest anytime soon. "There are no thoughts of withdrawal, and I don’t see us taking a break either," he said, reassuring fans that the Empire’s passion for NSC remains as strong as ever.
As the press conference wrapped up, there was a palpable sense of excitement for what lies ahead. The
Griffin Empire has come a long way, and with
Gracie Abrams carrying the torch to the next Nation Song Contest, it’s safe to say that the Empire's musical journey is far from over. Let’s just hope she learns where Endórë is before she gets there. The 25th Griffiniskaja Laul may be in the books, but it’s clear that the best is yet to come.
Here’s to the next 30 years — and beyond!
As you can see, I had a bit of fun with this one. Thank you all for another incredible decade, 30 editions is a lot, and I hope we get to celebrate at least a hundred more! And once again, special thanks to our fabulous jurors: @Rxllinson @Barish @Sabrewulf238 @Gera11 @Fearnavigatr @Ekholmia @Rmetr0 @dogmeat
Full (split) results of the 25th Griffiniskaja Laul can be found here, Griffin results at the Nation Song Contest are here and if you are interested in the history of Griffiniskaja Laul, you can find it here.