European television viewers voted for pop acts with messages of peace, tolerance and children's rights on Tuesday, at the first semi-final of the annual Eurovision Song Contest that takes place in Vienna this week.
Among the 10 artists that were chosen to compete in Saturday's final is the group Genealogy from Armenia, with a song recalling the massacres of Armenians 100 years ago at the end of the Ottoman Empire.
The peace song of Russian singer Polina Gagarina also received enough votes for the final round, as did Hungary's Boggie, who likewise came to Vienna with a pacifist ballad.
Serbia's Bojana Stamenov received some of the most enthusiastic reactions of the audience, with her message against gender and body stereotypes. Young Belgian singer Loic Nottet likewise advanced with a song about tolerance.
Romanian pop-rock band Voltaj's song told the most concrete story of the evening, about the many children who are left behind in Romania as their parents seek work in the West.
Estonian duo Elina Born & Stig Rasta received positive responses with their quiet song about a troubled relationship. They were chosen to compete on Saturday, as were the entrants from Albania and Georgia.
Finnish punk band Pertti Kurikan Nimipaivat, which had been ranked among the favourites, was among the six acts that failed in the semi-final.
Another 10 acts from as many countries will be chosen in the second semi-final on Sunday. Seven additional acts, including fan favourites from Italy and Australia, have fixed slots in the final.