Get out the glitter balls, sew on the sequins and put together to social gathering: The Eurovision Track Contest approaches.
The 69th annual musical extravaganza takes place in Basel, Switzerland in Could. It’ll see acts from 37 international locations vie for the continent’s musical crown in a contest that has been likened to a pop Olympics, full with triumph, tears and geopolitical rivalries.
Here is a information to the great world of Eurovision.
What’s Eurovision?
Eurovision is a world pop music competitors, during which acts from international locations throughout Europe — and some past —compete in a reside televised singing contest. Every singer or group performs a three-minute track, with the winner determined by votes from nationwide juries and viewers world wide.
Launched in 1956 to check new live-broadcasting know-how and foster unity after the Second World Conflict, Eurovision has develop into a campy but heartfelt celebration of variety, nationwide satisfaction and the joyous energy of pop.
It has grown from seven international locations to virtually 40, together with non-European nations similar to Israel and Australia. Organizers say final yr’s competitors was watched by 163 million folks world wide.
Eurovision has develop into synonymous with elaborate costumes, spectacular staging and songs that vary from anthemic to extraordinarily foolish. Previous winners embrace songs with titles like La, La, La and Increase Bang-a-Bang, in addition to hovering energy ballads and slick disco dancefloor-fillers.
Previous champions vary from Sweden’s Abba — with Waterloo in 1974 — to Finnish metalheads Lordi in 2006, Austrian drag performer Conchita Wurst in 2014, Italian rock band Måneskin in 2021 and Ukrainian folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra in 2022.
When and the place is Eurovision going down?
Historically, the competitors is hosted by the earlier yr’s winner, and the 2024 victor was non-binary Swiss singer Nemo with their operatic anthem The Code. The 2025 contest can be held on the St. Jakobshalle area in Basel, a largely German-speaking metropolis bordering France and Germany.
Two semifinals, on Could 13 and 15, can be adopted by a grand Saturday night time ultimate on Could 17, hosted by Swiss broadcasters Hazel Brugger, Michelle Hunziker and Sandra Studer.
Switzerland is the birthplace of Eurovision — it staged the first-ever contest, and the European Broadcasting Union, which runs the present, relies in Geneva. It has received twice earlier than: in 1956 and in 1988, when Canadian chanteuse Céline Dion competed below the Swiss flag.
Do pop and politics combine?
Eurovision’s motto is “united by music,” an admirable aim that is not all the time achieved.
Contest guidelines ban overtly political lyrics or symbols, however regional rivalries are rife and international tensions typically intrude. Russia has been banned since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine received Eurovision that yr, however couldn’t host in 2023 due to the continuing struggle, so the English metropolis of Liverpool stood in.
Final yr’s occasion within the Swedish metropolis of Malmö attracted giant pro-Palestinian protests that referred to as for Israel to be dropped from the competition over the nation’s conduct throughout its struggle towards Hamas.
Tensions spilled over into the competitors, the place Israeli singer Eden Golan was given tight safety.
Israel was additionally ordered to alter the lyrics of its competing track, initially titled October Rain, an obvious reference to the Hamas-led assault on Israel that befell on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 folks, in line with Israeli tallies. Renamed Hurricane, the facility ballad got here fifth.
Final yr’s contest additionally noticed Dutch contender Joost Klein expelled mid-competition after an altercation with a member of the manufacturing crew.
Organizers have tightened up the competition’s code of conduct, calling on contributors to respect Eurovision’s values of “universality, variety, equality and inclusivity” and its political neutrality.
Who’re this yr’s favourites?
Sweden has received Eurovision seven instances and is the favorite by bookies to take the title once more, which might take it previous Eire for probably the most victories. Swedish entry Bara Bada Bastu is an upbeat ode to sauna tradition carried out by KAJ, a trio from Finland’s Swedish-speaking minority.
Additionally extremely ranked by the betting markets are classically-trained Austrian singer JJ’s “popera” track Wasted Love, French singer Louane’s ballad maman, Dutch entry Claude’s C’est La Vie and Israeli singer Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Oct. 7 assaults, with New Day Will Rise.
Intriguing outsiders embrace extremely caffeinated Estonian entry Espresso Macchiato by Tony Money, Icelandic brother duo VAEB with Roa — it is about rowing — and Irish entrant Emmy’s ode to a doomed house canine, Laika Get together.
“There’s loads of novelty acts this yr,” mentioned Paul Jordan, an skilled on the competition often known as Dr. Eurovision. “I believe it is sort of reflective of the chaos on this planet. It is virtually like individuals are searching for a little bit of escapism.
“There’s loads of innuendo this yr as properly,” he mentioned, citing Milkshake Man by Australian entrant Go-Jo and Serving by Malta’s Miriana Conte, which has already had its title and lyrics modified on the orders of contest organizers.
The Eurovision Track Contest 2024 is over. Switzerland’s Nemo took residence first place for his or her track The Code, racking up 591 complete factors for his or her ultimate rating. However what components go right into a Eurovision rating? Researchers say there’s extra to it than the music.
How can I watch Eurovision and vote?
The competitors can be aired by nationwide broadcasters in taking part nations, on streaming service Peacock in america and on the Eurovision YouTube channel in some international locations. It’s typically accessible there to Canadian viewers.
Many of the acts will carry out over two semifinals that can resolve 20 to undergo to the grand ultimate. One other six international locations — France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the U.Ok. and host Switzerland — robotically qualify for the ultimate.
Voting for the winner will open in the beginning of the ultimate on Could 17. Viewers in taking part international locations can vote by telephone, textual content message or the Eurovision app — however usually are not allowed to vote for their very own nation’s act. Viewers within the U.S. and different nonparticipating international locations can vote on-line or with the app.
After a voting interval, every nation in flip pronounces its jury and public voting outcomes, with the factors tallied on-screen till a winner emerges. The fast-changing rankings and suspense about whether or not any nation will get the dreaded “nul factors” — zero factors — are all a part of the enjoyable.
“Everybody appears to suppose that Sweden has it within the bag,” Jordan mentioned. “However it might properly be {that a} nation sneaks up the center.”
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