Winner: Lauryn took home the trophy from Sweden for her electro-pop track Tattoo last year. Photo: Reuters
Edition 68 The Eurovision Song Contest, the world's largest and longest-running music competition, will take place in Malmö, Sweden, this May – and it promises to be as brilliantly crazy and as politically fraught as it comes Always. Americans and Brits will be wary of Britain's May Muller's poor performance last year.
Can Ollie Alexander restore our national pride? Will there be a boycott of Israel? And when will it be possible to watch? Here are the answers to all your burning questions about Eurovision 2024.
When is Eurovision?
The fun begins with two semi-finals on May 7 and 9, followed by the grand final on May 11. All shows will be broadcast live. In 2024 we will see 37 countries competing, including Luxembourg, which last competed in the competition back in 1993.
In the first semi-final, 15 countries compete: Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia, Ukraine, Australia, Azerbaijan, Finland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Moldova, Portugal and Slovenia.
In the second semi-final, the remaining 16 will compete for the final place: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Malta, Switzerland, Belgium, Estonia, Georgia, Israel, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway and San Francisco. Marino.
The so-called “Big Five” countries and host country Sweden qualify for the final automatically, but for the first time this year they will also compete in the semi-finals. Germany, Sweden and Great Britain will perform in the first semi-final, and France, Italy and Spain will perform in the second.
Who is hosting Eurovision?
Following Lauryn's triumph in Liverpool with her song Tattoo, Eurovision 2024 will take place from Sweden. Hollywood actress Malin Åkerman will join comedian and Eurovision regular Petra Mede to host the semi-finals and final at the Malmö Arena.
Triumph: Lorin from Sweden Photo credit: PA Has Sweden hosted Eurovision before?
Oh yeah – this is the Scandinavian country's seventh time as hosts, and it's quite frankly showing off. They have previously hosted the competition from Stockholm in 1975, 2000 and 2016, from Gothenburg in 1985 and from this year's choice Malmö in 1992 and 2013.
This aggregate of seven wins makes Sweden the most successful Eurovision country in history the whole story. – draw with Ireland. Great Britain is not far behind: it has five victories (although, alas, none in recent years).
Are the Swedes delighted?
There is some excitement in the lead-up to Eurovision, although there is also some concern given the current political sensitivities (of which more below). Malmö organizes a full program of events to entertain its estimated 100,000 visitors, from drag shows and club nights to even more musical performances.
Fortunately, Sweden can also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the victory Abba at Eurovision. (in Liverpool, in 1974) with their 2024 competition. There are even rumors that Abba themselves may make a rare appearance to say thank you for the music.
Swedish glory: Abba won 50 years ago with their song Waterloo Photo: AFP How to watch?
Sweden has historically been an excellent host, but there's no need to travel to Malmö to join in the Eurovision fun. All finals will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with the semi-finals on 7 and 9 May and the grand final on 11 May.
Can the UK light up again this year?
Well… maybe you shouldn't get your hopes up too much. After that tantalizing second place finish in 2022, thanks to smiling astronaut Sam Ryder and his majestic mane, we crashed back to Earth in 2023, with May Muller (and her magnificent “I Wrote a Song”) finishing in 25th place. From 26. Oh.
This year the flag is flying for Years & Long-time lead singer Olly Alexander. He is a true artist and a great performer. Alas, however, says The Telegraph's music critic Neil McCormick, his song Dizzy is just fine – an electro-dance-pop track in the vein of last year's winner Tattoo, but it's unlikely to be remembered in a competition where big things are needed. (and then even more). This entry, Neil fears, is too formulaic to stand out.
Should Israel take part?
This is the real theme of the 2024 competition, despite the organizers' frantic efforts to avoid at all costs political disagreements.
You may remember that Eurovision eventually banned Russia from the 2022 competition following the country's invasion of Ukraine. Eurovision organizers (EBU) said Russia's inclusion would “bring the competition into disrepute”.
What about Israel? Should the same rule apply? This has become a fiercely contested argument, not helped by the fact that Israel launched the provocative song in the first place. There were protests and petitions in several countries over Israel's inclusion, and Icelandic broadcaster RÚV seriously discussed participating in 2024 if Israel was involved before ultimately deciding to stay.
A pro-Palestinian protester invaded the stage during the first semi-final of Norway's Melody Grand Prix (the country's Eurovision qualifier), while spectators held signs about attacks on Palestinian children during Sweden's Melodifestivalen.
March from Glasgow City Hall to the BBC to call for Israel to be excluded from Eurovision and to protest the distorted coverage of the Gaza genocide. 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/EKQYsNQr76
— GGEC (@ggectee) April 6, 2024
Protest posters are already appearing in Malmö, and in March “Free Gaza” was spray-painted on the Malmö Live digital sign . Malmö police have received requests to hold large protests near the arena, both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli.
A host of Eurovision participants, including Britain's Olly Alexander, signed a joint statement calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the return of Israeli hostages.
EBU Director General Noel Curran stated that Eurovision takes the same position as other major organizations such as sports federations in maintaining an inclusive stance towards Israel, and stated that Eurovision is a “non-political music event and a competition between public broadcasters who EMU members. This is not a competition between governments.”
How did Israel change its record?
So, for the first time, Israel presented a song called “October Rain,” written by Avi Ohayon, Keren Peles and Stav Beger and performed by 20-year-old Eden Golan. “October” is reminiscent of the horrific Hamas massacre, and the lyrics were also quite harsh to begin with. “I’m still wet from the October rain”; “There is so much air left to breathe”; “They were all good kids, every one of them.”
In a panic, the EBU asked Israel to submit another song – and was met with fury. Culture Minister Miki Zohar said on X (formerly Twitter) that the “touching” song expresses “the feelings of the people and the country these days and is not political in nature.” He added that disqualifying him would be “scandalous.”
Eden Golan, representing Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. Photo: Reuters
However, a compromise was reached: the song was rewritten and became the less problematic Hurricane, now the official song of Israel. But critics say the music video clearly references the October Music Festival massacre, featuring dancers in a field, and Golan's top with a large hole in it suggests a bullet wound.
It's not ideal, to say the least. for a competition whose slogan is “music unites.” Expect a tense atmosphere every time an Israeli act takes the stage.
But Russia is still banned?
Yes. Following the announcement of a ban on participation in Eurovision in 2022, Russian state broadcasters suspended their membership of the EBU, preventing them from participating in future competitions.
Will there be additional security measures this year?
Almost certainly, given the above. Malmö police chief Petra Stenkulla told local radio that Sweden's terror threat level is currently four out of five, adding: “We can never guarantee security, but we will do our best to make people feel safe.”
What about making people feel safe? social networks?The EBU recently issued a statement condemning the abuse directed at participating artists over Israel's participation in the competition. He acknowledges the “depth of feeling” coming from Eurovision “taking place against the backdrop of a terrible war” and supports freedom of speech, but opposes “any form of online abuse, hate speech or harassment directed at our artists or anyone else.” persons associated with the competition.”
The statement ends with a call for constructive dialogue and support for artists participating “in a music entertainment show” hoping to “share their music with the world.”
Which it does. Should we be worried in 2024?
Politics aside (ugh), Eurovision is best known for its crazy performances. Think banana-loving wolves, dirty milkmaids and that guy on the giant hamster wheel. Or last year’s joyful eyesore in the form of a visit from Finland. There is nothing strange.
There's definitely a lot going on in Irish 2024 record “electro-metal breakthrough” Doomsday Blue from non-binary artist Bambie Thug. The lyrics feature spells, including the killing curse Avada Kedavra, which you may recognize from Harry Potter, and the music video morphs between an evil witch and a dream world colored in the colors of the transgender flag.
Spain's song has already caused a scandal. The fox song title Zorra means “fox”, but is most often a misogynistic slang word for “bitch” or “whore”. Husband and wife singers Nebulosa say they are reclaiming it, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has intervened to defend the track from feminist criticism. The performance features male dancers in corsets and thongs, so perhaps it is an equal opportunity objectification.
I have high hopes for a frantic melodrama from Belgium's Mustii, whose music video sees him half-naked, oiled up and doing drugs. at least 20 fog machines. The superbly titled Croatian song Baby Lasagna gives us big numbers on economic emigration, and this year's stress migraine comes courtesy of an Estonian blend of hip-hop and folk. We (of course) know nothing about (these) drugs.
But can anyone top No Rules! from Finn Teemu Keisteri, known as Windows95man, for idle chatter? Despite wearing that (pixelated, per Eurovision rules) Microsoft Windows logo during his performance, he hatched from a denim egg and haphazardly sprayed fire from his denim shorts. According to the Finnish jury, he came in last, but a public vote allowed him to pass. If he repeats his Eurovision feat, expect the same Marmite reaction.
How exactly does voting work?
It's Complicated. Until recently, voting was a mixture of individual country jury tallies with an element of public voting. However, there was a big shake-up to the voting system last year after voting irregularities were discovered among six countries' juries during the 2022 semi-finals. In fact, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania and San Marino were suspected of voting for each other.
So, last year, for the first time, juries from individual countries were prohibited from deciding which countries would advance from the semi-finals to grand final. Instead, it is now determined solely by public voting, and viewers from non-participating countries (called Rest of the World) can vote for their favorite songs (paying €0.99 per vote for the privilege).
However, the six countries that reach the final are only eligible to vote in one semi-final each. It is randomized and in 2024 UK viewers will only be able to vote in the first semi-final.
Last year's contestant May Muller, pictured here during the voting, finished second to last with 24 points. Photo: PA
But this is only the semi-final. The rankings in the all-important Grand Final are determined by a combination of individual country jury scores (parade scores from Sarajevo, etc.) and audience votes. Each person can vote up to 20 times, but cannot choose their country's entry.
Until recently, votes in the final were split 50-50 between the jury and the public vote. But as of last year, votes from countries in the rest of the world are combined to carry the equivalent weight of one participating country. This changes the split to 50-50, with the general public having 50.6 percent of the winner's vote compared to 49.4 percent of the jury's vote.
Knotty, isn't it? And you thought that this was just a banal singing competition.
Will countries still simply vote for their neighbors?
Geopolitics still inevitably comes into play in the form of group voting. Follow the Slavic vote, the Nordic vote and the French-speaking vote. Let's not forget Greece and Cyprus, who always award each other a maximum of 12 points. Expect ironic approval when they invariably do so.
Can Ukraine win again?
Their participation in the 2024 elections is not an entirely certain fact. The rousing dance track by Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil is obviously inspired by Mother Teresa and the Virgin Mary and features a rather solemn rap section. But voters may still want to express their love for Ukraine through Eurovision.
Do the performers sing live?
Yes, all vocals must be live. This includes any overdubs by the singer that fit the melody of the song. Performers can choose between pre-recorded backing vocals, live backing vocals (on or off stage), or a combination of live and recorded backing vocals. Songs must be original compositions and no longer than three minutes. No more than six performers are allowed on stage during one song.
Pre-recorded backing tracks were first allowed in 1973, provided that all pre-recorded instruments could also be seen “performed” – or imitated – on stage. This rule became redundant with the advent of electronic music and was abolished in 1997, a year after Gina G's band had to bring huge computers on stage to perform Ooh Aah… Just A Little Bit, because those instruments were part of the song. recorded. created.
How important is Eurovision for Europe?
It's actually an exercise in the soft power of kitsch. Although 160 million viewers worldwide cannot be bad for the various travel agencies in Europe.
Host cities also benefit. Last year around 100,000 people visited Liverpool, generating a net profit of £54 million for the local economy.
I thought it was Eurovision. Why can Australia and Azerbaijan enter?
Australians have always loved Eurovision. Despite being more than 7,000 miles from Europe, the country was invited to perform at half-time of the competition's semi-finals in 2014. 50th anniversary. Singer Guy Sebastian finished fifth and impressed the Eurovision hierarchy so much that Australia was allowed to return each year as a permanent entrant. If Australia wins the competition, it doesn't mean the contestants will head to Sydney to party next year. The special rule means that the winning Australia will have to select a European co-organizer to run the competition on its behalf.
What about Azerbaijan? Well, “Euro” in Eurovision is not entirely geographical. Rather, this is due to the fact that the competition is organized by the EBU, which includes broadcasters from countries in Europe and beyond. According to the EMU website, it has 112 member organizations from 56 countries, plus a further 30 associate members in Asia, Africa and other countries. The permanent members also include broadcasters from Jordan and Tunisia.
Why then does the US not participate in Eurovision?
Americans have historically viewed Eurovision as a bizarre and eccentric curiosity. That began to change in 2016, when some 50 million US households were able to watch it for the first time thanks to a deal between the EBU and Viacom.
Then, in 2020, the competition was featured by Will Ferrell in the comedy film Eurovision: The Story of Fire Saga, which largely portrayed him as a quirky and eccentric curiosity (though the film did receive a nomination for ” Oscar” for Best Original Song). ).
In 2022, NBC launched its own US-only version. The American Song Contest pitted 56 singers against each other: one from each of the 50 U.S. states, one from the capital city of Washington, D.C., and one from each of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands. Oklahoma won. The competition was not repeated in 2023. However, at least Americans can now vote in the real Eurovision – via the official app or by visiting here.
Will Ferrell starred in Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga Photo: Elizabeth Viggiano/NETFLIX Will Eurovision help your career?
Maybe. Abba (1974), Celine Dion (1988) and Olivia Newton-John (1974) became global superstars after Eurovision. The competition also helped support the careers of already successful artists such as Michael Ball (1992), Cliff Richard (1968) and Lulu (1969). And it gave impetus to performers in the later stages of their careers (Katrina and the Waves, Engelbert Humperdinck and Bonnie Tyler).
Moneskin, Italy's 2021 winners, are now huge mainstream stars, having played London's O2 and Glastonbury last year. Sam Ryder, Britain's 2022 runner-up, also acquitted himself well. But for every artist who does it, there are dozens who don’t. Four words: Skuch, Gemini, James Newman.
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