LONDON (AP) — Get out the glitter balls, sew on the sequins and put together to get together: The Eurovision Music Contest approaches.
The 69th annual musical extravaganza takes place in Basel, Switzerland in Could. It’s going to 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.
Right here’s a information to the great world of Eurovision:
What’s Eurovision?
Eurovision is a world pop music competitors, by which acts from international locations throughout Europe — and some past it — compete in a dwell televised contest. Every singer or group performs a three-minute track, with the winner determined by votes from nationwide juries and viewers all over the world.
Launched in 1956 to check new live-broadcasting expertise and foster unity after World Struggle II, Eurovision has turn into a campy but heartfelt celebration of variety, nationwide pleasure and the joyous energy of pop. It has grown from seven international locations to virtually 40, together with non-European nations resembling Israel and Australia. Organizers say final yr’s competitors was watched by 163 million folks all over the world.
Eurovision has turn into synonymous with elaborate costumes, spectacular staging and songs that vary from anthemic to extraordinarily foolish. Previous winners embody songs with titles like “La, La, La” and “Boom 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 final yr’s victor was nonbinary Swiss singer Nemo with their operatic anthem “The Code.” The 2025 contest might 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, might be adopted by a grand Saturday night time remaining 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, is predicated in Geneva. It has gained twice earlier than: in 1956 and in 1988, when Canadian chanteuse Celine Dion competed beneath the Swiss flag.
Do pop and politics combine?
Eurovision’s motto is “united by music,” an admirable aim that’s not all the time achieved.
Contest guidelines ban overtly political lyrics or symbols, however regional rivalries are rife and international tensions usually intrude. Russia has been banned since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine gained Eurovision that yr, however couldn’t host in 2023 due to the continued warfare, so the English metropolis of Liverpool stood in.
Final yr’s occasion within the Swedish metropolis of Malmo attracted massive pro-Palestinian protests that known as for Israel to be dropped from the competition over its conduct of its warfare towards Hamas.
Tensions spilled over into the competitors, the place Israeli singer Eden Golan was given tight safety. Israel was ordered to alter the lyrics of its competing track, initially titled “October Rain,” an obvious reference to Hamas’ cross-border assault on Oct. 7, 2023 that killed some 1,200 Israelis. 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 individuals to respect Eurovision’s values of “universality, diversity, equality, and inclusivity” and its political neutrality.
Who’re this yr’s favorites?
Sweden has gained Eurovision seven instances and is bookies’ favourite 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 embody extremely caffeinated Estonian entry ”Espresso Macchiato” by Tony Money, Icelandic brother duo VAEB with “Róa” — it’s about rowing — and Irish entrant Emmy’s ode to a doomed house canine, “Laika Party.”
“There’s a lot of novelty acts this year,” stated Paul Jordan, an skilled on the competition often called Dr. Eurovision. “I feel it’s sort of reflective of the chaos on this planet. It’s virtually like individuals are in search of a little bit of escapism.
“There’s a lot of innuendo this year as well,” he stated, 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.
How can I watch Eurovision and vote?
The competitors might be aired by nationwide broadcasters in collaborating nations, on streaming service Peacock in america and on the Eurovision YouTube channel in some international locations.
A lot of the acts will carry out over two semifinals that can resolve 20 to undergo to the grand remaining. One other six international locations — France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the U.Ok. and host Switzerland — mechanically qualify for the ultimate.
Voting for the winner will open in the beginning of the ultimate on Could 17. Viewers in collaborating international locations can vote by telephone, textual content message or the Eurovision app — however will not be 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 declares 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 points” — zero factors — are all a part of the enjoyable.
“Everyone seems to think that Sweden has it in the bag,” Jordan stated. “But it could well be that a country sneaks up the middle.”
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For extra protection of the Eurovision Music Contest, go to: https://apnews.com/hub/eurovision-song-contest
