Hey there, fellow music lovers! If you’ve never heard of Eurovision, buckle up because I’m about to take you on a wild ride through one of the most fabulous and eccentric musical extravaganzas on the planet. I grew up with Eurovision and have been watching it every single year for as long as I can remember. So you can call me an expert on this topic, so today I will tell you everything you need to know. So grab your sequins and your sense of humor, because Eurovision is about to steal your heart!

And maybe you have seen the Netflix movie called Eurovision, starring Will Farrell. And if not, I can recommend to watch it. It gives you an idea of what Eurovision is and it is a fun movie to watch. Even though it is a little bit more dramatic than in reality I would say. But there are also a lot of videos you can find on YouTube with footage from the live shows.

What is The Eurovision Song Contest

First things first, what exactly is Eurovision? Well, imagine the Olympics, but instead of sports, countries from all over Europe (and some from beyond) send their best musical acts to compete for the title of Eurovision champion. It’s like the Super Bowl of pop music but with more glitter and less football. Every country in Europe + Israel and Australia picks the artist of their choice and writes an original song. This year (2024) 37 countries are competing for the title. But please, don’t compare it to Idols or The Voice because it is so much bigger than that. First of all, they create an original song, the stage is huge, and around 200 million people watch it every single year. And you can send an artist who is already famous in your own country.

How Did It Start?

But how did this glittery spectacle come to be? After the Second World War, the world was pretty divided and so was Europe. Switzerland (the most neutral country in the world) wanted to bring all countries back together and be friends again. So back in 1956, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) had a genius idea: why not create a pan-European song competition to bring the continent together in harmony (literally)? And thus, Eurovision was born! The first year, only 7 countries competed but every year after that other countries started to join. Since then, it’s grown into a cultural phenomenon, with millions of viewers tuning in every year to witness the magic.

How Does It Work and How Do You Win It?

Now, let’s talk about the countries competing. Eurovision isn’t just for the countries of Europe; it’s open to any member of the EBU, which means countries from Israel to Australia can get in on the action. Each country sends one musical act to represent them on the Eurovision stage, resulting in a colorful smorgasbord of languages, cultures, and musical styles.

But how does it all work? Well, it’s a bit like a musical Hunger Games (minus the actual fighting, of course). Each country performs its song live on stage, and then it’s up to the viewers at home (and a panel of professional judges) to vote for their favorites. The country with the most votes wins the coveted title of Eurovision Champion and gets to host the competition the following year. But before you can compete in the Big Final on Saturday, you first have to qualify. The semi-finals are always on Tuesday and Thursday before the final on Saturday. This year 37 countries are competing and only 20 countries can qualify. The big five (Spain, France, Italy, the UK, and Germany) are automatically in the final because they put a lot of money into the contest. Also, last year’s winner is immediately in the final, which means every year there are 25/26 countries in the final.

Now, let’s talk about winning. How do you win Eurovision? Well, it’s a bit of a mystery, to be honest. Sure, there are some tried and true strategies (catchy melodies, flashy costumes, and a killer key change never hurt anyone), but at the end of the day, it’s all about that elusive Eurovision magic. Sometimes the underdog takes home the trophy, and sometimes the clear favorite crashes and burns. That’s the beauty of Eurovision: you never know what’s going to happen next!

So there you have it, folks: Eurovision in a nutshell. It’s a glittery, glamorous, and gloriously over-the-top celebration of music, culture, and fabulousness. So grab your popcorn, gather your friends, and get ready to sing along to some seriously catchy tunes. Eurovision awaits!

Until next time, keep calm and Eurovision on! 🎶✨