Why is Eurovision a big deal? A guide for perplexed Americans
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This is a big week for Britain. With the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, royals wearing flamboyant outfits have crowded the spotlight. Now the pros are about to take over.
The United Kingdom is hosting Eurovision, the biggest, and strangest, live music event on the planet. More people watch the competition than watch the Super Bowl. This year's musical extravaganza is taking place in Liverpool, with a grand finale on Saturday.
It will be a night of camp and glitter, soulful ballads and bonkers pop tunes. The ongoing semifinals have offered a little taste of what to expect, including some eye-popping costumes, ranging from military drag to intergalactic warlords to glittery man-style onesies. Think of a musical featuring Borat.
Still confused? It's okay. We're here to help. Here's what you need to know about the 67th Eurovision Song Contest.
- What is Eurovision?
Eurovision is a singing competition beloved by its global fan base for powerful performances, dedication to kitsch and extreme silliness. It showcases the diverse musical taste and interests across Europe. Nothing is really too strange. Take this year's entry by Croatia's punk band "Let 3," in which grown men in their undies and wearing lipstick sing while giant rockets are lugged across the stage. Theirs likely won't be the weirdest song at the finale.
The contest started in the late 1950s by a handful of countries as a way to bring together war-ravaged Europe. Each country gets one entry, each act only gets three minutes onstage, and all songs must be original. It's important to have a catchy tune, but the stage set and costuming can be equally important. If Adele were to enter, her chances would be bolstered by wearing a jetpack or glittery butterfly wings.
The musical acts still standing are battling it out in the semifinals, with the last of those on Thursday. The 20 contestants that make it to Saturday will be joined by "the big five" - the U.K., Germany, France, Spain and Italy - who automatically qualify as they contribute more financially to the event. Last year's winner, Ukraine, also qualifies automatically for the finale.
- Is Eurovision a big deal?
Music snobs may turn up their noses, but it's a very big deal for fans in Europe and beyond. Around 160 million people tuned in last year. It's fun for the whole family - viewing is safe for young children, and everyone can have a giggle watching Norwegians dressed as wolves soulfully singing "Give That Wolf a Banana."
The contest is incredibly popular in Sweden, which has won the contest six times, second only to Ireland. Many countries hold national competitions to select their representative. (Others, like the U.K., handpick their entrant.) In 2017, an astonishing 98 percent of the Icelandic TV viewing public tuned into the Eurovision final - despite their singer not making it that far in the competition.
- Why can't Ukraine host Eurovision?
The U.K. is staging the 67th Eurovision contest on behalf of Ukraine - it's the first time that the previous year's winner isn't hosting. But the European Broadcasting Union decided it wouldn't be safe to hold it in Ukraine given Russia's ongoing war there. The Ukrainian folk rap group Kalush Orchestra won the 2022 Eurovision with its song, "Stefania," and the U.K.'s Sam Ryder came in second with "Space Man."
Expect frequent references to Ukraine in this year's finale. One of the co-hosts is the Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina (the others are "Ted Lasso" star Hannah Waddingham and "Britain's Got Talent"'s Alesha Dixon). The city of Liverpool is a sea of yellow-and-blue Ukrainian flags, and tickets have been given to Ukrainians living in the U.K.
- Why is Eurovision not just Europe?
Countries are eligible to participate if they have a broadcaster that operates within Europe as part of the European Broadcasting Union, an alliance of public service media outlets. This includes the likes of Israel, which joined in 1973, and Australia, which joined in 2015.
- Has the United States ever won Eurovision?
No. The United States doesn't take part in the competition. Individual Americans, however, have competed on behalf of other countries. And singers like Madonna and Justin Timberlake have performed during intervals. U.S. viewers can watch the contest through Peacock or subscriptions that carry the BBC.
- Who are the most famous Eurovision winners?
Most of the songs have never played on U.S. radio stations. But the contest has launched the careers of some, including Sweden's ABBA, who found global fame after winning in 1974 with its song "Waterloo," and Canada's crooner Celine Dion, who won on behalf of Switzerland (entrants don't need to be from the country they represent).
The 2021 winner Måneskin, an Italian rock band, has seen its hit song "Beggin" top U.S. charts. Last year's song "Snap," by Armenian singer Rosa Linn, went viral on TikTok.
- What countries have pulled out of Eurovision?
North Macedonia, Montenegro and Bulgaria withdrew from the contest this year due to the increased entry fee. According to the BBC, participating countries were asked to pay more to compensate for lost funds from Russia after it was banned following its invasion of Ukraine. Eurovision doesn't publish figures for each country's entrance fee, but the BBC said the total cost for all broadcasters adds up to approximately £5 million ($6.3 million.)
- Who are the favorites to win Eurovision this year?
There is a lot of hype about Sweden's Loreen, who delighted fans in the semifinals with her power ballad "Tattoo" - and her inches-long power fingernails. Yet Sweden could face stiff competition from neighboring Finland, whose rapper Käärijä and dancers look, at times, like a human caterpillar. Ukraine, France, Norway, Israel and Spain are also top contenders, according to bookmakers.
- Is the Eurovision Song Contest movie fact or fiction?
The 2020 movie "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga," starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams, is basically a documentary. Just kidding - it's a fictitious comedy, with the actual Eurovision being far weirder. But the film did give viewers a flavor of the real thing, with lots of cameos from actual Eurovision performers.
One of the songs from the film, "Husavik," was nominated for an Academy Award for best original song.
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