EUROVISION 2025: THE SEARCH FOR THE HOST CITY LAUNCHED

Swiss televisions have launched officially the search for the host city for Eurovision 2025 with a logo that made me think of Istanbul 2004 immediately. I have no idea what skyline is supposed to be there but it certainly doesn't make me think of Switzerland!

Istanbul hasn't been the only city to feature the skyline or similar in their Eurovision branding as also Helsinki 2007 did so, as you can clearly see even today in this blog, lol.

Eurovision song contest is coming back home after this rather chaotic and disastrous 2024 edition as the very first edition took place in Switzerland's Lugano in May 24, 1956 in attempt to unite post-war Europe and bring some entertainment and excitement for the new media called television. Loosley modeled after Italy's Sanremo festival seven countries took part, each with two songs: Switzerland, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Switzerland won but the next contest moved to Frankfurt in Germany. And ever since the contest has moved - with a few exceptions - to the winning country. Switzerland won for the second time in 1988 and hosted the contest in Lausanne in 1989. This time both previous host cities have ruled themselves out of the race to host, as has the capital city of Bern.

Zurich is the front runner and apparently the most eager to bring Eurovision in town. Potential arena Hallenstadion has a capacity of 11-13.000. Opened in 1939 and renewed in 2004-05. There's also a new Swiss Life arena opened in 2022 of 12.000 capacity. The Ice-Hockey world championships 2026 will take place there. Zurich has international airport and enough hotel rooms.

Geneva is also not out of the race, being also Ebu's home city. Palaexpo has capacity of 15.000 with halls inside the arena that could easily host up to 2,000 journalists in the press center. Originally built in 1926, current building in 1981 and expanded in 1987, 1995 and 2003. Geneva has international airport and enough of hotel capacity.

Basel hopes to host with St.Jakobshalle and 12.000 capacity. The town may lack accommodation and direct travel connections.

St.Gallen is one of those "let's try it even if we have no chance in hell but hey it's good PR!". Sadly they seem to lack a suitable arena and travel connections. And accommodation. Just to name some key factor. (Update: There's Olma Hall and exhibition center but that doesn't quite change the situation) Even if there's apparently a certain joint aspirations with Liechtenstein that just might or might not try to enter Ebu later this year.

There's also Bern + Biel bid, Biel being Nemo's hometown, considered rather hopeless though.

The decision is expected in August. Until then one can only hope Switzerland would return to national final like in the old good days: three songs in French, three in German, three in Italian and one in Romansh!

Comments

ESC 2016 WISH LIST: MARGARET FOR POLAND

Małgorzata Jamroży aka Margaret has also been tipped for Eurovision and apparently she did turn it down but she'd be perfect. She's got a look and persona you can't unnotice nor forget, she's got hit songs, she has been voted or nominated for everything from Trendy artist to the Hope of the Year, Fashion Icon and Glamour Woman of the year besides the usual best video, song, album, debut..... Oh she's also a fashion designer! She's very clever with social medias and would surely use it to her advantage if selected for Stockholm 2016. Her debut album is titled Add the blonde , do we need to say more? Except it includes mostly Swedish written pop tunes like Tell me how are ya , Wasted , Start a fire and Heartbeat . And of course her debut single and internationally noticed Thank you very much that you can enjoy below with all its anti-textil feel. I think she's Eurovision perfection, she's cheeky and fun, can we have her?

SONGS OF THE YEAR 2015: #5 KRISTA SIEGFRIDS - ON & OFF

Krista Siegfrids is delivering nice pop tunes one after another and this one is particularly catchy and soon you will be singing along..... Hopefully her Melodifestivalen entry will be equally good!

Blogilkar exclusive: PASHA PARFENI INTERVIEW

My flying reporter Robert managed to get hold on Pasha Parfeni from Moldova today who has become during this week pretty big favorite to do well. How did he end up in Eurovision, what his goals are and is his granny better than the ones from Buranovo? And will we get a cover album full of Eurovision later on? Find it out here: Why do you want to participate in Eurovision? That's a very difficult question... I want to be a star! A worldstar, ha ha! But I know it's not easy even in Eurovision, only Celine Dion and ABBA have made it. But I can make myself a bit more known, it's good for promotion. After Eurovision I will finish my album and my promo-CD already has nine songs. We will recod maybe 4-5 more and it will make a good album. With what result will you be happy here? Happy? … Top-10! Then I'll be absolutely happy! So if you don't get to the final you will be totally depressed? Yes, maybe... Yes, it would be hard. For me and my team. What are y

Blogilkar Exclusive: RAMBO AMADEUS INTERVIEW

My flying reporter Robert met Rambo Amadeus in his hotel this morning and what an interesting and entertaining meet it was! Unfortunately the time wasn't enough as this man has lots to tell about many topics. However, here are the main things! Thank you Rambo for this interview and first of all, how an earth Montenegro wanted you to represent them in Eurovision? I don't know! I really don't know. I didn't want to ask any questions why they wanted me. So they came to you, you didn't go to them? Of course. Everybody comes to me..... And everybody knows you and that you are bit, maybe a lot, Eurovision skeptic. Why did they come to you then? Well, I think they want the audience to pay attention to them? I think the new, young and ambitious director of RTCG decided to do some kind of shock therapy. He probably thinks there's nothing to lose. I asked him "Are you sure? Do you know my work?" and he said yes. I think they are learning how to g

ESC 2016 BELARUS: NAKED WITH WOLVES?

Today's funniest Eurovision related story comes from Belarus. Some sources claim Ivan wants to perform on stage naked and with live wolf or wolves. It surely would be a first on Eurovision stage! We have seen some forgotten underwear over the years, and some cardbox animals though..... Is it time to take things a bit further? No, according the rules live animals are not allowed, and Eurovision being a family show nudity won't do either. (It seems to be ok to be half naked if you are a dancer though..... )

Regina Lund - naked and censored

Regina Lund's new video Jag är osynlig was censored by Youtube only minutes after it had been uploaded. In the video she was playing a female Jesus who gets crusified in the end. "I was shocked!" she says. "There's nothing more naked in it as in every church! It's ok to have naked man hanging on the wall but my nakedness is too much on internet? ". Oh well, no comment. She's prepairing a new album Dare Regina Lund and we of course remember her from her Melodifestivalen 2007 adventure with Rainbow star .

GREECE: HELENA PAPARIZOU HITS AGAIN WITH HAIDE

Eurovision song contest 2005 winner Helena Paparizou has been enjoying Top-5 hits every year since 2003 with the exception of 2010 and 2014, this latest one being already her 27th! And Haide is charting also in Bulgaria and Finland, of all places. The catchiness of her hits has changed less over the years than her face.... Here's the English version , below the Greek version.

FINLAND: #UMK17 REVIEW - GüNTHER & D'SANZ - LOVE YOURSELF

50,5/120 "If everyone loved themselves world would be a better place". Right. Günther & D'Sanz's entry was instantly labeled as an anthem for masturbation, with 70's porn star moustache as a bonus. Their aim is to start a Love yourself revolution in #UMK17. And they don't plan to win only #UMK17 but the whole Eurovision as well. Well, we'll see. When the artists were announced these guys got the most attention in media with My First Band. If this is your favorite vote for it in my poll or here Günther (Mats Olle Söderlund) is a Swedish singer and ex-model. His Ding dong song topped the charts in Sweden in 2004. In 2006 he took part in Melodifestivalen with Like fire tonight and finished 6th in the semifinal. One album, Pleasureman , has been released. D'Sanz (Daniel Sanz) is from Spain and lives in Finland. He took part in the Voice of Finland earlier this year but lost in knock out only to be saved by another coach and then

CAROLA'S BOOBS STEAL THE SHOW, SVT APOLOGIES

Update! Another thing got Swedes talking last night: Carola's boobs when she was giving away an award. This is not the first time her boombs cause headlines; her misfortunate adventures in the 80's in Japan wer explained with her boobs being too big for Japanese market. Ok.... Or was it the song ? Anyways, Carola apologies and says she thinks the dress is stylish and elegant (even her friends said so) and she's a mature woman in her 40s, not a 16-year-old girl and looks like one. The Swedish Oscars, Guldbagge awards were given out last night. Carola was there as a guest star to sing Barbra Streisand's The way we were when honoring the movie stars who passed away during 2012. However, the cameras were too much on Carola, not on the stars showed in photos in the background and that upset many viewers as that part of the show was to celebrate them, not Carola. Oh well... The producer of the show tells in Aftonbladet the part of the show was made the sam

Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Search This Blog