Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

After American song contest (a total flop, one edition)), attempts to create Eurovision like contests to Latin America, Africa, Canada (and who remembers where else?) and the Eurovision dance contest (another flop, two editions) and those on going Eurovision Young musicians, Eurovision Young Dancers, Eurovision Choir that are very marginal, as is Junior Eurovision song contest, it looks like the Eurovision Asia is really happening finally in November 2026 with national selections starting next month across Asia.  But how did we get this far?  It all started already back in September 2008 when Ebu announced that Asian-Pacific Eurovision would take place in 2009 . Under title Our sound - the Asia Pacific Song Contest was to feature 16 broadcasters taking part from Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. It was due to happen in Singapore in late 2009 before it was pos...

  Finland - Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen - Liekinheitin Georgia - Bzikebi - On replay Portugal - Bandidos do Cante - Rosa Greece - Akylas - Ferto Croatia - Lelek - Andromeda Sweden - Felicia - My system Moldova - Satoshi - Viva, Moldova! All photos lovingly borrowed from Eurovision official media

As a surprise twist front runner favorite Zurich is out of the race to host Eurovision song contest 2025 and the Swiss team with Ebu announced that Basel and Geneva are the top two bids and of them will get the honor to host the contest in May 2025.  Basel is apparently aiming on St.Jakobshalle that could have been also called Roger Federer Arena to honor the local tennis player but the local council vote blocked that idea. Built in 1976 and completely renovated between 2016-18 adding fro its original 9.000 capacity to 12.400. The complex also has five smaller halls that would nice serve as press center, delegation lounge and all that extra needed for the show under same roof.  The arena has been used mainly for tennis, handball, ice hockey, curling and of course concerts, including Bob Dylan leaving him with life changing experience.  Basel itself is Switzerland's third biggest city by river Rhine with its approx 178.000 inhabitants (541.000 in greater Basel). In multi l...

Today's news about the change of voting system went through fandom like an earthquake and showed once again the Eurovision song contest has the most passionate fandom ever. In good and bad, especially in bad. The truth is the youngsters don't remember - or know - the voting system has changed about a zillion times over the decades from on spot two member juries to televote to 20 member juries to anything in between. The televoting (since 1998 only) has been from five minutes to 10, then 15, after songs or during songs, depending the year. Even the scores given kept changing most every year from one to ten given out in various combinations until 1975 when the infamous Twelve points system was invented by a Finn and has been in use ever since. Even that has had a minor change as first the votes were given out in running order before they were changed to the more exciting one from one to 12 we know today instead. These days of course we only get to hear the 12 said out loud when f...

Oh my, from a series You got one job. After Belarus jury was sacked when they leaked who voted and how in the semi-final someone messed the votes of aggregated votes EBU generated to replace the jury (the same way San Marino's televotes are being generated). Or in short: the votes were given backwards or the last one (in this case Israel) got 12 points, second to last 10 and so on.... And indeed, I remember wondering and laughing out for those votes in the live broadcast as they were simply rather insane and akward.  Now the votes have been corrected and even if there is no change in the top-4 after that it gets messy, and even The Netherlands lead to Italy is now only 26 points. The jury winner was North Macedonia instead of Sweden, but in combined results Sweden passes the televoting winner Norway and they change places; Sweden 5th and Norway 6th. Also North Macedonia climbs one spot passing Azerbaijan to 7th as they switch places. San Marino also climbs one place to 19th sw...

After days of speculating and refusals from both runner up Freedom Jazz and third placed Kazka (and 4th placed Brunettes Shoot Blondes even before they were asked and apparently they never were) after the winner Maruv and negotiating with EBU Ukraine has decided to withdraw from Eurovision song contest 2019. They will however broadcast the shows as planned. One can suppose for 2020 they go for an internal selection or carefully selected artists..... if they will be there.  Should Russia win in 2019 and organize in 2020 UA:PBC confirmed they won't be there. 

Jan Ola Sand and EBU gang have been to Israel to go through with KAN/IPBC the three proposals for hosting the Eurovision song contest in 2019. The choice is between fan favorite Tel Aviv, Israeli politicians favorite Jerusalem and outsider Eilat. We should know the decision shortly.  Eilat apparently has a plan a bit similar to Copenhagen 2014 to create the venue in the Port of Eilat in some old hangar or warehouse...? Jan Ola Sand stated EBU will not overlook the out of the box solutions if they only meet the schedule. There's always a risk though, ask Copenhagen that went well over budget and had some schedule issues as well but in the end it served its purpose wonderfully giving us one of the best stages ever - outside the venue was another story then, especially getting to the Eurovision Island..... Eilat is Israel's southernmost town with a population of 50.000, and an important touristic spot between Negev desert and Red Sea squeezed between Egypt, Jordania and...

EBU (and Christer Björkman) have given birth to the Eurovision song contest 2018 semi-finals running orders over the Easter, taking account the variety of music styles and artists, as well as the props they're going to use to make the show entertaining and variable. Not forgetting trying to give everyone a moment to shine.  Azerbaijan is a good opener with its easy catchy up tempo number for the semi one, as is Norway for the second one. Cyprus and Ukraine are both playing with fire most propably with their act and will leave a mess on stage so they can close the show (and then we will see where to place them should they qualify for the final).... Alexander Rybak also being the opener of the second semi-final has the honor to have the 1500th entry in the Eurovision since 1956. Maybe another reason for that slot, being the only previous winner in the contest this year.  First Semi Final recap Second Semi-Final recap

  RTP and EBU have revealed today the first design of the stage of Eurovision song contest 2018 and no surprise it continues the theme of sea conquistadores. The inspiration is drawn from navigation, sea, maps and ships, and reflects Portugal's history and culture. Once again I feel like pointing out the same approach RTP is having to YLE's back in the day. We at the far corners of the continent seem to take more pride on our own heritage over standard multinational offerings, so often present in Eurovision events.  The armillary sphere, present also in the Portuguese flag and heraldry, will be a visual key element. Sweeping waves and art of boatbuilding will be also visible and part of the design. While the old saying goes "All roads lead to Rome" next May it will be Lisbon where all the lines on map come together. All aboard! The main design is again by Florian Wieder, who has already designed several stages, including the one in Kyiv earlier this year....

  Only twice Eurovision song contest has managed to reach the record number of participants, 43, in 2008 and 2011. It seems every time since when 43 has been announced something has happened and it has dropped to 42. Be it Bosnia-Herzegovina wihdrawing or Romania being kicked out. This time it is Macedonia. It's pretty safe to assume Macedonia was in RTP's list of 43* they confirmed last week before EBU made public it has cut off MRT of its services including news, sports etc and of course Eurovision song contest due to a debt of 0,5-22 million euros depending on your source. This recalls the Romanian affair of 2016, only that it happens well ahead of the contest unlike then when Ovidiu Anton was already packing his bags to go to Vienna wheh he and Romania was stopped. This time Macedonia's participation in Junior Eurovision song contest 2017 goes on as planned but Eurovision 2018 itself is a no go, unless the debt is paid or solution found.  *It would be real su...

Oh boy. Poor EBU. Poor Jon Ola Sand. I'm sure he needs a proper holiday once this drama is over. And I'm sure secretly he's hoping some less demanding country will win in May! Let's start from the beginning. Russia waited til last minute to reveal their cards and whether they will participate at all in Kyiv 2017 and on March 12 announced it's going to be Julia Samoylova with Flame is burning (my review of the song here )  It didn't take long the Eurovision fandome ridiculed Russia's decision to send a fragile girl in a wheelchair with a sugary ballad to avoid possible booing and making Ukraine look bad should they ban her. And that's exactly what happened on March 22: Ukrainian authorities isssued a travel ban on the Russian artist as she had illegally entered the annexed Crimea (in other words entering without passing via Ukraine) and even apparently posted anti-Ukrainian propaganda in her social medias. According Ukrainian law a crimina...

Alessandro Capicchioni, Sammarinese hesd of delegation, tells eurofestivalnews EBU's Executive Supervisor has apologized how they have handled the proposed voting changes by San Marino ( or rather not considering them at all ). He says EBU and SMRTV are now talking and when both sides know what the other one thinks and expects some solution will be found in the end. The talks will continue in Kyiv and EBU has provised to consult and inform SMRTV for eventual changes in the future.  San Marino also candidated itself for the Reference group to look after the other small nations but as we know the three big ones were revoted in for another period. San Marino would have also stressed the economical side of the contest. The big countries and broadcasters manage but the small ones struggle and in the recent years the absenses have been caused just because of the economical problems. Small stations close while the big ones just adjust and make some cuts and survive...... Capicchio...

Yesterday San Mrino RTV's Director General Carlo Romeo, besides giving us details on their artists and participation in the Eurovision song contest 2017, ccommented the fact EBU has not answered or commented in anyway their proposal to solve the televoting problem ( more here  and here ) in the tiny country. No news, and I'm sorry to say so. Not even the good taste or good manners by EBU of an email, yet it was a perfectly sensible proposal that would put an end to a stupid and vicious discrimination against San Marino. To double the annual fee of the Small States however there has been a lot of attention but even colleagues of the Italian subsidiary following this sector hasn't said a thing, I do not say to consult us but only even to tell us the decision beforehand. It's really sad that small states are considered at this level by Ebu. We'll see after Eurovision what to do next. Today EBU has finally responded with a letter to Romeo, rejecting , in...

San Marino wasn't really pleased - and with all the reasons in the world! - when EBU just made up their televote in the 2016 Eurovision song contest randomly by combining five other countries' televotes and thus overruling the people of the tiny state altogether and royally. Angry SMRTV told they were not even heard in the matter beforehand and told they have an alternative proposal and it's now made public and it all makes sense. In short: demoscopic jury, a bit like in the Sanremo festival. A certain number of Sammarinese doc who will watch at least two of the shows and vote during the televoting windows. This "panel" vote would then form the Sammarinese televote as the first choice. Only in the case of problems and failed results the EBU's alternative would be used as a back up.  SMRTV has studied the proposal in detail and it seems all water proof. Should EBU not accept it it's only because they want to be nasty as there really is no reason why ...

Here's a little round up what's going in Ukraine lately around Eurovision song contest 2017 preparations.... All more in detail here . This blogger is sure everything will be fine in the end and yes, there's light in the end of the Tunnel of love, a place everyone going to Ukraine should go and experience. After Zurab Alasiania, Head of NTU resigned from his job last week and Eurovision 2017 preparations as a protest of budget cuts, the Mayor of Kyiv appeals to Cabinet of ministers to appoint a new Head as soon as possible.  EBU stated this has no effect on the preparations. Apparently also Victoria Romanova submitted resignation letter but Alasania refused to sign it so she's stuck with it. Instead the people working on ESC will get an extra 5000 euros/month bonuses, a trick to keep them working? Previous Eurovision winner Ruslana stepped out and gave a speech full of fire and states nothing can stop Ukraine having and organizing the contest next May and of...

Australia has been in already two years and most propably will be present also in Kyiv despite launching their our Asiavision next year. The decision to invite them - or rather let them in - is highly critizised by Eurovision purists but this blogger thinks it's just fine. But I would still rather prefer a different solution..... Now that EBU has changed the rules also on paper by  "Associates of the EBU, outside of the European Broadcasting Area, may also be eligible to enter the Eurovision Song Contest. Such decisions are taken by the Reference Group, the governing body of the Eurovision Song Contest, on a case by case basis." I would propose a rotation. Every year a country outside Europe that wants to take part would be invited as a special guest, just like Australia the first time. Or maybe even several depending on the number of the regular countries participating, after all the maximum is set to 46 countries by EBU. If several regulars decided to step ...