Eurovision extravaganza seeks to soar above strife and division
It’s springtime in Europe — time for the annual blossoming of spectacle and sound known as the Eurovision Song Contest.
Taking place in May in Malmo, Sweden, the 68th annual competition will see acts from 37 countries vie for the continent’s pop crown in a feelgood extravaganza that strives — not always successfully – to banish international strife and division.
What is Eurovision?
On one level, it’s simple: Eurovision is an international pop music competition in which acts from countries across Europe, and a few beyond it, compete in a live televised contest to be crowned Eurovision champion.
But it’s also much more — a celebration of diversity, national pride and the joyous power of pop. And glitter. So much glitter.
Launched in 1956 to foster unity after World War II, Eurovision has become a campy, feel-good celebration of pop music with an audience of hundreds of millions around the world. It has grown from seven countries to almost 40, including non-european nations such as Israel and Australia.
It’s known for songs that range from anthemic to extremely silly.
Paul Jordan, an expert on the contest who is known as “Dr. Eurovision,” said the contest “is almost indescribable in terms of its scale, in terms of its craziness — but I would liken it to probably the musical version of the Olympic Games.”
When and where is contest?
This year’s contest will be held in Malmo in southern Sweden, with two semifinals on May 7 and 9 followed by a grand final on May 11. Traditionally the competition is hosted by the previous year’s winner, and Sweden triumphed in 2023 with Tattoo, a power ballad by pop diva Loreen.
The Nordic nation is a Eurovision powerhouse that has won the contest seven times, a number equalled only by Ireland.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of a Eurovision’s most iconic moment, ABBA’S victory in the 1974 contest with Waterloo which propelled them to stardom.
Fans are hoping for an appearance by the Swedish supergroup in Malmo, though the band members have played down those suggestions.
Controversies amid the pop? Eurovision’s motto is “united by music” and organiser the European Broadcasting Union strives to keep political divisions out of the competition, though it doesn’t always succeed.
Russia has been banned since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Last year’s contest was held in Liverpool because the 2022 winner, Ukraine, was at war.
This year, pro-palestinian activists and some musicians have urged organisers to drop Israel from the event over its conduct in its war against Hamas, which has killed more than 33,000 people in Gaza, according to its Health Ministry.
Israel has not been suspended, but it was ordered to change the lyrics of its competing song, originally titled October Rain, an apparent reference to Hamas’ cross-border October 7 attack that killed some 1200 Israelis. Renamed Hurricane, the power ballad will be performed by 20-year-old singer Eden Golan. —AP