LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Sprinkle the sequins and pump up the quantity: The 67th Eurovision Track Contest reaches its climax on Saturday with a grand closing broadcast reside from Liverpool. There might be catchy choruses, a kaleidoscope of costumes and tributes to the spirit of Ukraine in a contest that for seven a long time has captured the altering zeitgeist of a continent.
Right here’s what to anticipate as acts from throughout Europe — and past — vie for the continent’s pop crown.
WHO’S COMPETING?
This 12 months, 37 nations despatched an act to Eurovision, chosen by means of nationwide competitions or inside alternatives by broadcasters. The host nation is often the winner of the earlier 12 months’s occasion, however 2022 runner-up Britain is internet hosting this time round on behalf of the winner, Ukraine.
Twenty-six nations will compete in Saturday’s closing on the Liverpool Enviornment, beside the River Mersey within the port metropolis that gave delivery to The Beatles. Six nations routinely qualify: final 12 months’s winner and the “Massive 5” who pay probably the most to the competition ― France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.Ok.
The opposite 20 finalists, chosen by public votes in two semifinals on Tuesday and Thursday, are: Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Israel, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.
WAIT — AUSTRALIA?
Eurovision is about spirit, not simply geography. Eurovision is vastly in style in Australia, and the nation was allowed to affix the competitors in 2015. Different entrants from outdoors Europe’s borders embrace Israel and Azerbaijan.
WHO ARE THIS YEAR’S FAVORITES?
It’s laborious to foretell victors in a contest whose previous winners have ranged from ABBA to Finnish cartoon metallic band Lordi, however bookmakers say Swedish diva Loreen, who received Eurovision in 2012, is favourite to attain a double along with her energy ballad “Tattoo.”
Finland’s Käärijä was a crowd-pleaser within the semifinals along with his pop-metal get together tune “Cha Cha Cha,” and Canadian singer La Zarra, competing for France, can also be extremely ranked for her Edith Piaf-esque chanson “Évidemment.”
And by no means underestimate left-field entries like Croatia’s Let 3, whose music “Mama ŠČ!”is pure Eurovision camp: an antiwar rock opera that performs like Monty Python meets “Dr. Strangelove.”
WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE FINAL?
Round 6,000 followers will attend the ultimate, hosted by long-time BBC Eurovision presenter Graham Norton, “Ted Lasso” star Hannah Waddingham, British singer Alesha Dixon and Ukrainian rock star Julia Sanina.
Every competing act should sing reside and follow a three-minute restrict, however in any other case is free to create its personal staging — the flashier the pyrotechnics and extra elaborate the choreography, the higher.
Russia’s battle in Ukraine will lend a solemn notice to a contest famed for celebrating tacky pop. The present will open with a efficiency by final 12 months’s winner, Ukrainian folk-rap band Kalush Orchestra. Ukrainian singer Jamala, who received the competition in 2016, will carry out a tribute to her Crimean Tatar tradition.
One one who received’t be showing is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He requested to deal with the ultimate by video — however organizer the European Broadcasting Union mentioned “regrettably,” that will breach “the nonpolitical nature of the occasion.”
HOW IS THE WINNER DECIDED?
After all of the acts have carried out, viewers in collaborating nations can vote by cellphone, textual content message or app – although they'll’t vote for their very own nation. This 12 months for the primary time, viewers in nonparticipating nations also can vote on-line, with the mixed “remainder of the world” votes being given the load of 1 particular person nation.
Nationwide juries of music business professionals additionally allocate between one and 12 factors to their favourite songs, with an announcer from every nation popping as much as declare which has been granted the coveted “douze factors” (12 factors).
Public and jury votes are mixed to present every nation a single rating. Ending up with “nul factors” (zero factors) is taken into account a nationwide embarrassment. It’s a destiny the U.Ok. has suffered a number of occasions.
HOW CAN I WATCH?
Eurovision is being proven by nationwide broadcasters that belong to the European Broadcasting Union, together with the BBC in Britain, and on the Eurovision YouTube channel. In the USA, it’s being proven on NBC’s Peacock streaming service.
___
For extra AP protection of Eurovision, go to https://apnews.com/hub/eurovision-song-contest
Post a Comment