Recently updated on January 29th, 2021 at 12:40 pm
It’s the world’s longest running international TV contest, with over 65 years of history. Around 200 million people across Europe and the world watch it on TV every year. It spreads a global message of unity, acceptance and diversity, and it’s inspired thousands of original songs, costumes and drinking games. Even Will Ferrell made a movie about it. So why is everyone so obsessed with Eurovision? Here are 9 reasons why you can’t miss tuning in to the fabulously extravagant and slightly nutty show that is the Eurovision Song Contest.
1. The incredible music
The countries who participate in the Eurovision Song Contest are there to win – and that’s why they send their biggest and most talented artists. In any given performance, you’re sure to hear stunning vocals, spectacular melodies and amazing original tunes. Don’t like what you hear? Not to worry! There’s an incredible amount of genres on display at Eurovision so you’re bound to hit on something you like. From upbeat Swedish to Russian pop and emotional ballads, from Hungarian metalcore to Estonian opera or folk music, and from bands belting out harmonies to solo artists hitting those high notes, Eurovision really does put out the most wonderful music.
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What is the most successful Eurovision song?
There are a few different ways to judge the most successful Eurovision song. If you’re looking at the points, it goes to Alexander Rybank’s Fairytale in 2009. The young Norwegian singer and violinist scored the most points ever since the beginning of Eurovision, winning the 2009 contest with an astonishing 387 points.
You’ve also got to mention Domenico Modugno’s Nel Blu DiPinto Di Blu, also known as Volare. This is the most covered Eurovision song and has been covered by everyone from David Bowie to Cliff Richard. And of course, there’s ABBA – the most successful Eurovision winner ever. The Swedish pop band won the 1974 contest and went on to become global superstars.
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2. The jaw-dropping production
Sure, the music is great. But have you seen the stage props? The lengths the Eurovision Song Contest go to put on a good show is astounding. The production ranges from high-tech staging to intricate choreography blended with everything from flying singers to blazing pyrotechnics. When you take into consideration the sheer number of competing performers, plus all the guest artists, segments and presenters, all presented to the world through a giant live broadcast, it’s quite an impressive feat.
3. The stunning fashion
Eurovision is big and brash, with the most vibrant blend of cultures, art, humour and languages – and the fashion shows it. The participants love to embrace the over-the-top ethos of Eurovision. They always step out onto the stage wearing all kinds of brilliant and bewitching costumes. From lavish gowns to mythically-inspired costumes, to bold and glittery hair and makeup looks, Eurovision is a visual buffet. You’ll be so fascinated by the fashion, you won’t want to miss a single performance!
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4. You never know what you’re going to get
You might think you’ve seen it all when it comes to singing competitions. From American Idol to The X Factor and the Voice, there’s quite a few out there, yet none come even a tiny bit close to the wonders of Eurovision. Every year, the whole contest is full of surprises and you never know what you’re going to get.
We’ve been gifted with Epic Sax Guy (aka Sergey Stepanov), and Buranovskiye Babushki, a group of Russian grandmothers baking live on stage. We’ve seen a dancing gorilla, a man in a horse mask standing on a ladder, and a Uranian drag queen with the iconic star-shaped hat. So what could possibly be next? You’ll just have to tune into the next Eurovision Song Contest to find out.
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Which countries have won the Eurovision Song Contest?
Switzerland was crowned the very first winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. Since then, 27 countries have won Eurovision. Ireland is the most successful country with a record 7 victories, while Sweden comes a close second with 6 wins.
France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom all come in third place with 5 victories each. The Netherlands were the last country to win the contest in 2019. Sadly Eurovision had to be cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. It’s a celebration of diversity and inclusivity
One of the biggest reasons for the Eurovision obsession is that the legendary song contest is a celebration of diversity. Eurovision has made it their mission to push boundaries and welcome people from all walks of life, no matter their race, sexuality, age, gender or culture.
In 1998, trans singer Dana International won the crown for Israel and in 2014, Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst was declared the winner. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) also blocked Chinese broadcasters from broadcasting Eurovision at all. This is because the broadcasters censored the same-sex kiss in Finland’s performance in 2013 and entirely cut Ireland’s performance in 2018 because of same-sex interpretive dancers. As the 2017 Eurovision tagline said – ‘Celebrate Diversity’ – and if you can’t respect that, you don’t get to party with Eurovision.
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6. It’s not just for Europeans
Although the Eurovision Song Contest was originally created for the European continent, it’s influence reaches far beyond that. Dozens of non-European countries all over the world broadcast the show to millions of fans. Some non-European countries even regularly compete in the contest, like Israel, Armenia, Cyprus and Morocco.
In 2015, Australia were invited to throw their hat into the ring to celebrate Eurovision’s 60th anniversary. It turns out, the Aussies were so good at Eurovision, they’ve come back every year since! So as long as you play by the Eurovision rules, it doesn’t really matter whether you’re strictly from Europe.
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7. The creative rules
Speaking of rules, Eurovision has got some interesting ones. For starters, all performers must be aged 16 or over. No song can last longer than three minutes, and no more than 6 people can take part in a performance. While all vocals must be live, all music must be pre-recorded. And in case you didn’t know, live animals are not allowed on stage. This rule was surprisingly contested when the 2016 Belarussian contestant wasn’t allowed to bring wolves on stage with him and had to use LED screens instead!
Since the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the usual Eurovision party this year, the contest is already bringing in new rules to keep the participants safe. They’ve announced that there will be no limit on the number of performers and that pre-recorded backing vocals will be allowed next year. We’re excited to see what the performers come up with!
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8. The interesting voting system
The judges must also abide by some strict voting rules, which have been known to stir up controversy. The current system states that half the points must come from professional judges and half from the audience vote. The system is organised so that bigger countries don’t get an unfair edge on the smaller countries. Each country’s jury of judges awards 12 points to their favourite song and 10 points to its second favourite. Then it’s 8 points to the third favourite, then 7,6,5,4,3,2 and 1 point for each song after that. The audience votes are ranked using the same method.
When they announce the votes in the Grand Final, spokespeople from each country beam in to grant their points. This is one of the best parts of the show, as they’ll often sing, dance or do anything for a little more time in the spotlight. It’s sometimes more entertaining than the songs!
As for the voting system, some critics complain that countries just vote for their allies, making the contest pointless. And while politics and country tensions may have come into play at times over the years, that’s not what Eurovision is about…
9. Eurovision brings people together
… Instead of division, the Eurovision Song Contest is all about peace and togetherness. The EBU held the first Eurovision in 1956 after World War II, in an effort to strengthen the European continent. The EBU believed a musical entertainment show would bring everyone together and allow them to enjoy the things that unite us – and they were right.
The first Eurovision Song Contest had just seven contestants. Today, 43 countries take part and 200 million people tune in to watch the show, with no signs of slowing down. When you look at the weird and wonderful history of a song contest that unites millions of people, it’s no wonder the world has an obsession with Eurovision.
Do you watch Eurovision? Have you ever been to a Eurovision Song Contest? Let us know in the comments below!