Eurovision explained, from ABBA to Zorra, as the song contest is shadowed by war

Sarah Bonnici of Malta performs the song Loop during the dress rehearsal for the second semi-final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Scores of musicians, hundreds of journalists and thousands of music fans are gathering in the Swedish city of Malmo, where the Eurovision Song Contest is building towards Saturday's exuberant, glitter-drenched final.

Thirty-seven countries are entered in the contest, which this year is taking place over several days in the Swedish port city of Malmo. The country is hosting because Swedish singer Loreen won last year’s competition in Liverpool, England. Once all the acts have performed, the winner is chosen by a famously complex mix of phone and online votes from viewers around the world and rankings by music-industry juries in each of the Eurovision countries. As the results are announced, countries slide up and down the rankings and tensions build. Ending up with “nul points,” or zero, ranks as a national humiliation.

According to bookmakers, a leading contender is Swiss singer Nemo, who is performing a melodic, operatic song titled “The Code.” Nemo would be the first performer who identifies as nonbinary to win the contest, which has a hugeAnother nonbinary performer generating huge buzz is Ireland’s Bambie Thug, whose song “Doomsday Blue” is Gothic, intense, over the top and a real crowd-pleaser. .

Eurovision’s motto is “united by music,” and its organizer, the European Broadcasting Union, strives to keep politics out of the contest. But it often intrudes. Israel is competing, but was told to change the title of its song, originally called “October Rain” in apparent reference to Hamas’ Oct. 7 cross-border attack. It’s now called “Hurricane” and will be performed by 20-year-old singer Eden Golan at Thursday's semifinal.

Entertainment Entertainment Latest News, Entertainment Entertainment Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

A Minute With: two-time Eurovision winner Loreen on the song contest, new musicSweden's Loreen says her life 'has changed so much' since her historic 2023 Eurovision win, adding she remains grateful a year on.
Source: Reuters - 🏆 2. / 97 Read more »

Eurovision explained, from ABBA to Zorra, as the song contest is shadowed by the Israel-Hamas warScores of musicians, hundreds of journalists and thousands of music fans are gathering in the Swedish city of Malmo, where the Eurovision Song Contest is building towards Saturday’s exuberant, glitter-drenched final.
Source: wjxt4 - 🏆 246. / 63 Read more »

Eurovision explained, from ABBA to Zorra, as the song contest is shadowed by the Israel-Hamas warScores of musicians, hundreds of journalists and thousands of music fans are gathering in the Swedish city of Malmo, where the Eurovision Song Contest is building towards Saturday’s exuberant, glitter-drenched final.
Source: ksatnews - 🏆 442. / 53 Read more »

Eurovision explained, from ABBA to Zorra, as the song contest is shadowed by the Israel-Hamas warScores of musicians, hundreds of journalists and thousands of music fans are gathering in the Swedish city of Malmo, where the Eurovision Song Contest is building towards Saturday’s exuberant, glitter-drenched final.
Source: KPRC2 - 🏆 80. / 68 Read more »

Eurovision explained, from ABBA to Zorra, as the song contest is shadowed by the Israel-Hamas warScores of musicians, hundreds of journalists and thousands of music fans are gathering in the Swedish city of Malmo, where the Eurovision Song Contest is building towards Saturday’s exuberant, glitter-drenched final. Thirty-seven countries are participating in the contest, whose motto is “united by music.
Source: AP - 🏆 728. / 51 Read more »