All posts tagged: Eurovision Song Contest

Bulgaria wins the 70th Eurovision Song Contest with upbeat party anthem ‘Bangaranga’ | Music News

Bulgaria wins the 70th Eurovision Song Contest with upbeat party anthem ‘Bangaranga’ | Music News

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Bulgarian singer Dara won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday with her infectious party anthem “Bangaranga,” giving the southeast European country its first-ever victory in the competition. Israeli competitor Noam Bettan came second after a contest in Vienna clouded by protests and a boycott over the country’s participation. Dara beat 24 other competitors during Saturday’s grand final of the sequin-drenched pop music competition. The song’s infectious beats and tightly choreographed dance routine proved a hit with both national juries in participating countries and viewers around the world, whose votes together decide the winner. “This is unbelievable,” Dara said at a post-show news conference early Sunday. “I don’t even know what’s going on.”She thanked “everyone who felt the bangaranga and felt connected to the force.” The 27-year-old performer is an established name in her homeland, but had not been among the favorites to win. Still, “Bangaranga” is the sort of pop banger that Eurovision does so well, with its irresistible exhortation: “Surrender to the blinding lights. No one’s gonna sleep tonight. Welcome to the riot.” …

Israel to take part in first Eurovision semi-final on May 12

Israel to take part in first Eurovision semi-final on May 12

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Israel will take part in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest on May 12 in Vienna, according to the draw on Monday, as five countries are staying away this year over Israel’s participation. Israel to take part in first Eurovision semi-final on May 12 The world’s biggest live televised music event heads into its 70th anniversary edition mired in its biggest-ever political boycott, with just 35 countries set to part the fewest since entry was expanded in 2004. Israel will compete against 14 other countries, including past Eurovision winners Estonia, Finland, Greece, Portugal, Serbia and Sweden, for spots in the May 16 final, the draw at Vienna’s City Hall revealed. In the other semi-final held on May 14, the 15 countries vying for spots include past winners Azerbaijan, Denmark, Latvia, Norway, Ukraine and Switzerland, according to the draw. From each semi-final, 10 songs that get the most points from the jury combined with a public vote will qualify for the final. Host Austria and the biggest financial contributors France, Germany, Italy and the …

Eurovision champion Nemo returns the winner’s trophy to protest Israel’s inclusion

Eurovision champion Nemo returns the winner’s trophy to protest Israel’s inclusion

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GENEVA — Swiss singer Nemo, who won the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, said Thursday they will return the winner’s trophy because Israel is being allowed to compete in the politically troubled pop music competition. Eurovision champion Nemo returns the winner’s trophy to protest Israel’s inclusion In an Instagram video, Nemo held the microphone-shaped glass ornament and said “today I no longer feel like this trophy belongs on my shelf.” “Eurovision says it stands for unity, for inclusion and dignity for all people,” Nemo said, adding that Israel’s participation, given its conduct of the war against Hamas in Gaza, shows those ideals are at odds with organizers’ decisions. The nonbinary singer won the contest in May 2024 with pop-operatic ode “The Code.” Five countries have announced they will boycott the 2026 contest after organizers declined to expel Israel: Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia and Iceland. “When entire countries withdraw it should be clear that something is deeply wrong,” Nemo said before placing the trophy in a box they said would be sent to the Geneva headquarters …

Eurovision champion Nemo returns the winner’s trophy to protest Israel’s inclusion

Israel cleared to stay in Eurovision; Spain, Ireland and others quit in protest

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By Olivia Le Poidevin and Klaus Lauer Israel cleared to stay in Eurovision; Spain, Ireland and others quit in protest GENEVA, – Israel on Thursday was cleared to enter the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, prompting Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia to follow through on their threats to withdraw from the competition over the Gaza war. After a meeting in Geneva, contest organiser the European Broadcasting Union decided not to call a vote on Israel’s participation, and said it had instead passed rules aimed at discouraging governments from influencing the contest. Right after that announcement, the Dutch, Spanish and Irish broadcasters said they would withdraw from the competition, meaning singers from their countries will not compete in the contest, which draws millions of viewers worldwide. IRELAND SAYS ITS PARTICIPATION ‘UNCONSCIONABLE’ Irish broadcaster RTE said it felt “Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk”. Natalija Gorscak, head of Slovenia’s national broadcaster RTV Slovenija, told …

Switzerland won Eurovision’s jury vote, while viewers favoured Croatia, Israel

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MALMO, Sweden, – Swiss artist Nemo won the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, beating 24 rivals with the song “The Code”, while Israel’s Eden Golan finished fifth despite calls for a boycott over the war in Gaza. The winner of the annual music competition was decided by votes from television audiences in Europe and around the world in combination with juries of music professionals in each participating country. HT Image Each jury awarded points to their 10 most favoured songs, with a maximum of 12 points going to their top choice. Votes by viewers were converted to the same scale so that each country could award a maximum of 24 points to a single act. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! WHO WERE THE TOP 5 IN THE FINAL? 1. Switzerland: Nemo with 591 points 2. Croatia: Baby Lasagna with 547 points 3. Ukraine: Teresa & Maria with 453 points 4. France: Slimane with 445 points 5. …

final kicks off with focus on Israeli contestant

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By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen HT Image MALMO, Sweden -The second semi-final of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest kicked off in Sweden late on Thursday, with much of the focus expected to be on Israel’s performance after thousands joined a pro-Palestinian protest earlier in the day. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! Some 100,000 visitors have gathered in the southern Swedish city of Malmo for the annual kitsch-fest, which is taking place amid protests and boycotts over the Israeli military campaign in Gaza that was triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Eurovision fans dressed in quirky outfits, sequins and their national colours arrived for the event, while around a hundred protesters chanted “boycott Israel” and “shame on you” outside the venue before being ushered away by police. Climate activist Greta Thunberg earlier in the day joined more than 10,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators in the centre of Malmo who object to Israel’s participation in the musical contest. Police said protests were largely calm. …

Europapa or Baby Lasagna? Contestants to look out for at Eurovision 2024

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By Isabelle Yr Carlsson HT Image COPENHAGEN, – The Eurovision Song Contest, a music kitsch-fest watched by some 200 million people, kicks off in Malmö, Sweden on Sunday with its “turquoise carpet” gala, in what fans say is a wide-open year with half a dozen countries having a shot at the title. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! Bookmakers have Croatia, Switzerland and Ukraine as the top three favourites to win, while streaming data from Spotify suggests a strong chance for the Netherlands, Italy or host nation Sweden. “This year is so exciting because there are four or five countries who really have a good shot at winning,” William Lee Adams, editor of Eurovision fan site Wiwibloggs, told Reuters. “Eurovision is so boring when you have one clear favourite months in advance. But this year there is so much left to play for.” Croatia’s contestant Baby Lasagna this week overtook Switzerland as bookmakers’ favourite with song “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” about …

Happy ABBA-versary! Fans mark 50 years since ‘Waterloo’ took the world by storm

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LONDON — It’s 50 years since ABBA won a major battle with “Waterloo.” HT Image A half-century ago on Saturday, the Swedish quartet triumphed at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with the peppy love song, which opens: “My my, at Waterloo, Napoleon did surrender, and I have met my destiny in quite a similar way.” Unlock exclusive access to the story of India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! The song rang out again Saturday at London’s Waterloo railway station — also named after the 1815 battle that dealt defeat to the French leader — where a choir belted out a rendition for commuters. In the English coastal town of Brighton, where the 1974 competition was held, fans were staging a flashmob dance and silent ABBA disco to mark the anniversary. Eurovision victory turned ABBA into a pop juggernaut, by far the most successful band to win the pan-continental music contest, which will hold its 68th edition in May in ABBA’s home country, Sweden. ABBA’s melodic disco pop sold hundreds of millions …