Sprinkle the sequins and pump up the quantity: The 67th Eurovision Song Contest reaches its climax on Saturday with a grand remaining broadcast stay from Liverpool. There can 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.
Here’s what to anticipate as acts from throughout Europe — and past — vie for the continent’s pop crown.
WHO’S COMPETING?
This yr, 37 nations despatched an act to Eurovision, chosen by means of nationwide competitions or inside choices by broadcasters. The host nation is normally the winner of the earlier yr’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 remaining on the Liverpool Arena, beside the River Mersey within the port metropolis that gave delivery to The Beatles. Six nations mechanically qualify: final yr’s winner and the “Big Five” who pay essentially the most to the competition — France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.Ok.
The different 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 widespread in Australia, and the nation was allowed to affix the competitors in 2015. Other 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 steel band Lordi, however bookmakers say Swedish diva Loreen, who gained 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 occasion 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 track “Mama ŠČ!”is pure Eurovision camp: an antiwar rock opera that performs like Monty Python meets “Dr. Strangelove.”
WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE FINAL?
Around 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.
Each competing act should sing stay and stick with 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 conflict in Ukraine will lend a solemn be aware to a contest famed for celebrating tacky pop. The present will open with a efficiency by final yr’s winner, Ukrainian folk-rap band Kalush Orchestra. Ukrainian singer Jamala, who gained the competition in 2016, will carry out a tribute to her Crimean Tatar tradition.
One one that will not be showing is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He requested to handle the ultimate by video — however organizer the European Broadcasting Union stated “regrettably,” that will breach “the nonpolitical nature of the event.”
HOW IS THE WINNER DECIDED?
After all of the acts have carried out, viewers in taking part nations can vote by cellphone, textual content message or app – although they’ll’t vote for their very own nation. This yr for the primary time, viewers in nonparticipating nations also can vote on-line, with the mixed “rest of the world” votes being given the load of 1 particular person nation.
National juries of music trade 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 points” (12 factors).
Public and jury votes are mixed to provide every nation a single rating. Ending up with “nul points” (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 United States, it’s being proven on NBC’s Peacock streaming service.
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