The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 301: BOOM Bangaranga

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Better late than never: let’s talk about Eurovision 2026. We’ll discuss what happened in Vienna, what this means for the Contest going forward, and share our post-confetti plans. Also: BULGARIA?!

📸 Sarah Louise Bennett | EBU

BOOM Bangaranga Summary

Were we engaged with the Contest this year? (0:56)
The Eurovision Brodacasts (6:16)
First Semi-Final (10:06)
Second Semi-Final (16:24)
The Grand Final (28:41)
Data Tidbits (46:19)
Looking Ahead to 2027 (50:21)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

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National Selection dates
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We also have the EuroWhat? AV Club Podcast, a monthly bonus episode for paid members exploring Eurovision-adjacent TV, movies, books, and more. And if there is a season 2 of the American Song Contest... well... :::monkey's paw intensifies:::

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Episode 300: Tu cara me suena

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Spain has been ride-or-die for Eurovision since debuting in 1961. In this episode, we’ll be taking a look at how Spain’s original approach to the Contest may have informed their decision to not attend the festivities in Vienna for the first time in 65 years.

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

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Episode 299: Going Dutch

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Eurovision is an expensive enterprise, and the Netherlands has been one of the Contest’s largest financial supporters. In this episode, we’ll be taking a look at the financial impact of Netherland’s absence from Eurovision 2026.

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

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Episode 298: Hvala, Ne

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Slovenia has struggled to find momentum and consistency on the Eurovision scoreboard. In this episode, we take a look at how rule changes—especially around who qualifies—has impacted Slovenia’s ability to succeed at the Contest.

Hvala, Ne Summary

Slovenia and the Relegation Era (4:39)
One Semi to Rule Them All (11:32)
Semi Finals go to Pot (15:17)
Slovenia vs. the Televote (25:39)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

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Episode 297: Icy Reception

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Iceland's television broadcaster RUV turns 60 this year and 2026 is also their 40th anniversary of entering Eurovision. We take a look at why it took 20 years for Iceland to join the party, how the country helped push the Contest into a more modern mode, and why they won't be in Vienna this year.

Icy Reception Summary

History of Iceland Speedrun Any% (4:51)
1986: Iceland Joins Eurovision (19:38)
Iceland's First Decade at Eurovision (27:03)
Pall Oskar / Paul Oscar (29:30)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

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Episode 296: All Kinds of Everything

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Boycotts, jury overhauls, technological shifts, major protests, religious and political violence, hot pants... Ireland had a lot to deal with when it hosted Eurovision for the first time in 1971.

All Kinds of Everything Summary

Ireland at Eurovision (0:39)
The State of Eurovison 1970-1971 (4:33)
RTE presenting Eurovision in Color (13:53)
Protests and Politics (22:29)
Wrapping Up (35:43)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

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Episode 295: Eye-Catching

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Romania returns from its Eurovision hiatus this year, hopefully with some things figured out. We review the country's history at the Contest, its qualification troubles, and how their strategy at the contest may be high risk, high reward.

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

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Episode 294: Radio Friendly

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0600

The semi-final era has not been kind to Poland. Though the country has done okay at Eurovision the last few years, they haven’t reached the heights of their debut entry in 1994. We’ll be doing a deep dive on what worked 30+ years ago and identify where Poland may secretly have its finger on the pulse of what does well at the Contest.

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

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If you want even more EuroWhat? in your life, join the EuroWhat? AV Club on Patreon! You can join for free to get virtual high fives and a monthly newsletter featuring:

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Episode 293: Kehitellä

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Finland's UMK is one of the premiere selection shows each Eurovision season, but it didn't start out that way. We explore the evolution of the format and how YLE continues to make the program must see TV.

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Mitä teet täällä? | Patreon

Episode 292: Marathon

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Lithuania isn't exactly a Eurovision powerhouse, but their lengthy selection processes have been showcases for the country's music industry. We take a look at the Baltic nation and how their approach to the Contest may be serving a different purpose than competition.

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Episode 291: Dora Explorer

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Croatia is very specific about how it chooses to represent itself on the Eurovision stage. We take a look at the country's history at the Contest via its long-running national selection format Dora.

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Episode 290: Baltic Buddies

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Hey “Everybody”! Estonia and Latvia were the first two new countries to win Eurovision after the EBU expanded its membership in 1993. As we get ready for the Eesti Laul and Supernova selection processes, “I Wanna” take a look at the Contest history of these two Baltic nations.

Baltic Buddies Summary

Estonia at Eurovision (1:03)
Join the EuroWhat? AV Club (17:34)
Latvia at Eurovision (18:45)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

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Episode 289: Rough

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Bulgaria returns to Eurovision following a three-year absence. We take a look at the country's history at the Contest: a rough start in its initial tenure, a renaissance after its first hiatus, and looking ahead to how Bulgaria's next tenure may go.

Rough Summary

Selection Season So Far: Moldova, Malta, Luxembourg, Georgia, Israel, Switzerland (0:40)
Join the EuroWhat? AV Club (4:29)
Bulgaria's History at Eurovision (6:30)
How is Bulgaria selecting for 2026? (28:32)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

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If you want even more EuroWhat? in your life, join the EuroWhat? AV Club on Patreon! You can join for free to get virtual high fives and a monthly newsletter featuring:

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Episode 288: Bad Lucksembourg

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Luxembourg returned to Eurovision in 2024 after a 30-year hiatus. When they left the Contest, they were tied with Ireland and France in having won the most times at 5 wins apiece. We’ll explore Luxembourg’s incredible run and see how they’ve adapted to the modern era as we preview the third edition of the Luxembourg Song Contest.

Bad Lucksembourg Summary

Luxembourg Stats at Eurovision (1:20)
Luxembourg Hosting Eurovision (4:55)
Luxembourg Song Contest 2026 (17:02)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

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RTL Play | Luxembourg Song Contest

Episode 287: Folklore & Rock & Roll

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Moldova has returned to Eurovision after a one-year break and has selected 16 songs to compete for a trip to Vienna in May. Malta has also streamlined their process a bit and will select their entrant from among 18 hopefuls. We’ll take a look at the history of these two countries and preview the selections that will be taking place on Saturday, January 17.

Folklore & Rock & Roll Summary

End of 2025 News (1:19)
Moldova at Eurovision (4:46)
EuroWhat? AV Club (Patreon) (30:26)
Malta at Eurovision (32:23)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

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Episode 99: Merry FiKmas

Episode 286: Discomfort

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0600

How do fans cope when the object of their fandom becomes problematic? Dr. Zoë Jay returns to the show to share insights from her research within the Eurovision community about this topic through the Eurovisionaries project. We also discuss ideas for fans who may be approaching 2026 with the mindset of new year, new me, new special interest.

Dr. Zoë Jay

Dr Zoë Jay is a researcher in international politics at the University of Helsinki. She is the lead investigator of the Eurovisionaries Project, which explores how Eurovision fans think about and participate in cultural diplomacy and international politics.

📸 Cover photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Discomfort Summary

New Insights from the Eurovisionaries Project (2:07)
What do we do with our problematic faves? (11:17)
Grief (21:15)
New Year, New Me, New Special Interest? (28:18)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

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Special Guest: Zoë Jay.

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Episode 285: Kerflooey

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0600

With the passage of the EBU's new Eurovision rules, Israel will be in Vienna while the Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, and Iceland have withdrawn from the Contest. We’ll be discussing the fallout from the decision and figuring out how we’ll be navigating 2026...

Kerflooey Summary

What happened at the EBU General Assembly Meeting (1:11)
What is happening after the Eurovision vote? (19:16)
What will be happening? (26:59)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

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Episode 284: "Joke" Entries

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Over-the-top costumes, silly phrases twisted to make catchy hooks, and a backdrop that is not always taken seriously can cause a lot of Eurovision hopefuls to be lumped (or perhaps dismissed) into the category of “joke entries.” We’ll explore some examples and try to “get it” in terms of what might be happening under the hood of these songs. Chris Molanphy from Slate’s Hit Parade will join us to help with analyzing the novelty of Eurovision entries.

"Joke" Entries Summary

What is a novelty song? (1:19)
Does "Europop" automatically mean "novelty"? (7:04)
Eurovision Joke (or Novelty?) Entries (10:04)
When Eurovision hits the Hot 100 (18:57)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Special Guest: Chris Molanphy.

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Episode 283: Down Under

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Australia first competed at Eurovision when Austria hosted the 60th Edition of the Contest in 2015. As we approach the 70th Edition (also hosted by Austria), let’s explore Australia’s history with the ESC and do a pulse check on how the country is doing in the competition.

Down Under Summary

Australian Artists at Eurovision: The New Seekers, Olivia Newton-John, Gina G (2:47)
Why is Australia so into Eurovision? (19:14)
Australia at Eurovision (25:38)
...Oh, Canada? (39:57)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

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Episode 282: Momentum

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0600

It was a busy October in Eurovision Land: The EBU unscheduled an extraordinary member session, two countries announced their return to the Contest, and several national selections are getting their ducks in a row. We get caught up on the headlines as Eurovision 2026 starts to take shape.

Momentum Summary

EBU cancels "extraordinary session" (1:32)
Bulgaria and Romania return to Eurovision (3:21)
Gert Kark joins the Eurovision Reference Group (8:15)
Patreon: PanArctic Sing-Alongs (10:18)
National Final Roundup: Estonia, Spain, Albania, Montenegro, Luxembourg, Austria, San Marino (11:38)

Photo by Filip Mishevski on Unsplash

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

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Episode 281: Responsive

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The European Broadcasting Union has postponed its plan to hold a membership vote to decide if Israel’s broadcaster KAN will be allowed to compete in next year’s Eurovision. While it remains unclear if the vote will still happen, it doesn’t fully resolve how the EBU got to this point in the first place. We’ll take a closer look at other times the EBU’s non-political stance has been tested and see what lessons can be applied going forward.

Responsive Summary

Yugoslavia (3:20)
Administrative Changes to the Contest (13:40)
Armenia and Azerbaijan (16:42)
Georgia (26:58)
Final Thoughts (32:14)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

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Episode 280: Weird Little Dudes

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Käärijä, Joost, Baby Lasagana, Tommy Cash... we've used the term "Weird Little Dudes" to describe these contestants from the last few editions of Eurovision. Something else they have in common: all were favorites to win and did extremely well in the televote. We attempt to define the term and try to identify what other Eurovision contestants may fall into this category.

Weird Little Dudes Summary

Where did the term "Weird Little Dude" come from? (1:20)
Pop Quiz: Is this act a Weird Little Dude? (3:06)
Dude (5:45)
Little (9:37)
Weird (18:16)
Are "Weird Little Dudes" actually a thing? (33:22)
Which countries are more likely to have WLDs at Eurovision? (38:28)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

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Episode 279: Perceived Aura

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Eurovision has given their branding elements a makeover in preparation for next year's 70th edition. Graphic Designer Justin Ladia joins Ben to discuss why rebrands happen, what the EBU may want to accomplish with this rebrand, and first impressions on the new fonts and images introduced for Vienna 2026.

Perceived Aura Summary

Why do a rebrand? (2:31)
Examining the new Eurovision logo and fonts (7:08)
The Psychology of Branding (22:12)
Bonus Round: Eurovision 2000 (29:01)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Eurovision Podcast Podcrawl

What is the Eurovision Podcrawl? It's where the Eurovision podcast community picks a topic ("a year when a country first hosted Eurovision") and we all publish our episodes in our own styles. At the end of an episode, we'll point to the podcast with the next episode, and so on, through the summer! Here's the crawl:

ESC Insight: France 1959
Wind Machine Podcast: Austria 1967
The EuroWhat? Podcast: Yugoslavia 1990
Niall Points: Latvia 2003
12 Points from America: Belgium 1987
That Eurovision Site: Denmark 1964
Douze Points: Azerbaijan 2012

Special Guest: Justin Ladia.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

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Episode 278: Welcome to Austria

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0500

It's offficially the pre-season for Eurovision 2026 and we have a lot of news to get caught up on. We're heading to Vienna in May and planning for the national final season is underway. We also review Austria's CV at Eurovision.

Welcome to Austria Summary

Willkommen in Wien (0:49)
National Final Updates: Austria, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Ukraine (4:40)
Coming up: Eurovision's Rebranding and the Intervision Song Contest (11:14)
Austria at Eurovision (13:29)
Eurovision Asia J/K (22:17)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Eurovision Podcast Podcrawl

ESC Insight: France 1959
Wind Machine Podcast: Austria 1967
The EuroWhat? Podcast: Yugoslavia 1990
Niall Points: Latvia 2003
12 Points from America: Belgium 1987
That Eurovision Site: Denmark 1964
Douze Points: Azerbaijan 2012

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

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Episode 277: Nice

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500

As we wrap up our 8th season and Eurovision's 69th (nice) edition, we take a rapid fire tour of the Contest up to this point while trying to find something nice or interesting to say about each year. Content warning: goofiness.

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Eurovision Podcast Podcrawl

ESC Insight: France 1959
Wind Machine Podcast: Austria 1967
The EuroWhat? Podcast: Yugoslavia 1990
Niall Points: Latvia 2003
12 Points from America: Belgium 1987
That Eurovision Site: Denmark 1964
Douze Points: Azerbaijan 2012 (week of September 8)

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 276: Lingua Franca

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The Grand Final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest featured 21 songs with non-English lyrics, the most to appear since the language rule was abolished in 1999. In this episode, we'll explore the history of the language rule and why language diversity has returned to the Contest.

Lingua Franca Summary

The introduction of the Language Rule at Eurovision (4:17)
The End of the Language Rule (17:17)
What may be contributing to language diversity at Eurovision? (27:29)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Eurovision Podcast Podcrawl

ESC Insight: France 1959
Wind Machine Podcast: Austria 1967
The EuroWhat? Podcast: Yugoslavia 1990
Niall Points: Latvia 2003
12 Points from America: Belgium 1987
That Eurovision Site: Denmark 1964 (week of August 25)
Douze Points: Azerbaijan 2012 (week of September 8)

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

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Episode 275: Good to Go

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Quite a bit has happened since we last checked in on Eurovision news. Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl will be stepping down, there's a new head of the Reference Group, and we know which cities have made bids to host next year's competition.

Good to Go Summary

Eurovision Host City: Innsbruck vs Vienna (1:00)
Martin Österdahl Steps Down (4:48)
Have you joined the Eurowhat AV Club? (10:43)
17 Participants so far for Eurovision 2026 (11:59)
Eurovision YouTube: Non, Stop Hits (and Geoblock?) (21:17)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Eurovision Podcast Podcrawl

ESC Insight: France 1959
Wind Machine Podcast: Austria 1967
The EuroWhat? Podcast: Yugoslavia 1990
Niall Points: Latvia 2003
12 Points from America: Belgium 1987 (week of August 11)
That Eurovision Site: Denmark 1964 (week of August 25)
Douze Points: Azerbaijan 2012 (week of September 8)

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

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Episode 274: Yugoslavia 1990

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500

1990 was the European Year of Tourism. The map of Europe was also changing, as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the movement toward what would become the European Union started to redefine the concept of borders. We’ll be taking a look at how the 1990 Contest in Yugoslavia reflected this new era in Europe, as well as how the 2025 Contest mirrors those reflections 35 years later.

Yugoslavia 1990 Summary

#EurovisionAgain, again (1:55)
A Brief History of Mascots and Postcards (4:14)
The European Year of Tourism (10:20)
How Yugoslavia Handled Tourism (15:21)
Yugoslavia at Eurovision (18:53)
The Year between Lausanne and Zagreb (22:47)
The 1990 Eurovision Song Contest (28:12)
After the Year(s) of Tourism (43:43)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Eurovision Podcast Podcrawl

ESC Insight: France 1959
Wind Machine Podcast: Austria 1967
The EuroWhat? Podcast: Yugoslavia 1990 (hey, that's this one!)
Niall Points: Latvia 2003 (week of July 28)
12 Points from America: Belgium 1987 (week of August 11)
That Eurovision Site: Denmark 1964 (week of August 25)
Douze Points: Azerbaijan 2012 (week of September 8)

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

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Episode 273: Fan Media Roundtable

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Eurovision has a unique ecosystem where the EBU and various blogs, podcasts, video channel, and other fans have a work relationship in covering the Contest. But is that relationship working? We discuss the current state of fan media with dudepoints, Niall from niallpoints, and Derek from 12 Points (all with good points).

Fan Media Summary

How was your venue covering Eurovision 2025? (4:23)
What is the distinction between fan media and "real" media? (11:27)
The EBU / Fan Media Ecosystem (17:18)
How does fan media view fan media? (23:44)
What are you looking forward to in 2026? (46:54)
The Eurovision Pod Crawl and other plugs (52:45)

_Cover photo by Fernando Lavin on Unsplash
_

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Eurovision Podcast Podcrawl

ESC Insight: France 1959
Wind Machine Podcast: Austria 1967
The EuroWhat? Podcast: Yugoslavia 1990 (week of July 14)
Niall Points: Latvia 2003 (week of July 28)
12 Points from America: Belgium 1987 (week of August 11)
That Eurovision Site: Denmark 1964 (week of August 25)
Douze Points: Azerbaijan 2012 (week of September 8)

Special Guests: 12 Points from America, Dude Points, and Niall Fulton.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

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Episode 272: I Am: Celine Dion

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500

We are opening the Patreon vault to share our discussion of Amazon's 2024 documentary I Am: Celine Dion, which chronicles the singer's rise to fame, her prolific career, and her struggles with Stiff Person Syndrome. Here's Amazon's description of the film:

Directed by Academy Award nominee Irene Taylor, I Am: Celine Dion gives us a raw and honest behind-the-scenes look at the iconic superstar’s struggle with a life-altering illness. Serving as a love letter to her fans, this inspirational documentary highlights the music that has guided her life while also showcasing the resilience of the human spirit._

If you were wondering why Celine was not able to make an in-person appearance in Basel, this documentary does a fantastic job of explaining why that was the case.

I Am: Celine Dion Summary

What is I Am: Celine Dion about? (2:29)
Who is this movie for? (9:38)
Would you recommend this movie? (16:58)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

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Episode 271: Integrity

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500

We ease into the off-season by getting caught up on the news in the immediate aftermath of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. We also dig into the jury and televote results and try to read the tea leaves for what might happen in Austria 2026.

Integrity Summary

Is Everyone Still Mad at the EBU Season 2 Renewal (0:55)
Eurovision 2025 Ratings (10:26)
Patreon: Doctor Who and Gambamark (13:21)
Eurovision 2025 Results Data Dive (15:00)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

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Episode 270: Bird Noises

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 20 May 2025 00:00:00 -0500

We have a winner! Eurovision Song Contest 2025 held its Grand Final in Basel, Switzerland and named a champion after tense rounds of juries and televoting. We discuss the show, the results, and what's in store for Eurovision 2026…

Bird Noises Summary

Austria wins the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest (1:18)
What did you think of the Grand Final? (5:23)
How were the Interval Acts? (12:20)
What does Eurovision (and the EBU) look like for 2026? (15:43)
Eurowhat Off-Season Mode (18:55)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Basel 2025

Keep up with Eurovision selection season on our Basel 2025 page! We have a calendar with links to livestreams, details about entries as their selected, plus our Spotify playlists with every song we can find that is trying to get the Eurovision stage.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 269: Eurovision 2025 Grand Final Preview

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Fri, 16 May 2025 00:30:00 -0500

Twenty songs have emerged from the Eurovision 2025 Semifinals and will join six auto-qualifiers on Saturday. We recap the shows from Tuesday and Thursday and get ready for the Grand Final.

Eurovision 2025 Grand Final Preview Summary

Turquoise Carpet (0:48)
Semi-Final 1 Results (3:58)
Semi-Final 2 Results (10:33)
Grand Final Preview (19:14)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Basel 2025

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Episode 268: Eurovision 2025 Semi-Final Preview

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Mon, 12 May 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Eurovision Week for 2025 is upon us as well as the 37 artists gathered in Basel. We get caught up on the news leading up to this week before discussing the rehearsals and our predictions for who will advance to Saturday's Grand Final.

Eurovision 2025 Semi-Final Preview Summary

Lumo stuns in Basel debut (0:48)
Eurovision Artist Support Measures (2:38)
Ongoing Issues: Flag Policy 2025 and Israel's Participation (6:01)
Semi-Final Format Changes (10:48)
Where to watch Eurovision 2025 (16:13)
Eurovision Semi-Final 1 Predictions (POTENTIAL SPOILERS) (18:27)
Eurovision Semi-Final 2 Predictions (POTENTIAL SPOILERS) (32:24)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Basel 2025

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Episode 267: Seasoned

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 06 May 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Graphic designer and puzzler Justin Ladia returns to discuss the Eurovision 2025 auto-qualifiers: Spain, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and host country Switzerland.

Justin Ladia

Graphic designer, puzzle person, and kendo practitioner from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Seasoned Summary

Spain - Melody - "Esa Diva" (3:27)
Italy - Lucio Corsi - "Volevo Essere Un Duro" (12:55)
Germany - Abor & Tynna - "Baller" (20:14)
United Kingdom - Remember Monday - "What the Hell Just Happened?" (29:41)
France - Louane - "maman" (42:38)
Switzerland - Zoë Më - "Voyage" (50:57)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Basel 2025

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Special Guest: Justin Ladia.

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Episode 266: Mélange

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Ned Raggett joins us to close out our coverage of the second semi-final for Eurovision 2025. This week, we approach the entries from Australia, Serbia, Denmark, Austria, Israel, and Georgia.

Ned Raggett

Ned Raggett writes a lot, is a denizen of social media, and more things besides. He has written for Pitchfork, the Guardian, The Quietus, Rolling Stone, The Wire, Shfl, Bandcamp Daily, Freaky Trigger, OC Weekly, Nashville Scene, Seattle Weekly, SF Weekly, SF Chronicle, KQED Arts, Vice, Careless Talk Costs Lives, Plan B, Loose Lips Sink Ships, FACT, Red Bull Music Academy, Fake Jazz and probably more than a few things that keep slipping his mind.

Mélange Summary

Australia - Go-Jo - "Milkshake Man" (1:34)
Serbia - Princ - "Mila" (11:01)
Denmark - Sissal - "Hallucination" (17:43)
Austria - JJ - "Wasted Love" (26:10)
Israel - Yuval Raphael - "New Day Will Rise" (39:44)
Georgia - Mariam Shengelia - "Freedom" (42:06)
Final Thoughts (50:24)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Basel 2025

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Special Guest: Ned Raggett.

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Episode 265: Do Re Mi

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Critic and educator Maura Johnston joins us again to chat about the Eurovision entries from Finland, Latvia, Malta, Lithuania, and Armenia.

Maura Johnston

Maura Johnston is a writer and editor who teaches at Boston College. She lives in Allston Rock City with her cat, Nuno. Her favorite Eurovision song of recent years is Margaret Berger's "I Feed You My Love."

Do Re Mi Summary

Finland - Erika Vikman - "Ich Komme" (1:17)
Latvia - Tautumeitas - "Bur man laimi" (8:18)
Malta - Miriana Conte - "Serving" ("KANT") (14:59)
Lithuania - Katarsis - "Tavo akys" (23:13)
Armenia - PARG - "Survivor" (30:41)
Final Thoughts (37:53)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Basel 2025

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Special Guest: Maura Johnston.

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Episode 264: Polyethylene

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Music journalist Fred Bronson returns to start our conversations about Eurovision 2025 Semi-Final 2. We discuss Montenegro, Luxembourg, Greece, Czechia, and Ireland, plus some delightful stories about long distance friendships and phone calls.

Fred Bronson

Fred Bronson is the author of seven books: Rockin' the Kremlin with David Junk, The Jacksons Legacy (with the Jacksons), Dick Clark’s American Bandstand (with Dick Clark), The Sound of Music Family Scrapbook, The Billboard Book of Number One Hits, Billboard’s Hottest Hot 100 Hits and The Billboard Book of Number One Rhythm & Blues Hits (with Adam White).

Bronson has written the annual television specials The American Music Awards and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. His other credits include two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and an episode of the animated Star Trek series.

For SiriusXM Radio, he has interviewed Paul McCartney, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus from ABBA and created "Smokey's Place," a series for Smokey Robinson's Smokey's Soul Town channel where the legendary artist recalls his Motown memories and plays Motown favorites.

He is a long-term contributor to Billboard, covering the Eurovision Song Contest and American Idol among many other topics.

Polyethylene Summary

Montenegro - Nina Žižić - "Dobrodošli" (3:48)
Luxembourg - Laura Thorn - "La Poupée Monte Le Son" (10:54)
Greece - Klavdia - "Asteromata" (22:34)
Czechia - ADONXS - "Kiss Kiss Goodbye" (28:37)
Ireland - EMMY - "Laika Party" (34:41)
Final Thoughts (41:38)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Basel 2025

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If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Special Guest: Fred Bronson.

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Episode 263: Genre Confusion

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Culture critic Euny Hong joins us to discuss the multiple genres represented by Croatia, Sweden, San Marino, Portugal, and Cyprus at this year's Eurovision.

Euny Hong

Euny Hong is a journalist and bestselling author of three books that have been published in a total of over 20 languages. The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation is Conquering the World Through Pop Culture, an Amazon Editor’s Pick, is being re-released in April 2025. A Yale grad and former Fulbright Scholar, Frankfurter, and Berliner, she lived in Paris longer than any other city. She is a native-level bilingual in French-English and fluent in German and Korean.

Genre Confusion Summary

The Birth of Korean Cool (3:59)
Croatia - Marko Bošnjak - "Poison Cake" (7:05)
Sweden - KAJ - "Bara Bada Bastu" (15:07)
San Marino - Gabry Ponte - "Tutta L'Italia" (24:57)
Portgual - NAPA - "Deslocado" (32:25)
Cyprus - Theo Evan - "Shh" (38:22)
Final Thoughts (44:09)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Basel 2025

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If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Special Guest: Euny Hong.

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Episode 262: Huzzah

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Bradley Dalton-Oates from the Eurovision Song Context podcast joins us to discuss the entries from Norway, Estonia, Azerbaijan, Iceland, and the Netherlands.

Huzzah Summary

Eurovision Song Context (1:11)
Norway - Kyle Alessandro - "Lighter" (5:51)
Estonia - Tommy Cash - "Espresso Macchiato" (13:38)
Azerbaijan - Mamagama - "Run With U" (27:53)
Iceland - VÆB - "RÓÁ" (36:01)
The Netherlands - Claude - "C'est La Vie" (44:16)
Final Thoughts (50:32)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Basel 2025

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If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Special Guest: Bradley Dalton-Oates.

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Episode 261: Evolution

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

We kick off our 2025 Eurovision Review Season with #EurovisionSky poster Ted Van Houten to discuss the entries from Albania, Slovenia, Belgium, Ukraine, and Poland.

About Ted

Ted is a transportation planner in Washington, DC. As someone who loves European geopolitics, obscure pop music, and being a homosexual, Ted was destined to be a Eurovision fan as soon as he found out about it. Other than Eurovision, Ted enjoys trivia competitions (both online and at his local bar), tennis, reality television, and making puns on Bluesky that get less likes than he wishes they would.

Evolution Summary

🇦🇱 Albania - Shkodra Elektronike - "Zjerm" (5:00)
🇸🇮 Slovenia - Klemen - "How Much Time Do We Have Left?" (10:28)
🇧🇪 Belgium - Red Sebastian - "Strobe Lights" (17:08)
🇺🇦 Ukraine - Ziferblat - "Bird of Pray" (23:38)
🇵🇱 Poland - Justyna - "Gaja" (28:07)
Final Thoughts (36:49)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Basel 2025

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If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Special Guest: Ted Van Houten.

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Episode 260: Stragglers

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

We reach the end of Eurovision Selection Season 2025 and share our first impressions of the internal selections from Israel, Switzerland, Cyprus, Georgia, and France.

Stragglers Summary

Israel Debuts "New Day Will Rise" by Yuval Raphael (2:07)
Zoë Më will represent host country Switzerland with "Voyage" (9:05)
Theo Evan says "Shh" for Cyprus (12:02)
Georgia declares "Freedom" with Mariam Shengelia (15:55)
France's Louane debuts "maman" (21:04)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Basel 2025

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Must-See TV: Vanna White Revealed The True Name Of God On ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Last Night And The Contestant Who Uttered It Turned To Ash - ClickHole

Episode 259: Choose Chaos

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

After addressing some KANTroversy, we discuss the Eurovision selections from Austria, United Kingdom, Sweden, San Marino, and Portugal.

Choose Chaos Summary

KANTroversy: EBU Rejects Current form of Malta's Entry (1:07)
Austria's JJ sings of "Wasted Love" (4:57)
The United Kingdom's Remember Monday asks "What the Hell Just Happened" (8:35)
Reminder: Revamps and Videos on the Way (14:21)
KAJ wins Melfest with "Bara Bada Bastu" (15:06)
Gabry Ponte wins the San Marino Song Contest with "Tutta L'Italia" (25:25)
NAPA wins Festival da Canção with "Deslocado" (30:05)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Basel 2025

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Episode 258: LUMO

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0600

We get a mix of Eurovision internal selections and national finals this week from Australia, Netherlands, Serbia, Germany, Denmark, and Croatia. We also meet a new mascot/nemesis.

LUMO Summary

Lumo is here (1:01)
Australia has ordered one "Milkshake Man" to Go-Jo (3:15)
Claude says "C'est La Vie" for the Netherlands (7:43)
Serbia crowns Princ and his song "Mila" (11:28)
Germany goes "Baller" with Abor & Tynna (17:24)
Denmark has a "Hallucination" with Sissal (25:03)
Croatia's Marko Bošnjak is bring a "Poison Cake" to Basel (29:06)
Also happening: Finalists in San Marino, Sweden, and Portugal (35:52)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Basel 2025

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Episode 257: Disco Sauna

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Azerbaijan and Iceland have their Eurovision songs selected, Germany picked their finalists, Sweden and Portugal held heats, and San Marino is doing... something.

Disco Sauna Summary

Azerbaijan's Mamagama wants to "Run With U" (1:27)
VÆB win Iceland's Songvakeppnin with "RÓÁ" (5:33)
Italy: Lucio Corsi will go to Basel with "Volevo essere un duro" (11:08)
Estonia: Tommy Cash and Joost "United by Music" (12:56)
Måns wins heat 4 of Melfest (18:29)
Portugal begins the Festival da Canção (26:20)
Germany chooses 9 Finalists (28:21)
San Marino Song Contest Semi Marathon (31:54)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

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Basel 2025

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Episode 256: Ren Faire

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

We mark the halfway point of Eurovision Selection Season with the third Super Saturday in a row.

Ren Faire Summary

Poland selects Justyna's "Gaja" (0:57)
"Espresso Macchiato" by Tommy Cash wins Eesti Laul (7:52)
Norway's Kyle Alessandro will bring "Lighter" to Basel (12:06)
Katarsis will represent Lithuania with "Tavo akys" (16:39)
Olly wins Italy's Sanremo (20:53)
Parg is a Depi Evratesil "Survivor" (26:35)
Other national selections: San Marino, Germany, Sweden, Iceland (31:55)
Coming up: Portugal's Festival da Canção (42:24)

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Basel 2025

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I Love Horses best of all the animals🐎 - theme song - YouTube

Episode 255: ('Singing')

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

It's the biggest weekend of Eurovision 2025 so far with Ireland, Ukraine, Finland, Latvia, and Malta making picks while several other countries' processes continued. Do-re-mi-fa-serving exhausted, but we shall persevere!

('Singing') Summary

Mid-week drops: Azerbaijan's Mamagama and Czechia's "Kiss Kiss Goodbye" (2:25)
Ireland accepts invitation to Emmy's "Laika Party" (6:15)
Erika Vikman wins Finland's UMK with "Ich Komme" (15:43)
Ziferblat's "Bird of Pray" will represent Ukraine (21:44)
Latvia's Supernova names "Bur man laimi" by Tautumeitas (25:47)
Malta will be serving "KANT" by Miriana Conte (27:58)
Denmark's DMGP and Armenia's Depi Evratesil announce contestants (34:42)
Qualifying starts in Iceland, continues in Sweden and Lithuania (36:36)
Coming up: Italy's Sanremo, Poland, Germany, Estonia, and the biggest weekend of 2025 (47:17)

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Basel 2025

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Episode 254: Super

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Eurovision started to get structure this week thanks to the semi-final allocation draw, the first wave of ticket sales, and selections from Greece, Slovenia, Belgium, and Spain. Sweden kicked off Melfest, Lithuania got competitive, and Latvia picked finalists. This was the easy Super Saturday...

Super Summary

Eurovision Semi-Final Allocation and Ticket Sales (1:18)
Artist Announcements: Austria's JJ and France's Louane (8:45)
Klavdia's "Asteromata" wins Greece's national final (11:16)
Slovenia: Klemen wins EMA with "How Much Time Do We Have Left?" (15:50)
Red Sebastian and "Strobe Lights" win Belgium's Eurosong (21:57)
"Esa Diva": Melody wins Spain's Benidorm Fest (25:04)
Sweden's Melfest 2025 Begins (30:04)
Latvia's Supernova Semi-Final (35:44)
Lithuania's Eurovizija.LT Heat 4 (40:45)
San Marino Names ALLLL the Semi-Finalists (43:57)
Coming up: Super Saturday 2 (46:03)

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Basel 2025

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Recreating ALL Eurovision Winners (2000-2025) | The Ultimate Eurovision Challenge by Klemen Slakonja - YouTube

Episode 253: Vox Lux

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Luxembourg selected their Eurovision representative at the end of a surprisingly busy week. Moldova has withdrawn, several countries released potential songs, and Finland's UMK faces a significant shakeup.

Vox Lux Summary

🫢 Shakeups: Moldova out; Finland's UMK DQ's One Morning Left (1:15)
🇱🇺 Luxembourg chooses Laura Thorn's "La Poupée Monte Le Son" (4:55)
🎧 Song Drops: Portugal, Ukraine, Ireland, Norway, Belgium (14:59)
🇱🇹 Lithuania's Eurovizija.LT Tiebreaker (20:00)
🤹 This Week: Semi-Final Allocation, Tickets, Super Saturday 1 of 3 (25:14)

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Basel 2025

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Episode 252: Process

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0600

It's another hopping Eurovision 2025 setup week with another wave of potential songs, information about Basel, the ESC hosts, ticket sales, plus auditions and previews from Moldova and Belgium.

Process Summary

📢 Announcements: Mascots, ArenaPlus, and the Eurovision Hosts (1:03)
🎟️ Next in Logistics: Semi-Final Allocation and Eurovision Tickets (3:44)
💿 National Final Songs and Artists: Poland, Norway, Ukraine, Iceland (6:17)
🇲🇩 Moldova Etapa Nationala Auditions (11:30)
🇱🇹 Lithuania's Eurovizija.LT Second Heat (13:24)
🇧🇪 Belgium's Eurosong Preview: LEEZ, Le Manou, Lenn, Grace (14:43)
🗓️ Coming Up: Songs from Portugal, Slovenia, and Serbia plus the Luxembourg Song Contest (20:07)

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Basel 2025

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Episode 251: Wading

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0600

We ease into the waters of the Eurovision TV season, thanks to the first heat of Lithuania's Eurovizija.LT. We also check in on the candidate song drops for the processes happening in Finland, Malta, Croatia, and Greece.

Wading Summary

Finland Announces 7 Acts for UMK (2:05)
Malta, Croatia, and Greece Drop Their National Final Songs (6:46)
Lithuania's Eurovizija.LT Begins (12:56)
This week: Moldova Auditions; Acts from Poland, Norway, Iceland; Belgium TV; Eurovision Hosts (21:27)

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Episode 250: Loaded with Energy

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Before 2025 gets into full swing, we catch up on Eurovision news from the end of 2024. We have designs! We have fonts! We have an entry where we're not not saying Tirana 2026! Plus, we go deep on the results from the ESC 250 Countdown.

Loaded with Energy Summary

💕Unity. Shapes. Love. Branding. (0:55)
🇦🇱 Albania selects "Zjerm" by Shkodra Elektronike (12:36)
🇳🇱 Netherlands selects Claude as their act for Basel (21:41)
📰 Other Process Updates: Ukraine, San Marino, Ireland, Iceland, Moldova (23:23)
🥳 Results from the 2024 ESC 250 (29:11)
📺 This week: 🇪🇪 Eesti Laul Wildcard, 🇫🇮 UMK Artists and Songs, 🇭🇷 Dora Songs, 🇱🇹 Eurovizija.lt (41:43)

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Episode 249: Pew Pew Pew

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0600

As we head into 2025, we jump back 25 years to watch the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest. How has the competition, fashion, and pop music changed in the last quarter-century(!)?

Pew Pew Pew Summary

🗓️ In the Year 2000... (3:17)
⛳️ Part I: Israel, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Estonia, France, Romania (7:07)
🎤 Part II: Malta, Norway, Russia, Belgium, Cyprus, Iceland (17:30)
🪽 Part III: Spain, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Croatia, Sweden, FYR Macedonia (27:49)
🌟 Part IV: Finland, Latvia, Turkey, Ireland, Austria (41:34)
🔢 Part V: The Results (51:12)

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Episode 248: Three-Card Montesong

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0600

As we rush to get out of 2024 we're getting details from just about every country participating in Eurovision 2025. We recap last month's Montesong from Montenegro, learn a bit about Czechia's artist, and start adding all the dates to our calendar.

Three-Card Montesong Summary

😾 Is anyone still mad at the EBU? (1:30)
🇲🇪 Montenegro returns with Montesong... and shenanigans (7:48)
🇨🇿 Czechia selects ANDONXS for Basxl (17:34)
🇪🇺 What's Happening in the EU (Eurowhat Universe) (20:00)
🌊 All the National Selections (22:34)
🎅🏼 Through the holidays: Albania's Festivali i Kenges and the ESC250 (44:25)

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Episode 247: Rebuilt

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0600

In 2019 we examined the Big 5—Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom—and offered suggestions on how they might improve their standing at Eurovision. It's five years later: how are the Big 5 doing now?

Rebuilt Summary

🇮🇹 Italy (3:46)
🇪🇸 Spain (9:19)
🤗 Eurowhat AV Club Patreon and the ESC250 (16:25)
🇩🇪 Germany (18:25)
🇫🇷 France (27:07)
🇬🇧 United Kingdom (33:10)

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Episode 246: Rockin' the Kremlin

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0600

David Junk, originally from Ohio, was the first CEO of Universal Music Russia. In his memoir Rocking the Kremlin', he and co-author Fred Bronson (from Billboard Magazine) share stories about the "Wild, Wild East", Eurovision, and the influence of western pop culture after the fall of the USSR.

Rockin' the Kremlin Summary

📖 What is Rockin' the Kremlin about? (3:23)
🎶 Alsou, t.A.T.u., and Sergey Lazarev (10:33)
🇺🇦 Building the Ukrainian Music Industry (32:46)
📱Where to find David, Fred, and Rockin' the Kremlin (47:21)

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Special Guests: David Junk and Fred Bronson.

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Episode 245: Avalanche

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0600

It's been a couple months since we last checked in on Eurovision news… hoo boy there's a lot to get caught up on. We have elections, new heads of delegations, and info about way too many national selections.

Avalanche Summary

💊 Exotic Switzerland: Funding Referendum, Novartis Sponsorship (1:41)
🇳🇱 Is Everyone (Netherlands?) Still Mad at the EBU? (6:31)
🔴 Coming up on the podcast: Iceland Airwaves and Rockin' the Kremlin (12:16)
🎓 New Heads of Delegations for 2025 (14:42)
📆 National Selection Updates (Vague) (21:50)
🏆 National Final Updates (Specific) (25:47)
⏳ Who are we waiting on? (34:36)

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Episode 244: Yugonostalgia

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0500

We welcome back @dudepoints, who recently completed their Master's thesis which included discussion of the intersection of the Yugoslavian Art Practice and recent Eurovision entries from Serbia and Croatia.

More simply: let's talk about performance art at Eurovision!

Yugonostalgia Summary

What is the Yugoslavian Art Practice? (2:39)
How does Eurovision interact with the Yugoslavian Art Practice? (7:59)
Who else has been a Performance Artist at Eurovision? (17:50)
How do you define "performance art"? (21:32)
Eurovision as a mode of culture building (31:29)

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Special Guest: Dude Points.

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Episode 243: Verily

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The Reference Group is one of the governing bodies for the Eurovision Song Contest. Who sits on this board and what experience do they bring to the table? We go through the dossiers in this episode.

Verily Summary

What are the Eurovision Heads of Delegation and Reference Group? (1:29)
Who is currently in the Eurovision Reference Group? (8:05)
Who isn't on the Eurovision Reference Group? (21:52)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

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Episode 242: Eurovisionaries

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Dr. Zoë Jay returns to discuss Eurovisionaries, an academic research project investigating the ways Eurovision fans think about and practice forms of cultural diplomacy.

Eurovisionaries Summary

What was the inspiration for the Eurovisionaries project? (3:16)
How to define "political" (5:56)
Eurovision's shift from "political" (2023) to "Political" (2024) (10:41)
Initial findings from speaking with the Eurofandom (15:31)
Politics, cultural relations, and social media (20:45)
What is the goal of the Eurovisionaries project? (23:24)
Engagement from non-participating countries (32:00)
How to get involved with research (39:10)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

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Special Guest: Zoë Jay.

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Episode 241: Exotic Switzerland

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Our 8th season begins with news about Eurovision 2025 host city Basel, our first artist announcement, and a look at the history of Switzerland at the Contest.

Exotic Switzerland Summary

Basel, Switzerland will host Eurovision 2025 (0:54)
Theo Evan will represent Cyprus in Basel (4:05)
Is everyone/the Netherlands still mad at the EBU? (7:53)
Montenegro will return to Eurovision (10:08)
Italy and Sweden tweak their national selections (14:02)
Patreon: Let's Talk About Can't Stop the Music (19:27)
Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest (21:48)

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Episode 240: How to Win Melfest

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500

We say farewell to Eurovision 2024 host nation Sweden by examining the facts and figures of its long-running song selection method: Melodifestivalen. We also make our picks of who we would like to see make an appearance in Melfest 2025.

How to Win Melfest Summary

Who has written the most songs for Melfest? (2:38)
Do non-English songs do well at Melfest? (6:02)
Should Melfest's Andra Chansen be given a second chance? (11:53)
If you already won Melfest, should you come back? (15:32)

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Episode 239: ABBA Gold

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Elisabeth Vincentelli examined the 1992 greatest hits collection ABBA Gold for the music criticism book series 33 1/3. We discuss the book, our respective relationships with ABBA, and marvel at the band's influence on pop music 50 years after their Eurovision win.

ABBA Gold Summary

What is your relationship with ABBA? (2:53)
ABBA Gold (1992) (7:30)
33 1/3: ABBA Gold by Elisabeth Vincentelli (10:04)

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Malmö 2024

Stay up to date on everything happening in the leadup to the Eurovision Song Contest on our page dedicated to Malmö 2024. You can keep tabs on the countries, artists, and songs, set your laundry folding schedule with our EuroWhat's On calendar, and futz with your Spotify algorithm with our Selection Season playlist!

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Episode 238: Vacay

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0500

It's the Geneva Convention vs Basel Exposition for the chance to host Eurovision in 2025. Meanwhile, the production team has been announced and a new job for ESC Director is available if you wanna work with Martin. We go over July 2024 Eurovision headlines in this episode.

Vacay Summary

Geneva vs Basel (1:22)
Eurovision 2025 Staff Updates (6:22)
Patreon Summer of Celine Book Club (10:48)
22 Countries for Eurovision 2025 So Far (13:48)

Photo by Peter Conlan on Unsplash

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 237: Missing the 'Mark

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Oh, Denmark. What are we going to do with you? Ellie Chalkley joins us to assess what's rotten in the state of DMGP and what changes could be made to get the Nordic nation back into the Eurovision Grand Final.

Ellie

Lifelong lover of flags, spreadsheets and the outer reaches of the pop universe. Designer of the infamous Every Eurovision Result Ever tea towel.

Missing the 'Mark Summary

Welcome, Ellie! (1:04)
Denmark at Eurovision Recently (2:22)
Dansk Melodi Grand Prix (DMGP) Problems (6:35)
Denmark Gut Rehab (11:36)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 236: "It's 5 to 11..."

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0500

On April 24, 1974, Portugal's Eurovision entry was used as a signal that would dismantle a dictatorship in Europe. In this episode, look back on the Carnation Revolution and Portugal's history both outside and inside the Eurovision Song Contest.

"It's 5 to 11..." Summary

Portugal at Eurovision (2:58)
A Brief History of Portugal's Politics (11:05)
April 24, 1974 (18:25)
April 26, 1974 (27:10)

Cover image by Tatjana from Pixabay

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 235: Calm

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0500

We check in on Eurovision headlines from June 2024 including budget discussions, host city where/when, and which countries have already expressed interest in the 2025 Contest.

Calm Summary

Eurovision Ratings Omnibus 2024 (1:04)
Host City When? Host City Where? (3:26)
Is Everyone Still Mad at the EBU? (6:11)
Patreon: "I Am: Celine Dion" (8:47)
2025 Country Count: 13 (9:37)
National Selection Updates: Italy, Belgium, Albania (17:37)

Cover photo by Luis Cortés on Unsplash

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 234: A Lotta Look

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan from the celebrity fashion blog Go Fug Yourself join us to discuss fashion, stagewear, and all the lewks from Eurovision 2024. What designs worked, which were less successful, and will 2025 be an all-denim affair?

A Lotta Look Summary

Welcome, Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan! (1:16)
The Turquoise Carpet (6:38)
Favorite Looks from Eurovision 2024 (9:39)
Less Successful Eurovision 2024 Looks (16:52)
Outfit Rehearsals (25:27)
Is Eurovision Fashion Second-Tier? (30:55)

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Malmö 2024

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Special Guest: Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan.

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Episode 233: Grievance Committee

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 21 May 2024 00:00:00 -0500

As the EBU works through a litany of complaints about Eurovision 2024, Dr Jess Carniel from the University of Southern Queensland joins us to discuss the issues facing the competition. Along with examining what should be a rebuilding year for the Contest, we chat about Australia's presence at the ESC and reconsider the balance of the jury and televote.

Dr Jess Carniel

Jess is an Associate Professor in Humanities at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. Her research focuses on the various dimensions of the Eurovision Song Contest, its fans, politics, and culture. She is the author of Understanding the Eurovision Song Contest in Multicultural Australia: We Got Love, and co-editor with Chris Hay of Eurovision and Australia: Interdisciplinary Perspectives from Down Under. She is a firm believer in bangers over ballads.

Grievance Committee Summary

Welcome, Dr. Jess Carniel! (0:44)
Grievance: Spain wants Freedom of the Press (6:18)
Grievance: The European Union Flag (13:19)
Grievance: Double Standards at Eurovision (18:20)
Grievance: Juries and Televoting (23:06)
2025: A Rebuilding Year? (32:49)
Studying Australia's Relationship with Eurovision (48:48)
Did any loose ends get tied up? (55:24)
Final Thoughts (1:00:54)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 232: Broke

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 14 May 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Somehow we made it through the other side of the 2024 Eurovision Grand Final in one piece. Things that didn't: the Netherlands, Nemo's trophy, and possibly the EBU? We examine the immediate aftermath of Saturday's show from Malmö.

Broke Summary

Netherlands Disqualified from Eurovision (0:59)
The Actual Grand Final (6:53)
Eurovision Results Data Dive (10:07)
Looking Toward Eurovision 2025 (17:49)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 231: Poop Chaos

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Fri, 10 May 2024 11:00:00 -0500

In our Eurovision 2024 Grand Final Preview, we discuss the results of the two semi-finals in Malmö, make some predictions on what may happen on Saturday, and scratch why Sweden's hosting has been itching us this week.

This episode was recorded at 7pm US Eastern Time on Thursday, May 9.

Poop Chaos Summary

Corrections: Robyn Edition (0:52)
Eurovision Semi-Final 1 in Review (2:32)
Eurovision Semi-Final 2 in Review (10:46)
Grand Final Preview (27:10)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 230: Designated Perceived Nudity Corner

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Mon, 06 May 2024 00:00:00 -0500

It's Eurovision Week! After we get caught up on Contest news, we make our predictions on which acts will advance to Saturday's Grand Final. Will there be heartbreak in Malmö?

Designated Perceived Nudity Corner Summary

Eurovision News: Peacock, Producer's Choice, Flags (1:19)
Eurovision Semi-Final 1 Predictions (13:01)
Eurovision Semi-Final 2 Predictions (25:52)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 229: "Authenticity"

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Chris Molanphy from Slate's Hit Parade joins us to discuss the Big 5 and Sweden's entries for Eurovision 2024. How do the entries from France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the UK, and Sweden stack up to current US Billboard chart sensibilities? Are there any bangers in the mix?

About Chris Molanphy

Chris Molanphy is a chart analyst and pop critic who writes about the intersection of culture and commerce in popular music. For Slate, he created and hosts the Hit Parade podcast and writes their “Why Is This Song No. 1?” series. His most recent book is Old Town Road (DUP, 2023), about the Lil Nas X song of the same name and the chart history and race/genre intersections that led to its record-setting chart run. Chris’s work has also appeared in Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Vulture, NPR Music’s The Record, The Village Voice, Billboard _and _CMJ. Chris has also been a frequent guest on National Public Radio (All Things Considered, On the Media, Planet Money, Soundcheck), on SiriusXM and on numerous podcasts including the Culture Gabfest and the New York Times Popcast.

"Authenticity" Summary

Welcome, Chris Molanphy! (0:46)
🇫🇷 France - Slimane - "Mon Amour" ❤️‍🔥 (8:22)
🇪🇸 Spain - Nebulossa - "ZORRA" 🦊 (16:46)
🇮🇹 Italy - Angelina Mango - "La Noia" 🥱 (26:51)
🇩🇪 Germany - ISAAK - "Always on the Run" 🏃 (33:34)
🇬🇧 United Kingdom - Olly Alexander - "Dizzy" 😵‍💫 (41:32)
🇸🇪 Sweden - Marcus & Martinus - "Unforgettable" 👯‍♂️ (49:43)
Final Thoughts (1:00:56)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 228: Pulling Focus

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Ned Raggett returns to helps us wrap up our coverage of the second semi-final for Eurovision 2024. Which entries are legit snacks? Which songs left us hungry for more? How did we manage to bring food into every discussion?

Pulling Focus Summary

Welcome back, Ned Raggett! (0:47)
🇳🇱 Netherlands - Joost Klein - "Europapa" 🇪🇺 (2:18)
🇦🇹 Austria - Kaleen - "We Will Rave" 🪩 (10:53)
🇬🇷 Greece - Marina Satti - "ZARI" 🎲 (19:08)
🇮🇱 Israel - Eden Golan - "Hurricane" 🌀 (26:29)
🇬🇪 Georgia - Nutsa - "FIrefighter" 👩‍🚒 (29:21)
🇦🇲 Armenia - LADANIVA - "Jako" 💃 (37:23)
Final Thoughts (45:11)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 227: CVS Bangerz

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Audio engineer and Never Post host Mike Rugnetta joins us for a Eurovision crash course. We discuss this year's entries from Estonia, Denmark, Belgium, San Marino, and Switzerland, as well as the overwhelming schedule for Eurovision rehearsals and the finer points of grocery store playlists.

CVS Bangerz Summary

Welcome, Mike Rugnetta! (0:43)
🇪🇪 Estonia - 5MIINUST x Puuluup - “(nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi” 💊 (8:51)
🇩🇰 Denmark - SABA - "Sand" 🏜️ (19:04)
🇧🇪 Belgium - Mustii - "Before the Party's Over" 🎊 (30:20)
🇸🇲 San Marino - Megara - "11:11" 👩‍🎤 (38:43)
🇨🇭 Switzerland - Nemo - "The Code" 🧩 (47:43)
Final Thoughts (and Questions) (58:19)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 226: Oops! All Revamps

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0500

First-time guest Katie Proctor joins us to kick off our coverage of Eurovision 2024 Semi Final 2! We explore the full range of revamps with this week's set, including lyrics tweaks, remastering, and translation. Were the changes made by Czechia, Albania, Norway, Malta, and Latvia successful?

Oops! All Revamps Summary

Welcome, Katie Proctor! (0:42)
🇨🇿 Czechia - Aiko - "Pedestal" 🗽 (3:12)
🇦🇱 Albania - Besa - "TiTAN" 💪 (8:56)
🇳🇴 Norway - Gåte - "Ulveham" 🐺 (17:32)
🇲🇹 Malta - Sarah Bonnici - "Loop" 🔄 (24:32)
🇱🇻 Latvia - Dons - "Hollow" 🙏 (31:59)
Final Thoughts (40:51)

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Malmö 2024

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Eurovision 2024 Semi Final 1 Megamix | Patreon

Episode 225: Optimistic

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Meredith Clark from Light Treason News joins us to chat about our last set of songs for Eurovision Semi Final 1: Serbia, Iceland, Australia, Portugal, and Azerbaijan. Topics include: Memes popular in Bangladesh, Whose Line is It Anyway, didgeridoos, three-minute world building, and arms appreciation.

Optimistic Summary

Welcome back, Meredith Clark! (0:53)
🇷🇸 Serbia - Teya Dora - "Ramonda" 🥀 (4:35)
🇮🇸 Iceland - Hera Bjork - "Scared of Heights" 🎢 (10:31)
🇦🇺 Australia - Electric Fields - "One Milkali (One Blood)" ☕️ (17:11)
🇵🇹 Portugal - iolanda - "Grito" 😧 (23:43)
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan - Fahree feat. Ilkin Dovlatov - "Özünlə Apar" 🤝 (29:54)
Final Thoughts (36:51)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 224: SFX Appeal

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Eurovision superfan dudepoints joins us to delight in the bleeps and bloops of five more entries from this year's first semi-final. We discuss the songs from Moldova, Lithuania, Poland, Croatia, and Cyprus, as well as dude's experience at the Eurovizija.lt Grand Final.

SFX Appeal Summary

Welcome back, dudepoints! (0:52)
🇲🇩 Moldova - Natalia Barbu - "In the Middle" 🎻 (3:43)
🇱🇹 Lithuania - Silvester Belt - "Luktelk" 📻 (9:50)
🇵🇱 Poland - LUNA - "The Tower"🗼 (17:44)
🇭🇷 Croatia - Baby Lasagna - "Rim Tim Tagi Dim" 😼 (24:54)
🇨🇾 Cyprus - Silia Kapsis - "Liar" 🤥 (33:38)
Final Thoughts (42:38)

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Malmö 2024

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Special Guest: Dude Points.

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Episode 223: Encarta

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500

We kick off Eurovision 2024 Review Season with our special guest Sam Gavin! We discuss the entries from Slovenia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Ukraine, and Finland as well as reminisce about My Neighbor Totoro, pre-internet software, and cringe content from back in the day.

Encarta Summary

Welcome, Sam Gavin! (0:46)
🇸🇮 Slovenia - Raiven - "Veronika" 🧝‍♀️ (3:59)
🇮🇪 Ireland - Bambie Thug - "Doomsday Blue" 😱 (11:04)
🇱🇺 Luxembourg - Tali - "Fighter" 🤺 (19:01)
🇺🇦 Ukraine - alyona alyona & Jerry Heil - "Teresa & Maria" 📿 (23:58)
🇫🇮 Finland - Windows95Man - "No Rules!" 🚫 (32:44)
Final Thoughts (46:07)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 222: Scrunchy Face Sounds

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500

We're at the end of Eurovision Selection Season and get caught up with internal selections from Australia and Greece plus the conclusion of Sweden's Melodifestivalen and Portugal's Festival da Canção. ... what do you mean there are still some unknown tracks?!

Scrunchy Face Sounds Summary

Electric Fields to represent Australia with "One Milkali (One Blood)" (0:51)
Greece rolls the dice with Marina Satti's "Zari" (4:13)
Marcus and Martinus win Melodifestivalen with "Unforgettable" (7:58)
"Grito" by iolanda wins Festival da Canção (13:35)
Coming up: Israel, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Review Season (17:41)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 221: Maximal

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Several internal selections join the Eurovision 2024 field this week and exactly zero of them are holding back. Serbia's national final goes harder than necessary while Iceland... also made a selection this week. We're in the homestretch!

Maximal Summary

Nemo breaks "The Code" for Switzerland (0:47)
Joost Klein is the Netherlands' "Europapa" (3:51)
Silia Kapsis calls out a "Liar" for Cyprus (9:08)
The United Kingdom's Olly Alexander is "Dizzy" for Eurovision (11:37)
Austria declares "We Will Rave" with Kaleen (16:32)
Teya Dora wins Serbia's Pesma za Euroviziju with "Ramonda" (19:47)
Hera Bjork's "Scared of Heights" wins in Iceland (28:23)
Melfest Heat 5 (33:19)
Portugal's Festival da Cancao Semi 2 (38:56)
This week: Australia, Greece, the End of Selection Season 2024 (40:36)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 220: Go Tiffany

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0600

In a relatively quiet week in Eurovision land we check out Belgium's selection from Mustii, recap Una Voce per San Marino, and say meow to Baby Lasagna. We also check in with Sweden's Melodifestivalen, Iceland's Songvakeppnin, and the first semi for Portugal's Festival da Canção.

Go Tiffany Summary

Belgium releases Mustii's "Before the Party's Over" (1:23)
Spain's Megara wins Una Voce per San Marino with "11:11" (4:35)
"Rim Tim Dagi Dim" by Baby Lasagna dominates Dora (11:13)
Melfest Heat 4 (18:05)
Songvakeppnin Semi 2 (22:40)
Festival da Canção 60 Begins (26:49)
Coming up: Serbia's Pesma za Euroviziju and internal selections (28:58)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 219: Conversion

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0600

5 Eurovision national finals took place this past weekend with mixed results. Well, results that were mixed weirdly due to jury/televote score conversions. We discuss Germany, Estonia, Moldova, Lithuania, and Denmark, plus Poland's internal selection.

Conversion Summary

Isaak is "Always on the Run" for Germany (1:00)
Eesti Laul Grand Final (5:44)
Natalia Barbu represents Moldova again with "In the Middle" (10:12)
Saba wins Dansk Melodi Grand Prix with "Sand" (14:11)
"Luktelk" and Silvester Belt win Eurovizija.lt (18:52)
Poland selects Luna and "The Tower" (23:59)
Sweden's Melfest Heat 3 (27:21)
Iceland's Songvakeppnin Begins (31:58)
Una Voce Per San Marino reveals big artists (34:52)
This week: Belgium's entry from Mustii, Croatia's Dora, Portugal's Festival da Canção (40:05)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 218: Imaginary Beef

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0600

With Ben traveling back from Finland's UMK, guest Trip Payne taps in to discuss that national final, Latvia's Supernova, and Italy's Sanremo Festival. Then we prepare for the biggest Super Saturday of the Eurovision season coming up next weekend.

Imaginary Beef Summary

Petra Mede and Malin Åkerman will host Eurovision 2024 (2:27)
Windows95Man wins UMK with "No Rules" (4:05)
"Hollow" by Dons wins Latvia's Supernova (9:40)
"La Noia" will go to Malmo with Angelina Mango (14:29)
Lithuania's Eurovizijalt Final Field Set (25:51)
Melfest Heat 2 (27:38)
This week: Germany, Moldova, Estonia, Denmark, Iceland, San Marino (30:29)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 217: Technical Difficulties

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0600

It was a Saturday so Super it stretched into Sunday... not by choice, but Ukraine loves drama. Norway, Spain, and Malta also made their Eurovision picks, Latvia and Sweden kicked off their processes, and Lithuania is almost done with their heats. Oh, and The Draw added some structure to the 2024 Contest.

Technical Difficulties Summary

The Draw handles the Semi-Final Allocation (0:27)
VidBir (eventually) selects alyona alyona & Jerry Heil & "Maria & Teresa" (4:08)
Gåte wins NRK MGP with "Ulveham" (11:05)
Nebulossa conquers Spain's Benidorm Fest with "Zorra" (14:23)
Malta has Sarah Bonnici on "Loop" (19:43)
Il Senso and Monika Marija advance in Lithuania (25:21)
Latvia's Supernova Semi-Final (28:29)
Sweden kicks off Melodifestivalen 2024 (33:01)
This week: Italy's Sanremo, Germany's Wildcard, Finland's UMK (38:59)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 216: Squiggle Line Mouth Face

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Eurovision season clicks into second gear this week with Ireland and Luxembourg making selections, Norway setting its final field, Lithuania's holding its third heat, and Malta, Spain, and Ukraine getting ready to decide. How will The Draw shake up things in Malmö?

Squiggle Line Mouth Face Summary

Romania won't be part of The Draw (1:15)
Ireland chooses Bambie Thug's "Doomsday Blue" (3:17)
Tali will be Luxembourg's "Fighter" in Malmö (10:56)
Iceland announces its intentions (20:44)
Norway sets its final field for NRK MGP (24:47)
Lithuania's Third Heat for Eurovizija.LT (31:45)
This week: Malta, Spain's Benidorm Fest, Ukraine's VidBir (34:57)

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Malmö 2024

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The CA of SRTv did not approve the participation in Eurovision 2024 | TVR.RO

Episode 215: That's SLO Raiven

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Eurovision calmed down a bit this week with qualifying heats from Lithuania and Norway plus the semi-final for Estonia's Eesti Laul. Slovenia turned up the drama with Raiven's "Veronika" and Austria announced their artist for Malmö. Be warned: this is the last bit of calm until March...

That's SLO Raiven Summary

Raiven's "Veronika" debuts for Slovenia (1:02)
Austria announces Kaleen for Malmö (3:40)
Portugal and Germany release National Final details (5:29)
Eesti Laul Semi-final (9:16)
NRK MGP Heat 2 (12:05)
Eurovizija.lt Heat 2 (20:49)
This week: Romania, Denmark, Serbia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, and The Draw (25:34)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 214: Floodgates

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0600

The search for the next Eurovision winner began officially this week, with Moldova holding auditions, Norway kicking off NRK MGP, and Lithuania launching its new process Eurovizija.lt. Georgia announced their artist, and everybody had to issue a press release the week that Mike is home alone 😱

Floodgates Summary

Georgia announces Nutsa for Malmö (1:33)
Video links for The Draw, Semis, and Grand Final are live (3:44)
Cyprus and Belgium release some song details (4:31)
Songs revealed for Ireland, Finland, Luxembourg, Ukraine, Latvia (5:48)
Moldova's Etapa Nationala Auditions (11:40)
Norway's NRK MGP 2024 Begins (13:15)
Lithuania launches Eurovizija.lt (16:28)
This week: Slovenia, Estonia, Austria, Germany, and Portugal (19:26)

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Malmö 2024

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Be part of the chorus of Mustii's song which will represent Belgium at Eurovision 2024 - rtbf.be

Episode 213: Trickle

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Eurovision 2024 barely took a break for the holidays! We get caught up on Albania's Festivali i Këngës, the results of the ESC 250 Countdown, and look forward to Moldova, Norway, and Lithuania this coming weekend.

Trickle Summary

Albania chooses Besa and "Zemren n'dore" (0:46)
The Eurovision 2024 Stage Concept (5:31)
Eurovision announces The Draw and a new sponsor (7:04)
"Cha Cha Cha" wins the ESC250 Countdown (10:07)
National Selection updates: Ukraine, Serbia, Ireland, Croatia, Finland (19:01)
TV This Week: Norway's NRK MGP, Moldova's Auditions, Lithuania's Eurovizija.LT (23:21)

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Malmö 2024

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Episode 212: 37ish

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0600

We finally have a (tentative) roster for next year's Eurovision Song Contest! Czechia has selected their entry, artists have been announced for the Netherlands, Slovenia, and the UK, and national final season details are coming into focus. What a way to wrap 2023!

37ish Summary

37 countries confirmed for Malmö (so far) (1:03)
New color scheme! (6:38)
Czechia's ESCZ puts Aiko on a "Pedestal" (8:33)
Internal artist selections: Netherlands, Slovenia, United Kingdom (14:51)
Holidays sidebar: Sam Ryder, Secret Santas, 2023 Pop Culture (22:23)
National selection details: Italy, Albania, Germany, Luxembourg, Finland, Ukraine, Croatia (24:03)

Cover photo by Scott Evans on Unsplash

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Episode 211: Allons-y!

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0600

FRANCE has jumped the gun and released their song for Eurovision 2024. Greece has announced their artist, a handful of countries have named their contestants for their national finals, and tickets were already on sale... it's barely December? Join us as we peruse Eurovision Song Contest headlines.

Allons-y! Summary

🇫🇷 France surprise announces Slimane and "Mon Amour" (0:53)
🇬🇷 Greece will send Marina Satti to Malmo (6:15)
💚 United by Music Forever (8:45)
🎫 Tickets Wave 1 Happened (10:00)
🗳️ ESC Top 250 Voting Opens (13:33)
📲 Bluesky and Patreon (16:17)
🌍 Contestant Lists: Malta, Estonia, Spain, Sweden, Azerbaijan, Ukraine (18:10)
📝 Alumni Notes: Tumblr Trends (26:42

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Episode 210: Wilderness

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0600

Ireland Gut Rehab

We welcome back Alex McMillan to discuss the state of Ireland's Eurovision Song Contest selections and reflect on the nation's historical successes and recent failures. Is Eurosong on the Late Late Show the best selection method? Is Ireland stuck in the nostalgia for their dominance in the 90s? What risks can the delegation take to make a splash in Malmö?

Alex McMillan

Alex is a game designer, question setter, and American Song Contest apologist, best known for their work on Only Connect. They’ve worked on a range of game shows in both the UK and US, and when they’re not doing that they can be found writing articles for Hard Drive or performing stand-up as Céilí Rae Minogue. They have been watching Eurovision for the last 20 years and attended their first contest in person in 2023.

Wilderness Summary

Welcome back, Alex McMillan! (1:10)
Ireland Since the '90s at Eurovision (5:30)
The Late Late Show Problem (13:40)
Finding the Irish Sound (19:15)
How to Tweak Ireland's Selection Method (25:07)
Who Should Represent Ireland at Eurovision? (29:44)

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Special Guest: Alex McMillan.

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Episode 209: Millstreet

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0600

It's been 30 years since a small town in Ireland took on the challenge of hosting Eurovision while the concept of Europe was undergoing a transformation. We look back at Millstreet 1993, the accommodation of several new countries wanting to join the party, and... the Bartman?

Millstreet Summary

The Journey to the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest (1:14)
A Tour of Millstreet (4:58)
A Tour of Europe in 1993 (8:16)
The Eurovision 1993 Contestants and Their Performances (12:55)
Reflections on the Contest and Its Impact (34:02)

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Episode 208: Calendaring

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0500

As we continue to wait for the full guest list for Eurovision 2024,: Cyprus announces their artist, a bunch of selection processes release start dates (FRIDAY?!), end dates, and a few name changes (EEK!), plus we start filling out this winter's TV calendar.

Calendaring Summary

Cyprus internally selects Silia Kapsis for Malmo (1:22)
35 Countries Confirmed So Far (3:24)
Malmo Budgets and Planning (5:16)
Eurowhat AV Club (6:50)
National Selections 2023: Malta, Estonia, Albania (7:30)
National Selections 2024: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Iceland, San Marino (10:51)
Changing Methods: Slovenia, Lithuania, Denmark (15:15)

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Episode 207: Aline!

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Discussing Valérie Lemercier's "freely-inspired" Celine Dion biopic — What do you do if your pop culture idol doesn't sign off on you making a biopic about them? Change their name, tweak some of the facts, and play all the roles so you can make a movie like Aline! We have A LOT of questions about the film:

Aline! Summary

EuroWhat AV Club: Aline! (3:53)
🎥 What is Aline? (6:14)
🎤 What is your relationship with Celine Dion? (7:55)
😲 At what point in the movie did you go “Uhhhhh, what?!” (14:13)
🔎 What is Aline actually about? (17:36)
🎶 How was Eurovision depicted in Aline? (23:53)
🤔 Who is this movie for? (26:12)
⚖️ Would you recommend Aline? (31:58)

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Episode 206: Obvious Points Klaxon

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Greece and Turkey have had a tense relationship and Cyprus is often in the center of disputes. We take a look at these dynamics and how they may have shifted over the last 50 years at Eurovision.

Obvious Points Klaxon Summary

Greece debuts at Eurovision (1:43)
Greek Politics (5:40)
Cyprus (8:11)
Greece, Cyprus, and Turkiye at Eurovision (13:33)
Do Greece and Cyprus always give each other 12 points? (23:07)

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Episode 205: Efficiency

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0500

We get caught up on September 2023 Eurovision Headlines, of which there are a surprising amount. We already have an artist, details on multiple selection processes, and more than 2 dozen countries ready to party in Malmö, Sweden.

Efficiency Summary

Belgium selects Mustii (1:02)
Christer Bjorkman and Per Blankens join the production team (3:07)
The EBU debates AI (6:53)
Show Business: Patreon and the Great American Pop Culture Quiz (9:16)
National Selections: United Kingdom, Switzerland, Malta, Cyprus, Ukraine, Germany (10:21)
2023 Streaming Stats (18:12)
Cosa sta facendo Maneskin: VMA Bingo Edition (20:26)

Photo by Mattias Diesel on Unsplash

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Episode 204: Welcome to Sweden

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0500

From "Waterloo" to "Tattoo", Sweden has been a dominant force in the Eurovision Song Contest for more than 50 years, winning the competition seven times. We dive into the ESC history of next year's host country.

Welcome to Sweden Summary

Sweden: A Land of Contrasts (2:23)
Sweden's Overall Record at Eurovision (4:19)
The "Waterloo" Era (8:13)
The "Digaloo" Era (13:36)
The Carola Era (16:33)
The Charlotte Era (22:54)
The "Euphoria" Era (34:31)
The "Heroes" Era (38:55)

Cover image by Robert England from Pixabay

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Episode 203: Iconic

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0500

We say farewell to our host nations by discussing one area where Ukraine and the United Kingdom overlap: iconic runner-up entries. But what does "iconic" mean for Eurovision entries?

Using data from the annual ESC Top 250 countdown, we construct a rubric to identify songs from across the decades that could be part of a Eurovision Hall of Fame. In this episode, we highlight the entries that finished in second place and have a perfect ESC Top 250 record.

Iconic Summary

Saying farewell to the United Kingdom and Ukraine (1:15)
What is an "iconic" Eurovision performance? (6:48)
8 Iconic Eurovision Entries (11:09)
Building a Eurovision Hall of Fame (30:23)

Image by Maike und Björn Bröskamp from Pixabay

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Episode 202: Drought

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0500

With one month to go until Eurovision New Year and next year's host city and dates announced, it's been a fairly quiet month for the Contest. We check in with some of the national selection processes that are already casting for the upcoming season.

Drought Summary

Malmö, Sweden will host Eurovision 2024 (1:03)
Norway Suggests Jury Changes (6:09)
Patreon, Social Media, Guest Spots (8:48)
Luxembourg is ready to play (12:37)
Eurovision 2023 Impact Report (16:07)
Sam Ryder Emmy Nomination (17:45)

Cover Photo by Luismi Sánchez on Unsplash

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Episode 201: Sisu

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Finland went all out in supporting their Eurovision entry "Cha Cha Cha" in ways that continue to reverberate weeks after the contest. We spoke with University of Helsinki researcher Zoë Jay and UMK associate producer/"Cha Cha Cha" dancer Matti Myllyaho about Finland's Eurovision 2023 experience.

Zoë Jay

Dr Zoë Jay is a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki and the Centre of Excellence in Law, Identity and the European Narratives. She has a background in international relations and political science. Her research focuses on European politics, human rights, and the politics of international law, especially compliance with the European Court of Human Rights.

Matti Myllyaho

Matti Myllyaho is an associate show producer for Finland's national selection Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) and performed as a backing dancer in Finland's 2023 Eurovision entry "Cha Cha Cha".

Sisu Summary

tumblr and Eurovision Fandom
Zoë Jay and Finland's Publc Response to Eurovision 2023 (4:47)
Matti Myllyaho on Delegating "Cha Cha Cha" Dancing (25:42)

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Special Guests: Matti Myllyaho and Zoë Jay.

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Episode 200: PopCon 2023

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0500

2020 was a dark time for live music. It also marked the first time in the Eurovision Song Contest’s 65-year history where the competition was canceled. Rather than letting the lights go down in Rotterdam, Eurovision’s fan community and the European Broadcasting Union found new ways to celebrate the contest’s artists with at-home concerts, fan-driven countdowns, AI analysis of song content, and internet watchalongs of remastered editions of previous contests.

When the contest returned in 2021, “Open Up”—the slogan carried over from the 2020 contest—took on new meaning. Participating nations took extra precautions to put on their selection processes safely while Eurovision made sure it could be “back for good.” Fans had more say in who would be representing their nation, the Rotterdam Ahoy crew tested the feasibility of large-scale music events, and improvements in streaming platforms over the last decade meant that even more eyes were on the contest.

What wide-ranging effects could this have as Eurovision breaks out of its European bubble and starts bleeding into other areas of pop culture, including the Billboard Hot 100 and the 2023 Grammy Awards?

PopCon 2023 Summary

What is Eurovision? (8:43)
A Big Tent (12:07)
An Interlude About Digital Streaming Technology (13:10)
It is a Normal Year at Eurovision and Everything is Fine and We're Definitely NOT About to be Rocked By a Global Pandemic That Will Shut Everything Down Nine Months from Now (16:44)
#EurovisionAgain (28:57)
Back for Good (35:02)
Eurovision Song Contest: The Legend of Fire Saga (40:28)
Televising Covid (42:08)
New Engagement Opportunities (50:41)
The Covid Bubble (53:30)
The Grand Final (1:02:46)
Eurovision Around the World (1:08:53)

Thank you again to everyone listening, guests who have appeared on the show, guests who don't yet know they're going to be on the show (get hype!), and the Eurovision community at-large. This podcast is a labor of love and we're super proud to have made it to 200!

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

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Episode 199: News Cruise

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Sweden's host city selection process for Eurovision 2024 has been bopping along while everyone is out of office for summer vacation. We get caught up with our mailbag and some of the headlines from the last month.

News Cruise Summary

Mailbag: Jemini v Gemini Edition (1:10)
Sweden Closes Bids for Eurovision Host City (2:43)
Eurowhat AV Club (7:48)
2024 National Finals Taking Shape (9:06)
Theodor Andrei Talks About Representing Romania (14:46)

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Episode 198: Lyrical Vocabulary

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0500

How does a songwriter interface with the Eurovision experience? "Blood and Glitter" co-writer Anthony J. Brown joins us to discuss his involvement with Lord of the Lost and Germany's 2023 Eurovision entry.

Lyrical Vocabulary Summary

How did "Blood and Glitter" come about? (1:23)
On the Way to Eurovision (10:01)
What was your Grand Final experience? (13:31)
The Scoreboard (20:19)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with Eurovision 2023 on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

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Special Guest: Anthony J. Brown.

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Episode 197: Debut

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 23 May 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Ben has returned from his Eurovision debut in Liverpool, both as an audience member and as part of the in-person press team. He shares stories from his jam-packed trip.

Debut Summary

Eurovision Expectations (1:19)
The Turquoise Carpet and National Lottery Show (4:55)
Eurovision Dress Rehearsals and Semi Finals (8:35)
The Eurovision Grand Final (18:25)
The Sauna Truck (24:00)
The EuroVillage (27:00)
EuroWhat Off-Season Mode (28:55)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with Eurovision 2023 on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

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The EuroWhat? Podcast on Twitter: "While others went to the press conference, my interest was more “what’s going on at the sauna truck?”, so I followed that lead. #EUROVISION #EUROVISION2023 #Käärijä https://t.co/1zVllrlMyK" / Twitter

Episode 196: Stockholm Syndrome

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 16 May 2023 00:00:00 -0500

While Ben recovers from Liverpool's Party of the Century, special guest Trip Payne stops by to chat about the 2023 Eurovision Grand Final and the battle between Sweden and Finland.

Stockholm Syndrome Summary

Eurovision Listening Project (2:35)
How was the Grand Final as a show? (5:22)
Diving into the Grand Final results (7:06)
Semi-Finals Data Drop (19:20)
Looking ahead to 2024 (23:45)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with Eurovision 2023 on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

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Special Guest: Trip Payne.

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Episode 195: Eurovision 2023 Grand Final Preview

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Fri, 12 May 2023 08:00:00 -0500

Will Finland "Cha Cha Cha" to victory? Will Sweden's Loreen get a "Tattoo" to celebrate a win? Could Ukraine's "Heart of Steel" beat the competition? We recap the Eurovision 2023 Semi-Finals and make our picks for what we think will happen at the Grand Final in Liverpool.

Eurovision 2023 Grand Final Preview Summary

Semi-Final 1 Recap (2:11)
Semi-Final 2 Recap (10:06)
Grand Final Preview (18:40)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with Eurovision 2023 on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

Over on Patreon, we have a slew of bonus episodes featuring the Eurowhat AV Club and deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics. Thank you for your support!

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Episode 194: Internet People

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Mon, 08 May 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Ben and Mike met up in person to make their picks on what they think will qualify from the Eurovision 2023 semi-finals. Then we saw rehearsals. Experience both the before and after as we make our best guesses for Tuesday and Thursday.

Internet People Summary

Making predictions: pre-rehearsals (2:00)
Semi-Final 1 Predictions (4:57)
Semi-Final 2 Predictions (10:57)
SPOILER WARNING: Making Adjustments (20:34)
Semi-Final 1 Prediction Adjustments (20:49)
Semi-Final 2 Prediction Adjustments (28:14)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with Eurovision 2023 on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

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Episode 193: Controlled Grandiosity

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 02 May 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Maura Johnston joins us as we wrestle with the Eurovision 2023 set of auto-qualifiers. Will Ukraine pull the double? Will the UK and Spain continue their glowups? Will we be going back to Italy? Will Germany get out of the basement? Is France gonna France?

Controlled Grandiosity Summary

France — La Zarra — "Évidemment" (2:16)
Germany — Lord of the Lost — "Blood and Glitter" (6:43)
Italy — Marco Mengoni — "Due Vite" (12:29)
Spain — Blanca Paloma — "EAEA" (17:08)
Ukraine — TVORCHI — "Heart of Steel" (22:44)
United Kingdom — Mae Muller — "I Wrote a Song" (28:08)
Final Thoughts (34:28)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with Eurovision 2023 on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

Over on Patreon, we have a slew of bonus episodes featuring the Eurowhat AV Club and deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics. Thank you for your support!

Special Guest: Maura Johnston.

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Episode 192: ... Her?

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0500

When (inciting incident), (hero) struggles against (antagonistic force) in order to (goal) before (stakes are lost).

... Her? Summary

San Marino - Piqued Jacks - "Like an Animal" (4:32)
Austria - Teya and Salena - "Who the Hell is Edgar?" (12:06)
Albania - Albina & Familja Kelmendi - "Duje" (18:54)
Lithuania - Monika Linkyté - "Stay" (25:18)
Australia - Voyager - "Promise" (32:26)
Final Thoughts (40:30)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with Eurovision 2023 on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

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Special Guest: Navah Wolfe.

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Episode 191: Hotel Art

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Susan Rogers from Berklee College of Music and author of This Is What It Sounds Like joins us for a record pull of the middle section of Eurovision Semi-Final 2. How do Iceland, Greece, Poland, Slovenia, and Georgia interact with our listener profiles?

Hotel Art Summary

This is What it Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You (0:49)
Iceland - Diljá - “Power” (5:53)
Greece - Victor Vernicos - "What They Say" (11:39)
Poland - Blanka - "Solo" (18:31)
Slovenia - Joker Out - "Carpe Diem" (24:52)
Georgia - Iru - "Echo" (31:07)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with Eurovision 2023 on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

Over on Patreon, we have a slew of bonus episodes featuring the Eurowhat AV Club and deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics. Thank you for your support!

Special Guest: Susan Rogers.

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Episode 190: Starter Pack

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0500

We welcome back Reality Blurred's Andy Dehnart to chat about the first chunk of Eurovision 2023's second semi-final, which has almost too much variety in what the Contest has to offer.

Starter Pack Summary

Denmark - Reiley - "Breaking My Heart" (1:55)
Armenia - Brunette - "Future Lover" (10:40)
Romania - Theodor Andrei - "D.G.T. (Off And On)" (19:41)
Estonia - ALIKA - "Bridge" (26:35)
Belgium - Gustaph - "Because of You" (31:32)
Cyprus - Andrew Lambrou - "Break a Broken Heart" (38:33)
Final Thoughts (43:21)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with Eurovision 2023 on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

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Special Guest: Andy Dehnart.

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Episode 189: Lv100 Paladin

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0500

We close out our coverage of Eurovision Semi-Final 1 with Allegra Kuney, who has brought her media studies hats for our discussions about Switzerland, Israel, Moldova, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

Lv100 Paladin Summary

Switzerland - Remo Forrer - "Watergun" (3:48)
Israel - Noa Kirel - "Unicorn" (10:07)
Moldova - Pasha Parfeni - "Soarele şi luna" (19:12)
Sweden - Loreen - "Tattoo" (24:28)
The Netherlands - Mia Nicolaï and Dion Cooper - "Burning Daylight" (34:54)
Final Thoughts (41:28)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with Eurovision 2023 on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

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Special Guest: Allegra Kuney.

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Episode 188: Capsaicin

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500

We welcome back Ned Raggett to discuss five more entries from Eurovision Semi-Final 1. How has the running order affected our thoughts on Serbia, Portugal, Azerbaijan, Czechia, and Finland?

Capsaicin Summary

Serbia - Luke Black - "Samo mi se spava" (1:47)
Portugal - Mimicat - "Ai Coração" (9:57)
Azerbaijan - TuranTuralX - "Tell Me More" (16:11)
Czechia - Vesna - "My Sister's Crown" (24:41)
Finland - Käärijä - "Cha Cha Cha" (30:26)
Final Thoughts (48:14)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with Eurovision 2023 on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

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Luke Black Music
A Popjustice reader is representing Serbia at Eurovision.
Mimicat (@mimicat_music) | Instagram
Eurovision 2023 - Time Singing The Title | TOP 37 - YouTube
turanturalx (@turalturanx) | Instagram
Vesna
Käärijä (@paidatonriehuja) | Instagram
Käärijätorttu | Makeat leivonnaiset | Yhteishyvä
Two Conversations and a Game Show : An evening of Megaphonic podcasts, live! — Megaphonic.
Ned Raggett | Shfl — Ned Raggett has been a freelance writer since the mid-1990s, contributing to a variety of publications. Past work has appeared at All Music, Pitchfork, the Guardian, Rolling Stone, Stylus, the 405, OC Weekly, Seattle Weekly, Fake Jazz, Spin and MTV. He currently regularly contributes to Daily Bandcamp, the Quietus and KQED Arts among other sites.
Ned Raggett (@nedraggett@spaceballs.masto.host) - Mastodon Party
By-The-Bywater: A Tolkien Podcast — Megaphonic.

Episode 187: Nostradamus Type Whatever

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500

We welcome back Justin Ladia as we begin our Eurovision 2023 review series. Starting in the first half of the first semi-final, we discuss Croatia, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, and Norway. Spoiler: it gets weird almost instantly.

Nostradamus Type Whatever Summary

Croatia - Let 3 - "Mama ŠČ" (1:44)
Ireland - Wild Youth - "We Are One" (11:05)
Latvia - Sudden Lights - "Aijā" (17:44)
Malta - The Busker - "Dance (Our Own Party)" (24:20)
Norway - Alessandra Mele - "Queen of Kings" (31:17)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with Eurovision 2023 on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

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Special Guest: Justin Ladia.

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Episode 186: Spring Back

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500

The Eurovision 2023 deadline is here, so we have a slew of entries from countries waiting to reveal their songs at the last minute. We also get to chat with David Allwood from the UK to tell us what the vibe is in this year's host country.

Spring Back Summary

Eurovision Tickets Went Fast (1:12)
Switzerland reveals Remo Forrer's "Watergun" (3:28)
Austria finally tells us "Who the Hell is Edgar?" (5:48)
Israel's Noa Kirel unleashes her "Unicorn" (9:33)
"I Wrote a Song" says the United Kingdom's Mae Muller (13:03)
Loreen wins Sweden's Melfest with "Tattoo" (17:25)
Mimicat's "Ai Coração" wins Festival da Canção (25:07)
Victor Vernicos shares "What They Say" for Greece (30:16)
TurelTuranX will "Tell Me More" for Azerbaijan (33:26)
Mr Gay England David Allwood Discusses the UK Eurovision Vibe (38:05)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with selection season for Eurovision 2023 including a calendar and playlists on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

Over on Patreon, we have a slew of bonus episodes featuring the American Song Contest, the Eurovision AV Club, and deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics. Thank you for your support!

Special Guest: David Allwood.

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Episode 185: Raw Boost Energy

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0600

Six more songs enter the Eurovision thunderdome courtesy of the Netherlands, Cyprus, Germany, Moldova, Serbia, and Iceland. We also find out what the finals in Sweden and Portugal will look like. Oh, and tickets are on sale... or at least they were...

Raw Boost Energy Summary

Eurovision Tickets When/Then (1:18)
Mia Nikolai and Dion Cooper will be "Burning Daylight" for the Netherlands (3:42)
Cyprus tasks Andrew Lambrou to "Break a Broken Heart" (6:28)
Lord Of the Lost will shed "Blood & Glitter" for Germany (9:11)
Pasha Parfeni will represent Moldova again with "Soarele si Luna" (15:37)
Luke Black wins in Serbia's Pesma za Evroviziju with "Samo mi se spava" (19:17)
Diljá uses her "Power" to win Iceland's Songvakeppnin (24:10)
Sweden's Melfest and Portugal's Festival da Canção complete their semi-finals (28:25)
Awaiting internals: Greece, Switzerland, Austria, Israel, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, United Kingdom (30:07)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with selection season for Eurovision 2023 including a calendar and playlists on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

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Episode 184: Did the Thing

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0600

Have we heard the winner of Eurovision 2023? Finland's selection made a strong case this weekend while Sweden's Loreen debuted her contender at Melfest. San Marino, Poland, and Australia also announced their picks as we get closer to the end of Selection Season.

Did the Thing Summary

Eurovision Hosts Announced (1:16)
Australia makes a "Promise" with Voyager (5:31)
Finland's UMK selects Käärijä's "Cha Cha Cha" (8:47)
Piqued Jacks' "Like an Animal" wins Una Voce per San Marino (12:46)
Poland's Blanka is going to "Solo" at Eurovision (18:30)
Remo Forrer will represent Switzerland (24:57)
Loreen did the thing at Melfest (25:43)
Iceland sets the final field for Songvakeppnin (31:47)
Portugal begins the Festival da Canção (34:13)
This week: Netherlands, Serbia, Cyprus, Germany, Moldova (35:45)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with selection season for Eurovision 2023 including a calendar and playlists on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

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Episode 183: Halftime

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0600

We got to catch our breath this weekend with only two Eurovision selections coming through: Lithuania and France. With this break, we check in to see how Selection Season is going and what the back half may have in store.

Halftime Summary

Monika Linkytė will "Stay" for Lithuania (2:06)
France reveals La Zarra's "Évidemment" (7:24)
Iceland's Songvakeppnin begins (11:30)
Heat 3 for Sweden's Melfest (14:11)
Next weekend: Finland's UMK, Una Voce Per San Marino, Festival da Cançao, Poland (18:53)
Halftime Status Check (23:06)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with selection season for Eurovision 2023 including a calendar and playlists on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

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Episode 182: Everything Everywhere All at Once

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0600

We are all googly-eyed after a Saturday with more than 50 hours of Eurovision programming. The good news: we now have 8 more songs heading to Liverpool.

Everything Everywhere All at Once Summary

Vesna wins ESCZ with "My Sister's Crown" (1:40)
Alika will represent Estonia with "Bridges" (4:37)
Theodor Andrei's "D.G.T. (Off and On)" wins Romania's Selectia Nationala (7:37)
"Breaking My Heart" by Reiley will represent Denmark (13:32)
Let 3 dominates Croatia's Dora with "Mama ŠČ!" (17:45)
Sudden Lights wins Latvia's Supernova with "Aijā" (22:44)
Malta selects "Dance (Our Own Party)" by The Busker for Liverpool (24:22)
Marco Mangoni will represent Italy again with "Due Vite" (27:27)
Sweden's Melfest Heat 2 (32:52)
Lithuania sets the Pabandom is Nuajo Final Field (36:31)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with selection season for Eurovision 2023 including a calendar and playlists on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

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DORA 2023 Opening Performance | YouTube

Episode 181: Peanut Butter Yelly Time

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0600

This weekend was a practice run for Eurovision Super Saturday as Ireland, Norway, and Spain made their selections and Slovenia shared their song. Sweden and Latvia also kicked off their processes as we get ready for a deluge of entries for Liverpool.

Peanut Butter Yelly Time Summary

Semi-Final Allocation (1:08)
Wild Youth wins Ireland's Eurosong with "We Are One" (4:44)
Slovenia's Joker Out debuts "Carpe Diem" (13:15)
Alessandra will represent Norway with "Queen of Kings" (15:23)
Blanca Paloma's "EAEA" wins Benidorm Fest (20:22)
Czech Republic held its first live TV final in 15 years (25:49)
Artist Selctions from Greece, Austria, Armenia, and Georgia (27:48)
Malta moves forward in MESC (33:42)
Lithuania's Pabandom is Naujo goes into Semi Finals (36:18)
Latvia's Supernova begins (39:47)
Sweden's Melfest 2023 Begins (43:29)
Super Saturday 2023: Italy, Estonia, Croatia, Denmark, Romania (47:47)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with selection season for Eurovision 2023 including a calendar and playlists on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

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Episode 180: Click... Click... Click...

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0600

After recapping the last (not so) quiet weekend of Eurovision Selection Season, we set our sights on finals, semi-finals, and song reveals all over Europe next weekend. Strap in: It's February, y'all.

Click... Click... Click... Summary

Germany announces acts for Unser Lied für Liverpool (1:22)
Moldova holds auditions for Etapa Nationala (2:42)
Norway finalizes the MGP lineup (5:36)
Lithuania's Pabandom is Naujo wraps its quarter finals (11:34)
Song drops: Portugal and Iceland (14:53)
Tuesday: Semi-final Allocation and Spain's Benidorm Festival (17:22)
Thursday: Serbia Song Drop and the Voice of Georgia (20:20)
Friday: Malta's continued MESC-ness, Ireland Chooses its Eurosong (22:21)
Saturday: Slovenia reveals "Carpe Diem", Sweden's Melfest, Latvia's Supernova (26:30)
Cosa Sta Facendo Maneskin: Grammy Awards Edition (28:39)
We Didn't Forget About the Czech Republic (30:10)

Cover art image by Paul Brennan from Pixabay

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

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Episode 179: We Go Again

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0600

Lithuania's selection series Pabandom is Naujo has returned and we couldn't be more excited. Meanwhile, Norway's MGP held its second semi as several countries drop songs all over the place for Eurovision 2023.

We Go Again Summary

Lithuania's Pabandom is Naujo Begins (1:34)
Norway's MGP Holds Its Second Semi-Final (8:39)
Song Drops: Denmark, Portugal, Iceland (13:10)
Coming Up: Germany's Finalists, Moldova's Auditions, Czech Republic's Live Final, Semi-Final Allocation (16:30)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with selection season for Eurovision 2023 including a calendar and playlists on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

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Episode 178: Eurosongs

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0600

Ryan Brazell stops by to discuss the first big weekend of Eurovision 2023 selection season. Belgium makes its pick, France announced their artist, and many processes have started to take shape.

Eurosongs Summary

Belgium's Eurosong picks Gustaph's "Because of You" (3:48)
France Goes Internal and Chooses La Zarra (11:12)
Johnny Rotten Could Represent Ireland (13:12)
Estonia's Eesti Laul Semi-Finals (15:56)
Malta's MESC Has Begun (18:13)
Norway's MGP Holds its First Semi-Final (21:27)
Coming Up: Finland's UMK Entries, Denmark and Portugal Song Drops, Lithuania's Pabandom is Naujo (27:14)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with selection season for Eurovision 2023 including a calendar and playlists on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

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Episode 177: Amuse-Bouche

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0600

The Eurovision menu includes a buffet of options as more countries drop tracks and announce their selection season plans. We take one last taste test of the appetizers as we await the start of heats and semi-finals.

Amuse-Bouche Summary

Latvia announces Supernova 2023 details (1:22)
This week in TV: Estonia's Eesti Laul, Malta's MESC, Belgium's Eurosong, Norway's NRK MGP (2:55)
"Will Israel Be at Eurovision?" 2023 Edition (14:01)
Yellow Studio will do the Eurovision Stage Design (16:28)

Cover image by NoName_13 from Pixabay

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with selection season for Eurovision 2023 including a calendar and playlists on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

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Episode 176: Nunca Secondary

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0600

2023 actually started a couple weeks ago in Eurovisionland, with Ukraine and Albania making their selections for Liverpool. We also check in with the ESC Top 250 results, which had some major surprises this year.

Nunca Secondary Summary

🇺🇦 Ukraine's VidBir selects TVORCHI's "Heart of Steel" (1:58)
🇦🇱 Albina and Familja Kelmendi win Albania's Festivali i Këngës with "Duje" (7:32)
🇪🇸 Chanel's "SloMo" wins the ESC Top 250 (11:21)
🇳🇴 🇧🇪 🇬🇷 Coming up: NRK MGP and Belgium's Eurosong songs drop; Greece formed a committee (19:37)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Keep tabs on everything happening with selection season for Eurovision 2023 including a calendar and playlists on our website at eurowhat.com/2023

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Episode 175: Euroquiz 2022

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Sun, 25 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0600

Join the fine folks from Star Spangled Eurovision and 12 Points from America for an end-of-the year Euroquiz. Happy holidays everybody!

Euroquiz 2022 Summary

Round 1: Breaking the Ice...berg 🧊🚢🌊💔(1:39)
Score Break with Danny and Erik (17:16)
Round 2: Magnetic Poetry 🧲📝(18:45)
Score Break with Max and Alix (29:03)
Round 3: Eurovision First Drafts 📝❌🗑️ (30:35)
Score Break with Sam and Derek (43:25)
Round 4: Tangled Up in Q 🪢❓(46:12)
And the winner is... (53:07)

Special thanks to Chris King and Alex McMillan for writing and Dave Steeves for play testing.

Cover image by Ekaterina from Pixabay, 12 Points from America, Star Spangled Eurovision

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

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Special Guests: 12 Points from America and Star Spangled Eurovision.

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Episode 174: After the Fact

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0600

Suzie Seager from the Euroriffs Podcast joins us to discuss concerts and music releases featuring Eurovision alumni.

After the Fact Summary

Suzie Seager from Euroriffs (0:40)
Slovenia announces Joker Out (5:12)
Junior Eurovision 2022 (6:42)
Song drops from Estonia and Ukraine (9:11)
The Eurovision Aftermarket in 2022 (10:50)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

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Special Guest: Suzie Seager.

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Episode 173: Stiff Upper Lip

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0600

The United Kingdom has had a very rough couple of decades at the Eurovision Song Contest. Now that they're back in the driver's seat, we try to figure out what went wrong.

Stiff Upper Lip Summary

Eurovision Voting Overhaul (0:55)
National Finals: Australia Decides, Malta ESC, Ukraine's VidBir, Estonia's Eesti Laul, Albania's FiK (6:51)
Cosa Sta Facendo Maneskin: Grammy Nominations Edition (8:59)
The United Kingom at Eurovision Part 2 (11:51)
Nul Points (18:21)
2010s Go Internal (35:07)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email, reach out on Twitter @eurowhat, or give us a toot on Mastodon.

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Episode 172: Selection Season

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0600

Eurovision Selection Season draws nigh with more than half of the countries competing in 2023 airing some form of music competition. This is our guide to having the best Super Saturday experience.

Selection Season Summary

The Netherlands announce Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper (1:10)
No American Song Contest on NBC's mid-season schedule (2:41)
Selection Processes: Belgium, Romania, Estonia, Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal (4:55)
Fan votes: Aussievision's Top 100 NFC and the ESC Top 250 (11:02)
Що робить Kalush Orchestra? MTV EMA edition (16:55)
How to get the most out of Eurovision Selection Season (19:16)

Cover photo by Nabil Saleh on Unsplash

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Episode 171: Legacy

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

After we check in with the budding infrastructure for Eurovision 2023, we take a look at some of the non-winning entries over the years that still have an impact.

Legacy Summary

Eurovision announces the 37 countries going to Liverpool (0:43)
Cyprus selects Andrew Lambrou (2:38)
National final details: Spain, Norway, San Marino, Finland, Albania, Ukraine (4:03)
Що робить Kalush Orchestra? (What is Kalush Orchestra doing?) (8:16)
"SNAP" Chat: James Corden Edition (9:53)
Eurovision Legacy Hits (11:53)
Nightcore: the Party Cinderellas are Here (24:00)

Cover art by ryo taka from Pixabay

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Episode 170: Italo Disco

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Ben takes us through the history of the synth-filled vibes of the music genre known as Italo Disco. Mike's pop music diet growing up may have more in common with the style than he realized.

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Italo Disco Summary

Liverpool will host Eurovision 2023 (1:04)
Just ASCing Questions: Italo Disco (4:15)
🕺What is Italo Disco? (7:23)
🪩 What makes a song "Italo Disco"? (9:49)
🎤 How has Italo Disco morphed since its heyday? (24:34)
🤔 What happened after Eurodance left the charts? (34:20)
🤖 What do modern Italo Disco influenced songs sound like? (39:40)

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Episode 169: Livergow

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0500

It'll be either Liverpool or Glasgow that gets the opportunity to host Eurovision 2023 on behalf of Ukraine. We take a look at both cities as we wait for the announcement.

Livergow Summary

Snap Chat: American Top 40 Edition (1:46)
Patreon: Xanadu (4:14)
Liverpool vs. Glasgow (5:14)

Cover art photo credits: Artur Kraft on Unsplash and Neil Martin on Unsplash

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Episode 168: Welcome to the United Kingdom

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 07:00:00 -0500

The United Kingdom will be extending its record of hosting the most editions of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023. We take a look back at several other records held by our host country in this episode.

Welcome to the United Kingdom Summary

Eurovision in the Wild: Live on NBC Edition (1:23)
Intro to the United Kingdom at Eurovision (4:28)
Silver 60s (6:55)
Solid 70s (13:30)
Ehhhhh 80s (19:24)
Nostalgia for the 90s (24:25)

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Episode 167: Welcome to Ukraine

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Happy Eurovision New Year! As preparations for 2023 begin, we explore defending champion Ukraine's Eurovision journey over the last 20 years.

Welcome to Ukraine Summary

Host City When? 2023 Rules Edition (2:23)
Sara James advances to America's Got Talent Finals (5:30)
Cosa Sta Facendo Måneskin? MTV VMAs Edition (7:21)
"SNAP" Chat: Hot 100 Edition (11:10)
Welcome to Ukraine (12:33)
Act I: Ukraine Enters the Eurovision Chat (14:39)
Act II: Maximizing the Maximalism (21:05)
Act III: Crimea (31:46)
Favorites and Hopes for 2023 (40:38)

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Episode 166: Volare

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0500

"Nel blu, dipinto di blu" (also known as "Volare") is not only one of the most well-known Eurovision songs, it's one of the most successful Italian songs ever. We dig into the song's backstory and it's continued impact on popular culture.

Volare Summary

Noa Kirel confirms for Israel (1:27)
Host City When: Short List Edition (3:43)
SNAP Chat: Bubbling Under Edition (5:51)
What do you know about "Volare"? (7:36)
Sanremo 1958 (10:40)
Eurovision 1958: Hilversum (14:26)
The US Music Industry in 1958 (17:12)
1959 Grammy Awards (23:51)
The Extended Legacy of Volare (26:40)
Where are they now? (32:19)

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Episode 165: Lugano

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0500

How did the first Eurovision Song Contest telecast come about in 1956? We talk about coronations, cattle calls, and continental broadcasting in this week's episode.

Lugano Summary

Host city when? Bid Process Edition (1:21)
Snap Status (2:55)
Cosa Sta Facendo Måneskin: VMAs Edition (3:54)
Hooverphonic for Brussels Airlines (6:40)
History of Eurovision: 1930 Onward (10:34)
The European Television Season (14:53)
The Birth of Eurovision (18:29)
Eurovision History as Broadcasting History (24:32)

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Episode 164: Host Country Where?

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Now that the United Kingdom will officially host Eurovision 2023 on Ukraine's behalf, we take a look back at the other times substitutes needed to be called in to produce the Contest.

Host Country Where? Summary

United Kingdom will host Eurovision 2023 (1:22)
Israel selects Noa Kirel for Eurovision Wishlist (5:29)
Rosa Linn's "Snap" is Charting (7:13)
American Song Contest Emmy Nomination (9:04)
Eurovision Latin America Song Contest Announced (9:57)
Host Country Where? (11:37)

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Episode 163: Iceberg

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0500

With around 250 entries on the Reddit post for the 2022 Eurovision Iceberg, we take a look at some of the stories we missed (or skipped) in this year's Contest.

Iceberg Summary

Layer 1: What is the Eurovision Iceberg? (1:02)
Layer 2: Electric Callboy, Sam Ryder Illuminati (3:41)
Layer 3: The Eurowhat's Level (9:51)
Level 4: Circus Mircus, S10 and Ronela, Carol McGee (10:52)
Level 5: Subwoolfer Threatens to Eat Host, Achille Lauro Roblox (16:57)
Level 6: "I'm Famous Singer in Estonia" (23:30)
Level 7: Ochman's Confederate Flag T-Shirt (25:53)
Level 8: Ronela Mistaken for ISIS Uprising (27:31)
What does the Eurovision Iceberg tell us? (29:47)

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Episode 162: Midsommar

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 00:00:00 -0500

We're joined by @dudepoints to discuss some Swedish post-Eurovision activities: ABBA's Voyage concert experience and Martin Osterdahl's Max Anger book series.

Midsommar Summary

Ukraine will not host Eurovision 2023 (0:57)
Eurovision Live to Tape 2022 (7:52)
Eurovision in the Wild: AGT 2022 Edition (11:13)
Main Topic: Midsommar with @dudepoints (13:54)
ABBA Voyage (17:14)
Max Anger (23:16)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. You can find a service to subscribe to the show here.

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Special Guest: Dude Points.

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Episode 161: Trivial Pursuits

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Professional TV quiz writer Alex McMillan joins us to talk about how to write tantalizing Eurovision trivia. We also learn about some of the differences between UK and US game show writing.

Trivial Pursuits Summary

News: Russia suspended (for realsies), Kalush Orchestra sells trophy, Cyprus using All Together Now (1:21)
Eurovision Learned League 1DS (4:43)
Welcome, Alex McMillan! (7:22)
How does one become a quiz show writer? (12:18)
How do you distill a body of knowledge into something manageable? (18:01)
Differences in UK Quiz Writing and US Quiz Writing (26:25)
What is the distinction between Trivia and Minutia? (31:49)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. You can find a service to subscribe to the show here.

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Cover Photo: Sean Benesh on Unsplash

Special Guest: Alex McMillan.

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Episode 160: Just ASCing Questions

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 31 May 2022 00:00:00 -0500

We check in with the Eurovision jury shenanigans and then offer a sample of what we've been doing over on Patreon. Andy Dehnart from Reality Blurred joins us to look back on NBC’s American Song Contest experiment.

Just ASCing Questions Summary

News: Jury Doody (1:42)
Just ACing Questions: Is it you? Is it me? (Originally published May 9, 2022) (8:10)
Could the American Song Contest have worked? (12:31)
How could the American Song Contest have generated buzz? (19:09)
Could the voting and jury have made more sense? (23:17)
What would season 2 need to look like for this to succeed? (27:28)
Is the ASC less than the sum of its parts? (38:45)
Do we have predictions on who's going to win? (44:18)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. You can find a service to subscribe to the show here.

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Special Guest: Andy Dehnart.

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Episode 159: Long Time, First Time

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 24 May 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Bradley Dalton-Oates joins us for a deep dive of the full Eurovision experience as a first-time attendee. Did Turin do a good job of promoting brand Italy?

Long Time, First Time Summary

How to watch Eurovision in Turin (1:13)
How did the rehearsal shows compare to the Grand Final live show? (10:41)
What did you think of the second semifinal? (14:27)
What was your semifinal one experience? (23:00)
The Rainbow of Death: Brand Italy (31:44)
What about the United Kingdom Eurovision experience? (43:35)
What is the status of the Big Five in 2022? (49:11)
Final Shout Outs (53:26)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. You can find a service to subscribe to the show here.

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Special Guest: Bradley Dalton-Oates.

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Episode 158: Slava Ukraini

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 17 May 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra claimed the Eurovision 2022 trophy thanks to a record-breaking televote. Dave Steeves joins us to do a mini-dive into this year's Grand Final.

Slava Ukraini Summary

Numbers! (2:03)
Jury Doody (11:12)
Cosa Sta Facendo Måneskin: Wish.com Edition (16:33)
Welcome to the off-season! (21:34)

Eurovision 2022 Review Series

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or find us on Twitter @eurowhat.

Special Guest: Dave Steeves.

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Episode 157: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ — Eurovision 2022 Grand Final Preview

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Fri, 13 May 2022 06:00:00 -0500

We started Eurovision Week with 35 semi-finalists. 20 have moved on to join the Big 5 in Saturday's Grand Final. We take stock of our predictions from last episode and make our picks for who will win Eurovision 2022.

¯_(ツ)/¯ Eurovision 2022 Grand Final Preview Summary

Eurovision Semi-Final 1 (2:27)
Eurovision Semi-Final 2 (12:34)
Eurovision Grand Final Preview (24:37)
Who will win Eurovision 2022? (31:42)

Eurovision 2022 Review Series

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Episode 156: Bubblicious - Eurovision 2022 Semi-Final Preview

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Sun, 08 May 2022 00:00:00 -0500

We make our picks for who we think will advance from this week's Eurovision Semi-Finals. These predictions were made before rehearsals, but surely they're still accurate?

Bubblicious Summary

Eurovision Week 2022 (1:42)
Our Semi-Final 1 Picks (6:55)
Our Semi-Final 2 Picks (19:56)

Eurovision 2022 Review Series

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Episode 155: Sommelier

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 03 May 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Glen Weldon from NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour joins us to discuss the songs that have automatically qualified for the Eurovision 2022 Grand Final.

Standing Summary

France - Alvan & Ahez - "Fulenn" (2:54)
Germany - Malik Harris - "Rockstars" (6:54)
Spain - Chanel - "SloMo" (11:49)
United Kingdom - Sam Ryder - "SPACE MAN" (15:07)
Italy - Mahmood e Blanco - "Brividi" (20:04)
Eurovision 2022 Sommelier (25:37)

Eurovision 2022 Review Series

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Special Guest: Glen Weldon.

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Episode 154: Himbo

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Ned Raggett returns to discuss that last six entries of the second semi-final for Eurovision 2022. Will one of the boys with emotions be able to overtake Sweden’s melancholy? (No. The answer is no.)

Himbo Summary

Romania - WRS - "Llámame" (2:56)
Poland - Ochman - "River" (9:21)
Montenegro - Vladana - "Breathe" (17:03)
Belgium - Jérémie Makiese - "Miss You" (22:45)
Sweden - Cornelia Jakobs - "Hold Me Closer" (28:05)
Czech Republic - We Are Domi - "Lights Off" (36:08)

Eurovision 2022 Review Series

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Special Guest: Ned Raggett.

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Episode 153: Americana?

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 -0500

The middle of the second semi-final for Eurovision 2022 is all over the map, but seems to have a lot of Americana vibes? Bre Booker returns to help us sort through the randomness.

Americana? Summary

San Marino - Achille Lauro - "Stripper" (1:46)
Australia - Sheldon Riley - "Not the Same" (8:24)
Cyprus - Andromache - "Ela" (14:28)
Ireland - Brooke Scullion - "That's Rich" (21:30)
North Macedonia - Andrea - "Circles" (28:56)
Estonia - STEFAN - "Hope" (34:27)

Eurovision 2022 Review Series

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Special Guest: Bre B..

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Episode 152: Subversive

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Justin Ladia joins us to start our coverage of the second semi-final for Eurovision 2022, with Finland, Israel, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Malta on the docket this week.

Subversive Summary

Finland - The Rasmus - "Jezebel" (2:23)
Israel - Michael Ben David - "I.M" (8:30)
Serbia - Konstrakta - "In Corpore Sano" (16:17)
Azerbaijan - Nadir Rüstəmli - "Fade to Black" (25:22)
Georgia - Circus Mircus - "Lock Me In" (33:03)
Malta - Emma Muscat - "I Am What I Am" (44:16)

Eurovision 2022 Review Series

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Special Guest: Justin Ladia.

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Episode 151: Lilith Fair (Taylor's Version)

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 00:00:00 -0500

We have a running order! We have tickets when! We have Mike Nothnagel joining us to discuss the rest of the first semi final for Eurovision 2022: Portugal, Croatia, Denmark, Iceland, Greece, and Norway

Lilith Fair (Taylor's Version) Summary

Eurovision News: Running Orders and Tickets (sort of) (1:36)
Cosa Sta Facendo Måneskin: Lollapalooza Edition (3:43)
Welcome, Mike Nothnagel! (8:40)
Portugal - MARO - "saudade, saudade" (9:35)
Croatia - Mia Dimšić - "Guilty Pleasure" (14:34)
Denmark - ReDDI - "The Show" (20:40)
Iceland - Systur - "Með hækkandi sól" (26:28)
Greece - Amanda Georgiadi Tenfjord - "Die Together" (31:07)
Norway - Subwoolfer - "Give That Wolf a Banana" (36:40)

Eurovision 2022 Review Series

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Special Guest: Mike Nothnagel.

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Episode 150: Meditation Therapy

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Evan Stewart joins us to discuss more entries from the Eurovision 2022 first semi-final. Will the Netherlands, Slovenia, Switzerland, Armenia, or Austria be able to challenge current favorite Ukraine?

Meditation Therapy Summary

Netherlands - S10 - "De Diepte" (4:14)
Slovenia - LPS - "Disko" (9:33)
Switzerland - Marius Bear - "Boys Do Cry" (15:09)
Ukraine - KALUSH Orchestra - "Stefania" (21:19)
Armenia - Rosa Linn - "Snap" (28:22)
Austria - LUM!X featuring Pia Maria - "Halo" (32:51)

Eurovision 2022 Review Series

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Special Guest: Evan Stewart.

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Episode 149: Fairgrounds

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Meredith Clark joins us to discuss Albania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, and Moldova as we kick off our coverage of the first semi-final for Eurovision 2022.

Fairgrounds Summary

Albania - Ronela Hijati - "Sekret" (5:32)
Bulgaria - Intelligent Music Project - "Intention" (10:42)
Latvia - Citi Zēni - "Eat Your Salad" (18:00)
Lithuania - Monika Liu - "Sentimentai" (25:04)
Moldova - Zdob și Zdub & Fratii Advahov - Trenulețul (29:57)

Spotify Playlists

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Special Guest: Meredith Clark.

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Episode 148: One More Google

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0500

In the last week of Eurovision Selection Season, we have a manageable number of internal selections to process and ease into the sunset with chill vibes from three national finals.

One More Google Summary

Tuesday: Switzerland (2:02)
Wednesday: Georgia and Cyprus (4:52)
Thursday: Belgium, United Kingdom, and Greece (10:44)
Friday: Austria (22:57)
Saturday: Sweden's Melfest, Iceland's Songvakeppnin, and Portugal's Festival da Cancao (27:18)
Coming up this week: Israel, Malta, Azerbaijan, Armenia (40:41)

Spotify Playlists

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Episode 147: Math

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0600

Our brains may have turned into soup, but we survived the last overstuffed Saturday of Eurovision Selection Season. Just barely though... we were told there would be no math...

Math Summary

Internal selections: The Netherlands and Montenegro (1:43)
12 Points Germany goes to "Rockstars" by Malik Harris (5:25)
Denmark's REDDI won "The Show" (11:13)
WRS wins Romania's Selectia Nationala with "Llamame" (14:47)
"Fulenn" wins France's C'est Vous Qui Decidez (19:09)
Konstrakta will represent Serbia with "In Corpore Sano" (24:05)
Cosa Sta Facendo Maneskin: iHeartRadio Edition (29:52)
This week: Internal Selections, Songvakeppnin, Melfest, Festival da Cancao (31:59)

Spotify Playlists

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Episode 146: Україна

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0600

We stand with Ukraine.

Україна Summary

Eurovision Response to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine (1:31)
Eurovision in the Wild: David Byrne Edition (7:02)
Australia Decides on Sheldon Riley's "Not the Same" (9:15)
The Rasmus wins Finland's UMK with "Jezebel" (15:49)
More Super Saturdays: Iceland, Sweden, France, Romania, and more (20:45)

Spotify Playlists

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Episode 145: Quante voci? In questa economia?

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0600

In the biggest Saturday for Eurovision 2022 selection season, 6 songs were chosen for Turin. We travel to Norway, Slovenia, Croatia, Poland, San Marino, and Malta and examine a variety of TV formats along the way.

Quante voci? In questa economia? Summary

News: Kelly Clarkson, Snoop Dogg to Host American Song Contest; Ukraine Update (1:25)
Azerbaijan announces Nadir Rüstəmli (4:32)
Norway Gives That Subwoolfer a Ticket to Turin (6:19)
Slovenia hits the "Disko" with LPS (13:07)
Croatia Gives in to Mia Dimšić's "Guilty Pleasure" (15:35)
Poland crosses the "River" with Ochman (18:25)
Malta Thinks Emma Muscat is "Out of Sight" (21:48)
Achille Lauro's "Stripper" is Una Voce per San Marino (27:24)
Cosa Sta Facendo Maneskin: Vibe Rate Edition (32:53)
This week: Australia Decides, Finland's UMK, Iceland's Songvakeppnin, Melfest Heat 4 (34:08)

Spotify Playlists

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Episode 144: HyperRoop

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0600

It was another busy week for Eurovision as Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia made their picks for Turin. We get caught up and look ahead to the next Super Saturday in this week's episode.

HyperRoop Summary

Austria selects Lum!x and Pia Maria to perform "Halo" (1:25)
Ukraine's VidBir chooses Alina Pash's "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" (3:49)
Estonia puts all its "Hope" in STEFAN (9:23)
Monika Lui wins Lithuania's Pabandom is Naujo with "Sentimentai" (14:36)
Citi Zeni's "Eat Your Salad" wins Latvia's Supernova (19:02)
Cosa Sta Facendo Maneskin: BRIT Awards Edition (23:42)
Romania's Selectia Nationala holds a semi-final (25:22)
This week: San Marino, France, Malta, Poland, Croatia, Slovenia (27:44)
Nordic Process Check-in: NRKMGP and Melfest (30:33)

Spotify Playlists

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Episode 143: Oops! All Screens!

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0600

North Macedonia, Ireland, Israel, and Italy have determined their songs for Turin, and that was only about 1/3 of Eurovision Super Saturday number 1 for the 2022 season. We recap this weekend's non-stop content stream.

Oops! All Screens! Summary

Eurovision 2022 Hosts (1:22)
North Macedonia runs "Circles" around Andrea (3:50)
Brooke representing Ireland? "That's Rich" (6:02)
Michael Ben David wins X Factor Israel with "I.M." (12:08)
Cosa Sta Facendo Maneskin? Italy Picks "Brividi" Edition (15:52)
Super Saturday: Melfest, EMA, Supernova, Selecrtia Nationala (21:23)
This week: Song drops, NRK MGP, Pabandom is Naujo, Eesti Laul, VidBir, Una Voce Per San Marino (31:48)

Spotify Playlists

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Episode 142: Convoluted

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 07:15:00 -0600

Moldova made a surprise internal selection and Spain made its Eurovision selection at last week's Benidorm Festival. We discuss these songs and look ahead to the first Super Saturday of 2022!

Convoluted Summary

Zdob si Zdub will represent Moldova again (1:15)
Spain choose Chanel's "SloMo" at Benidorm Fest (4:14)
Pabandom and MGP (8:48)
Cosa sta facendo Måneskin? Sanremo Edition (16:49)
Midweek Selections: Eesti Laul, North Macedonia, Ireland (17:48)
Super Saturday: Iceland, Melfest, Israel, EMA, Supernova (20:45)

Spotify Playlists

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Episode 141: Sound of Beauty

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0600

Ben returns with his thoughts about Lithuania's Pabandom is Naujo, Norway's 2022 process, Maneskin's appearance on Saturday Night Live, and a look ahead to EMA and Benidorm.

[Episode Title] Summary

News: Sound of Beauty Logo and Slogan, American Song Contest Delayed (1:13)
Last Week in Eurovision: Norway's Melodi Grand Prix and Lithuania's Pabandom is Naujo (5:06)
Eurovision in the Wild: Australian Open, Peacemaker, Maruv (10:52)
Cosa sta facendo Måneskin? Saturday Night Live Edition (12:26)
This Week in Eurovision: Slovenia's EMA Fras and Spain's Benidorm Fest (18:24)

Spotify Playlists

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Episode 140: Pivot

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0600

Dave Steeves returns to the program to discuss Norway's Melodi Grand Prix, a casual approach to Eurovision Selection Season, and the pivoting that is happening in response to the pandemic.

Pivot Summary

Last week in Eurovision (2:51)
- Malta snippets drop
- Finland UMK announces acts and songs
- Poland switches to a national final
- Omicron disrupts Melfest and Songvakeppnin
Cosa sta facendo Måneskin? Coachella edition (8:27)
Norway's Melodi Grand Prix begins (10:57)
Coming up this week (18:43)

Spotify Playlists

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Special Guest: Dave Steeves.

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Episode 139: Hunker Down

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0600

This week we travel to Lithuania for Pabandom is Naujo, check out the Eurovision menus in Romania and Latvia (ooo, salad), and see how famous Maneskin's birthdays are.

Hunker Down Summary

Montenegro chooses Vladana and "Breathe (Unforgivable)" (1:16)
Song drops: Romania and Latvia (2:57)
Pabandom is Naujo! Week 1 (6:14)
Cosa sta facendo Måneskin? Famous Birthdays Edition (10:32)
This week: Finland's UMK artists, Norway's MGP, Poland's Artist (maybe) (13:38)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Episode 138: Unprecedented

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0600

It's full steam ahead to Eurovision 2022, with Albania making its (correct?) choice, a wild ESC 250 countdown, and looking forward to selection season series starting Saturday.

Unprecedented Summary

Eurovision 2022 Selections: Festivali i Këngës 60 ()
Cosa sta facendo Måneskin? New Year's Rockin' Eve Edition ()
ESC 250 Results ()
Coming up this week: Montenegro and NRK MGP Artists, Lithuania's Pabandom is Naujo ()

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Episode 137: Class of 2021

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 00:00:00 -0600

The Czech Republic has made their selection, a number of processes have released more details, and we check in with the Eurovision Class of 2021.

Class of 2021 Summary

Selections: We Are Domi, S10, Amanda Tenfjord (1:22)
Processes: Pabandom is Naujo, Australia Decides, Benidorm, Festivali i Këngës (8:15)
News: Eurovision 1964 Video Clip; Cosa sta facendo Måneskin? (12:40)
Checking in on the Class of Eurovision 2021 (16:31)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Episode 136: Eurovision 101

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 00:00:00 -0600

With a lot of new folks discovering Eurovision over the past year and selection season 2022 underway, we put together a tutorial to answer the question: How does Eurovision work?

Eurovision 101 Summary

Bulgaria's Intelligent Music Project debuts "Intention" (1:01)
What's Måneskin Up To? Grammys and the Voice (6:10)
Selection season news (8:35)
- Estonia's Eesti Laul
- Slovenia's EMA freš
- Czech Republic's online selection
- Sweden announces artists for Melfest 2022
- Una Voce per San Marino begins casting round
- Norway's Melodi Grand Prix details its format
- Albania's Festivali i Këngës releases its songs
Eurovision 101
- What is the Eurovision Song Contest? (16:54)
- What are the Eurovision rules? (19:33)
- What does a year in Eurovision look like? (23:09)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Episode 135: Nul Points

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0600

The dreaded Nul Points visited Rotterdam at Eurovision this year. We take a look at the sordid history of the dubious distinction.

Nul Points Summary

News: Georgia's Circus Mircus, American Song Contest Launch Date, Estonia's Eesti Laul, Albania's Festivali i Këngës, Czech Republic's Online Selection (2:23)
Eurovision Again: 2004 (11:01)
Nul Points: A Taxonomy (13:58)
A Pointless History of Eurovision (21:44)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Episode 134: Belarus

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0600

Belarus won't be competing at Eurovision in the foreseeable future, so this seems like a good time to take an historical view of the country and its identity.

Belarus Summary

News: Australia, Germany, American Song Contest, ESC Top 250 (1:11)
A Brief History of Belarus (6:33)
Belarus at Eurovision (14:22)
Belarus Today (28:49)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Episode 133: Metaverse

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0500

Does breaking the fourth wall work at Eurovision? Ben takes us through a collection of songs that try to go meta.

Metaverse Summary

News (1:16)
Eurovision Again: 2012 (10:23)
When Eurovision Goes Meta (15:16)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Episode 132: Hot 100

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0500

Maura Johnston guides us through how the Billboard Charts work and why Måneskin and Duncan Laurence cracked the American Top 40.

Hot 100 Summary

Host city when? Torino 2022! (0:45)
How do the Billboard charts currently work? (2:52)
How Duncan Laurence May Have Got on the Billboard Charts (7:40)
Why is "Beggin'" rocketing up the Hot 100? (12:35)
Other Eurovision Hot 100 Appearances (18:02)
Why a 25-year gap between chart appearances? (22:16)
Will Eurovision tracks be making more Hot 100 appearances? (32:00)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Special Guest: Maura Johnston.

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Episode 131: Viña del Mar

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 00:00:00 -0500

We continue our series of music competitions with Eurovision connections by visiting Chile's Viña del Mar International Song Festival.

Viña del Mar Summary

Eurovision Again: 1968 (1:07)
Belgium Selects (3:29)
What is the Viña del Mar Festival? (6:41)
El Monstruo (16:16)
Xuxa vs El Monstruo (19:56)
Enrique Iglesias and Paolo Meneguzzi vs El Monstruo (31:20)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Episode 130: Quale Città?

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 00:15:00 -0500

As we wait for the Eurovision 2022 host city announce, we take a look at the five cities hoping to stage the event for Italy.

Quale Città? Summary

News: ABBA, Dunkin Radio, Belgium, Eesti Laul, Melfest (3:17)
Italian City Thunderdome (12:13)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Episode 129: Sanremo

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 23:00:00 -0500

Italian music aficionado Bradley Dalton-Oates takes us on an historical tour of the Sanremo Music Festival and its relationship with Eurovision.

Sanremo Summary

How were you introduced to Sanremo? (1:29)
How would you describe the Italian music scene? (5:43)
Sanremo's Influence (10:35)
Sanremo History (17:46)
What might Italy hosting Eurovision look like? (27:47)
Wrapping up (32:02)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Special Guest: Bradley Dalton-Oates.

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Episode 128: Bordspel

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 23:00:00 -0500

Dave Steeves facilitates a play through of the Eurovision Song Contest Board Game. Mike en Ben verstaan de Nederlandse taal niet.

Bordspel Summary

Introduction to the Best/Worst Idea (1:30)
Eurovision Song Contest: The Board Game (4:08)
The Grand Final (28:19)
Review: did we like the Eurovision Board Game? (33:12)

Links / Credits

Cover art: Mike McComb
#31: Eurovision Gifts for 2018
Episode Transcript (Descript)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Special Guest: Dave Steeves.

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Episode 127: New Wave

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 23:00:00 -0500

New Wave has been part of the music competition journey for many Eurovision contestants. We take a look at the contest's history.

New Wave Summary

News: Eurovision Again 2006 HD, Måneskin cracks the US Top 40, Spain visits Benidorm (0:50)
Birth of a New Wave (6:33)
How It Works (11:37)
SMASH!! and Other Alumni (14:49)
"Russian" New Wave (21:27)
2021 Info (25:55)

Episode 126: A Song Called Hate

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 23:00:00 -0500

Film buff and Eurofan Evan Stewart joins us to discuss the Hatari documentary A Song Called Hate.

A Song Called Hate Summary

Eurovision Again: 1980 (0:57)
News Desk: Belarus, Italy, Måneskin
A Song Called Hate intro
Welcome, Evan Stewart!
Let's Talk About the Documentary
Who is the audience for A Song Called Hate?
Would you recommend this movie?

Links / Credits

Cover art: Andres Putting | Eurovision.tv
#62: Morocco 1980
A Song Called Hate Homepage
Episode Transcript

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

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Special Guest: Evan Stewart.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 125: The Discourse 2021

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 23:00:00 -0500

Meredith Clark joins us to discuss some of the societal issues that Eurovision struggles to address in the fandom discourse.

The Discourse 2021 Summary

Welcome, Meredith Clark! Twitter | Instagram (1:17)
Eurovision Politics 2021 (5:02)
The Online Fandom (13:49)
How do we break down the discourse? (24:28)

Episode 124: It was the Elves

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 11:00:00 -0500

Author Seanan McGuire joins us to explain how the elves helped Eurovision Song Contest: the Story of Fire Saga earn a Hugo nomination.

It was the Elves Summary

#EurovisionAgain: 1969 (0:56)
Happy Birthday, Fire Saga! (5:17)
Welcome, Seanan McGuire! (11:14)
How does Fire Saga fit into the sci-fi/fantasy genre? (13:47)
What is the Hugo Awards nomination process? (16:18)
How can Eurofans help? (21:11)

Episode 123: Live on Tape

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 11:00:00 -0500

Bre Booker joins us to discuss the pre-recorded Live on Tape performances from the 2021 Eurovision Song Celebration YouTube specials.

Live on Tape Summary

News Desk (2:48)
Welcome, Bre Booker! (8:14)
American Song Contest Submissions Open (11:10)
Eurovision Song Celebration Live on Tape Performances (14:11)
Would Eurovision Plan D have worked? (34:07)

Episode 122: Revised Head Canon

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 25 May 2021 11:00:00 -0500

Ryan's back! We help to provide a revised head canon to fill the gap between 2018 and 2021 and review this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

Revised Head Canon Summary

Welcome back, Ryan!
Grand Final Thoughts and Stats (8:12)
Semi-Final 1 Stats (16:42)
Semi-Final 2 Stats (23:58)
Final Thoughts (35:37)

Episode 121: Eurovision 2021 Grand Final Preview

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Fri, 21 May 2021 09:00:00 -0500

33 songs competed on the Eurovision stage Tuesday and Thursday but only 20 advanced to the 2021 Grand Final. Who will win the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam?

Eurovision 2021 Grand Final Preview Summary

Discovering Peacock will be carrying Eurovision
Where Can I Watch the Eurovision Song Contest in the US?
First Semi-Final (3:22)
Second Semi-Final (7:23)
Grand Final Thoughts (13:38)

Episode 120: Eurovision 2021 Semi-Final Preview

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Sun, 16 May 2021 23:00:00 -0500

The Eurovision 2021 Semi-Final Spectacular is here! We make our picks for the 20 songs we think will qualify for the Grand Final in Rotterdam.

Eurovision 2021 Semi-Final Preview Summary

News
- The American Song Contest
- Where Can I Watch the Eurovision Song Contest in the US?
- Rehearsals: Covid Incidents (No Spoilers)

Semi-Final 1 Predictions (6:36)

Semi-Final 2 Predictions (15:25)

Episode 119: Critical Condition

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 11 May 2021 11:00:00 -0500

Mark Blankenship joins us to discuss the Eurovision auto-qualifiers. Are the Big 5 and the Netherlands in good shape or are they in critical condition?

Critical Condition Summary

News
- Great American Pop Culture Quiz Show
- Eurovision Village (Opens Saturday, May 15)
- Where Can I Watch the Eurovision Song Contest in the US?

Welcome, Mark Blankenship!
- Mark and Sarah Talk About Songs

The Big 5 and host country the Netherlands:
- France - Barbara Pravi - "Voila"
- Germany - Jendrik - "I Don't Feel Hate"
- Italy - Måneskin - "Zitti e Buoni"
- Spain - Blas Cantó - "Voy a Quedarme"
- United Kingdom - James Newman - "Embers"
- The Netherlands - Jeangu Macrooy - "Birth of a New Age"

Episode 118: Over-Egged Pudding

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 04 May 2021 11:00:00 -0500

Maura Johnston joins us to discuss the last section of Eurovision 2021 Semi 2. Topics include pudding, track suits, and CVS Bangers.

Over-Egged Pudding Summary

News (1:12)
- Eurovision 2021 will have an audience
- Eurovision Pre-Party Roundup: Concert in the Dark | Spain | Dadivision | Adriatic
- "Husavik" at the Oscars
- Rehearsals start this weekend

Welcome back, Maura Johnston! (8:29)
- @maura on Twitter

Semi-Final #2 Part #3:
- Portugal - The Black Mamba - "Love is on My Side" (9:26)
- Bulgaria - VICTORIA - "growing up is getting old" (14:01)
- Finland - Blind Channel - "Dark Side" (18:55)
- Latvia - Samanta Tina - "The Moon is Rising" (24:04)
- Switzerland - Gjon's Tears - "Tout l'Univers" (29:54)
- Denmark - Fyr og Flamme - Øve Os På Hinanden (34:57)

Episode 117: Cake or Death

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 11:00:00 -0500

Taber Bain helps us navigate cake body horror, Jenna Maroney energy, and existential despair in the Eurovision experience.

Cake or Death Summary

Welcome, Taber Bain!
- @cakesandcourage

Eurovision 2021 Semi-Final 2 Part 2:
- Moldova - Natalia Gordienko - "Sugar" (3:53)
  - Chișinău Academy of Music, Theatre, and Fine Arts
- Iceland - Daði & Gagnamagnið - "10 Years" (10:01)
  - Think About Aliens (iOS | Android)
- Serbia - Hurricane - "Loco Loco" (15:41)
  - Comrade Detective (Amazon Prime)
- Georgia - Tornike Kipiani - "You" (23:25)
  - "Can't Get You Out of My Head" <<< BEN CLICK THIS
- Albania - Anxhela Peristeri - "Karma" (27:38)
  - "E cmendur" (Kenga Magjike 2017)

Episode 116: Me in Grease!

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 11:00:00 -0500

Lindsey Weber from Who Weekly joins us to talk about Flo Rida, Greece, Grease, and why Eurovision is the highlight of spring.

Me in Grease! Summary

News (3:21)
- Duncan Laurence on the Billboard Hot 100
- Eurovision Fire Saga: Hugo Award and Oscar?

Welcome back, Lindsey Weber! (7:55)
- @lindseyweber | Who Weekly

Semi-Final 2 Part 1:
- San Marino - Senhit - "Adrenalina" (9:54)
  - Senhit's Freaky Trip to Rotterdam
  - Jessie J wins China's The Singer
- Estonia - Uku Suviste - "The Lucky One"(16:19)
  - Muusikal Grease trailer
- Czech Republic - Benny Cristo - "OMAGA" (21:56)
  - "OMAGA" Full Band Performance
- Greece - Stefania - "Last Dance" (25:49)
  - "Kisses & Dancin'" - Netherlands - Junior Eurovision 2016
- Austria - Vincent Bueno - "Amen" (31:28)
  - "Greased Lightnin'" on Musical! Die Show
- Poland - Rafał - "The Ride" (35:23)
  - Neon Muzeum

Episode 115: Will It Play in Winnipeg?

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 11:00:00 -0500

Graphic designer Justin Ladia joins us from Winnipeg to help us close out the first semi-final of the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest. North America has opinions!

Will It Play in Winnipeg? Summary

Welcome back, Justin Ladia!
- Twitter | Instagram | Website

Semi-Final 1 Part 3:
- Israel - Eden Alene - "Set Me Free" (2:28)
  - Trijntje Oosterhuis (Netherlands 2015) "Walk Along"
- Romania - Roxen - "Amnesia" (10:03)
  - Movies on Freeform
- Azerbaijan - Efendi - "Mata Hari" (16:39)
  - "Cleopatra" "Live" "Performance"
- Ukraine - Go_A - "SHUM" (22:50)
  - Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine: Winnipeg
- Malta - Destiny - "Je Me Casse" (30:41)
  - Every Stefon Ever

Episode 114: Satan’s Glowup

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 11:00:00 -0500

Ned Raggett joins us to discuss the heaven and hell aspects of Eurovision Semi-Final 1. Who knew that 2021 would be Satan's pop culture year?

Satan's Glowup Summary

Welcome back, Ned Raggett!
- @nedraggett | By the Bywater | Ned's Patreon | Bandcamp Daily

Eurovision 2021 Semi-Final 1 Part 2
- Slovenia - Ana Soklic - "Amen" (2:54)
  - "Verjamem" at the 2012 Eurovision Semi-Final (YouTube)
- Sweden - Tusse - "Voices" (9:59)
  - Black Widow trailer (YouTube)
- Cyprus - Elena Tsagrinou - "El Diablo" (17:46)
  - Tacos El Diablo (Oxnard, California)
- Norway - TIX - "Fallen Angel" (23:58)
  - Hit Parade: Bat Out of Hell Edition (Slate)
- Croatia - Albina "Tick-Tock" (30:25)
  - D-Side "Pushing Me Out" (YouTube)
- Belgium - Hooverphonic - "The Wrong Place" (35:37)
  - The Progressive Underground's Primer to Trip-Hop (WDET)

Episode 113: Container Ship of Love

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 11:00:00 -0500

A container ship of 40 39 songs heads to Rotterdam for Eurovision 2021! Chris King joins us to discuss entries from Australia, Ireland, Lithuania, North Macedonia, and Russia.

Container Ship of Love Summary

News (1:04)
- We have a Patreon now!
- Belarus out
- Rock the Roof
- Eurovision Spain Online PreParty April 24

Welcome back, Chris King! (6:26)
- @ckingsc on Twitter

Eurovision 2021 Semi-Final 1 Part 1
- Australia - Montaigne - "Technicolour" (7:27)
  - "metal peach embodies technicolour" (Twitter)
- Ireland - Lesley Roy - "Maps" (15:36)
  - PopDirt's Lesley Roy archive circa 2009 (PopDirt)
- Lithuania - The ROOP - "Discoteque" (21:10)
  - Yo Gabba Gabba dancing with Mya (YouTube)
- North Macedonia - Vasil - "Here I Stand" (27:36)
  - Honeyland trailer (YouTube)
- Russia - Manizha - "Russian Woman" (33:12)
  - Russia's Tajik-born Eurovision star on the abuse she's received (BBC)

Episode 112: A Whole Thing

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 11:00:00 -0500

All Eurovision 2021 songs are in! (Except Belarus... that's a whole thing...) We discuss the latest entries and think about promo season.

A Whole Thing Summary

Selection season is over! (1:48)
- Azerbaijan salutes(?) "Mata Hari"
- Georgia's Tornike sings to "You"
- Is Malta #DestinedForGreatness with "Je Me Casse"?

Controversies (it's a whole thing...): North Macedonia, Russia, Belarus (11:40)

What does Eurovision promo season look like for 2021? (16:22)

Announcement: We've launched a Patreon! (22:59)

Episode 111: The Homestretch

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 11:00:00 -0500

We're in the homestretch of an unusual Eurovision Selection Season. Melfest is the main event, new songs, scandals... ok, maybe not so unusual...

The Homestretch Summary

"Husavik" Awards Watch: The Grammy Awards and the Oscars (1:12)
The Last Week of Eurovision 2021 Selection Season
- Tuesday: Belarus potentially disqualified (5:43)
- Wednesday song drops: (11:20)
  - Austria's Vincent Bueno "Amen"
  - Greece's Stefania "Last Dance"
  - Switzerland's Gjon's Tears "Tout L'Univers"
  - Bulgaria's VICTORIA's "Growing Up is Getting Old"
- Thursday song drops: (23:54)
  - United Kingdom's James Newman "Embers"
  - North Macedonia's Vasil Garvanliev "Here I Stand"
- Friday song drops: (32:25)
  - Poland's Rafal "The Ride"
  - Latvia's Samanta Tina "The Moon is Rising"
- Saturday's Songs: (39:00)
  - Sweden's Melfest Final chooses Tusse's "Voices"
  - Iceland's Daði & Gagnamagnið "10 Years"

Coming Up: Heads of Delegations, Georgia, Malta, and Azerbaijan (50:52)

Episode 110: Oops! All Songs!

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 11:00:00 -0600

Oops! Everyone looked at the calendar and realized Eurovision entries are due next week! We give a first listen to 25% of the 2021 field.

Oops! All Songs! Summary

Songs Dropping All Over Thursday and Friday
- Belgium is "The Wrong Place" for Hooverphonic (1:57)
- Remember Romania's Roxen? She has "Amnesia" (5:13)
- The Netherlands gives "Birth of a New Age" from Jeangu Macrooy (8:02)
- Philipp Kirkorov, in association with Philipp Kirkorov and the Dream Team, presents Philipp Kirkorov's "Sugar" by Moldova's Natalia Gordienko (a Philipp Kirkorov production) (10:39)
- Australia's Montaigne sees in "Technicolour" (19:11)
- Serbia goes "Loco Loco" for Hurricane (22:04)

Super Saturday 2: The Revenge!
- Uku Suviste is "The Lucky One" to win Estonia Eesti Laul (25:48)
- Denmark goes retro with Fyr Og Flamme's "Øve Os På Hinanden" (29:32)
- The Black Mamba's "Love is on My Side" wins Portugal's Festival da Canção (33:57)
- Italy's Sanremo rocks out with Måneskin's "Zitti e Buoni" (36:39)

MOAR SONGS
- Flo Rida joins Senhit for San Marino's "Adrenalina" (42:32)
- Russia's surprise national final picks Manizha's "Russian Woman" (46:20)

Next week: Sweden's Melfest final and Oops! Even more songs! (51:33)

Episode 109: Eye of the Hurricane

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 11:00:00 -0600

It's the calm before a hurricane of Eurovision entries washes ashore for 2021. We give Cyprus, Germany, Ireland, and Slovenia a first listen.

Eye of the Hurricane Summary

Song Drops
- Cyprus summons "El Diablo" (1:54)
- Germany says "I Don't Feel Hate" (8:31)
- Ireland opens up its "Maps" (14:49)
- Slovenia: can I get an "Amen"? (17:53)

Weekend Recaps
- Sweden's Melodifestivalen Heat 4 (21:00)
- Portugal's Festival da Canção Semi-Final 2 (24:49)

Coming Up This Week (28:16)
- Tuesday: Italy's 71st Sanremo Music Festival starts
- Thursday: Moldova, Netherlands, and (maybe?) Belarus Drop Songs
- Saturday: Estonia's Eesti Laul Final, Denmark's Melodi Grand Prix, Daði Freyr documentary on Iceland's RUV
- Monday: Russia's surprise national final; Senhit's Freaky Trip to Rotterdam concludes with San Marino's song

Episode 108: Sábado Gigante

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 11:00:00 -0600

Sábado Gigante 2021 ha quedado atrás y estamos listos para discutir un puñado de nuevas canciones de Eurovisión. Eso es todo el español que conocemos.

Sábado Gigante Summary

Song Selection Updates
- Czech Republic releases Benny Cristo's "OMAGA" (1:34)
- James Newman will represent the United Kingdom again (4:09)
- Norway's Melodi Grand Prix Final: TIX wins with "Fallen Angel" (6:08)
- Finland's UMK chooses "Dark Side" by Blind Channel (16:02)
- Blas Cantò will sing "Voy a Quedarme" for Spain (21:59)

Other Super Saturday Happenings
- Estonia's Eesti Laul semi finals cut 24 acts to 12 (23:45)
- Sweden's Melodifestivalen Heat 3 (29:48)
- Portugal's Festival da Cançao Semi 1 (33:36)

Coming Up This Week (37:56)
- Bulgaria launches Victoria's a little dramatic feedback platform
- Serbia's Hurricane will sing "Loco Loco"
- Cyprus releases Elena Tsagkrinou's "El Diablo" Wednesday
- Germany's Jendrik presents his song Thursday
- Ireland's Lesley Roy debuts "MAPS" on Friday
- Slovenia's EMA reveals Ana Soklic's song Saturday

Episode 107: Poof, Pow, Surprise!

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 11:00:00 -0600

Poof! Croatia has entered the Eurovision chat! Pow! Melfest names a woman! Surprise! Our first genuine "What?!" delivered on this show.

Poof, Pow, Surprise! Summary

News: "Husavik" Awards Watch and a Rotterdam Stage Update (1:23)
Weekend Recap
- Croatia's Dora selects Albina's "Tick-Tock" (4:54)
- Sweden's Melodifestivalen Heat 2 (12:25)
- Norway's Melodi Grand Prix Heat 5 (20:55)

Song Updates (26:25)
- Czech Republic's Benny Cristo drops "Omaga"
- Song titles from North Macedonia and Moldova
- Bulgaria's Victoria gets a little dramatic on YouTube

TV This Week
- Estonia's Eesti Laul Semi Finals Thursday and Saturday
- Finland's UMK Picks (29:15)
- Spain's Blas Cantò will sing "Memoria" or "Voy a Quedarme" (34:17)
- Portugal's Festival da Cançao begins (35:54)

Episode 106: Determined Yet Realistic

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 11:00:00 -0600

Lithuania and Ukraine have determined their entries and Eurovision gets realistic about its scenarios for Rotterdam.

Determined Yet Realistic Summary

News (1:04)
- Örs Siklósi of AWS (Hungary 2018)
- Eurovision Scenario A off the table
- "Husavik" Awards Watch
- Ukraine selects "Shum" for Go_A
- Germany selects Jendrik

Recaps
- Lithuania definitively chooses The ROOP's "Discoteque" (11:50)
- Sweden's Melfest Heat 1 (14:30)
- Norway's Melodi Grand Prix Heat 4 (20:48)

Coming Up (28:55)
- Denmark will release Melodi Grand Prix entries Wednesday
- Spain will release Blas Cantó's "Memoria" and "Voy a Quedarme" Wednesday
- Slovenia and Serbia change up their selection processes
- RuPaul's Drag Race UK will host the RuRuvision Song Contest
- Croatia's Dora takes place Saturday

Our picks for Estonia's Eesti Laul Semi-Final 2 (35:05)

Episode 105: AHHHHHHHH!

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 11:00:00 -0600

We try to keep calm as we discuss the live audience at France's Eurovision final, Sweden's Melfest "plan" and make our picks for Eesti Laul Semi 1.

AHHHHHHHH! Summary

France chooses Barbara Pravi's "Voila" (1:17)
Norway's Melodi Grand Prix Heat 3 Recap (8:44)
Lithuania's Pabandom is Naujo! Semi-Final Recap (12:41)
Could Eurovision: The Story of Fire Saga get a Golden Globe nomination? (15:50)
What is Sweden's plan for this year's Melodifestivalen? (21:47)
Other news: Senhit's "Alcohol is Free"; Croatia tweaks Dora; Bulgaria's a little dramatic; Iceland's song date (26:33)
Our picks for Estonia's Eesti Laul Semi-Final 1 (31:37)

Episode 104: Où est la Discoteque?

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 11:00:00 -0600

Norway opts for a preliminary "Hero", Lithuania takes us to the "Discoteque", and France gets ready for you to decide their Eurovision entry.

Où est la Discoteque? Summary

Israel selects "Set Me Free" for Eden Alene (1:27)
Other news: Vasil is back for North Macedonia, Portugal and Finland release songs, Cyprus drops in February (4:49)
Lithuania Pabandom is Naujo Week 2: The ROOP visits the "Discoteque" (7:04)
Norway Melodi Grand Prix: Raylee is a "Hero", Mike is a villain (11:46)
France C'est Vous Qui Décidez Preview (22:24)

Episode 103: Pabandom is When?

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 11:00:00 -0600

Lithuania's Pabandom is Naujo and Norway's Melodi Grand Prix have begun and we are optimistic about Eurovision Selection Season 2021.

Pabandom is When Summary

Process updates: France has a date, Finland has a slate, Israel has to adjust, Italy's gonna Italy (1:36)
Lithuania's Pabandom is Naujo Heat 1 (9:47)
Norway's Melodi Grand Prix Heat 1 (17:07)

Episode 102: Hoe is de Zorg?

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 11:00:00 -0600

We have songs to talk about! Israel and Norway have Eurovision tracks in the wild while we consider the optics of putting on the Contest amid a pandemic.

Hoe is de Zorg Summary

Process updates: Greece, France, Finland, Sweden (1:25)
Israel: Three songs (leaked) for Eden (7:18)
TV This Weekend: Norway's NRK Melodi Grand Prix and Lithuania's Pabandom is Naujo (19:01)
What are the four Eurovision scenarios? (28:13)

Episode 101: Disco Toilet

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 11:00:00 -0600

From Albania's FiK selection to Senhit's latest disco cover to the results of ESC 250, we discuss a lot of Eurovision news from over the holidays.

Disco Toilet Summary

Anxhela Peristeri wins Albania's Festivali i Këngës with "Karma" (1:41)
Selection season updates (10:10)
- Lithuania, Croatia, and Italy announce contestants
- Belarus is open for submissions
- Serbia's Hurricane and Ireland's Lesley Roy are coming back
- Spain will use a national final for Blas Cantó's song
- Israel announces three songs for Eden Alene
- Slovenia will use EMA to select Ana Soklic's song
- San Marino's Senhit covers Abba's "Waterloo"
- Iceland's Daði needs a choir (Google Drive)

ESC 250 Results and Analysis (25:07)

Episode 100: Spotify Warped

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 11:00:00 -0600

We're celebrating 100 episodes and the end of 2020! After checking the news, we look at our Spotify Wrapped, ESC250 ballots, and our origin stories.

100: Spotify Warped Summary

Eurovision at the Grammys (1:41)
New Eurovision Logo for 2021 (5:05)
Selection updates: Israel, Estonia, France, Sweden, Portugal, Croatia, Italy (6:31)
Festivali i Këngës Picks (11:49)
Spotify Wrapped or Warped? (22:04)
Our ESC250 Ballots (30:30)
How did we get radicalized into Eurovision? (35:50)

Episode 99: Merry FiKmas

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 11:00:00 -0600

Eurovision season usually begins in December with Albania's Festivali i Këngës, sometimes known as FiKmas. We dig into FiK's history.

Merry FiKmas Summary

Eurovision 2021 Updates: Semi-Final Allocations and Plan C Videos (2:49)
Artist Updates (7:52)
- Cyprus will send Elena Tsagkrinou with "El Diablo"
- Bulgaria's VICTORIA floats "Ugly Cry" for consideration
- Senhit covers "Amar Pelos Dois"
- Damir won't represent Croatia; Aksel won't represent Finland
- The ROOP will compete in Lithuania's Pabandom is Naujo

National Selection Updates (16:53)
- France's National Final coming in January
- Norway expands Melodi Grand Prix 2021
- Upcoming drops: Sweden's Melodifestivalen Acts, Estonia's Eesti Laul songs

Main Topic: Albania's Festivali i Këngës and How to Open Up (25:36)

Episode 98: Let’s Talk Turkey

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 11:00:00 -0600

Turkey was last at Eurovision in 2012. We wanted to take this opportunity to comb through its history at the Contest and gobble up any information we could find.

Let's Talk Turkey Summary

Corrections: Stupid Sexy Flanders Edition
News (3:15)
- Belgium's Hooverphonic changes its lineup
- Ben Dolic won't return to represent Germany
- Albania's Festivali i Këngës releases 26 songs and its (tentative) schedule
- Israel hops online to choose Eden Alene's song
- Estonia announces the 24 entries for next year's Eesti Laul

Turkey at the Eurovision Song Contest
- Debut (13:17)
- 1980s (22:41)
- 1990s (28:39)
- Every Way That I Can and beyond (34:07)

Episode 97: Eurovision AV Club

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 11:00:00 -0600

We could all use a distraction during *gestures at universe*. Here are some picks for Eurovision-adjacent media from our AV club.

Eurovision AV Club Summary

News: 41 Countries to Participate at Eurovision 2021, Daði & Gagnamagnið for Iceland, Senhit covers "Rise Like a Phoenix" (2:38)
Selection Season process details: Lithuania's Pabandom is Naujo, Finland's UMK, Croatia's Dora, Denmark's Melodi Grand Prix (7:56)
ESC 250 voting opens November 9 (13:19)
Eurovision Book Club! (16:11)
- Three Minutes of Eternity (Amazon)
- Being Conchita: We Are Unstoppable (Amazon)

Eurovision Movie Club! (29:16)
- Monsterman (Amazon Prime)
- Souvenir (Trailer)
- Cupcakes (Trailer)

Links

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 96: Take! It! Off!

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 11:00:00 -0500

The Masked Singer has proven to be an international hit and a potential aftermarket for Eurovision alumni. Mike from Aussievision joins us to discuss the insanity.

Take! It! Off! Summary

News: 38 countries so far, Norway dates, Italy process (2:00)
Iceland Airwaves presents Live from Reykjavik (5:54)
Netflix offers Fire Saga For Your Consideration (8:07)
Main Topic: The Masked Singer as Eurovision Aftermarket (15:56)
Special Guest: Mike from Aussievision discusses the Australian version of the Masked Singer (26:51)

Episode 95: Six on Stage

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 11:00:00 -0500

Will Howells has created a database called Six on Stage, cataloguing every performer on the Eurovision stage. We chat with him about the project and get caught up on the news.

Six on Stage Summary

How to build a database (1:03)
Watching and re-watching (and re-watching) Eurovision (12:16)
The singers under the stairs (20:36)
News
- 4 plans for Eurovision 2021 (37:06)
- Country updates: Sweden's Melfest schedule, Belarus drops VAL, Dream Team journal (41:36)
- "Congratulations" and happy birthday to Senhit (49:11)
- Hatari's A Song Called Hate premieres (52:18)
- Eurovision in the Wild: America's Got Talent, Just Dance 2021, the People's Choice Awards (53:39)

Links

Special Guest: Will Howells.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 94: Double Trouble

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 11:00:00 -0500

Ben flies solo again with another audio essay, this time looking into performers who made double, triple, and even quadruple visits to the Eurovision stage.

Double Trouble Summary

Eurovision, Again? (0:55)
Defining a "Lead Artist" (2:00)
Golden Boy (3:17)
The Four-Timers Club (4:25)
Three is a Magic Number (9:04)
CAROLA (11:00)
Close Close Close, but No Cigar (13:07)
Second Time's the Charm (15:36)
Glow-Ups (17:33)
The Direct Opposite of a Glow-Up (20:50)
Failure to Launch (24:58)
Keep That Same Energy (25:56)
What's Another Year? (26:50)

Episode 93: Rotterdam, Ahoy! Take 2

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 11:00:00 -0500

Rotterdam gets to take a mulligan on 2020 as we look ahead to how preparations for the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest begin to take shape.

Rotterdam, Ahoy! Take 2 Episode Summary

Mailbag and Eurovision in the Wild (2:13)
- Eurovision at the DNC
- The Crossword: Friday, August 21 in the New Yorker
- Animal Crossing Fashion by Nitro Gnome
- "Zenit" by ONUKA in Just Dance 2021

Where are we with countries and artists for next year? (18:35)
- Senhit's Freaky Trip to Rotterdam: "Ding a Dong"
- Ben's NRKMGP Presentation

How is Rotterdam planning for Eurovision 2021? (27:43)
- With COVID, how is the 2021 edition of Eurovision Organized? (RTS)

Episode 92: Americandom is Naujo!

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 14:00:00 -0500

We welcome Helen Groothuis back to the show to workshop how on earth the American Song Contest is supposed to work?

Americandom is Naujo! Episode Summary

This episode's conversation is a bit more freestyle than usual, so timestamps don't make a whole lotta sense. However, here are a number of topics that we touch on, more or less in order:

Variety publishes the first story about the American Song Contest announcement
Who is Ben Silverman and why is Mike jealous?
Are there any reality competitions we haven't watched? (Ed Note: No.)
What network(s) could broadcast this?
What are our hopes/dreams/fears/lingering questions on how this is supposed to work?
Can we come up with a better title than American Song Contest?

Episode 91: A Brief History of the EBU

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 14:00:00 -0500

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) turns 70 this year! How did the EBU come into being? We dive into telecommunications history and evolution to find out.

A Brief History of the EBU Summary

Topic Intro (1:53)
Dueling Telegraphs in 1843 (4:20)
What do you know about Napoleon III? (10:29)
The Radio Makes Waves (17:18)
The International Broadcasting Union and Proto-Eurovision (31:58)
Telecommunications Needs Post World War II and the Birth of the EBU (38:50)

Episode 90: Wine Aunt Energy

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 11:00:00 -0500

We open up our mailbag and a chilled bottle of pinot grigio as we get caught up on Eurovision news from the last month.

Wine Aunt Energy Episode Summary

Mailbag (1:27):
- How to pronounce "Niamh"
- Bucks Fizz boiled sweets
- The worst Halloween candy
- Bruno Toniolli

No, really, are "Husavik" and "Jaja Ding Dong" eligible for Oscars? (6:30)

#EurovisionAgain (13:10)
- Copenhagen 2014
- Jerusalem 1999

Eurovision Back for Good (20:43)

Returning artist updates (24:09)
- Moldova
- Greece
- Israel
- Slovenia
- San Marino

Artists not returning (41:58)
- Croatia
- France
- Italy
- Albania
- Germany

Episode 89: 12 Points to Fire Saga?

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 11:00:00 -0500

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga arrived on Netflix last week and 12 Points from America joins us to discuss the music in Will Ferrell's new comedy.

12 Points to Fire Saga? Episode Summary

Welcome, 12 Points from America! Erik, Danny, Sam, and Derek! (2:20)
What were your overall impressions of the music in the movie? (7:23)
Will non-Eurovision fans "get" the Song Along? (20:30)
Was there anything missing from the Eurovision music experience? (39:33)
Outro: We discuss The Story of Fire Saga as a movie on 12 Points from America! (46:30)

I Am Confusion (Part 2)

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 11:00:00 -0500

We try our 12 Minutes from 2007 on a complete newbie to Eurovision. What does our guest Justin Ladia think of the festivities from Finland?

I Am Confusion Summary

Welcome, Justin! What do you know about Eurovision? (2:29)
Serbia - "Molitva" - Marija Šerifović (5:50)
What was that postcard? (10:18)
Ukraine - "Dancing Lasha Tumbai" - Verka Serduchka (14:13)
United Kingdom - "Flying the Flag (For You)" - Scooch (22:25)
What were the results? (26:19)

Episode 88: 12 Minutes in 2007 (Part 1)

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 11:00:00 -0500

Chris King joins us to chat about UK quiz and panel shows—including Pointless Eurovision—and the rock block of Serbia, Ukraine, and the UK from Eurovision 2007.

12 Minutes in 2007 Summary

Called Into Questions and UK quiz shows (1:31)
News: Eurovision 2021 to take place May 18, 20, 22 (12:39)
#EurovisionAgain: 2018 and 1988 (14:24)
Main Topic: 12 Minutes from the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest (21:02)
- Serbia - Molitva - Marija Šerifović (25:27)
- Ukraine - Dancing Lasha Tumbai - Verka Serduchka (31:11)
- United Kingdom - Flying the Flag (For You) - Scooch (38:41)

Episode 87: AfriMusic, AI, and the Free European Song Contests

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 11:00:00 -0500

The 2020 Eurovision Song Contest did not happen. We discuss three Eurovision-adjacent song contests that did happen in the first half of 2020.

AfriMusic, AI, and the Free European Song Contests Summary

News: Andorra returns? Cyprus re-selects (2:09)
#EurovisionAgain: Riga 2003 and Italy 1991 (5:07)
What is the AfriMusic Song Contest? (17:13)
What is the AI Song Contest? (28:35)
What is the Free European Song Contest? (36:18)

Episode 86: Shine a Light

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 19 May 2020 11:00:00 -0500

The 2020 Eurovision Season comes to an end with Europe: Shine a Light. @dudepoints joins us to reminisce and set the record straight on the Riga Beaver.

Shine a Light Summary

Welcome, @dudepoints! (1:58)
The Riga Beaver and Kozmens (3:16)
Eurovision: The Saga of Fire Song announced by Netflix (12:01)
Eurovision 2020 Tribute Album drops (15:54)
Who "won" Eurovision 2020? (19:59)
Our 2021 Wishlist (42:23)
Europe: Shine a Light Epilogue (47:30)

Episode 85: Eurovision Again

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 05 May 2020 11:00:00 -0500

#EurovisionAgain impresario Rob Holley speaks with us about the Eurovision Twitter time machine extravaganza.

#EurovisionAgain Summary

News Desk (1:58)
- Eurostream 2020 Voting | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
- Alternate Programming for Eurovision Week ESCXtra Guide
- Netflix Updates

#EurovisionAgain with Rob Holley (11:30)

Episode 84: What is Poptimism?

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 11:00:00 -0500

Music critic Ned Raggett joins us to discuss rockism, poptimism, and why Eurovision songs are worthy of critique.

What is Poptimism? Summary

Welcome, Ned! (1:00)
Newsdesk: Eurostream 2020, Eurovision in Concert, Europe Shine a Light, Blas Cantó duets with Kelly Clarkson (4:32)
What is "poptimism"? (12:36)
Poptimism vs. Rockism (23:56)
The Rise of Eurovision in the US (34:15)

Announcement: Eurostream 2020

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

We are thrilled to announce that we have have partnered with several websites and outlets to work together on Eurostream 2020!

Online Eurovision Song Contest 2020, ‘Eurostream’, to be held on May 5, 7 & 9

Following the cancellation of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, several major Eurovision websites have joined forces to organize the first-ever 100% online edition of the Contest.

Under the joint name Eurostream 2020, three scheduled live shows will be broadcast online for viewers around the world.

Eurostream 2020 Format

Prior to the live shows, draws will be held to determine the running order for the two Semi-Finals. These will take place on April 21 and 28, respectively, and will be broadcast online. The same countries that were supposed to participate in the Semi-Finals of Eurovision 2020 will take part in the Semi-Finals of Eurostream 2020.

The Semi-Finals will take place on Tuesday, May 5 and Thursday, May 7. Ten countries from each broadcast will advance to the Grand Final based on online public voting (50%) and the votes of national juries consisting of music professionals (50%). Just like at Eurovision, the qualifiers will be announced in a random order, with detailed results to be released following the Final.

The Grand Final will take place on Saturday, May 9. The 20 qualifiers from the Semi-Finals will join the countries of the Big 5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom) and the 2020 host country, The Netherlands, which have already pre-qualified for the Grand Final. The same voting system will be applied to compile the results for the Grand Final of Eurostream 2020.

There will be no live performances from the artists during the live shows of Eurostream 2020. Instead, snippets of the official preview videos will be shown. Editors from several Eurovision websites will be joining via live stream to comment on the songs and their chances. You can expect several surprises during the three scheduled live shows.

Eurostream 2020 Broadcast Schedule (subject to change):

Running Order Draw Semi-Final 1: Tuesday, April 21 (20:00 CET / 2pm Eastern)
Running Order Draw Semi-Final 2: Tuesday, April 28 (20:00 CET / 2pm Eastern)
Semi-Final 1: Tuesday, May 5 (21:00 CET / 3pm Eastern)
Semi-Final 2: Thursday, May 7 (21:00 CET / 3pm Eastern)
Grand Final: Saturday, May 9 (21:00 CET / 3pm Eastern)

Eurostream 2020 partners:

Eurostream 2020 Contact Information

Eurostream 2020 can be found on Facebook and Twitter, where the latest information about the upcoming event will be shared. For answers on more practical questions regarding the project, broadcasts and voting, we kindly redirect you to the joint website, eurostream2020.com.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 83: Fanopticon

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 11:00:00 -0500

Despite Eurovision's cancellation this year, the fandom is still fully engaged in the Contest. Eurovision Obsession's André Durham joins us to chat about how we're coping.

Fanopticon Summary

Special Guest: Welcome back, André Durham!
Eurovision News (1:48)
- 2021 Participation, Fast Passes, and Returning Artists
- Songwriters have opinions about the 2020 cancellation
- The Soul of Eurovision Saga
- France re-releases Tom Leeb's "Mon Alliée (The Best in Me)"

Voting! (12:43)

Concerts! (25:27)
- Eurovision Home Concerts (Episode 1)
- Surie Lockdown Eurovision Party
- Victoria at Home

Rewatch! (32:17)
- Eurovision 2019 is still on Netflix
- #EurovisionAgain Saturdays at 9pm CET / 3pm Eastern
- Broadcasters planning out special May programming

Who do you think would have won Eurovision this year?

Special Guest: André Durham.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 82: The (Other) Ones That Got Away 2020 Edition

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 11:00:00 -0500

We look back at the songs that missed out on being in the weird limbo space created after the cancellation of the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest.

The (Other) Ones That Got Away 2020 Edition Summary

News: the transition from Eurovision 2020 to Eurovision 2021 (2:13)
The Ones That Got Away: Albania, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Ukraine (11:24)
What does Lithuania do with the Roop and Pabandom is Naujo? (27:06)

Special Edition: Well…

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 19:30:00 -0500

No news is good news. This news is bad news. Eurovision 2020 has been canceled. Now what?

Episode 81: WHY ARE WE YELLING?

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 11:00:00 -0500

We finish up our initial evaluations of the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest entries with the last nine songs to drop in March.

WHY ARE WE YELLING? Summary

Coronavirus vs. Eurovision (1:44)
Does Austria's song make us feel "Alive"? (6:22)
Ireland's "Story of My Life" splits opinions (10:21)
Are we "Running" to or from Cyprus? Or the mall? (15:13)
Should Bulgaria's "Tears Getting Sober" be the favorite? (19:09)
What do "YOU" think of North Macedonia's entry? (22:54)
Guess which of us is "FREAKY!" over San Marino's entry (27:03)
Does Malta get "All of My Love"? Some? Any? (35:36)
Does Azerbaijan say gay rights with "Cleopatra"? (40:07)
Russia continues to Russia with "UNO" 44:23

Episode 80: This is Fine

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 11:00:00 -0500

We made it through the end of Eurovision Selection Season! Well, the competitions in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Portugal, at least.

This is Fine Summary

Eurovision in the Wild: Geeky Podcasters Edition (1:07)
Coronavirus shenanigans (2:48)
Georgia's Tornike Kipiani tells Western Europe to "Take Me As I Am" (5:30)
Eden represents Israel and Ethiopia with "Feker Libi" (8:46)
Netherlands adds to the "Grow"-ing field with Jeangu Macrooy (11:03)
Gjon's Tears shed for Switzerland with "Repondez-moi" (14:29)
Denmark says "YES" to Ben and Tan (18:53)
The Mamas make a "Move" for Sweden (23:58)
"Looking Back" at Aksel's UMK win in Finland (29:18)
Portugal chooses Elisa's "Medo de Sentir" (34:37)

Episode 79: Songageddon 2020

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 17:00:00 -0600

Somehow we managed to be verbal after mainlining hours upon hours of Eurovision content this past weekend. It's Songageddon 2020!

Songageddon 2020 Summary

Thursday (1:35)
- United Kingdom drops James Newman's "My Last Breath" (with special guest Helen Groothuis)
- Germany has a "Violent Thing" with Ben Dolic
- Azerbaijan announces Samira Efendi

Friday (13:09)
- Belarus chooses VAL's "Da Vidna / Да вiдна" instead of "La-Ley-La"

Saturday (16:48)
- Estonia's televoters show Uku Suviste "What Love Is"
- Moldova goes to "Prison" with Natalia Gordienko
- Damir Kedžo wins Croatia's Dora 2020 with "Divlji vjetre"
- Iceland's Daði Freyr wins Songvakeppnin with "Think About Things"
- Melfest Andra Chansen

Sunday (46:36)
- Greece debuts Stefania's "Superg!rl"
- Roxen's "Alcohol You" will represent Romania
- Hurricane blows away Serbia's Beovizija with "Hasta la Vista"

Monday (55:46)
- Russia announces Little Big
- Georgia debuts "Take Me As I Am"

Coming up this week: everything else! (58:42)

Episode 78: Remedial Dance Party

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 17:00:00 -0600

We're in the eye of the Eurovision Selection Season storm thanks to a light TV schedule this weekend. Time to practice the "I'm a Little Tempest in a Teapot" dance!

Remedial Dance Party Summary

Ukraine's Go_A wins VidBir with "Solovey" (1:54)
Slovenia's Ana Soklič wins EMA with "Voda" (7:05)
Sweden's Melfest Heat 4 in Malmö (12:52)
Portugal's Festival da Cançao Semi-Final 1 (23:13)
Poland's Alicja Protects the "Empires" from the Lake Malawi Trojan Horse (23:13)
This week: Germany, United Kingdom, Belarus, Serbia, Croatia, Estonia, Iceland, Moldova, Romania (27:53)

Episode 77: Anarchy in the NRK

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 17:00:00 -0600

The Eurovision 2020 songlist has hit double digits after this past weekend as we encounter internal selections and national final results.

Anarchy in the NRK Summary

Armenia's Depi Evratesil (2:09)
Lithuania's Pabandom is Naujo Final (6:32)
Norway's NRK Melodi Grand Prix Final (11:27)
Sweden's Melodifestivalen Heat 3 (21:01)
Iceland's Songvakeppnin Semi-Final 2 (24:49)
France releases Tom Leeb's "The Best in Me" (31:07)
Belgium releases Hooverphonic's "Release Me" (35:35)
This Weekend Romania Songs, Portugal's Festival da Cancao, Slovenia's EMA, Ukraine's VidBir, and Poland's Szansa na Sukces (42:20)

Links

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 76: Sanremo LXX (Long, Xtra Xtra)

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 17:00:00 -0600

Saturday proved to be a marathon as Australia, Latvia, and Italy chose their Eurovision entries and a whole bunch of other countries made progress.

Sanremo LXX (Long, Xtra Xtra) Summary

Eurovision in the Wild: Oscars 2020 Edition (1:43)
Israel selects Eden Alene (7:00)
Australia Decides on Montaigne (8:36)
Latvia chooses Samanta Tina (13:47)
Malta's X Factor belongs to Destiny (21:06)
Italy's Sanremo 70 ends with Diodato win (23:00)
Other checkins: Lithuania, Sweden, Iceland, Ukraine, Norway (30:46)

Episode 75: Austvia Superdecides

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 17:00:00 -0600

It's time to update your Eurovision Top 2 videos as Czech Republic makes their choice and Australia, Italy, and Latvia get ready to make theirs.

Austvia Superdecides Summary

Semi-Final Allocation for Realsies This Time (1:40)
Eurovision Ticket Sales (5:15)
Spain releases Blas Cantó's "Universo" (8:28)
Czech Republic chooses Benny Cristo's "Kemama" (10:12)
Greece selects Stefania (14:16)
Weekend Recaps: Lithuania, Norway, Sweden (15:58)
Italy's Sanremo Festival Begins (33:27)
Our picks: Australia Decides (35:35)
Our picks: Latvia's Supernova (44:49)
Coming up this weekend: Malta, Ukraine, Iceland, Poland,

Episode 74: Semi Final Allocation Czech In

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 17:00:00 -0600

Czech Republic came to play, y'all. We do a deep dive on this year's Eurovision selection entries and check in with news across Europe as we wait for the semi final draw.

Semi Final Allocation Czech In Summary

Semi Final Allocation (0:48)
Finland's UMK Entries' Slow Drip (6:11)
Czech Republic's Seven Songs for Eurovision (8:38)
Denmark and Belarus Narrow Down Their Fields (25:51)
Norway's Melodi Grand Prix Heat 3 Recap (28:09)
Lithuania's Pabandom iš Naujo Heat 3 Recap (34:59)
Coming up this week: Tickets, Spain's Song, Sweden's Melfest, Moldova's Auditions, Poland's Szansa na Sukces (38:54)

Episode 73: Boys!

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 17:00:00 -0600

We have an avalanche of Eurovision news this week, including two new artist selections, a bunch of songs, and Billie Eilish?

Boys! Summary

Martin Österdahl named Eurovision Executive Supervisor (1:25)
Jon Ola Sand discusses the US at Eurovision (3:24)
Artist announcements: Tom Leeb for France, Vasil Garvanliev for North Macedonia (6:35)
Song drops: Portugal, Iceland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Moldova, Finland (9:08)
Norway Melodi Grand Prix Week 2 (19:00)
Lithuania Pabandom iš naujo! Week 2 (26:25)

Episode 72: DRIP in a Box

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 17:00:00 -0600

Eurovision Selection Season 2020 begins in earnest with Norway's revamped Melodi Grand Prix and Lithuania's fashion makeover.

DRIP in a Box Summary

Jeangu Macrooy will represent the Netherlands (1:10)
Norway's Melodi Grand Prix Heat 1 (3:40)
Lithuania's Pabandom iš naujo! Heat 1 (9:23)
Serbia announces its contestants (14:33)
Czech Republic announces their artists (16:25)
This week: Portugal, Latvia, Iceland, Slovenia (20:45)

Episode 71: Sticks Nix FiK Picks

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 17:00:00 -0600

We're barely a week into 2020 and we already have Eurovision drama up to our ears (HI ALBANIA!). We get caught up on the news from over the holidays in this episode.

Sticks Nix FiK Picks Summary

Albania's Fesitvali i Këngës chooses Arilena Ara's "Shaj" (1:51)
Georgia Idol chooses Tornike Kiniapi (13:34)
Australia Decides fills its roster (16:39)
Selection process news: Italy, Netherlands, North Macedonia (23:07)
ESC 250 Results (25:42)
Coming up this week: Ukraine artists, Norway's Melodi Grand Prix, Lithuania's Marathon (30:34)

Episode 70: The Ones That Got Away 2010s Edition

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:00:00 -0600

408 songs competed on the Eurovision stage this decade. 148 did not qualify for the Grand Final. From those, we picked 20 that still hold up.

Episode Summary

2019 picks (4:03)
2018 picks (7:39)
2017 picks (11:40)
2016 picks (16:40)
2015 picks (22:07)
2014 picks (28:03)
2013 picks (33:48)
2012 picks (41:56)
2011 picks (46:05)
2010 picks (49:23)

Episode 69: Ben’s Grand Eurofying Theory

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 18:00:00 -0600

Ben flies solo this week after getting too caffeinated while prepping for the last Eurowhat of the year. He develops a theory about Eurovision in the last decade and makes an audio essay about it. It involves snacks.

Episode Summary

How to define a decade (1:48)
Pop, with a Folk flourish (4:15)
Power ballads! (6:10)
The Azerbaijan Pop machine (9:00)
Italy returns (11:18)
Fuego, Replay, and repetition (14:48)
Folk, with a Pop flourish (17:26)
Interesting choices, struggling titans (19:06)
Balance shifts again (22:18)

Episode 68: Eurovisie Songfestivus

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 18:00:00 -0600

Tickets! Hosts! More selections! Eurovision 2020 is in full swing, but we look back at 2019 pop culture and make a 2020 wish list in this episode.

Episode Summary

Eurovision tickets on sale... for 20 minutes (1:32)
Eurovision Hosts: Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley, Jan Smit (6:26)
Austria selects Vincent Bueno (9:38)
Albania's Festivali i Këngës takes place this week (12:18)
Czech Republic invents some genres (14:55)
Festivus Grievances and Holiday Wishes (17:43)
What did your Spotify Wrapped look like? (29:50)
What other podcasts caught your ear this year? (36:52)
The Most Important Piece of Pop Culture of 2019 (42:12)

Podcasts We Recommend

Episode 67: Hungary for Turkey

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 18:00:00 -0600

Hungary's reasons for withdrawing from Eurovision sound similar to Turkey's. What else do the two countries have in common?

Hungary for Turkey Summary

Eurovision 2020 Logo (1:32)
Cyprus announces Sandro Nicolas (4:03)
Bulgaria announces VICTORIA (7:07)
Sweden announces Melfest lineup (8:39)
Australia Decides: Mitch Tambo and iOTA (12:06)
Estonia presents its 24 songs (14:50)
Internal selections: Russia, France, Spain (16:49)
Main Topic: Hungary for Turkey (18:26)
Spotify Playlist

Episode 66: Iceland Airwaves

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 18:00:00 -0600

Our Senior Hatari Correspondent Ben traveled to Reykjavik to check in with the Iceland Airwaves festival and what's going on in the Icelandic music scene.

Episode Summary

How Many Countries are in Europe? We have an answer! (1:21)
National Selection Hopscotch (2:44)
- Featuring Czech Republic, Estonia, Australia, and more!

ESC 250 Voting is open! (7:16)

Eurovision in Chicago: Onuka, Il Volo, Flying Steps (9:31)

Iceland Airwaves (15:53)

Episode 65: Lebanon-starter

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 18:00:00 -0600

Lebanon was supposed to debut at Eurovision 2005. We examine the unexpected ways international relations impact the Song Contest.

Lebanon-starter Summary

Open Up 2020 (1:26)
Duncan Laurence releases "Love Don't Hate It" (4:02)
Mailbag: How to break a tie in 1970 (5:15)
How Many Countries are in Europe? (9:02)
Eurovision in the Wild: Game Shows, Elton John, Stamps (11:43)
Main Topic: Lebanon at the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest

Episode 64: Win Win Win Win

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 18:00:00 -0500

We jump back 50 years to that time Eurovision had a four-way tie for first place... and no way to break it.

Win Win Win Win Summary

How many countries are in Europe? (1:44)
Are you the next Jon Ola Sand? (9:05)
Update: What WAS that Germany postcard? (12:17)
Eurovision 1969: The Big Tie (14:16)
Netherlands - Lenny Kuhr - "De Troubadour" (19:35)
Spain - Salomé - "Vivo Contando" (22:00)
United Kingdom - Lulu - "Boom Bang A Bang" (24:04)
France - Frida Boccara - "Un Jour, Un Enfant" (27:40)

Episode 63: Flags on the Play

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 18:00:00 -0500

Who knew that flags—symbols of national identity—could have political implications at the Eurovision Song Contest? Drink!

Flags on the Play Summary

News (1:48)
Flags at the Eurovision Song Contest (12:05)
Controversy 1: Israel 2000 (15:21)
Controversy 2: United Kingdom 2007 (23:49)
Controversy 3: Russia 2015 (33:17)
Controversy 4: Armenia 2016 (40:10)
Controversy 5: Iceland 2019 (43:49)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Links:

Episode 62: Morocco 1980

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 18:00:00 -0500

Remember that time Morocco competed at the Eurovision Song Contest? We don't since neither of us existed at the time. Let's learn about it together!

Morocco 1980 Summary

RUV fined for Hatari's antics (1:36)
Country count (3:37)
UK and Spain go internal (4:37)
Morocco at the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest (8:53)

Episode 61: It’s Rotterdam! Ahoy!

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 18:00:00 -0500

Happy Eurovision New Year! We're talking about Eurovision 2020's host country the Netherlands and the host city of Rotterdam.

It’s Rotterdam! Ahoy! Summary

Happy Eurovision New Year! (1:23)
The Mailbag (4:58)
- Prioritization Grids: Random and Normal
- Fun with our Eurovision Lyrics Generator
- Eurovision in the Wild: From Russia with Love Edition
- Please Clap

The Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest (12:13)

Ahoy, Rotterdam! (22:00)

Episode 60: Hallelujah

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 18:00:00 -0500

With Tel Aviv about to pass the Eurovision hosting baton to Rotterdam or Maastricht, we watch the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest to see what has changed in the last 40 years.

Hallelujah Summary

Welcome back, Chris King! (1:28)
Netflix Eurovision casting news: Dan Stevens and Demi Lovato (3:04)
Host City Announcement Friday (5:43)
The 1979 Eurovision Song Contest (7:39)
- Postcards (11:40)
- Performances (19:33)
- Did the correct entry win? (39:04)
- The Aftermath (44:38)

Links

Special Guest: Chris King.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 59: 12 Angry Points

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 18:00:00 -0500

Nothing courts Eurovision controversy quite like the juries. We journey back to 1997 when the introduction of the televote made the juries A Thing.

12 Angry Points Summary

Mailbag: Big 5 Rehab Redux with Germany and the UK (2:07)
Eurovision in the Wild: German chocolate edition (5:00)
How Many Cities in the Netherlands? (7:36)
Netflix Eurovision update (9:03)
A Brief History of Eurovision Juries (11:32)

Links

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 58: The Big 5 Gut Rehab (France and United Kingdom)

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 18:00:00 -0500

Helen Groothuis joins us as we finish our Eurovision gut rehab project with France and a United Kingdom intervention.

The Big 5 Gut Rehab (France and United Kingdom) Summary

Welcome, Helen! (1:55)
How many cities in the Netherlands? (3:44)
Eurovision on Netflix (6:02)
France (11:17)
United Kingdom (21:54)

Episode 57: The Big 5 Gut Rehab (Spain and Germany)

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 17:00:00 -0500

Our July renovations continue as we wander the Eurovision wilderness with Big 5 countries Spain and Germany.

The Big 5 Gut Rehab (Spain and Germany) Summary

How many cities in the Netherlands (0:47)
Podcast Awards: Please Clap (5:15)
Gut Rehab: Spain (6:45)
Gut Rehab: Germany (18:17)

Episode 56: The Big 5 Gut Rehab (Italy)

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 17:00:00 -0500

We love a summer renovation project and the Eurovision Big 5 could use some work. Well, maybe not Italy...

The Big 5 Gut Rehab (Italy) Summary

How many cities are in the Netherlands? (1:10)
#SayNomNomNom (3:43)
What is the Big 5? (7:11)
Gut Rehab: Italy (12:54)

Links

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 55: Visiting Songland

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 18:00:00 -0500

As Eurovision explores making the American Song Contest a thing, we watch NBC's new songwriting series Songland. Is the process telegenic?

Visiting Songland Summary

Remember Bravo's Platinum Hit? (3:37)
NBC's Songland (6:43)

Episode 54: Madame X is Eurovision

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 18:00:00 -0500

Maura Johnston joins us to discuss Madonna's Eurovision performance, Madame X, and how the Queen of Pop can navigate 2019.

Madame X is Eurovision Summary

Welcome, Maura Johnston!
Grand Final scoreboard updates (3:32)
Hatari wins Iceland Kids' Choice Awards (8:01)
Eurovision in the Wild: Billboard Edition (9:06)
Barbara Dex update (10:10)
Madonna: Eurovision, Madame X, and 2019 Pop (14:47)
What other superstars should Eurovision seek out? (40:50)

Episode 53: Satisfactory Winner

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 21 May 2019 17:00:00 -0500

André Durham from Eurovision Obsession joins us to discuss the Eurovision 2019 Grand Final and dig into the semi-final data.

Satisfactory Winner Summary

Duncan Laurence's "Arcade" from the Netherlands wins (3:13)
Semi-Final 1 Data Dump (10:41)
Semi-Final 2 Data Dump (18:00)
How did the auto-qualifiers do? (25:37)
The Eurovision viewing experience (31:57)
Awards! (45:37)

Episode 52: Eurovision 2019 Grand Final Preview

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Fri, 17 May 2019 10:00:00 -0500

This is it. The Eurovision 2019 Semi-Finals are done and we know what 26 countries will compete in Saturday's Grand Final. We add our own wild speculation to the mix.

We break down the results from the semi-finals and how accurate our predictions were (Hint: hoo boy...) and what we think of Israel's presentation of the Contest so far. After checking in with the auto-qualifiers rehearsals, we make our picks for who will win the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. Will Iceland's "Hatrid mun sigra" sigra? Could Australia's "Zero Gravity" rise to the top? Is Netherlands' "Arcade" playing a winning game? Or will France's "Roi" reign supreme?

Eurovision 2019 Grand Final Preview Summary

SPOILER WARNING: We know not everyone watches the semi-finals and some folks may still be avoiding any information about the auto-qualifiers’ rehearsals. If you want to remain unspoiled, you may want to save this episode until after Saturday’s Grand Final. Who knows, we could be hilariously wrong in everything, so you may have that to look forward to.

How was the first semi-final? (4:15)
How was the second semi-final? (18:08)
Eurovision Grand Final preview (36:26)
Our predictions (44:42)

Links

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 51: Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final Predictions

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Sun, 12 May 2019 23:00:00 -0500

Happy Eurovision week! Ben and Mike have done their rankings, mixed them with other data, and have made their picks for which songs will make it to the Grand Final.

Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final Predictions Summary

SPOILER WARNING This episode will discuss details from the rehearsal clips on Eurovision's YouTube page. It will be safe to listen to the Semi-Final 1 section on Wednesday to find out how ~~wrong wrong wrong~~ accurate we were and we clearly indicate when the Semi-Final 2 section begins.

Is Eurovision Geoblocked? (1:02)
Interval Acts confirmed (2:08)
Our rankings process (6:04)
Semi-Final 1 Predictions (8:33)
Semi-Final 2 Predictions (21:23)

Links

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 50: The Mountaintop

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 07 May 2019 17:00:00 -0500

Dave Steeves joins us to discuss the Eurovision auto-qualifiers as we ask the eternal question "Could Spain, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, and the host country advance if they had to compete?"

The Mountaintop Summary

Language musing (1:56)
EBU Eurovision Podcast (4:08)
Hatari Merch (5:55)
Spain - Miki - "La Venda" (8:43)
France - Bilal Hassani - "Roi" (12:54)
United Kingdom - Michael Rice - "Bigger Than Us" (18:11)
Italy - Mahmood - "Soldi" (25:45)
Germany - S!sters - "Sister" (32:14)
Israel - Kobi Marimi - "Home" (39:07)

Episode 49: Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final 2 Part 3: Johnny Bravo

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 18:00:00 -0500

We finish our coverage of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals talking about Russia, Albania, Norway, Netherlands, North Macedonia, and Azerbaijan.

Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final 2 Part 3: Johnny Bravo Summary

Russia - Sergey Lazarev - SCREAM (2:10)
Albania - Jonida Maliqi - Ktheju Tokës (8:31)
Norway - KEiiNO - Spirit in the Sky (13:01)
Netherlands - Duncan Laurence - Arcade (18:17)
North Macedonia - Tamara Todevska - Proud (24:01)
Azerbaijan - Chingiz - Truth (28:22)
Final Thoughts (36:00)

Episode 48: Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final 2 Part 2: These Are Six Songs

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 17:00:00 -0500

The second semi-final of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest will include Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Croatia, Malta, and Lithuania. We can confirm these are songs.

Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final 2 Part 2: These Are Six Songs Summary

News: Interval acts, Netta on the charts, Madrid Pre-Party, Ticket$ (3:04)
Denmark - Leonora - "Love is Forever" (15:57)
Sweden - John Lundvik - "Too Late for Love" (20:15)
Austria - PAENDA - "Limits" (25:33)
Croatia - Roko Blažević - "The Dream" (30:08)
Malta - Michela - "Chameleon" (35:48)
Lithuania - Jurijus - "Run with the Lions" (40:21)
Final Thoughts (45:48)

Episode 47: Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final 2 Part 1: Sorry, Country

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 17:00:00 -0500

We start our exploration of the second semi-final of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest with special guest Lindsey Weber.

Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final 2 Part 1: Sorry, Country Summary

Welcome back, Lindsey Weber! (0:50)
News: Logo drops Eurovision; Full album available; Special Guests (4:54)
Armenia - Srbuk - "Walking Out"
Ireland - Sarah McTernan - "22"
Moldova - Anna Odobescu - "Stay"
Switzerland - Luca Hänni - "She Got Me"
Latvia - Carousel - "That Night"
Romania - Ester Peony - "On a Sunday"

Episode 46: Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final 1 Part 3: Extremely Online

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 17:00:00 -0500

With running order in hand, we finish covering Eurovision Semi Final 1, talking about Georgia, Iceland, Estonia, Portugal, Greece, and San Marino.

Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final 1 Part 3: Extremely Online Summary

Followups! My Heritage Gets a B; Italy's Feeling the Music (1:25)
News: Eurovision in Concert; Madonna; Running Order (2:52)
Georgia - Oto Nemsadze - Keep on Going (8:16)
Iceland - Hatari - Hatrið mun sigra (14:59)
Estonia - Victor Crone - Storm (21:52)
Portugal - Conan Osíris - Telemóveis (27:03)
Greece - Katerine Duska - Better Love (31:43)
San Marino - Serhat - Say Na Na Na (36:27)
Semi Final 1 Wrapup (45:33)

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 45: Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final 1 Part 2: “Oof”

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 17:00:00 -0500

We finish the first half of the first Eurovision semi-final discussing Poland, Serbia, and Slovenia. Then Australia and Belgium kick off our second half coverage.

Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final 1 Part 2: “Oof” Summary

News Desk: Score presentation, "Douze Points", security, and photo apps (1:46)
Poland - Tulia - "Fire of Love (Pali się)" (10:01)
Serbia - Nevena Božović - "Kruna" (18:53)
Slovenia - Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl - "Sebi" (22:29)
Australia - Kate Miller-Heidke - "Zero Gravity" (26:17)
Belgium - Eliot - "Wake Up" (30:01)
Overview (34:24)

Episode 44: Let’s Discuss Eurovision 2019 Semi Final 1 Part 1

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 17:00:00 -0500

We welcome Eurovision newbie Chris King to our first discussion about the first semi-final. This week's countries include Belarus, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, and Montenegro.

Let’s Discuss Eurovision 2019 Semi Final 1 Part 1 Summary

Belarus - Zena - "Like It" (3:28)
Cyprus - Tamta - "Replay" (9:54)
Czech Republic - Lake Malawi - "Friend of a Friend" (18:40)
Finland - Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman - "Look Away" (23:58)
Hungary - Joci Pápai - "Az Én Apám" (31:58)
Montenegro - D Mol - "Heaven" (37:35)
Overview and predictions (45:04)

Links

Special Guest: Chris King.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 43: The Ones That Got Away (2019)

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 17:00:00 -0500

Another Eurovision Selection Season is behind us, but we are still holding out hope for a strong write-in campaign for six entries that didn't make the cut.

We welcome back Noam Roth to the Eurowhat! He gives us an update on what's going on in Tel Aviv as the city gets ready to host the Contest. Then we hand out our honorable mentions for this year's selection season entries that have a place in our hearts even if they don't have a place on the Eurovision stage.

The Ones That Got Away (2019) Summary

Our bracket winner is... (1:17)
How are things in Tel Aviv? (2:00)
The Ones That Got Away (8:26)
Noam's Eurovision Prediction (29:21)

Episode 42: Madness!

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 18:00:00 -0500

The madness of Eurovision Selection Season has come to an end. With 16 songs to discuss, we change up the format to get into competition mode.

Madness! Summary

We Stan Hatari: Öskudagur edition (2:01)
Eurovision Madness Bracket! (4:11)
Round of 16 (6:59)
Round of 8 (20:18)
Final Four (30:22)
The Grand Final (35:06)
VOTE in our Twitter poll

Melodifestivalen 2019 Preview

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 02:00:00 -0600

Sweden's Melodifestivalen — AKA Melfest — will wrap its 59th edition on Saturday. We go through the 12 entries competing to represent Sweden at Eurovision in Tel Aviv.

Melodifestivalen Running Order

Jon Henrik Fjällgren "Norrsken (Goeksegh)"
Lisa Ajax "Torn"
Mohombi "Hello"
Lina Hedlund "Victorious"
Bishara "On My Own"
Anna Bergendahl "Ashes to Ashes"
Nano "Chasing Rivers"
Hanna Ferm & LIAMOO "Hold You"
Malou Prytz "I Do Me"
John Lundvik "Too Late for Love"
Wiktoria "Not with Me"
Arvingarna "I Do"

Episode 41: Loose Ends

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 17:00:00 -0600

The loose ends of Eurovision national final season started wrapping up this past weekend, with seven songs selected, one country confirming withdrawal, and tickets... well...

Loose Ends Summary

Ukraine confirms withdrawal (1:54)
Tickets are on sale... until they're not. Surprise! (3:27)
Belgium asks Eliot to "Wake Up" (4:28)
Looking at Finland's "Look Away" (6:33)
HATARI (9:54)
Can Moldova "Stay" on track? (15:04)
Norway ~~Greenbaum's~~ "Spirit in the Sky" (17:47)
Portugal's "Telemóveis" splits the room (20:54)
Georgia Idol or Georgia Idle? (24:13)
Serbia's "Kruna" (26:49)
Coming up: The Last Week of Selection Season! (29:22)

Episode 40: YIKES

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 18:00:00 -0600

Eurovision ticket prices? Yikes. Lithuania Marathon finale shenanigans? Yikes. Ukraine's Vidbir Inquisition? YIKES. It's been a week, y'all.

YIKES Summary

Eurovision ticket prices announced (1:25)
France not a fan of Duz Pua (3:42)
Ben and Mike are 23rd cousins twice removed (5:55)
Germany chooses S!sters' "Sister" (7:14)
Hungary's Joci Pápai returns to Eurovision with “Az Én Apám” (11:04)
Ukraine was A THING (13:08)
Denmark's Leonora changes the tone with "Love is Forever" (22:07)
How Many People in Lithuania? Jurijus "Run with the Lions" (28:31)
Melfest Checkin (33:19)
This week: Finland, Georgia, Iceland, Moldova, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Belgium, North Macedonia (34:54)

Episode 39: Eurovision is a Whole Mood

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 17:00:00 -0600

All the things happened this past weekend in Eurovision-land and the trend that's emerging: Eurovision is in a mood.

Eurovision is a Whole Mood Summary

Australia locked in until 2023! (1:39)
Israel chooses Kobi Marimi (2:36)
Poland announces Tulia (5:01)
Greece announces Katerine Duska (7:11)
Dora: Croatia chooses Roko Blazevic's "The Dream" (8:46)
Eesti Laul: Estonia chooses Victor Crone's "Storm" (11:27)
Supernova: Latvia chooses Carousel's "That Night" (14:39)
EMA: Slovenia chooses Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl's "Sebi" (18:24)
Selectia Nationala: ~~Wiwiblogs~~ Romania chooses Ester Peony's "On a Sunday" (21:21)
Semi-final checkins: Iceland, Sweden, Hungary (drama!), Lithuania, Ukraine, Portugal (30:47)

Episode 38: Euro Vortex

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 17:00:00 -0600

Eurovision 2019 Selection Season is in full swing! We dive into the Euro Vortex with the United Kingdom, Montenegro, Italy, and Hatari among many others.

First up, Ben and Mike recover from last week's polar vortex by checking in with some Eurovision in the Wild on US TV. Kseniya Simonova—the sand artist from Ukraine's 2011 entry "Angel"—blew away Terry Crews on America's Got Talent and might win the final? Meanwhile, CBS has enlisted some Eurovision help with The World's Best while the Tennis Channel is causing folks to ask "Is this a Eurovision?"

This past week has brought about a handful of selections. Russia reminds us that Sergey Lazarev will be their only one for 2019. The United Kingdom will try to make Michael Rice's "Bigger Than Us"... something. Australia finally decided. Montenegro introduces this year's first group. And Italy has opinions about "Soldi" by Mahmood. Like... A LOT of opinions.

There was also a vortex of semi-finals throughout the weekend, with Iceland, Lithuania, Sweden, and Romania getting closer to making their final choices. Could we be on the cusp of a Hatari / Laura Bretan collaboration in 2020? We'll need to get through the chaos of next weekend's dozen or so selections and broadcasts.

Euro Vortex Summary

Eurovision in the Wild (1:49)
Russia selects Sergey Lazarev (7:21)
United Kingdom chooses "It's Bigger Than Us" (8:43)
Australia Decides (12:34)
Montenegro: "Heaven" sent (18:08)
Italy has opinions about Sanremo (21:22)
Checking in with the Semi-Finals (27:42)

Episode 37: Australia Decides Gets AUSome

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 16:00:00 -0600

We discuss Australia Decides with Mike and Dale from the Aussievision Podcast! Which entries are we most excited about in this year's field?

Eurovision selection season is starting to get into full swing. We have artist announcements from three countries kicking off this episode, with Austria's choice reminding us of Netta. Speaking of last year's winner, we take a listen to her follow-up single "Bassa Sababa"—does it capture our imagination the way "Toy" did last year?

Coming up this week will be Australia's first-ever national selection Australia Decides. We could have done our own deep dive into the ten songs competing for the ticket to Tel Aviv, but why not bring in some actual Australians to help us out? Mike and Dale from the Aussievision Podcast conquered all the timezones to discuss the Australian music scene, which reality shows actually work as launch pads, and reminisce on the awesomeness of the looks from RuPaul's Drag Race season 6. Oh, and we chat about the 10 songs that will be competing this Saturday.

We close the show talking about the three other selection finals happening this week. A handful of semi-finals are happening as well. Will any of them bring about the downfall of capitalism? Yes, that question is on-topic.

Australia Decides Gets AUSome Summary

Artist Selections: North Macedonia, Finland, Austria (1:52)
Netta's "Bassa Sababa" (7:02)
Australia Decides with Aussievision (9:30)
Upcoming Selections: Italy, United Kingdom, Montenegro (48:59)
How Many People are in Lithuania? (52:13)
Preliminary Rounds: Iceland, Ukraine, Sweden, Romania (53:50)

Episode 36: Logistics!

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 17:00:00 -0600

We have Eurovision semi-final logistics! Hosting logistics! France and Czechia selection logistics! It's the most wonderful time of year!

First, we do what little extrapolation we can based on how this year's Semi-Final Allocation draw shook out. Spoiler: a random draw created a random assortment. Now that we know how the field has divvied up, we can speculate on how hosting duties will be split among the four presenters. Oh no, four presenters again? Hmmm. We also learned that FYR Macedonia will be renamed North Macedonia eventually, Eurovision hasn't caught up with the news quite yet.

Going over this past weekend's selections, we do a deep dive into the exciting conclusion of France's Destination Eurovision. We have some opinions about some of the design choices made by eventual winner ~~Waluigi~~ Bilal Hassani, 36% of Frenchmen can't be wrong, right? As for the Czech Republic, we're not so sure the televoters got it right, as they broke the jury tie by awarding Lake Malawi the ticket to Tel Aviv. Over in Malta, The X Factor wrapped with Michela Pace winning the chance to represent her country at Eurovision.

Finally, after trying to get an accurate headcount of folks still competing in Lithuania, we take a look at the week ahead. Estonia's Eesti Laul, Sweden's Melodifestivalen, plus songs from Iceland, Denmark, Norway, and last year's winner Netta are on our calendar. Things are ramping up quick—trust the process!

Logistics! Summary

Semi-Final Allocation (1:41)
Eurovision 2019 Hosts (4:17)
North Macedonia (6:37)
Destination Eurovision Final (France) (7:29)
Czechia Selection (16:25)
Michela Pace wins Malta X Factor (19:58)
How many people are still in the Lithuania Marathon? (21:56)
This Week in Eurovision (24:54)

Links

Eesti Laul (Estonia) 2019 Playlist (Spotify)
Grace Jones Citroën ad

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 35: Molasses Flood

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 01:00:00 -0600

A flood of Eurovision updates this week, including Spain's selection and artists from Belgium, Netherlands, and San Marino.

After learning that there was such a thing as the Molasses Flood 100 years ago AND that it was not at all funny, we pick up right where we left off in last week's episode. Or, more like 15 minutes after we signed off because Belgium announced Eliot Vassamillet as their artist.

Fast forward to this past weekend, and we were ankle deep in selection news. Spain's Miki won the Operacion Triunfo Eurovision Gala with "La Venda" and will be bringing the party to Tel Aviv. San Marino revealed that Serhat will represent them for the second time while the Netherlands have selected Duncan Laurence as their act for Eurovision 2019.

Then we get knee deep in the oncoming flood of selection shows this coming weekend. We highlight the frontrunners in France's Destination Eurovision before taking a peek at this weekend's schedule of events. It's just going to get busier moving forward—I hope you're ready!

Belgium selects their artist (1:44)
Spain chooses Miki's "La Venda" (3:05)
Serhat for San Marino (7:19)
Duncan Laurence (aka Duncan de Moor) for Netherlands (10:22)
France's Destination Eurovision Final Preview (13:13)
Elsewhere this weekend (23:34)

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 34: Czech Out Those Triangles

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 01:00:00 -0600

We break down the entries in Czechia's Eurovision selection and talk triangles. Lots of triangles.

After we triangulate our opinions on the triangle-inspired logo for this year's competition, we also chat about the expected ticket sales date (hint: it's the end of this month). We do go on a bit of a tangent about a possible name change for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, but we're waiting on Greece to cosine that.

For our main topic, we go through the eight entries up for consideration in the Czechia's online selection. Although the AirBnB video concept left a lot to be desired, there may be some contenders to build on the momentum "Lie to Me" brought to Lisbon last year. We check in on France's Destination Eurovision semi-final before planning our TV schedule for the weekend.

Dare to Dream logo (1:28)
Tickets update (4:14)
Former Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia? (5:39)
Czechia Selection Rundown (8:02)
Destination Eurovision Semi-Final 1 (35:58)
TV This Week (40:22)

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 33: Welcome to 2019

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 01:00:00 -0600

Happy new year! Now that we can begin 2019 in earnest, we have our first Eurovision entry up for discussion.

This week's episode starts with some Eurovision in the Wild. Ben rocked a Swedish pop music quiz while Mike spotted Englebert Humperdinck (ESC 2012) on the way to Detroit. We also discuss the ESC 250 countdown and some of the surprises in this year's edition.

We also have some updates on how preparations for Tel Aviv 2019 are moving along. Florian Wieder's stage concept has been announced and the outdoor cats among us may be interested in some new accommodations that will be available for this year's Contest. We also confirm that Mike and Ben are not outdoor cats.

The main event is Albania's selection for Eurovision 2019. Although the selection process could have used some tightening up from a production standpoint (sorry, @ESCAlbania), we're optimistic about "Ktheju tokës" by Jonida Maliqi.

We're also optimistic about Cyprus, Spain, and San Marino's selections—unless the Human Ken Doll comes out to play. Selection season is upon us, and we are ready for the shows this weekend!

Eurovision in the Wild (1:17)
ESC250 (6:12)
Tel Aviv 2019 Updates (8:44)
Albania chooses "Ktheju tokës" by Jonida Maliqi (11:57)
Cyprus Update (21:19)
San Marino Trolls the Internet (23:46)
Spain Chooses 10 Finalists (27:46) Editor's note: Spain's final will be January 20
This weekend's calendar (29:08)

Links

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 32: Spotify Wrapping Up 2018

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 02:00:00 -0600

As we wrap up 2018, we get ready for Albania's Eurovision selection process, check in with Spain, and see how Spotify puts us on blast.

First up, the 57th edition of Festivali i Këngës will begin Thursday with three days of competition to determine the first Eurovision entry for 2019! Will the new format of the competition lead to better results for the country in next year's Contest?

Meanwhile, Spain's selection process will reveal the 17 songs up for consideration in their selection process. It's a little convoluted, but perhaps this method will allow the country to move up the scoreboard in Tel Aviv?

Now that you can find the Eurowhat on Spotify, we take a look at our own usage to talk about what music we've been listening to in 2018. Yes—we do listen to non-Eurovision music... at least Ben does.

Have a happy holiday, a fantastic new year, and we'll see you in January!

Spotify Wrapping Up 2018 Summary

Albania's Festivali i Këngës (1:30)
Spain's Operacion Triunfo Selection (4:58)
Spot us on Spotify (7:07)
Wrapping Up 2018 (8:50)

Episode 31: Eurovision Gifts for 2018

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 02:00:00 -0600

Are you looking for Eurovision gifts for friends or loved ones? We have suggestions.

As we get ready for the holidays and the end of 2018, there's plenty of excitement afoot for 2019. Armenia has made the first artist selection for next year's Eurovision Song Contest. Meanwhile, Latvia and Estonia have released their songs up for consideration for the competition. Could there be a winner in the mix or is it still too early to tell? (Spoiler: It's too early.)

We take a stop in Sweden to discuss Melfest preparations—is it February yet? Also, we gush over the Swedish Pop Music Industrial Complex thanks to an episode of Slate's Hit Parade podcast. These leads to a discussion of Abba, Benny and Bjorn's visit to UK's X Factor, and how that show's season finished with (or without?) Brenden Murray.

As if these early Eurovision gifts weren't enough, we have made our list of suggestions if you are stumped on what to get the Eurofan in your life. We talk books, video games, music collections, and the random delights if you let a search box do the work for you.

Join yule lads Ben and Mike for a festive edition of the Eurowhat!

Eurovision Gifts for 2018 Summary

Armenia Selects Srbuk (2:54)
Latvia and Estonia have songs (5:24)
Melfest Prep Begins (8:27)
Hit Parade (11:34)
The Ex-Eurovision Contestant Factor (13:44)
Eurovision Gifts for 2018 (16:53)

Episode 30: Dustin the Turkey Day

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 02:00:00 -0600

Happy Thanksgiving! We're talking turkey this week and that means either the country or Ireland's Dustin the Turkey. Guess what we chose.

Before we gobble up our main topic of Dustin the Turkey, we check in with how Eurovision planning is going in Tel Aviv. We have our final count of participants—42!—and an indication that tickets for the Contest could be up for grabs next month. We also recommend booking your lodging now if you are planning on going, otherwise you may find yourself camping in the suburbs of Tel Aviv.

Our favorite scrivener Jan Ola Sand is the star of This Week in Boycotts and he is not here for your political shenanigans. He's also most likely not a fan of being in a segment called This Week in Boycotts. Meanwhile on the X Factor UK, Brendan Murray is not a fan of the themes of movies or big bands when it comes to song selections. Will he be a fan of ABBA in next week's semi-final?

Also, Junior Eurovision is a thing.

As for our main topic, we travel back to 2008 when the people of Ireland decided that they should be represented at Eurovision by a somewhat surly puppet named Dustin the Turkey. His song "Irelande Douze Points" may live in infamy, but was it a good Eurovision entry?

Gather the family, scoop up some Irish stew (or goulash if you prefer), and enjoy this week's episode!

Dustin the Turkey Day Summary

42 Countries (1:37)
Eurovision Tickets (3:39)
Hotel Alternatives in Tel Aviv (5:32)
This Week in Boycotts: Jan Ola Sand (7:03)
The Ex-Eurovision Contestant Factor: Movies, Big Bands, and ABBA (8:36)
Junior Eurovision (13:36)
Dustin the Turkey (14:42)

Episode 29: Start Voting Now

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 02:00:00 -0600

How does the voting process work at Eurovision? If you think it's confusing now, the history of voting at the Contest has many surprises.

With mid-term elections happening this week in the US, we wanted to talk about how voting works when the consequences aren't as... consequential. One can dream, right?

Speaking of, we discuss next year's slogan "Dare to Dream" as well as other preparations currently taking place in Tel Aviv. If you're planning on going to the Contest, you may need to pack some Dramamine if you haven't booked your hotel yet.

There is some good news: the stage will be designed by a firm very familiar with Eurovision and other high profile music events, including the X Factor. We check in with how Brendan Murray is doing on the UK edition. ... Um... Dare to Dream...

Finally, we dive into the history of all the different methods used to distribute points at the Eurovision Song Contest. Point pools, age-defined juries, and potential 14-way ties are just some of the quirks that used to be part of the competition. We also explore how ties factor into the festivities.

United States, start learning about Eurovision voting now!

Start Voting Now Summary

Dare to Dream and other preparations (1:22)
The Ex-Eurovision Contestant Factor (8:23)
This week in boycotts (13:10)
Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest (1956-1974) (14:39)
The Usual Way (1975-2015) (20:05)
The Current Method (2016-Present) (25:30)
Tie-Breakers (30:30)

Episode 28: The Aftermarket

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 06:00:00 -0500

Eurovision provides an aftermarket for winners of singing competitions. Why don't we have that in America? Andy Dehnart from Reality Blurred joins us to discuss.

First up, we check in with the soon-to-be-final tally of countries participating in Eurovision 2019. We were at 40 once Armenia confirmed, but Bulgaria announced their withdrawal due to budget concerns. Speaking of budget concerns: Ukraine is still in the mix and will have a national final in February. Also having a national final: Australia! Fingers crossed for Aboriginal trip hop making its debut in Tel Aviv?

For our main topic, we discuss the tangled relationship between European singing competitions and Eurovision. The Voice and the X Factor have been viable feeder systems the last few years, with the United Kingdom's version of the latter becoming an end goal for some Eurovision alumni.((Brendan Murray is currently on the X Factor UK live shows.)) You could say that Eurovision works as a tournament of champions or an All-Stars edition of all the singing shows. But... why doesn't that exist in the US?

We lean on Andy Denhart's reality show expertise to help us answer some of these questions, as well as expose some of the more bizarre factoids we've all squirreled away. Sinbad on Star Search? Battle of the Reality Network Stars? Murder and sex scandals destroying franchises? This episode has it all!

The Aftermarket Summary

Andy Dehnart / @realityblurred (1:00)
Country count (3:21)
The European Singing Competition Industrial Complex Aftermarket (6:48)

Episode 27: Orchestras, Synthesizers, and Lulu

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 06:00:00 -0500

Orchestras used to be a requirement at the Eurovision Song Contest. In this episode, we take a look at the evolution of live (and "live") music at the competition.

We're getting close to having a final-ish guest list for the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest with 40* countries confirming their interest.((Armenia confirmed after we recorded.)) Yes, it's still a Facebook Maybe at this point and there are still three countries who have been invited but haven't responded. RETURN OUR CALLS, MOLDOVA.

After we check in with the Irish boycott situation and Cher's foray into Abba's catalog, we dive into the history of the music of the Eurovision Song Contest. Orchestras used to be a thing for the first 20 years of the competition. Once backing tracks were introduced in the mid-1970s (Hi again, Abba!), it was only a matter of time before Eurovision would catch up with a more modern pop sound. ... I mean, 25 years? We're now 20 years beyond that revolution and we're still encountering new sounds that run afoul of Eurovision's definition of a song. It's beyond fascinating.

Get ready for a teach-in and grab the moment to listen to this episode!

Orchestras, Synthesizers, and Lulu Summary

Eurovision guest list (1:19)
MyHeritage sponsorship (4:31)
Eurovision in Asia not a thing (7:07)
The next stage (9:10)
Gimme gimme gimme Cher's new album (13:19)
This week in boycotts (14:29)
Live music at Eurovision (15:35)

Episode 26: Tel Aviv and Other Headlines

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 06:00:00 -0500

Tel Aviv will be hosting Eurovision in 2019! I mean, we pretty much knew that, but now it's official!

On this episode of the Eurowhat Podcast, we check in with the venues around Tel Aviv that will be hosting the big events in May. Will the Tel Aviv Convention Center be big enough to hold the Eurovision fandom? How is the green room supposed to work? And are hotels already busting budgets for fans?

In case Tel Aviv doesn't work out as an option, details about Eurovision in Concert in Amsterdam have been revealed. Speaking of the Netherlands, we have the final recap of Glennis Grace's journey on America's Got Talent. Did she triumph through adversity, despite having to perform with Bebe Rexha?

Finland's UMK, Sweden's Melfest, and Iceland's Söngvakeppnin have been added to the calendar, while Ireland's songwriters have been murmuring about a possible boycott. We don't talk about Junior Eurovision—there's too much to discuss with the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships instead. Oh! And Ralph Siegel's birthday is coming up! Happy birthday, buddy!

So much to celebrate in this episode—download and join the fun!

Tel Aviv and Other Headlines Summary

Tel Aviv is the host city! (1:15)
Eurovision in Concert (5:46)
This is not an America's Got Talent podcast (7:12)((h/t to Who Weekly's This is not a Westworld Podcast))
Participants Update (10:22)
Ireland Boycott? (14:52)
This is definitely not a Junior Eurovision podcast (15:56)
Eurovision in the Wild: Rhythm Gymnastics edition (16:37)
Happy birthday, Ralph Siegel! (21:49)

Episode 25: Planning Your Eurovision Vacation

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 06:00:00 -0500

We know the Eurovision Song Contest will be in Israel((Maybe Tel Aviv, maybe Jerusalem)) in May, so now is the perfect time to start planning your vacation!

First, Mike and Ben go over some of the news items from the last couple weeks. Will there be boycotts of the 2019 Contest? Denmark doesn't think so, while Estonia and Spain are full speed ahead on their Eurovision plans. America's Got Sweden's rig from this year's Melfest while Madame Monsieur met their song's namesake. Also: ninjas. VIP ninjas.

After playing catchup, we offer our advice on how to make your way across the pond to attend next year's Eurovision. Do you have your passport yet? How can you get to Europe/Israel and back on the cheap? Where should I stay? HOW DO I PAY FOR THIS?!

Don't panic. Place your carryon in the overhead bin and listen to this week's episode of the EuroWhat to get a head start on your European vacation.

Planning Your Eurovision Vacation Summary

Eurovision in the Wild (0:00)
Getting Your Passport (12:01)
Getting to Europe and Beyond (14:54)
Options on Where to Stay (23:49)
How to Save Up for a European Vacation (29:16)
A few more things to consider (34:47)

Links

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 24: Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 06:00:00 -0500

Israel has had a fascinating history at the Eurovision Song Contest. Now that they will be hosting the 2019 edition, we've invited Noam Roth from EuroFreak to talk about his country's participation.

Now that the budget kerfuffle is behind us and Israel's broadcaster has paid its deposit to the EBU, we can officially start talking about the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest! Noam Roth—who reached out to us on our Facebook page—joins us this week to be a tour guide through Israel's 45 years of participation at Eurovision.

Along with the past, we look toward the future in terms of evaluating possible host cities Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Eilat. Will the chart-topping success of Netta's "Toy" bring a new sound to the 2019 Contest? And will the tweaks made to Israel's selection format for next year's artist and song continue the hot streak the country has experienced?

Israel's Notable Entries

Natati la khaiai (1974)
A-ba-na-bi (1978)
Hallelujah (1979)
Chai (1983)
Derech Ha-Melech (1989)
Diva (1998)
The Silence that Remains (2005)
Golden Boy (2015)

Links

Special Guest: Noam Roth.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 23: That’s How You AI a Song

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 05:00:00 -0500

We gave a computer more than 300 Eurovision Song Contest entries from the last decade and this is what it gave us. Songwriting might not be so hard after all.

The EuroWhat is back after a surprise hiatus with a jam-packed episode. First, Ben and Mike catch up on a month of random Eurovision sightings. Starbucks? NBC's daytime and nighttime schedule? Johnny Weir's Instagram? Yes, yes, and yaaaaaaaaaas. Have you encountered any Eurovision in the Wild? Let us know! Have a better name than "Eurovision in the Wild"? DEFINITELY let us know.

Then we switch gears to talk about the concept of songwriting. Britcoms have previously tackled this topic, specifically Father Ted's series two episode "A Song for Europe." Surely we could write a song better than "My Lovely Horse," right? I mean, we have just as much musical and songwriting talent as Dougal and Ted...

Nah, let's just have a computer take care of it. In our two-step process (songwriting may not have more than two steps, after all), we compiled the lyrics of more than 300 Eurovision entries and gave them to a bot to develop a predictive keyboard. We were hoping that the bot would spit out next year's winning entry, but the technology isn't quite there yet. But if you are looking for a song title generator, we've got you covered.

Plug in your headphones and enjoy this week's episode of AI's Got Talent?

That’s How You AI a Song Summary

Eurovision in the Wild (4:19)
Father Ted "A Song for Europe" (13:44)
An Intro to AI and Markov Chains (19:29)
Step 1: Compile It (The List is Really Long) (22:04)
Step 2: We Used Botnik (That's How We Wrote a Song) (25:34)
Eurovision Song Titles (29:23)
Next Week's Episode (33:16)

Songwriting Resources

Eurovision Song Title Keyboard: https://tinyurl.com/EurowhatTitleGenerator
Eurovision Song Lyrics Keyboard: https://tinyurl.com/EurowhatLyricsGenerator
How to Write a Song for the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC Insight)

Episode 22: World Cup Song Contest

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 05:00:00 -0500

Is there anything more EuroWhat? than the World Cup? How about World Cup songs performed by Eurovision Song Contest alumni? Yeah, that oughta do it...

This week, Ben and Mike take a listen to a handful of songs from 2018 that were created for the sole purpose of ~~cashing in~~ celebrating the quadrennial ~~soccer~~ futbol extravaganza that is the FIFA World Cup. Did you know that there is an official World Cup anthem as well as an official song? AND an official Coca-Cola song?

The music doesn't stop there. Countries that weren't even in the tournament added tracks to the playlist, with Eurovision alumni from Malta and Azerbaijan leading the charge. Host country Russia brought back their famous Grannies as well as the stellar voice of Polina Gagarina. Iceland's last act to qualify for a Eurovision final—2014's Pollapönk—rocks out to celebrate their homeland qualifying for the tournament for the first time. And a remix from one of 1979's most famous acts also promotes Moscow.

There's controversy, international intrigue, and a whole lotta flopping in this installment of the EuroWhat? podcast!((Oh, and congrats, France. We recorded this well before the Final.))

World Cup Song Contest Summary

Jason Derulo featuring(?) Ira Losco - "Colors" (4:46)
Arash, Pitbull, Blanco, Nyusha - "Goalie Goalie" (9:21)
Russia's Gonna Russia (13:07)
Pollapönk - "Boltann í punginn" (17:21)
Dschinghis Khan - "Moskau Moskau Moskau Moskau" (19:54)

World Cup Playlist

Episode 21: Putting the US in E_rovi_ion

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 05:00:00 -0500

Happy 4th of July! In honor of America's birthday, special guest Maura Johnston joins us to discuss the prospect of the US competing at Eurovision. Could we? Should we? If we somehow got an invite, who should represent whatever our sound is?

After introducing our guest, we catch up on some listener feedback and check in with Israel's status as Eurovision 2019 host. We also start filling out our dream cast for Will Ferrell's potential Eurovision project for Netflix.

For our main topic, we go over all the criteria to be a fully eligible member of the EBU and Eurovision festivities. Even though the US will never meet the current eligibility requirements, we speculate on who could possibly fly the flag at Eurovision. Is American pop in 2018 too egocentric? Are there any stars who are big enough (but not too big) to compete? And just how many failed talent shows have we watched over the last two decades?((A lot... like... a lot a lot.))

Will there be fireworks in this debate? Download this week's episode!

Putting the US in E_rovi_ion Summary

Listener Feedback (4:33)
Israel Update (5:30)
Will Ferrell's Netflix Project (6:31)
Eurovision Eligibility (10:22)
Should the US participate if given the chance? (14:10)
Who should represent the US at Eurovision? (19:05)

Episode 20: Bite The Apple

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 05:00:00 -0500

What if the Eurovision Song Contest were a secret plot to take over the world by forcing people to exercise daily to the winning song? On this week's episode, Ben, Mike, and special guest Josh Hehner explore this dystopia(?) in the 1980 film The Apple.

To celebrate his recent birthday, Ben took in a midnight screening of the 1980 not-quite-a-cult classic The Apple. In this movie, a Eurovision-like song contest is the starting point of an Adam-and-Eve-like story involving hippies, bedazzled beards, lyrics lacking subtlety, and a literal deus ex machina. If this sounds baffling, we invited fellow The Apple superfan Josh Hehner to help with bringing some sense to whatever the heck is going on.

Along with talking about the movie, we check in with what really happened in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, which the movie got sorta right? We discuss the practicality of National BIM Hour, surgery scheduling strategy, and how the movie might have predicted OrangeTheory. Finally, we make our picks for which songs from the soundtrack could make viable Eurovision entries and pour one out for the late, great Donna Summer.

Find your shiniest lamé outfit and add this week's EuroWhat to your exercise playlist.

Bite the Apple Summary

Welcome, Josh Hehner! (1:30)
The Apple synopsis (Spoilers, I guess?) (6:01)
The WorldVision Song Contest and the world of The Apple (13:42)
How's the soundtrack? (28:31)
What really happened in 1994? (35:28)
Could The Apple work at Eurovision? (37:48)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

Special Guest: Josh Hehner.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Links:

Episode 19: Eurovision Drag Race

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 05:00:00 -0500

Happy pride! The Eurovision off season can be a drag, so let's talk about drag at Eurovision!

First up, we check in with how Eurovision 2019 prep is going. Short version: it's been three weeks; cool yer beans. There have been a couple of Eurovision sightings in the US, including "Toy" in Times Square and San Marino(?) on the Billboard Charts(????).

As for the main topic, Ben and Mike take a tour of Eurovision's surprisingly brief drag history. Are there really only five entries? And where are the drag kings and other ways to play with gender? Join us as we spill allllll the tea.

Eurovision Drag Race Summary

News (1:02)
Drag at Eurovision (12:59)
Drag at the National Finals (33:23)
Next time on the EuroWhat? (40:01)

Videos

Ketil Stokkan - “Romeo” (Norway 1986)
Sestre - "Samo Ljubezen" (Slovenia 2002)
DQ - “Drama Queen” (Denmark 2007)
Verka Serduchka - "Dancing Lasha Tumbai" (Ukraine 2007)
Conchita Wurst - "Rise Like a Phoenix" (Austria 2014)
The Hungry Hearts - "Laika" (Norway NF 2016)
Lolita Zero - "Get Frighten" (Lithuania NF 2017)
Dismissed - "Hearts Align" (Sweden NF 2017)

Episode 18: Indistinct Pterodactyl Squawking

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 23 May 2018 05:00:00 -0500

The gang is back together to discuss the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final. Our special guest Dave Steeves shares his experience as an audience member in Lisbon and we all weigh in on the dubious honor of the Barbara Dex award.

This week we finally check in on the Grand Final results, including Austria's surprise jury win and the awkwardness of Israel's overall win. We look at the semi-final results and which countries just missed qualifying and which countries barely made it to Saturday's show. There were some surprise entries up for consideration for the Barbara Dex fashion faux pas award, but the right country... won? Mike and our guest Dave Steeves also share stories of what it was like in the arena during the semi-finals and the jury final before sharing summer plans for the podcast.

Episode Summary

Grand Final wrapup (2:24)
Rating the rankings (21:17)
The semi-final bubbles (26:17)
Barbara Dex award (32:33)
What were the stage setups like? (38:58)
How do the results work during the jury final? (43:35)
What did you think of the hostesses? (46:39)
Programming notes (47:27)

Episode 17: Grand Final Preview

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Sat, 12 May 2018 06:15:00 -0500

The Grand Final of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest takes place Saturday, May 12. That means this is our last chance for wild speculation. We break down what happened at the semi-finals before sharing our hopes and dreams for which countries we want to win.

This week we welcome Barbara Sawhill to the panel to chat about what happened in Tuesday and Thursday's live shows. We discuss just how wrong we were about our semi-final one predictions, particularly why some power house countries failed to advance. Although we did much better predicting the second semi-final, there were still some surprises Thursday.((Including Mike's audio failing to record, so he's sitting out this week.))

Twenty-six countries are left. Who's going to win? It's the most exciting episode of the year as we head toward one of the most exciting Eurovision Grand Final competitions in years.

Special Guest: Barbara Sawhill.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 16: Semi-Final Preview

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Mon, 07 May 2018 05:00:00 -0500

It's showtime! 37 countries will be competing in the Eurovision semi-final rounds Tuesday and Thursday. We share our thoughts on the rehearsals as well as suggestions for how to make your Eurovision party on Saturday a fun experience for everyone.

Our preview begins with an explanation of how Eurovision's complicated points system works. If you are hosting a Eurovision party this year, we offer recommendations on food, party games, and viewing options in case Logo's coverage isn't your thing. Then the crew talks about the semi-final rehearsals, including which acts are most improved, which have fizzled, and which we're most excited to see. It's Eurovision Week!

Semi-Final Preview Summary

How does Eurovision scoring work in the semi-final and Grand Final? (3:07)
Tips for Hosting a Eurovision party (18:43)
How to Watch the Eurovision Song Contest in the US (25:26)
Talking about the semi-final rehearsals (30:26)
Which countries are the most improved? (32:25)
Which countries have fizzled? (41:40)
Which entries are we most interested to see? (54:45)

Episode 15: Eurovision 2018 Auto Qualifiers

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 02 May 2018 05:00:00 -0500

As the Eurovision semi-finalist rehearsals are underway in Lisbon, the EuroWhat chats about the six auto qualifiers for this year's Grand Final. Will Portugal be a repeat winner? Will a Big Five country take the crown? Why so serious, Europe?

After a brief check-in with the first semi-final rehearsals—get well soon, Mikolas Josef!—we take a look at the jury who will provide half the Eurovision points. Could a hologram performance of "Waterloo" be in the near future? Also, before we talk about the Big Five, we speculate on whether France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom are at a disadvantage as auto qualifiers. Along with host country Portugal, we dive into the last six entries of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in preparation for the big events next week. GET EXCITED!

Summary

Rehearsals underway (2:00)
Judging the Juries (7:31)
ABBA reuniting! (10:10)
Is the Big Five at a competitive disadvantage as auto qualifiers? (12:07)
The last six Eurovision 2018 entries (21:06)
Programming notes (55:40)

Eurovision 2018 Auto Qualifiers

Portugal - Cláudia Pascoal - "O Jardim" (21:06)
Spain - Alfred and Amaia - "Tu Canción" (26:59)
United Kingdom - SuRie - "Storm" (33:20)
France - Madame Monsieur - "Mercy" (39:18)
Germany - Michael Schulte - "You Let Me Walk Alone" (45:06)
Italy - Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro - "Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente" (50:02)

Episode 14: Eurovision 2018 Semi-Final 2 Hodgepodge

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 05:00:00 -0500

The second half of the second semi-final of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest is a European hodgepodge of pop, rock, dance, ethno-jazz, and... whatever it is Montenegro's doing (never change). We break down the last nine semi-finalists in this week's podcast.

Eurovision 2018 Semi-Final 2 Hodgepodge Summary

Listener Feedback (3:03)
Eurovision: The Board Game (5:37)
Avicii (8:24)
LogoTV's Plan (10:02)
Traveling to Eurovision (11:22)

Second Semi-Final Second Half Running Order

Georgia - Ethno-Jazz Band Iriao - "For You" (16:16)
Poland - Gromee featuring Lukas Meijer - "Light Me Up" (23:04)
Malta - Christabelle - "Taboo" (28:46)
Hungary - AWS - "Viszlát Nyár" (35:46)
Latvia - Laura Rizzotto - "Funny Girl" (41:48)
Sweden - Benjamin Ingrosso - "Dance You Off" (49:11)
Montenegro - Vanja Radovanović - "Inje" (56:14)
Slovenia - Lea Sirk - "Hvala, Ne!" (1:02:51)
Ukraine - Melovin - "Under the Ladder" (1:08:00)

Episode 13: Eurovision 2018 Australia and Others

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 05:00:00 -0500

The first half of the second Eurovision semi-final is extra bubbly this year. Er... that should be bubble-y because there are few sure bets, even among perfect streak holders. We break down the field in this week's episode.

Eurovision 2018 Australia and Others Summary

Eurovision Album Drop (2:58)
Eurovision in Concert (9:18)
Second Semi-Final First Half (11:50)

Eurovision Second Semi-Final Running Order

Norway - Alexander Rybak - "That's How You Write a Song" (11:50)
Romania - The Humans - "Goodbye" (19:47)
Serbia - Sanja Ilic and Balkanika - "Nova Deca" (25:35)
San Marino - Jessica featuring Jenifer Brening - "Who We Are" (30:47)
Denmark - Rasmussen - "Higher Ground" (38:46)
Russia - Yuliya Samoylova - "I Won't Break" (43:26)
Moldova - DoReDos - "My Lucky Day" (49:54)
Netherlands - Waylon - "Outlaw in 'Em" (54:29)
Australia - Jessica Mauboy - "We Got Love" (59:38)

Episode 12: Bringing the Party

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 05:00:00 -0500

Before the big party in Lisbon next month, we chat about the London Eurovision Party and other pre-festival shindigs. We also finish up talking about the first semi-final, including our hopes and dreams for what we'll see on stage.

Bringing the Party Summary

London Eurovision Party (4:28)
Eurovision Song Contest First Semi-Final Second Half (11:19)

First Semi-Final Running Order

First Half (last week's episode)
North Macedonia - EyeCue - Lost & Found (11:19)
Croatia - Franka - Crazy (19:05)
Austria - Cesár Sampson - Nobody But You (26:14)
Greece - Yianna Terzi - Oneiro Mou (32:40)
Finland - Saara Aalto - Monsters (38:00)
Armenia - Sevak Khanaghyan - Qami (45.42)
Switzerland - ZiBBZ - Stones (51:22)
Ireland - Ryan O'Shaughnessy - Together (57:40)
Cyprus - Eleni Foureira - Fuego (1:05:35)

Episode 11: First!

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 05:00:00 -0500

This week we begin our analysis of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in earnest. First up: the first half of the first semi-final! Which entries are locks for advancing to the Grand Final? Who might get help from the running order? Why is Staples playing Eurovision songs from 2016?

First! Summary

Eurovision Viewing Parties (3:50)
Why is Staples playing "Sunlight"? (5:20)
Analyzing the semi-final (9:36)

First Semi-Final Running Order

Azerbaijan - Aisel - X My Heart (9:36)
Iceland - Ari Olafsson - Our Choice (14:48)
Albania - Eugent Bushpepa - Mall (19:52)
Belgium - SENNEK - A Matter of Time (27:16)
Czech Republic - Mikolas Josef - Lie to Me (31:27)
Lithuania - Ieva Zasimauskaitė - When We're Old (37:44)
Israel - Netta - Toy (43:29)
Belarus - Alekseev - Forever (47:44)
Estonia - Elina Netšajeva - La Forza (52:22)
Bulgaria - Equinox - Bones (58:09)

Episode 10: The Ones That Got Away (2018 Edition)

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 05:00:00 -0500

This week we have a mini episode where we remember some of the Eurovision national final entries that won't be making the trip to Lisbon. We also take a moment to remember Lys Assia, the original ESC chanteuse.

Episode Summary

Remembering Lys Assia (2:56)
Scandilove (Norway) (7:05)
Í Stormi (Iceland) (11:31)
Sunset (Latvia) (14:52)
Леля (Lelya) (Ukraine) (19:35)
Puerto Rico (Armenia) (22:07)

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 9: Dita Von Teese Curtain Monster

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 05:00:00 -0500

This week we chat about the last six entries for Eurovision 2018 with special guest Barbara Sawhill. Are we buying the hype for Israel's "Toy" as this year's favorite? Do we have "Bones" to pick with Bulgaria? What is up with Georgia's curtain lady?

Dita Von Teese Curtain Monster Summary

Eurovision in the Classroom (2:34)
Russia - Yuliya Samoylova - "I Won't Break" (9:04)
North Macedonia - Eye Cue - "Lost and Found" (18:17)
Israel - Netta - "Toy" (25:38)
Lithuania - Ieva Zasimauskaitė - "When We're Old" (39:26)
Bulgaria - Equinox - "Bones" (46:34)
Georgia - Iriao - "For You" (54.40)

Episode 8: Melfest Fest

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 05:00:00 -0500

Eurovision's 2018 selection season is approaching the end, which means one thing: Sweden's Melfest! Well, two things: lots of internal selections coming through the pipeline. No matter how you count it, we're in the homestretch!

Melfest Fest Summary

Eurovision hodgepodge
Azerbaijan - Aisel - "X MyHeart" (5:44)
Portugal - Cláudia Pascoal - "O Jardim" (10:42)
Belgium - SENNEK - "A Matter of Time" (14:06)
Croatia - Franka - "Crazy" (19:30)
Australia - Jessica Mauboy - "#WeGotLove" (24:21)
Austria - Cesár Sampson - "Nobody But You" (29:25)
Ireland - Ryan O'Shaughnessy - "Together" (34:07)
Norway - Alexander Rybak - "That's How You Write a Song" (39:29)
Sweden - Benjamin Ingrosso - "Dance You Off" (49:46)

Episode 7: Remember the Diaspora?

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 05:00:00 -0600

It's another whirlwind trip around Europe as we hopscotch through another set of Eurovision selections. We have outlaws, humans, monsters, and wannabe heroes in the mix, but will it be opera that takes the top prize in Lisbon?

Remember the Diaspora? Summary

Listener question: Who famous? (1:40)
Armenia - Sevak Khanagyan - "Qami" (5:55)
Romania - The Humans - "Goodbye" (12:30)
Cyprus - Eleni Foureira - "Fuego" (18:41)
Netherlands - Waylon - "Outlaw in 'Em" (23:51)
San Marino - Jessika (f/ Jenifer Brening) - "Who We Are" (30:58)
Finland - Saara Aalto - "Monsters" (35:25)
Estonia - Elina Netšajeva - La Forza (42:31)
Poland - Gromee feat. Lukas Meijer - Light Me Up (47:12)
Iceland - Ari Olaffson - “Our Choice” (52:03)

Episode 6: Stupor Saturday

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 05:00:00 -0600

The second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest started filling up this past week as nine countries made their selections. There are elevated pianos, Moldovan wedding hijinks, and baffled rockers—it must be the height of selection season!

Stupor Saturday Summary

Catching up with Ben (1:56)
Serbia (7:12)
Germany (11:23)
Moldova (15:14)
Ukraine (21:31)
Slovenia (26:05)
Latvia (31:13)
Hungary (36:48)

Episode 5: Get Excited

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 12:00:00 -0600

Three more songs have joined the 2018 Eurovision field—two from national selections and one from... just showing up? San Marino has a business proposition for you while Israel poses a challenge to the concept of live vocals. Plus, we get ready for the onslaught of Stupor Saturday. Get excited!

Get Excited Summary

Greece - Yianna Terzi - "Oneiro Mou" (1:36)
Belarus - Alekseev - "Forever" (8:03)
Montenegro - Vanja Radovanović - "Inje" (14:24)
Artist selections: North Macedonia, Croatia, Israel (19:27)
San Marino's investment opportunity (27:01)
Stupor Saturday prep! (35:47)

Episode 4: The Who? and the What? Now!

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 05:00:00 -0600

Lindsey Weber from the Who Weekly podcast stops by to chat about how the Olympics are the perfect world event to prep for Eurovision before getting into the songs selected for Malta, Switzerland, the UK, Denmark, and Italy.

The Who? and the What? Now! Summary

Olympics and Eurovision (1:06)
Questions from Lindsey Weber (9:49)
Malta: Christabelle Borg "Taboo" (19:04)
Switzerland: ZiBBZ "Stones" (27:41)
United Kingdom: SuRie "Storms" (31:10)
Denmark: Rasmussen "Higher Ground" (38:03)
Italy: Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro "Non mi avete fatto niente" (41:31)
Upcoming Selections (47:55)

Links

Special Guest: Lindsey Weber.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

You ‘kay?

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 08:00:00 -0600

This week, Ben and Mike do a deep dive into the United Kingdom's Eurovision selection process and take a look at why the country has struggled for so long at the Contest. Plus, a roundup of headlines from the last week.

Links

Ryan O'Shaughnessy's US Tour — https://ryanosmusic.com/pages/show-dates

Malta's entry: "Taboo" by Christabelle — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyrC8jJ8eb8

Switzerland's entry: "Stones" by ZiBBZ — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXOlPGnkZFY

The United Kingdom's contestants:

Gwenno "Tir Ha Mor" — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rCeygWexyA

CHVRCHES "Get Out" — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHUKKrcXfJs

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 3: Messy, Messy

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 08:00:00 -0600

We have songs to talk about! France, Czechia, and Spain have selected and boy do we have opinions. Russia and Ukraine continue their Eurovision dramarama. Oh, and the semi-finals have been allocated.

Messy, Messy Summary

Semi-Final Allocation
France selects "Mercy" by Madame Monsieur
Czechia selects "Lie to Me" by Mikolas Josef
Spain selects "Tu canción" by Alfred & Amaia
Russia confirms Yuilia Samoylova
North Macedonia is looking for songs
Upcoming selection processes

The EuroWhat? Mini Week of January 22, 2018

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 05:00:00 -0600

This week is a mini-episode of the EuroWhat with minor updates about what's happening in Eurovision selection season. We'll be hopscotching from Armenia to France, Belarus to Serbia, and places in between.

Armenia field complete (Playlist)
Belarus shenanigans (with news from Eurovoix)
Denmark songs
France final set (Finalist Playlist)
Hungary (Heat 1)
Lithuania
Romania (Heat 1)
Serbia
What’s on TV this weekend?
Spotify Playlist

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 2: What is “Europe”?

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 05:00:00 -0600

On this week's episode of the EuroWhat Podcast we discuss what "Europe" is (note the air quotes), get acquainted with this year's hostesses, get caught up with some of the selection processes and look forward to others.

What is “Europe”? Summary

What is Europe? (1:36)
Eurovision hosts (6:33) - Announcement from Eurovision.tv
Selection Updates (11:30)
Lithuania
Switzerland
Czech Republic
Belarus - Shenanigans reported by Wiwiblogs
Norway
Armenia
What selections are we looking forward to? (40:05)

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 1: Welcome to 2018

eurowhatpodcast@gmail.com (The EuroWhat? Podcast) — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 08:00:00 -0600

We're podcasting, y'all! Welcome to the EuroWhat?

In our opening episode of The EuroWhat? podcast, our Eurovision News and Entertainment Research Division Specialists introduce themselves to our listening audience before sharing their first impressions of Albania's entry.

Then the crew hopscotches around Europe (and Australia) to chat about the seven artists already announced from internal selections. Who do we like? Who are we concerned about? Will there be jazz?

Intro 0:00
Who are you? What are you doing here? 3:02
Albania First Impressions 11:02
Internally Selected Artists 23:02
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belgium
- Finland
- Georgia
- Netherlands

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 301: BOOM Bangaranga

BOOM Bangaranga Summary

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Episode 300: Tu cara me suena

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Episode 299: Going Dutch

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Episode 298: Hvala, Ne

Hvala, Ne Summary

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Episode 297: Icy Reception

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Episode 296: All Kinds of Everything

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Episode 295: Eye-Catching

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Episode 294: Radio Friendly

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Episode 293: Kehitellä

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Episode 292: Marathon

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Episode 291: Dora Explorer

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Episode 290: Baltic Buddies

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Episode 289: Rough

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Episode 288: Bad Lucksembourg

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Episode 287: Folklore & Rock & Roll

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Episode 286: Discomfort

Dr. Zoë Jay

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Episode 285: Kerflooey

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Episode 284: "Joke" Entries

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Episode 283: Down Under

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Episode 282: Momentum

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Episode 281: Responsive

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Episode 280: Weird Little Dudes