October 2024 - Page 3 of 11

North Macedonia Will Not Participate in Eurovision 2025

October 26, 2024October 30, 2024 by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); North Macedonia has confirmed its absence from Eurovision 2025, set to take place in Basel, Switzerland. This decision follows the country's withdrawal from the competition in 2023 due to economic difficulties. North Macedonia will miss Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, likely due to financial challenges and unseccessful results in previous years. This marks the third consecutive year the Balkan nation will be absent from the competition. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); North Macedonia's national broadcaster, MRT, has released its budget agenda for 2025, leaving Eurovision without funding for another year. This means the country will not participate for the third year in a row. The country's last Eurovision appearance was in 2022, when singer Andrea represented North Macedonia, finishing 11th in the semi-final. Subsequently, ahead of Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool, UK, the Macedonian broadcaster announced that due to economic reasons, the country would not participate in Eurovision for the first time since 2003. In the previous year, MRT allocated 1.5...

The Mental Strain at Eurovision: Singers Reveal the Behind-the-Scenes Mental Challenges

October 26, 2024February 26, 2025 by Roy Moreno Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Amid expected changes backstage at Eurovision 2025 and the Eurovision 2024 events in Malmö, past contestants share their experiences of mental challenges during the competition. The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden, will be remembered not only for its dramatic moments, political controversies, and widespread statements from artists but also as a competition that changed how we, the fans, and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) view the contestants and the immense mental pressure they face. Following the dramatic disqualification of Dutch representative Joost Klein after an incident with a production photographer and his subsequent refusal to return for Eurovision 2025, despite an offer from the Dutch national broadcaster, various past Eurovision contestants have shared their experiences about the intense pressure of participating in Eurovision and how mental health plays a crucial role in their well-being during the competition. So, are the expected changes for Eurovision 2025 indeed appropriate? It seems that the EBU has taken a step...

Against All Odds: Referendum May Derail Eurovision 2025 Funding in Basel

October 26, 2024November 30, 2024 by Tal Dahan Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Despite recent reports of low public response, Basel managed to collect more than twice the required signatures to force a referendum against hosting Eurovision. How will this affect the competition's hosting? In July, it was reported that the Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland (EDU/UDF) announced it would demand referendums against funding Eurovision 2025 by municipalities or cantons comprising local government in Switzerland. In September, we reported on the party's preparations to collect signatures for a referendum, and about two weeks ago, it was reported that public response to sign the petition was very low. To force a referendum on the issue, the Federal Democratic Union party had to reach 2,000 signatures by the end of October. The public in the Basel-Stadt canton (one of the 26 states that make up Switzerland, each with its own borders, army, and currency) surprised everyone, and despite the goal seeming distant, no less than 4,203 residents signed the petition! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle...

The Netherlands: Who Will Represent the Country at Eurovision 2025?

October 25, 2024October 26, 2024 by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); After Joost Klein's withdrawal from the race, many Dutch artists have begun to express interest in representing the Netherlands at Eurovision 2025. Who are they? And which of them are connected to the Eurovision world? In a dramatic announcement a few days ago, Dutch television network AVROTROS declared that after much deliberation and discussion, it was decided that the Netherlands will participate in Eurovision 2025, to be held in Basel, Switzerland. Initially, even before the announcement, the television network offered last year's representative, Joost Klein, to return and represent the Netherlands again this year, as he was disqualified just hours before the Eurovision 2024 final in Malmö. Joost declined the network's offer, paving the way for other artists to represent the Netherlands at Eurovision. So, who are the artists rumored to be sending a song to Eurovision? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Bodine Monet Bodine Monet, a Dutch singer known for participating in The Voice...

Spain’s Musical Journey and the Challenges of the Catalan Language at Eurovision

October 25, 2024October 26, 2024 by Noy Yehoyada Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Catalan Language at Eurovision: A Journey of Experimentation and Challenges in the International Music Competition - From Spain's Victory Year, Through the Small Principality of Andorra, to New Opportunities at the Benidorm Fest. The Eurovision Song Contest is an excellent platform to showcase diverse cultures in many languages. Spain, during its more than sixty years of participation, has taken few risks in terms of language, using only Spanish in most of its songs. The only exceptions were the use of English in the song "Say Yay!" performed by Barei in Sweden in 2016 and the inclusion of some French with José Vélez in 1978 in his song "Bailemos un vals", but nothing beyond that. Over the years, there have been attempts to bring Catalan or Galician to Eurovision, but for various reasons, they have not succeeded. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Suppression of Catalan Culture in Spain Spain is not as homogeneous a country as commonly thought, and...

France: Louane responds to rumors about representing the country in Eurovision 2025

October 25, 2024October 26, 2024 by Avi Zaikaner Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); After weeks of speculation that French singer Louane might represent France in Eurovision 2025, the artist responds to the rumors with a definitive answer regarding her potential participation in the competition. After the French national broadcaster France TV confirmed that France will participate in Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, rumors began to surface about the identity of the singer who would represent the country. The French singer Louane, one of the hottest names in the French music industry in recent years, sparked much speculation among Eurovision fans and raised hopes that she might represent the nation. Now, the artist is responding to the question of whether she will represent France in Eurovision 2025. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The 27-year-old singer released a new album titled "Solo" today (Friday). Many Eurovision fans believed that a song from this album would be chosen for her to represent France at Eurovision. Additionally, the singer postponed all her performances scheduled for April and...

The Netherlands: AVROTROS CEO Reveals Changes for Eurovision 2025

October 25, 2024October 26, 2024 by Roy Moreno Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Following the events at Eurovision 2024 and after confirming participation in Eurovision 2025, the Dutch national broadcaster reveals new details about what transpired in Malmö and how it will affect the next competition. Following the dramatic announcement this week, in which Dutch national broadcaster AVROTROS confirmed the Netherlands' participation in Eurovision 2025 and Joost Klein's decision not to participate again, the broadcaster officially announced additional details for the upcoming competition in Basel. During an interview, broadcaster general director Taco Zimmermann confirmed that Claudia van der Pas, who served as assistant head of delegation at Eurovision 2024 and 2023, will serve as the new head of delegation for the Netherlands in the upcoming contest. Zimmermann expressed confidence in Claudia's abilities, saying: "She knows the ropes. She has experienced it several times. So that gives confidence. And Claudia has done well for years. And now we have given her the confidence to become the boss herself." Van der Pas will...

Italy: Eurovision 2018 Representative Criticizes Sanremo Festival

October 24, 2024 by Avi Zaikaner Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Fabrizio Moro, who finished fifth in Eurovision 2018, harshly criticizes the Sanremo Festival, through which Italy's representative for Eurovision 2025 is expected to be chosen this year. Fabrizio Moro, who represented Italy at Eurovision 2018 in Lisbon alongside Ermal Meta and finished fifth with the song "Non mi avete fatto niente," shares his criticism and thoughts regarding the Sanremo Festival 2025 in an interview ahead of the concert he will participate in, "Per la pace" (translated: "Life Against War"). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Criticism of the Sanremo Festival The Sanremo Festival 2025, set to take place this coming February, is expected to choose Italy's representative and song for Eurovision 2025 in Basel. Fabrizio was selected in the same way with his duo partner Ermal Meta when they won the Sanremo Festival 2018 and were sent to Portugal to represent Italy, where they finished fifth. Now, six years later, he expresses sharp criticism of the Sanremo Festival, particularly during its...

Marcus & Martinus File Complaint Against Norwegian Newspaper for Nazi Comparison

October 24, 2024October 24, 2024 by Noy Yehoyada Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Marcus & Martinus, who represented Sweden in Eurovision 2024, have filed a complaint with the Norwegian Press Complaints Commission following a degrading comparison to Norway's pro-Nazi Prime Minister from World War II. After previously discussing the hostile treatment they received from Norwegian media, Norwegian twins Marcus & Martinus decided to file a complaint against the Norwegian newspaper "Dagbladet". This action comes after a writer for the newspaper compared them to Norway's Nazi leader from the World War II era, describing the duo's "betrayal" of Norway by representing Sweden in the Eurovision 2024 competition. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Offensive Comparison Draws Parallels to Wartime Traitor In a new turn of events, the duo decided to file a complaint with the Norwegian Press Complaints Commission against Dagbladet. On May 7, just before the start of Eurovision, journalist Ralf Loftstad published an opinion piece on 15 songs competing in the contest. In the article, Loftstad wrote a paragraph about Marcus & Martinus,...

Ireland: Will There Be Changes to the Eurovision National Selection Format?

October 24, 2024October 24, 2024 by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); After criticism from many who demanded moving the Eurovision national selection from the stage of "The Late Late Show" to a larger and more appropriate stage, the head of the Irish delegation to Eurovision discusses the obstacles and explains why this hasn't happened yet. Following the confirmation by Michael Kealy, head of the Irish delegation to Eurovision, that Ireland's national selection for Eurovision 2025 will again take place as part of "The Late Late Show", significant criticism was heard from contest enthusiasts and former Eurovision contestants regarding the decision. "The Late Late Show" has broadcast the national selection for the past three years, as well as from 2006-2007 and 2009 to 2015. Now, Kealy addresses the claims and clarifies his desire to separate the selection from the talk show, discussing the obstacles and explaining why this hasn't happened yet. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Sound Issues and Performance Limitations Highlighted by Past Contestants Erica-Cody, who competed last year in the...