A year after Eurovision fans descended on Liverpool for a hugely successful event held on behalf of Ukraine, the annual song contest is heading to Sweden.
Singer Olly Alexander will represent the UK with his song Dizzy, released on streaming services on Friday.
Alexander would later join BBC Radio 2’s Zoe Ball to officially launch the song and her Eurovision campaign.
Here’s everything you need to know about Eurovision ahead of the 2024 contest.
What is the Eurovision Song Contest and which countries participate?
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual televised songwriting competition organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
Songs must be original and last no more than three minutes. Lead vocals must be performed live and no more than six singers and dancers may take the stage during the performance.
Most Eurovision countries are European. But Australia is taking part a year after being invited to send an act to the 2015 contest, as part of Eurovision’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
However, Australia cannot accommodate. If he ever won, he would have to designate a European nation to organize the competition on his behalf.
Other non-European countries, including Israel, are allowed to participate because they are members of the EBU.
Where is the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 taking place?
She became the first woman to win the competition twice, having triumphed in 2012 with Euphoria.
This year is the third time that Malmö has hosted Eurovision, and the seventh time in Sweden.
As 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of Swedish band Abba’s first Eurovision victory with Waterloo, there has been speculation about the group’s potential involvement.
When will the 2024 final take place and how can I watch it?
The grand final will take place at the Malmo Arena on Saturday May 11.
The semi-finals will take place on Tuesday May 7 and Thursday May 9.
Who is British entrant Olly Alexander and what is his song called?
Alexander is already known throughout Europe for his hits such as Desire, King and If You’re Over Me.
He is also a Bafta nominated actor, having played the lead role in Channel 4’s hard-hitting AIDS drama It’s A Sin.
Her Eurovision entry, Dizzy, was co-written with Danny L Harle.
Why is Israel’s participation in Eurovision controversial?
According to the Israel Hayom newspaper, the song refers to the victims of the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, with lyrics such as: “They were all good children, every single one of them. »
The competition rules prohibit political messages, in a gesture of neutrality.
The EBU, which organizes Eurovision, said it was evaluating the song.
Separately, musicians from a number of participating countries called for the suspension of Israel over the war in Gaza.
In December, the Icelandic Association of Composers and Lyricists issued a statement saying that Israel’s military action made its participation incompatible with an event “characterized by joy and optimism.”
Eurovision organizers have so far resisted calls to exclude Israel, saying the situations in Ukraine and Gaza are different.
How does the vote take place?
The semi-finals are decided entirely by a public vote of the competing countries and the people of the rest of the world.
For the final, each qualified country assigns two sets of scores: one by a jury of experts and one by fans.
Each of their 10 favorite songs receives points, but they cannot vote for their own country’s song.
Their favorite group receives 12 points, their second favorite ten points, their third choice eight points, then seven points, and so on, down to one point for their tenth favorite.
Eurovision was one of the first televised competitions to allow viewers to vote.
Fans in Austria, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom began voting by telephone in 1997.
The rest of the world was allowed to vote in 2023, with points awarded to the world’s 10 most popular songs.
How much does Eurovision cost?
Each participating broadcaster pays an entry fee to the EBU. France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom pay the most, although the BBC does not make its contribution public.
BBC News has learned that other countries have been asked to pay more after Russia’s suspension. As a result, three countries withdrew from the 2023 competition.
Organizing the 2023 event in Liverpool is thought to have cost the BBC between £8 million and £17 million. The UK government has pledged £10m to cover operational costs, while Liverpool local authority has committed £4m.
Related web links
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
A year after Eurovision fans descended on Liverpool for a hugely successful event held on behalf of Ukraine, the annual song contest is heading to Sweden.
Singer Olly Alexander will represent the UK with his song Dizzy, released on streaming services on Friday.
Alexander would later join BBC Radio 2’s Zoe Ball to officially launch the song and her Eurovision campaign.
Here’s everything you need to know about Eurovision ahead of the 2024 contest.
What is the Eurovision Song Contest and which countries participate?
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual televised songwriting competition organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
Songs must be original and last no more than three minutes. Lead vocals must be performed live and no more than six singers and dancers may take the stage during the performance.
Most Eurovision countries are European. But Australia is taking part a year after being invited to send an act to the 2015 contest, as part of Eurovision’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
However, Australia cannot accommodate. If he ever won, he would have to designate a European nation to organize the competition on his behalf.
Other non-European countries, including Israel, are allowed to participate because they are members of the EBU.
Where is the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 taking place?
She became the first woman to win the competition twice, having triumphed in 2012 with Euphoria.
This year is the third time that Malmö has hosted Eurovision, and the seventh time in Sweden.
As 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of Swedish band Abba’s first Eurovision victory with Waterloo, there has been speculation about the group’s potential involvement.
When will the 2024 final take place and how can I watch it?
The grand final will take place at the Malmo Arena on Saturday May 11.
The semi-finals will take place on Tuesday May 7 and Thursday May 9.
Who is British entrant Olly Alexander and what is his song called?
Alexander is already known throughout Europe for his hits such as Desire, King and If You’re Over Me.
He is also a Bafta nominated actor, having played the lead role in Channel 4’s hard-hitting AIDS drama It’s A Sin.
Her Eurovision entry, Dizzy, was co-written with Danny L Harle.
Why is Israel’s participation in Eurovision controversial?
According to the Israel Hayom newspaper, the song refers to the victims of the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, with lyrics such as: “They were all good children, every single one of them. »
The competition rules prohibit political messages, in a gesture of neutrality.
The EBU, which organizes Eurovision, said it was evaluating the song.
Separately, musicians from a number of participating countries called for the suspension of Israel over the war in Gaza.
In December, the Icelandic Association of Composers and Lyricists issued a statement saying that Israel’s military action made its participation incompatible with an event “characterized by joy and optimism.”
Eurovision organizers have so far resisted calls to exclude Israel, saying the situations in Ukraine and Gaza are different.
How does the vote take place?
The semi-finals are decided entirely by a public vote of the competing countries and the people of the rest of the world.
For the final, each qualified country assigns two sets of scores: one by a jury of experts and one by fans.
Each of their 10 favorite songs receives points, but they cannot vote for their own country’s song.
Their favorite group receives 12 points, their second favorite ten points, their third choice eight points, then seven points, and so on, down to one point for their tenth favorite.
Eurovision was one of the first televised competitions to allow viewers to vote.
Fans in Austria, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom began voting by telephone in 1997.
The rest of the world was allowed to vote in 2023, with points awarded to the world’s 10 most popular songs.
How much does Eurovision cost?
Each participating broadcaster pays an entry fee to the EBU. France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom pay the most, although the BBC does not make its contribution public.
BBC News has learned that other countries have been asked to pay more after Russia’s suspension. As a result, three countries withdrew from the 2023 competition.
Organizing the 2023 event in Liverpool is thought to have cost the BBC between £8 million and £17 million. The UK government has pledged £10m to cover operational costs, while Liverpool local authority has committed £4m.
Related web links
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.