What is the Eurovision Song Contest?
Started way back in 1956 as a way of drawing a fractured Europe back together with the healing power of music, the Eurovision Song Contest, or Concours Eurovision de la Chanson – the contest is telecast in both English and French – is open to all active members of the European Broadcasting Union, which oversees the competition.
Each country is permitted to submit one three-minute song to the contest – a song which is selected by a variety of means, usually a winner-takes-all competition such as Sweden’s renowned Melodifestivalen – which their selected entrant performs in one of two semi-finals in the hopes of making it to the glittering grand final.
Only six countries have direct entry into the grand final:
- The Big Five who fund most of the contest – UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain
- The host country (which is the winner of the previous year’s contest)
In a change for 2024, the grand final six will now perform in full in the semi-final in which their countries are voting; so Germany, Sweden and the UK will perform in semifinal one while France, Italy and Spain will perform in the second semifinal.
The winner is chosen by a 50/50 mix of viewer votes (you cannot vote for your own country and for 2024, voting will now be permitted from the start of the grand final) and a jury of music industry professionals in each country, a method which was chosen to counter the alleged skewing of votes based on political and/or cultural lines when voting was purely the preserve of viewers at home.
Past winners include, of course, ABBA in 1974 with “Waterloo” and Celine Dion who won for Switzerland in 1988 with “Ne partez pas sans moi”.Above all though, the Eurovision Song Contest is bright, over the top and deliciously camp, a celebration of music, inclusiveness and togetherness that draws annual viewing figures in the hundreds of millions.
This year’s event
The Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will take place in the Malmö Arena on Saturday 11 May with Semi-Finals on Tuesday 7 and Thursday 9 May. The 68th Eurovision Song Contest will be hosted by a Hollywood star and an iconic Eurovision-veteran; Malin Åkerman and Petra Mede will together lead the three broadcasts, live from Malmö Arena. Swedish broadcaster SVT, together with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), will organise the Contest thanks to Loreen’s historic win in Liverpool in 2023. (courtesy and (c) Eurovision.tv)
AUSTRALIA: “One Milkali (One Blood)” by Electric Fields
(via Shutterstock)
THE ARTIST
If your voice is described as “taking soul to the stratosphere”, then you can be reasonably well assured that your decision to form what has become a highly successful musical duo was a good one.
Perhaps even a great one.
Certainly the owner of that storied voice, Zaachariaha Fielding, and their partner in abundant musical creativity, music producer and composer Michael Ross have done very nicely as Electric Fields, Australia’s representative to the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.
Bringing together modern electro-soul with Indigenous culture – the duo’s song, “One Milkali (One Blood)” is sung in both English and Yankunytjatjara, an Aboriginal language spoken by the Anangu people from northwest South Australia – Electric Fields formed in 2015 following each member’s auditions for The X Factor Australia in 2011 (Fielding) and 2013 (Michael Ross).
Their first EP Inma released in 2016, its drawn drawn from a cultural ceremony of the Anangu people, described by Daniel Browning as co-created music that “is emotionally moving – the beauty and sheer power of their musicality is breathtaking.”
They have since performed far and wide, won a slew of awards and see themselves as “two feminine brothers” who “bypass the barriers”, making them perfect entrants for a contest that celebrates those who dare to challenge orthodoxy.
(courtesy offical Facebook page)
THE SONG
“One Milkali (One Blood)” was inspired by an artwork created by Fielding’s father Robert called Milkali Kutju, and while “Milkali blood is a very sensitive word and can be used offensively, however, in this painting Milkali kutju means one blood.”
Lyrically rich, both in clever allusions – “spill the tea on reality and the 0.618” refers to the “golden ratio” which it’s “believed to result in aesthetically pleasing compositions and structures” – and unifying calls to togetherness of the most profound kind, the song is an uplifting dancefest of joyous invocation and celebration.
Honestly, it’s impossibly to hear this slow burner of a song, which really grabs you on the second or third listen and then simply doesn’t let go, and not feel swept top into it.
It should make for an astoundingly listenable and watchable performance, bolstered by Zaachariaha’s own artwork, which he assured ABC radio (Australia’s national broadcaster), would feature in their performance since “It’s landscape, it’s a part of Australia”.
Look for this to do very well indeed in a context that thrives on upbeat musical numbers that seize the soul and inspire the mind …
AZERBAIJAN: “Özünlə Apar” by FAHREE feat. Ilkin Dovlatov
(via Shutterstock)
THE ARTIST
If you’re going to launch into a highly creative career, it’s not a bad idea to have a family steeped in artistic pursuits behind you.
FAHREE, a lawyer who hails from Azerbaijan’s capital Baku, has a father who’s a “passionate jazz drummer” and a grandfather who’s a “respected actor”, embedding him perfectly into the cultural life of the country he will represent in May on the world stage.
The musical artist rediscovered his childhood dream during the long days of COVID lockdowns, debuting his pandemic-impelled musical efforts in 2022 which has so far led to four singles hitting the charts.
His musical partner for Eurovision is İlkin Dövlətov who also participated for Azerbaijani selection this year alongside FAHREE, made his mark after “finishing in second place on the first season of Səs Azərbaycan. Doğma Nəğmələr (The Voice of Azerbaijan: Native Songs).” (Thanks to Eurovoix for the extra bio info.)
Together can they equal Azerbaijan’s 2011 win in the contest, which happened, it should be noted, in just their fourth year competing in the event?
(courtesy Eurovision.tv)
THE SONG
Sung in both in English and Azerbaijani – it[s the first time the country has not had its entry sung entirely in English – “Özünlə Apar” (Take it with you) is an empoweringly rich mid-tempo song anchored by FAHREE’s rich vocals and Dövlətov’s beautiful resonant mugham singing.
Together these two performers bring forth an arresting sound that is bound to strike a chord with audiences; however, while the song is undoubtedly beautiful, it’s doesn’t make an emphatic announcement of its presence.
Much of its success will come to the stage performance, although with the song, lovely though it is, never really hitting any sort of indelibly memorable stride, that may not necessarily be enough.
It’s an even-way bet whether Azerbaijan will be voted as one of the ten from semi final one into the grand final – it has a pretty impressive, being voted in every year except 2018 – but the odds are greater than not that they will, even if this is not the song to recreate the glories of 2011.
CROATIA: “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” by Baby Lasagna
(via Shutterstock)
THE ARTIST
Hailing from Umag, a gorgeous seaside town on Croatia’s Istrian peninsula, Baby Lasgana takes the prize for the best name so far in the context for 2024.
An audacious claim but then singer-songwriter-music producer Marko Purišić seems to be the kind of artist who wants to be remembered and having a memorably arresting artistic moniker is one of the ways to do it.
As is his music, of course; serving as the guitarist for Croatian rock band Manntra from 2011 to 2016 and then again from 2018 to 2022, Purišić went solo in 2023, adopting the name Baby Lasagna so he could, in the words of his admirably brief Eurovision bio, compose the kind of songs he wanted to release”.
The songs he has released, beginning with “IG Boy” in 2023″, feature what the bio terms “humorous and casual lyrics” but that doesn’t mean a lack of serious intent.
In fact, Baby Lasagna is a lyrical proponent for the environment with his mission being “to entertain you while drawing attention to the social and spiritual challenges of individuals and society.”.
Lofty goals indeed – so does his entry for this year’s contest measure to the breathlessly impressive ideals of his bio?
(courtesy official Baby Lasagna YouTube channel)
THE SONG
Absolutely it does.
The playfully-named “Rim Tim Tagi Dim”, the title of which harkens back to mischievously silly names of Eurovision entries of old, pulsates with crackling rock energy, and embodies the sort of sound and feel that made last year’s second placegetter, “Cha Cha Cha” by Finland’s Käärijä.
The good news is that this isn’t some sort of derivative “I can do that sound too” effort, although it’s not that unusual for entries in one year to reflect the prevailing sounds of the previous year.
Thankfully, Baby Lasagna’s song has a distinctive and original sound of its own, a super catchy romp that’s sound silly on first listen (“Gonna miss you all, but mostly the cat”) but which is all about someone leaving the only home they’ve ever known to pursue their long-held dreams in the big city.
Look for this to do brilliantly well with the musical bridge a ton of fun that will allow the artist and his team to make some very cool visual and choreographic statements on stage.
So successful do we see this song being that it has every chance in the world of winning the whole damn contest …
CYPRUS: “Liar” by Silia Kapsis
(via Shutterstock)
THE ARTIST
Australia has a second entrant in this year’s contest, although fear not, it’s not an attempt to double the country’s chances.
Silia Kapsis, a singer-dancer-actress of Cypriot and Greek descent who hails from Sydney, is representing Cyprus, building on her time as the lead singer for the Australian Youth Performing Arts Company (AYPAC) and the release of a number of singles including her debut “Who Am I?”, released in 2022 (which she wrote, musical late bloomers be warned, at the tender age of just 12).
She’s not only scoring goals musically with her Eurovision bio detailing some pretty impressive achievements for someone who’s just 17.
Silia has worked with world-renowned choreographers and was selected for the ImmaBeast Dance Company in Los Angeles; danced with Stephen tWitch Boss on The Jennifer Hudson Show; and was featured in a dance documentary produced by Taboo from the Black-Eyed Peas.
Add to that acting credentials in short film Pearly Gates (her cinematic debut) and various Nickelodeon shows in Australia, and you have someone who has music and presence which should stand her in good stead as she performs for her father (and fellow singer) George’s homeland.
(courtesy official Silia Kapsis YouTube channel)
THE SONG
But while Kapsis clearly has talent to burn on a number of key fronts, does the song “Liar”, written by Elke Tiel (lyrics) and Dimitris Kontopoulos (music) have what it takes to make Europe, and yes, the world, stand up and take notice?
Quite possibly since it mixes together emotionally laden lyrics, an impassioned delivery and some seriously danceable music which incorporates some tasty Cypriot folk touches.
“Liar” is a sultry beat-heart, fill-the-dancefloor dance number, and while it may disappear as quickly as it appears, it is going to blaze brightly and briefly, no doubt buoyed by an intensely infectious stage performance if the clip is any indication.
It will definitely propel Cyprus into the grand final though it likely doesn’t have the staying power over the long-term to win Eurovision for the Mediterranean island nation.
FINLAND: “No Rules! (Rules Applied Version)” by Windows95man
(via Shutterstock)
THE ARTIST
Taking a loom at Finland’s entry for 2024, you suspect, actually you know, that it is best to place tongue very firmly in cheek.
Windows95man, who has somehow managed to not attract copyright infringement notices from Microsoft, describes himself “a well-known entertainer, dancer and sought-after model, widely appreciated in Finland and throughout the world” who after donning a t-shirt and denim hotpants combo, “transforms into a superman!”
So, ego well and truly in humorous check, then?
In truth, Windows95man is the persona of Teemu Keisteria, a visual artist and DJ who finds inspiration in the look and sounds of the late 1990s, hence his period-specific artistic moniker.
He even has his own art gallery, Kalleria, in Helsinki which should mean that if his entry for Eurovision, which he performs with vocalist Henri Piispanen, who sings, write songs, presents TV and voice acts, doesn’t go anywhere, there’s always the business of art to fall back on.
So, is “No Rules (Rules Applied Version)” entertaining enough to forestall an immediate return to the day job?
(courtesy official Instagram page)
THE SONG
It depends on whether you love what feels dangerously like a pisstake on ’90s music.
While the music is undoubtedly on point, and Piispanen’s anchor things reasonably nicely, it becomes patently clear that Keisteria is not a singer (although he clearly has a fertile sense of humour that stands him in good stead in a performance that rests largely on not taking anything too seriously).
I mean, when your performance includes a “mythical denim egg”, you can’t be too serious?
Still, clearly Windows95man is dedicated to his art and making a statement, and with a song that sounds nostalgically like some quite serious Eurovision entries of a couple decades past, it’s obvious that here’s someone who’s bound to attract the ardour of audiences, if only for the finely crafted tenor of the performance.
But while it’s a lot of fun and bound to make a moment at the 2024 contest, it’s doubtful this will leave any sort of lasting impression and will likely be discarded as a novelty son and nothing more, leaving grand final on the outside looking in at grand final time.
Then again, the hyper-enthusiastic Finnish crowds at the Eurovision Finnish selection contest Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu LOVED the song and performance, and if this replicates Europe-wide, then all bets are off, we guess.
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