Glitz, Glamour and Geopolitics at Eurovision Song Contest

Eurovision explained as extravagant pop contest reaches its grand final

BASEL, Switzerland -- There has already been triumph and tears, singing onstage and in the streets, and a touch of political division, as the 69th Eurovision Song Contest approaches its grand final in the Swiss city of Basel.

The ESC was rarely so political: with Israeli singer Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the 7 October massacre in Basel, accompanied by protests. A test of hardship for the lived Swiss neutrality.

The Eurovision Song Contest, a competition organized by European television stations, was called a national festival in the Icelandic media in the run-up to Iceland's first participation in 1986 with the song Gleðibankinn. "I'm not sure that Gleðibankinn will triumph around the world," said a DV media column two months before the contest, with the headline: "Could even win Eurovision." Icelanders were as ambitious as ever. It...

Glitz, glamour and geopolitics at Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision Grand Final will hit screens Saturday. The long-adored Song Contest is known for its fun and often ridiculous performances but is often marked by protests, boycotts and controversy. This year's event in the Swiss city of Basel has been no exception.

Can Eurovision Avoid Politics in Neutral Switzerland?

At the Eurovision Song Contest, one rule stands above all others: no politics. That order is enforced by the competition’s organizer, the European Broadcasting Union, an opaque federation of nearly 70 public service broadcasters, based in Geneva. It scrutinizes performers’ lyrics, their outfits and even their stage props in hopes of bringing some Swiss neutrality to the contest and avoiding anything controversial that could spoil the fun. Yet wh…

All with Louane our representative at Eurovision in Basel, Switzerland. Eurovision is a musical event of course but also political and more and more we communicate this event together.Decrypting with Flavien Groyer journalist here and specialist of Eurovision he is on site