Eurovision 2024: Finland’s First Rehearsal!

The second day of first rehearsals is underway, with Finland and Windows95man and the song “No Rules!” to take the stage for their first rehearsal.

Who is Windows95man?
A sweet and pleasant person, he’s a bit of a shy nerd during the day, but when he dons his outfit – the famous T-shirt and jeans hotpants combo that doesn’t work – he transforms into superhuman!

His DJ sets, consisting of Eurodance and 90s techno hits, have been combined with such intense live performances that audiences are regularly left breathless.

For the participation “No Rules!” combined Windows95man’s style, Henri Piispanen’s incredible vocals and a legendary gin egg, which led the duo to an unexpected but undeniable victory at UMK 2024 in Finland.

The rehearsal:

It’s time for Finnish Windows95man to rehearse No Rules! It’s still early in the rehearsal schedule, but we’ve had our coffee and are ready to start again.

Fans of their winning performance at UMK will be pleased to hear that the Denim Egg Show has arrived in Malmö, along with the ‘just-within-the-rules’ nudity (a thong, we can confirm, hopefully secured with more than two Clippy ), tiny celebrations and high notes by Henri Piispanen. In fact, this is pretty much a cut and paste of their UMK staging, but with even more processing power and a blurry LED wall that delivers a 90s screensaver.

Listeners of the Official Eurovision Podcast will know that the dancers in this performance are inspired by Teemu’s love of Ooh Aah…Just A Little Bit by Gina G. So Windows 95, inspired by Eurovision 96. We live for this fun fact.

Pyro Rehearsal coming soon – it’s reasonable to assume smoke and fireworks are coming…

The second rehearsal of Finland will take place on Wednesday 1/5 so we will have a better idea of what we will see on the stage of the competition.

Finland’s first rehearsal – Eurovision 2024. Credit: Alma Bengtsson/EBU

 

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Below you can watch a small snippet from the Finnish first rehearsal:

 

@eurovision Malmö Arena transforms into a denim dreamscape as @Windows95Man enters the chat #Eurovision2024 ♬ original sound – Eurovision

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source: eurovision.tv

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding Eurovision 2024 in Malmö!

 

Eurovision 2024: The schedule of the second day of rehearsals (Sunday 28 April)!

With the Malmö Arena opening its gates yesterday for the rehearsals of the 37 participating countries, the action continues today with the remaining countries of the first semi-final taking to the stage for the first time.

With no major changes expected this year, the rehearsals for Eurovision 2024 are expected to take place in the upcoming week. Rehearsals are divided into two phases, the first which will run for four days from today until Tuesday 30/04 and will include the initial first rehearsals of all countries taking part in the two semi-finals of the contest and the second which will run from Wednesday 01/05 until Saturday 04/05 and will include the second rehearsals of the countries in the two semi-finals as well as both rehearsals of the countries competing directly in the Final, namely the Big 5 and the host Sweden.

Last year’s changes in the way the rehearsals are covered are maintained this year, as the Press Centre opens on the Monday after the first and second rehearsals.

As a consequence, the information we will have for the first week of the contest will come exclusively from the material provided by the EBU to accredited journalists, as well as through the Live Blogs on Reddit and the short videos on TikTok.

Today’s Schedule

Eight countries are set to take to the stage at Malmö Arena for their first rehearsal, with Iceland and Hera Björk “kicking off” on Saturday morning. The detailed schedule for the second day of rehearsals of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest is as follows (Mentioned in CET/Swedish Time):

 

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OGAE Poll 2024: The results from Finland, Austria and Romania| Croatia is the winner!

Every year since 2007, OGAE International conducts the OGAE Poll, which includes the votes of its members from 42 different countries. Last fan clubs to reveal their votes are those of Finland, Austria and Romania! Read more

Finland: Changes in their Eurovision Performance!

A few days before the start of our favorite competition all countries are ready to start rehearsals! Just before taking the stage for the first rehearsal, Finland’s representative Windows95Man shared some information about their stage performance!

Initially, as he stated, he does not know if he is allowed to wear the skin-colored underwear he wore in the Finnish final. He was also forced to make changes to his T-shirt logo as he was not allowed to have the Windows logo on it. So, the artist chose a new t-shirt, with a blurred logo. Speaking tou YLE he stated:

“I have six different (options). Let’s start with the wildest of them and go to the goofiest if the EBU insists.”

He then revealed that in addition to Henri Piispanen, there will also be two dancers with him, one of whom (Jesse Winjnans) was also last year in the Finnish entry with “Cha Cha Cha”

The emblematic “egg” we saw in the national final of Finland will also be on the Eurovision stage.

Finland is scheduled to take part in the First Semi-Final on 7th of May, claiming one of the 10 tickets for the Grand Final of Saturday 11th of May.

Source: YLE

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the updates around the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest!

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Eurovision 2024: Contestants to perform at the Eurovision Village

This year’s Eurovision Village will be situated in Folkets Park in central Malmö from May 4th to May 11th. There will be two stages, one larger for special events, and concerts with Eurovision and guest artists, and a smaller stage for more intimate performances. Several participating acts of Eurovision 2024 will perform at the Euphoria stage on the following dates:

May 4 –  (21:00-22:00)
  • Armenia – Ladaniva
  • Belgium – Mustii
  • Norway – Gåte
  • Portugal – Iolanda
May 7 – (19:00-20:00)
  • Albania – Besa
  • Italy – Angelina Mango
  • Malta – Sarah Bonnici
  • Austria – Kaleen
May 8 – (15:00-16:00)
  • Iceland – Hera Björk
  • Moldova – Natalia Barbu
  • Serbia – Teya Dora
May 9 – (15:00-16:00)
  • Azerbaijan – Fahree feat. Ilkin Dovlatov
  • Finland – Windows95man
  • Lithuania – Silvester Belt
  • Germany – Isaak

Eurovision Village will serve as a dedicated hub for Eurovision enthusiasts and locals also hosting independent cultural events organized by local organizations.

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Source: Malmö Stad

Watch the performances of Sweden, Norway and Finland in “A Little Bit More”!

Just like last year, some time before the first rehearsals of the countries, the show called “A Little Bit More” aired on the official Eurovision YouTube channel. Read more

Bets: The latest odds before the rehearsals!

We are two days away from the start of the rehearsals in Malmö and that’s why one of Eurovisionfun‘s most loved and talked about columns is back, with the Eurovision 2024 betting analysis back again.

As you prepare for the pivotal days ahead with the climax of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest celebrations, the bookers are already getting down to business, with the Eurovision 2024 winner section already on offer across all bookmakers. So, we’re taking the opportunity to bring you the so far for the next contest.

The five that became four

A battle for four seems to be shaping up in this year’s contest, with Switzerland, Croatia, the Netherlands and Italy having a distinct lead over their pursuers and Ukraine ‘losing ground’ recently after the parties.

More specifically, at the top, now having a clear lead over its competitors, is Switzerland. With two 24 hours to go until the start of rehearsals in the Swedish south, Nemo‘s “The Code” starts from pole-position to win Switzerland‘s coveted third victory in its almost 70-year presence in the Eurovision Song Contest. Switzerland‘s victory is now being bet at odds of between 2.63 and 3.1, becoming the first to break the triple barrier this year.

In second place remains Croatia, who have been firmly established in the top two of the betting tables for the past two months, with their odds remaining largely stable after this year’s pre-parties. Baby Lasagna and “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” will go all the way for a maiden Croatian victory, with bookers offering odds of between 3.25 and 4.6.

The absolute hit on Western and Central European radios, the Netherlands, continues its rally up the betting tables. Joost Klein‘s “Europapa” has made an impression and is sweeping the charts and streams across much of the Old Continent, now bringing the Netherlands into fourth place. We told you long ago through this column about the dynamics of this entry, which was one of the dark horses of this year’s contest. Now in third place and offered at odds of between 4.25 and 5.5, it is anything but a dark horse, with betting companies recognising its potential and moving it up two places.

Fourth, with a slightly downward trend, but within a fairly close distance of the three leading countries, is Italy. Angelina Mango with “La Noia” may have lost one place compared to our last analysis, nevertheless the chances of a second Italian victory in this decade are highly respected. Between 5.75 and 7.5 is offered for Italian victory for those who believe in Angelina Mango‘s potential.

The top five is now completed by Ukraine, who have lost the momentum they had at the beginning of this year’s Eurovision season when they were considered the early favourites to win in Malmö. With the gap between the four leading countries having widened, bookers are offering Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil’s victory at the highest odds we have seen offered during this year’s Eurovision season. Ukraine‘s fourth win in the Eurovision Song Contest is currently being bet at odds of between 8.5 and 17.

Top 10

With the countries in the Top 5 having stood out in comparison to those below them in the betting tables, let’s take a look at the rest of the top ten. In sixth place, France has quietly risen to sixth, and has consistently remained in or on the fringes of the top ten for most of this Eurovision season. Up to 21 times the stakes are returned by “Mon Amour” and Slimane, with France gaining one place in the last few days.

Among the gainers in recent weeks is Israel, which has moved up to seventh place. Eden Golan and “Hurricane” have gained four places in the last period, steadily gaining momentum as evidenced by the reactions she is garnering on social media on the official Eurovision account. Israel’s victory is offered at odds between 21 and 36.

Greece is still in eighth place. The “tailwind” after the release of Marina Satti‘s “ZARI” brought our country inside the Top 10, with Greece now stabilizing within it and having a safety margin over its pursuers.

Marina Satti‘s win is currently being played at odds between 21 and 41, slightly higher compared to our last analysis, with bookers, however, giving a vote of confidence to the Greek entry.

The big winner in recent weeks has clearly been Ireland, who have now moved up to ninth place, being five places higher compared to our last analysis. Up to 51 times the stake is returned on Ireland’s win with Bambie Thug‘s “Doomsday Blue“.

Rounding out the top ten is Belgium, who have been the disappointment so far this Eurovision season. Mustii‘s pre-party performances with his mildly unacceptable rendition of “Before the Party’s Over” has brought Belgium into tenth place, showing a drop of four places compared to our last analysis. Belgium’s victory is currently being bet on odds between 26 and 67.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiGDvM14Kwg

Will Switzerland achieve its third victory in the Eurovision Song Contest with Nemo’s “The Code”? Tell us in the comments!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments!

Finland: Does Windows95Man’s outfit break EBU’s regulations?

Finland‘s Eurovision entry is called “No Rules”, but the country’s delegation is by far the one that has had to alter its performance the most in order to adhere to the EBU‘s rules. Representatives of Finnish public television have stated that Windows95Man may have to change his outfit once more .

Anssi Autio, Yle‘s producer, specifically stated that Windows95Man might not be permitted to wear the underwear he wore in the national final of the country. The fact that the colour of the clothing in question is the same as that of the singer’s skin may be contrary to the regulations of the other participating broadcasters.

“Not all countries are as familiar with nudity as Finland is”

Autio further stated that the ultimate decision on the matter is anticipated to be taken in Malmö during the rehearsals. The Finnish delegation has thus prepared alternatives.

This isn’t the first time Windows95Man has had to change his outfit. While he was permitted to maintain his stage name, the EBU refused to let him wear the T-shirt bearing the corporate name “Windows” because it violated the competition regulations, which forbid any form of advertisement. Thus, the artist selected a new shirt featuring a blurred logo.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the Eurovision 2024 developments!


Source: Yle

Eurovision 2024: More “flexibility” for the producers to determine the Grand Final running order!

The 68th Eurovision Song Contest introduces a significant change in how the Grand Final running order is determined. Artists now have more options, with a new category introduced to give producers greater flexibility in shaping the lineup.

In March, it was announced that Malmö would see some major changes to enhance the Eurovision Song Contest‘s excitement. Following the revelation that the “Big 5” would perform their songs in full during the Semi-Finals and that fans could start voting as soon as the first artist hits the stage in the Grand Final, another significant change has emerged!

In recent years, qualifying countries from the Semi-Finals and the Big 5 have randomly selected which half of the Grand Final they will perform in. Subsequently, the show’s producers decided where within the First Half (songs 1 to 13) or Second Half (songs 14 to 26) of the Grand Final those acts would perform.

This year, a new category called “Producer’s Choice” will be introduced.

Host broadcaster SVT revealed that 25 of the 26 artists in the Grand Final (Sweden already has position 1) will have the option to choose First Half, Second Half, or Producer’s Choice through a random draw.

If an artist selects Producer’s Choice, the show producers will have the discretion to place that song anywhere in either the First or Second Half of the running order.

This change means there will be 6 slots available to pick in the First Half of the running order, 6 slots in the Second Half, and 13 Producer’s Choice slots.

The purpose of this change is to provide producers with more opportunities to ensure all songs in the Grand Final stand out and to create the most dynamic running order possible.

Christer Björkman, this year’s Contest Producer, elaborated on the rationale behind the change:

“It’s all about creating the best TV show possible and giving all artists a chance to shine. Adding the flexibility of Producer’s Choice allows me to create an even better flow of different tempos and an even more thrilling Grand Final.”

The Big 5 will select either First Half, Second Half, or Producer’s Choice after their second Rehearsal on Saturday, May 4, live during a Reddit AMA. Then, each of the 10 qualifiers from the First Semi-Final on Tuesday, May 7, will draw one of those three options live on the Official Eurovision Song Contest TikTok channel immediately after the show.

The 10 qualifying artists from the Second Semi-Final will draw from the remaining options live on TikTok after the show ends on Thursday, May 9.

Once all 25 options are chosen, producers will compile the running order for the Grand Final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest in the early hours of Friday, May 10. It will then be revealed on the Contest’s website and social media channels.

The last time such a change to the running order was made was also in Malmö, in 2013.

Before 2013, the running order of the Grand Final was determined via a random draw. However, in 2013, host broadcaster SVT initiated a change to create a more entertaining evening of television for viewers. This format has remained in place every year since, with the introduction of the Producer’s Choice element in 2024 being the first major change in over a decade.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest developments!

Source: Eurovision.tv

The Model: Predicted Results for Eurovision 2024!

The Model is a project by Eurovoix aimed at predicting the results of the Eurovision contest, based on betting odds, fan voting online, app usage, song views and streamings on electronic platforms, historical voting patterns, and even the position in the running order. It also takes into account other external factors such as political developments that could influence the outcome, or the nationality of an artist.

As the computational prediction model is constructed based on contemporary data, which dynamically change during the pre-party period, its recently updated version predicts Switzerland as the winner instead of Italy.

Ukraine and The Netherlands continue to be the winners of the two semi-finals, while in this edition, Greece and Cyprus also advance to the final, both with an upward trajectory.

First Semi-Final Scoreboard

Second Semi-Final Scoreboard

The change observed here is the qualification of Georgia for the Grand Final and the displacement of Denmark among the non-qualifiers. Clearly, Nutsa Buzaladze’s outstanding performance at the London Eurovision Party last weekend won over the fans and gave a boost to the Georgian entry.

Final Scoreboard

Perhaps the most challenging in terms of prediction, the voting outcome crowns Switzerland as the big winner of Eurovision 2024. According to this computational model, Greece will finish 13th (10th in both televoting and juries), while Cyprus will place 19th (21st with the juries and 16th in the televote).

What do you think of The Model’s results? Will they be confirmed in May? Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the updates!

Source: eurovoix.com