Eurovision 2025: The reasons behind Basel’s selection as the host city!

A few days ago it was announced that Basel will host the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, since the selection process had come down to either Basel or Geneva. Behind this choice, there were some particular reasons which gave Basel the opportunity to be the host city.

Reto Peritz, the Co-Executive Producer for Eurovision 2025, in an interview with the swiss newspaper Blick, explained the three pillars the choice of Basel was based upon: the venue, the availability and the cities’ plans around the Contest.

Regarding the venue, Peritz mentioned that:

“With the Halle Saint-Jacques, Basel has a concert hall that has already proven itself. Geneva had a generous exhibition hall with plenty of space with Palexpo, but the entire infrastructure would have had to be installed there. Basel does have a smaller venue, but the “Arena Plus” concept and the integration of the St. Jacques stadium compensate for this.”

As for the stadium’s availability, Basel is able to make it available for a week longer, in comparison to Geneva.

Lastly, the creativity of the bids submitted by each city seem to have played their distinctive part. More specifically, Peritz noted:

“Not only are there plans for a fan zone, but the whole city of Basel is turning into a place dedicated to Eurovision as well.”

The organizers ultimately aim to create a Contest that will be supported by the Swiss population and they will be proud of, while they will also highlight their cultural diversity with its unique characteristics.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 is set to take place on the 13th, 15th and 17th of May in Basel, Switzerland.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the upcoming news!

Source: Blick

Montenegro: Montesong 2024 to be held on 26th and 27th of November!

After a two-year hiatus, Montenegro returns to the Eurovision Song Contest by organizing its own selection process under the title Montesong 2024, which is going to take place on November 26th and 27th in Podgorica.

The national broadcaster of Montenegro, RTCG, announced a public competition for the selection of teh composition and the representative of Montenegro at this music competition, and the process will last until October 1.

As festival director Danijel Alibabić said at today’s press conference, 16 competing compositions will be presented. The best will represent Montenegro at the most famous European music competition, which will be held in Basel.

“The performers must be Montenegrin citizens, and the composers can be from all over the world. It will be a production venture that Montenegro has never seen before.”

Alibabić is full of optimism and believes that the festival will come to life.

“I would like it to have a tradition like the Croatian Dora and to be in that rank. I believe that the stage will be spectacular”

He is also convinced that Montenegro will have a representative who will qualify to the final.

“The fact that they will appear at the festival, where they will be paid for their entire performance, is enough stimulation for the performers. It will be a real spectacle”

According to him, the Association of Variety Performers of Montenegro made an effort to have a team of people at the festival who will deal with graphic design and lighting.

“There will also be rehearsals, so that the singers and the team can correct everything they don’t like and would change, if they want to”

Artistic director Vladana Vučinić announced that the process of judging the compositions will be transparent and Eurovision-style: 50% of the audience – 50% of the jury.

“The jury will include domestic musicians and musicians from abroad. It will be made up of eminent composers”

Vučinić also stated that the festival will be mostly financed by the Association of Variety Performers, and RTCG is in the role of co-producer.

“We want to give musicians support and an opportunity to present themselves. We have few musicians and I encourage everyone to come forward. We would like to hear diverse musical styles. There is room for everyone on stage”

She encouraged especially young performers to apply for the competition.

“Finances have always been our biggest problem. We have to provide young musicians with support, and this is a real opportunity”

When asked if the Ministry of Culture and Media has shown interest in the festival, Vučinić replied negatively.

“For now, they haven’t. But we hope to win the favor of the institutions.”

Source: RTCG

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Eurovision 2025: With “Arena Plus”, the hosts offer new possibilities to eurofans

Swiss organizers have revealed details of Arena Plus, which will offer new viewing options for fans of the competition who will be attending Basel and will not be able to secure a ticket for St. Jakobshalle, where the Eurovision 2025 live shows will take place.

The city of Basel is ready to use the stadium St. Jakob-Park, which has a capacity of 20,000 spectators. Called “Arena Plus”, the St. Jakob-Park will effectively function as a second arena for Eurovision 2025, where eurofans will be able to watch the shows live, as was the case at Eurovision 2016 in Stockholm. In Stockholm, the Tele 2 Arena hosted side events during the Grand Final, while the main events took place at the Globen Arena.

The St. Jakob-Park is the largest football stadium in Switzerland and can accommodate around 20,000 spectators. The stadium in question is located next to the Eurovision 2025 venue, St. Jakobshalle. Additionally, it is home to Basel’s local team, Basel FC.

The Swiss plan is similar to the one implemented in Stockholm in 2016. That is, those of the friends of the contest who will travel to Basel for Eurovision 2025 and will not be able to secure a ticket, will be able to watch the show in St. Jakob-Park and live a Eurovision experience as close as possible to what the spectators will experience inside the arena where the final will take place.

From the municipality of Basel they emphasize:

A strong argument in the application and in the assessment by the SRG was the idea of ​​setting up an “Arena Plus” in the adjacent St. Jakob-Park football stadium on the final day. On the one hand, this will create additional capacity in the show arena, given the limited number of seats for ESC standards, and on the other hand, the ESC in Switzerland can come up with an innovative concept.

The “Arena Plus” is intended to offer as many fans as possible the opportunity to experience the ESC up close. Regardless of the hall capacity, tickets for the main show in the hall are a rare, expensive commodity. Many fans from all over the world therefore travel without show tickets and want to be as close to the action as possible.

Many Basel residents will also not receive tickets for the shows and would like to be able to take part in “their” ESC. The “Arena Plus” is more than just a public viewing. 

The stadium is intended to have a festival atmosphere with family offerings and concerts by former ESC stars.

During the show, the “Arena Plus” will be integrated into the main show via mutual live connections.

The “Arena Plus” is organized under the responsibility of the host city. The costs, in the order of CHF 2.5 million, can probably be fully covered by ticket, catering and hospitality revenues. The “Arena Plus” should therefore be cost-neutral for the canton. FC Basel is supporting the project, and the stadium will be available for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 on time and in the required quality.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: city of Basel

Cyprus: Maria Pissarides filmed the music video for her Junior Eurovision 2024 entry!

CyBC, the Cypriot public broadcaster, announced that the filming of the music video for the song with which is officially over!

The filming of the music video took place in beautiful Limassol, under the direction of Petros Charalambous. The music video incorporates elements of nature, combining natural landscapes with the musical aesthetic of the song, and is expected to be released at the end of September, according to the information we have.

The song that will be presented at Junior Eurovision 2024 has been composed by Sofia Patsalides, who represented Cyprus in the same contest ten years ago, in collaboration with the Swedish Producer and Composer Armin Gilani. Sofia Patsalidou, known for her creative ability and musical sensitivity, has composed a song that will win impressions.
The staging of Maria Pissarides will be taken over by the internationally recognized British artistic director Layla Ellison. Ellison, with a great amount of experience and reputation in the field, aims to create an impressive performance that will stand out on the Junior Eurovision stage.

Junior Eurovision 2024 will be held on November 16 in Madrid. In addition to Cyprus, 16 other countries will participate, making it one of the most exciting editions of the Contest to date.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Cypriot participation at the Junoior Eurovision Song Contest 2024, in Madrid!

ERT’s decisions for Eurovision 2025: What to expect after September 15

After September 15, ERT will announce the details of how to select Greece’s entry in Eurovision 2025. This decision follows the appointment of Yiannis Papadopoulos as temporary President of ERT, which is expected to be formalized on September 12. The administration will then proceed to make decisions and make official announcements about the contest, which will be held in Basel, Switzerland in May 2025.

The ceo of ERT, Katerina Kaskanioti, aims for a transparent and unbiased selection process, which will determine the artist and the song that will represent Greece on the Eurovision stage. ERT is looking for alternative methods of selection, which will ensure maximum transparency and reliability, with the scenario of direct assignment moving away, which you also read in our previous articles.

The team dealing with the project has already started the preparations, although the final decisions will be taken after the new administration takes office. Rumors and scenarios give and take, but ERT’s pursuit is to find the best possible solution for Greek participation, avoiding the mistakes of the past and keeping the interest of the television audience high, always aiming for a position in the top ten of the Eurovision final.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates and official announcements that will determine Greece’s path to Eurovision 2025!

Israel: Eden Golan in the final of Dancing With The Stars in the dress she would wear at Eurovision

Eden Golan appeared in the final of Dancing With The Stars on Wednesday night 4/9, in the dress she was originally going to wear in Eurovision 2024. For the first time, she even sang and danced a different version of Hurricane, for the needs of the dance show, proving that she is not only a very good singer, but also an excellent dancer.

This dress is a creation of Alon Livna, just like the dress she finally wore at Eurovision 2024. Eden Golan had earlier posted on her social media that it was too nice to never wear.

Initially it was written in Israeli media that the EBU was the one that forbade Eden to wear this dress, as there was symbolism in it. In particular, it is stated that the intersection between the ropes refers to the map of Israel and so the EBU asked the Israeli delegation to replace it.

But now Eden’s stylist, Itay Bezaleli, gives a different reason, which is perhaps even more believable. The country’s public broadcaster, KAN, thought it should wear a dress more in keeping with the mood of mourning in Israel, following the October 7 Hamas terror attack that left 1,200 people dead and abducted, another 250 as hostages. So Eden Golan had to wait until the finale of Dancing With The Stars to wear the dress in question and this creation would not go to waste.

Watch the video HERE

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Euromix

Iceland: Tomorrow the announcement of whether Iceland will participate in Eurovision 2025!

Tomorrow, RÚV, the national broadcaster, will announce whether Iceland will participate in Eurovision in Basel next year. The Head of Delegation of Iceland said after this year’s competition that he expected Iceland to participate again next year, but nothing was set in stone.

There was great dissatisfaction among parts of the nation after Iceland’s participation in the competition this year. RÚV and other television stations were urged to withdraw from the competition because of Israel’s participation, and the EBU asked people to stop harassing contestants because of their participation.

Rúnar Freyr Gíslason said that the Israeli participation had a negative impact on the competition. It was not the unifying platform it should be. He said that he expects Iceland to participate again next year, but that has not been confirmed yet.

Rúnar said today in an interview with the news agency that the decision of RÚV on Iceland’s participation in Eurovision will be presented to the nation tomorrow. The format of the Söngvakeppnin will also be announced and presumably the dates for when artists can submit acts and more.

This year Iceland was represented for the second time by Hera Björk and the song “Scared of Heights” but failed to qualify for the final as it finished in 15th and last place of the first semi-final with just three points.

https://youtu.be/VChBgcycVl8

Source: visir.is

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Eric Saade: “I had permission from the SVT to wear the Palestinian keffiyeh”

Even though the Eurovision 2024 grand final was almost four months ago, the issues surrounding it still bother fans of the competition, demonstrating yet again that it was the most controversial edition in recent memory. In particular, Eric Saade claimed that he had informed the SVT of his plan to wear the Palestinian symbol “keffiyeh”, and that the broadcaster had given its approval.

The Swedish singer, who represented his country at Eurovision 2011 and participated in the opening act of the first semi-final of this year’s contest, stated that Ebba Adielsson, SVT‘s executive producer for the Eurovision Song Contest, gave him permission to wear the Palestinian keffiyeh, telling him that “symbols are not a problem.

The artist went on to say that he was taken aback by the EBU’s strong response. We remind you that the EBU had denounced the singer’s behaviour as “political” and had declined to upload his appearance on social media.

Ebba Adielsson’s response

Following the aforementioned interview, the executive producer of SVT made the following clarifications:

“I think I was clear about the rules that had to be followed”.


Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding our favourite music competition!


Source: Dagens Nyheter

Netherlands: Joost Klein had a previous confrontation with the camerawoman

The camerawoman to whom Joost Klein made a threatening gesture is said to have had an earlier altercation with the Dutch representative during the week of the Eurovision Song Contest. This is reported by the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet based on the reports of the police interrogations of Klein and the woman, after the incident that cost Joost Klein his place in the Eurovision 2024 final. Aftonbladet published parts of the police reports and thus more details are revealed.

The previous incident reported by the woman allegedly took place when Klein was returning backstage. The singer had asked the woman to stop filming, which she did not do “because she had signed a document agreeing to the filming. I was just doing my job,” he said. According to the woman, the Dutch team apologized after this incident and promised that Klein “wouldn’t react this way again” during the festival.

When Klein made a threatening gesture towards her during the second incident, the woman did not react at first “because I thought Joost was joking”. Klein “became angrier. I felt scared and vulnerable,” the woman reportedly said during her first police interview the night before the final of the Song Contest.

The police informed the singer that the woman was demanding compensation of 7,000 kroner, over 600 euros. According to Aftonbladet, Klein told police interrogations that he had “vague memories of the event”. The singer in that questioning claimed that he made the threatening gesture towards the woman’s camera and not towards the woman herself. According to Aftonbladet, Klein also said at the first interrogation that he was innocent of the crime he was suspected of. “I don’t recognize myself in the incident,” Klein reportedly said.

Aftonbladet did not publish the full police report. Many passages have been blacked out.

AVROTROS and his manager Klein say the singer was “really harassed many times” during the Eurovision Song Contest, but would not comment on whether the Dutch team apologized to the woman after the first incident. The cameraman’s lawyer did not respond to the report.

The Swedish prosecutor’s office dropped the case against Klein in early August because there was not enough evidence to prove that Klein made his “threatening act” with the intention of causing “serious fear” to the camerawoman.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source:nltimes

Junior Eurovision 2024: Slogan and stage design revealed!

Today morning, EBU revealed the participants’ list for the 22nd Junior Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in Madrid, Spain. It is the first time Spain is hosting the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, after having won in 2004 and the first time since 1969 that the country is hosting a Eurovision event. Moreover, RTVE also revealed the artwork and the stage design for the upcoming contest.

Let’s Bloom!

“Let’s Bloom!”, which alludes to the blossoming of young performers as they take the stage and perform at the event, has been unveiled by RTVE as the 22nd Junior Eurovision Song Contest slogan and artistic theme.

The concept behind the theme is explained by Ana María Bordas, Executive Producer of JESC 2024 and Director of Original Content at RTVE:

We have thought of a concept that, taking nature as an example, influences the idea of ​​young artists flourishing towards a future where they can be themselves and express freely in a healthy, safe and diverse way. The aim is to walk with them in their growth and development. In short, to help them flourish and progress, by being themselves.

The concept of flowers and blooming comes from nature itself, where there is so much diversity and in which everything is important, harmonious and beautiful.

The postcards, which are the quick films that play before each nation’s performance, will follow the same idea. The phrase “Let’s Bloom” can be combined by any artist with one of the JESC values, such as “Bloom in harmony,” “Bloom in joy,” “Bloom in diversity,” etc.

Stage Design

The same idea will also be implemented as it regards to the stage of Caja Mágica.

A huge vertical LED screen that will dominate the stage as a central feature is a ground-breaking and evocative reminder of the verticality of the digital world in which young people coexist. RTVE has created a straightforward yet contemporary set.

Marvin Dietmann, the artistic director for JESC 2024 elaborates more:

Our vision is rooted in the belief that diversity is the essence of beauty, much like a flourishing garden. In this creative journey, we embrace the idea that each artist, like a unique plant, contributes to the vibrant tapestry of our ‘garden of life’. Here, everyone has their place and together we grow into diverse shapes, colours and forms.

We invite our audience to trust in our vision and the future of our artists, as we embark on this transformative experience together.

Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024

Seventeen countries will take part in the 22nd edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest:

  • Albania – RTSH
  • Armenia – AMPTV
  • Cyprus – RIK
  • Estonia – ERR
  • France – FT
  • Georgia – GPB
  • Germany – ARD/NDR
  • Ireland – RTÉ
  • Italy – RAI
  • Malta – PBS
  • North Macedonia – MRT
  • Poland – TVP
  • Portugal – RTP
  • San Marino – RTV San Marino
  • Spain – TVE
  • The Netherlands – AVROTROS
  • Ukraine – UA:PBC

It is the first time since 2021 that the contest sees a rise in its participants, since two countries made their return. Cyprus and San Marino will return to the contest for the first time after seven and nine years respectively. It was revealed exclusively through Eurovisionfun months ago, that two countries would return in Madrid.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom decided to opt out of the contest after two years since its successful return.

The 22nd edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest will be held on November 16 in Madrid, Spain, following the country’s second-place finish last year and the refusal of the winning country, France, to host for the second year in a row.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: junioreurovision.tv