Posts

Netherlands: The Ducth commentator, Cornald Maas, answers to Edward af Sillen!

Earlier yesterday, through a post in his personal account in X, Edward af Sillen, the scriptwriter for the previous three contests in Sweden (2013, 2016 & 2024), parallels the two cases of a contestant’s suspension, in Eurovision 2024 and in Euro, that of Joost Klein and the Turkish football player, Merih Demiral.

His post received both positive and negative reactions, saying that the comparison is out of place. Cornald Maas, the Dutch commentator, stated the same below Edward af Sillen’s post. In detail, he commented the following:

“Oh really? No better/more meaningful comparisons? You can try better (I hope)”

The Dutch disqualification, is a topic that concerned both fans and the EBU itself, which stated in its recent statement on everything that happened during Eurovision 2024, that the simplification of the rules and everyone keeping up with the regulations (members of delegations, artists, fans) is of crucial importance for the smooth running of the contest in the future. However, it’s only logical that the Dutch commentator is negative about the whole treatment of the subject.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, in Switzerland!

Edward af Sillen: What does the Turkish plalyer’s suspension in EURO remind me…?

Through a post in his personal account in X, Edward af Sillen, the scriptwriter for the previous three contests in Sweden (2013, 2016 & 2024), parallels the two cases of a contestant’s suspension, in Eurovision 2024 and in Euro, wanting to make clear, that non-compliance with the regulations, causes punishments.

Wanting to comment on the Turkish football player’s, Merih Demiral, suspension from the two following games, he made the following post:

In Türkiye’s last game against Austria in the phase of 16, Merih Demiral, celebrated their win by making the sign of the Gray Wolves, a far-right fascist organisation. The punishment from UEFA, was immediate. The Turkish player was suspended from the following two games, which means that he won’t lose the rest of the EURO 2024.

The case of Merih Demiral’s suspension is indirectly but clearly paralleled by Edward af Sillen with that of Joost Klein’s disqualification from the Eurovision 2024 final, after his violation of EBU regulations. We remind you that Joost Klein was excluded from the final of the Contest after the complaints, by a production worker, for violence against her.

The EBU stated in its recent statement on everything that happened during Eurovision 2024, that the simplification of the rules and everyone keeping up with the regulations (members of delegations, artists, fans) is of crucial importance for the smooth running of the contest in the future.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, in Switzerland!

Sweden: Tina Mehrafzoon and Edward af Sillén are the Swedish commentators for Eurovision 2024!

Today, Friday April the 19th, SVT, the Swedish national broadcaster, has announced who will be involved in the Swedish commentary of the three shows of the contest, on a press release.

When the Eurovision Song Contest is held for the 68th time, viewers in Sweden will be guided by Tina Mehrafzoon and Edward af Sillén.

This is the thirteenth year that the experienced and knowledgeable Edward af Sillén takes place in Eurovision’s commentary booth. For the music journalist and media profile Tina Mehrafzoon, who during the spring had a commentating expert role during the Melodifestivalen, it is the premiere.

Tina Mehrafzoon expresses:

“To be able to do this together with Edward is an honour and a dream come true. The fact that Sweden is the host country makes it all the more special. I know which professionals make the show so my job will be very pleasurable and easy!”

This host year, Edward af Sillén is also involved as a director and screenwriter. The whole spring is filled with intense work, but Edward is very much looking forward to the assignment as a commentator.

“It feels both honorable and very fun. The viewers will be in safe and warm hands with Tina in the driver’s seat, while I will split my time between being backstage and working with the presenters and being by Tina’s side as much as possible during the shows. It’s going to be really exciting,”

says Edward af Sillén.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest to be held this May in Malmö, Sweden and any updates regarding its planning!

Source: media.melodifestivalen.se/SVT
Photo: SVT/Dan Danielsson

Follow us in all our social media, so that you wont miss a thing of what’s happening regarding the Eurovision Song Contest:

 

Sweden: Edward af Sillén, scriptwriter of Eurovision 2024, inducted into the Melodifestivalen Hall of Fame!

After the success of Eurovision in 2013 and 2016, Edward af Sillén is preparing to once again hold the helm of the contest – as scriptwriters and also as director.

In Saturday‘s competition from Växjö, the director, screenwriter and commentator Edward af Sillén is awarded the Hall of Fame award.

From now on, he is also a member of this well-known group of artists, hits and creators who have all been of great importance to Melodifestivalen over the years. Christer Björkman, chairman of the Hall of Fame committee says:

“Passion, talent and love permeate everything he has done for and in our program. The Eurovision Song Contest is really a part of Edwards’ DNA.”

The motivation reads: When Petra Mede became one of the most popular presenters of all time in 2009, it was with Edward af Sillén‘s direction and script behind her.

After this, Edward has over the years in script and direction combined the love for Mello with a wonderful humor with edge and sharpness.

He has directed unforgettable performances and created magical interludes, such as Danny‘s ”Karl för sin kostym”, Perrelli‘s ”Här står jag” and Sarah Dawn Finer‘s “Lynda Woodruff“. That Edward belongs in the Melodifestivalen Hall of Fame is to quote his classic parody with Christine Meltzer as Malena Ernman: – “Inget konstigt alls” (Nothing strange at all).

An emotional Edward af Sillén expresses:

“I’m actually a bit speechless and very humbled by this honor. The fact that the work that I and my talented colleagues did for Melodifestivalen and Eurovision is still mentioned and referred to is flattering enough. This award is a key increase I was not prepared for. Thank you.”

Hall of Fame in brief

The Melodifestivalen Hall of Fame was established in 2020 to celebrate and highlight special achievements and unforgettable Mello memories in the program’s long history. Since the start of Melodifestivalen in 1958, lots of colorful artists and melodies have made an impression on Swedish music and the soul of the people.

In December each year, viewers can nominate their Hall of Fame proposals in the Melodifestivalen app. Based on these proposals, the Hall of Fame Committee will then select five award winners to receive the award in 2024. The inductees receive a statuette, the Gold Star – shaped like part of a star’s ray. The idea behind it is that the combined efforts form a whole.

Source: SVT
Photo: Jan Danielsson/SVT

Follow us in all our social media, so that you’ll not miss anything regarding the your favourite national selection process: 

 

 

 

 

 

Eurovision 2024: Edward af Sillén is back in Eurovision for the third time!

After the success of Eurovision in 2013 and 2016, David Rehn and Edward af Sillén are preparing to once again hold the helm of the contest – as scriptwriters and af Sillén also as director. Now they’re looking for the right tone and theme. Edward comments:

“It’s a programme that is seen and loved by so many people, so it’s important to do it right and with passion.”

Af Sillén feels some performance anxiety, but he’s used to it:

“That’s my starting position. The low self-esteem is a kind of fuel and it makes me work extra hard. It works even if it’s costly mentally.”

Above all, however, it is with pleasure that Edward af Sillén takes on the assignment – which he calls “a boyhood dream, once again”. In 2023, he commentated on the final for the twelfth time and it has become the script for three Eurovision contests in Norway and Sweden. But after 2016, he thought it wouldn’t happen again. Edward comments:

“Then Loreen went and won again, which is an almost unimaginable feat.”

He and Rehn wondered if they could make a follow-up as popular as the 2016 broadcast – which even the BBC praised.

“It’s an incredible compliment, this assignment was too much fun to refuse.”

says Edward af Sillén.

He now hopes to be able to give the audience more of what characterized the show in 2016 – humor. Admittedly, he thinks it is a delicate task to get so many different countries to laugh at the same things. But if you love something, it’s worth joking around, he believes and adds:

“There’s so much love in that humour. We will certainly want to continue along this track.”

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is organized in collaboration with the city of Malmö and will be broadcast from Malmö Arena on Tuesday 7 May (semi-final 1), Thursday 9 May (semi-final 2) and Saturday 11 May (final) after Loreen won for a second time in Liverpool with the song “Tattoo“.

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for all the latest news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest!

Source: Aftonbladet

Follow us in all our social media, so that you’ll not miss anything regarding the Eurovision Song Contest: 

 

 

 

 

Sweden: Edward af Sillén and Måns Zelmerlöw are this year’s Eurovision commentators!

Earlier, the Swedish National Broadcaster SVT, announced the commentators for Eurovision 2023.

Edward af Sillén and Måns Zelmerlöw will provide commentary for the Swedes watching the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. Edward will be a commentator on all three nights, while Måns will accompany Edward only at the night of the Grand Final.

Edward af Sillén is known in the field of directing and screenwriting. As well as being the lyricist behind the Eurovision 2016 commertial song, “Love, Love, Peace, Peace”. Which was sung by the host of this year’s contest, Petra Mede and Måns Zelmerlöw. He has also commented for Sweden several times in the previous years as well.

As for the artist Måns Zelmerlöw, he is widely known in the eurofans community after winning the 60th Eurovision Song Contest in 2015. Since then, almost every year after his victory, he leaves his mark on the Song Contest.

This duo has collaborated again on the Swedish commentary at the 62nd European Song Contest in Kyiv.

Down bellow, you can find the video of EurovisionFun’s reaction in Sweden’s song for this year’s Eurovision:

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the developments regarding Sweden’s participation in Eurovision 2023!