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Eurovision 2024: Participants Depart for Malmö!

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With the Eurovision 2024 rehearsals set to commence tomorrow, Saturday 27/4, the 37 participants of this year’s competition have begun their journey to Malmö.

Most are traveling by air, while some are hitting the road, as artists destined for the 68th Eurovision Song Contest converge on Malmö, the city that will become the musical epicenter of Europe for the next two weeks.

Australia

Electric Fields are the first contestants to set foot in Sweden, as they inform us through their social media channels.

Lithuania

Silvester Belt departed from Vilnius for Malmö without stress, as revealed.

 

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Ukraine

With a modest ceremony at Kiev’s central railway station and the “Eurovision Express,” the train carrying them, Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil embarked on their journey to Malmö. Donning white attire with keys hanging from them symbolizing the future of Ukraine’s children that need to be unlocked, the Ukrainian representatives left with the support of millions of their compatriots, filled with hope for Sweden.

Cyprus

Earlier today, Silia Kapsis departed with the rest of the Cypriot delegation. With many smiles and optimism for what they have prepared, Silia Kapsis and the rest of the team set off for Malmö. Tomorrow morning at 10:30 CET, she will have the honor of being the first to rehearse for Eurovision 2024.

 

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Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun on our website and social media channels because Eurovision 2024 is now in its final stretch!

Eurovision 2024: “Can’t guarantee safety but do everything we can!” | Police ahead of Eurovision

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Now it’s only a month left before the world’s biggest music festival, the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in Malmö, Sweden. And preparations are in full swing so that the competition can be carried out with the best possible safety.

Petra Stenkulla is the police area manager in Malmö and was interviewed on P1-Morgon of Sveriges Radio by reporter August Haskbom. Petra comments on the situation:

“It is of course the case that Sweden has a terror threat level of four out of five. And that means that we need to intensify our work together with the security police. But really, you can say that all types of events where there are very many people in the same place always pose a certain risk and that means that we need to take measures to have many police officers and have good planning for anything that could happen, even if it is an accident or anything at all.”

In a time with high terrorist threat, Israel‘s participation has aroused strong reactions and with up to one hundred thousand visitors, the city of Malmö is still planning on an open event. Petra Stenkulla adds:

“Our ambition is for it to be a festive event where people can still feel safe and have fun. Right now, we’re planning for it to be an open event that is happening in several different places. There will be events and people need to be able to move between them. And this is part of our planning.”

In safety planning, the City of Malmö and the police have had frequent communication with last year’s host city, Liverpool.  And Petra Stenkulla thinks that a good plan has been formed for this year’s music competition:

“We can never guarantee safety but we will do our upmost to make people feel safe. And we can also assume that there will be both rumor spreading and other factors that will lead to, for example, threats that we need to assess. But we will continue to work with this, we have a solid plan and we feel confident with that plan. So that everyone can feel comfortable.”

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 security updates regarding its planning!

Source: Sveriges Radio/P1 Morgon/August Haskbom/Ekot
Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

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Malmö 2024: Full Programme Unveiled for Eurovision Fans!

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With just a month to go until the excitement kicks off, Malmö has unveiled its comprehensive programme of events set to captivate residents and visitors alike.

Malena Ernman, who represented Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009, will have the honor of inaugurating the Eurovision Village festivities. The bustling streets of Skåne will come alive with the electrifying energy of Ukraine’s Go_A bringing “Shum” to the shores.

As previously teased, Eurovision Village in Folkets Park will serve as the epicenter of the week-long celebrations leading up to the Grand Final. From the Euphoria Stage to the Dancing Queen Stage, there will be no shortage of entertainment options to immerse yourself in. Friisgatan will transform into Eurovision Street, offering a vibrant mix of performances and culinary delights. Additionally, venues around Malmö Live and Malmö Central Station will host intimate concerts and shows, ensuring that Eurovision fever permeates every corner of the city.

The eclectic lineup promises something for everyone, from ’90s dance acts to global electronica and iconic Melodifestivalen legends. And yes, drag queens will be gracing the stage, adding an extra layer of flair to the festivities.

Highlights include performances by Medina, a sneak peek at Malmö Opera’s upcoming musical Joyride, and an evening dedicated to ABBA’s timeless classics. For those craving more, there’s a lineup of concerts, competitions, and surprises to keep the party going well into the night.

Plus, catch some of your favorite Eurovision stars performing live at Eurovision Village. From 6th to 9th May, the Euphoria Stage will host acts from the 68th Eurovision Song Contest, promising unforgettable performances that will leave you wanting more.

As the countdown to the Live Shows of the Eurovision Song Contest begins, stay tuned for updates on the Village & Euroclub page for even more exciting happenings. Whether you’re streaming the songs or watching the music videos, get ready to experience the magic of Eurovision 2024 in Malmö, Sweden.

And don’t miss the special evening presented by Malmö Pride featuring Austrian Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst, who will be gracing the stage with a live concert, adding an extra dose of glamor and empowerment to the festivities.

Mark your calendars for May 7 (First Semi-Final), May 9 (Second Semi-Final), and May 11 (Grand Final) for an unforgettable celebration of music and unity. With the full programme now unveiled, Eurovision fans can start planning their itinerary for an immersive and unforgettable experience in Malmö.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest developments regarding the 68th Eurovision Song Contest!

Source: Eurovision.tv

Eurovision 2024: Growing Concerns of Terrorism Threats Against Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö

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In the wake of yet another devastating terrorist attack, fears are mounting about the safety of the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden, slated for May. The recent tragedy, which claimed over 100 lives in a concert hall just outside Moscow, has heightened concerns about the vulnerability of large-scale cultural events.

Expert Jörgen Holmlund, a teacher of intelligence analysis at the Swedish Defence University, expressed grave concerns about the potential for similar attacks targeting Eurovision.

“From a Swedish perspective, this is exactly what I’m afraid of,” he stated, underscoring the risks associated with events that draw large crowds and substantial media attention.

“Cultural events with both large crowds and a great deal of media attention are at risk of being attacked,” Holmlund warned.

“For the terrorists, there will also be a double reporting, partly because there is already a lot of coverage and partly because a terrorist attack would give maximum exposure.”

The Eurovision Song Contest, a highly anticipated event that attracts numerous visitors to Malmö, is expected to be a focal point for demonstrations against the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Holmlund emphasized that the attack in Moscow underscores the potential magnitude of a well-planned terrorist assault.

“It shows how motivated and capable they are, unfortunately,” he lamented, highlighting the need for heightened vigilance and awareness among the general public. Despite the grim outlook, Holmlund believes that ordinary individuals can play a crucial role in thwarting potential attacks by remaining vigilant and trusting their instincts.

“We have a better ability to observe than we think, but we also have to rely on it,” he urged, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures in preventing acts of terrorism.

As preparations for Eurovision continue, security measures are likely to be intensified to ensure the safety of participants and spectators alike.

Source: Svenska Dagbladet

Eurovision 2024: Visitors from Over 80 Countries Coming to Malmo for Eurovision!

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The Eurovision Song Contest traditionally celebrates as a unifying force, bringing nations and cultures together through the power of music. This year, the diversity and excitement of fans are more apparent than ever as the city of Malmo prepares to welcome visitors from every corner of the globe.

Leading the way in international ticket sales is the United Kingdom, demonstrating an impressive level of enthusiasm as it captures more than half of the same percentage as the host country, Sweden.

However, the excitement extends far beyond European borders, with high ticket sales numbers coming from many continents. From Europe to Asia, from America to Australia and beyond, fans from every corner of the world are eagerly anticipating taking part in the festivities in Malmo in May.

Particularly, the United States and Australia stand out among the top ticket buyers, underscoring the event’s impact on a global scale.

The most remote travelers are coming from New Zealand! That’s what dedication means!

The Eurovision Song Contest of 2024 in Malmo is poised to set a historic milestone with the impressive influx of global visitors, highlighting its enduring popularity and global orientation. Nearly half of the world’s nations are represented among ticket buyers, proclaiming the event as a truly global celebration of music and unity.

Karin Carlsson, Director of the event for the city of Malmo, expressed her excitement about the diversity of participation:

“The reception of fans and visitors of Eurovision from such a wide and varied range of countries in Malmo is truly fantastic. It vividly reflects the charm of the event and its power to unite people through the common language of music, cultural heritage, and diversity.”

With citizens from 186 countries residing in the city and attendance from the rest of Europe, Malmo is not only Sweden’s gateway to the world but also the international gateway to Sweden.

Karin Carlsson continues:

“We see Malmo as a place where people, cultural expressions, and traditions meet and get to know each other. This is what our event should reflect. When people from over 80 countries are welcomed by the residents of Malmo, with backgrounds from over 180 nationalities, it can be incredibly exciting.”

Below you can listen to the 37 entries for this year’s Eurovision contest!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest developments about the 68th Eurovision Song Contest!

Source: Eurovision.tv

Eurovision 2024: City of Malmö working hard for a safe Eurovision!

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Malmö is currently evaluating the current situation caused by the ongoing Middle-Eastern conflict, hence, is discussing the ways of making the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest as safe as possible.

Israel‘s confirmed participation in Eurovision is stirring emotional protests around Europe. Intensive work is being done on security for the Eurovision Song Contest, to be held this May in Malmö, Sweden. Ulf Nilsson, the Head of Security and Preparedness at the city of Malmö., said on an interview with P4 Malmöhus:

“Many people are contributing to make this a reputation-proof event. We’re broadly working with many different scenarios. We’re working very closely with the police, SVT, Region Skåne, the Traffic Department.”

Last weekend, a Eurovision sign outside Malmö Live was vandalized and has now been protected with wax. The vandalism was discovered in the early hours of the morning. On the base of the sign, someone has written “Free Gaza” and smeared it with red paint. Even on the digital sign that says “United by music” and “We are one“, someone has thrown paint.

Several individuals have already applied for permission from the police to demonstrate during Eurovision in protest against Israel and their Eurovision Song Contest participation.

“We see that many have opinions about Israel’s participation and we understand that. We’re closely monitoring the situation. Of course, this will be taken into account in our work.”

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

Source: Sveriges Radio/P4 Malmöhus/Sofie Dahlstedt

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Eurovision 2024: Eurovisionfun attending the Semi-Final allocation draw, on-site in Malmö!

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For the first time, a Greek media outlet will be on-site, in the process of the Semi-Final allocation draw of Eurovision. It is with great pleasure and honour that we have been invited by SVT along a limited number of media to cover the event and we will be live in Malmö, tomorrow Tuesday 30/1 and we will be serving you with rich content in all our platforms about the entire process and what is going on at the city of Malmö, a bit less than four months before the contest takes place.

Among a limited number of media, Eurovisionfun is present in the draw

Eurovisionfun, confirming the excellent relations it maintains with SVT, which is this year’s host broadcaster of the Eurovision Song Contest, will be one of limited number of media that will attend the process of the Semi-Final Allocation Draw of the countries participating in Eurovision Song Contest 2024 and the only Greek media outlet of the bunch!

The above is a great recognition for our website, which is now among the largest of its kind, thanks to your love and support!

So tune in both to our website and to all our social media on Tuesday 30/1, right before 19:00 CET, to watch in every detail this important event for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

What is the Semi-Final Allocation Draw?

This is an established event, during when the host city of the previous year hands-over the reins of the event to the next city to host the contest.

At the same time, the draw takes place and determines in which of the two semi-finals, as well as in which of the first or second half of them, the participating countries will compete. Finally, it is determined in which semi-final the countries that qualify directly for the final, namely the so-called “Big 5” (France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom), as well as the host country Sweden, will vote.

We remind you that you will be able to watch the draw through the official Eurovision Song Contest channel on YouTube.

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

 

 

 

Luxembourg: TALI will represent the Dutchy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song “Fighter”!

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Luxembourg joined the Eurovision Song Contest again this year and they will have their representative perform in Malmö Arena in the hopes of winning the contest for the 6th time. Their national final, called Luxembourg Song Contest 2024, just finished and the public has chosen TALI with the song “Fighter” to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 to be held in Malmö, Sweden!

The show

The Final show was hosted by Désirée Nosbusch, Melody Funck, Raoul Roos and Loïc Juchem and was broadcast live from Rockhal, Luxembourg.

Anne Marie David, French singer who has represented both Luxembourg and France at the Eurovision Song Contest, winning in 1973 and placing third in 1979, opened the show, followed by a “flag parade” style intro where all the contestants entered the stage.

It is worth mentioning that one of the most prominent Greek singers, Vicky Leandros, made an amazing guest appearance at Luxembourg Song Contest 2024, singing “Après toi“. This was the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 1972 performed in French by Vicky, when she represented Luxembourg.

All the contestants performed “Poupée de cire, poupée de son“, the winning entry of Luxembourg  at the Eurovision Song Contest 1965, held in Naples.

After the first voting round, all the contestants paid tribute to this year’s host country, Sweden, by singing one of the most iconic Swedish Eurovision entries, ABBA‘s “Waterloo“.

Many eurostars were there as guests, such as Charlotte Perelli, Ruslana, Katrina Leskanich of Katrina and the Waves and Alexander Rybak all performed their winning entries live!

Vicky Leandros also performed “L’amour Est Bleu” acompanied by Alexander Rybak who played his violin!

rybak leandros

The voting system

The winner will be decided through a 50-50 split, with 50% coming from the jury’s vote and the remaining 50% from the audience. Specifics include:

  • The jury, contributing 50% to the result, comprises representatives from eight countries, with five members from each country.
  • The audience voting is open not only to the local audience but also to the international audience, giving everyone a say in who will represent the Grand Duchy at Eurovision 2024.

The songs

The following eight contestants competed in the hopes of getting selected to represent Luxembourg in Malmö:

Our take on the eight competing songs

Our rating is on a Eurovision scale, 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3

Rating: 10

Joel has a great stage presence, amazing vocals and a song that personally reminds me of Melodifestivalen entries. I could definitely see him represent Luxembourg.

Rating: 3

The song of EDSUN is kinda funky, but for me it has nothing special. Maybe the choreo and the staging does something, especially when they were stacked on the ground. It is very intuitive, but no more than that. I have to admit that his voice was very good, he was never out of tune, even though he was heavily choreographed.

Rating: 8

Eight. For Naomi‘s voice and for the French lyrics. The song is okay. I could see this represent Luxembourg in Malmö this year.

Rating: 7

Love the vibe of the song! However since it is a televised show and the image plays an important role, I disagree with their styling. Angy and Rafa stack up their voices on an amazing duet! Nice duet!

Rating: 6

The only group act tonight, with a nice staging, but nothing special song-wise. Let’s see how they will do tonight!

Rating: 12

I see the winner here (wrote this before the announcement, so in case she wasn’t please bear with me). Amazing vocals, song, stage presence! I can see this doing good at this year’s contest. Would she win though? In my honest opinion, I don’t think so.

Rating: 5

CHAiLD might have been a bit stressed out. His vocals were not good, he kind of lost it at times. Loved his style though. The LED stage projections were great!

Rating: 4

Such a catchy song but TALI doesn’t seem to be doing much, the dancers carry the job. Four, only for the song.

The results

The eight contestants that competed in Luxembourg Song Contest were given the chance to be voted twice by the public, within two voting intervals during the show.

After the first interval, the below three artists were selected to take part in the second voting interval, as the hosts of the show called it, the Super Final of Luxembourg Song Contest:

But let’s have a look on how the jury voting went?

Jury voting 12 points

jury results

TALI grossed a total of 94 points from the international juries. After the public vote was added, these are the final results that determined the winner and this year’s representative of Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Malmö, Sweden.

 

The selection of the representative of Luxembourg adds up to the list of selected artists and songs that we will get the chance to watch being performed live later next May in Malmö, Sweden! At the video down below you can watch this year’s representative of Luxembourg, who will get the chance to perform on stage in Malmö this May:

Do you like the artist and song that is selected to represent Luxembourg at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest? Let us know in the comments section below!

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

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Iceland: Silvia Night signs an open letter to the EBU against Israel!

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It seems like the statement of EBU that confirms that KAN and Israel can normally participate to the contest has sparked reactions among the fans but not only.

Now the Icelanding artist and singer Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir is added to the list of artists that protest against the participation of Israel in this year’s contest. Her name might not ring a bell for you, but for sure you remember her as Silvia Night, the TV persona she played on an Icelandic TV show and her Eurovision participation in Athens, back in 2006 with the song “Congratulations“.

 

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“As an artist who has had the privilege of competing in eurovision, it is my shared opinion that israel should be removed from the 2024 contest.
I have signed an open letter to the european broadcasting union asking them to remove israel as it is unfair to any artist they select to have their participation tied to political motivation. This is not the spirit of eurovision’s celebration of music.”

Who is Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir?

Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir is an Icelandic actress and singer. She is best known for her portrayal of the controversial character Silvía Night in the television series Sjáumst með Silvíu Nótt and during the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, in Athens, Greece. Her antics, both onstage and offstage, created controversy and garnered international media attention. She even staged slapping one of her dancers and sweared on Greek TV reporters live on Greek TV news, after she got disqualified from the finals, while in character.

Silvía Night participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with the song “Congratulations“. Have a look on her live performance below:

There have been calls to ban Israel from Eurovision 2024, like outside NRK right before the first and second semi-finals of MGP. In Iceland, more than 500 artists signed a petition asking RÚV to withdraw from the contest. In Finland, 1300 artists signed a petition asking for Israel to be removed. The British representative Olly Alexander has also shared in public his opinion against Israel. Also just recently Montaigne signed an open letter to the EBU asking the ban of Israel from the contest and Ben Dolic joined her by doing the same.

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

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Eurovision 2024: Gina Dirawi to host Eurovision Song Contest 2024?

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We are a tiny bit less than six months away from next year’s Eurovision Song Contest and there are still no clear details about what SVT has planned on the stage or the hosts of the shows.

But here came Aftonbladet‘s Natalie Demirian and Viktoria Hummelstedt, who reported at Aftonbladet TV that according to several readers who had contacted them, Gina Dirawi might have revealed some details when she was recording last week’s “Hellenius Hörna“, a TV4 tv-show. But let’s dive into more detail about what has happened.

Gina was asked about Melodifestivalen and also about whether she will or will not lead Eurovision, next May in Malmö. Dirawi started talking a little about it, before she interrupted the whole thing -according to people who were on-site as an audience- and said that they are not allowed to say anything about what they had just heard, because she herself is not allowed to talk about it yet. She is said to have become very stressed about it and there must have been a strange atmosphere in the studio.

It is still highly unclear if her reaction was this due to the fact of her being bound with an NDA or for any other reasons. On one hand it doesn’t have to mean anything at all, on the other hand we cannot completely rule out the fact that she might be one of the hosts next year, it is just not impossible that she is in it. Time will tell if she will be one of the hosts of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, which was brought back to Malmö after Loreen won with her entry “Tattoo” by accruing her second victory eleven years after her first one.

Who is Gina Dirawi?

Gina Dirawi is a Swedish television presenter, singer-songwriter, radio personality, blogger, comedian and actress. She is best known as the first woman ever to host Melodifestivalen on three occasions: in 2012 alongside Helena Bergström and Sarah Dawn Finer, in 2013 alongside Danny Saucedo and in 2016 with guest co-hosts in each show. Dirawi was also the Swedish spokesperson at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016, announcing the results of the Swedish jury vote from Eurovision: The Party in the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm. Gina is of Palestinian descent and her family comes from Lebanon, and it would make much sense if SVT had selected her to be one of the hosts of the contest, which will take place in the most pro-Palestinian city of Sweden at times when there still might be an ongoing middle-eastern conflict between Israel and Palestine.

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

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