Once more Ben Robertson brings you the latest ESC Insight Email Newsletter, and a look around the world of the Eurovision Song Contest.
This week, we’ve news on the National Finals for the 2015 Contest (that are going to be happening before Junior Eurovision 2014 is under way!), countries returning to the musical fray, and thoughts on what makes a good National FInal – which model should you choose (and no, it’s not just Melodifestivalen):
But it can also work fantastically. Sweden, contrary to Eurovision fan belief, is not the centre of fascination and excitement towards the selection of their song for Eurovision. Melodifestivalen is big news, but as a proportion of the population Iceland is the place to look. Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins attracts easily 90%+ viewing figures and captivates a nation. Voting figures for the 2009 are the last that were made publicly available, but the top four songs in the super final received just shy of 50,000 votes, approximately 1 vote from each sixth person in Iceland.
Iceland suffers from financial issues as well, and the moving of the final this year away from their brand new Harpa concert hall to the university lecture theatre shows that times are tough. Interval acts are non-existant, often perferring to interview previous entrants in a method more akin to Parkinson than Eurovision would ever dare. But then again, being a recognisable face in a show this big in a country so small makes you a somebody.
You can read Robertson’s Reflection, and all the headline, in our regular newsletter. It’s online to read, and you can subscribe there as well so you never miss an issue!