What a year it has been. The Eurovision Song Contest thankfully took place after 12 months of waiting, all while the world was dealing with a pandemic. From national finals, to the drama of COVID Safe shows and being live-on-tape, this season has been one like no other.

Michael and Io say goodbye to the 2021 season with a party in the Euroclub.

Some of your 2021 favourites have been given the remix treatment and it’s the perfect soundtrack for a dance.

babblePOP! returns next week and JOYEurovision will be back in 2022!

What have your highlights of Eurovision 2021 been? Share them on the socials.

📲 Follow JOYEurovision during the break across the socials: linktr.ee/joy_eurovision

The songs

🇳🇱 Duncan Laurence 🏳️‍🌈 – Arcade (Kue Radio Edit)

🇫🇷 Barbara Pravi – Voilà (Adrian Back Radio Remix)

🇦🇿 Efendi – Mata Hari (Kamran Selimi Remix)

🇦🇺 Montaigne 🏳️‍🌈 – Technicolour (Alicher KhAAn Remix)

🇨🇭 Gjon’s Tears – Tout l’Univers (Evblies Remix)

🇮🇸 Daði og Gagnamagnið 🏳️‍🌈 – 10 Years (Chromeo Remix)

🇳🇱 Jeangu Macrooy 🏳️‍🌈 – Birth Of A New Age (Mason Remix)

🇱🇹 THE ROOP – Discoteque (The Second Level Remix)

🇭🇷 Albina – Tick-Tock (Stefy De Cicco Remix)

🇺🇦 Go_A – SHUM (Dj NANA Remix)

🇷🇺 Manizha – Russian Woman (DJ Andersen Remix)

🇲🇹 Destiny – Je Me Casse (Stormby Mix Edit)

🇮🇹 Måneskin 🏳️‍🌈 & The White Stripes – Zitti E Buoni v Seven Nation Army (ANGEMI Remix)

Tick tock, back goes the clock… to the 2000s. Michael, Liam and Io head back in time to play some of their picks of the first decade of the third millennium, and what a collection it is too.

Why is the team so surprised about Michael’s selections?

Who made Liam cry?

Who wants to be back at Eurovision?

And even more excitingly, the team was broadcasting from JOY’s brand-new home at the Victorian Pride Centre. While the VPC isn’t open to the public yet, it’s great to get in a little early.

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1406169308795850756

What songs did we miss in the show? Share them on the socials.

📲 Follow JOYEurovision across the socials: linktr.ee/joy_eurovision

The songs

2004: 🇨🇭 Piero Esteriore & the MusicStars – Celebrate!

2007: 🇧🇬 Elitsa Todorova & Stoyan Yankoulov – Water

2000: 🇪🇪 Ines – Once in a lifetime

2009: 🇪🇪 Urban Symphony – Rändajad

2005: 🇮🇸 Selma – If I Had Your Love

2001: 🇸🇪 Friends – Listen To Your Heartbeat

2002: 🇲🇹 Ira Losco – 7th Wonder

2003: 🇩🇪 Lou – Let’s Get Happy

2003: 🇸🇮 Karmen Stavec – Nanana

2007: 🇷🇺 Serebro 🏳️‍🌈 – Song #1

2009: 🇦🇩 Susanne Georgi – La Teva Decisió (Get a Life)

2008: 🇸🇪 Charlotte Perrelli – Hero

June is the international month of Pride around the world (or at least in the northern hemisphere anyway).

Eurovision is a safe space for many in the LGBTIQ+ communities and an event not to be missed.

Michael, Liam and Io share some queer Eurovision classics, along with some newer tracks from favourite queer contestants, in this Pride special.

How did Conchita help Io on their journey?

What’s with the Nordic openness to all things queer?

Why do we think queer communities are drawn to the contest?

Are there any pride classics that we missed? Share them on the socials.

📲 Follow JOYEurovision across the socials: linktr.ee/joy_eurovision

The songs

Ketil Stokkan – Romeo (Norway 1986)

Páll Óskar 🏳️‍🌈 – Djöfull er það gott [Icelandic: Damn that’s good]

Saara Aalto 🏳️‍🌈 – Monsters (Finland 2018)

Marija Šerifović 🏳️‍🌈 – Nije Ljubav To [Serbian: That’s not love]

Jean-Claude Pascal 🏳️‍🌈 – Nous Les Amoureux [We are lovers] (Luxembourg 1961)

Andrzej Piaseczny 🏳️‍🌈 – Przedostatni [Polish: Penultimate]

Conchita Wurst 🏳️‍🌈 – Rise Like a Phoenix (Austria 2014)

DQ 🏳️‍🌈 – All With Love

Dana International 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ – Diva (Israel 1998)

Duncan Laurence 🏳️‍🌈 – Stars

Sestre 🏳️‍🌈 – Samo Ljubezen (Slovenia 2002)

KEiiNO 🏳️‍🌈 – UNBREAKABLE

As we inch closer to the end of the 2021 Eurovision season, it’s important to remember the past… the National Final past that is.

Michael, Liam and Io are live on tape to share some of the songs of the 2021 NF season that never got to air on JOY.

Who brought the flamboyance and excellence?

How many grams are needed for a fun final?

Why is the team so surprised with Norway (and what will they never see on the Gold Coast)?

Are there any songs we’ve missed? Share them on the socials.

📲 Follow JOYEurovision across the socials: linktr.ee/joy_eurovision

The songs

🇦🇱 Era Rusi – Zjarri im [My fire]

🇵🇹 Da Chick – I Got Music

🇮🇹 Lo Stato Sociale – Combat pop

🇦🇱 MIRUD 🏳️‍🌈 – Nëse vdes [If I die]

🇧🇬 VICTORIA – UGLY CRY

🇪🇪 Gram-Of-Fun – Lost In A Dance

🇱🇹 Black Spikes ft Indrė Launikonytė – Don’t Tell Me

🇦🇱 Enxhi Nasufi – Njësoj [Equally]

🇸🇪 Efraim Leo – Best of Me

🇳🇴 Big Daddy Karsten 🏳️‍🌈 – Smile

🇸🇪 Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos – Rena rama ding dong

With Måneskin’s big win at Eurovision 2021, it’s time to explore how Italy got to the winner’s podium.

Michael, Liam and Io were live-on-tape to go back in time and share some Italian faves of years past.

What anthem was Umberto responsible for?

Who was Italy’s biggest party animal?

How does the team explain Italy’s great success since their return in 2011?

Let us know what you think about Italy’s entries and their 2021 win on the socials.

📲 Follow JOYEurovision across the socials: linktr.ee/joy_eurovision

The songs

1958: 🥉 Domenico Modugno – Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) [In the blue-painted blue sky (To fly)]

1964: 🥇 Gigliola Cinquetti – Non Ho L’Età (Per Amarti) [I’m not old enough (to love you)]

1987: 🥉 Umberto Tozzi & RAF – Gente Di Mare [People of the sea]

1990: 🥇 Toto Cutugno – Insieme: 1992 [Together: 1992]

1992: Mia Martini – Rapsodia [Rhapsody]

1997: Jalisse – Fiumi di parole [Rivers of words]

2012: Nina Zilli – L’Amore è Femmina (Out Of Love) [Love is female]

2013: Marco Mengoni – L’Essenziale [The essential] 🎧 Listen to the 2013 interview

2015: 🥉 Il Volo – Grande Amore [Great love]

2019: 🥈 Mahmood 🏳️‍🌈 – Soldi [Money] 🎧 Listen to the 2019 interview

2021: 🥇 Måneskin 🏳️‍🌈 – Zitti e Buoni [Shut up and behave]

After months of preparing and a year of waiting, we’re finally ready to celebrate the Grand Final of the biggest music event in the world.

Michael, Liam and Io jumped in the studio to preview the Big 5 and Host entries in this year’s Eurovision Grand Final. With such a tight field of amazing music, they had great difficulty choosing who might win… but they knew who they didn’t like.

Listen out for all 26 songs played to help you decide, along with a chat with BBC Radio 2’s Richie Anderson (trying to spruik the UK’s song for Australian audiences).

https://twitter.com/BBCRadio2/status/1395786472851050497

Make sure you watch the live show with us (Sunday 23 May at 5am AEST on SBS) and social along using the hashtag #JOYESC.

#OpenUp with us

📲 Follow JOYEurovision across the socials: linktr.ee/joy_eurovision

💿 Love the music? Get your hands on the album.

🗳️ Vote for your winner via the form

The songs

🇮🇹 Måneskin 🏳️‍🌈 – Zitti E Buoni [Shut up and be good]

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1396014051939930112

🇳🇱 Jeangu Macrooy 🏳️‍🌈 – Birth of a New Age

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1396016105416658947

🇫🇷 Barbara Pravi – Voilà

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1396017507069173764

🇩🇪 Jendrik 🏳️‍🌈 – I Don’t Feel Hate

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1396018984764411914

🇪🇸 Blas Cantó – Voy A Querdarme [I’m Going to Love Myself]

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1396021885033353219

🇬🇧 James Newman – Embers

With only hours until the first Eurovision semi final, Michael caught up with Australia’s Head of Delegation, Josh Martin.

They talked about the difficulties with Australia’s distant participation this year, along with what’s been positive about the whole experience.

What’s been the reaction to Australia’s live-on-tape entry?

How has being thousands of kilometres away affected Aussie preparation?

What’s the delegation most worried about?

How has SBS prepared for televising the shows?

Who’s going to be telling Europe who we voted for?This contest is also Josh’s final one as Head of Delegation and Commissioning Editor of Entertainment and Food at SBS. Michael asked Josh what dreams he has for Eurovision in Australia.

Follow JOYEurovision across the socials: linktr.ee/joy_eurovision

You can watch the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest on SBS and SBS On Demand:

Wednesday 19 May

* Semi Final 1 live at 5am AEST

Friday 21 May

* Semi Final 2 live at 5am AEST

* Semi Final 1 primetime at 8:30pm AEST

Saturday 22 May

* Semi Final 2 primetime at 8:30pm AEST

Sunday 23 May

* Grand Final live at 5am AEST

* Grand Final primetime at 7:30pm AEST

Not in Australia? Can’t hear the podcast?

Watch the video:

After weeks of preparing, we’re at the pointy end of the Eurovision year. Michael and Io jumped into the Melbourne studios to preview the final songs of the semi finals.

Which song is the most improved?

How does Michael shock Io?

Why is Io annoyed at people comparing Finland and Italy?

#OpenUp with us

📲 Follow JOYEurovision across the socials: linktr.ee/joy_eurovision

💿 Love the music? Get your hands on the album.

🗳️ Vote for your pick of this half via the form

The songs

🇷🇸 Hurricane – Loco Loco

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1393477326701096968

🇬🇪 Tornike Kipiani – You

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1393478825476976643

🇦🇱 Anxhela Peristeri – Karma

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1393481066728488960

🇵🇹 The Black Mamba – Love Is On My Side

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1393481974182858754

🇧🇬 VICTORIA – Growing Up Is Getting Old

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1393483486346956801

🇫🇮 Blind Channel – Dark Side

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1393485019541168138

🇱🇻 Samanta Tīna – The Moon Is Rising

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1393486494334025730

🇨🇭 Gjon’s Tears – Tout l’Univers

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1393488035442954240

🇩🇰 Fyr Og Flamme – Øve Os På Hinanden

Rehearsals are beginning, Rotterdam is shining brightly… but we’re stuck in cold Melbourne.

Michael, Liam and Io have picked themselves up to preview the first half of this year’s second Eurovision semi final.

Which artist should be divorced from their song?

Who’s got the biggest glow up?

What have Io and Liam disagreed about this time?

#OpenUp with us

📲 Follow JOYEurovision across the socials: linktr.ee/joy_eurovision

💿 Love the music? Get your hands on the album.

🗳️ Vote for your pick of this half via the form

The songs

🇸🇲 Senhit – Adrenalina

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1390940625508343809

🇪🇪 Uku Suviste – The Lucky One

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1390942085008662531

🇨🇿 Benny Cristo – omaga

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1390943800038551553

🇬🇷 Stefania – Last Dance

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1390945278828576770

🇦🇹 Vincent Bueno – Amen

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1390947855938899968

🇵🇱 RAFAŁ – The Ride

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1390949402404024324

🇲🇩 Natalia Gordienko – SUGAR

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1390951160027041795

🇮🇸 Daði og Gagnamagnið – 10 Years

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1390952737488064513

With sixteen songs, the first semi final of death is going to be quite the challenge for all involved.

Michael, Liam and Io run through the second half of the semi, giving their opinions about the other eight songs vying for a spot in the 2021 Eurovision Grand Final.

What song brings consensus between Liam and Io?

Why is Io so angry?

Who got dumped by Zoom?

#OpenUp with us

📲 Follow JOYEurovision across the socials: linktr.ee/joy_eurovision

💿 Love the music? Get your hands on the album.

🗳️ Vote for your pick of this half via the form

The songs

🇳🇴 TIX – Fallen Angel

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1388403879528714241

🇭🇷 Albina – Tick-Tock

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1388405841796030465

🇧🇪 Hooverphonic – The Wrong Place

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1388407105221103624

🇮🇱 Eden Alene – Set Me Free

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1388408641934397442

🇷🇴 ROXEN – Amnesia

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1388411221078994945

🇦🇿 Efendi – Mata Hari

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1388412776360542211

🇺🇦 Go_A – Shum

https://twitter.com/JOY_Eurovision/status/1388414336071180288

🇲🇹 Destiny – Je Me Casse