This week, we were very happy to be joined by Rosie’s boyfriend Lewis to reflect on the celebration of diversity that was Eurovision 2017, held in Kyiv, Ukraine! Together, we share our memories of the 2017 Eurovision season, divulge our top three entries, while also reflecting on the chaos of the organisation of the Contest. We also speak a little about the controversy of Salvador’s win, while contrasting the chaos of the year with the influx of memes that continue to humour Eurofans to this day!

What do you think of our opinions? Who was in your top three entries for 2017? Did the right song win for you? Please do let us know what you think by getting in touch below! Also we’d love to take this opportunity to thank Lewis for filling in for Tim as he saves the world, one pop catastrophe at a time!

A link to this episode on Apple Podcasts is available here.

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This week, the hosts round off their “stan country” reviews by going to Tim’s “stan” country of Israel. Together, they talk about their favourite Israeli entries, discuss the growing variation of language used by Israel and investigate how KAN, Israel’s new public broadcaster, has managed to have such incredible success at the Contest after succeeding the IBA. We also discuss the ability of how Israel has managed to incorporate Middle Eastern elements and combine them with Western pop, with varying degrees of success.

What do you think of our opinions? Do you think KAN have done a good job since taking over Eurovision participation? Who are some of your favourite Israeli entries? Should Israel even be allowed to compete in the Contest? Please do let us know by getting involved in the comments!

A link to this episode on Apple Podcasts is available here. Below is a video that Rory mentions in the podcast, referring to a misheard lyrics video of Izhar Cohen’s winning entry in 1978 – “A Ba Ni Bi”, now known as “I Wanna Be A Polar Bear”. Enjoy!

The post Israel: Culture on Europe’s Edge appeared first on That Eurovision Site.

This week, the hosts take a trip to Scandinavia – to Jazzi’s “stan country” of Finland. We discuss our favourite Eurovision entries from Finland and talk about Yle’s gradual development of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) as a national final format. We also discuss how Finland’s experience with the juries has negatively impacted their recent results at the Contest, coming up with an ingenious way to avoid Yle from falling into this pitfall in future.

What do you think of our opinions? Do you think Finland’s entries have been underrated, overrated or deserved? Should UMK be trashed in favour of an internal selection? What can Finland do to appease the juries? Do let us know what you think as ever by commenting below!

A link to this episode on Apple Podcasts can be found here.

The post Finland: Changing the Formula for Success appeared first on That Eurovision Site.

This week, we looked to the newest member of the Big Five – and Rosie’s so-called “stan country”: Italy. Together with Rory, Jazzi and Tim, we talk about our favourite and least favourite Italian entries, discuss the popularity of Sanremo as a quasi-national final format, and look at how Italy’s impact on the Contest has helped to bring Eurovision into the modern age.

What do you think of our opinions? Should Italy withdraw for another 14 years? What is your favourite Italian entry? Be sure to let us know what you think about what we think by getting involved on our social media!

A link to this episode on Apple Podcasts is available here.

The post Italy: Class and Kitsch Combined? appeared first on That Eurovision Site.

This week, we were thrilled to be joined by Lesley Roy, who would have represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2020. Together with Jazzi, Rory, Rosie and Tim, we talk about Lesley’s journey to Eurovision, discuss the contrast between “nostalgia” and “outdated”, and revel in Lesley’s anecdote about the (in)famous pink suit.

What do you think about Lesley Roy’s song? Do you think she should return for Ireland in 2021? We would love to thank Lesley for coming onto the podcast, and we hope that the recording sessions that have become an integral part of Lesley’s Eurovision journey bear fruit so that we see Lesley return to obtain her goals next year!

A link to this episode on Apple Podcasts is available here.

The post TEP Talks: Lesley Roy appeared first on That Eurovision Site.

This week, we were delighted to be joined by Andrew, a good friend of the podcast from the United States to discuss the most recent edition of Eurovision to take place (pre-pandemic) – 2019! With the help of Andrew, we talk about our favourite entries of the year, discuss THAT performance from Madonna and reflect on our memories of one of the strongest national selection seasons in Eurovision history.

What do you think about our opinions? Do you think Israel put on a good show in 2019? Is there anything you would have changed about the shows? Please do get in touch to let us know what you think. Also, we’d love to take this time to thank Andrew for coming on the podcast and we hope you enjoyed this episode!

A link to the episode on Apple Podcasts is available here.

The post TEP Reviews: Eurovision 2019 appeared first on That Eurovision Site.

This week, the hosts are joined by the fantastic Bradley from What’s the Wurst? to talk about the most successful country at the Contest – Rory’s home nation of Ireland. We talk about our favourite entries and most memorable moments from RTÉ’s participation in the Contest, as well as discussing the resurgence of Irish in Eurovision, by way of TG4’s involvement in Junior Eurovision.

What do you think of our opinions? Should Ireland try sending a song in Irish into the adult Contest? Who do you think should represent Ireland at Eurovision in the future? How do you think RTÉ would handle a national selection after so many internal selections? Feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments below! We’d also love to thank Bradley for taking the time for talking about Ireland with us!

A link to this episode on Apple Podcasts is available here.

The post Ireland: Paying the Price for Success appeared first on That Eurovision Site.

This week, the hosts look at the country that stands at the crossroads of Central Europe – the Czech Republic, or Czechia. As usual, Jazzi, Rory, Rosie and Tim look at the country’s track record at the Contest, look at how the national selection ESCZ has been able to show the diversity of the Czech music scene, as well as pondering how a format such as ESCZ could be used to bring neighbours Slovakia back to Eurovision. As well as this, keep an ear out for a certain Eurovision participant gatecrashing the podcast!

What do you think of our opinions? Do you think that ESCZ is a strong national final format or should Czechia return to internal selections? What is your favourite Czech entry to the Contest? Please do let us know what you think by commenting below!

A link to this episode on Apple Podcasts is available here.

The post Czechia: The Rise of the Underdog appeared first on That Eurovision Site.

This week, the hosts look at the most recent edition of Eurovision Again’s rewatching series – the 2014 edition in Copenhagen, Denmark. In this episode, Jazzi, Rory, Rosie and Tim reflect on their favourite entries of the Contest, discuss their favourite moments from the Contest – including the historic qualifications of Montenegro and San Marino and are shocked to learn of a secret about the Swiss postcard.

What do you think about our opinions? Who was your winner in the 2014 Contest? Do you think Austria should have won? What was your favourite moment of the entire show? Please do let us know what you think about our comments in the comments below!

The link to the episode on Apple Podcasts is available here.

The post TEP Reviews: Eurovision 2014 appeared first on That Eurovision Site.

This week, we were so happy to be joined by good friend of the podcast, Dovilė – a native Lithuanian – to talk about her country’s forays into Eurovision! We talk about the impact On Fire had in fostering the possibility of giving Lithuania its first win, while also looking at Lithuania’s extensive national final format and suggest what can be done to keep the momentum going forward.

What do you think about our opinions? Do you think The Roop had a real chance of winning Eurovision 2020? Who are some of your favourites from Lithuania? Please do let us know what you think by commenting below! Also, we’d love to thank Dovilė for joining us! If you want to join the podcast, let us know!

A link to the podcast on Apple Podcasts can be found here.

The post Lithuania: On Fire or Stone Cold? appeared first on That Eurovision Site.