The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

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The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews episodes

April 02, 2019Episode 45: Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final 1 Part 2: “Oof”
We finish the first half of the first Eurovision semi-final discussing Poland, Serbia, and Slovenia. Then Australia and Belgium kick off our second half coverage.
Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final 1 Part 2: “Oof” Summary
News Desk: Score presentation, "Douze Points", security, and photo apps (1:46)
Poland - Tulia - "Fire of Love (Pali się)" (10:01)
Serbia - Nevena Božović - "Kruna" (18:53)
Slovenia - Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl - "Sebi" (22:29)
Australia - Kate Miller-Heidke - "Zero Gravity" (26:17)
Belgium - Eliot - "Wake Up" (30:01)
Overview (34:24)
Links
Mockup of how new score presentation would have worked in 2018 (YouTube/ESC Luxembourg)
Kidz Bop
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
39 min
March 26, 2019Episode 44: Let’s Discuss Eurovision 2019 Semi Final 1 Part 1
We welcome Eurovision newbie Chris King to our first discussion about the first semi-final. This week's countries include Belarus, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, and Montenegro.
Let’s Discuss Eurovision 2019 Semi Final 1 Part 1 Summary
Belarus - Zena - "Like It" (3:28)
Cyprus - Tamta - "Replay" (9:54)
Czech Republic - Lake Malawi - "Friend of a Friend" (18:40)
Finland - Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman - "Look Away" (23:58)
Hungary - Joci Pápai - "Az Én Apám" (31:58)
Montenegro - D Mol - "Heaven" (37:35)
Overview and predictions (45:04)
Links
@CKingSC
Chris Words
Five Course Trivia
AfriMusic Song Contest
Special Guest: Chris King.
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
52 min
March 19, 2019Episode 43: The Ones That Got Away (2019)
Another Eurovision Selection Season is behind us, but we are still holding out hope for a strong write-in campaign for six entries that didn't make the cut.
We welcome back Noam Roth to the Eurowhat! He gives us an update on what's going on in Tel Aviv as the city gets ready to host the Contest. Then we hand out our honorable mentions for this year's selection season entries that have a place in our hearts even if they don't have a place on the Eurovision stage.
The Ones That Got Away (2019) Summary
Our bracket winner is... (1:17)
How are things in Tel Aviv? (2:00)
The Ones That Got Away (8:26)
Noam's Eurovision Prediction (29:21)
Links
EuroFreak (YouTube)
OGAE Israel (Facebook)
Special Guest: Noam Roth.
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
33 min
March 12, 2019Episode 42: Madness!
The madness of Eurovision Selection Season has come to an end. With 16 songs to discuss, we change up the format to get into competition mode.
Madness! Summary
We Stan Hatari: Öskudagur edition (2:01)
Eurovision Madness Bracket! (4:11)
Round of 16 (6:59)
Round of 8 (20:18)
Final Four (30:22)
The Grand Final (35:06)
VOTE in our Twitter poll
Links
End of Selection Season Bracket (pdf)
Israeli Civil Rights Organisation Calls For Hatari To Be Banned From Entering Israel (Eurovoix)
Hatari costumes are selling like hot-cakes for Öskudagur (Iceland Monitor)
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
43 min
March 08, 2019Melodifestivalen 2019 Preview
Sweden's Melodifestivalen — AKA Melfest — will wrap its 59th edition on Saturday. We go through the 12 entries competing to represent Sweden at Eurovision in Tel Aviv.
Melodifestivalen Running Order
Jon Henrik Fjällgren "Norrsken (Goeksegh)"
Lisa Ajax "Torn"
Mohombi "Hello"
Lina Hedlund "Victorious"
Bishara "On My Own"
Anna Bergendahl "Ashes to Ashes"
Nano "Chasing Rivers"
Hanna Ferm & LIAMOO "Hold You"
Malou Prytz "I Do Me"
John Lundvik "Too Late for Love"
Wiktoria "Not with Me"
Arvingarna "I Do"
Links
Melodifestivalen - Our mock jury and televote special (Aussievision)
The Number Ones: The Jackson 5's "I'll Be There" (Stereogum)
Melfest Playlist (Spotify)
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
35 min
March 05, 2019Episode 41: Loose Ends
The loose ends of Eurovision national final season started wrapping up this past weekend, with seven songs selected, one country confirming withdrawal, and tickets... well...
Loose Ends Summary
Ukraine confirms withdrawal (1:54)
Tickets are on sale... until they're not. Surprise! (3:27)
Belgium asks Eliot to "Wake Up" (4:28)
Looking at Finland's "Look Away" (6:33)
HATARI (9:54)
Can Moldova "Stay" on track? (15:04)
Norway Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" (17:47)
Portugal's "Telemóveis" splits the room (20:54)
Georgia Idol or Georgia Idle? (24:13)
Serbia's "Kruna" (26:49)
Coming up: The Last Week of Selection Season! (29:22)
Links
Intro clip: IMSLAND covers Hatari (YouTube)
Kan demands cancellation of insider Eurovision ticket sales (Globes)
Finland: YLE Considers Format Change for UMK (Eurovoix)
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
33 min
February 27, 2019Episode 40: YIKES
Eurovision ticket prices? Yikes. Lithuania Marathon finale shenanigans? Yikes. Ukraine's Vidbir Inquisition? YIKES. It's been a week, y'all.
YIKES Summary
Eurovision ticket prices announced (1:25)
France not a fan of Duz Pua (3:42)
Ben and Mike are 23rd cousins twice removed (5:55)
Germany chooses S!sters' "Sister" (7:14)
Hungary's Joci Pápai returns to Eurovision with “Az Én Apám” (11:04)
Ukraine was A THING (13:08)
Denmark's Leonora changes the tone with "Love is Forever" (22:07)
How Many People in Lithuania? Jurijus "Run with the Lions" (28:31)
Melfest Checkin (33:19)
This week: Finland, Georgia, Iceland, Moldova, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Belgium, North Macedonia (34:54)
Links
MyHeritage: Twins!
MARUV discusses the contract (Twitter)
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
42 min
February 19, 2019Episode 39: Eurovision is a Whole Mood
All the things happened this past weekend in Eurovision-land and the trend that's emerging: Eurovision is in a mood.
Eurovision is a Whole Mood Summary
Australia locked in until 2023! (1:39)
Israel chooses Kobi Marimi (2:36)
Poland announces Tulia (5:01)
Greece announces Katerine Duska (7:11)
Dora: Croatia chooses Roko Blazevic's "The Dream" (8:46)
Eesti Laul: Estonia chooses Victor Crone's "Storm" (11:27)
Supernova: Latvia chooses Carousel's "That Night" (14:39)
EMA: Slovenia chooses Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl's "Sebi" (18:24)
Selectia Nationala: Wiwiblogs Romania chooses Ester Peony's "On a Sunday" (21:21)
Semi-final checkins: Iceland, Sweden, Hungary (drama!), Lithuania, Ukraine, Portugal (30:47)
Links
What's up with Eurovision tickets? (Spoiler: the price) (Eurovision World)
When the Jury System Does Not Work (Eurovisionary)
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
40 min
February 12, 2019Episode 38: Euro Vortex
Eurovision 2019 Selection Season is in full swing! We dive into the Euro Vortex with the United Kingdom, Montenegro, Italy, and Hatari among many others.
First up, Ben and Mike recover from last week's polar vortex by checking in with some Eurovision in the Wild on US TV. Kseniya Simonova—the sand artist from Ukraine's 2011 entry "Angel"—blew away Terry Crews on America's Got Talent and might win the final? Meanwhile, CBS has enlisted some Eurovision help with The World's Best while the Tennis Channel is causing folks to ask "Is this a Eurovision?"
This past week has brought about a handful of selections. Russia reminds us that Sergey Lazarev will be their only one for 2019. The United Kingdom will try to make Michael Rice's "Bigger Than Us"... something. Australia finally decided. Montenegro introduces this year's first group. And Italy has opinions about "Soldi" by Mahmood. Like... A LOT of opinions.
There was also a vortex of semi-finals throughout the weekend, with Iceland, Lithuania, Sweden, and Romania getting closer to making their final choices. Could we be on the cusp of a Hatari / Laura Bretan collaboration in 2020? We'll need to get through the chaos of next weekend's dozen or so selections and broadcasts.
Euro Vortex Summary
Eurovision in the Wild (1:49)
Russia selects Sergey Lazarev (7:21)
United Kingdom chooses "It's Bigger Than Us" (8:43)
Australia Decides (12:34)
Montenegro: "Heaven" sent (18:08)
Italy has opinions about Sanremo (21:22)
Checking in with the Semi-Finals (27:42)
Links
Explaining the Melfest Heat 2 Results (Gustav's Expert Blog)
Hatari vs. Netanyahu (Wiwiblogs)
Romanian Referendum to Ban Same-Sex Marriage Fails (NPR)
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
39 min
February 05, 2019Episode 37: Australia Decides Gets AUSome
We discuss Australia Decides with Mike and Dale from the Aussievision Podcast! Which entries are we most excited about in this year's field?
Eurovision selection season is starting to get into full swing. We have artist announcements from three countries kicking off this episode, with Austria's choice reminding us of Netta. Speaking of last year's winner, we take a listen to her follow-up single "Bassa Sababa"—does it capture our imagination the way "Toy" did last year?
Coming up this week will be Australia's first-ever national selection Australia Decides. We could have done our own deep dive into the ten songs competing for the ticket to Tel Aviv, but why not bring in some actual Australians to help us out? Mike and Dale from the Aussievision Podcast conquered all the timezones to discuss the Australian music scene, which reality shows actually work as launch pads, and reminisce on the awesomeness of the looks from RuPaul's Drag Race season 6. Oh, and we chat about the 10 songs that will be competing this Saturday.
We close the show talking about the three other selection finals happening this week. A handful of semi-finals are happening as well. Will any of them bring about the downfall of capitalism? Yes, that question is on-topic.
Australia Decides Gets AUSome Summary
Artist Selections: North Macedonia, Finland, Austria (1:52)
Netta's "Bassa Sababa" (7:02)
Australia Decides with Aussievision (9:30)
Upcoming Selections: Italy, United Kingdom, Montenegro (48:59)
How Many People are in Lithuania? (52:13)
Preliminary Rounds: Iceland, Ukraine, Sweden, Romania (53:50)
Links
Intro clip: Learning to Play Your Keyboard (Trash Night Video)
Bondage-Synth-Punk Trio Hatari Announce Final Gig After Failing To Dismantle Capitalism (Reykjavik Grapevine)
Aussievision Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Special Guest: Aussievision.
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
1 hr

About The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

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The Eurowhat? Podcast launched in 2018 and features two Americans (Ben Smith and Mike McComb) attempting to make sense of the Eurovision Song Contest. The show tracks national selections and artist…