The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

By The EuroWhat? PodcastMusic Music Commentary Music History

The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews episodes

May 07, 2018Episode 16: Semi-Final Preview
It's showtime! 37 countries will be competing in the Eurovision semi-final rounds Tuesday and Thursday. We share our thoughts on the rehearsals as well as suggestions for how to make your Eurovision party on Saturday a fun experience for everyone.
Our preview begins with an explanation of how Eurovision's complicated points system works. If you are hosting a Eurovision party this year, we offer recommendations on food, party games, and viewing options in case Logo's coverage isn't your thing. Then the crew talks about the semi-final rehearsals, including which acts are most improved, which have fizzled, and which we're most excited to see. It's Eurovision Week!
Semi-Final Preview Summary
How does Eurovision scoring work in the semi-final and Grand Final? (3:07)
Tips for Hosting a Eurovision party (18:43)
How to Watch the Eurovision Song Contest in the US (25:26)
Talking about the semi-final rehearsals (30:26)
Which countries are the most improved? (32:25)
Which countries have fizzled? (41:40)
Which entries are we most interested to see? (54:45)
Links
Video: How Scoring Works at Eurovision (YouTube)
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
1 hr 10 min
May 02, 2018Episode 15: Eurovision 2018 Auto Qualifiers
As the Eurovision semi-finalist rehearsals are underway in Lisbon, the EuroWhat chats about the six auto qualifiers for this year's Grand Final. Will Portugal be a repeat winner? Will a Big Five country take the crown? Why so serious, Europe?
After a brief check-in with the first semi-final rehearsals—get well soon, Mikolas Josef!—we take a look at the jury who will provide half the Eurovision points. Could a hologram performance of "Waterloo" be in the near future? Also, before we talk about the Big Five, we speculate on whether France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom are at a disadvantage as auto qualifiers. Along with host country Portugal, we dive into the last six entries of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in preparation for the big events next week. GET EXCITED!
Summary
Rehearsals underway (2:00)
Judging the Juries (7:31)
ABBA reuniting! (10:10)
Is the Big Five at a competitive disadvantage as auto qualifiers? (12:07)
The last six Eurovision 2018 entries (21:06)
Programming notes (55:40)
Eurovision 2018 Auto Qualifiers
Portugal - Cláudia Pascoal - "O Jardim" (21:06)
Spain - Alfred and Amaia - "Tu Canción" (26:59)
United Kingdom - SuRie - "Storm" (33:20)
France - Madame Monsieur - "Mercy" (39:18)
Germany - Michael Schulte - "You Let Me Walk Alone" (45:06)
Italy - Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro - "Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente" (50:02)
Links
Jury List (Eurovision.tv)
Explaining the New Jury Rules (ESC Insight)
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
58 min
April 25, 2018Episode 14: Eurovision 2018 Semi-Final 2 Hodgepodge
The second half of the second semi-final of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest is a European hodgepodge of pop, rock, dance, ethno-jazz, and... whatever it is Montenegro's doing (never change). We break down the last nine semi-finalists in this week's podcast.
Eurovision 2018 Semi-Final 2 Hodgepodge Summary
Listener Feedback (3:03)
Eurovision: The Board Game (5:37)
Avicii (8:24)
LogoTV's Plan (10:02)
Traveling to Eurovision (11:22)
Second Semi-Final Second Half Running Order
Georgia - Ethno-Jazz Band Iriao - "For You" (16:16)
Poland - Gromee featuring Lukas Meijer - "Light Me Up" (23:04)
Malta - Christabelle - "Taboo" (28:46)
Hungary - AWS - "Viszlát Nyár" (35:46)
Latvia - Laura Rizzotto - "Funny Girl" (41:48)
Sweden - Benjamin Ingrosso - "Dance You Off" (49:11)
Montenegro - Vanja Radovanović - "Inje" (56:14)
Slovenia - Lea Sirk - "Hvala, Ne!" (1:02:51)
Ukraine - Melovin - "Under the Ladder" (1:08:00)
Links
Eurovision Game (2007 Edition) (Board Game Geek)
English version of "Viszlát Nyár" (YouTube)
Final Fantasy VIII Intro (YouTube)
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
1 hr 16 min
April 18, 2018Episode 13: Eurovision 2018 Australia and Others
The first half of the second Eurovision semi-final is extra bubbly this year. Er... that should be bubble-y because there are few sure bets, even among perfect streak holders. We break down the field in this week's episode.
Eurovision 2018 Australia and Others Summary
Eurovision Album Drop (2:58)
Eurovision in Concert (9:18)
Second Semi-Final First Half (11:50)
Eurovision Second Semi-Final Running Order
Norway - Alexander Rybak - "That's How You Write a Song" (11:50)
Romania - The Humans - "Goodbye" (19:47)
Serbia - Sanja Ilic and Balkanika - "Nova Deca" (25:35)
San Marino - Jessica featuring Jenifer Brening - "Who We Are" (30:47)
Denmark - Rasmussen - "Higher Ground" (38:46)
Russia - Yuliya Samoylova - "I Won't Break" (43:26)
Moldova - DoReDos - "My Lucky Day" (49:54)
Netherlands - Waylon - "Outlaw in 'Em" (54:29)
Australia - Jessica Mauboy - "We Got Love" (59:38)
Links
Eurovision Album iTunes | Amazon | Google Play
"We were rooting for you..." (YouTube)
San Marino funding list leaked (Oikotimes)
"I Won't Break" at Moscow Eurovision Party (YouTube)
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
1 hr 11 min
April 11, 2018Episode 12: Bringing the Party
Before the big party in Lisbon next month, we chat about the London Eurovision Party and other pre-festival shindigs. We also finish up talking about the first semi-final, including our hopes and dreams for what we'll see on stage.
Bringing the Party Summary
London Eurovision Party (4:28)
Eurovision Song Contest First Semi-Final Second Half (11:19)
First Semi-Final Running Order
First Half (last week's episode)
North Macedonia - EyeCue - Lost & Found (11:19)
Croatia - Franka - Crazy (19:05)
Austria - Cesár Sampson - Nobody But You (26:14)
Greece - Yianna Terzi - Oneiro Mou (32:40)
Finland - Saara Aalto - Monsters (38:00)
Armenia - Sevak Khanaghyan - Qami (45.42)
Switzerland - ZiBBZ - Stones (51:22)
Ireland - Ryan O'Shaughnessy - Together (57:40)
Cyprus - Eleni Foureira - Fuego (1:05:35)
Links
Croatia's Plagiarism Funtimes:
Initial story (ESC Xtra) | Franka's response (Facebook)| HRT's response (ESC Xtra)
Other Eurovision Pre-party Events
Riga | Moscow | Israel | Madrid | Eurovision in Concert
Let us know about your Eurovision viewing party!
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
1 hr 12 min
April 04, 2018Episode 11: First!
This week we begin our analysis of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in earnest. First up: the first half of the first semi-final! Which entries are locks for advancing to the Grand Final? Who might get help from the running order? Why is Staples playing Eurovision songs from 2016?
First! Summary
Eurovision Viewing Parties (3:50)
Why is Staples playing "Sunlight"? (5:20)
Analyzing the semi-final (9:36)
First Semi-Final Running Order
Azerbaijan - Aisel - X My Heart (9:36)
Iceland - Ari Olafsson - Our Choice (14:48)
Albania - Eugent Bushpepa - Mall (19:52)
Belgium - SENNEK - A Matter of Time (27:16)
Czech Republic - Mikolas Josef - Lie to Me (31:27)
Lithuania - Ieva Zasimauskaitė - When We're Old (37:44)
Israel - Netta - Toy (43:29)
Belarus - Alekseev - Forever (47:44)
Estonia - Elina Netšajeva - La Forza (52:22)
Bulgaria - Equinox - Bones (58:09)
Links
Oddschecker: Overall | First Semi-Final | Second Semi-Final
Eurovision Viewing Party form
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
1 hr 8 min
March 28, 2018Episode 10: The Ones That Got Away (2018 Edition)
This week we have a mini episode where we remember some of the Eurovision national final entries that won't be making the trip to Lisbon. We also take a moment to remember Lys Assia, the original ESC chanteuse.
Episode Summary
Remembering Lys Assia (2:56)
Scandilove (Norway) (7:05)
Í Stormi (Iceland) (11:31)
Sunset (Latvia) (14:52)
Леля (Lelya) (Ukraine) (19:35)
Puerto Rico (Armenia) (22:07)
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
29 min
March 21, 2018Episode 9: Dita Von Teese Curtain Monster
This week we chat about the last six entries for Eurovision 2018 with special guest Barbara Sawhill. Are we buying the hype for Israel's "Toy" as this year's favorite? Do we have "Bones" to pick with Bulgaria? What is up with Georgia's curtain lady?
Dita Von Teese Curtain Monster Summary
Eurovision in the Classroom (2:34)
Russia - Yuliya Samoylova - "I Won't Break" (9:04)
North Macedonia - Eye Cue - "Lost and Found" (18:17)
Israel - Netta - "Toy" (25:38)
Lithuania - Ieva Zasimauskaitė - "When We're Old" (39:26)
Bulgaria - Equinox - "Bones" (46:34)
Georgia - Iriao - "For You" (54.40)
Links
Edurne's "Amanecer" video (YouTube)
Ireland's Eurovision entry facing broadcast ban in Russia over gay dancers (Independent.ie)
Johnny Manuel on America's Got Talent (YouTube)
Eurovision 2017 YouTube Data series (What Else is On)
Special Guest: Barbara Sawhill.
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
1 hr 4 min
March 13, 2018Episode 8: Melfest Fest
Eurovision's 2018 selection season is approaching the end, which means one thing: Sweden's Melfest! Well, two things: lots of internal selections coming through the pipeline. No matter how you count it, we're in the homestretch!
Melfest Fest Summary
Eurovision hodgepodge
Azerbaijan - Aisel - "X MyHeart" (5:44)
Portugal - Cláudia Pascoal - "O Jardim" (10:42)
Belgium - SENNEK - "A Matter of Time" (14:06)
Croatia - Franka - "Crazy" (19:30)
Australia - Jessica Mauboy - "#WeGotLove" (24:21)
Austria - Cesár Sampson - "Nobody But You" (29:25)
Ireland - Ryan O'Shaughnessy - "Together" (34:07)
Norway - Alexander Rybak - "That's How You Write a Song" (39:29)
Sweden - Benjamin Ingrosso - "Dance You Off" (49:46)
Links
Ukraine's broadcaster woes (Eurovision World)
Melodifestivalen (SVT.se)
Christer Bjorkman talks about the Melfest App voting results (ESCExtra)
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
1 hr 7 min
March 07, 2018Episode 7: Remember the Diaspora?
It's another whirlwind trip around Europe as we hopscotch through another set of Eurovision selections. We have outlaws, humans, monsters, and wannabe heroes in the mix, but will it be opera that takes the top prize in Lisbon?
Remember the Diaspora? Summary
Listener question: Who famous? (1:40)

Armenia - Sevak Khanagyan - "Qami" (5:55)

Romania - The Humans - "Goodbye" (12:30)

Cyprus - Eleni Foureira - "Fuego" (18:41)

Netherlands - Waylon - "Outlaw in 'Em" (23:51)

San Marino - Jessika (f/ Jenifer Brening) - "Who We Are" (30:58)

Finland - Saara Aalto - "Monsters" (35:25)

Estonia - Elina Netšajeva - La Forza (42:31)

Poland - Gromee feat. Lukas Meijer - Light Me Up (47:12)

Iceland - Ari Olaffson - “Our Choice” (52:03)
Links
Romania finalists Feli and Alexia & Matei

Iceland finalists Dagur Sigurðsson and Heimilistónar (Source)
Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
1 hr

About The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

From the publisher's feed

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…