The Eurovision Song Contest is the longest-running annual international TV song competition, held, primarily, among the member countries of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) since 1956.
The city of Gothenburg was chosen by the Swedish broadcaster to be host city to the 1985 Eurovision Song Contest. This year, the Netherlands chose to withdraw from the contest because it collided with the country's national Remembrance Day. Yugoslavia also decided to stay home because of a national holiday. Israel and Greece returned to the contest so the number of participants was 19 again, just as in the previous year.
Watch Now:Amazon24 countries participated in the contest in 2000. Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Lithuania, Romania and Bosnia & Herzegovina were all relegated due to their lower average scores. Greece was initially supposed to take part but withdrew.
Watch Now:AmazonA new record of participating countries was set in 1992 as the Netherlands returned to the contest and Malta continued to participate. The venue for the show was the MalmöMässan, a large exhibition and conference centre. The stage was in the shape of a Viking ship's bow and the floor design was an adaption of the EBU's Eurovision logo.
Watch Now:AmazonThe second Semi-Final of the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest with 17 contestants representing Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.
26 countries competed in the final, which was the first to be broadcast on live television in the United States. A record-breaking 204 million viewers worldwide watched the contest, beating the 2015 viewing figures by over 5 million. The slogan for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest was Come Together. The theme artwork, inspired by the dandelion, symbolised the power of resistance and resilience but also of regeneration – when the seeds fly away from the dandelion new life is created where they touch down.
The first Semi-Final contenders 1. Finland: Sing It Away sung by Sandhja 2. Greece: Utopian Land sung by Argo 3. Moldova: Falling Stars sung by Lidia Isac 4. Hungary: Pioneer sung by Freddie 5. Croatia: Lighthouse sung by Nina Kraljić 6. Netherlands: Slow Down sung by Douwe Bob 7. Armenia: LoveWave sung by Iveta Mukuchyan 8. San Marino: I Didn't Know sung by Serhat 9. Russia: You Are The Only One sung by Sergey Lazarev 10. Czech Republic: I Stand sung by Gabriela Gunčíková 11. Cyprus: Alter Ego sung by Minus One 12. Austria: Loin d'ici sung by ZOË 13. Estonia: Play sung by Jüri Pootsmann 14. Azerbaijan: Miracle sung by Samra 15. Montenegro: The Real Thing sung by Highway 16. Iceland: Hear Them Calling sung by Greta Salóme 17. Bosnia & Herzegovina: Ljubav Je sung by Dalal, Deen, Ana & Jala 18. Malta: Walk on Water sung by Ira Losco
This year there are 42 entries to the Eurovision Song Contest, with San Marino withdrawing due to financial difficulties and Georgia being forced out of the contest as their song breached the rules of the contest, while Slovakia makes a return to the contest after an 11 year absence. The 54th Eurovision Song Contest is being hosted by Moscow, Russia, following Dima Bilan's win for Russia in the 53rd Eurovision Song Contest. The Contest will take place in Moscow's Olympic Indoor Arena.
Watch Now:AmazonFor the first time since 1983, Germany hosted the Eurovision Song Contest. The 2011 Eurovision Song Contest was held in Düsseldorf following an open selection process. A total of forty-three countries took part in the 2011 contest held in Düsseldorf. The city emerged as the winner of an open selection process which saw several cities compete for the right to host the Eurovision Song Contest. The biggest news of this contest was the return of Italy, after more than ten years. Italy joined France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom to form the so-called Big Five countries that have automatic qualification to the Grand Final.
Watch Now:AmazonThe 2012 Eurovision Song Contest was held in Baku, Azerbaijan. It is the furthest East that the contest had ever been held. Baku provided a unique setting for the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. The slogan for the competition this year was Light Your Fire, which was fitting given that the event was being held in Azerbaijan, the Land of Fire.
Watch Now:AmazonThe second Semi-Final contenders : 1. Latvia: Heartbeat sung bu Justs 2. Poland: Color Of Your Life sung by Michał Szpak 3. Switzerland: The Last Of Our Kind sung by Rykka 4. Israel: Made Of Stars sung by Hovi Star 5. Belarus: Help You Fly sung by IVAN 6. Serbia: Goodbye (Shelter) sung by Sanja Vučić ZAA 7. Ireland: Sunlight sung by Nicky Byrne 8. FYR Macedonia: Dona sung by Kaliopi 9. Lithuania: I've Been Waiting For This Night sung by Donny Montell 10. Australia: Sound Of Silence sung by Dami Im 11. Slovenia: Blue And Red sung by ManuElla 12. Bulgaria: If Love Was A Crime sung by Poli Genova 13. Denmark: Soldiers Of Love sung by Lighthouse X 14. Ukraine: 1944 sung by Jamala 15. Norway: Icebreaker sung by Agnete 16. Georgia: Midnight Gold sung by Nika Kocharov and Young Georgian Lolitaz 17. Albania: Fairytale sung by Eneda Tarifa 18. Belgium: What's The Pressure sung by Laura Tesoro
The 2013 Eurovision Song Contest was in the Malmö Arena in Malmö, Sweden. 26 countries qualified for the Grand Final and took the stage in front of a live audience and millions watching at home.
Watch Now:AmazonIn 1975 another voting system was implemented. Juries in every country would give 1 - 12 points to their 10 favourite songs, starting with 12 points to their top favourite, then 10 to the second favourite, 8 to their third favourite, 7 to their fourth favourite and ending with 1 point for their tenth favourite. This formula is still in place today. A record of 19 participating countries took part in the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest. After its debut in the preceding year, Greece withdrew from the contest. On the other hand, Turkey sent its first entry to the song contest and France and Malta returned.
Watch Now:AmazonThe Grand Final of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest took place on 10th May 2014. The slogan for the event was #JoinUs which was an attempt by the producers to incorporate social media into the shows. Austria won the 2014 contest with Rise Like A Phoenix, performed by bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst. Immediately after her victory Conchita became a household name. The Netherlands finished in second place with Calm After The Storm performed by The Common Linnets, which became a big hit following the contest.
Watch Now:AmazonThe first Semi-Final of the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest with 16 contestants representing Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, F.Y.R. Macedonia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia and The Netherlands.
The 20 acts that qualified through the two Semi-Finals will join the five pre-qualified countries: Norway (the Host Country), France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. Viewers and professional juries in over 40 participating countries will vote. Viewers and professional juries each have a 50 percent stake in the outcome. The professional juries will feature six members in each country. The running order of the represented countries in the FInal will be determined by draw, right after each of the two Semi-Finals.
Watch Now:AmazonFor the third time in the 18-year-old history of the Eurovision Song Contest, Luxembourg had the honour of hosting the event with 17 nations present. After ending up in last position two years in a row, Malta decided to withdraw from the contest. Austria decided not to participate either. Instead, a new country joined the song contest, Israel. It was the first non-European country to enter the contest. Israel was allowed to do so because the country was already a member of the European Broadcasting Union.
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