ESC: Everything to have a say about the Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision Song Contest in Basel is a spectacle of superlatives: 37 acts vie for the coronation and almost 60,000 spectators are at the nine live shows. In the past few years, a good 160 million people have watched television and around seven million on social media channels. What you need to know to have a say in the St. Jakobshalle in Basel until the final on May 17th at 9:00 p.m.

Who is the most controversial act?

As last year in Malmö, this is the appearance of Israel. Because of the Gaza War with more than 50,000 dead, many people protest against this that Israel participates. Most recently, 70 former ESC participants wrote in an open letter that Russia was also excluded in 2022 because of the robbery on Ukraine. “We do not accept this double standards towards Israel,” they wrote. Spain’s broadcaster RTVE had called for a debate about the participation of Israel. There was also criticism in Iceland and Slovenia. Israel warned its citizens who drive to Basel.

The singer Yuval Raphael (24) survived the terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. She was a massacre with a friend at the Nova Music Festival on which terrorists from the Gaza Strip. Her song is called “New Day Will Rise”, the text is about loss and hope. Israel is twice as successful at the ESC with four wins as Germany. Most recently, Netta and the song “Toy” was successful in 2018. As a member of the Eurovision, the international program exchange of the EBU, Israel is one of the participant countries. The EBU organizes the song contest.

Who sends Germany into the race?

German hope comes from Austria. In the preliminary decision, the siblings ABOR (26) and Tynna (24) prevailed from Vienna. The two with roots in Hungary and Romania are called Attila (26) and Tasis (24) Bornemisza with a bourgeois name. He plays cello, she sings. The two of them do not show a sparkling happiness like Lena once in the 2010 German victory with “Satellite”, they are rather serious and reserved.

In her pop song “Baller”, the anger of an abandoned is. Text sample: “I baller ‘holes in the night” and “I got this again, I want the end of the world”. According to Google Trends, the song was in all participating countries in the 30 days to May 6th of Melody’s ESC post according to “ESA Diva” from Melody from Spain.

What makes Sweden the hottest favorite?

This includes neither Spain nor Germany. Sweden, who competes with the Finnish comedy group Kaj. The smart boys Kevin Holmström, Axel Åman and Jakob Norrgård indulge with their fun song “Bara Bada Bastu” (just go to the sauna) exactly that: the sauna session. They have reached deep into the potion of the catchy tunes: with co-grill parollen such as “Ohhh-oh-o-ee-ee-ee-ohhh” and “Saunaaaaa”, garnished with funny dance moves in the sauna towel.

The three have been seen as a top favorite for weeks. In the places behind, Austria with the countertenor JJ and the ballad “Wasted Love”, a mixture of pop, techno and opera, as well as Louane from France, which pays homage to “Maman” of her late mother, and Israel.

Because the country may host the competition that won the year before. In Malmö 2024, Nemo from Switzerland won with the song “The Code” – and smashed the trophy right away during the victory run.

What is new to the ESC this year?

Rarely was the mood as tense as the ESC 2024 in Malmö. Outside the Gaza War there was demonstrations against Israeli participation, and the mood was also heated up behind the stage, with the exclusion of the Israeli participant. That is why there are now, among other things, retreats for participants and zones in which not filming. The regulations for flags and symbols are also new: strictly on stage and in official areas, for the audience with more freedom.

On the stage everyone may only show the flag of their country, for example, no flags that represent the LGBTQ+community. In contrast, everything that is not prohibited in the Swiss law is allowed in the audience, including the Palestinian flag. Everything that is racist or discriminatory is forbidden, hatred or violence inspires or concerns forbidden terrorist groups. A flag per person is permitted for a maximum of 70 centimeters one meter.

Which countries participate?

The competition takes place for the 69th time. 37 acts are at the start. Six are set for the final: in addition to the defending champion Germany, Great Britain, Spain, France and Italy. These are the largest contributors from EBU. The other countries have to fight ten places each in two semi -finals.

It is not that unusual that Germany wants to win with Austrians. Other countries with interpreters from abroad also compete at the ESC: Finns are at the start for Sweden, a Swede for Ireland and an Italian for San Marino.

Host Switzerland even won a victory with a foreigner: Canadian Celine Dion (57) won the trophy for Switzerland in 1988. It also won more often than Germany, namely 1956, 1988 and 2024. With great tension, it is expected whether Dion appears in Basel: it is very sick, and everything depends on its form of the day until the last minute.

Who is one of the eternal best?

Sweden would win the eighth time with a win and be at the top on the eternal ESC best list. It still shares the place with Ireland, which also won seven times. Germany stood twice on the podium: 1982 Nicole with “a little peace” and 2010 Lena.

At the opposite end is Norway. The country is even in the Guinness Book of Records with twelve final ESC places. Finland wasn’t much better either, and then Germany is coming. Germany has only been over the top ten times since 2000.

What rules apply to the appearances?

In addition to the flag regulations, the following applies, among other things: there must be no animals on stage, and a maximum of six people are approved per act. Each post can be a maximum of three minutes. Political statements and gestures as well as advertising or something that can make the competition in abuse are prohibited. The minimum age of the participants is 16.

And what about the “Douze Points”?

Each act can get a maximum of 24 points from each country: twelve from a jury of experts, twelve through televoting. Every resident of a country can participate. From Germany you cannot vote for the German contribution. There are points for the top ten songs. During televoting, the song, which receives the most calls, gets twelve points, the second ten, the third eight and from then on it continues in a step.