Wiwibloggs: The Eurovision Podcast

Dana International: Eurovision 1998 Winner from Israel discusses new reality show, trans rights and overcoming

Eurovision 1998 winner Dana International has a lot to celebrate. 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of her Eurovision win in Birmingham. It also saw the debut of her reality series "Dana Kama," which ended its run on Yes TV on May 7. She tells our William Lee Adams about the difficulties of filming a reality series, recounts the difficult road to Eurovision (including backlash from Orthodox religious figures), shares her thoughts on her Eurovision 2011 song "Ding Dong" and more.

What Really Happened at Eurovision? Dana International (Episode 2)

Before even landing at Eurovision in Birmingham, Israel’s Dana International had to stare down her critics: The Orthodox community at home wanted the transgender singer banned from the contest. Conservative politicians called her an abomination, but European viewers embraced her — naming her their winner in the first contest that mandated televoting.

To mark the 25th anniversary of her win, this episode looks at queerness on the Eurovision stage and how the contest reflects a radical shift in public attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people across Europe. Long before gay marriage was legalized and transgender rights were encoded in law anywhere on the continent, the contest was already celebrating marginalized voices.

“My victory proves God is on my side,” she said after her surprise win. “Try to accept me — I am what I am.”

Eurovision 2023: Reviewing Semi-Final 2 Qualifiers

Our reaction to the Eurovision 2023 Semi-Final 2 results and qualifiers.

QUALIFIERS 🇦🇱 Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi 🇨🇾 Cyprus: Andrew Lambrou — “Break a Broken Heart” 🇪🇪 Estonia: Alika — “Bridges” 🇧🇪 Belgium: Gustaph — “Because of You” 🇦🇹 Austria: Teya & Salena — “Who the Hell is Edgar?” 🇱🇹 Lithuania: Monika Linkyte — “Stay” 🇵🇱 Poland: Blanka — “Solo” 🇦🇺 Australia: Voyager — “Promise” 🇦🇲 Armenia: Brunette — “Future Lover” 🇸🇮 Slovenia: Joker Out — “Carpe Diem”

Non-Qualifiers 🇩🇰 Denmark: Reiley — “Breaking My Heart” 🇬🇪 Georgia: Iru — “Echo” 🇬🇷 Greece: Victor Vernicos — “What They Say” 🇮🇸 Iceland: Diljá — “Power” 🇷🇴 Romania: Theodor Andrei — “D. G. T. (Off and on)” 🇸🇲 San Marino: Piqued Jacks — “Like An Animal”

Eurovision 2023: Reviewing Semi-Final 1 Qualifiers

We filmed our reaction to the Eurovision 2023 Semi Final 1 qualifiers. 

Käärijä - Cha Cha Cha INTERVIEW after Eurovision 2023 second rehearsal

Käärijä — Finland's Eurovision 2023 act — speaks with our William after his second rehearsal inside our LUSH Liverpool Lounge. He talks about his staging, "Cha Cha Cha" and more.

Blanka - Solo INTERVIEW after Eurovision 2023 first rehearsal

Blanka — Poland's Eurovision 2023 act — speaks with our William after her first rehearsal inside our LUSH Liverpool Lounge. She talks about her staging, that dance break, "Solo" and more.

 

Featuring: William - http://instagram.com/williamleeadams

Malta’s The Busker: Eurovision 2023 interview after first rehearsal

The Busker — Malta's Eurovision 2023 band — speak with our William after their first rehearsal inside our LUSH Liverpool Lounge. The group talk about their staging, that car, "Do You Wanna Dance (Our Own Party)" and more.

Featuring: William - http://instagram.com/williamleeadams

Eurovision 2023: Semi-Final 2 qualifiers prediction (before rehearsals)

Who will qualify from Semi-Final 2 of Eurovision 2023? We predict the Top 10 who will advance out the sixteen acts that will compete at the second Semi-Final on May 11th. The Semi-Final 2 countries are: Denmark, Armenia, Romania, Estonia, Belgium, Cyprus, Iceland, Greece, Poland, Slovenia, Georgia, San Marino, Austria, Albania, Lithuania and Australia.

What Really Happened at Eurovision? Episode 1: All the Pain in the World

Politics, war and the Eurovision Song Contest. Long before Russia invaded Ukraine, conflict already coloured the competition. 

Stars like Loreen, Käärijä and Måneskin were lucky enough to compete in peace. But Fazla - Bosnia & Herzogovina's 1993 singer - risked his life just to get to the contest. 

Fazla recounts his harrowing journey out of the siege of Sarajevo to reach Ireland.

______

Wiwibloggs is proud to announce a new podcast - that goes into the political history of the contest — from the fall of the Iron Curtain to the present — as an arena for cultural diplomacy and the branding of a nation. Beneath the glitz and glamour, what proxy wars are playing out? And what do they tell us about where Europe is today?

In this series, William and Freddy will explore those themes with some very exciting guests telling us their stories first-hand. From running through sniper fire to religious backlash - ‘What Really Happened at Eurovision’ will offer a tell all experience.

Get it wherever you get your podcasts.

 

Featuring,

Freddy: http://instagram.com/freddyt234 

William: http://instagram.com/williamleeadams

Eurovision 2023: Best Automatic Qualifiers | Our Top 3

We asked our readers to name the best Automatic Qualifier at Eurovision 2023. The results of that poll are below in the link. But in this video Deban and William choose their personal picks.

https://wiwibloggs.com/2023/03/30/poll-which-best-big-5-country-at-eurovision-2023/276652/