232.4K
Downloads
605
Episodes
Eurovision news with attitude! Conversations inspired by the song contest — though not always limited to it. Catch up on all our Eurovision 2022 interviews, reviews and discussions. Coming to you from London, but riffing on the world of music and pop culture at large. From the team behind Wiwibloggs.com.
Episodes
Jan 7, 2024
Jan 7, 2024
41 min
Producers behind Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu always knew that “Cha Cha Cha” singer Käärijä would be different.
"He had no filter in a very charming sort of way," says Matti Myllyaho, the show’s producer, when asked about their first meeting. "He walked in basically shirtless underneath his jacket. It was a chilly September day, and it was like 9 a.m., and, you know, a corporate broadcaster office in Helsinki, and we're like, oh, this guy is interesting."
In this episode of "What Really Happened at Eurovision?" We delve into the story of how Finland, a nation that thinks of itself as an underdog in the contest, almost snatched the prize from under Sweden’s nose at Eurovision 2024. Kiro, co-writer of “Cha Cha Cha”, tells us about its origins as “Mr Cha Cha”. And Matti describes the immense pressure that fell on Käärijä. He also shares some of the plans for UMK 2024.
Jan 6, 2024
Jan 6, 2024
24 min
Baby Lasagna — real name Marko Purišić — tells us about his Dora 2024 song "Rim Tim Tagi Dim." Among other things, he explains what it was like getting a last-minute call to replace Zsa Zsa, how the song relates to emigration from Croatia, his love of cats, staging plans and much, much more.
With:
Baby Lasagna: https://www.instagram.com/the_baby_lasagna_/
William: http://instagram.com/williamleeadams
Dec 29, 2023
Dec 29, 2023
8 min
Hours before the final of Festivali i Këngës 62 -- Albania's national selection for Eurovision 2024 -- we spoke with eventual winner Besa Kokëdhima. She told our Erdi Tejeci about her song "Zemrën n’dorë".
Dec 28, 2023
Dec 28, 2023
16 min
Our Pedestal reaction. We watch Aiko's live performance of her Eurovision 2024 song for Czechia from ESCZ. Then we discuss how a revamp might improve her chances at the song contest.
Dec 19, 2023
Dec 19, 2023
26 min
It’s been twenty years since Ukraine joined the Eurovision Song Contest. Today they're known as one of the most successful countries in the contest with three wins and a 100% qualification record.
But two decades ago it was a different story. In this episode we chart their course into the contest (with Oleksandr Ponomariov's "Hasta la Vista") and onto their first win (with Ruslana's "Wild Dances") just a year later.
Ahead of Eurovision 2003, a group of young and inexperienced Ukrainians convinced the broadcaster to join the contest. We hear from Vasyl Myroshnychenko, one of those early team members who is now Ukraine's ambassador to Australia. He recounts the broadcaster's many hurdles, which included major debts to the EBU. He also describes the strategic vision that helped Ruslana win Eurovision 2004.
We also hear from Philip Vella, the Maltese composer who wrote Ira Losco's "Seventh Wonder". He was drafted in to write Oleksandr Ponomariov's Eurovision 2003 song....only to have it replaced at the last minute. Philip gives us an exclusive listen of the song Ukraine had originally planned to send. He travelled with Ukraine's team to their debut contest anyway and recounts his experiences.
Featuring:
Freddy: https://instagram.com/freddyt234
William: https://instagram.com/williamleeadams
Dec 17, 2023
Dec 17, 2023
31 min
Our 30-minute reaction video to the news Olly Alexander, previously of Years and Years, will represent the United Kingdom at Eurovision 2024. We discuss the announcement on Strictly Come Dancing, his discography, his collab with Dua Lipa producer Danny L Harle, his mysterious reveal video and much much more.
Featuring (in order of appearance):
William - http://instagram.com/williamleeadams
Lucy - http://instagram.com/lucyeasurtee
Deban - http://instagram.com/deban_deban
Cinan - http://instagram.com/cinansdl
Jonathan - http://instagram.com/jonathanlvautrey
Dec 13, 2023
Dec 13, 2023
18 min
Raiven will sing for Slovenia at Eurovision 2024. She gives her first English-language interview to us to discuss her song "Veronika", her staging, EMA and more.
Featuring: William - http://instagram.com/williamleeadams
Dec 11, 2023
Dec 11, 2023
7 min
Joost Klein will sing for the Netherlands at Eurovision 2024. He gave us his first English-language interview about his selection just hours after the announcement.
Twan van de Nieuwenhuijzen, chair of the Dutch selection committee, said: “Following a careful and multi-phase process, the selection committee ultimately opted for Joost Klein. There were a lot of entries from a wide range of genres, but in our view his had the most hit potential. In the song, you hear his familiar mix of party and nostalgia. With his enormous creativity, we think Joost can put on a great show in a totally original way, and that the Netherlands and Europe are in for a positive surprise. We’re really looking forward to working with him.”
Joost Klein said: “Taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest is a dream come true. I used to watch it together with my parents, glued to the screen, year after year. It’s an honor to represent the Netherlands, and I’m committed to giving my all for the best possible outcome.”
Featuring: William - http://instagram.com/williamleeadams
Nov 30, 2023
Nov 30, 2023
1hr 6 min
We react to the Junior Eurovision 2023 winner, jury results and online vote live after the show. We review the full show and share our readers comments.
Nov 24, 2023
Nov 24, 2023
17 min
Junior Eurovision 2023 online voting opens Friday November 24. Before rehearsals, we compiled our individual JESC 2023 Top 16 and can now share the Top 3 of several of our jury members.
Featuring:
William - http://instagram.com/williamleeadams
Suzanne - http://instagram.com/SuzAdams1
Ruxandra - http://instagram.com/RuxyArt
Jonathan - http://instagram.com/jonathanlvautrey