[ad_1]
ABBA’s Waterloo has been voted the best music in Eurovision historical past, and with the Tune Contest in Sweden this 12 months, the organizers have a shock ABBA tribute up their sleeves. Adjustments are additionally being launched to each the voting system and the format of the dwell reveals. There might be full dwell performances within the semi-finals from the artists representing the ‘huge 5’ international locations for the primary time, and the general public vote will now open firstly of the dwell remaining.
The Eurovision Tune Contest is organized by the European Broadcasting Union, the alliance of European pubcasters. The large occasion, in Malmö, will characteristic three dwell reveals, protecting the semi-finals and remaining, and 9 reveals in all, when rehearsals are factored in.
Swedish TV producer Martin Österdahl is the Government Supervisor of Eurovision and took a couple of minutes out from preparations to talk to Deadline. He acknowledged the broader dimensions to the competitors, with safety ranges heightened in Sweden and extra protests deliberate by these sad about Israel’s participation.
Österdahl stated, nonetheless, he needs the occasion to be a celebration, notably with Sweden’s robust ties to the competitors. “We’ve received Sweden’s historic seventh win, tying the all-time document with Eire, we’ve received Loreen who’s the champion and the one girl to ever win this contest twice, and naturally, there’s this specific group referred to as ABBA that gained the competition 50 years in the past with Waterloo, we might be celebrating all these items,” he stated.
The anniversary of the momentous Waterloo efficiency that gained Eurovision and helped propel ABBA to superstardom has even impressed a characteristic doc, as Deadline revealed final week.
Österdahl wouldn’t be drawn additional on the deliberate ABBA celebration however one other Eurovision insider teased that the tribute can be “one thing by no means seen on TV earlier than.” Followers have speculated that ABBA may seem in digital type as they do within the ABBA Voyage live shows in London. That present makes use of movement seize to create digital avatars of the band.
Eurovision topper Österdahl stated getting viewers extra deeply concerned was one other key aim. “We’re at all times attempting to tweak this format,” he stated. “We’re maybe the oldest music leisure present and nonetheless going robust, however we at all times try to make it higher and we do a variety of work on the right way to enhance engagement within the reveals.”
The format shake-ups embrace having the acts representing the ‘huge 5’ international locations – France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK – carry out their songs dwell and in full through the semi-finals. They nonetheless robotically have a spot within the remaining. The identical is true of Sweden as host nation.
One other tweak for the 68th version means viewers will have the ability to vote from the beginning of the present this 12 months somewhat than having to attend for the ultimate efficiency to finish, as has been the case. This has occurred twice earlier than, however not since 2011. Worldwide Eurovision followers can vote even earlier. They’ll watch rehearsal footage and movies after which make their alternative 24 hours earlier than the semi-final and remaining reveals.
The semi-finals are nonetheless determined by public vote and the finals by a combination of a jury and public vote. The semis happen on Might 7 and 9. The ultimate is on Might 11.
[ad_2]
