What is Eurovision? Everything to know about the European song contest

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A multitude of musicians, a large contingent of journalists, and a throng of music enthusiasts converged in Malmo, Sweden, for the Eurovision Song Contest. The event culminated in an exuberant, glitter-filled final on Saturday, where Swiss singer Nemo emerged victorious. However, even Eurovision couldn’t remain untouched by global conflicts. Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in the city, calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and criticizing Israel’s involvement in the contest. Here’s an explanation of what Eurovision entails and how it operates.
Nemo of Switzerland on stage after winning the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final at Malmo Arena on May 11, 2024, in Malmo, Sweden.
In brief, Eurovision is a musical contest where artists from various European countries, and a few outside Europe, compete under their national flags for the title of the continental champion. It’s akin to the Olympics, but for pop music. A more detailed explanation would describe Eurovision as a grand spectacle that combines pop music, celebration, and politics. It’s a fusion of a music festival, an awards ceremony, and a United Nations Security Council meeting. It’s an event filled with lighthearted fun and a testament to the unifying power of music, but it’s also a stage where political issues and regional rivalries come to the fore.
The second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, in Malmo, Sweden on May 9.
This year, the contest, which saw entries from thirty-seven countries, was held over several days in Malmo, a port city in Sweden. The hosting rights were earned by Sweden after their singer Loreen clinched victory in last year’s competition in Liverpool, England. After two rounds of semifinals, the list of contestants was whittled down to the final 25. These acts were set to perform in the grand finale on Saturday at the Malmo Arena, in front of thousands of spectators and an estimated global television audience of 180 million. Countries have the option to enter a solo act or a band. They can perform in any genre and language, but the rules stipulate that the performance must be live and the songs should not exceed three minutes in length. Over the years, the staging has become increasingly sophisticated, featuring dazzling pyrotechnics and intricate choreography. This year, there was a notable presence of topless male dancers. After all the acts have given their performances, the winner is determined by a notoriously intricate combination of votes from phone and online voters worldwide, and rankings by music-industry juries from each of the Eurovision countries. As the results are declared, countries move up and down the rankings, heightening the suspense. Receiving “nul points,” or zero, is considered a national embarrassment. The musical style of Eurovision has diversified dramatically since the contest was founded in 1956. The early years of crooners and ballads gave way to perky pop – epitomized by perhaps the greatest Eurovision song of all time, ABBA’s “Waterloo,” which won the contest 50 years ago. Nowadays, Euro-techno and power ballads remain popular, but viewers have also shown a taste for rock, folk-rap and eccentric, unclassifiable songs.
As per the bookmakers’ predictions, the frontrunner for Eurovision was Nemo, a Swiss singer who performed a melodious, operatic song called “The Code.” Nemo made history by becoming the first nonbinary performer to win the contest, which has a significant LGBTQ+ fanbase. The contest saw its first transgender winner, Dana International, a quarter of a century ago. Nemo’s performance involved balancing on a large, rotating turntable, with no magnets or stage tricks involved, as reported by the BBC. The singer shared with the British media outlet that they are constantly “balancing” while hitting impressively high notes. Another nonbinary performer who created a lot of buzz was Bambie Thug from Ireland. Their song “Doomsday Blue” was described by the BBC as a “witchy, spooky mix of electro-goth and grinding metal guitars.” They are the only known contestant to have brought a “scream coach” to Malmo. The BBC likened the performance to “Kate Bush’s evil twin singing an anti-lullaby.”
Bambie Thug from Ireland with the song “Doomsday Blue” during Eurovision rehearsals.
Other performers expected to excel included the Slovenian opera singer Raiven, the Ukrainian rap-pop duo Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil, and Spain’s Nebulossa. Nebulossa’s song “Zorra” sparked controversy due to its title, which can be interpreted as a derogatory term against women. The performer gaining the most traction was the Croatian singer Baby Lasagna. His song “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” embodied the spirit of Eurovision: it was lively, whimsical, slightly sentimental, and extremely catchy. The act has already won over many fans, particularly since the singer filled in at the last minute when another performer withdrew during the selection process, as reported by the BBC.
Baby Lasagna from Croatia with the song “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” during Eurovision rehearsals.

What is controversial about Eurovision?

Eurovision’s motto is “united by music,” and its organizer, the European Broadcasting Union, strives to keep politics out of the contest. But it often intrudes. Belarus was expelled from Eurovision in 2021 over its government’s clampdown on dissent, and Russia was kicked out in 2022 after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This year, there have been calls for Israel to be excluded because of its conduct in its war against Hamas. Israel is competing but was told to change the title of its song, originally called “October Rain” in an apparent reference to Hamas’ Oct. 7 cross-border attack. It’s now called “Hurricane” and is performed by 20-year-old singer Eden Golan.
Prior to Golan’s performance at the semifinals on Thursday, thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets of Malmo. Another protest occurred on Saturday. In response, Swedish police initiated a significant security operation, drawing in officers from across the country and receiving additional support from Denmark and Norway. A performer who was originally scheduled to participate in Saturday’s finals was removed from the event. Joost Klein from the Netherlands was among the acts slated to perform on Saturday. However, the Associated Press reported earlier in the day that he was disqualified due to an ongoing investigation by the organizers into an unspecified “incident.” According to the BBC, Joost was dismissed following an “intimidation allegation” lodged with the Swedish police by a female member of the production crew. Dutch officials have labeled Klein’s disqualification as “disproportionate” and expressed their shock at the decision.