The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Eurovision has given their branding elements a makeover in preparation for next year's 70th edition. Graphic Designer Justin Ladia joins Ben to discuss why rebrands happen, what the EBU may want to accomplish with this rebrand, and first impressions on the new fonts and images introduced for Vienna 2026. Perceived Aura Summary Why do a rebrand? (2:31) Examining the new Eurovision logo and fonts (7...

It's offficially the pre-season for Eurovision 2026 and we have a lot of news to get caught up on. We're heading to Vienna in May and planning for the national final season is underway. We also review Austria's CV at Eurovision. Welcome to Austria Summary Willkommen in Wien (0:49) National Final Updates: Austria, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Ukraine (4:40) Coming up: Eurovision'...

As we wrap up our 8th season and Eurovision's 69th (nice) edition, we take a rapid fire tour of the Contest up to this point while trying to find something nice or interesting to say about each year. Content warning: goofiness. Subscribe The EuroWhat? Podcast  is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here . Comments, questions, and episode topic suggesti...

The Grand Final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest featured 21 songs with non-English lyrics, the most to appear since the language rule was abolished in 1999. In this episode, we'll explore the history of the language rule and why language diversity has returned to the Contest. Lingua Franca Summary The introduction of the Language Rule at Eurovision (4:17) The End of the Language Rule (17:17) W...

Quite a bit has happened since we last checked in on Eurovision news. Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl will be stepping down, there's a new head of the Reference Group, and we know which cities have made bids to host next year's competition. Good to Go Summary Eurovision Host City: Innsbruck vs Vienna (1:00) Martin Österdahl Steps Down (4:48) Have you joined the Eurowhat AV Club? (10:43) 17 P...

1990 was the European Year of Tourism. The map of Europe was also changing, as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the movement toward what would become the European Union started to redefine the concept of borders. We’ll be taking a look at how the 1990 Contest in Yugoslavia reflected this new era in Europe, as well as how the 2025 Contest mirrors those reflections 35 years later. Yugoslavia 1990 Sum...

Eurovision has a unique ecosystem where the EBU and various blogs, podcasts, video channel, and other fans have a work relationship in covering the Contest. But is that relationship working? We discuss the current state of fan media with dudepoints, Niall from niallpoints, and Derek from 12 Points (all with good points). Fan Media Summary How was your venue covering Eurovision 2025? (4:23) What is...

We are opening the Patreon vault to share our discussion of Amazon's 2024 documentary I Am: Celine Dion, which chronicles the singer's rise to fame, her prolific career, and her struggles with Stiff Person Syndrome. Here's Amazon's description of the film: Directed by Academy Award nominee Irene Taylor, I Am: Celine Dion gives us a raw and honest behind-the-scenes look at the iconic superstar’s st...

We ease into the off-season by getting caught up on the news in the immediate aftermath of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. We also dig into the jury and televote results and try to read the tea leaves for what might happen in Austria 2026. Integrity Summary Is Everyone Still Mad at the EBU Season 2 Renewal (0:55) Eurovision 2025 Ratings (10:26) Patreon: Doctor Who and Gambamark (13:21) Eurovisio...

We have a winner! Eurovision Song Contest 2025 held its Grand Final in Basel, Switzerland and named a champion after tense rounds of juries and televoting. We discuss the show, the results, and what's in store for Eurovision 2026… Bird Noises Summary Austria wins the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest (1:18) What did you think of the Grand Final? (5:23) How were the Interval Acts? (12:20) What does Euro...

Twenty songs have emerged from the Eurovision 2025 Semifinals and will join six auto-qualifiers on Saturday. We recap the shows from Tuesday and Thursday and get ready for the Grand Final. Eurovision 2025 Grand Final Preview Summary Turquoise Carpet (0:48) Semi-Final 1 Results (3:58) Semi-Final 2 Results (10:33) Grand Final Preview (19:14) Subscribe The EuroWhat? Podcast  is available whereve...

Eurovision Week for 2025 is upon us as well as the 37 artists gathered in Basel. We get caught up on the news leading up to this week before discussing the rehearsals and our predictions for who will advance to Saturday's Grand Final. Eurovision 2025 Semi-Final Preview Summary Lumo stuns in Basel debut (0:48) Eurovision Artist Support Measures (2:38) Ongoing Issues: Flag Policy 2025 and Israel's P...

Graphic designer and puzzler Justin Ladia returns to discuss the Eurovision 2025 auto-qualifiers: Spain, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and host country Switzerland. Justin Ladia Graphic designer, puzzle person, and kendo practitioner from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Seasoned Summary Spain - Melody - "Esa Diva" (3:27) Italy - Lucio Corsi - "Volevo Essere Un Duro" (12:55) Germany - Abo...

Ned Raggett joins us to close out our coverage of the second semi-final for Eurovision 2025. This week, we approach the entries from Australia, Serbia, Denmark, Austria, Israel, and Georgia. Ned Raggett Ned Raggett writes a lot, is a denizen of social media , and more things besides. He has written for Pitchfork , the Guardian , The Quietus , Rolling Stone , The Wire , Shfl , Bandcamp Daily , Frea...

Critic and educator Maura Johnston joins us again to chat about the Eurovision entries from Finland, Latvia, Malta, Lithuania, and Armenia. Maura Johnston Maura Johnston is a writer and editor who teaches at Boston College. She lives in Allston Rock City with her cat, Nuno. Her favorite Eurovision song of recent years is Margaret Berger's "I Feed You My Love." Do Re Mi Summary Finland - Erika Vikm...

Music journalist Fred Bronson returns to start our conversations about Eurovision 2025 Semi-Final 2. We discuss Montenegro, Luxembourg, Greece, Czechia, and Ireland, plus some delightful stories about long distance friendships and phone calls. Fred Bronson Fred Bronson is the author of seven books: Rockin' the Kremlin with David Junk, The Jacksons Legacy (with the Jacksons), Dick Clark’s American...

Culture critic Euny Hong joins us to discuss the multiple genres represented by Croatia, Sweden, San Marino, Portugal, and Cyprus at this year's Eurovision. Euny Hong Euny Hong is a journalist and bestselling author of three books that have been published in a total of over 20 languages. The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation is Conquering the World Through Pop Culture , an Amazon Editor’s Pick,...

Bradley Dalton-Oates from the Eurovision Song Context podcast joins us to discuss the entries from Norway, Estonia, Azerbaijan, Iceland, and the Netherlands. Huzzah Summary Eurovision Song Context (1:11) Norway - Kyle Alessandro - "Lighter" (5:51) Estonia - Tommy Cash - "Espresso Macchiato" (13:38) Azerbaijan - Mamagama - "Run With U" (27:53) Iceland - VÆB - "RÓÁ" (36:01) The Netherlands - Claude...

We kick off our 2025 Eurovision Review Season with #EurovisionSky poster Ted Van Houten to discuss the entries from Albania, Slovenia, Belgium, Ukraine, and Poland. About Ted Ted is a transportation planner in Washington, DC. As someone who loves European geopolitics, obscure pop music, and being a homosexual, Ted was destined to be a Eurovision fan as soon as he found out about it. Other than Eur...

We reach the end of Eurovision Selection Season 2025 and share our first impressions of the internal selections from Israel, Switzerland, Cyprus, Georgia, and France. Stragglers Summary Israel Debuts "New Day Will Rise" by Yuval Raphael (2:07) Zoë Më will represent host country Switzerland with "Voyage" (9:05) Theo Evan says "Shh" for Cyprus (12:02) Georgia declares "Freedom" with Mariam Shengelia...

After addressing some KANTroversy, we discuss the Eurovision selections from Austria, United Kingdom, Sweden, San Marino, and Portugal. Choose Chaos Summary KANTroversy: EBU Rejects Current form of Malta's Entry (1:07) Austria's JJ sings of "Wasted Love" (4:57) The United Kingdom's Remember Monday asks "What the Hell Just Happened" (8:35) Reminder: Revamps and Videos on the Way (14:21) KAJ wins Me...

We get a mix of Eurovision internal selections and national finals this week from Australia, Netherlands, Serbia, Germany, Denmark, and Croatia. We also meet a new mascot/nemesis. LUMO Summary Lumo is here (1:01) Australia has ordered one "Milkshake Man" to Go-Jo (3:15) Claude says "C'est La Vie" for the Netherlands (7:43) Serbia crowns Princ and his song "Mila" (11:28) Germany goes "Baller" with...

Azerbaijan and Iceland have their Eurovision songs selected, Germany picked their finalists, Sweden and Portugal held heats, and San Marino is doing... something. Disco Sauna Summary Azerbaijan's Mamagama wants to "Run With U" (1:27) VÆB win Iceland's Songvakeppnin with "RÓÁ" (5:33) Italy: Lucio Corsi will go to Basel with "Volevo essere un duro" (11:08) Estonia: Tommy Cash and Joost "United by Mu...

We mark the halfway point of Eurovision Selection Season with the third Super Saturday in a row. Ren Faire Summary Poland selects Justyna's "Gaja" (0:57) "Espresso Macchiato" by Tommy Cash wins Eesti Laul (7:52) Norway's Kyle Alessandro will bring "Lighter" to Basel (12:06) Katarsis will represent Lithuania with "Tavo akys" (16:39) Olly wins Italy's Sanremo (20:53) Parg is a Depi Evratesil "Surviv...

It's the biggest weekend of Eurovision 2025 so far with Ireland, Ukraine, Finland, Latvia, and Malta making picks while several other countries' processes continued. Do-re-mi-fa-serving exhausted, but we shall persevere! ('Singing') Summary Mid-week drops: Azerbaijan's Mamagama and Czechia's "Kiss Kiss Goodbye" (2:25) Ireland accepts invitation to Emmy's "Laika Party" (6:15) Erika Vikman wins Finl...