EUROVISION
What Shapes The Hidden Factors Behind Winning Europe’s Largest Stage?
Artistic Skills & Musical Talent
Jury’s Agenda
Regional Bias
Political Climate In Play
The 70s: A New Era Where Do We Begin?
70s special?
Switzerland’s Lys Assia took home the first-ever trophy with Refrain, setting the tone for decades of music, unity, and cultural celebration to come.
The Eurovision Song Contest of 1974, held in Brighton, UK, marked a shift in the competition’s legacy, thanks to the rise of ABBA. Representing Sweden with their now-iconic song Waterloo ABBA didn't just win the contest—they revolutionized how Eurovision was perceived on the global stage.
Before ABBA, Eurovision winners often enjoyed regional fame but struggled to break into international markets. ABBA’s victory catapulted them to worldwide stardom, showcasing the competition as a springboard for global success.
ABBA’s dazzling costumes, vibrant energy, and bold performance introduced a new visual style to Eurovision. Their stage presence reshaped ideas for what a Eurovision act could do, setting new grounds of a higher benchmark for future performances. With such vibrant preformances today, we see the ABBA e ect in action.
Language Flexibility
Although language restrictions were reinstated after a brief lift in 1971, the language debates of the 1970s sparked a conversation about inclusivity and accessibility in Eurovision.
Visual Innovation
As television technology advanced, Eurovision began incorporating elaborate stage designs and performance e ects, enhancing the visual appeal of the contest.
With the addition of color broadcasts in the late 1960s, the 1970s became a decade where Eurovision embraced more theatrical, visually striking performances, setting the tone for the staging expectations we see today.
Music Styles
The 70s broke away from Eurovision’s emphasis on traditional ballads. The contest began embracing modern and diverse genres, including glam rock, pop, and folk inspired music, making it more relatable to contemporary audiences.
Resilience and Adaptability
In 1998, Dana International became Eurovision’s first openly transgender winner with her song “Diva,” representing Israel.
Eurovision’s four-way tie in 1969 revealed the need for a more clear method of determining a single winner.
Eurovision soon introduced the “12 points system” (explained on page 5). This approach significantly reduced the likelihood of a tie while making the show more exciting.
the 70s were marked by political tensions, the lingering e ects of World War II, and the escalating divisions of the Cold War. Yet, Eurovision managed to rise above these conflicts, providing a neutral platform where countries could engage in friendly competition through the universal language of music.
By remaining true in its commitment to neutrality and cultural celebration, Eurovision proved itself as a resilient, adaptable institution that championed unity, celebrated diversity, and provided a sense of stability in an ever-changing world.
The Eurovision Song Contest was born in Lugano, Switzerland, with only seven participating countries.
Major Changes
As Eurovision grew in popularity, the show faced increasing pressure to adapt to its millions of viewers from across Europe and beyond. This rise in global stardome brought with it new challenges that required careful adjustments to maintain the contest’s integrity, fairness, and entertainment value.
New Rules
Decade of Diversity
2014
Language Barrier Lift
In 1999, Eurovision introduced one of its most impactful rule changes: lifting the restriction on performing in a country’s native language.
Digital Voting
Televoting was introduced in 1997 on a trial basis and became more widespread in 1998. By 1999, most countries adopted televoting, allowing the public to vote for their favorite songs via telephone, which increased audience engagement.
The “Big Five” 2000
To ensure financial stability, the contest granted automatic final qualification to the four largest financial contributors—the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Spain—known as the "Big Four."
Italy's return to Eurovision in 2011 expanded this group to the "Big Five."
Semi-Final Introduction
The introduction of the semi-final in 2004 allowed a greater number of countries to participate, particularly from Eastern Europe.
A few years later in 2008, Eurovision finalized a two semi-final format to accomodate even more countries to participate in Eurovision.
The Future of Eurovision
Professional Juries
To balance public televoting and reduce potential biases, professional juries were reintroduced in 2009, each contributing 50% to the final result, combining expert opinion with public preference.
Conchita Wurst, a bearded drag queen, won with a powerful ballad, symbolizing strength and self-acceptance. Her victory became a significant moment for LGBTQ+ visibility and highlighted Eurovision as a platform for inclusivity.
Netta’s quirky, empowering anthem aligned with the #MeToo movement, making “Toy” a symbol of female empowerment. Her unique style and message resonated worldwide, reinforcing Eurovision’s relevance to social issues.
2023
Loreen made history by becoming the first woman to win Eurovision twice. Her win tied Sweden with Ireland for the most victories, highlighting the legacy and impact of returning Eurovision champions.
As a non-binary artist, Nemo’s presence on the Eurovision stage symbolized a progressive shift in the contest’s representation of diverse identities.
The winning song Aurora has poignant themes of self-discovery, resilience, and embracing one’s true. By blending deeply personal storytelling with a message of hope and unity, Nemo preformed a story rather than just a song.
Their authentic self, both in their performance and personal narrative, resonated with many audiences worldwide, turning their victory into a triumph not only for Finland but also for LGBTQ+ representation and visibility on a global scale.
Nemo’s win reinforced Eurovision’s uprising evolution as a beacon of diversity and inclusion, showing that the contest is not just about music but also about fostering understanding and acceptance.
2024 2025
Eurovision 2025 will be held in Basel, Switzerland, marking Switzerland's first win since 1988.
With the slogan "United By Music," the event aims to celebrate unity and cultural diversity. Fans can expect a mix of traditional Eurovision spectacle and innovative performances as the event approaches in May 2025.
Towards a More Progressive Future
Empowerment and Self-Expression
Addressing Political and Social issues The 21st century has highlighted themes of empowerment and individuality at Eurovision. Songs like Netta’s “Toy” (2018) celebrate self-confidence, while others like Conchita’s “Rise Like a Phoenix” promote resilience. Eurovision now champions self-expression and inspires audiences worldwide to be who they truly are.
Eurovision’s
Eurovision has become a safe space for LGBTQ+ representation, with memorable wins from icons like Conchita Wurst in 2014 and non-binary artist Nemo in 2024. These moments reinforce Eurovision as a space for acceptance and visibility for diverse gender and sexual identities.
“Douze Points!” Behind The Scores
Eurovision’s winner isn’t just chosen based on the night’s best performance—it’s a result of a voting process that tells its own story. Votes are cast in two ways: through public televotes, where viewers from participating countries send in their favorites, and professional juries, who evaluate performances based on criteria like vocals, stage presence, and originality. But behind those votes lies a fascinating web of connections, influences, and patterns. We dived deeper into what’s really behind the numbers—how cultural a nities, regional alliances, and strategic voting can shape the scoreboard and ultimately decide who takes home the trophy.
Opening The Stage To More Nations
With Eurovision’s growing popularity and an increasing number of countries eager to participate, the contest introduced semi-finals in 2004 to manage the expanding lineup. Before then, a single show couldn’t accommodate all entries, forcing some nations to sit out each year. The semi-finals solved this issue, allowing every participant a chance to compete and ensuring a fairer selection process.
Today, the journey to the Grand Final begins with two semi-finals, where participating nations showcase their acts in front of a global audience. Each semi-final typically features 15–20 countries, depending on the year, with only the top 10 from each advancing. By the end of the semi-finals, 20 acts join a handful of pre-qualified countries to create the final lineup, setting the stage for the Grand Final.
Who Is “The Big Five”?
The Big Five — France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom — hold a unique position in Eurovision. As the largest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), these five nations receive a direct pass to the Grand Final each year, bypassing the semi-final rounds. €350,000 per country was the average Big Five Donation to EBU in 2024.
Keeping Up With Inflation
For smaller countries, Eurovision participation has become an increasingly steep financial commitment. Since 2022, participation fees have surged due to inflation and the absence of previous high contributors like Russia. Rising fees have forced some nations to withdraw entirely Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Montenegro are among the countries that cited financial strain as the reason for their recent absences from Eurovision.
Priced Out Of Competition
Beyond participation fees, the overall cost of Eurovision—including staging, travel, costumes, and promotion—can reach six figures, making it unsustainable for smaller broadcasters. Limited budgets and economic challenges have pushed some countries to withdraw, as even reaching the semi-finals may not justify the financial strain. For others, the prospect of hosting as a winner adds further hesitation, widening the gap between wealthier nations and those priced out, and sparking concerns over the contest’s inclusivity.
Forever Binding Or Progressively Changing?
Bloc voting, where countries favor neighbors or those with shared cultural ties, became prominent with the introduction of televoting in 1997. Dominant blocs like the Nordics and Balkans have often overshadowed less connected nations, sparking debates about fairness. However, evolving music trends, diverse participants, and the rise of global voting are beginning to challenge traditional bloc dominance.
of Greece and Cyprus’s 12-point votes exchanged.
Greece and Cyprus share one of Eurovision’s strongest alliances, consistently awarding each other top points due to cultural, linguistic, and political connections. Their mutual support remains steadfast, even when their entries underperform elsewhere.
Eurovision Political Blocs
From Stage to Points: The Process
Performance
All countries perform their songs live. All countries perform their songs live in one of Eurovision’s three main rounds: two semi-finals and the grand final. The semi-finals determine which countries advance to the final, with only the top entries from each round progressing. Automatic qualifiers, including the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK) and the host country, skip the semi-finals and go straight to the grand final.
Jury Voting
Each participating country appoints a jury of five music professionals who assess performances based on vocal ability, stage presence, composition, song arrangement, and overall impression.
They rank their favorites, awarding 12 points to the top act, 10 to the second, and 8 to the third, with smaller points for the next seven. Scores are based on the jury show, a dress rehearsal held before the live broadcast, ensuring technical issues don’t a ect their decisions.
8 10 12
Televoting
Using the same voting system, the public in each country votes for their favorite performances via phone, SMS, or the Eurovision app. The only rule: Viewers cannot vote for their own country, ensuring that votes reflect cross-border support.
Points Allocation
Both sets of points (jury and public) are combined to form the final score for each country.
Result Announcement
The points from the jury are announced first, followed by the dramatic reveal of the televote results. This split reveal keeps the suspense alive, often turning the leaderboard upside down in the final moments and delivering unexpected twists.
Balanced Drama
introduced, creating larger gaps between scores to minimize ties and spotlight favorites.
Skipping 11 and 9 points added simplicity and heightened suspense, with “douze points” becoming a dramatic Eurovision trademark. While some critics argue the system favors bloc voting and regional alliances, it undeniably adds tension and spectacle, turning the voting reveal into one of the contest’s most thrilling moments.
When it comes to winners, is there a catch?
There’s no “catch” to winning Eurovision, but history reveals a few trends that have consistently captured the votes of Eurovision viewers.
Every spring, millions of fans from across the globe eagerly tune in to Eurovision, wondering who will emerge victorious in Europe’s most beloved song contest. Eurovision is known for its vibrant performances and fierce competition, but is there a pattern to winning?
Can we predict what will make an artist stand out?
Over the years, trends and demographics have revealed factors that often lead to success. While each winner is unique, some common themes emerge, shedding light on the recipe for Eurovision glory.
1:27
minutes was the shortest song entry.
120BPM Many winning songs fall around 120 beats per minute—the ideal tempo for catchy tunes without being rushed. is the tempo “sweet spot” for winning.
Pop music leads the pack, captivating audiences with catchy hooks and mass appeal, as exemplified by ABBA’s iconic Waterloo
Ballads, renowned for their emotional depth and powerful vocals, frequently win hearts, such as Duncan Laurence’s Arcade
Rock entries, while less common, bring energy and boldness
Ethno
Dance
Euphoria setting a high bar with its mesmerizing rhythm and stunning visuals.
English dominates as the favored language, followed by French with about 200 songs, and Spanish with 80 songs
Out of 1717 total song entries were sang in English since 1956
5:09
minutes was the longest song entry.
views makes “Uno” the most watched song.
279M Russia’s 2020 song Uno
While Eurivision song entries have historically featured a variety of languages, English songs tower above the rest in numbers, serving as a common ground for reaching the contest's international audience. 47% Western Europe Takes the Most Wins with Total Victories
The longest entry is Italy's 1957 song Corde della mia chitarra, performed by Nunzio Gallo.
The shortest entry is Finland's 2015 song Aina mun pitää by Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät.
Gender & Age
Winners by Gender
Solo Female Winners
Solo
Male
Male Winners
Mixed Band Winners
Mixed
Male Band Winners
Though
Female Band Winners
Female
Winners by Age
Historically, Eurovision winners were predominantly young artists, often in their late teens or early twenties. In recent years, the show has showcased a notable increase in age diversity among its participants and winners, reflecting a broader inclusivity within the competition. Let’s look at a breakdown by age:
Ages 20 to 29
The majority of winners fall into this group, often showcasing seasoned yet dynamic performers at the peak of their creative powers. This age range is where breakout stars typically emerge, combining vigor with refined stage presence.
Ages 30 to 39
Performers in this group bring a mature artistry and experience that resonates deeply with audiences. Iconic winners, like Salvador Sobral from Portugal in 2017, deliver heartfelt performances that highlight the depth of their craft.
Ages younger than 20
Teenage winners, while rare, often captivate audiences with fresh energy and raw talent. Sandra Kim, who won for Belgium in 1986 at just 13 years old, remains the youngest Eurovision champion to compete and win.
Ages 40 and above
Though less common, winners over 40 bring a sense of gravitas and longevity to the contest. These seasoned artists often connect to viewers through their enduring passion and well-honed artistry, proving that Eurovision welcomes talent at every stage of life.
MESSY. GLITTERY. AND TOTALLY WORTH IT.
Is Eurovision Ridiculous? Yes. Are We Watching Anyway? Absolutely.
Let’s
Yeah,
