Eurovision 2021 Preview

March 28, 2021 11:13 AM

Like most events these days, the Eurovision Song Contest's 2021 edition has been uncertain. The European Broadcasting Union plans to go ahead with "Scenario B", a modified in-person contest with guidelines that permit "live on tape" entries (recorded live staged performances).

Meanwhile, Belarus has been removed from the contest for failing to meet the "political neutrality" requirement with their entry by the band Galasy ZMesta, whose song "Ya nauchu tebya" appeared to support the [illegitimate] Lukashenko government while mocking the opposition protestors. And Russia recently announced an investigation into the lyrics of their own song entry, "Russian Woman", sung by Tajikistan-born artist Manizha, for "possible illegal statements" after complaints from multiple conservative Russian groups that the song encourages "hatred towards men."
Last year's finals were cancelled but the lovable group from Iceland (Daði & Gagnamagnið) who had a YouTube sensation from their entry last year are back, continuing their quest to establish a new wave of nerd-disco; and a standout from this year's entries is Ukraine, with their band "folktronic" band Go-A going all in with a steampunk dance ritual of spring, including fire, flutes, and birds of prey.
The semi-finals and final run May 18 - 22 in Rotterdam.

posted by daisystomper (12 comments total)

Oo, I liked that last one.
posted by clew at 12:46 PM on March 28, 2021

I watched the song rundown earlier this week, and there are some fun contestants - particularly Germany, Lithuania, and Ukraine. I didn't watch the Swedish qualifier rounds this year (for once), but my family back home just adores Tusse who will represent Sweden in Rotterdam. Such a great story (he's a refugee).

And if you want a winning song, you can always follow this "recipe for winning" from 2016 (featuring some previous winners/standout acts) that is also a really fun look into what makes Eurovision special. Can't wait!
posted by gemmy at 1:40 PM on March 28, 2021 [1 favorite]

I think I speak for all Icelanders when I say that I wish they’d gone for “live on tape” entries last year.

We’re just never gonna win, are we.

But go team Daði og Gagnamagnið and all that.
posted by Kattullus at 1:55 PM on March 28, 2021 [9 favorites]

I just got a VPN for [reasons] and am looking forward to streaming this live instead of just downloading the finale after the fact. After the Will Ferrell movie, even my kid is into it.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 4:45 PM on March 28, 2021 [1 favorite]

I loved, loved, loved Iceland's entry last year and subjected my kids to repeated viewings of the video. Not feeling it as much this year, although it is still fun.
posted by nubs at 5:16 PM on March 28, 2021 [3 favorites]

It looks like a reasonably weak field this year, I think hurt by inviting back a number of last year's competitors with new songs, without requiring new competitions. Like Iceland who I think had an amazing entry, and this year are only pretty good. It was a good decision from a fairness perspective, but they should have allowed the same songs to be submitted again. Artists that had a great song last year may well not have as good a one a year later.
They are also allowing vocal backing tracks for the entries, which does change how the songs sound, and helps some genres more than others.
posted by PennD at 7:11 PM on March 28, 2021 [2 favorites]

Daði & Gagnamagnið have released the Kaiju-inspired official video for 10 Years.
posted by Kattullus at 6:11 AM on March 29, 2021 [5 favorites]

Eurovision acts are returning to the wild. Nature is healing.

But seriously, I'm so glad it's going ahead this year, even if it's under modified circumstances. It's weird, though...as an American, I'd never heard of Eurovision before I moved to the UK, but now I am hugely invested every single year and plan my Mays around it.

(One of my better memories of my time in the UK, actually, is being in a little hotel in Inverkeithing the night before a friend's wedding. Eurovision was on in the bar, and the eight or nine of us sitting there watching argued good-naturedly about the acts. It was a good night.)
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 12:07 PM on March 29, 2021 [1 favorite]

Team Ukranian folk-hardstyle all the way.
posted by sveskemus at 4:02 AM on March 30, 2021 [2 favorites]

I love Eurovision so much and I'm really excited for this year's.

I disagree that the acts are weak, though some of the normally strong contenders (imo) are pretty rubbish this year. France and Belgium both are pretty dull.
posted by Braeburn at 4:17 AM on March 30, 2021

I'm excited too! "Russian Woman" is a real banger and I encourage everyone to watch it. The fact that a lot of racist Russians are apparently giving it thumbs-downs on YouTube makes me want to actually root for Russia.
posted by daisystomper at 5:19 PM on March 30, 2021 [1 favorite]

Speaking of Daði Freyr and Fire Saga: After many requests, Daði Freyr gives in and covers Jaja Ding Dong.
Also: Volcano Man
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 4:18 PM on March 31, 2021