Eurovision rule changes: from 2023, Americans can cast their votes.
November 22, 2022 10:36 AM Subscribe
Not just Americans - worldwide votes will be counted. Following some jury shenanigans in the 2022 contest, jury involvement has been reduced and other voting changes mean that... "Those watching in the rest of the world will be able to vote via a secure online platform using a credit card from their country, and their votes, once added together, will be converted into points that will have the same weight as one participating country in both of the Semi-Finals and the Grand Final." Initial reaction is mixed. Eurovision 2022 was won by Ukraine; the 2023 finals will be hosted by Liverpool in England.
What is the Eurovision equivalent of Boaty McBoatface I wonder?
posted by BrotherCaine at 10:43 AM on November 22, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by BrotherCaine at 10:43 AM on November 22, 2022 [7 favorites]
What is the Eurovision equivalent of Boaty McBoatface I wonder?
I'm an American but my hazy understanding of things is that in their own individual ways each and every Eurovision act is a Boaty McBoatface, so I'm not sure I see a problem
posted by Rinku at 10:51 AM on November 22, 2022 [18 favorites]
I'm an American but my hazy understanding of things is that in their own individual ways each and every Eurovision act is a Boaty McBoatface, so I'm not sure I see a problem
posted by Rinku at 10:51 AM on November 22, 2022 [18 favorites]
England, probably.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:52 AM on November 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:52 AM on November 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
"vote via a secure online platform using a credit card"
Oh, so a poll tax, then.
posted by hippybear at 10:53 AM on November 22, 2022 [7 favorites]
Oh, so a poll tax, then.
posted by hippybear at 10:53 AM on November 22, 2022 [7 favorites]
Why do I have a really bad feeling about this?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:05 AM on November 22, 2022
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:05 AM on November 22, 2022
“And, for the first time ever, the ‘Rest of the World’ can vote too! […] These votes will have the same weight as one participating country in all 3 live shows.”
(my emphasis)
so Americans and others won’t be able to skew it much.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 11:11 AM on November 22, 2022 [4 favorites]
(my emphasis)
so Americans and others won’t be able to skew it much.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 11:11 AM on November 22, 2022 [4 favorites]
It’s Eurovision. Why the hell should us Americans have any say in it whatsoever?
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 11:38 AM on November 22, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 11:38 AM on November 22, 2022 [4 favorites]
It's an American-centric framing, but it's literally "the rest of the world that isn't in Eurovision" now has a limited voice.
posted by hippybear at 11:44 AM on November 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by hippybear at 11:44 AM on November 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
"Eurovision" has been a bit of a misnomer for a few years now, what with Israel and Australia and all. Maybe the rest of the world should adopt the Scandinavian name for the competition: melody grand prix.
posted by Dysk at 11:56 AM on November 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Dysk at 11:56 AM on November 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
so Americans and others won’t be able to skew it much.
Yes. There's been some speculation that the currently unexplained "credit card" thing is to stop multiple and large-scale illicit voting from New Zealand for the entry from Australia.
Basically it means that the USA + Canada + Brazil + Japan + New Zealand + ... lots of other countries combined, has the same voting power as Armenia, or San Marino, or Israel, or Malta.
posted by Wordshore at 12:13 PM on November 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
Yes. There's been some speculation that the currently unexplained "credit card" thing is to stop multiple and large-scale illicit voting from New Zealand for the entry from Australia.
Basically it means that the USA + Canada + Brazil + Japan + New Zealand + ... lots of other countries combined, has the same voting power as Armenia, or San Marino, or Israel, or Malta.
posted by Wordshore at 12:13 PM on November 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
The American vote will be for the Eurovision College, who will then vote on what a minority of population but a majority of territory selected as the winner. It will never be from England, they always get 0 points.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 12:34 PM on November 22, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 12:34 PM on November 22, 2022 [9 favorites]
nul points
posted by hippybear at 12:39 PM on November 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 12:39 PM on November 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
In other Eurovision news, we are now in the "deciding the participants and/or songs" season for the 2023 finals...
Cyprus have selected Andrew Lambrou as their participant. Andrew was an unsuccessful finalist in last year's run-off to decide the participate who would represent Australia.
Israel have selected Noa Kirel as their participant. Noa won the MTV Europe Music Awards for the best Israeli act between 2017 and 2021.
The Netherlands have selected Los Angeles resident Mia Nicolai, and Dion Cooper, as their participating act. The Netherlands finished 2nd in 2014 with a country rock song "Calm after the storm".
posted by Wordshore at 12:50 PM on November 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
Cyprus have selected Andrew Lambrou as their participant. Andrew was an unsuccessful finalist in last year's run-off to decide the participate who would represent Australia.
Israel have selected Noa Kirel as their participant. Noa won the MTV Europe Music Awards for the best Israeli act between 2017 and 2021.
The Netherlands have selected Los Angeles resident Mia Nicolai, and Dion Cooper, as their participating act. The Netherlands finished 2nd in 2014 with a country rock song "Calm after the storm".
posted by Wordshore at 12:50 PM on November 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
Eurovision is sounding more and more like international football, where people are just pulled in from anywhere to play for the local team.
posted by hippybear at 12:54 PM on November 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 12:54 PM on November 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
One of the things I've always admired about Eurovision is its ability to adapt according to its circumstances. It endures because it's willing to change things around in an attempt to keep up with the challenges facing the Contest. They're usually pretty transparent about it, as well, in a way that very few large-scale international organizations are.
Just last year, there were way too many sad boy ballads that were mocked mercilessly in the final. Add in the issues with the juries that have had their votes tossed over the last couple of years, and it was clear that something needed to be done. I think this seems like a reasonable attempt at addressing the issue. If it doesn't work out, then great, they'll do something else in a year or two.
I also can't help but think that having all of the international countries combined into the equivalent of one nation's vote is a deliberate attempt to gauge interest in Eurovision outside of the EBU. Several countries have dropped out this year because of financial considerations. I definitely think the EBU is making these changes in an attempt to explore other options -- in terms of where to air the Contest, what other countries to possibly invite to the Contest, and how to possibly generate revenue in other ways.
posted by PearlRose at 1:26 PM on November 22, 2022 [5 favorites]
Just last year, there were way too many sad boy ballads that were mocked mercilessly in the final. Add in the issues with the juries that have had their votes tossed over the last couple of years, and it was clear that something needed to be done. I think this seems like a reasonable attempt at addressing the issue. If it doesn't work out, then great, they'll do something else in a year or two.
I also can't help but think that having all of the international countries combined into the equivalent of one nation's vote is a deliberate attempt to gauge interest in Eurovision outside of the EBU. Several countries have dropped out this year because of financial considerations. I definitely think the EBU is making these changes in an attempt to explore other options -- in terms of where to air the Contest, what other countries to possibly invite to the Contest, and how to possibly generate revenue in other ways.
posted by PearlRose at 1:26 PM on November 22, 2022 [5 favorites]
> hippybear: "Eurovision is sounding more and more like international football, where people are just pulled in from anywhere to play for the local team."
*** Celine Dion has joined the chat
posted by mhum at 1:26 PM on November 22, 2022 [7 favorites]
*** Celine Dion has joined the chat
posted by mhum at 1:26 PM on November 22, 2022 [7 favorites]
I am also bummed about the Americans getting a vote, however small. If Americans want a vote, they should have to move to a nation that participates like I did. End of discussion! (joke)
posted by Bella Donna at 2:26 PM on November 22, 2022
posted by Bella Donna at 2:26 PM on November 22, 2022
Yes. There's been some speculation that the currently unexplained "credit card" thing is to stop multiple and large-scale illicit voting from New Zealand for the entry from Australia.
As if ;)
posted by maupuia at 2:52 PM on November 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
As if ;)
posted by maupuia at 2:52 PM on November 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
the 2023 finals will be hosted by Liverpool in England
Hopefully whoever wins 2023 lets Ukraine take their rightful turn as hosts and Eurovision 2024 will be hosted in Sevastopol.
posted by Your Childhood Pet Rock at 6:07 PM on November 22, 2022
Hopefully whoever wins 2023 lets Ukraine take their rightful turn as hosts and Eurovision 2024 will be hosted in Sevastopol.
posted by Your Childhood Pet Rock at 6:07 PM on November 22, 2022
Bummed that North Macedonia has dropped out. I was introduced to Eurovision there and was wonderfully confused and fascinated by the combination of geopolitics, grudges, and glitter, all of which seemed to be taken equally seriously.
posted by EvaDestruction at 7:03 AM on November 23, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by EvaDestruction at 7:03 AM on November 23, 2022 [3 favorites]
It’s Eurovision. Why the hell should us Americans have any say in it whatsoever?
I mean, why does Australia get an entry? Nothing matters.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 7:10 AM on November 23, 2022 [4 favorites]
I mean, why does Australia get an entry? Nothing matters.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 7:10 AM on November 23, 2022 [4 favorites]
It will never be from England, they always get 0 points.
That will be because they don't enter the competition.
posted by Grangousier at 5:07 AM on November 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
That will be because they don't enter the competition.
posted by Grangousier at 5:07 AM on November 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
Wasn't Canada supposed to actually be in Eurovision* 2023? There was an announcement about it last year but then I haven't heard anything since and my googlefu can't seem to turn anything up now.
* - the ever less accurately named Eurovision
posted by cirhosis at 8:20 AM on November 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
* - the ever less accurately named Eurovision
posted by cirhosis at 8:20 AM on November 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
Why is it even called Eurovision if it is a music thing? Shouldn't it be Euromusic or Eurosound or Eurotunes?
posted by leaper at 9:46 AM on November 24, 2022
posted by leaper at 9:46 AM on November 24, 2022
Probably to do with it being stated, as a televised event, way back in the 50s, where the novelty of the visual element of television was a bigger deal.
posted by Dysk at 10:18 AM on November 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Dysk at 10:18 AM on November 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
Eurovision is a pan-European television telecommunications network owned and operated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). It was founded 1954 in Geneva, Switzerland, and its first official transmission took place on 6 June 1954.
posted by Grangousier at 11:40 AM on November 24, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Grangousier at 11:40 AM on November 24, 2022 [2 favorites]
Why is it even called Eurovision if it is a music thing? Shouldn't it be Euromusic or Eurosound or Eurotunes?
To be pedantic, it’s not called ‘Eurovision’, it’s called ‘The Eurovision Song Contest’.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 12:02 PM on November 24, 2022 [2 favorites]
To be pedantic, it’s not called ‘Eurovision’, it’s called ‘The Eurovision Song Contest’.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 12:02 PM on November 24, 2022 [2 favorites]
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