ABBA’s Waterloo has been voted the best music in Eurovision historical past, and with the Tune Contest in Sweden this 12 months, the organizers have a shock ABBA tribute up their sleeves. Adjustments are additionally being launched to each the voting system and the format of the dwell exhibits. There will likely be full dwell performances within the semi-finals from the artists representing the ‘large 5’ international locations for the primary time, and the general public vote will now open initially of the dwell remaining.
The Eurovision Tune Contest is organized by the European Broadcasting Union, the alliance of European pubcasters. The massive occasion, in Malmö, will function three dwell exhibits, protecting the semi-finals and remaining, and 9 exhibits in all, when rehearsals are factored in.
Swedish TV producer Martin Österdahl is the Govt Supervisor of Eurovision and took a couple of minutes out from preparations to talk to Deadline. He acknowledged the broader dimensions to the competitors, with safety ranges heightened in Sweden and extra protests deliberate by these sad about Israel’s participation.
Österdahl stated, nonetheless, he needs the occasion to be a celebration, notably with Sweden’s robust ties to the competitors. “We’ve obtained Sweden’s historic seventh win, tying the all-time report with Eire, we’ve obtained Loreen who’s the champion and the one lady to ever win this contest twice, and naturally, there’s this specific group known as ABBA that received the competition 50 years in the past with Waterloo, we will likely be celebrating all this stuff,” he stated.
The anniversary of the momentous Waterloo efficiency that received Eurovision and helped propel ABBA to superstardom has even impressed a function doc, as Deadline revealed final week.
Österdahl wouldn’t be drawn additional on the deliberate ABBA celebration however one other Eurovision insider teased that the tribute can be “one thing by no means seen on TV earlier than.” Followers have speculated that ABBA may seem in digital kind as they do within the ABBA Voyage concert events in London. That present makes use of movement seize to create digital avatars of the band.
Eurovision topper Österdahl stated getting viewers extra deeply concerned was one other key purpose. “We’re all the time attempting to tweak this format,” he stated. “We’re maybe the oldest music leisure present and nonetheless going robust, however we all the time attempt to make it higher and we do a whole lot of work on improve engagement within the exhibits.”
The format shake-ups embrace having the acts representing the ‘large 5’ international locations – France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK – carry out their songs dwell and in full in the course of the semi-finals. They nonetheless routinely have a spot within the remaining. The identical is true of Sweden as host nation.
One other tweak for the 68th version means viewers will be capable of vote from the beginning of the present this 12 months fairly than having to attend for the ultimate efficiency to finish, as has been the case. This has occurred twice earlier than, however not since 2011. Worldwide Eurovision followers can vote even earlier. They will watch rehearsal footage and movies after which make their alternative 24 hours earlier than the semi-final and remaining exhibits.
The semi-finals are nonetheless determined by public vote and the finals by a combination of a jury and public vote. The semis happen on Might 7 and 9. The ultimate is on Might 11.