EP 1: Eurovision in America

Mysteries of the EuroVerse

Guests: David Dobkin (Director: Wedding Crashers, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga with Will Ferrell), Jerry Mitchell (Three Time Tony Award Winning Director/Choreographer, Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde)

Eurovision is the most watched song contest in the world– with viewership reaching 200 million people. It’s larger than the Superbowl! But while Eurovision songs have charted 28 times in America, 19 of those times came before 1974. This was shortly followed by a dry spell that featured only one Eurovision song on the US charts in nearly 50 years. What happened? And why, over the past three years, have we seen a resurgence– with Eurovision acts touring major venues in the states, garnering awards and press coverage, and, yes, charting?

We explore these questions, and then talk with David Dobkin, the director of the movie responsible for the suddenly growing American interest in Eurovision– taking a look behind the scenes at the Will Ferrell vehicle that streamed #1 on Netflix, and tracing David’s personal journey of discovering and falling in love with the contest as he made the film.

Then we introduce Eurovision to Tony Award Winning Director Jerry Mitchell live on the podcast, with a game we call “Tops and Bottoms with Jerry Mitchell.” As we sip palomas in his Fire Island home, Jerry brings his expertise, honed through years of staging Broadway’s biggest musicals, to help us evaluate what makes a successful Eurovision production number.

Theme Song - Music: Tim Rosser, Lyrics: Charlie Sohne, Vocals: Magnus Riise

TIMECODES:

Deep Dive, “Why is America Waking Up to Eurovision Now?” - 1min14sec

Interview with David Dobkin, Director “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” - 16min39sec

Interview with Jerry Mitchell, Tony Winning Director/Choreographer of Kinky Boots and Legally Blonde - 38min54sec

LINKS:

Charlie’s Politico Article: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/05/20/tricky-politics-of-eurovision-during-war-00097885

Eurovision Songs on the Billboard Hot 100:

https://www.aussievision.net/post/every-eurovision-song-to-chart-on-the-us-billboard-hot-100

Success of the Eurovision Movie

https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2020/06/28/a-new-netflix-offering-has-unseated-floor-is-lava-for-the-1-spot/?sh=6320f9734271

EUROVISION US CHART TOPPERS MENTIONED:

Rosa Linn - Snap

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIKIgjLGf98

Duncan Laurence - Arcade

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eztx7Wr8PtE

Maneskin - Beggin’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg72z08aTXY

WATCH EUROVISION: THE STORY OF FIRE SAGA: https://www.netflix.com/title/80244088

FROM ‘TOPS AND BOTTOMS WITH JERRY MITCHELL’:

Kaarija, Cha Cha Cha (Finland 2023) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJHe-iZ5HSI

Konstrakta, In Corpore Sano (Serbia 2022) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po7HDHTBBE0

Reiley, Breaking My Heart (Denmark 2023) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1DvuxpKkHY

Anna Bergendahl, This Is My Life (Sweden 2010) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNk6CZ77ags

Cornelia Jakobs, Hold Me Closer (Sweden 2022) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWDThAfryW4

Kate Ryan, Je T’adore (Belgium 2006) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JHnre0q3ow

Loreen, Tattoo (Sweden 2023) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7mCELuFz5I