EP10: The Road to the Grand Final

Mysteries of the EuroVerse

Sally Ann Triplett 18:41

(Prima Donna - Love Enough For Two - UK 1980 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8fUTTwOp40, Bardo - One Step Further UK 1982 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qy6S7LvtNc)

Tvorchi 31:26

(Heart of Steel- Ukraine 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neIscK1hNxs)

Size Matters With Josh Keating 36:44

In this episode, we talk about a core inequality in Eurovision's system for choosing the acts that make it to the Grand Final-- and how that's a reflection of a difficult balance that most international institutions have to face: How do you balance a commitment to fairness with the need to appeal to the larger countries that keep you funded.

We talk to two Eurovision acts: Sally Ann Triplett, who represented the UK twice, and Tvorchi, who represented Ukraine this past year in Liverpool.

Then Vox.com Senior Foreign Policy Correspondent Josh Keating stops by for a game focused on how the power imbalance at the core of Eurovision affects the music on the night of the Grand Final-- as Eurovision's largest countries ("the big 5") get to skip the semi-finals entirely. This very serious game is one we're calling "Size Matters with Josh Keating"

1. I Want Your Love - Eduard Romanyuta - Moldova 2015 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px1MoZ0k7qY)
2. Still In Love With You - Electro Velvet - UK 2015 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6r1tUhl1cQ)
3. Divine - Sebastian Tellier - France 2008 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZQjBCvFd9E)
4. Let Me Love You - Tamara, Vrcak & Adrijan - North Macedonia 2008 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLpZyiROXzk)
5. Blood & Glitter - Lord Of The Lost - Germany 2023 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y12_YMs9kCQ)
6. Sudden Lights - Aija - Latvia 2023 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAjVA3qwqGk)
7. Help You Fly - Ivan - Belarus 2016 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-13I_VF5d4k)
8. Say Yay! - Barei - 2016 Spain (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0I37W3RN_U)
9. That Sounds Good To Me- Josh Dubovie - UK 2010 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8363R9XbGY
10. Eastern European Funk - InCulto - Lithuania 2010 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8363R9XbGY&t=31s)