EP 3: Pop, Power, and Politics

Mysteries of the EuroVerse

#03: Pop, Power, and Politics

1:15 Deep Dive into The Political History of Eurovision

16:46 Jamala (Eurovision Winner, 2016, Representing Ukraine)

30:49 Brooke Gladstone (Peabody Award-winning host of On The Media)

These days, Eurovision claims to be “apolitical,” but that wasn’t always the case. We explore how Eurovision was founded in the aftermath of World War II, alongside political institutions like the UN, with the aim of stitching Europe back together. And we talk about how the contest dealt with ‘political’ songs over its first half century.

Then we talk to Jamala, the Ukrainian singer who performed her Eurovision winning song about Stalin forcing Crimean Tatars out of their homes two years after Putin had done the same for her generation.

Finally, we introduce American journalist Brooke Gladstone to the contest through a game where she guesses whether or not a song was censored for being too political. This leads to a conversation about how Eurovision might better function as a public square, particularly in a time of increasing conflict in Europe.

Links:

Jamala's Album QIRIM: https://open.spotify.com/album/4oiDxgPCPh6FZDNQFCLziC?si=q43ss1SUSvm6B6zHTXBCyQ

Jamala's Eurovision Winning Song, 1944:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxS6eKEOdLQ

"Is It Political?"

Marry Me - Krista Siegfrids -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdU02F9lT2g

Ne ver, ne boysia - Tatu - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRwsNuDX3Kg

We Don't Wanna Put In - Stephane & 3G - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6-7Rw4xug

1944 - Jamala - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxS6eKEOdLQ

Madonna's Eurovision Performance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=VG3WkiL0d_U&t=0s