Switzerland’s Lys Assia gained together with her tune Chorus and not one of the members sang in English. France might have drawn on expertise from Algeria if it had wished.
Instances have modified and empires have fallen. The competition has advanced and expanded its attain, updating its voting system and spreading music across the continent and past.
The 2025 Eurovision Track Contest semi-finals will start within the Switzerland metropolis of Basel on Tuesday (Might 13) evening, with 10 international locations reaching the ultimate on Saturday, Might 17
Swiss singer Lys Assia shortly after successful the primary Eurovision Track Contest in 1956 together with her tune Chorus
Getty Photographs
The build-up to this 12 months’s competitors has been tense. Over 70 members of earlier contests have come collectively to name for the exclusion of Israel due to its continued bombing of Gaza.
12 nations have signed an open letter to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organisation that organises Eurovision, accusing Israeli broadcaster Kan of “complicity in Israel’s genocide towards the Palestinians in Gaza.”
The artists level out that “the EBU is normalising and whitewashing its crimes by persevering with to platform the illustration of the Israeli state.”
Greater than 56,000 individuals signed a petition final 12 months demanding that Israel be blacklisted.
Throughout final 12 months’s occasion, quite a few allusions to the conflict had been made each straight and not directly.
The Swedish candidate Eric Saade’s carrying of a keffiyeh on stage was met with “remorse” with the EBU. Later, Bambie Thug, an Irish delegate, criticised the EBU for “scapegoating” Eire and failing to handle the “pressing” situation.
Israel’s entrant Yuvul Raphael is representing Israel at Eurovision this 12 months.
So which international locations have stopped competing — or by no means taken half — in Eurovision and why?
Which international locations don’t participate in Eurovision and why?
Spain might virtually be assured prime factors from its tiny neighbour, which might be gracious in return by having entrants sing in Catalan. The nation has not competed since 2009 as a result of state of its funds.
Belarus has been banned from competing since 2021.
The Belarusian entry that 12 months, Ya Nauchu Tebya (I will Educate You), contained lyrics deemed to be politically motivated and probably dangerous.
Belarus appealed towards the ban however was unsuccessful. The EBU has acknowledged that Belarus could also be allowed to return. Nevertheless, it should adjust to the competitors’s guidelines and values emphasising inclusion and non-discrimination.
Financial issues have meant the 19-time competitor has not competed since 2016.
Bulgaria will miss the competitors for the second consecutive 12 months in 2024. The Bulgarian Nationwide Tv (BNT) cited monetary difficulties as a serious cause for its withdrawal.
Hungary has participated 19 instances, making its first look within the contest qualification spherical in 1993. Nevertheless, Hungary has not competed because the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv, Israel. That is regarded as resulting from monetary difficulties skilled by the nationwide broadcaster, MTVA.
Rita Ora was born in Kosovo — however her homeland has by no means taken half in Eurovision
PA
Whereas by no means formally acknowledged, some additionally speculate that Eurovision’s inclusivity and celebration of range might have clashed with Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ insurance policies.
The tiny state gained the 1971 competitors and competed 23 instances from 1959 to 1979 after which once more from 2004 to 2006. Monaco stopped competing resulting from funding points and geopolitical voting. The sovereign city-state on the French Riviera not has a state broadcaster after France’s TF1 community purchased the Franco–Monégasque common leisure tv channel TMC.
Montenegro made its debut in 2007 and took part till 2022. Nevertheless, it withdrew in 2023 resulting from a scarcity of curiosity from sponsors. Neighbouring Serbia has had extra success and gained the 2007 version.
In 1980, Morocco grew to become the one African nation to participate. Samira Bensaïd’s tune Bitaqat Hub got here 18th — second from backside. The nation determined to not return after the frustration of Bensaïd’s efficiency.
The small Balkan nation will miss the competition for the second consecutive 12 months in 2024 due to monetary constraints.
The Romanian broadcaster TVR confirmed that Romania wouldn’t compete on the 2024 occasion.
Romania final competed in 2023, sending Theodor Andrei with the tune D.G.T. (Off and On). Sadly, he didn’t qualify for the ultimate, ending fifteenth within the semi-final.
Russia’s participation is suspended indefinitely as a result of ongoing battle in Ukraine.
The EBU made this resolution in February 2022, stating that Russia’s inclusion would “convey the competitors into disrepute”.
Serbia and Montenegro by no means competed within the Eurovision Track Contest as one entity. The state is now defunct and two separate entities. The 2 international locations existed from 1992 to 2006 however weren’t eligible to hitch Eurovision till recognised as an unbiased state (which occurred in 2003).
A competitor from 1994 to 2021, the landlocked nation in Central Europe pulled out for monetary causes and has not competed since 2012.
The Czech Republic competes within the occasion, because it did with Vesna, pictured, in 2023, however Slovakia doesn’t
Reuters
Turkey final competed in 2012. Regardless of taking part 34 instances since its debut in 1975, its most up-to-date participation was with the tune Love Me Again by Can Bonomo. This got here seventh with 112 factors.
The 2003 winner has not formally withdrawn from the competitors. The explanations for its absence are complicated and haven’t been definitively acknowledged. In 2013, Turkey expressed dissatisfaction with the reintroduction of jury voting and the ‘Massive 5’ computerized qualifiers, probably influencing its resolution.
Liechtenstein, Kosovo, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and the Vatican Metropolis have by no means competed within the occasion regardless of being eligible.
Whereas Kazakhstan is geographically in Asia, it’s thought-about a part of the Eurovision Broadcasting Space. Whereas its potential participation has been mentioned, no concrete plans exist.
Different probably eligible international locations:
- North Africa: North African international locations together with Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt are EBU members, elevating the opportunity of future participation. Nevertheless, no official makes an attempt have been made to incorporate them.
- West Asia: Whereas Arab international locations haven’t historically participated, Lebanon and Tunisia have expressed curiosity up to now. Moreover, Qatar expressed curiosity in 2009 however the plans didn’t materialise.
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