CELEBRATE the biggest entertainment show on the planet – the Eurovision Song Contest complete with songs, sequins and synchronised dance moves. Regina Karis tunes in.
Eurovision attracts some 100 million viewers across 40 countries each year. Photo: Eurovision and SVT Sweden
LOVE watching The Voice or X-Factor?
Then check out the original reality singing contest that started it all – Eurovision.
Fun fact: the competition has produced stars like ABBA and Celine Dion (check out old-school Celine with her winning song in the video below).
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the biggest song contest in Europe.
Since 1956, each European country has had the chance to showcase one act on live television and radio, and the winner is decided by a popularity vote.
The 2013 Eurovision Song Contest will be hosted by French-Australian presenter, radio host, actor, singer and comedian Julia Zemiro, and Chinese-Australian radio and television host, writer and producer Sam Pang.
The contest will be held in Malmö, Sweden, but thanks to SBS, Australian fans can catch the party all the way from this side of the hemisphere.
Hosts of Eurovision Song Contest 2013: Sam Pang and Julia Zemiro. Photo: Eurovision
On TV
The Heart of Eurovision with Julia Zemiro
Friday May 17 at 7.30pm on SBS ONE
In this new musical documentary directed by Paul Clarke (Mother of Rock, ABBA: Bang a Boomerang, Spicks and Specks), Julia travels 4,000 km in her campervan across New Europe to the home of this year’s Eurovision: Malmö, Sweden.
Eurovision Song Contest
Semi Final 1 – Friday May 17 at 8.30pm on SBS ONE
Semi Final 2 – Saturday May 18 at 7.30pm on SBS ONE
Grand Final – Sunday May 19 at 7.30pm on SBS ONE
Eurovision promises to be entertainingly fierce with 95-year-old Emil Ramsauer, one of the oldest ever musicians to perform on the stage and bookmakers favourite. Other acts to look out for include Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2013 winner, 20-year-old Emmelie de Forest and UK music legend Bonnie Tyler.
Emmelie de Forest will represent Denmark in Eurovision Song Contest 2013. Photo: Michael Søndergaard
Singer Bonnie Tyler will perform her hit Believe in Me for the Eurovision Song Contest. Photo: BBC
Catch Julia and Sam’s entertaining commentary on the competition direct from Sweden from your own living room across the weekend. SBS ONE will present audience tweets, Facebook comments and voting trends from the SBS Eurovision website.
On radio
SBS Digital Radio SBS6
From May 1, also available at http://sbs.com.au/Eurovision
Tune in to a simulcast of the semifinals and finals, exclusive news bulletins and three exciting music programs:
- Eurovision Remixed, featuring club and dance mixes, alternate language versions of songs,
- The Eurovision History Of…, which looks at contest entries and matches these tracks to what was happening in Europe and around the world at that time; and
- Second Chance, where listeners get to hear songs that didn’t quite make it to the nationals and appreciate the could-have-been-hits.
Online
Eurovision
From April 15, at http://sbs.com.au/Eurovision
Before the broadcast, SBS will not only get to know the contestants, but also their country, food and culture, providing fans with an opportunity to support their favourite acts and play judge on the night of the finals.
Throughout the finals nights from May 17 to 19, Julia and Sam will present exclusive behind-the-scenes video interviews with the artists.
SBS Online’s ‘Insider’ Ania Aquino will also be present to provide updates directly from Malmö, and TV Tonight‘s David Knox providing news and analysis on what’s hot and what’s not.
Catch the final screened live in Melbourne at the Federation Square from 7pm onwards on Sunday May 19 with SBS Radio’s Kyriakos Gold. You can also join the conversation on SBS Eurovision’s Twitter and Facebook. For the full program and more information, check out the Eurovision Song Contest or SBS Eurovision.