Euclovision Song Contest 2023
| Euclovision Song Contest 2023 | |
|---|---|
| File:Euclovision 2023 logo 1.svg | |
| Dates | |
| Semi-final 1 | 11 April 2023 |
| Semi-final 2 | 13 April 2023 |
| Final | 15 April 2023 |
| Host | |
| Venue | South of Estmere Arena St Avelines, Estmere |
| Presenter(s) | Alice Wallace Vicki Freeman Harry Taylor |
| Directed by | Susanna Drake Andrew Bickersley |
| Executive supervisor | John Yellers-Rowe |
| Executive producer | David Clarke |
| Host broadcaster | Estmerish Broadcasting Service (EBS) |
| Participants | |
| Number of entries | 45 |
| Debuting countries |  Sabaw Carucere |
| Returning countries | File:RwizikuruFlag.PNG Rwizikuru Aucuria Rizealand |
| Non-returning countries |  Bonaventure |
| Vote | |
| Voting system | Each country/jury awards 12, 10, 8–1 points to their top 10 songs. Online votes from viewers in non-participating countries are aggregated and awarded as one set of points. |
| Winning song | Template:Country data Estmere "Hell is Better With You |
The Euclovision Song Contest 2023 was the 65th edition of the Euclovision Song Contest. It took place in St Avelines, Estmere, following the victory of "Sweet Talker" performed by Nico Lumineux on behalf of Estmere at the prior 2022 contest[1][2]. This was the fifth time that Estmere has hosted the event. The contest was organised by host broadcaster the Estmerish Broadcasting Service (EBS) in conjunction with the Euclean Broadcasters Group (EBG). The primary venue was the South of Estmere Arena[3]. Two semi-finals on 11 and 13 April preceded the final on 15 April 2022.
The contest was won by Chel Sakurai on behalf of Estmere, with the song "Hell is Better With You"[4]. This was the first consecutive victory in the 64-year history of the contest, and marked the fifth time in total that Estmere had won the contest. Gaullica, Alsland, Etruria and Tiwura made up the remainder of the top five[4]. This was the fourth year in a row that Estmere and Gaullica had been in the top five.
The unprecedented nature of the victory has meant that the hosting responsibilities of the next context are currently under discussion.
Location
The 2023 contest took place in St Avelines, Estmere, after the country's victory in the 2022 contest with "Sweet Talker" performed by Nico Lumineux[1][2]. It was the fifth time that Estmere hosted Euclovision, having previously done so in 1966 and 1999 in Morwall, in 1985 in Harbrough, and in 2006 in Morwall on behalf of Satavia. This was the first time the contest was held in St Avelines, which is known as the Sun and Sea City[3].
The main venue was the South of Estmere Arena, a multi-purpose indoor arena in the coastal St Aubry's district which seats 14,000 people and previously hosted a number of events at the 1950 summer Invictus games[3]. The arena has more recently also hosted a number of events including concerts, exhibitions and sports.
In addition to this main venue was the secondary venue located at Paradise Beach. This was where the Euclovision Village is located, which was the official fan and sponsors area throughout Euclovision 2023. The beach was home to a number of stages where fans can watch performances by contest participants and local artists, in addition to a main stage which broadcasts live shows from the main venue. It was also where the Opening Ceremony events took place. The village was open from 8 to 15 April 2023. The village was free to enter on all days other than the day of the final show, when there was an entry fee. In addition to the stages, there was a number of other attractions at the village as part of a beach party theme, including a friendly match between professional beach volleyball teams (in addition to amateur beach volleyball courts), a peddler's market comprising local businesses and a professional sandcastle competition[3].
There was also the EucloClub, which was located just off the beach in a private yacht and hosted after-parties and private performances from participating artists. There was a high admission fee to enter the EucloClub, and it was primarily aimed at mega-fans and donors[3].
Host city selection
The bidding process for host city was announced by host broadcaster EBS on 15 May 2022[5]. There was a list of rigorous minimum standards which potential host city candidates had to meet in order to be considered, including demonstrating the capacity, capability and experience to host Euclovision. Infrastructure connections, the size of potential venues and numbers of accomodations were also taken into account.
There were 38 initial bids from host cities when the first stage of the bidding process was closed. In line with the criteria and considerations listed above, these bids were narrowed down to a shortlist of eight bids which was announced on 20 June 2022, alongside the nicknames used to promote each city's bid[6]. These were Morwall, Harbrough, Tolbury, St Avelines, Sheaford, Damesbridge, Bouley and St Richards[3].
Those cities then entered discussions with EBS and the Estmerish Euclovision Committee to ensure that their bids were developed in detail further, and were then put to a public vote hosted online from 1 August to 1 September 2022[7]. The public vote was meant to inform discussions, but EBS and the Euclovision Committee reserved the right to set aside the results of the vote. St Avelines was announced by EBS as the chosen host city on 16 September 2022, having come first in the popular vote ahead of Bouley and Tolbury[8].
Key:
† Host venue
‡ Shortlisted
Submitted a bid
| City/town | Nickname | Venue | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bouley | The Gateway to the World | Portside Arena ‡ | Supported by Bouley State Council and City of Bouley Council. | |
| Colton | — | Embro-Arucian Stadium | Withdrew its proposal on 22 May 2022, citing unavailability of the proposed venue. | |
| Cromley | The City of Pottery | Cromley Stadium | — | |
| Damesbridge | The House of Knowledge | Damesbridge Arena ‡ | Supported by West Counties Assembly and Damesbridge City Council. | |
| Dunwich | The City of Ships | Hargreaves Arena | Supported by Dunwich State Council and City of Dunwich Council. | |
| Exminster | The City of Spires | Exminster Stadium | — | |
| Grimingham | — | — | — | |
| Hamilton | — | — | Withdrew its proposal on 2 June 2022, citing lack of a suitable venue. | |
| Harbrough | The City of a Thousand Trades | Harbrough Arena ‡ | Supported by Harbrough City Council. | |
| Knowlesby | The Steel City | Forgemasters Arena | — | |
| Kingchester | — | Kingchester Stadium | Withdrew its proposal on 11 June 2022, citing lack of required infrastructure. | |
| Morwall | The Heart of Estmere | Arena of Light ‡ | Supported by Greater Morwall Council and City of Morwall Borough Council. | |
| Sheaford | The Motor City | Sheaford Automotive Arena ‡ | Supported by Sheaford City Council. | |
| St Avelines | The Sun and Sea City | South of Estmere Arena † | Supported by Evre State Assembly and St Avelines City Council. | |
| St Richards | The Capital of the South | Mutual Credit Arena ‡ | Supported by St Richards City Council. | |
| St Johns | Estmere's Arucian City | — | Withdrew its proposal on 29 May 2022, citing lack of a suitable venue. | |
| Southgate | The Home of the Navy | Southgate Stadium | — | |
| Solange | — | — | Withdrew its proposal on 19 May 2022, in favour of the St Avelines proposal. | |
| Tolbury | The Capital of the North | Haberlin's Arena ‡ | Supported by Folkmoot of Swerdia and Tolbury City Council. | |
| Wimney | The Birthplace of Estmere | King's Hall | — |
Format
Presenters
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The presenters for the 2023 contest were officially confirmed on 1 April 2023, in a Chirp by EBS[9]. Estmerish-Rizean actress Alice Wallace, Estmerish musician Vicki Freeman and Estmerish journalist Harry Taylor hosted all shows of the event, including the Opening Ceremony. Freeman and Taylor had provided Estmerish language commentary for previous editions of the contest, while Wallace was a new edition but was a fan of the contest and starred in the 2013 musical film Pitched Battle[9]. As is usual, each participating broadcaster also had their own presenters to provide national commentary. Nihteġ Pẹrrocer and Mo Khan provided Swathish language commentary on EBS Svạþiṡc, while David Palmer and Lis Poingdestre did the same for Flurian on EBS Fleuvais.
Entries
EBS and the EBG released the details for the rules of entires in Septemeber 2022, following the precedent set in prior contests. The exact rules included stipulations that live performances could not exceed 3 minutes and 30 seconds in length, and that delegations were limited to a maximum of eight people on stage at one time. Similarly to previous years, delegations were allowed to use a limited amount of pre-recorded backing vocals in addition to the main vocals and any live backing vocals.
Semi-final allocation draw
In order to determine the participating countries' semi-finals, an allocation draw took place on 17 January 2022. The thirty-eight semi-finalists (not including the "Super Cinq" countries, who are guaranteed a place in the final, and Borland, the previous runner-up), were divided into six pots, based on geography, language and historical voting patterns. The purpose of drawing from different pots is to reduce the chance of bloc voting, therefore increasing suspense in the semi-finals. The Super Cinq countries (Estmere, Etruria, Gaullica, Soravia and Werania) were included in a separate draw to determine which of the semi-finals they would vote in. The previous year's winner and current year's host country is also guaranteed a spot, but as Estmere is in the Super Cinq it had already secured a place. As a result, last year's runner-up, Borland, took the host's spot instead. Finally, the allocation draw ceremony also included the handing over of host city insignia from Alikianos to St Avelines.
| Drawn to vote in | |
|---|---|
| Semi-final 1 | Semi-final 2 |
 Gaullica Werania Etruria
|
Template:Country data Estmere Soravia Borland
|
Participating countries
On 28 November 2022, the EBG announced that 45 countries would participate in the 2023 contest.
Semi-final 1
The first semi-finals took place on 11 April 2023 at 20:00 (EST). Nineteen countries participated in the first semi-final. Those countries plus Gaullica, Werania and Etruria, as well as viewers from non-participating countries under "Rest of the World", voted in this semi-final. The highlighted countries qualified for the final.
Semi-final 2
The second semi-finals took place on 13 April 2023 at 20:00 (EST). Nineteen countries participated in the second semi-final. Those countries plus Estmere, Soravia and Borland, as well as viewers from non-participating countries under "Rest of the World", voted in this semi-final.
Final
The final took place on 15 April 2023 at 20:00 (EST). Thirty countries participated in the final, comprising the "Super Cinq" countries (Estmere, Etruria, Gaullica, Soravia and Werania), last year's runner-up Borland, and the twelve best-ranked countries from each of the two semi-finals. All participating countries voted in the final, in addition to viewers from non-participating countries, whose points were aggregated and awarded as one set under "Rest of the World".
Other countries
In order to paricipate in the Euclovision Song Contest, a country must have a national broadcaster with active EBG membership; or in special circumstances, associate EBG membership. The EBG issued an invitation to all active EBG member broadcasters to participate in the 2023 contest.
Broadcasters, commentators and spokespersons
Broadcasters and commentators
The following is a list of broadcasters that have confirmed in whole or in part their broadcasting plans and their commentators.
| Country | Broadcaster(s) | Channels(s) | Show(s) | Commentator(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Alsland
|
ANS | ANS Ien | All shows | Dellish: Goasling Jaarsma and Ork Monsma |
| ANS Üks | All shows | Martish: Viljo Rebane and Eedu Olesk | ||
| ANS Eins | All shows | Weranian: Lara Weisz and Theres Friedemann | ||
 Azmara
|
ARF | ARF-3 | All shows | Azmaran: Laana Akselsdohter |
| Template:Country data Estmere | EBS | EBS One | All shows | Estmerish: Alice Wallace, Vicki Freeman and Harry Taylor |
| EBS Svạþiṡc | All shows | Swathish: Nihteġ Pẹrrocer and Mo Khan | ||
| EBS Fleuvais | All shows | Flurian: David Palmer and Lis Poingdestre | ||
| Etruria
|
ARE | ARE Uno | All shows | Vespasian: Enrico Quinto Damiani, Alba Vinaccia |
| ARE Jedan | All shows | Novalian: Milan Bosić and Marija Dabro | ||
| ARE Eno | All shows | Carinthian: Ivana Pilon and Alenka Vidmar | ||
 Garambura
|
TéléGaramboure | All shows | Gaullican: Desange Coumbousa | |
| Arpège (online only) | All shows | Gaullican: Elisé Mjoji, Sïsé Goubouloundou | ||
 Hennehouwe
|
HNO | De Eerste | All shows | Hennish: Sienna Molenaar and Laurens Rosecrans |
| HNO Extra | All shows | Hennish Sign Language: Quentin Fremaut | ||
| Nous | Nous | All shows | Gaullican: Beatrice Pronovost and Saeed Karimi | |
| File:ImaguaFlag.png Imagua and the Assimas | ITS | its one | All shows | Estmerish: Kea Duffus and Ezrah Houston |
| its due | All shows | Vespasian: Silvia Barsi and Concetto Montella | ||
 Piraea
|
PRT | PRT + | All shows | Piraean: Rania Mouskouri and Alexandros Stavrallis |
 Scovern
|
STV | All shows | Mescon: Olivia Hald and Britta Nicolaisen | |
| All shows | Vestelian: Edvard Nesset and Irene Hoey | |||
| Final | Frellandic: Búri Makansson | |||
| File:RwizikuruFlag.PNG Rwizikuru | RIS | All shows | Estmerish: Comfort Mwaruwari and Kuseka Midzi | |
| Sabaw
|
SNPA | SNPA One | All shows | Sabawi: Ikken Amer, Kellou Hossain, and Tintadêfi Iqbal |
| Soravia
|
Telekom 1 | All shows | Soravian: Lavrenti Syosyev, Mariya Onipchenko, and Angela Barentseva |
| Country | Broadcaster(s) | Channels(s) | Show(s) | Commentator(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aucuria
|
ANRT | TV Aukurija | All shows | Ruttish: Oljantas Ališauskas and Lidija Pakas |
 Senria
|
SHK | SHK TV 2 | Semi-finals | Senrian: Naozumi Kusagaya and Itirou Hasegaki |
| SHK TV 1 | Final | Senrian: Naozumi Kusagaya and Itirou Hasegaki |
Controversies
Accusations of linguistic imperialism
On 10 April, the General Secretary of the Presidium of Asase Lewa Ablá Koranten criticised the Euclean Broadcasters Group generally and EBS specifically in a Chirp which accused both bodies of linguistic imperialism, in reference to the long-standing Euclovision policy that all entries had to be majority sung in Euclean languages[11]. The chirp also defended Asase Lewa's policy of boycotting the contest, and argued that since the contest has been open to non-Euclean nations since 2000 that non-Euclean languages, such as indigenous Bahian languages, should be included[11]. Neither EBS nor the Euclean Broadcasters Group issued any full statement in response, but the official Euclovision website continues to state the Euclean language policy as of April 2023.
Accusations of pornographic content
On 16 April, 2022, Garon Ripley, leader of the Movement for a New Imagua published a thread on Chirpr alleging that accused the Euclean Broadcasters Group of broadcasting "pornographic content" during the Euclovision Song Contest.[12] Ripley declared that were the Movement for a New Imagua to form government, Imagua would not compete in Euclovision, and suggested that an alternative song contest that "promotes our shared values" be created.[12]
In response to Ripley's thread, the Imaguan Television Service published an op-ed on 18 April that revealed that the Imaguan Television received 23 complaints concerning "pornographic content" in the 2023 edition of the Euclovision Song Contest, but found that 21 of them were closed due to a lack of a "factual basis" for the complaint.[13] The op-ed also examined the reasons behind the complaints, citing how LGBT people in Imagua continue to face substantial discrimination due to their identity, and citing the influence of far-right movements, such as the Tribune Movement over the Movement for a New Imagua.[13]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Euclovision 2022 Song Contest LIVE Results". ΠΡΤ ενα. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "@nico". Chirper. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "@EBS_News". Chirper. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Euclovision 2023 Song Contest LIVE Results". EBS One. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ↑ "Euclovision 2023 bidding process begins". EBS News. 15 May 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ↑ "The eight cities fighting for YOUR VOTE to host Euclovision 2023". EBS News. 15 May 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ↑ "EBS wants to hear YOUR VOICE for #Euclovision23!". EBS News. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ↑ "St Avelines picked to host Euclovision 2023". EBS News. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "@EBS_News". Chirper. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ "@EBS_News". Chirper. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "@ALPresGenSec_Es". Chirper. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "@GRipley_6977". Chirper. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Opinion: Ripley's Euclovision Allegations are Dangerous". ITS. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.