ESC Fever in Basel: Debates, Favorites and Show Highlights
The organizers may emphasize beforehand that the Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political event - but an ESC without political debates before and presumably also around it will probably not happen anytime soon. Gender roles, COVID cancellations, the Ukraine war, and now the Gaza war. Simple pop enjoyment is reliably not the case when Europe's music world converges. And that will also be the case in mid-May in Basel.
Eurovision Song Contest: Debate Over Israel Again
Voices have already been raised beforehand, calling for a debate on excluding Israel from the competition. However, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) did not engage in this, and so Israel is sending the 24-year-old singer Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, as a representative to Basel. It remains to be seen how high emotions will run inside and outside the ESC hall - as was the case in last year's competition in Malmö, which ultimately ended as a scandal song contest. This was also contributed to by the fact that the Dutch candidate Joost Klein was excluded shortly before the final due to a gesture towards a camerawoman.
But, no harm done, the Netherlands are back on board this year alongside 36 other nations - and candidate Claude is doing quite well in the race with "C'est la vie" according to the betting odds. However, the Swedes are once again at the forefront - even though this year they are offering anything but the aseptic Swedish pop with the fun band KAJ and "Bara Bada Bastu".
Austria Top in Betting Odds at the ESC
For this, ORF Director General Roland Weißmann can currently breathe a sigh of relief: Austria's counter-candidate JJ is in 2nd place with his dramatic song "Wasted Love" - but currently with a considerable gap to Sweden. Currently, hosting the expensive event is not on the agenda for the budget-strapped Küniglberg - but who knows. In any case, the pre-shows in Madrid, Amsterdam, or London have been completed, and JJ is top in the race for Europe's pop crown. Before departing for Switzerland, the 24-year-old JJ can be heard once more in his homeland when he performs his song for Basel on Friday in the current "Dancing Stars" edition. Things will get serious for Austria on May 15 at the 2nd semi-final, which is supposed to secure JJ's entry into the grand final on May 17 - currently a sure thing.
How hot the second Austrian iron in the ESC fire is glowing, however, cannot yet be said. Germany is sending the sibling duo Abor & Tynna, two Viennese, into the race, with the major nation being fixed in the final. Whether the 24-year-old Tynna has cured her virulent voice problems by then and can succeed with "Baller" remains the big question.
Basel Kicks Off on May 11
It is certain that Basel will not wait until the first semi-final on May 13 to start the big party. Right at the official opening on May 11, the host city will go all out, featuring the longest "Turquoise Carpet" - the traditional turquoise instead of the red carpet - in ESC history. This is set to stretch from the Basel Town Hall over the Rhine to the exhibition center, where this year's Eurovision Village is located. The 37 country delegations are expected to travel this route in vintage trams, with not only thousands of fans lining the passage but also musical accompaniment from Basel carnival formations, alphorn players, and techno acts.
It will continue to be colorful during the total of nine shows in the St. Jakobshalle, for which nearly 6,500 tickets were sold per show. All dates are already sold out, with 56 percent of the tickets going to Switzerland, 15 percent to Germany, and 8 percent to the United Kingdom.
Nemo Presents New Song at ESC
The successful previous year's winner act Nemo is announced for a performance with a new song. Other artists that the music-loving community can look forward to during the Basel shows include 74-year-old Paola, who is primarily known in Austria as the co-host of "Verstehen Sie Spaß?" but also competed in the ESC for her home country in 1969 and 1980. Luca Hänni, who reached 4th place for Switzerland in 2019, or Peter Sue & Marc can also be experienced. Peter Reber stood on the ESC stage for Switzerland with Sue & Marc four times, and he was involved as a composer six times. Speculation is rife as to whether superstar Céline Dion - who was successful for Switzerland in 1988 - will perform in Basel. Dion had expressed interest in participating but is suffering from Stiff-Person Syndrome with muscle spasms.
Hazel Brugger on Stage at the Eurovision Song Contest
What is certain is the female moderation trio that will take care of the show's design in Basel, with its nearly 175,000 inhabitants. Alongside TV presenter Sandra Studer and Gottschalk sidekick Michelle Hunziker (at the final), comedy goddess Hazel Brugger is number 3 in the lineup. Fitting the now fixed ESC motto "United by Music," the tagline "Welcome Home" has been created for Basel, as the first ESC took place in Lugano, Switzerland, in 1956 (and was promptly won by the Swiss participant Lys Assia). A suitable app "Basel-Welcome Home," which is intended to connect the ESC with the city's highlights, is also on offer. And the classic postcards, the short films before the start of each act, were filmed in Switzerland with the artists.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.