May 4th 2024.
The highly anticipated Eurovision Song Contest is approaching, and all eyes are on Olly Alexander, the UK's chosen representative. The 33-year-old singer from the band Years and Years is following in the footsteps of previous UK representatives Mae Muller and Sam Ryder, and is set to perform his song "Dizzy" on the big stage in Malmö, Sweden.
Olly will be competing in the Eurovision Grand Final in 2024, alongside representatives from the "Big 5" countries - France, Germany, Italy, and Spain - as well as the host country Sweden, following Loreen's amazing win in Liverpool last year. These six countries are automatically pre-qualified for the final, while the remaining spots will be determined by two semi-finals on May 7 and 9, leading up to the grand final on May 11.
But wait, what exactly happens in these semi-finals and why do we have them? Well, let me break it down for you.
The semi-finals were introduced to accommodate the increasing number of countries who wanted to take part in Eurovision. In the 1990s, after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of communism in Europe, many newly independent countries wanted to join in on the fun. However, in the early days, these countries had to go through a pre-qualifying round before earning a spot in the final. But in 1996, a new system was introduced that took into account a country's average points over the previous four years. This system eventually led to the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004.
Since then, Eurovision has seen an influx of new countries participating, and the semi-finals have become an integral part of the competition. In the early years, only one semi-final took place, but in 2008, a second semi-final was added, with the number of pre-qualified countries reduced to just the "Big 4" and the previous year's winner/host country.
So how do the semi-finals work? Well, they take place on Tuesday and Thursday before the grand final. Each country performs, and the top 10 from each heat advance to the grand final, while the remaining countries are eliminated. The final line-up is revealed in a random order, with the actual points from the semi-finals only made public after the grand final.
The allocation of countries in each semi-final is determined by a draw in January, with the countries divided into different pots to ensure a fair and diverse mix. And in recent years, the qualifiers have been decided by a combination of jury points and public votes, although this year, the semi-finals will be determined by public vote only, with the jury system only in place for the final.
Since the introduction of the semi-finals, Eurovision has seen a significant increase in the number of participating countries, making it a truly global event. And with Olly Alexander representing the UK in 2024, it's safe to say that the competition will be fierce and the stakes will be high. So mark your calendars and get ready for an epic Eurovision showdown!
The highly anticipated Eurovision Song Contest is just around the corner, and all eyes are on Olly Alexander as he prepares to represent the UK in Malmö, Sweden. The 33-year-old singer from Years and Years will be following in the footsteps of past UK entries Mae Muller and Sam Ryder, as he takes the stage to perform his hit song "Dizzy."
Olly will be competing in the grand final of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, alongside representatives from the "Big Five" countries of France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, as well as the host country Sweden. This is all thanks to Loreen's amazing victory last year in Liverpool. However, these six countries are not the only ones participating in the main event. Two semi-finals will take place on May 7th and 9th, determining the rest of the line-up for the final on Saturday, May 11th.
But what exactly happens in a semi-final and why do we have them? Well, it all started in the 1990s when more and more countries wanted to take part in Eurovision. With the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of communism, many newly independent countries were eager to join in on the fun. In 1993, they were welcomed into the competition, but had to go through a pre-qualifying round. This was later changed to a relegation system, where the bottom seven countries from the previous year were eliminated. Eventually, this led to the introduction of the semi-final system.
The first ever semi-final took place in 2004, with only one semi-final being held until 2007. During this time, the top 10 countries from the previous year and the "Big Four" nations automatically qualified for the final. The remaining spots were filled by the top 10 countries from the semi-final, chosen by public vote. In 2008, a second semi-final was added, with only the "Big Four" and the host country automatically qualifying for the final.
So how do the semi-finals work? Each semi-final takes place on Tuesday and Thursday before the grand final. The non-qualified countries perform, and the top 10 from each heat move on to the final. The remaining countries are eliminated from the competition and do not perform again on Saturday night. The order of the finalists is determined by a random draw, and the actual points from the semi-finals are only revealed after the grand final.
The line-up for each semi-final is determined by a World Cup-style allocation draw, with countries placed in separate pots to ensure an even chance for all. Recently, the qualifiers have been determined by a mix of jury and public votes, but this year, the semi-finals will be determined by public vote only, with the jury system reserved for the final. This has allowed for an influx of new countries to join Eurovision since the introduction of the semi-finals.
As the excitement for Eurovision 2024 continues to build, Olly Alexander is feeling the pressure. He recently opened up about coming close to a "breakdown" over the backlash surrounding his selection as the UK's entry. But fans are eagerly anticipating his performance, with some even having their "minds blown" by a sneak peek. And in a special honor, Dame Joanna Lumley will be announcing the UK's points during the final. With all of this and more, Eurovision 2024 is shaping up to be an unforgettable event.
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