Did you know that not only stars like ABBA, Cèline Dion, Olivia Newton-John, Gina G., Ofra Haza, Domenico Modugno, Ester Ofarim, Nana Mouskouri, Gérard Joling, Vicky Leandros, Cliff Richard, Mocedades and Julio Iglesias took part, but also dance act Riverdance thanks its fame to the Eurovision Song Contest? What started in 1956, grew to become the largest music competition in the world. The Eurovision Song Contest is not just considered to be the oldest live broadcast in the world, but the most expensive as well. In 1955, the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) came up with the idea of an international song contest whereby countries, represented by their respective public broadcasters, would participate in one television show, to be transmitted simultaneously in all represented nations. This was conceived during a meeting in Monaco in 1955 by Marcel Bezençon, a Frenchman working for the EBU. The competition was based upon the Italian Festival di Sanremo, held for the first time in 1951, and was also seen as a technological experiment in live television: in those days, it was a very ambitious project to join many countries together in a wide-area international network. Satellite television did not exist yet at that time, and the Eurovision Network comprised a terrestrial microwave network. Le Grand-Prix Eurovision de la Chanson Européenne was born! Should there be a tie for first place, the Eurovision title shall be awarded to the song that has obtained points from the highest number of countries. If the songs received votes from the same number of countries, then the highest number of 12-point scores shall qualify. If the winner cannot be determined by this procedure, then the number of times ten points have been awarded shall be the deciding factor; if necessary, this method shall continue until account has been taken of the number of times one point has been awarded. Should two or more songs still tie for first place, even after the above calculation, both/all such songs shall share the title of winners of the Eurovision Song Contest. Without interruption, the Eurovision Song Contest has been broadcast every year since 1956, which makes it one of the longest-running television programmes in the world. In 2003, the first ever Junior Eurovision Song Contest took place, while the Eurovision Song Contest celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2005. Viewers picked ABBA's "Waterloo" as best ever Eurovision Song Contest song. 2008 running saw a record of 43 represented countries, as Azerbaijan and San Marino joined the family. The competition has been broadcast throughout Europe, but also in Australia, Canada, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Jordan, Korea, New Zealand and the United States, even though these countries do not participate. In 2010, the format was launched outside of Europe so that various other parts of the world will be introduced to the concept behind the show.
Melody makes her debut at this years Premio Lo Nuestro (PLN) in its 38th edition. The Spanish singer will be performing "Hay que venir al sur", a song made popular by Italian singer Raffaella Carrà, in a special Visionary Award tribute to protest singer-songwriter Manolo Díaz, a pioneer in the creation of rock in Spain.
The song "Esa Diva" went viral right after it was performed at the 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held in Basel, Switzerland. As Spain is a member of the "Big Five", "Esa Diva" automatically qualified for the grand final where it placed twenty-fourth out of the twenty-six competing entries with 37 points.
This year’s PLN nominations span 44 categories, underscoring the global impact and diversity of Latin music. Melody is nominated in the brand new category Pop/Urban – Best EuroSong.
For the first time ever, a track from the Eurovision Song Contest catalog earns a Premio Lo Nuestro nomination. "Esa Diva", Spain's Eurovision 2025 entry performed by the larger-than-life Melody, is nominated in the category Pop/Urban – Best EuroSong.
The 2021 Oscar nominations are announced and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has nominated "Húsavík" (Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga) for Best Original Song
Robbed at the Eurovision Song Contest 1958, Domenico Modugno's “Nel blu, dipinto di blu (Volare)” went on to win the Grammy's very first Record of the Year and Song of the Year awards in 1959
Québécois drag artist Rita Baga recreates Céline Dion’s iconic Eurovision Song Contest look in fifth episode of Canada’s Drag Race
There isn’t a better combination than the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) and drag queens. Whether it’s Austria's ESC 2014 winner Conchita Wurst lifting the trophy, or RuPaul’s Drag Race star Courtney Act competing for the title at Australia Decides, we live for moments when drag queens take to the Eurovision stage. But it’s not so often that Europe's favourite television show finds its way onto the Drag Race runway, so this week’s fifth episode of Canada’s Drag Race certainly had us gagged.
For those who haven’t seen the show, each episode of Drag Race — the competition to find the next drag superstar — includes a themed runway. This week’s runway category for Canada’s adaptation of the show was “Night of 1000 Célines”, honouring Canada’s original diva (and Eurovision winner) Céline Dion.
And of course, it wouldn’t be a Céline theme without honouring the infamous white double-breasted jacket and tutu skirt combo that Dion wore when she snatched the Eurovision Song Contest title for Switzerland back in 1988.
Just like Céline, Rita Baga hails from Quebec, Canada’s French-speaking region. Throughout the competition so far, Rita has been praised for bringing Québécois drag (which is known for its campiness) to the world’s attention.
Even though the judges didn’t think of the outfit as fashionable (we can blame Céline’s stylist for that!), they were certainly blown away by Rita Baga’s ability to channel her country woman.
There was even a costume ruveal, with Rita whipping away the white outfit to reveal a sequinned black outfit inspired by Céline’s 1988 Incognito tour of Quebec. It represented Céline’s transforming from an unknown Quebec singer to the international pop diva she is today.
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