#esc rules

[eurovision-facts]

Eurovision Fact #46:

In 1990, the age rule was put in place for the Eurovision Song Contest, saying that contestants must be at least 16 by the day of the performance. This rule was established because the year prior two young children, aged 11 and 12, competed and it was thought that too much pressure was placed on such young children.

Prior to this rule change, the youngest Eurovision contestant was Nathalie Pâque, an 11-year-old, who performed for France in 1989 - the year before the rule change. Nathalie herself, however, was from Belgium.

Alongside Nathalie that year, 12-year-old Gili Netanel performed for Israel.

The youngest winner was 13-year-old Sandra Kim, who won in 1986 with her song "J'aime la vie" for Belgium.

Kim actually lied to the producers about her age, claiming she was 15.

[Sources]:

International Youth Day - Eurovision. Aussievision.net.

Zagreb, 1990. Eurovision.tv.

Participants - 1989, Nathalie Pâque. Eurovision.tv

Lausanne, 1989. Eurovision.tv.

Participants - 1989, Gili ve Galit. Eurovision.tv.

Bergen, 1986. Eurovision.tv.

[eurovision-facts]

Eurovision Fact #103:

The 2016 Eurovision Song Contest saw the biggest change to the voting system since 1975.

In 2016, the jury and public votes were announced separately. This resulted in double the amount of points being available to contestants.

[Source]:

Stockholm 2016, Eurovision.tv.

[eurovision-facts]

Eurovision Fact #34:

Up until 1965, all entries sang in their native language, despite no rule being in place saying that this was required. In 1965, however, the Swedish entry sang their song in English, leading to the implementation of the rule that all songs must be sung in the country’s native language.

The language rule was first abolished in 1973, but it was reintroduced before the 1977 contest. Despite the reintroduction of the rule,  the Belgian and German entries were still allowed to sing in English because the entries were chosen prior to the rule change.

The rule was finally abolished in 1999, allowing participants to perform in any language they desired. That year, 14 out of the 23 contestants sang in English.

[Sources]:

https://eurovision.tv/event/naples-1965

Roxburgh, Gordon (2012). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Vol. One: The 1950s and 1960s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. (387-396)

O'Connor, John Kennedy (2010). The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History (2nd ed.). London: Carlton Books. (28-29, 52-55, 68-71, 156-159)

https://eurovision.tv/event/luxembourg-1966

https://eurovision.tv/event/luxembourg-1973

https://eurovision.tv/event/london-1977

https://eurovision.tv/event/jerusalem-1999

[eurovision-facts]

Eurovision Fact #117:

The official rules of the Eurovision Song Contest are drafted in both English and French. In the event that there is a discrepancy between the two sets of rules, the English rules "shall prevail."

[Source]:

Rules of the Contest 2023: Prevailing Version of Rules, Eurovision.tv.

[eurovision-facts]

Eurovision Fact #115:

For the 2014 contest, new jury rules were implemented. Thus, the names of all jury members were announced on the 1st of May, and the rankings each member submitted were published the night after the final. Furthermore, industry professionals could not partake as members of the jury if they'd been on the jury in either of the two prior contests

[Source]:

Copenhagen 2014, Eurovision.tv.

[eurovision-facts]

Eurovision Fact #101:

Lead vocals and supporting vocals must be performed live at the Eurovision Song Contest. Backing vocals can either be performed live on stage, off stage, or via backing track.

However, no one on stage, be it dancers or contestants, may lip-sync to backing tracks.

[Source]:

Rules of the Contest 2023: 2.2.3 Performances at the ESC, Eurovision.tv.

[whiteknight-is-talking-back-blog]

I've posted too much eurovision shit today. Sorry.