Eurovision 2023: The city of Liverpool

Picture this...

A glittering stage, elaborate costumes, over-the-top performances, and an outrageous amount of national pride. No, it's not a beauty pageant, it's the Eurovision Song Contest! It's like the Olympics, but instead of athletic prowess, countries compete to see who can come up with the most absurdly catchy pop song. And let's be honest, it's a guilty pleasure we all secretly love. 

But despite its reputation for kitsch and camp, Eurovision is also a serious music competition, with many talented artists and songwriters taking part each year. The contest has launched the careers of many famous musicians, including ABBA, Celine Dion, and Conchita Wurst, and continues to be a major platform for new and emerging talent.

It is being held in our lovely city of origin LIVERPOOL! Liverpool's Eurovision Village, the official fan zone for this year's Eurovision Song Contest, will be an exhilarating nine-day celebration of music and unity, featuring a diverse range of stars from pop, gospel and opera.

With a capacity of up to 25,000, the village will be located on Liverpool's Pier Head and will showcase a variety of events, including one-off shows, live performances, DJ sets, and guest appearances. The festivities will commence on May 5 and run daily until the Grand Final on May 13, making it a must-visit destination for Eurovision fans from around the world.

Although 'town' will be chocka, it will be a night to remember for all those attending and all those watching. Let's hope Mae Muller sings her heart out to make it to the final and the UK take home a solid win for all the Brits. 

So let the Eurovision finals week commence and let's count down our winners over the last 5 years! 

In 2022 our winner had a tumultuous and difficult journey within their country, fighting wars and protecting innocent lives whilst trying to live in peace. Ukraine was last year's winner and a well deserved win it was! The Kalush Orchestra won with their fantastic song 'Stefania', a unique blend of alternative hip hop and folk music, making it stand out from the other songs at Eurovision.

Not only is it the first rap song to take home the Eurovision trophy, but it's also the first entirely Ukrainian song to do so. Its success is not limited to the Eurovision stage, as it made its way into the music markets of 22 countries, hitting the top spot in Ukraine and Lithuania, and making it to the top ten in Finland, Croatia, Iceland, Hungary, and Sweden. Clearly, "Stefania" has struck a chord with music lovers around the world.

In 2021, Italy took the Eurovision crown and even now the music lovers are huge fans of this Italian band. Måneskin's hit "Zitti e buoni" is a true testament to the band's creativity and passion for music. This cool rock band thrives today with young people from all over the world tuning in to their funky beats.

The song, produced by all members of the band, as well as Fabrizio Ferraguzzo, began as a ballad in 2016 but gradually evolved into the catchy rock anthem we know and love today. The title itself translates to "quiet and good", but Måneskin's interpretation takes on a deeper meaning, as the band sees it as a call to action to transform anger into positive change. It has become the first Italian-language song to reach the top 20 in the UK in 30 years, talk about a take over!

Uh oh, where is our 2020 winner?! Well, we did not have one. Why? Covid-19, the disease that had ruined our lovely free time and the time we spent with loved ones. So we are skipping a year and forgetting that awful one. 

In 2019, the Netherlands took the top spot with Dutch singer Duncan Laurence singing 'Arcade', a well-known and well-loved pop song. Laurence crafted the song during his tenure at the Tilburg Rock Academy, pouring over it for more than two years in collaboration with former Sharon Kovacs band member, Wouter Hardy.

The inspiration behind "Arcade" was the heart-wrenching loss of a loved one. In an interview with WiwiBloggs, Laurence shared, "Arcade is a story about the search for the love of your life. It's about the hope to reach something that seems unreachable". The lyrics "Small town boy in a big arcade" serve as a powerful metaphor for love, relationships, addiction, and taking risks. 

Israel claimed first place in the year of 2018 with the catchy hit 'Toy.' Israeli singer Netta Barzilai's hit song "Toy" (Hebrew transliteration: טוי) is a funky and upbeat track written by Doron Medalie and produced by Stav Beger. The song and its official music video, directed by Keren Hochma, were released on March 11, 2018.

"Toy" gained massive popularity after it won the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 held in Lisbon, Portugal, and it became Israel's fourth Eurovision victory after winning in 1978, 1979, and 1998. With a whopping 529 points, "Toy" captured the hearts of Eurovision fans worldwide. The song also reached the top of the charts in Israel, solidifying its place as a cultural phenomenon. Interestingly, the song was leaked online a day before its official release, but it only added to the excitement and anticipation surrounding Netta's big win. Now you will hear this catchy pop anthem, all over TikTok! 

We saw Portugal win the Eurovision in 2017, with siblings Salvador Sobral and Luisa Sobral's song 'Amar pelos dois'. 

The delightful jazz waltz will make you want to sway with its rhythm. Written and produced by his sister Luísa Sobral, the song tells the story of a heartbreak after a breakup in a soulful manner. It was released as a single on 10 March 2017 by Sons em Trânsito and made its debut on 19 February of the same year during the first semi-final of Festival da Canção 2017.

The song has received critical acclaim for its elegant melody and Salvador Sobral's mesmerizing vocals. It has also earned the Sobral siblings numerous awards, including two Marcel Bezençon Awards. "Amar pelos dois" is a timeless piece that showcases the beauty and versatility of Portuguese music.