Eurovision

Pallati i ëndrrave by Ismail Kadare (The Palace of Dreams, translated by Barbara Bray) – ALBANIAThe Book Thief by Markus Zusak – AUSTRALIAДом, в котором... by Mariam Petrosyan (The Gray House, translated by Yuri Machkasov) – ARMENIADer Trafikant by Robert Seethaler (The Tobacconist, translated by Charlotte Collins) – AUSTRIAThe Orphan Sky by Ella Leya – AZERBAIJANMoi qui n’ai pas connu les hommes by Jacqueline Harpman (I Who Have Never Known Men, translated by Ros Schwartz) – BELGIUMUhvati zeca by Lana Bastašić (Catch the…

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviewsSign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Eurovision is underway this week, which means it’s about time we revisited the epic film, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.With a star-studded cast including Will Ferrell as co-writer and co-star opposite Rachel McAdams, the movie follows Lars Erickssong and Sigrit Ericksdottir, an Icelandic pop duo determined to win over their small town and represent Iceland at the Eurovision…

This week will be remembered for one of the most important events in a generation for the UK: a multimillion-pound spectacle of pageantry in which dignitaries from around the world gather in celebration before one figure is ultimately crowned. I know, I can’t believe Eurovision is here either.Europe – and also Australia for reasons no one really understands – now has all eyes on Liverpool as the UK hosts the song contest for the first time since thin eyebrows were on trend. Of course, we are not in this position due to…

69. The Herrey’s – Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley (Sweden, 1984)With respect to the Herrey’s – three clean-cut brothers and one rogue apostrophe – Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley sounds like the result of an experiment to deliberately synthesise an abysmal Eurovision entry. Antiseptic sound, meaningless title, mind-boggling lyrics – some frightful old balls about magical golden shoes – and a chorus that brings about a complete collapse of the will to live.68. The Olsen Brothers – Fly on the Wings of Love (Denmark, 2000)The perennially…

Eurovision week is now in full swing, and it’s safe to say host city Liverpool is fully embracing the contest coming to town – you can’t move for pink, blue and yellow everything and the ‘United By Music’ slogan plastered on every available surface.Tonight we’ll see another 16 countries battle it out for the last ten places in Saturday’s Grand Final. They’ll join the ‘Big Five’ – France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK – and last year’s winner Ukraine (who were unable to host this year due to the war, so the UK has…

Grab a miniature flag, slap on a grin and prepare yourself for pre-written, faltering gags from the hosts falling on the deaf ears of a rambunctious audience … yes, Eurovision is upon us.Whether you’re allured by the kitsch – or watch it under duress – at least one song each year will spark the thought: “Even I could write something better than this!”Well, dear Eurovision lovers/sceptics, we are here to help guide you through the process. We have analysed all 1,371 Eurovision finalists over almost seven decades, poring…

The UK is having one of its busiest weeks in months – but while the coronation put Britain in the global spotlight last weekend, all eyes are on a very different cultural spectacle in Liverpool this weekend.Eurovision drew in 161 million viewers last year, with 40 countries participating. Since 1956, each has put forward a musical act to face a public vote – and for millions of die-hard fans, the winners are the real royalty.Some of those fans are in Australia, where it was watched by 2.7 million last year. The country…

This weekend, for the first time since 1998, the UK is hosting Eurovision (on behalf of last year’s champions, Ukraine). The contest and its semi-finals are being held in Liverpool. But how much do you know about this year’s artists, the connections between Eurovision and Liverpool, and the UK’s history in the competition? Take our quiz to find out.The Guardian’s Eurovision 2023 quiz1.Here are Terry Wogan, Bucks Fizz and Bardo at the 1982 competition, which was held in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. How many times has the UK…

Ukraine will “definitely” host Eurovision after “victory in this war” against Russia, a member of 2022 Eurovision winner, Kalush Orchestra, has said ahead of their performance in Liverpool this weekend.Tymofii Muzychuk, a musician who forms part of the Ukrainian rap and folk group, said the band were grateful the UK had taken over Eurovision hosting duties while the country remained under attack from Russia.“Of course, we wish Eurovision was being hosted by Ukraine, but it’s still impossible for now,” he told the…

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviewsSign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Eurovision is underway this week, which means it’s about time we revisited the epic film, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.With a star-studded cast including Will Ferrell as co-writer and co-star opposite Rachel McAdams, the movie follows Lars Erickssong and Sigrit Ericksdottir, an Icelandic pop duo determined to win over their small town and represent Iceland at the Eurovision…