The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews - Episodes Tagged with “Bulgaria”

Episode 301: BOOM Bangaranga

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Better late than never: let’s talk about Eurovision 2026. We’ll discuss what happened in Vienna, what this means for the Contest going forward, and share our post-confetti plans. Also: BULGARIA?!

📸 Sarah Louise Bennett | EBU

BOOM Bangaranga Summary

Were we engaged with the Contest this year? (0:56)
The Eurovision Brodacasts (6:16)
First Semi-Final (10:06)
Second Semi-Final (16:24)
The Grand Final (28:41)
Data Tidbits (46:19)
Looking Ahead to 2027 (50:21)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

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previews of upcoming episodes,
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National Selection dates
Tidbits we can't get to on the main show

We also have the EuroWhat? AV Club Podcast, a monthly bonus episode for paid members exploring Eurovision-adjacent TV, movies, books, and more. And if there is a season 2 of the American Song Contest... well... :::monkey's paw intensifies:::

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Episode 289: Rough

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600

Bulgaria returns to Eurovision following a three-year absence. We take a look at the country's history at the Contest: a rough start in its initial tenure, a renaissance after its first hiatus, and looking ahead to how Bulgaria's next tenure may go.

Rough Summary

Selection Season So Far: Moldova, Malta, Luxembourg, Georgia, Israel, Switzerland (0:40)
Join the EuroWhat? AV Club (4:29)
Bulgaria's History at Eurovision (6:30)
How is Bulgaria selecting for 2026? (28:32)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you want even more EuroWhat? in your life, join the EuroWhat? AV Club on Patreon! You can join for free to get virtual high fives and a monthly newsletter featuring:

previews of upcoming episodes,
North America tour dates for Eurovision alumni
National Selection dates
Tidbits we can't get to on the main show

Episode 282: Momentum

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0600

It was a busy October in Eurovision Land: The EBU unscheduled an extraordinary member session, two countries announced their return to the Contest, and several national selections are getting their ducks in a row. We get caught up on the headlines as Eurovision 2026 starts to take shape.

Momentum Summary

EBU cancels "extraordinary session" (1:32)
Bulgaria and Romania return to Eurovision (3:21)
Gert Kark joins the Eurovision Reference Group (8:15)
Patreon: PanArctic Sing-Alongs (10:18)
National Final Roundup: Estonia, Spain, Albania, Montenegro, Luxembourg, Austria, San Marino (11:38)

Photo by Filip Mishevski on Unsplash

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or reach out on Bluesky @eurowhat.bsky.social.

Join the EuroWhat AV Club!

If you would like to help financially support the show, we are hosting the EuroWhat AV Club over on Patreon! We have a slew of bonus episodes with deep dives on Eurovision-adjacent topics.

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Episode 171: Legacy

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

After we check in with the budding infrastructure for Eurovision 2023, we take a look at some of the non-winning entries over the years that still have an impact.

Legacy Summary

Eurovision announces the 37 countries going to Liverpool (0:43)
Cyprus selects Andrew Lambrou (2:38)
National final details: Spain, Norway, San Marino, Finland, Albania, Ukraine (4:03)
Що робить Kalush Orchestra? (What is Kalush Orchestra doing?) (8:16)
"SNAP" Chat: James Corden Edition (9:53)
Eurovision Legacy Hits (11:53)
Nightcore: the Party Cinderellas are Here (24:00)

Cover art by ryo taka from Pixabay

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Episode 156: Bubblicious - Eurovision 2022 Semi-Final Preview

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Sun, 08 May 2022 00:00:00 -0500

We make our picks for who we think will advance from this week's Eurovision Semi-Finals. These predictions were made before rehearsals, but surely they're still accurate?

Bubblicious Summary

Eurovision Week 2022 (1:42)
Our Semi-Final 1 Picks (6:55)
Our Semi-Final 2 Picks (19:56)

Eurovision 2022 Review Series

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or find us on Twitter @eurowhat.

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Episode 149: Fairgrounds

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Meredith Clark joins us to discuss Albania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, and Moldova as we kick off our coverage of the first semi-final for Eurovision 2022.

Fairgrounds Summary

Albania - Ronela Hijati - "Sekret" (5:32)
Bulgaria - Intelligent Music Project - "Intention" (10:42)
Latvia - Citi Zēni - "Eat Your Salad" (18:00)
Lithuania - Monika Liu - "Sentimentai" (25:04)
Moldova - Zdob și Zdub & Fratii Advahov - Trenulețul (29:57)

Spotify Playlists

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or find us on Twitter @eurowhat.

Special Guest: Meredith Clark.

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Episode 136: Eurovision 101

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 00:00:00 -0600

With a lot of new folks discovering Eurovision over the past year and selection season 2022 underway, we put together a tutorial to answer the question: How does Eurovision work?

Eurovision 101 Summary

Bulgaria's Intelligent Music Project debuts "Intention" (1:01)
What's Måneskin Up To? Grammys and the Voice (6:10)
Selection season news (8:35)
- Estonia's Eesti Laul
- Slovenia's EMA freš
- Czech Republic's online selection
- Sweden announces artists for Melfest 2022
- Una Voce per San Marino begins casting round
- Norway's Melodi Grand Prix details its format
- Albania's Festivali i Këngës releases its songs
Eurovision 101
- What is the Eurovision Song Contest? (16:54)
- What are the Eurovision rules? (19:33)
- What does a year in Eurovision look like? (23:09)

The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. When you subscribe, please rate and review us. We welcome your feedback and the ratings will help other Eurovision fans find us.

Want to support the show? Join our Patreon! Listener support has helped with getting episode transcriptions and refreshing our website.

Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions are always welcome. You can shoot us an email or find us on Twitter @eurowhat.

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Episode 122: Revised Head Canon

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 25 May 2021 11:00:00 -0500

Ryan's back! We help to provide a revised head canon to fill the gap between 2018 and 2021 and review this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

Revised Head Canon Summary

Welcome back, Ryan!
Grand Final Thoughts and Stats (8:12)
Semi-Final 1 Stats (16:42)
Semi-Final 2 Stats (23:58)
Final Thoughts (35:37)

Episode 121: Eurovision 2021 Grand Final Preview

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Fri, 21 May 2021 09:00:00 -0500

33 songs competed on the Eurovision stage Tuesday and Thursday but only 20 advanced to the 2021 Grand Final. Who will win the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam?

Eurovision 2021 Grand Final Preview Summary

Discovering Peacock will be carrying Eurovision
Where Can I Watch the Eurovision Song Contest in the US?
First Semi-Final (3:22)
Second Semi-Final (7:23)
Grand Final Thoughts (13:38)

Episode 120: Eurovision 2021 Semi-Final Preview

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Sun, 16 May 2021 23:00:00 -0500

The Eurovision 2021 Semi-Final Spectacular is here! We make our picks for the 20 songs we think will qualify for the Grand Final in Rotterdam.

Eurovision 2021 Semi-Final Preview Summary

News
- The American Song Contest
- Where Can I Watch the Eurovision Song Contest in the US?
- Rehearsals: Covid Incidents (No Spoilers)

Semi-Final 1 Predictions (6:36)

Semi-Final 2 Predictions (15:25)

Episode 118: Over-Egged Pudding

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 04 May 2021 11:00:00 -0500

Maura Johnston joins us to discuss the last section of Eurovision 2021 Semi 2. Topics include pudding, track suits, and CVS Bangers.

Over-Egged Pudding Summary

News (1:12)
- Eurovision 2021 will have an audience
- Eurovision Pre-Party Roundup: Concert in the Dark | Spain | Dadivision | Adriatic
- "Husavik" at the Oscars
- Rehearsals start this weekend

Welcome back, Maura Johnston! (8:29)
- @maura on Twitter

Semi-Final #2 Part #3:
- Portugal - The Black Mamba - "Love is on My Side" (9:26)
- Bulgaria - VICTORIA - "growing up is getting old" (14:01)
- Finland - Blind Channel - "Dark Side" (18:55)
- Latvia - Samanta Tina - "The Moon is Rising" (24:04)
- Switzerland - Gjon's Tears - "Tout l'Univers" (29:54)
- Denmark - Fyr og Flamme - Øve Os På Hinanden (34:57)

Episode 111: The Homestretch

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 11:00:00 -0500

We're in the homestretch of an unusual Eurovision Selection Season. Melfest is the main event, new songs, scandals... ok, maybe not so unusual...

The Homestretch Summary

"Husavik" Awards Watch: The Grammy Awards and the Oscars (1:12)
The Last Week of Eurovision 2021 Selection Season
- Tuesday: Belarus potentially disqualified (5:43)
- Wednesday song drops: (11:20)
  - Austria's Vincent Bueno "Amen"
  - Greece's Stefania "Last Dance"
  - Switzerland's Gjon's Tears "Tout L'Univers"
  - Bulgaria's VICTORIA's "Growing Up is Getting Old"
- Thursday song drops: (23:54)
  - United Kingdom's James Newman "Embers"
  - North Macedonia's Vasil Garvanliev "Here I Stand"
- Friday song drops: (32:25)
  - Poland's Rafal "The Ride"
  - Latvia's Samanta Tina "The Moon is Rising"
- Saturday's Songs: (39:00)
  - Sweden's Melfest Final chooses Tusse's "Voices"
  - Iceland's Daði & Gagnamagnið "10 Years"

Coming Up: Heads of Delegations, Georgia, Malta, and Azerbaijan (50:52)

Episode 108: Sábado Gigante

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 11:00:00 -0600

Sábado Gigante 2021 ha quedado atrás y estamos listos para discutir un puñado de nuevas canciones de Eurovisión. Eso es todo el español que conocemos.

Sábado Gigante Summary

Song Selection Updates
- Czech Republic releases Benny Cristo's "OMAGA" (1:34)
- James Newman will represent the United Kingdom again (4:09)
- Norway's Melodi Grand Prix Final: TIX wins with "Fallen Angel" (6:08)
- Finland's UMK chooses "Dark Side" by Blind Channel (16:02)
- Blas Cantò will sing "Voy a Quedarme" for Spain (21:59)

Other Super Saturday Happenings
- Estonia's Eesti Laul semi finals cut 24 acts to 12 (23:45)
- Sweden's Melodifestivalen Heat 3 (29:48)
- Portugal's Festival da Cançao Semi 1 (33:36)

Coming Up This Week (37:56)
- Bulgaria launches Victoria's a little dramatic feedback platform
- Serbia's Hurricane will sing "Loco Loco"
- Cyprus releases Elena Tsagkrinou's "El Diablo" Wednesday
- Germany's Jendrik presents his song Thursday
- Ireland's Lesley Roy debuts "MAPS" on Friday
- Slovenia's EMA reveals Ana Soklic's song Saturday

Episode 107: Poof, Pow, Surprise!

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 11:00:00 -0600

Poof! Croatia has entered the Eurovision chat! Pow! Melfest names a woman! Surprise! Our first genuine "What?!" delivered on this show.

Poof, Pow, Surprise! Summary

News: "Husavik" Awards Watch and a Rotterdam Stage Update (1:23)
Weekend Recap
- Croatia's Dora selects Albina's "Tick-Tock" (4:54)
- Sweden's Melodifestivalen Heat 2 (12:25)
- Norway's Melodi Grand Prix Heat 5 (20:55)

Song Updates (26:25)
- Czech Republic's Benny Cristo drops "Omaga"
- Song titles from North Macedonia and Moldova
- Bulgaria's Victoria gets a little dramatic on YouTube

TV This Week
- Estonia's Eesti Laul Semi Finals Thursday and Saturday
- Finland's UMK Picks (29:15)
- Spain's Blas Cantò will sing "Memoria" or "Voy a Quedarme" (34:17)
- Portugal's Festival da Cançao begins (35:54)

Episode 105: AHHHHHHHH!

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 11:00:00 -0600

We try to keep calm as we discuss the live audience at France's Eurovision final, Sweden's Melfest "plan" and make our picks for Eesti Laul Semi 1.

AHHHHHHHH! Summary

France chooses Barbara Pravi's "Voila" (1:17)
Norway's Melodi Grand Prix Heat 3 Recap (8:44)
Lithuania's Pabandom is Naujo! Semi-Final Recap (12:41)
Could Eurovision: The Story of Fire Saga get a Golden Globe nomination? (15:50)
What is Sweden's plan for this year's Melodifestivalen? (21:47)
Other news: Senhit's "Alcohol is Free"; Croatia tweaks Dora; Bulgaria's a little dramatic; Iceland's song date (26:33)
Our picks for Estonia's Eesti Laul Semi-Final 1 (31:37)

Episode 99: Merry FiKmas

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 11:00:00 -0600

Eurovision season usually begins in December with Albania's Festivali i Këngës, sometimes known as FiKmas. We dig into FiK's history.

Merry FiKmas Summary

Eurovision 2021 Updates: Semi-Final Allocations and Plan C Videos (2:49)
Artist Updates (7:52)
- Cyprus will send Elena Tsagkrinou with "El Diablo"
- Bulgaria's VICTORIA floats "Ugly Cry" for consideration
- Senhit covers "Amar Pelos Dois"
- Damir won't represent Croatia; Aksel won't represent Finland
- The ROOP will compete in Lithuania's Pabandom is Naujo

National Selection Updates (16:53)
- France's National Final coming in January
- Norway expands Melodi Grand Prix 2021
- Upcoming drops: Sweden's Melodifestivalen Acts, Estonia's Eesti Laul songs

Main Topic: Albania's Festivali i Këngës and How to Open Up (25:36)

Episode 94: Double Trouble

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 11:00:00 -0500

Ben flies solo again with another audio essay, this time looking into performers who made double, triple, and even quadruple visits to the Eurovision stage.

Double Trouble Summary

Eurovision, Again? (0:55)
Defining a "Lead Artist" (2:00)
Golden Boy (3:17)
The Four-Timers Club (4:25)
Three is a Magic Number (9:04)
CAROLA (11:00)
Close Close Close, but No Cigar (13:07)
Second Time's the Charm (15:36)
Glow-Ups (17:33)
The Direct Opposite of a Glow-Up (20:50)
Failure to Launch (24:58)
Keep That Same Energy (25:56)
What's Another Year? (26:50)

Episode 93: Rotterdam, Ahoy! Take 2

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 11:00:00 -0500

Rotterdam gets to take a mulligan on 2020 as we look ahead to how preparations for the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest begin to take shape.

Rotterdam, Ahoy! Take 2 Episode Summary

Mailbag and Eurovision in the Wild (2:13)
- Eurovision at the DNC
- The Crossword: Friday, August 21 in the New Yorker
- Animal Crossing Fashion by Nitro Gnome
- "Zenit" by ONUKA in Just Dance 2021

Where are we with countries and artists for next year? (18:35)
- Senhit's Freaky Trip to Rotterdam: "Ding a Dong"
- Ben's NRKMGP Presentation

How is Rotterdam planning for Eurovision 2021? (27:43)
- With COVID, how is the 2021 edition of Eurovision Organized? (RTS)

Episode 90: Wine Aunt Energy

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 11:00:00 -0500

We open up our mailbag and a chilled bottle of pinot grigio as we get caught up on Eurovision news from the last month.

Wine Aunt Energy Episode Summary

Mailbag (1:27):
- How to pronounce "Niamh"
- Bucks Fizz boiled sweets
- The worst Halloween candy
- Bruno Toniolli

No, really, are "Husavik" and "Jaja Ding Dong" eligible for Oscars? (6:30)

#EurovisionAgain (13:10)
- Copenhagen 2014
- Jerusalem 1999

Eurovision Back for Good (20:43)

Returning artist updates (24:09)
- Moldova
- Greece
- Israel
- Slovenia
- San Marino

Artists not returning (41:58)
- Croatia
- France
- Italy
- Albania
- Germany

Episode 89: 12 Points to Fire Saga?

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 11:00:00 -0500

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga arrived on Netflix last week and 12 Points from America joins us to discuss the music in Will Ferrell's new comedy.

12 Points to Fire Saga? Episode Summary

Welcome, 12 Points from America! Erik, Danny, Sam, and Derek! (2:20)
What were your overall impressions of the music in the movie? (7:23)
Will non-Eurovision fans "get" the Song Along? (20:30)
Was there anything missing from the Eurovision music experience? (39:33)
Outro: We discuss The Story of Fire Saga as a movie on 12 Points from America! (46:30)

Episode 85: Eurovision Again

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 05 May 2020 11:00:00 -0500

#EurovisionAgain impresario Rob Holley speaks with us about the Eurovision Twitter time machine extravaganza.

#EurovisionAgain Summary

News Desk (1:58)
- Eurostream 2020 Voting | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
- Alternate Programming for Eurovision Week ESCXtra Guide
- Netflix Updates

#EurovisionAgain with Rob Holley (11:30)

Episode 83: Fanopticon

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 11:00:00 -0500

Despite Eurovision's cancellation this year, the fandom is still fully engaged in the Contest. Eurovision Obsession's André Durham joins us to chat about how we're coping.

Fanopticon Summary

Special Guest: Welcome back, André Durham!
Eurovision News (1:48)
- 2021 Participation, Fast Passes, and Returning Artists
- Songwriters have opinions about the 2020 cancellation
- The Soul of Eurovision Saga
- France re-releases Tom Leeb's "Mon Alliée (The Best in Me)"

Voting! (12:43)

Concerts! (25:27)
- Eurovision Home Concerts (Episode 1)
- Surie Lockdown Eurovision Party
- Victoria at Home

Rewatch! (32:17)
- Eurovision 2019 is still on Netflix
- #EurovisionAgain Saturdays at 9pm CET / 3pm Eastern
- Broadcasters planning out special May programming

Who do you think would have won Eurovision this year?

Special Guest: André Durham.

Episode 81: WHY ARE WE YELLING?

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 11:00:00 -0500

We finish up our initial evaluations of the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest entries with the last nine songs to drop in March.

WHY ARE WE YELLING? Summary

Coronavirus vs. Eurovision (1:44)
Does Austria's song make us feel "Alive"? (6:22)
Ireland's "Story of My Life" splits opinions (10:21)
Are we "Running" to or from Cyprus? Or the mall? (15:13)
Should Bulgaria's "Tears Getting Sober" be the favorite? (19:09)
What do "YOU" think of North Macedonia's entry? (22:54)
Guess which of us is "FREAKY!" over San Marino's entry (27:03)
Does Malta get "All of My Love"? Some? Any? (35:36)
Does Azerbaijan say gay rights with "Cleopatra"? (40:07)
Russia continues to Russia with "UNO" 44:23

Episode 70: The Ones That Got Away 2010s Edition

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:00:00 -0600

408 songs competed on the Eurovision stage this decade. 148 did not qualify for the Grand Final. From those, we picked 20 that still hold up.

Episode Summary

2019 picks (4:03)
2018 picks (7:39)
2017 picks (11:40)
2016 picks (16:40)
2015 picks (22:07)
2014 picks (28:03)
2013 picks (33:48)
2012 picks (41:56)
2011 picks (46:05)
2010 picks (49:23)

Episode 69: Ben’s Grand Eurofying Theory

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 18:00:00 -0600

Ben flies solo this week after getting too caffeinated while prepping for the last Eurowhat of the year. He develops a theory about Eurovision in the last decade and makes an audio essay about it. It involves snacks.

Episode Summary

How to define a decade (1:48)
Pop, with a Folk flourish (4:15)
Power ballads! (6:10)
The Azerbaijan Pop machine (9:00)
Italy returns (11:18)
Fuego, Replay, and repetition (14:48)
Folk, with a Pop flourish (17:26)
Interesting choices, struggling titans (19:06)
Balance shifts again (22:18)

Episode 67: Hungary for Turkey

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 18:00:00 -0600

Hungary's reasons for withdrawing from Eurovision sound similar to Turkey's. What else do the two countries have in common?

Hungary for Turkey Summary

Eurovision 2020 Logo (1:32)
Cyprus announces Sandro Nicolas (4:03)
Bulgaria announces VICTORIA (7:07)
Sweden announces Melfest lineup (8:39)
Australia Decides: Mitch Tambo and iOTA (12:06)
Estonia presents its 24 songs (14:50)
Internal selections: Russia, France, Spain (16:49)
Main Topic: Hungary for Turkey (18:26)
Spotify Playlist

Episode 66: Iceland Airwaves

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 18:00:00 -0600

Our Senior Hatari Correspondent Ben traveled to Reykjavik to check in with the Iceland Airwaves festival and what's going on in the Icelandic music scene.

Episode Summary

How Many Countries are in Europe? We have an answer! (1:21)
National Selection Hopscotch (2:44)
- Featuring Czech Republic, Estonia, Australia, and more!

ESC 250 Voting is open! (7:16)

Eurovision in Chicago: Onuka, Il Volo, Flying Steps (9:31)

Iceland Airwaves (15:53)

Episode 65: Lebanon-starter

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 18:00:00 -0600

Lebanon was supposed to debut at Eurovision 2005. We examine the unexpected ways international relations impact the Song Contest.

Lebanon-starter Summary

Open Up 2020 (1:26)
Duncan Laurence releases "Love Don't Hate It" (4:02)
Mailbag: How to break a tie in 1970 (5:15)
How Many Countries are in Europe? (9:02)
Eurovision in the Wild: Game Shows, Elton John, Stamps (11:43)
Main Topic: Lebanon at the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest

Episode 29: Start Voting Now

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 02:00:00 -0600

How does the voting process work at Eurovision? If you think it's confusing now, the history of voting at the Contest has many surprises.

With mid-term elections happening this week in the US, we wanted to talk about how voting works when the consequences aren't as... consequential. One can dream, right?

Speaking of, we discuss next year's slogan "Dare to Dream" as well as other preparations currently taking place in Tel Aviv. If you're planning on going to the Contest, you may need to pack some Dramamine if you haven't booked your hotel yet.

There is some good news: the stage will be designed by a firm very familiar with Eurovision and other high profile music events, including the X Factor. We check in with how Brendan Murray is doing on the UK edition. ... Um... Dare to Dream...

Finally, we dive into the history of all the different methods used to distribute points at the Eurovision Song Contest. Point pools, age-defined juries, and potential 14-way ties are just some of the quirks that used to be part of the competition. We also explore how ties factor into the festivities.

United States, start learning about Eurovision voting now!

Start Voting Now Summary

Dare to Dream and other preparations (1:22)
The Ex-Eurovision Contestant Factor (8:23)
This week in boycotts (13:10)
Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest (1956-1974) (14:39)
The Usual Way (1975-2015) (20:05)
The Current Method (2016-Present) (25:30)
Tie-Breakers (30:30)

Episode 28: The Aftermarket

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 06:00:00 -0500

Eurovision provides an aftermarket for winners of singing competitions. Why don't we have that in America? Andy Dehnart from Reality Blurred joins us to discuss.

First up, we check in with the soon-to-be-final tally of countries participating in Eurovision 2019. We were at 40 once Armenia confirmed, but Bulgaria announced their withdrawal due to budget concerns. Speaking of budget concerns: Ukraine is still in the mix and will have a national final in February. Also having a national final: Australia! Fingers crossed for Aboriginal trip hop making its debut in Tel Aviv?

For our main topic, we discuss the tangled relationship between European singing competitions and Eurovision. The Voice and the X Factor have been viable feeder systems the last few years, with the United Kingdom's version of the latter becoming an end goal for some Eurovision alumni.((Brendan Murray is currently on the X Factor UK live shows.)) You could say that Eurovision works as a tournament of champions or an All-Stars edition of all the singing shows. But... why doesn't that exist in the US?

We lean on Andy Denhart's reality show expertise to help us answer some of these questions, as well as expose some of the more bizarre factoids we've all squirreled away. Sinbad on Star Search? Battle of the Reality Network Stars? Murder and sex scandals destroying franchises? This episode has it all!

The Aftermarket Summary

Andy Dehnart / @realityblurred (1:00)
Country count (3:21)
The European Singing Competition Industrial Complex Aftermarket (6:48)

Episode 26: Tel Aviv and Other Headlines

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 06:00:00 -0500

Tel Aviv will be hosting Eurovision in 2019! I mean, we pretty much knew that, but now it's official!

On this episode of the Eurowhat Podcast, we check in with the venues around Tel Aviv that will be hosting the big events in May. Will the Tel Aviv Convention Center be big enough to hold the Eurovision fandom? How is the green room supposed to work? And are hotels already busting budgets for fans?

In case Tel Aviv doesn't work out as an option, details about Eurovision in Concert in Amsterdam have been revealed. Speaking of the Netherlands, we have the final recap of Glennis Grace's journey on America's Got Talent. Did she triumph through adversity, despite having to perform with Bebe Rexha?

Finland's UMK, Sweden's Melfest, and Iceland's Söngvakeppnin have been added to the calendar, while Ireland's songwriters have been murmuring about a possible boycott. We don't talk about Junior Eurovision—there's too much to discuss with the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships instead. Oh! And Ralph Siegel's birthday is coming up! Happy birthday, buddy!

So much to celebrate in this episode—download and join the fun!

Tel Aviv and Other Headlines Summary

Tel Aviv is the host city! (1:15)
Eurovision in Concert (5:46)
This is not an America's Got Talent podcast (7:12)((h/t to Who Weekly's This is not a Westworld Podcast))
Participants Update (10:22)
Ireland Boycott? (14:52)
This is definitely not a Junior Eurovision podcast (15:56)
Eurovision in the Wild: Rhythm Gymnastics edition (16:37)
Happy birthday, Ralph Siegel! (21:49)

Episode 17: Grand Final Preview

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Sat, 12 May 2018 06:15:00 -0500

The Grand Final of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest takes place Saturday, May 12. That means this is our last chance for wild speculation. We break down what happened at the semi-finals before sharing our hopes and dreams for which countries we want to win.

This week we welcome Barbara Sawhill to the panel to chat about what happened in Tuesday and Thursday's live shows. We discuss just how wrong we were about our semi-final one predictions, particularly why some power house countries failed to advance. Although we did much better predicting the second semi-final, there were still some surprises Thursday.((Including Mike's audio failing to record, so he's sitting out this week.))

Twenty-six countries are left. Who's going to win? It's the most exciting episode of the year as we head toward one of the most exciting Eurovision Grand Final competitions in years.

Special Guest: Barbara Sawhill.

Support The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews

Episode 16: Semi-Final Preview

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Mon, 07 May 2018 05:00:00 -0500

It's showtime! 37 countries will be competing in the Eurovision semi-final rounds Tuesday and Thursday. We share our thoughts on the rehearsals as well as suggestions for how to make your Eurovision party on Saturday a fun experience for everyone.

Our preview begins with an explanation of how Eurovision's complicated points system works. If you are hosting a Eurovision party this year, we offer recommendations on food, party games, and viewing options in case Logo's coverage isn't your thing. Then the crew talks about the semi-final rehearsals, including which acts are most improved, which have fizzled, and which we're most excited to see. It's Eurovision Week!

Semi-Final Preview Summary

How does Eurovision scoring work in the semi-final and Grand Final? (3:07)
Tips for Hosting a Eurovision party (18:43)
How to Watch the Eurovision Song Contest in the US (25:26)
Talking about the semi-final rehearsals (30:26)
Which countries are the most improved? (32:25)
Which countries have fizzled? (41:40)
Which entries are we most interested to see? (54:45)

Episode 11: First!

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 05:00:00 -0500

This week we begin our analysis of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in earnest. First up: the first half of the first semi-final! Which entries are locks for advancing to the Grand Final? Who might get help from the running order? Why is Staples playing Eurovision songs from 2016?

First! Summary

Eurovision Viewing Parties (3:50)
Why is Staples playing "Sunlight"? (5:20)
Analyzing the semi-final (9:36)

First Semi-Final Running Order

Azerbaijan - Aisel - X My Heart (9:36)
Iceland - Ari Olafsson - Our Choice (14:48)
Albania - Eugent Bushpepa - Mall (19:52)
Belgium - SENNEK - A Matter of Time (27:16)
Czech Republic - Mikolas Josef - Lie to Me (31:27)
Lithuania - Ieva Zasimauskaitė - When We're Old (37:44)
Israel - Netta - Toy (43:29)
Belarus - Alekseev - Forever (47:44)
Estonia - Elina Netšajeva - La Forza (52:22)
Bulgaria - Equinox - Bones (58:09)

Episode 9: Dita Von Teese Curtain Monster

The EuroWhat? Podcast — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 05:00:00 -0500

This week we chat about the last six entries for Eurovision 2018 with special guest Barbara Sawhill. Are we buying the hype for Israel's "Toy" as this year's favorite? Do we have "Bones" to pick with Bulgaria? What is up with Georgia's curtain lady?

Dita Von Teese Curtain Monster Summary

Eurovision in the Classroom (2:34)
Russia - Yuliya Samoylova - "I Won't Break" (9:04)
North Macedonia - Eye Cue - "Lost and Found" (18:17)
Israel - Netta - "Toy" (25:38)
Lithuania - Ieva Zasimauskaitė - "When We're Old" (39:26)
Bulgaria - Equinox - "Bones" (46:34)
Georgia - Iriao - "For You" (54.40)

The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews - Episodes Tagged with “Bulgaria”

Episode 301: BOOM Bangaranga

BOOM Bangaranga Summary

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Episode 289: Rough

Rough Summary

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Episode 282: Momentum

Momentum Summary

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Episode 171: Legacy

Legacy Summary

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Episode 156: Bubblicious - Eurovision 2022 Semi-Final Preview

Bubblicious Summary

Eurovision 2022 Review Series

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Episode 149: Fairgrounds

Fairgrounds Summary

Spotify Playlists

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Episode 136: Eurovision 101

Eurovision 101 Summary

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Episode 122: Revised Head Canon

Revised Head Canon Summary

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Episode 121: Eurovision 2021 Grand Final Preview

Eurovision 2021 Grand Final Preview Summary

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Episode 120: Eurovision 2021 Semi-Final Preview

Eurovision 2021 Semi-Final Preview Summary

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Episode 118: Over-Egged Pudding

Over-Egged Pudding Summary

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Episode 111: The Homestretch

The Homestretch Summary

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Episode 108: Sábado Gigante

Sábado Gigante Summary

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Episode 107: Poof, Pow, Surprise!

Poof, Pow, Surprise! Summary

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Episode 105: AHHHHHHHH!

AHHHHHHHH! Summary

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Episode 99: Merry FiKmas

Merry FiKmas Summary

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Episode 94: Double Trouble

Double Trouble Summary

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Episode 93: Rotterdam, Ahoy! Take 2

Rotterdam, Ahoy! Take 2 Episode Summary

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Episode 90: Wine Aunt Energy

Wine Aunt Energy Episode Summary

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Episode 89: 12 Points to Fire Saga?

12 Points to Fire Saga? Episode Summary

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Episode 85: Eurovision Again

#EurovisionAgain Summary

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Episode 83: Fanopticon

Fanopticon Summary

Episode 81: WHY ARE WE YELLING?

WHY ARE WE YELLING? Summary

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Episode 70: The Ones That Got Away 2010s Edition

Episode Summary

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Episode 69: Ben’s Grand Eurofying Theory

Episode Summary

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