Eurovision Song Contest 2021 is underway after the COVID-19 pandemic pulled the plug on the 2020 ceremony.
The 2021 Eurovision Song Contest kicked off in Rotterdam on May 18 and will last for four days. Aussies can tune in from Wednesday, May 19 to Sunday, May 23.
Due to last year’s pandemic cancellations, Eurovision is expecting a tremendous 200 million viewers worldwide.
Singer-songwriter Montaigne is representing Australia at the contest with a pre-recorded performance, becoming the first person to compete without setting foot in the host venue.
Speaking to NME, Montaigne said that performance “offers a human story,” and “fills in people’s sense of self.”
The Eurovision Song Contest is organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), with 39 countries participating this year, including Bulgaria and Ukraine.
The largest financial contributors to the EBU, the “Big Five” – United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France and Germany – all qualify automatically for the Grand Final, along with hosts Netherlands.
The remaining countries will take part in one of two Semi-Finals, with the best ten from each proceeding to the Grand Final, bringing the total number of final participants to 26.
Unfortunately for us Aussies, 2021 is the first time Australia has failed to qualify for the Grand Final since their debut at the contest in 2015, making Ukraine the only country that’s never missed a final since their 2003 debut.
Croatia and Malta proved to be fan favourites, with only the latter making it through the final.
Why didnt Romania and Croatia qualify for the Grand Final ㅠㅠ#Eurovision #Eurovision2021 pic.twitter.com/p6uPxhFGB8
— NineSonagi (@NSonagi) May 18, 2021
I’m pretty shocked that Australia didn’t make it to the finals of Eurovision but even more shocked that Croatia didn’t make it through. Just witnessed a true robbery #Eurovision2021
— clarissa 🦋 (@clarissa_zhu) May 19, 2021
Eurovision performances are known for pyrotechnics and rotating stages, offering an auditory and visual escape from social-distancing and mask-wearing to viewers.
The slogan for the event, “Open Up”, was chosen in 2020 and has remained the same for this year’s postponed ceremony.
“We found it was important to choose a theme that reflects the spirit of our times,” said Sietse Bakker, Executive Producer of the show.
“[With the slogan] we warmly invite people to open up to others, to different opinions, each other’s stories and of course each other’s music.”
The EBU is proving to honour their commitment to the theme by organising the first transgender host in YouTube star Nikkie de Jager. Other presenters include Chantal Janzen, Jan Smit and Edsilia Rombley.
Yep I screamed when I saw @NikkieTutorials on my tv screen! You looked absolutely beautiful 🥰 #Eurovision2021 pic.twitter.com/nA5Qh2e0ea
— Nicola Hopkins (@nicolaeejones) May 18, 2021
Aussies can tune into the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest for free on SBS and SBS On Demand.
