Thread by @DaveKeating

It's #Eurovision week!

After last year was cancelled, they're going ahead this year with a limited audience.

Here's this year's entries. My prediction: 🇲🇹#Malta will win.

More on that below in the thread you didn't ask for but are getting anyway (1/21).

You might ask: this is 1st & foremost a TV show with theoretically no need for performers to be in same place, why was 2020 cancelled (for 1st time in 65 years)?

Answer: Eurovision rules are strict. There wasn't enough time to change them to allow contestants to compete remotely

#Netherlands is hosting this year in Rotterdam, because they won in 2019 with Arcade.

I'll be heading up there to cover it, luckily it's just 90 minutes away.

The rules are quite strict: constant testing & separation of audience, contestants and press.

All acts will perform in-person except Australia. Rules changed so they can send in a video.

🇦🇺 gov said Eurovision not essential enough to allow Montaigne to leave.

To rub in that the isolated island has no Covid, official video is in a packed stadium.

What will EV65 be like? Journos there at rehearsals see hopeful signs they will try to make it seem as normal as possible.

Last year Dutch replaced the contest with an unwatchable special that felt more like a funeral.

People want a distraction now.

Personally I think #Eurovision is newsworthy every year - it is after all the most-watched annual live television event in the world (over 200m viewers)

But 2021 especially so. It will be the first live international event in the pandemic, with lessons for #EURO2020 & #Olympics.

So first off, the best.

Here are my personal favourites for #Eurovision2021 (not necessarily who I think will win, that's #Malta):

12 points: 🇺🇦
10 points: 🇨🇭
8 points: 🇲🇹
7 points: 🇦🇿
6 points: 🇮🇹
5 points: 🇮🇱
4 points: 🇫🇷
3 points: 🇦🇺
2 points: 🇮🇸
1 point: 🇪🇪

I am obsessed with Ukraine's song by @_Go_A_.

The way it builds into a crescendo, the blend of folk with electronic. The video, shot at Chernobyl, is captivating (and reminds me of when I visited during #Eurovision2017 in Kiev).
(🧵8/21)

9 of the 39 songs this year are not in English - a little higher than normal. The usual 🇫🇷🇪🇸🇮🇹 plus 🇨🇭🇷🇺🇺🇦🇷🇸🇦🇱, and unusually 🇩🇰. 🇳🇱🇭🇷 have parts not in English.

My 2nd favourite song, from🇨🇭, could only ever work in French. (🧵9/21)

The songs picked for last year's cancelled contest can't be used this year, dems da rules. But most countries have asked last year's contestant to do a new song.

#Iceland was most likely going to win last year. This year's song is similar but not as good.

I think the winner this year will be #Malta. She taps into the current cultural zeitgeist, channelling #Lizzo.

And she'll automatically get 12 points from 🇫🇷 because the title is in French for no reason 😉 (🧵11/21)

There are a record number of black #Eurovision contestants this year (6 out of 39), most with parents from Africa.

It's really highlighting Europe's increasing diversity which is so often ignored.

They are from 🇨🇿🇲🇹🇳🇱🇸🇲🇮🇱🇸🇪.
(🧵12/21)

Israel's entry, Eden Alene, is from the Ethiopian Jewish (Beta Israel) community brought from Ethiopia to Israel in the 80s and 90s. She was born in Jerusalem in 2000.

Her song is very catchy and her whistle tone is impressive. And the hair is amazing.

Though I wanted #Madame to win #Sanremo2021, it was cool that Måneskin won with a gender-bending FU song. The winner of usually stodgy sanremo festival competes for Italy at Eurovision.

Bookies like their odds at #Eurovision2021 (🧵14/21)

It's not going to win any awards for musical sophistication, but the song from Azerbaijani Ariana Grande is my guilty pleasure.

Catchiest song of #Eurovision2021 I'd say. (🧵15/21)

#Eurovision2021 trend alert: 80s throwbacks.

As seen from #Poland, #Denmark, #Lithuania and others.
(🧵16/21)

#Eurovision2021 trend alert: #BillieEilish similarities.

As seen from #Romania, #Bulgaria and others.
(🧵17/21)

And now, for the worst of #Eurovision2021, I nominate #Serbia & #Norway.

My Norwegian friends are mortified by this, which features a guy in a fur pimp coat with giant angel wings who won the national final.

Apparently he's a star of "exam music"?

I honestly can't decide whether I love the #Lithuania entry or hate it 🤷

Contestants have said in their interviews it's their favourite entry this year. Am I missing something?

One thing's for sure: it's the kind of Eurovision entry British people love.

#Russia's contestant has been criticised in 🇷🇺, including some in government, saying she shouldn't represent 🇷🇺 because she's an ethnic Tajik refugee and supports LGBT causes

Her rap is about Russian women waking up and taking control over their own lives

So that's it. A tediously long thread for a Sunday I know, but #Eurovision makes me very excited!

The semi-finals will be Tuesday and Thursday night at 9pm CET, grand final Saturday night.

I'll be there so follow my Twitter for updates. No politics this week 😉. (🧵21/21)