Today's Eurovision fun fact: each year the majority of songs are in English, and that has been the case since 1999 when language freedom was introduced.
Before that all countries had to sing in their national language (a rule introduced in '66 but suspended from '72 to '77).
Before that all countries had to sing in their national language (a rule introduced in '66 but suspended from '72 to '77).
https://twitter.com/DaveKeating/status/1393872217289674752
Use of non-English is actually increasing from a low in 2015.
Before '66 it was just assumed everyone would sing in their own language. And everyone did until Sweden did a song in English and the French flipped out.
The 'English ban' was introduced then
johnthego.com/2018/04/16/ris…
Before '66 it was just assumed everyone would sing in their own language. And everyone did until Sweden did a song in English and the French flipped out.
The 'English ban' was introduced then
johnthego.com/2018/04/16/ris…
So there was language freedom from '56 to '66, and after '99. In the first period people chose their own language. Now they choose English.
Songs Europeans hear on national radio are usually either in their own language or English. English is the way to reach the most Europeans.
Songs Europeans hear on national radio are usually either in their own language or English. English is the way to reach the most Europeans.
Why did they scrap the language restriction in '99 (along with the requirement to use an orchestra)?
Partly because the UK and Ireland kept winning over and over in the 90s. And countries like Sweden were mad they were being forbidden to sing in English.
Partly because the UK and Ireland kept winning over and over in the 90s. And countries like Sweden were mad they were being forbidden to sing in English.
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