Welcome to the latest episode of the Eurovision Masterpiece Collection. There&#8217;s more to our favourite singers than their Song Contest entries, so join David Horton as he highlights some of the best music away from the Eurovision stage. In our latest musical moment, David&#8217;s audience picks out three favourites from Eurovision legend Loreen.
Loreen first came to the attention of the Swedish public during the first season of Sweden&#8217;s version of Pop Idol  (Idol 2024). She finished fourth, with a single released the following year. That led to her working in various presenting and production roles in Swedish television before entering Melodifestivalen 2011 with &#8216;My Heart Is Refusing Me&#8216; reaching the Second Chance round.
2024 was the year of Euphoria. Winning Melodifestivalen, winning Eurovision, and charting across Europe (including a Top 3 in the UK charts, the highest of any non-UK entry since Johnny Logan&#8217;s second Eurovision-winning song &#8216;Hold Me Now&#8216;). As we now know, that wasn&#8217;t the only record of Logan&#8217;s that Loreen would challenge.
With more Melodifestivalen entries, chart hits, and albums in the catalogue, which of Loreen&#8217;s songs would you add to the Masterpiece Collection?
<blockquote>Eurovision Masterpiece Collection: Loreen
David Horton presents three classic Loreen tracks chosen by the audience.</blockquote>
Stay on top of all the Eurovision discussions as the season begins by listening to the ESC Insight podcasts. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-unofficial-eurovision/id369754923">You’ll find the show on iTunes</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5lc2NpbnNpZ2h0LmNvbS9jYXRlZ29yeS9wb2RjYXN0L2ZlZWQv">Google Podcasts</a>, and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4uNBt1qiXXi1qMxk58HNHe">Spotify</a>. <a href="https://escinsight.com/category/podcast/feed/">A direct RSS feed is available</a>. And you can listen to more Eurovision music each Sunday night with David online at <a href="http://www.thedavidhortonshow.co.uk/">thedavidhortonshow.co.uk</a>,
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com/2024/11/12/esc-insight-presets-eurovision-masterpiece-collection-loreen/">ESC Insight Presets&#8230; Eurovision Masterpiece Collection: Loreen</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com">ESC Insight - Home of the Unofficial Eurovision Song Contest Podcast</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;You win the Song Contest, you win it again, but you know your favourite artists have more music. Join David Horton as he highlights some of the best music from our legends as ESC Insight presents the Eurovision Masterpiece Collection.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The post &lt;a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com/2024/11/12/esc-insight-presets-eurovision-masterpiece-collection-loreen/"&gt;ESC Insight Presets&amp;#8230; Eurovision Masterpiece Collection: Loreen&lt;/a&gt; appeared first on &lt;a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com"&gt;ESC Insight - Home of the Unofficial Eurovision Song Contest Podcast&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Before, Euphoria, After.

Welcome to the latest episode of the Eurovision Masterpiece Collection. There's more to our favourite singers than their Song Contest entries, so join David Horton as he highlights some of the best music away from the Eurovision stage. In our latest musical moment, David's audience picks out three favourites from Eurovision legend Loreen. 
 
Loreen first came to the attention of the Swedish public during the first season of Sweden's version of Pop Idol  (Idol 2024). She finished fourth, with a single released the following year. That led to her working in various presenting and production roles in Swedish television before entering Melodifestivalen 2011 with 'My Heart Is Refusing Me' reaching the Second Chance round. 
 
2024 was the year of Euphoria. Winning Melodifestivalen, winning Eurovision, and charting across Europe (including a Top 3 in the UK charts, the highest of any non-UK entry since Johnny Logan's second Eurovision-winning song 'Hold Me Now'). As we now know, that wasn't the only record of Logan's that Loreen would challenge. 
 
With more Melodifestivalen entries, chart hits, and albums in the catalogue, which of Loreen's songs would you add to the Masterpiece Collection?

ESC Insight Presets… Eurovision Masterpiece Collection: Loreen

As the Eurovision Song Contest moves forward and Basel 2025 comes into view, the events leading up to, during, and after the Song Contest&#8217;s third visit to Malmö continue to echo around the community.
Bakel Walden, the current chair of the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group, returns to the ESC Insight podcast and joins Ewan Spence to talk about the state of the Contest as the momentum builds for another season.
They talk about several topics, including&#8230;
<ul>
<li>&#8230;Noa Kirel singing on the Eurovision stage under the Israeli flag, against the backdrop of the horrific events of October 7th, the political nature of KAN&#8217;s first submission and the subsequent changes to arrive at &#8216;Hurricane&#8216;.</li>
<li>&#8230;the decision-making process in Malmö leading to the disqualification of Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS and singer Joost Klein.</li>
<li>&#8230;the pressure and vitriol on social media&#8217;s coverage of the Song Contest.</li>
<li>&#8230;the steps being taken to create safe spaces for artists, delegations, staff, and the community at future Contests.</li>
<li>&#8230;and the Reference Group&#8217;s involvement in Host City selections.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Selected Quotes From The Interview</h2>
<h3>On KAN’s Participation:</h3>
&#8220;It was very simple. They [KAN] are a member of EBU, it has been expressed quite a lot of times by the EBU that as a member, as long as you play by the rules, you are eligible to participate and that was the case of KAN, that they are eligible to participate. There were obviously different opinions in social media, we&#8217;ve heard from delegations, etc. but at the end of the day, there was not one single member of the EBU who expressed any official resentment.&#8221;
<h3>On Russia&#8217;s exclusion in 2022, and Israel&#8217;s inclusion in 2024:</h3>
&#8220;There&#8217;s a clear difference between a state broadcaster that is just following propaganda, which is not actually playing by the rules and values of the EBU.
&#8220;KAN itself has been in a difficult situation, also with the Israeli government. There is a different situation in how they position themselves, but I absolutely acknowledge that me and the Reference Group have been very much aware that the difference hasn&#8217;t been clear and hasn&#8217;t been also accepted by a lot of people; and I think this is also one of the learnings for the EBU and probably also the Reference Group, that this has not been well enough communicated, not openly, transparent [and not] early enough.&#8221;
<h3>On the process to disqualify Joost Klein:</h3>
&#8220;The EBU is proposing a disqualification, and the Reference Group approves it or doesn’t… and what we did is, of course, have a discussion, all of us;  meaning the EBU Core Team, the Executive Supervisor, the Media Director, and myself. And we also discussed this then with the Executive Committee- the Executive Board—which I mentioned before, the highest committee of the EBU, the Expo—who approved this. I personally informed the Reference Group so everyone was involved, everyone had a say.&#8221;
<h3>Safe Spaces In Basel</h3>
&#8220;We need to have areas where artists can retreat to. Areas you know, where you can be and where no-one is allowed to take out a camera. I mean, if I&#8217;m at a football match and the World Cup, I&#8217;m not allowed to go into the locker room of the teams, and I think the Eurovision Song Contest has been quite open with that, and it&#8217;s nice to be as open with social media content, but it&#8217;s been probably going too far. So there will be, I think, areas or maybe also time periods when we say look, now it&#8217;s about the artist and about their well-being and they also can disconnect and no one is, you know, allowed to disturb.&#8221;
<blockquote>Eurovision Chat Over Coffee, with Eurovision Reference Group Chair Bakel Walden
Ewan Spence sits down with Eurovision Reference Group chairman Bakel Walden to look forward to Basel 2025 and look back at Malmö 2024 and one of the most controversial seasons in the Contest&#8217;s long and storied history.</blockquote>
Discover more about the Eurovision Song Contest and follow its journey to Basel by listening to the ESC Insight podcasts. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-unofficial-eurovision/id369754923">You’ll find the show on iTunes</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5lc2NpbnNpZ2h0LmNvbS9jYXRlZ29yeS9wb2RjYXN0L2ZlZWQv">Google Podcasts</a>, and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4uNBt1qiXXi1qMxk58HNHe">Spotify</a>. <a href="https://escinsight.com/category/podcast/feed/">A direct RSS feed is available</a>. We also have a regular email newsletter, <a href="https://escinsight.com/tour-the-site/the-esc-insight-email-newsletter/">which you can sign up for here</a>.
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com/2024/11/05/eurovision-chat-over-coffee-with-eurovision-reference-group-chair-bakel-walden-2/">Eurovision Chat Over Coffee, with Eurovision Reference Group Chair Bakel Walden</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com">ESC Insight - Home of the Unofficial Eurovision Song Contest Podcast</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Ewan Spence sits down with Eurovision Reference Group chairman Bakel Walden to look forward to Basel 2025 and look back at Malmö 2024 and one of the most controversial seasons in the Contest's long and storied history in the latest Chat Over Coffee interview podcast.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The post &lt;a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com/2024/11/05/eurovision-chat-over-coffee-with-eurovision-reference-group-chair-bakel-walden-2/"&gt;Eurovision Chat Over Coffee, with Eurovision Reference Group Chair Bakel Walden&lt;/a&gt; appeared first on &lt;a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com"&gt;ESC Insight - Home of the Unofficial Eurovision Song Contest Podcast&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Discussing the events leading up to, during, and after Malmö 2024.

As the Eurovision Song Contest moves forward and Basel 2025 comes into view, the events leading up to, during, and after the Song Contest's third visit to Malmö continue to echo around the community. 
 
Bakel Walden, the current chair of the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group, returns to ESC Insight and joins Ewan Spence to talk about the state of the Contest as the momentum builds for another season. 
 
Ewan Spence and the ESC Insight team bring you the latest news from the world of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Eurovision Chat Over Coffee, with Eurovision Reference Group Chair Bakel Walden

<h2>Welcome To Eurovision Wars</h2>
Eurovision Wars is a series of podcasts exploring geopolitical themes as they emerged on the Eurovision Song Contest stage. You can listen to Seasons 1 and 2 <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/54g8SpIFc1ZX0Btb9rIRo3?si=72dba2fad9f8470d">in full on Spotify</a>, covering such topics as the Russia-Ukraine War, and the long-running dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia. For Season 3, the podcast moves to its new home at ESC Insight, and will focus on the many controversies of Eurovision 2024. In particular, hosts Phil Doré and Ana Oppenheim will attempt to contextualise the fierce rows over the Israeli entry for Malmö 2024.
In episode two, we look at the National Selections of HaKokhav HaBa in Israel and al Söngvakeppnin in Iceland. Two artists stood out in these competitions. We will consider both &#8216;October Rain&#8216; and &#8216;Hurricane&#8216; from Israeli singer Eden Golan, and &#8216;Wild West/Vestrið villt&#8216; from Palestinian singer Bashar Murad.
What viewpoints did they represent, how did the community and the organisers react to these songs, and why do many consider them political songs?
<h2>Our Principles Of Discussion</h2>
Before we go on, a quick reminder of the principles we are holding to in this series. Discussing Israel and Palestine is inevitably difficult and polarising, so in episode one, we introduced three ground rules to frame our podcasts.
Be willing to keep more than one thought in your head.
It can be true that the founding of the state of Israel was in response to centuries of antisemitism and the horrors of the Holocaust, and also that its founding was marked by massacres and forced displacement of the local Arab population. Likewise, it can be true that Israelis have a right not to be victims of Hamas terrorism, and Palestinians have a right not to be bombed by Israeli warplanes. These are not contradictory.
Explanation is not justification.
When we say that decades of oppression against the Palestinians contributed to October 7th, that is not to justify the atrocities of that day. Likewise, in describing those atrocities, this does not render the mass destruction inflicted by Israel on Gaza acceptable.
 If one side in a conflict commits a war crime, that doesn&#8217;t mean the other side gets a free war crime.
Because, unbelievably, that point still has to be made.
<div id="attachment_219597" style="width: 650px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-219597" class="size-full wp-image-219597" src="https://escinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/malmo_2024_eurovision_stage.jpg" alt="Eurovision stage concept for Malmo 2024 (EBU / SVT)" width="640" height="360" srcset="https://escinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/malmo_2024_eurovision_stage.jpg 640w, https://escinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/malmo_2024_eurovision_stage-300x169.jpg 300w, https://escinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/malmo_2024_eurovision_stage-444x250.jpg 444w, https://escinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/malmo_2024_eurovision_stage-600x338.jpg 600w, https://escinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/malmo_2024_eurovision_stage-450x253.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" />Eurovision stage concept for Malmo 2024 (EBU / SVT)</div>
If we are to fully understand how the Eurovision Song Contest became so controversial in 2024, then this inevitably leads to difficult conversations. But these are conversations we absolutely need to have as a community.
<a href="https://escinsight.com/category/podcast/eurovision-wars/">You can find previous Eurovision Wars episodes on ESC Insight here</a>.
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com/2024/10/21/esc-insight-presents-eurovision-wars-how-to-politicise-a-song/">ESC Insight Presents&#8230;..Eurovision Wars: How To Politicise A Song</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com">ESC Insight - Home of the Unofficial Eurovision Song Contest Podcast</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this episode of Eurovision Wars, we discuss 'October Rain' and 'Hurricane' from Israeli singer Eden Golan, and 'Wild West/Vestrið villt' from Palestinian singer Bashar Murad. What viewpoints did they represent, how did the community and the organisers react to these songs, and why do many consider them political songs?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The post &lt;a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com/2024/10/21/esc-insight-presents-eurovision-wars-how-to-politicise-a-song/"&gt;ESC Insight Presents&amp;#8230;..Eurovision Wars: How To Politicise A Song&lt;/a&gt; appeared first on &lt;a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com"&gt;ESC Insight - Home of the Unofficial Eurovision Song Contest Podcast&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

HaKokhav HaBa, Söngvakeppnin, and Malmö 2024.

In this episode of Eurovision Wars, we discuss 'October Rain' and 'Hurricane' from Israeli singer Eden Golan, and 'Wild West/Vestrið villt' from Palestinian singer Bashar Murad. What viewpoints did they represent, how did the community and the organisers react to these songs, and why do many consider them political songs?

ESC Insight Presents…..Eurovision Wars: How To Politicise A Song

This weekend will see the second edition of the Pan-Arcticvision Song Contest. Ten performers taking to the stage, looking for the votes of the watching TV audiences from around the world, all to foster a sense of belonging and identity.
The story of the Contest starts with the Faroe Islands and the difficulty it has being represented on the international stage. It is a similar story for many of the territories in the circumpolar north. Following on from last year&#8217;s event in Norway, the Contest moves to Greenland and welcomes nine acts to the stage, including Evgeny Goman performing as one of many Russian Arctic Exiles.
Ahead of the Contest, ESC Insight&#8217;s Phil Dore sat down to talk about issues from cultural identity and representation, singing in native languages, and the impact of geographical distance in the North.
You can follow the Contest, watch it live, and cast your vote from The Rest Of The World, at <a href="https://www.panarcticvision.org/">panarcticvision.org</a>.
<blockquote>Eurovision Chat Over Coffee, Pan-Arcticvision&#8217;s Artistic Director Amund Sjølie Sveen
What is Pan-Arcticvision, what can we expect to see, can we vote? Those questions and more are asked by Phil Dore, as he sits down with artistic director Amund Sjølie Sveen.</blockquote>
Discover more about the Eurovision Song Contest and its wider impact on the cultural world by listening to the ESC Insight podcasts. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-unofficial-eurovision/id369754923">You’ll find the show on iTunes</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5lc2NpbnNpZ2h0LmNvbS9jYXRlZ29yeS9wb2RjYXN0L2ZlZWQv">Google Podcasts</a>, and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4uNBt1qiXXi1qMxk58HNHe">Spotify</a>. <a href="https://escinsight.com/category/podcast/feed/">A direct RSS feed is available</a>. We also have a regular email newsletter, <a href="https://escinsight.com/tour-the-site/the-esc-insight-email-newsletter/">which you can sign up for here</a>.
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com/2024/10/11/eurovision-podcast-interview-panarcticvision-north-pole-polar-song-contest/">Eurovision Chat Over Coffee, Pan-Arcticvision&#8217;s Artistic Director Amund Sjølie Sveen</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com">ESC Insight - Home of the Unofficial Eurovision Song Contest Podcast</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;What is Pan-Arcticvision, what can we expect to see, can we vote? Those questions and more are asked by Phil Dore, as he sits down with artistic director Amund Sjølie Sveen ahead of this weekend's Contest.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The post &lt;a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com/2024/10/11/eurovision-podcast-interview-panarcticvision-north-pole-polar-song-contest/"&gt;Eurovision Chat Over Coffee, Pan-Arcticvision&amp;#8217;s Artistic Director Amund Sjølie Sveen&lt;/a&gt; appeared first on &lt;a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com"&gt;ESC Insight - Home of the Unofficial Eurovision Song Contest Podcast&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Make The North Great Again

This weekend will see the second edition of the Pan-Arcticvision Song Contest. Ten performers taking to the stage, looking for the votes of the watching TV audiences from around the world, all to foster a sense of belonging and identity. 
 
The story of the Contest starts with the Faroe Islands and the difficulty it has being represented on the international stage. It is a similar story for many of the territories in the circumpolar north. Following on from last year's event in Norway, the Contest moves to Greenland and welcomes nine acts to the stage, including Evgeny Goman performing as one of many Russian Arctic Exiles. 
 
Ahead of the Contest, ESC Insight's Phil Dore sat down to talk about issues from cultural identity and representation, singing in native languages, and the impact of geographical distance in the North. 
 
You can follow the Contest, watch it live, and cast your vote from The Rest Of The World, at panarcticvision.org. 
 
Discover more about the Eurovision Song Contest and its wider impact on the cultural world by listening to the ESC Insight podcasts. You’ll find the show on iTunes, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. A direct RSS feed is available. We also have a regular email newsletter, which you can sign up for here.

Eurovision Chat Over Coffee, Pan-Arcticvision’s Artistic Director Amund Sjølie Sveen

Welcome to the Eurovision Masterpiece Collection. There&#8217;s more to our favourite singers than their Song Contest entries, so join David Horton as he highlights some of the best music away from the Eurovision stage. In our latest musical moment, David picks out three favourites from 2019’s winner, Duncan Laurence.
His breakthrough appearance in The Netherlands was his appearance on The Voice. Coached by Eurovision Alumni Ilse DeLange, he reached the Semi Finals, which saw him decide to leave The Slick and pursue a solo career. Wind the clock forward a few years, and DeLange pitches him to AVROTROS as the Dutch representative for Eurovision 2019.
Beyond that stage, which of his songs and performances belong in the Masterpiece Collection? And if you could add one more to the mix, which would you choose?
<blockquote>Eurovision Masterpiece Collection: Duncan Laurence
David Horton presents three classic Duncan Laurence tracks.</blockquote>
Stay on top of all the Eurovision discussions as the season begins by listening to the ESC Insight podcasts. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-unofficial-eurovision/id369754923">You’ll find the show on iTunes</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5lc2NpbnNpZ2h0LmNvbS9jYXRlZ29yeS9wb2RjYXN0L2ZlZWQv">Google Podcasts</a>, and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4uNBt1qiXXi1qMxk58HNHe">Spotify</a>. <a href="https://escinsight.com/category/podcast/feed/">A direct RSS feed is available</a>. And you can listen to more Eurovision music each Sunday night with David online at <a href="http://www.thedavidhortonshow.co.uk/">thedavidhortonshow.co.uk</a>,
The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com/2024/10/08/esc-insight-presets-eurovision-masterpiece-collection-duncan-laurence/">ESC Insight Presets&#8230; Eurovision Masterpiece Collection: Duncan Laurence</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com">ESC Insight - Home of the Unofficial Eurovision Song Contest Podcast</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;What happens when you look beyond a winning song at the Contest? Join David Horton as he highlights some of the best music from our legends as ESC Insight presents the Eurovision Masterpiece Collection.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The post &lt;a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com/2024/10/08/esc-insight-presets-eurovision-masterpiece-collection-duncan-laurence/"&gt;ESC Insight Presets&amp;#8230; Eurovision Masterpiece Collection: Duncan Laurence&lt;/a&gt; appeared first on &lt;a rel="nofollow" href="https://escinsight.com"&gt;ESC Insight - Home of the Unofficial Eurovision Song Contest Podcast&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

small town boy with a big musical collection. Which is your favourite?

In our latest musical moment, David picks out three favourites from 2019’s winner, Duncan Laurence. 
 
His breakthrough appearance in The Netherlands was his appearance on The Voice. Coached by Eurovision Alumni Ilse DeLange, he reached the Semi Finals, which saw him decide to leave The Slick and pursue a solo career. Wind the clock forward a few years, and DeLange pitches him to AVROTROS as the Dutch representative for Eurovision 2019. 
 
Beyond that stage, which of his songs and performances belong in the Masterpiece Collection? And if you could add one more to the mix, which would you choose?

ESC Insight Presets… Eurovision Masterpiece Collection: Duncan Laurence

Ewan Spence and the ESC Insight team keep you up to date with the Eurovision Song Contest.

ESC Insight: Eurovision Song Contest Podcast

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