Eurovision Season 2019: Who Needs the Win the Most?
Hey everybody! So with the dust settled on the bookie odds for the moment and everybody pretty sure of their opinions on each of the songs, what do any of these predictions mean for Eurovision 2020? I'm taking a look at the five favourites to win Eurovision this year and offering a small glimpse as to what Eurovision 2020 might be like in each country.
The Netherlands
As previously stated, if the bookies as they are right now are correct (and again can we please take that with a pinch of salt) we are headed to Amsterdam next year. Whilst I have very specific opinions on the song, I think the following year's contest will be absolutely fantastic. The Netherlands will become the first original Eurovision nation to host since the Germans hosted Düsseldorf in 2011. With the vast history in the contest that the Dutch have, you can see this contest having a classic feel to it with the Dutch culture weaving nicely through the three shows which are surely set to be hosted in the magnificent Ziggo Dome (a big boost for those disappointed by the small capacity of this year's venue). Meanwhile, Amsterdam will revel in the opportunity to not only host its first contest since 1970 but its first hosting the contest in its modern format. Because of the regularly hosted Eurovision in Concert pre-party in the city, Amsterdam is already a major city on the Eurovision radar and so in many ways, the contest will be coming to one of its spiritual homes. And Amsterdam definitely has the hotel capacity, incredible culture and fantastic infrastructure to host what will surely be one of the most well run and classic Eurovision Song Contests in modern times.
Russia
Russia has been building towards a second Eurovision victory for a while and would love the opportunity to rub it in everybody's faces. There are a number of cities they might decide to host the contest in but I think the broadcaster (and various other voices of influence) will opt for Sochi. We got excited about Eurovision with sea and sun in Tel Aviv well how about Eurovision in Russia's up and coming Black Sea resort? If you thought Moscow was an example of Russia pulling out all the stops, I think they will go even further with this one. The curious thing from a fan experience perspective will be to see if they relax visa requirements over the period of the contest as they did with the recent World Cup. Ukraine would not be attending under those circumstances but I'm sure that would drive the Russians even more to put on a show for Europe and to get some much-needed positive PR to one of the world's simultaneously most feared of and hated nations.
Switzerland
And speaking of classic Eurovision host nations, there is nothing more traditional than Eurovision returning to the nation that started it all. Yes, there haven't been too many recent Eurovision Song Contests held in Switzerland but isn't that all the more reason that it would feel right for the contest to return to its heartland for the first time since Lausanne played host in 1989. The first thing that would break out would be a squabble between the various broadcasters as to which city should be given the opportunity to host what could be Switzerland's last chance to host the contest for a while. I reckon that Berne will probably win that fight not only because they have 17,000 seat arena but because the city represents the historical compromise between the different linguistic cultures in Switzerland. Aside from the contest being run efficiently, Berne 2020 would represent hope to nations at the contest who have not performed well in recent years by reminding them that you only need one good year for everything to change. Culturally, it is difficult to imagine what a Swiss-hosted Eurovision would be like but I definitely look forward to finding out should it become a reality.
Sweden
Another year, another discussion about Sweden winning Eurovision! Part of me is tempted to just copy-paste my verdict on what Sweden winning Eurovision would be like from last year! But that would be cheap of me so instead I will leave that here for those who are curious to read (https://internationalisteurovisionblog.blogspot.com/2018/05/eurovision-season-2018-who-needs-win.html) and I will just spend a bit of time talking about Gothenburg as a city having been there for this year's Melodifestivalen Semi Final 1 (https://internationalisteurovisionblog.blogspot.com/2019/02/a-ballad-to-swedens-biggest-show-i-was.html). Gothenburg is Sweden's main port and represents many different ideas about trade and sharing ideas and opportunities. I can see this culture being something that the identity for the contest plays off (especially as SVT look to host a third contest in seven years). The city is big enough to host fans, has a big enough airport and suitable hotel capacity but is also small enough to create a proper sense of Eurovision buzz around the city. Eurovision in Gothenburg and specifically another Eurovision in a venue as unique and iconic as the Scandinavium would be very impressive and special.
Italy
Ok, yes, those of us who have watched it remember what the 1991 contest was like. We smiled at the weakly organised chaos that was that show and we marveled at RAI's fascinating decision to stage it in a film studio. That said, this is a modern contest now and it will be a modern Italy that gives the opportunity to show what it is capable of on the biggest stage of all. An Italian win would also be a victory for Sanremo in that even though the entire process might seem long-winded and bizarre that it still produces a top-quality, contemporary, relevant end product. I think that RAI will opt to host the contest in Milan for no other reason than its profile as a modern Italian city. The bidding process on selecting a host will be interesting however. Things will run late, tickets will probably only come out in January or February but the show itself will be full of feelings, emotion and beauty in that beautiful way that Italian culture is. I can't wait to see the artists travel around Italy to shoot the postcards and I am certain that the fan experience on the ground would be incredible. Didn't we suggest earlier in the post how nice it would be for Eurovision to be hosted in one of its original countries again?
So that's a window into what each of the five favourites might be like as host nations next year. What do you think? Is there any of those potential scenarios that you are particularly excited for? Let us know in the comments below and don't forget to subscribe for more content including an upcoming post on this year's potential Balkan blackout.
The Netherlands
As previously stated, if the bookies as they are right now are correct (and again can we please take that with a pinch of salt) we are headed to Amsterdam next year. Whilst I have very specific opinions on the song, I think the following year's contest will be absolutely fantastic. The Netherlands will become the first original Eurovision nation to host since the Germans hosted Düsseldorf in 2011. With the vast history in the contest that the Dutch have, you can see this contest having a classic feel to it with the Dutch culture weaving nicely through the three shows which are surely set to be hosted in the magnificent Ziggo Dome (a big boost for those disappointed by the small capacity of this year's venue). Meanwhile, Amsterdam will revel in the opportunity to not only host its first contest since 1970 but its first hosting the contest in its modern format. Because of the regularly hosted Eurovision in Concert pre-party in the city, Amsterdam is already a major city on the Eurovision radar and so in many ways, the contest will be coming to one of its spiritual homes. And Amsterdam definitely has the hotel capacity, incredible culture and fantastic infrastructure to host what will surely be one of the most well run and classic Eurovision Song Contests in modern times.
Russia
Russia has been building towards a second Eurovision victory for a while and would love the opportunity to rub it in everybody's faces. There are a number of cities they might decide to host the contest in but I think the broadcaster (and various other voices of influence) will opt for Sochi. We got excited about Eurovision with sea and sun in Tel Aviv well how about Eurovision in Russia's up and coming Black Sea resort? If you thought Moscow was an example of Russia pulling out all the stops, I think they will go even further with this one. The curious thing from a fan experience perspective will be to see if they relax visa requirements over the period of the contest as they did with the recent World Cup. Ukraine would not be attending under those circumstances but I'm sure that would drive the Russians even more to put on a show for Europe and to get some much-needed positive PR to one of the world's simultaneously most feared of and hated nations.
Switzerland
And speaking of classic Eurovision host nations, there is nothing more traditional than Eurovision returning to the nation that started it all. Yes, there haven't been too many recent Eurovision Song Contests held in Switzerland but isn't that all the more reason that it would feel right for the contest to return to its heartland for the first time since Lausanne played host in 1989. The first thing that would break out would be a squabble between the various broadcasters as to which city should be given the opportunity to host what could be Switzerland's last chance to host the contest for a while. I reckon that Berne will probably win that fight not only because they have 17,000 seat arena but because the city represents the historical compromise between the different linguistic cultures in Switzerland. Aside from the contest being run efficiently, Berne 2020 would represent hope to nations at the contest who have not performed well in recent years by reminding them that you only need one good year for everything to change. Culturally, it is difficult to imagine what a Swiss-hosted Eurovision would be like but I definitely look forward to finding out should it become a reality.
Sweden
Another year, another discussion about Sweden winning Eurovision! Part of me is tempted to just copy-paste my verdict on what Sweden winning Eurovision would be like from last year! But that would be cheap of me so instead I will leave that here for those who are curious to read (https://internationalisteurovisionblog.blogspot.com/2018/05/eurovision-season-2018-who-needs-win.html) and I will just spend a bit of time talking about Gothenburg as a city having been there for this year's Melodifestivalen Semi Final 1 (https://internationalisteurovisionblog.blogspot.com/2019/02/a-ballad-to-swedens-biggest-show-i-was.html). Gothenburg is Sweden's main port and represents many different ideas about trade and sharing ideas and opportunities. I can see this culture being something that the identity for the contest plays off (especially as SVT look to host a third contest in seven years). The city is big enough to host fans, has a big enough airport and suitable hotel capacity but is also small enough to create a proper sense of Eurovision buzz around the city. Eurovision in Gothenburg and specifically another Eurovision in a venue as unique and iconic as the Scandinavium would be very impressive and special.
Italy
Ok, yes, those of us who have watched it remember what the 1991 contest was like. We smiled at the weakly organised chaos that was that show and we marveled at RAI's fascinating decision to stage it in a film studio. That said, this is a modern contest now and it will be a modern Italy that gives the opportunity to show what it is capable of on the biggest stage of all. An Italian win would also be a victory for Sanremo in that even though the entire process might seem long-winded and bizarre that it still produces a top-quality, contemporary, relevant end product. I think that RAI will opt to host the contest in Milan for no other reason than its profile as a modern Italian city. The bidding process on selecting a host will be interesting however. Things will run late, tickets will probably only come out in January or February but the show itself will be full of feelings, emotion and beauty in that beautiful way that Italian culture is. I can't wait to see the artists travel around Italy to shoot the postcards and I am certain that the fan experience on the ground would be incredible. Didn't we suggest earlier in the post how nice it would be for Eurovision to be hosted in one of its original countries again?
So that's a window into what each of the five favourites might be like as host nations next year. What do you think? Is there any of those potential scenarios that you are particularly excited for? Let us know in the comments below and don't forget to subscribe for more content including an upcoming post on this year's potential Balkan blackout.
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