Eurovision Song Contest

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BBC announces the Semi-Final performances for Eurovision Song Contest 2023

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From left to right: top row Rita Ora, Julia Sanina, Rebecca Ferguson; bottom row Mariya Yaremchuk, Julia Sanina, OTOY, Zlata Dziunka, Alyosha

Ukrainian and British stars, plus Eurovision legends, to perform in both Semi-Final live shows including a world-exclusive Rita Ora performance, Liverpudlian Rebecca Ferguson performing alongside Alyosha, Mariya Yaremchuk, OTOY, Zlata Dziunka, and more

As the weeks count down until Liverpool welcomes the world for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, the BBC announces the line-up of live musical performances set to star in the Semi-Finals.

Broadcast for the first time on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, both Semi-Finals offer entertainment for all audiences, whether new to Eurovision or an existing fan.

Semi-Final 1

To mark the start of the Eurovision Song Contest, Semi-Final 1 will open with host Julia Sanina performing part of ‘Маяк’ by her band The Hardkiss. Translating from the Ukrainian for ‘Lighthouse’, this performance – forming part of an incredibly powerful opening act – will symbolise in many ways how the UK is ‘United by Music’ with Ukraine through hosting the 2023 Contest on behalf of the 2022 winners.

Broadcast on Tuesday 9 May, Semi-Final 1’s interval sees global superstar Rita Ora deliver a show-stopping medley of some of her biggest hits. Holding the record for the most top 10 singles in the Official Charts by a British female artist and having accumulated 10 billion streams, Rita will also perform the world exclusive of her brand-new single Praising You to millions watching across the globe.

Ukrainian singer Alyosha – who represented Ukraine in Eurovision 2010 – will perform alongside Liverpool’s very own critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter, Rebecca Ferguson. Like many Ukrainian women in 2022, Alyosha was forced to leave her country and loved ones behind to seek refuge; Alyosha will share her personal journey through a new, haunting arrangement of British musical heavyweight Duran Duran’s ‘Ordinary World’. Creatively led and produced by Freckled Sky and TRI.Direction, in partnership with BBC Studios and UA:PBC, Alyosha and Rebecca will tell a story of hope, courage, and support for the people of Ukraine from across the world.

Semi-Final 2

Semi-Final 2, broadcast Thursday 11 May, sees two live interval performances.

‘Music Unites Generations’ explores the connection between generations of Ukrainians and the music they love. Mariya Yaremchuk, who represented Ukraine in Eurovision 2014, leads a contemporary montage of some of the most well-known pieces of music from the country. As we travel through time, the piece ends with a stunning collaborative performance from rapper OTOY, 14-year-old Ukrainian Junior Eurovision representative Zlata Dziunka, and Mariya. Together, they show that for generations of Ukrainians, music is the light that overcomes darkness.

Also in the interval, a performance called ‘Be Who You Wanna Be’ celebrates how Eurovision is a place for everyone – no matter who you are. Three extraordinary drag performers lead into a jaw-dropping routine of high-end pop performances along with a troupe of eclectic dancers. They represent the huge spectrum of fans – regardless of age, nationality, or background – who revel in being a part of Eurovision every year. With a medley of fabulous songs and incredible staging, it’ll be a performance that viewers remember.

Kate Phillips, BBC’s Director of Unscripted, says: “There won’t be a moment to miss during these very entertaining and very tense Semi-Finals.

“Good luck to all the countries involved as they compete for a place in what’s going to be an unforgettable Grand Final.”

Dan Shipton is Lead Creative Director, German Nenov is Creative Director for UA:PBC (Welcome To Our House and Music Unites Generations alongside Semi Final 1’s Opening Act ‘United By Music’), Jason Gilkison is Creative Lead for Be Who You Wanna Be.

The Grand Final live performances will be announced in due course.

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I sincerely hope we can actually make a mark this year in Eurovision. We’ve finally got a great contender for this and we might actually have a chance this year to make the top 5 (or dare I say it…a win?). Let’s hope it happens sooner otherwise what’s the point of us being involved?

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I’d like to think we can make Top 10. I love Voyager and the song is good (although not as good as the song they pitched last year IMO). I think Top 5 will be real stretch though.

Currently the betting odds are abysmal for Australia (around 100/1). Sweden is the unbackable favourite with the betting agencies. I don’t get it as I think the Swedish song is terrible - just my opinion. I actually like the UK song but it’s only 50/1 too. The other two songs in the top 3 of the betting are Finland and Ukraine.

I know the bookies sometimes get it wrong, but they’re usually not that far off the mark.

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Australia is not going to win anytime soon, thats just the reality. I also think thats a wrong way of looking it at it, there are countries who have been competing way longer than us who have never got a win.

Our aim should be improving our televote results in the final and then go from there, as we always do well with the juries.

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SBS celebrates 40 years of broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest… and it’s gonna be synthsational!

Perth synth-metal band Voyager to represent Australia in Liverpool with their song Promise

Practice your growls and dance moves, Australia, as we celebrate 40 years of broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest on SBS, sending a band to represent the country for the very first time at this year’s event in Liverpool. We’ll ferry ‘cross the Mersey to bring you all the action LIVE from Wednesday 10 – Sunday 14 May at 5:00am on SBS and SBS On Demand with the prime time broadcast from Friday 12 – Sunday 14 May at 7:30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand.

Move over mods and rockers, synth-metal will be the talk of the town, when Perth’s fearless, riff-laden, genre-bending band Voyager perform their epic, progressive pop metal track Promise on the Eurovision stage where dreams are made, and anything is possible. Vying to represent Australia since we first participated in 2015, and after taking out second place in a nail-biting finish with Dreamer at last year’s Eurovision- Australia Decides, the time is finally right for Voyager to belt out, “It’s gonna be alright,” to millions of people across the globe.

SBS’s exclusive coverage will once again be in the capable hands of music buff Myf Warhurst and comedian Joel Creasey who will bring their witty banter to the commentary booth as they guide Australia through the glitz, glamour, and madness of the Semi Finals and spectacular Grand Final direct from Pier Head in Liverpool, UK.

Make sure you join in the conversation during the prime time broadcast using the hashtag #SBSEurovision, with tweets and party pictures promoted on screen, where you can not only catch all the performances, but also experience exclusive behind the scenes content, as Myf & Joel report from backstage with interviews and gossip with contestants, and more.

SBS’s prime time Eurovision event kicks off with Semi Final 1 on Friday 12 May at 7:30pm, followed by Semi Final 2 where Voyager will compete alongside 15 other countries including fellow Aussie Andrew Lambrou who’ll be competing for Cyprus with his song Break a Broken Heart. The Grand Final package will air Sunday 14 May at 7:30pm, but don’t forget you can tune in LIVE at 5am from Wednesday 10 – Sunday 14 May to witness all the action as it happens in Liverpool.

This year, major changes in how the voting in Eurovision will work have been announced. The countries that qualify from the two Semi Finals, 10 from each, will now be decided solely based on the votes cast by viewers of the competition, rather than a combination of a jury and public vote as has been the case since 2009. Also, countries not taking part in the competition will be able to vote online for their favourite songs. Their votes will be added together and converted to points that will have the same weight as one participating country in both the Semi Finals and the Grand Final. Professional juries, made up of those working in the music industry, will continue to contribute to the result of the Grand Final combined with the public vote. Australia’s jury will be announced soon.

All Eurovision content will be available to watch on a dedicated SBS On Demand page – including the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest. SBS World Movies celebrates Eurovision with a season of musical movie favourites from around the globe, including Nowhere Boy, This is Spinal Tap, and more. On SBS Food, SBS’s favourite foodie and mega-Eurovision fan Adam Liaw takes us on a culinary adventure around Australia with the aim of creating the ultimate Eurovision party in Destination Flavour Eurovision. Please refer to your program guides for further information on SBS’s supporting content.

SBS Audio celebrates the Eurovision Song Contest, bringing audiences exclusive news and Eurovision artist interviews in English and in language. Download the free SBS Audio app available now at the iTunes App Store and Google Play.

How can Australia vote?
*The jury and Australian public can vote for any country except Australia.
Australian viewers will need to tune into the LIVE broadcast of Semi Final 2 on Friday 12 May at 5am (AEST) and the Grand Final on Sunday 14 May at 5am (AEST) by following the voting prompts that appear on screen. Details for how to vote will be revealed soon.

The 67th Eurovision Song Contest is held from Tuesday 9 May - Saturday 13 May 2023 and will broadcast in Australia at the dates and times listed below:

LIVE early morning broadcasts on SBS and SBS On Demand
Semi Final 1 – Wednesday 10 May at 5:00am AEST
Semi Final 2 – Friday 12 May at 5:00am AEST FEATURING VOYAGER
Grand Final – Sunday 14 May at 5:00am AEST

Prime time broadcasts on SBS and SBS On Demand
Semi Final 1 – Friday 12 May at 7:30pm AEST
Semi Final 2 – Saturday 13 May at 7:30pm AEST FEATURING VOYAGER
Grand Final – Sunday 14 May at 7:30pm AEST

Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy, with their song Stefania. This year, the United Kingdom will host the competition on Ukraine’s behalf with the theme United by Music. This is the ninth time the United Kingdom will host Eurovision and the fifth time it’s hosted for other countries due to financial or capacity issues.

The Eurovision Song Contest is the world’s biggest live music event and in 2022 it attracted 161 million viewers worldwide and 2.7 million Australians tuned into SBS’s coverage of the event.

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King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will travel to Liverpool today to unveil the stage for next month’s Eurovision Song Contest, and meet some of the hosts and contestants.

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SBS Promo

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Australia’s first rehearsal

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I think these times are Central European Summer Time (8 hours behind AEST), so Timur’s chat with Voyager will take place just after 1am AEST on Saturday.

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Voyager

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On the Nova Ricki-Lee, Tim and Joel podcast for yesterday’s show, Joel Creasey mentioned that he is a bit more nervous about Eurovision this year. Normally they only broadcast to Australia but Joel and Myf might have a bigger role this year when they appear during one of the main shows broadcast to the whole world.

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Joel read out the 2021 Australian votes that was broadcast to the world.

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Could be doing that again but sounded like both of them will be doing something else. Maybe they’re going to feature the commentators from different countries as part of the main show while they wait for votes to be cast and counted.

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This is the final year that Australia is initially allowed to be part of the contest under the current agreement. Perhaps they’ll be announcing Australia’s participation will remain a permanent part of the show moving forward?

Unlikely that will happen again, as in 2021 Myf and Joel were commentating from the SBS Studios in Sydney, due to travel restrictions rather than in the Netherlands where it was held (also that was also why Montaigne performed “live-to-tape”). So it provided an easy way for him to simply hop into the studio next door for the live link-up.

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