Ep24: ISAAK & Eden Golan

Olly Alexander is representing the United Kingdom with his song Dizzy! He joins the podcast to talk about the mind-melting staging for his performance and his preparations for Malmö.  The singer also discusses his appearance in UK soap Eastenders, his cats Fanta & Sprite and the friendships he’s made in the build up to the Contest. Steve also talks to Slovenia's Raiven, Serbia's Teya Dora, Cyprus' Silia Kapsis and Portugal's Iolanda after they qualified for the Grand Final. Also joining for a debrief is music journalist and Swedish commentator Tina Mehrafzoon to offer her thoughts on the ten qualifiers. The Official Eurovision Song Contest podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The theme music is composed by Machine Sound. Visual design by Chris Fox and Ángela Espejo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pour la première fois, le podcast officiel du concours Eurovision de la Chanson vous est dévoilé en français! L’animateur, Rémi entame la discussion avec Slimane, le représentant français, qui a été le premier artiste à être dévoilé pour l'édition 2024. Il partage ses réflexions sur sa chanson Mon Amour, exprimant ses sentiments à l'idée de représenter son pays et évoquant les liens qu'il a tissés avec d'autres participants cette année. La conversation se poursuit avec Mustii, le représentant de la Belgique, interprétant Before The Party’s Over. Il dévoile les nuances de son titre, expliquant ce qu'il représente et signifie pour lui, tout en soulignant l'influence de la scène drag dans son expression artistique et sa mise en scène. Ensuite, le duo arménien LADANIVA, basé entre Lille et Paris, interprétant Jako à Malmö, partage ses inspirations musicales et raconte leur rencontre singulière. Ce podcast, officiellement produit pour l’UER (EBU) par Steve Holden, est animé par Rémi Gautrelet. La composition musicale est l'œuvre de Machine Sound, tandis que les conceptions visuelles sont signées Chris Fox et Ángela Espejo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Swedish superstar Benjamin Ingrosso joins Steve for a chat about his career, new music and his many connections to the Eurovision Song Contest. In Malmö, Benjamin is performing a medley of songs in the interval of the first semi-final.  In this episode, he talks about his appearance for Sweden in the 2018 Contest, when he came seventh with Dance You Off. He also discusses his personal links to Sweden’s Eurovision winners, working with Björn Ulveaus from ABBA and why Melodifestivalen is responsible for his entire existence! The Official Eurovision Song Contest podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The theme music is composed by Machine Sound. Visual design by Chris Fox and Ángela Espejo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Petra Mede is back to host the Eurovision Song Contest for the third time, and is joined on the podcast by her best friend - and this year’s writer and director - Edward af Sillén. They talk to Steve Holden about their friendship, their love of Abba and the legacy of their 2106 interval act Love Love Peace Peace.  The Official Eurovision Song Contest podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The theme music is composed by Machine Sound. Visual design by Chris Fox and Ángela Espejo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve speaks to the brains behind Europapa! Joost Klein is representing the Netherlands with his happy hardcore bittersweet hit. He talks about the message behind the song and what happens inside his creative mind.  Zaachariaha and Michael are Electric Fields, who are singing One Milkali (One Blood) for Australia. They discuss their love of Janet Jackson, the song's meaning and their long-standing friendship. 5MIINUST are one of Estonia’s most successful bands and joined up with duo Puuluup for their Eurovision entry which is called (nendest) markootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi. Joining Steve are Marko from Puuluup and Kohver from 5MIINUST to chat about their collaboration, bonding in the sauna and learning choreography for Eurovision.  The Official Eurovision Song Contest podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The theme music is composed by Machine Sound. Visual design by Chris Fox and Ángela Espejo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Germany’s ISAAK brings the anthemic Always On The Run to the Eurovision stage. He joins Steve for a chat about his career so far, his unusual musical talent and why translating songs into German isn’t always that straightforward. Eden Golan is singing Hurricane for Israel and discusses her musical idols, her Eurovision heroes and the love of her life… her 15-year-old chihuahua Leo. The Official Eurovision Song Contest podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The theme music is composed by Machine Sound. Visual design by Chris Fox and Ángela Espejo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve is joined by Greece's Marina Satti, who has already had a huge hit in her home country with her Eurovision entry Zari.  She talks about her musical style, the song, her unique music video and the love for the 2005 Greek Eurovision champion Helena Paparizou. Azerbaijani singer FAHREE has teamed up with Ilkin Dovaltov to sing the powerful anthem Özünlə Apar. The pair speak about their partnership, FAHREE’s special spoon (honestly!) and how Ilkin might just have the best moustache in Malmö.  The Official Eurovision Song Contest podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The theme music is composed by Machine Sound. Visual design by Chris Fox and Ángela Espejo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve is joined in the delegation bubble for a gossip by Swedish radio and TV presenter Tina Mehrafzoon, who’s commentating for her home country at this year’s contest.  Dons is singing Hollow for Latvia. As one of his country’s biggest singers, he talks about his idol Freddie Mercury, voicing a Disney icon… and the best way to cook an egg.  Norway’s Gåte are bringing ethereal drama with their anthem Ulveham. Singer Gunnhild Sundli and guitarist Magnus Børmark discuss their staging, Gunnhild’s incredible voice and why the midnight sun isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  The Official Eurovision Song Contest podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The theme music is composed by Machine Sound. Visual design by Chris Fox and Ángela Espejo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three Eurovision queens join Steve on the latest episode from Malmö. Portugal’s Iolanda speaks about Grito, tracking down the best Portuguese tart in Sweden and reveals her favourite pop bangers of all time.  After representing Iceland in 2010, Hera Björk is back for a second time with Scared Of Heights. She talks about the love in the Eurovision community, her powerlifting preparation and whether she is actually scared of heights!  Albania’s BESA is performing Titans in Sweden. She chats about her passion for rescuing dogs (she has six of them!) and reveals the singer who messages the most in the Eurovision What’sApp chat. The Official Eurovision Song Contest podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The theme music is composed by Machine Sound. Visual design by Chris Fox and Ángela Espejo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve catches up with two more acts who have arrived at the podcast fresh off stage from their first rehearsals in Malmö. First up is Malta’s Sarah Bonnici, who talks about the complicated choreo for Loop as well as putting her original career on hold to chase the Eurovision dream.  We also catch up with Switzerland’s Nemo. They have revealed their elaborate staging for The Code. They also discuss hitch-hiking to Malmö from Zurich, and making friends with the Class of ‘24. If you heard them on the podcast previously, you can also find out if they were ever reunited with their missing luggage. The Official Eurovision Song Contest podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The theme music is composed by Machine Sound. Visual design by Chris Fox and Ángela Espejo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices