Ep29: Olly Alexander & First Semi-Final Qualifiers

Nemo has won this year's Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland. Their song, The Code, received 591 points to finish in first place, ahead of Croatia and Ukraine. They speak to Steve, just moments after receiving the coveted trophy to discuss what the win means to them. 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

It's here! The Grand Final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest is taking place in Malmō. On this episode, Steve catches up with brothers Marcus & Martinus, who are opening the show for Sweden.  Also, dropping by are drag superstars Nicky Doll and Courtney Act, as well as Serbian Eurovision legends Bojana Stemanov (2015) and Konstrakta (2022). After Käärijä almost won for Finland last year, we pay a visit to the country's commentator Mikko Silvennoinen. In a year of amazing choreography, Meshach Henry explains how he’s created the mind-melting dancing for the UK’s Olly Alexander. 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

Reigning champion Loreen returns to the podcast, one year after she won the Eurovision Song Contest for the second time.  She discusses the crazy year she’s had since winning with Tattoo, her famous nails, her new single Forever and her upcoming tour. Steve also speaks to Georgia’s Nutsa, Magnus from Norwegian band Gåte, Austria’s Kaleen and Latvia’s Dons after they qualified for the Grand Final.  Joining once again is music journalist and Swedish commentator Tina Mehrafzoon to offer her thoughts on the ten qualifiers. And Sarah Dawn Finer (AKA Linda Woodruff) gatecrashes the interview after taking part in the Swedish interval song - We Just Love Eurovision Too Much.  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

After becoming one of Italy’s breakout stars of 2023, Angelina Mango is representing her country with La Noia at the Eurovision Song Contest.  She talks to Steve about the meaning behind the song, her win at the Sanremo Music Festival and her incredible musical roots.  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

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