From Abba to the absolutely ridiculous: An A-Z of Eurovision

With the semi-finals done and dusted, and the 2024 line-up complete, the stage is set in Sweden, so what better time for Roobla to launch its first Eurovision feature in several years. Before we hand over to the Malmö Arena, here’s an irreverent A-Z of the world’s most wonderfully loopy singing competition.

A is for Australia. This will be their ninth time in Europe’s premier talent show. It’s still not completely clear as to why, but who cares? It’s Eurovision, it’s not supposed to make sense!

B is for “Big Five”. Whilst it doesn’t have the same impact as its African safari namesake, the UK, France, Spain, Germany and Italy need never fret about all that pesky qualification stuff, as they have automatic entry.

C is for Coleford. The Gloucestershire town where this year’s UK entry, Olly Alexander, hails from, and they’re throwing one big party in his honour.

D is for Drag culture. A number of artists have taken to the song contest stage over the years – most notably the 2014 winner, Austria’s Conchita Wurst – with varying degrees of success.

E is for Enquiry. How exactly do you get hold of a ticket? Answers in the comments section below, please.

F is for Fanbase. It’s bigger than anyone could possibly imagine and truly global, not just Europe-wide. And let’s not forget the millions of closet fans out there (yes, we’re looking at you).

G is for Graham Norton. He had a hard act to follow in Terry Wogan by providing commentary for British audiences, but he’s taken the mantle of his fellow Irishman with gusto.

H is for History maker. In 2017, Lisbon’s Salvador Sobral amassed a staggering 758 points with Amar pelos dois, which still holds the record haul by 137 and marks the first and only time Portugal have been crowned champions.

I is for Interval act. This has been a springboard to bigger things for some, the most notable being Riverdance who performed at Dublin’s Point Theatre in 1994.

J is for Joulupukki. The Finnish folk figure, said to be the original Father Christmas, who presented the trophy in 2007. Who said Eurovision can’t be educational?

K is for Kjell Engman. The Swede who designed the microphone-inspired trophy. Very nice it is, too.

L is for Liverpool. It was kind of inevitable that the Eurovision star and one of the world’s pre-eminent music cities would align one day, and in 2023 they did just that.

M is for Malmö. This year’s hosts – say no more.

N is for Nearly. Germany have participated in all but one edition, having been eliminated in the 1996 qualifiers.

O is for Occasional. The UK do win it now and again, although haven’t managed to do so since 1997 – could this be the year that’s repeated?

P is for Political. Unfortunately there’s no getting away from this aspect of the competition sometimes.

Q is for Questionable. Whether it be the music, the dress… whatever! This is a word many associate with Eurovision time and again, but love it just the same.

R is for Record. This is jointly held by Ireland and Sweden, who’ve both won the competition seven times.

S is for Sanremo Music Festival. The Italian song contest was the basis and inspiration for the Eurovision version, and pre-dates it by five years.

T is for Tongue In Cheek. If you’re presenting or commentating, whatever you do, don’t take your job or yourself too seriously.

U is for Unrivalled. Whatever you think of it, there’s nothing quite like Eurovision.

V is for Voting system. Forever changing; forever controversial.

W is for Waterloo. The song that won it for Abba in 1974 and catapulted the Swedish quartet to superstardom.

X is for Xylophone. Surely someone’s going to be playing one somewhere in the Malmö Arena this year.

Y is for “You can shove it!” Turkey, dismayed at how the system was working, have refused to compete since 2012. Their loss!

Z is for Zeitgeist. Something Eurovision consistently fails to embrace. But that’s the sheer beauty of it – unashamedly cheesy, uncool and unfashionable. So, let us know your thoughts on this year’s competition, sit back and enjoy!