hat a difference a year makes! From the moment that the UK was confirmed Simon Bennett offers his annual opinion and factual analysis of how the public and juries voted for this year’s contest in Liverpool. He still hasn’t recovered! VOTING ANALYSIS EUROVISION 2023 W
VOTING ANALYSIS
Liverpool was the perfect host city!
accommodation prices marred the experience. A ‘home’ contest, albeit a Ukrainian one, meant that a record number of OGAE UK members had an opportunity to attend a live show, a rehearsal or just soak up the atmosphere in the city. For many it was their first live Eurovision experience, and they are now hooked. It would be as well to remember, however, that Liverpool was very special, and not all Eurovisions are quite so memorable. Sam Ryder’s success in Turin meant that there was a great deal of speculation as to this year’s UK act. The consensus of the rumour mill seemed to be that the BBC would take advantage of the contest’s new credibility to try to sign up a big established name. In the end, the announcement of Mae Muller seemed a bit of an anti-climax to many, although she seemed confident and enthusiastic, and her song seemed much more Eurovision-friendly than almost any UK entry for the last 20+ years. The BBC bombarded the country with Eurovision trailers and related programming, almost outdoing the other great event in May, King Charles’ coronation. They even roped the new King and Queen into inaugurating the Liverpool stage. Once rehearsals began, it was immediately clear that things would not run smoothly for the UK. Privately, people were extremely worried by Mae’s live performance and confidence
as the host for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, it was clear that the country would embrace the contest wholeheartedly. Liverpool proved a fantastic host, bringing a level of enthusiasm to the contest that has not been seen in years, if ever. All this is stark contrast to the almost complete lack of interest shown by last year’s host city. Ironically, the Turin authorities were very vocal in how beneficial the contest had been to the city, although many Euro fans were a little alarmed to hear that they were offering advice to their opposite numbers in Liverpool. Given the huge week-long Euro-festival that Liverpool hosted, it is amazing that the city allegedly spent far less than Turin did in 2022. Liverpool embraced We must not forget that the spectre of Covid still hung over the contest in 2022 and Liverpool was the first opportunity for a ‘normal’ contest since 2019. It was great to have a Euroclub again and a fantastic Eurovillage, but the most exciting development was the way the host city completely embraced the contest while striking what most thought was a very considered and appropriate balance between local pride and hosting on behalf of war- ravaged Ukraine. Only the nightmare of the ticketing and the exorbitant
THE JURY VOTE
THE PUBLIC VOTE
VISION ● AUTUMN 2023 49
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AUTUMN 2023 ● VISION
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