All about Eurovision 2023 — Event Review

 

Photo by Mathias Reding: https://www.pexels.com/photo/blue-and-yellow-ukrainian-flag-waving-above-crowd-of-people-11421405/

Liverpool hosted Eurovision 2023 in partnership with Ukraine, due to the ongoing war that broke out in 2022. The contest featured artists from across Europe and beyond, such as Australia. This offered a chance for different styles of music to shine on the stage. I attended a preview show, which was held before the semi-finals and the grand final for the performers and crew to rehearse filming in front of a crowd. This meant that many fun and experimental moments happened during my viewing.

As I watched the preview show, I had to bear in mind that changes were likely to be made for any major or minor mistakes that occurred during my viewing. Nevertheless, the show did a brilliant job of balancing the representation of Ukrainian culture and showcasing what the UK had to offer as well. A small note is that I think the hosts were too many and too diverse in their styles of presentation and hosting. Some jokes fell flat at times and some hosts clashed with others. I would have preferred two hosts rather than the three that were offered in the semi-final.

At first glance, I had wished the arena was bigger until I saw the performances that showed how well the BBC and the performers used the small amount of staging they had, especially those who had to adapt from their national selections. The staff had to run on and off the stage to change the sets within a very short time and with the smaller stage this meant that the staff had to move in a small area. Some performers incorporated the LED elements on the screens which helped show how adaptable the arena was.

Sweden emerged as the winner of this year’s Eurovision with a stunning performance by Loreen. How did it compare to her previous performances where her vocals were slightly lacking? This time, she delivered a flawless show with amazing staging that set the tone for her song. Similar to Euphoria, the first part of the song created an atmosphere and built excitement for the climax. The performance was elaborate but subtle enough to not distract from Loreen and her powerful stage presence.

It wasn’t only Loreen who returned for the 2023 show. Fellow contestant Pasha Parfeni also came back after his 2012 song with an upgraded song that was not only fun but also showed many cultural aspects that had some themes of nature and spirituality. I’m not sure whether it was due to the show being more present after covid, but there were definitely more themes of nature this year compared to others. From Loreen’s sand to Cyprus’s waterfall background, whether it was obvious or subtle, the theme was definitely present this year.

Karijjas and Italy’s performances were very notable for the audience’s reaction within the show and how amazing it felt to be part of the audience. The audience was very loud and interactive during Cha Cha Cha. The audience interaction was insane and it really showed Karijjas’s popularity among the audience. Italy, on the other hand, was quiet and serene, but the phone flashlights added to the atmosphere of the song and enhanced the performance. The vocals were amazing, but the only downside was that the trampoline distracted from the overall performance.

The Lush experience and Finland’s sauna were relaxing ways to escape from the busy environment of the Eurocamp and the main arena. They also gave a glimpse into the cultures of the countries they represented. It reminded me of my first time at MCM, where I met people who shared my interests and felt a different vibe from anywhere else. The staff and people were very friendly and this was reflected in the artists as well. I had very pleasant interactions with both Voyager and Blanca Paloma.

For example, when I met Blanca Paloma at Lush, I walked up to the Lush area which was open and welcoming compared to other fan areas I’ve seen that have sometimes felt closed off or tight. This one was fully open with Eurovision fans talking and enjoying the space. Even at its busiest, the place felt welcoming and friendly. Wiwiblogs interviewed Blanca before bringing her into the crowd for questions. Soon after, I quickly made my way to the meet and greet section where the photographer was very accommodating and took multiple photos which helped me choose from multiple options instead of being forced to take only one.

BBC did an excellent job of hosting the competition and respecting Ukraine’s influence on the show. Ukraine had a strong presence in the atmosphere and themes of the show. The contestants brought a diverse range of music to the show, from the rock-heavy Lord Of The Lost with Blood and Glitter to the more ballad and soulful Watergun, to the energetic and chaotic Karrijas Cha Cha Cha. The order of the songs gave equal attention to each one, without any overshadowing the others.

It was a joy to watch, but it also felt solemn that it couldn’t be hosted in Ukraine and it made me think back to the war and how even though Ukrainians can still enjoy their moments at Eurovision, it still felt sad that they were away from home doing this. This event helped show the solidarity between the UK and Ukraine. This event shows the impact that the global community has with its support for Ukraine. It made me happy that at least the Ukrainians there and at home could enjoy the spectacle and escapism away from the horrible situation.

To sum up, watching Eurovision live was a fantastic experience and the atmosphere that was created around it was incomparable to anything I had seen before. This was the most diverse show in terms of musical styles that I had witnessed. The contestants had many complex elements to their performances that were unprecedented and were seamlessly transitioned by the crew, which was swift and efficient from what I could see. All the effort and time resulted in the amazing semi-final the next day. I am delighted to have been there to see it all.