Monthly Archives: July 2018

“Swedish is Such a Beautiful Language”



Alix and Max are back this week to discuss some of the latest Eurovision news and our big topic of the week: languages! After a short history of languages at Eurovision, we try and figure out if not singing in English puts an entry at a disadvantage in the contest.

And in case you’re interested, here’s ABBA singing their Eurovision-winning “Waterloo” in their native Swedish: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUUhu6Fi9ds


It’s All Political



This week, Max and Alix try to unpack the ever-changing, often controversial voting system and try and decide if bloc voting actually has an effect on who wins Eurovision every year. Also, we introduce a new segment where we bring you the latest news from the Eurovision world!

Further reading:

“Partisanship at Eurovision is becoming more Blatant,” The Economist – econ.st/2MT22jj

Alexander V. Mantzaris, Samuel R. Rein and Alexander D. Hopkins, “Examining Collusion and Voting Biases Between Countries During the Eurovision Song Contest Since 1957” – jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/21/1/1.html

Siobhan Palmer and Ashley Kirk, “A guide to political voting: Who votes for whom at Eurovision?” The Telegraph –bit.ly/2MUyyBm


Europe: A Woman Without Borders w/ Brent McDonnell and Sarah Unbehaun



Welcome to season 1.5 of Star Spangled Eurovision, where we’ll be digging deep into Eurovision-related topics while we wait for the 2019 song contest to kick into gear.

This week, Max is joined by special guests Brent McDonnell and Sarah Unbehaun to talk about Eurovision in the context of greater European History and how the song contest has reflected major events and shifts in Europe since its first edition in 1956. Listen in as we discuss Eurovision during the beginnings of European integration, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the migrant crisis, and everything in between!

Songs we talk about:
ABBA – “Waterloo” (Sweden) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FsVeMz1F5c
Paulo de Carvalho – “E Depois de Adeus” (Portugal) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=89LBNSX_vig
Gigliola Cinquetti – “Si” (Italy) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWrtN6LBJtk
Tuto Cutegno – “Insieme: 1992” (Italy) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b5whZydVZc
Ketil Stokkan – “Brandenburger Tor” (Norway) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IoRGn6rN40
Beat – “Fri?” (Finland) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMQxvqZWOn0
Jamala – 1944 (Ukraine) – “www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCG2rw4ZXTY
Madame Monsieur – “Mercy” (France) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHb-gWC-WTc
Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro – “Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente” (Italy) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=zguJGdoPPnw


“Bring Your Gay to Portugal Week”: The Eurovision 2018 Debrief



We’re back from our shenanigans in Lisbon with tons of juicy hot takes on this year’s Eurovision Song Contest! Find out who we were sad or glad didn’t make it into the grand final, who we thought should have won it all, and the story of one particularly distraught Belgian fan. Thanks for listening, and stay tuned for news on what’s next for Star Spangled Eurovision!


“Songs Don’t Last Forever”



Here it is! Our last episode before we head to Lisbon! Join the gang as they give their takes on the automatic qualifiers for the final of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest. In this episode, Alix and Max fawn over Italy’s entry, Bart tries to explain why the UK isn’t as bad as the other two think, and Spain’s performance makes everyone uncomfortable.

Songs featured:
Madame Monsieur – “Mercy” (France) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHb-gWC-WTc
Michael Schulte – “You Let Me Walk Alone” (Germany)- www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evx0aAF79-E
Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro – “Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente” (Italy)- www.youtube.com/watch?v=zguJGdoPPnw
Claudia Pascoal – “O Jardim” (Portugal) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaVp4El9p3s
Amaia & Alfred – “Tu Cancion” (Spain) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDga57mNny4
SuRie – “Storm” (UK) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=K–kIdOpbJM

And here’s the multi-lingual version of “Monsters” as promised – www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9Y3AxgV1f4


“Strong, Fierce, Seek Help”



Join Alix, Max, and Bart as they cover the second half of the second semifinal of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest. In this episode, Max tries to defend some of the more boring entries, Bart finds a jam he can relate to, and Alix really doesn’t get what Malta’s trying to say.

Songs Covered:
Iriao – “For You” (Georgia) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuCZMdfBqm4
Gromee feat. Lukas Meijer – “Light Me Up” (Poland)- www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxhC7onQkPI
Christabelle – “Taboo” (Malta)- www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyrC8jJ8eb8
AWS – “Viszlát Nyár” (Hungary) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=w00c8KbQIME
Laura Rizzotto – “Funny Girl” (Latvia)- www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBlZsGxeXk4
Benjamin Ingrosso – “Dance You Off” (Sweden)- www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2UmYBkszOA
Vanja Radovanović – “Inje” (Montenegro) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxJoxbo9lCQ
Lea Sirk – “Hvala, Ne!” (Slovenia) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiysnSG6a3I
Mélovin – “Under the Ladder” (Ukraine) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jbF7o8yqnc


“Silence is Complicity, People!”



Join Alix, Max, and Bart as they cover the first half of the second semifinal of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest. In this episode, Max can’t keep it together for San Marino, Bart and Alix have had enough of the Netherlands’ cultural appropriation, and everyone agrees Australia is better at Eurovision than actual European countries.

Correction: our Facebook is facebook.com/starspangledeurovision , not star spangled banner. Honest mistake, tbh.

Songs covered:
Alexander Rybak – “That’s How You Write a Song” (Norway) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=oicLsTZRp28
The Humans – “Goodbye” (Romania) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZp6QwWDQ4c
Sanja Ilic and Balkanika – “Nova Deca” (Serbia) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkOFnIjGrkw
Jessika feat. Jenifer Brening – “Who We Are” (San Marino) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNflc1Zcw2A
Rasmussen – “Higher Ground” (Denmark)- www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeraDSzu0nw
Julia Samoylova – “I Won’t Break” (Russia) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgBwbr_fUxA
DoReDos – “My Lucky Day” (Moldova) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg3ecHrFM_4
Waylon – “Outlaw In Em” (Netherlands) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TowcElmyek
Jessica Mauboy – “We Got Love” (Australia) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4XZxbrvepw


“Grinding on Myself”



Join Alix, Max, and Bart as they cover the second half of the first semifinal of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest. In this episode, Max and Bart fawn over the diva from Cyprus, Alix falls in love with the social worker-turned-Eurovision contestant from Austria, and everyone agrees that some of the songs in this half might be a little too boring to make it through to the final.

Songs covered:
Eye Cue – “Lost and Found” (Macedonia) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ8vStigz7k
Franka – “Crazy” (Croatia) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=19Yo86KCd0w
Cesar Sampson – “Nobody But You” (Austria) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8MyztgOTv8
Yianna Terzi – “Oniro Mou” (Greece) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6hvV9-Gi_w
Saara Aalto – “Monsters” (Finland) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEeIeQ-j2zk
Sevak Khanagyan – “Qami” (Armenia) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=olpi6UGmm_Y
ZiBBZ – “Stones” (Switzerland) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXOlPGnkZFY
Ryan O’Shaughnessy – “Together” (Ireland) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAEjQXzW4Uc
Eleni Foureira – “Fuego” (Cyprus) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDSgs6syrgg


“Your Fave is Problematic”



Join Alix, Max, and Bart as they discuss the entries performing in the first half of the first Semifinal at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. In this episode, Max finds out his favorite is a little problematic, Bart and Alix can’t handle basic poetic devices, and we all yell at our intern.

Also, this was recorded before we figured out a name. Just FYI.

Songs covered:
1. Eugent Bushpepa – “Mall” (Albania) –www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-i2Rjbq8nw
2. Aisel – “X My Heart” (Azerbaijan) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-i2Rjbq8nw
3. Alekseev – “Forever” (Belarus) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU2My4BPX34
4. Sennek – “A Matter of Time” (Belgium) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DGf9TMehi0
5. Equinox – “Bones” (Bulgaria) –www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvy_R3fTHQ4
6. Mikolas Josef – “Lie to Me” (Czech Republic) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6_oxE2MxZE
7. Elina Nechaeva – “La Forza” (Estonia) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=76KOUIfDry8
8. Ari Ólafsson – “Our Choice” (Iceland) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=nloweviD_90
9. Netta – “Toy” (Israel) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=CziHrYYSyPc
10. Ieva Zasimauskaite – “When We’re Old” (Lithuania) – www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvG3sdGdGUA


Star Spangled Eurovision – The Trailer



We’re just three Americans who really fucking love Eurovision, so we started a podcast. Our first episode will drop soon, but in the meantime here’s a little preview of what you’re in for!