Why Eurovision Is More Than Just A Song Contest: Part 1

The Eurovision Song Contest, commonly known simply as Eurovision, is a song competition that primarily consists of countries that are part of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Each country selects a singer or group to represent them, has written an original song with the hopes of winning and hosting the competition the next year. But there’s more to it than just a song competition. Let’s take a deeper look:

1. It’s about unity

Eurovision began as a result of trying to find a way to unite a war-torn Europe in the 1950’s. It was originally proposed by Sergio Pugliese, who worked for the Italian national broadcasting company RAI. A meeting was held in 1955 with the intention of discussing the logistics of a friendly competition where Europeans could enjoy entertaining music from different backgrounds. The first contest was held in Switzerland a little over a year later, where 7 countries participated. These countries included Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Switzerland. As the years went on, the number of participating countries grew. Now, more than 40 nations participate every year, showing off their talents and entertaining Europe as a whole. The unity this competition promotes is very refreshing, with a different inspirational slogan every year such as “We Are One” (2013), “Building Bridges (2015), and “Celebrate Diversity” (2017).

2. It’s about cultural diversity

Each European country is different and has something unique to offer the competition. They’re encouraged to sing in their own language, but it’s not necessary. Many of the countries decide to sing in English to be more understood by the masses. This works for some, but for others, linguistic diversity is preferred. They may not understand the lyrics, but the language of music is a strong entity. It’s said to be a very eye-opening experience and it definitely brings Europeans together more.

The Eurovision Song Contest is not just a song competition, it’s also a cultural experience fun for the whole family. If you enjoy music, you can find a wide range of different kinds of tunes everybody in the family will enjoy, at www.readgrad.com. Give your ears what they crave!