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Monday 3rd April 2017 - She keeps on running, running, running...
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Running Order: Sweden to Kickstart Eurovision 2017

Sweden will get the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest off to an uptempo start this year, with Robin Bengtsson set to open the first semi final with I Can't Go On. This is Sweden's first time opening a semi final in the modern Eurovision era - and their first time opening any Eurovision show since 1994, when Roger Pontare and Marie Bergman kick-started that year's one-night contest with Stjärnorna.

Since 2013, running orders for the Eurovision Semi Finals and Grand Finals have been determined by producers. Beforehand, the draw was random - which put all songs on a level playing field, but could make the show vulnerable to long periods of similarly paced or low quality songs - as anyone who sat through the first half of the 2006 Grand Final will attest. 

High energy songs are generally favoured as show openers, with Serbia set to open the second semi final in similarly uptempo fashion. With later draws generally considered more favourable to the contestants, Latvia and Israel would appear to have been handed the 'pimp slots' - in that they will be closing their respective semi finals. The last time a semi final closer failed to progress to the finals was in 2013, when Serbia's Moje 3 fell just six points short of the qualification threshold. 

As ever, ESC Insight have provided a full analysis of the Semi Final running order, courtesy of our stats king Ben Robertson. You can read his rundown of the winners and losers on the ESC Insight website

In Other News...

Ukraine and Russia still in deadlock over Julia Samoylova's travel ban


Russia's participation in Eurovision 2017 continues to hang in the balance, as Ukrainian government officials refuse to budge despite public pressure from the EBU to allow Julia Samoylova to perform.

The Russian singer was found to be in breach of Ukrainian law when it emerged that she performed in Crimea and entered the disputed territory directly from Russian, and not through a Ukrainian border. The EBU initially stated that they "must respect" Ukrainian law, but members of the organisation have since appealled to the Ukrainian government to make an exception, threatening future sanctions against the host nation. 

At time of writing, the Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Vyacheslav Kyrylenko had apparently doubled down on the government's position, stating that while Russia are welcome to compete at the contest, Samoylova is not. 

Russia are currently drawn to perform third in the second semi final. It is currently unconfirmed what will happen if no compromise can be reached in time, or whether Russia will be allowed to vote in the contest if they are unable to field a contestant. In 2006, Serbia & Montenegro were able to vote in the contest despite not fielding an entry, after a voting scandal rendered their national selection illegitimate, leaving them without time to source a replacement. 
 

Construction work begins at the Host Venue

Preparations began in earnest last week to transform the Kyiv International Exhibition Centre into a suitable host venue for Eurovision 2017. Headed by the Dutch company Unbranded, an international crew descended on the venue for a month of intensive construction ahead of the first rehearsals at the end of April. 

According to Head of Production Ola Melzig, the show is set to be considerably bigger than Stockholm, with a larger venue, a 140 ton stage structure and 1800 spotlights. Over twice as much electricity is expected to be consumed compared to the 2016 contest. 
 

France to take Eurovision to the Big Screen


With public interest in the contest renewed following the success of Amir in 2016, France are set become the latest nation to broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest on the big screen, with cinemas in 41 locations screening the 2017 contest live. 

'Live cinema' is a phenomenon that has gained traction in recent years, with high profile theatre productions often screened live or as live in cinemas. French viewers can get tickets to watch the event for as little as €8. If the event is a success and other countries follow suit, a whole new way of experiencing the contest may be emerging...
 

OGAE Poll gives clues to the fan favourites


Over the next weeks, regional branches of the official Eurovision fan society OGAE will be polling their members for the annual fan club poll. While this informal poll has no bearing on the actual results, it can be an interesting barometer of the entries that are resonating the most strongly with the hardcore fans.

Last year, France won the poll with 425 points, going on to achieve sixth place in the actual contest. Russia came in second with the fans, while contest winners Ukraine placed ninth. All of the fan poll top ten did qualify for the grand finals, with the largest discrepancy coming from Spain. Barei finished sixth with OGAE voters, while on the big night she had to make do with a lowly 22nd place. 

ESC Insight March Roundup

From national selections to political disputes, it's been an intense few weeks in Eurovision developments. Here's a roundup of the articles and analysis our team of pundits published over the last month...

Eurovision Insight Podcast
In addition to Ewan Spence's regular weekly updates, March saw the long-awaited return of Juke Box Jury! Sixteen of the entries have already been deemed 'Hit, Miss or Maybe' by our expert judges. We also presented our first ever live episode, brought to you from the legendary SXSW Music Festival

Kyiv, Are You Ready To Host The Eurovision Song Contest?

Sharleen Wright speaks to Ukraines’ national tourism minister Anton Tarenenko about progress and planning for the 2017 Contest, and what visitors can expect from their time in Kyiv. 

Proving A Point To Eurovision At Ukraine’s National Final

Ben Robertson travels to Kyiv for a first-hand look at Ukraine's national selection process for 2017.

‘Cool Me Down’ One Year On: A Signpost To The Future of Eurovision

Ellie Chalkley revisits one of the most mourned national final casualties of 2016. Could Margaret's Cool Me Down be the most influential entry never to make it to the Eurovision stage? 

The Longest Eurovision Selection I Never Saw

Lithuania's marathon national selection has been the source of much entertainment and bemusement for some years now. Ben Robertson catches up with Head of Delegation Andrius Giržadas in an attempt to understand the method behind the apparent madness. 

Who Should Win When Televoters And Juries Collide?

John Egan looks back at the 2017 national selections and explores how broadcasters manage the balance of power between televoters and juries. 

Maintaining Trust In The Eurovision Voting System

From bloc voting to corruptible juries, allegations of foul play are never far away from the Eurovision Song Contest. Roy Delaney offers some thoughts on how the contest can maintain its integrity going forward. 

The Doctrine Bringing Politics Into This Year’s Eurovision Song Contest

With Eurovision 2017 looking set to be the most politically charged contest in several years, Ewan Spence dives into the potential political driving forces behind the increasingly public disputes.

Family, Experiments, And Promotion As Eurovision’s Preview Parties Start In Riga

The annual Eurovision preview parties are a highlight of the season, but do they really matter in the grand scheme of things? Ben Robertson reports back from Riga and examines how they fit into the wider context of the event.

Eurovision 2017: Analysis Of The Semi Final Running Order

More analysis from Ben Robertson, this time highlighting the winners and losers from the recently announced Semi Final Running Orders for 2017.


Images: Eurovision.tv, ESC Insight

 

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