Eurovision Song Context

A podcast where we bring in smart people. We talk about smart things, then veer into glitter, wind machines, and geopolitics. Experts. Insight. Eurovision chaos.

About the show

We start with expertise and end up in Eurovision. It’s kind of our thing.

Eurovision Song Context is a monthly podcast that looks at the Eurovision Song Contest through an unexpected lens: expert insight. Each episode, a guest from a different field — psychology, fashion, politics, design, linguistics, and more — talk about their work and how it helps us understand 2–3 Eurovision entries in a whole new light.

Are these songs genuinely good? So bad they’re good? Or just weirdly unforgettable?

Longform episodes come out on the 12th of every month (the "douzeth"). We're where brilliant minds meet bad key changes.

Eurovision Song Context on social media

Episodes

  • Episode 11: (Part 2) Exploring Your Musical Profile [with Prince's Audio Engineer Susan Rogers!]

    February 12th, 2023  |  49 mins 46 secs
    barenaked ladies, eurovision, go-a, jendrick, kalush, netta, prince, salvador sobral, sam ryder

    Do you prefer lyrics or melody? Intricate harmonies or driving rhythm? The digital tones of synthesizers or the “real” sounds of acoustic instruments? Drawing from her successful career as a music producer (engineering hits like Prince’s “Purple Rain” and Barenaked Ladies' "One Week"), professor of cognitive neuroscience Susan Rogers reveals why your favorite songs move you. Susan and I will also discuss some Eurovision "controversies", including Amar Pelos Dois, Toy, Fuego, Shum, Stefania, Out of the Embers, Spaceman... and some of the Nul Points from 2021.

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    Episode 10: (Part 1) Exploring Your Musical Profile [with Prince's Audio Engineer Susan Rogers!]

    February 12th, 2023  |  48 mins 37 secs
    barenaked ladies, eurovision, go-a, jendrick, kalush, netta, prince, salvador sobral, sam ryder

    Do you prefer lyrics or melody? Intricate harmonies or driving rhythm? The digital tones of synthesizers or the “real” sounds of acoustic instruments? Drawing from her successful career as a music producer (engineering hits like Prince’s “Purple Rain” and Barenaked Ladies' "One Week"), professor of cognitive neuroscience Susan Rogers reveals why your favorite songs move you. Susan and I will also discuss some Eurovision "controversies", including Amar Pelos Dois, Toy, Fuego, Shum, Stefania, Out of the Embers, Spaceman... and some of the Nul Points from 2021.

  •

    Episode 9: (Part 2) Subversive Absurdity, in falsetto: Ping Pong, Gina-G, Emmie van Stijn, Krassimir Avramov

    January 12th, 2023  |  48 mins 56 secs
    bbc, britain, bulgaria, emmie van stijn, eurovision, gina g, israel, krassimir avramov, music, netherlands, performance art, ping pong, richard di domenici

    Guest Richard De Domenici and I discuss his art: Coronavision, Redux, Shed Your Fears, 99 Red Balloons, Fux Bizz (which is Buck's Fizz inspired!).

  • Episode 8: (Part 1) Subversive Absurdity, in falsetto: Ping Pong, Gina-G, Emmie van Stijn, Krassimir Avramov

    January 12th, 2023  |  51 mins 32 secs
    bbc, britain, bulgaria, emmie van stijn, eurovision, gina-g, israel, krassimir avramov, music, netherlands, performance art, ping pong

    Guest Richard De Domenici and I discuss his art: Coronavision, Redux, Shed Your Fears, 99 Red Balloons, Fux Bizz-- which is Buck's Fizz inspired!.

  • Episode 7: (Part 2) Wings in ESC! Tix, Roko, Nina Sublatti, 3+2

    December 12th, 2022  |  33 mins 29 secs
    3+2, angels, belarus, eurovision, georgia, nina sublatti, norway, roko, romania, tix, wings

  • Episode 6: (Part 1) Wings in ESC! Tix, Roko, Nina Sublatti, 3+2

    December 12th, 2022  |  34 mins 37 secs
    3+2, angels, belarus, eurovision, georgia, nina sublatti, norway, roko, romania, tix, wings

  • Episode 5: (Part 2) Eurovision Barbie

    November 12th, 2022  |  34 mins 42 secs

    A discussion of the Eurovision Barbie Competition at the Madrid Fashion Doll Contest. Monica Nunez del Castillo, (organizer of the MFDC and Barbie artist) shares the basics of Eurovision Barbie. Then Suzie (of the Euroriffs podcast), Margherita (ESC superfan) and Bradley discuss both the Barbie versions and REAL versions of Eleni, Sheldon, Chanel, Verka, and Conchita.

    To see the Barbies discussed in this episode:
    https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14xspXkLxwFl5nzUcEd8Bz9lnTK9hs1yt?usp=share_link

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    Episode 4: (Part 1) Eurovision Barbie

    November 12th, 2022  |  45 mins 25 secs

    A discussion of the Eurovision Barbie Competition at the Madrid Fashion Doll Contest. Monica Nunez del Castillo, (organizer of the MFDC and Barbie artist) shares the basics of Eurovision Barbie. Then Suzie (of the Euroriffs podcast), Margherita (ESC superfan) and Bradley discuss both the Barbie versions and REAL versions of Eleni, Sheldon, Chanel, Verka, and Conchita.

    To see the Barbies discussed in this episode:
    https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14xspXkLxwFl5nzUcEd8Bz9lnTK9hs1yt?usp=share_link

  •

    Episode 3: (Part 2) Italy, the 1980s, Serhat's Monocle

    October 12th, 2022  |  33 mins 16 secs

    Dave Di Vito (author of the Vinyl Tiger book series) and I talk about the 1980s, Italy, 2016 ESC, Serhat, Dami Im, Sergey Lazarev.

  • Episode 2: (Part 1) Italy, the 1980s, Serhat's Monocle

    October 12th, 2022  |  43 mins 14 secs
    1980's, 1980s, dami im, eurovision, sergey lazarev, serhat

    Dave Di Vito (author of the Vinyl Tiger book series) and I talk about the 1980s, Italy, 2016 ESC, Serhat, Dami Im, Sergey Lazarev.

  • Episode 1: Lordi, Lordi... Bias, Collusion, Neglect

    October 12th, 2022  |  1 hr 7 mins

    Dr. Alexander Mantzaris joins us to discuss the findings from his paper, Examining Collusion and Voting Biases Between Countries During the Eurovision Song Contest Since 1957.