Eurovision: Pop and Politics

Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest was a television programme organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to commemorate the Eurovision Song Contest's fiftieth anniversary and to determine the Contest's most popular entrant of its fifty years. Hosted by Katrina Leskanich and Renārs Kaupers, the event took place at Forum, in Copenhagen on 22 October 2005. The host broadcaster was Danmarks Radio (DR). Fourteen songs from the Contest's first half-century, chosen through an internet poll and by a jury, contested the event.

Behind the scenes look at the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.

Now a global benchmark for blending medieval sounds with contemporary music, Faun began in 1999 in Gräfelfing, in the western suburbs of Munich. The Bavarian band has always remained faithful to its “pagan folk” roots and even attempted to qualify for Eurovision in 2015! Their twelfth studio album, entitled “Hex,” is scheduled for release in September. A great way to get us in the mood.

Documentary that follows Go_A’s lead singer Kateryna Pavlenko in the build up to Eurovision 2021.

An intimate portrait of Barbara Pravi. The camera slips into the background, forgotten as it accompanies the singer and actress through her everyday life to reveal her inner pathway. An opportunity to follow her through the different stages of a great adventure, the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest.

Richard Fairbrass goes behind the scenes of the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest.

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This definitive music documentary, featuring a greatest hits soundtrack and bounty of classic performance clips, provides an inside look into how Swedish pop group ABBA's music was made, as the former members and various colleagues tell their story from pre-ABBA days onward.

Eurovision aka the Gay World Cup. A poetic documentary about Eurovision Song Contest fans. The film hears the intimate testimonies of what the contest means to them.

Sam Ryder is joined by fellow music stars to put on a spectacular New Year’s Eve party.

A 2008 documentary and debut feature film of Bafta-Award nominated director Jamie Jay Johnson. It follows the lives of the participants of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2007, specifically the entrants from Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Georgia. The film sees them proceed from the national finals that saw them crowned the representatives of their country through to the international song festival itself held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands where they each compete against 16 other acts.

Adam and Wiktor are obsessed with Eurovision and their hearts beat extra hard for the Swedish double winner Loreen. But the harsh jargon that prevails among the young people in their Polish town risks poisoning both their friendship and dreams of Sweden.

In December 2016 a remarkable chapter in music history was closed as the Finnish punk rock band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät (PKN) retired. Punk Voyage is a feature length documentary film about the last years of the band, with all the ups and downs included. After becoming celebrities in Finland, this incredible quartet continued to conquer new fans around the World. In its seven years run PKN played nearly 300 gigs in 16 countries. In 2015 the band was selected to represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest, where they played to over 100 million television spectators. However, the busy traveling and success created a lot of pressure within the band: Kari struggled with the temptations and responsibilities brought by publicity; Sami extended his territory to politics and religion; Toni's and the band's roadie Niila's crush to the the same girl caused conflicts; and Pertti, tired of this all, decided to retire.

Olly Alexander is preparing to fulfil one of his biggest life ambitions - to represent the United Kingdom in the much-loved Eurovision Song Contest. Ahead of the grand final in May, Olly joins fellow Eurovision lover and commentator Graham Norton to talk candidly about competing in Sweden. As an extra treat for Eurovision fans, Olly reveals the first full play of the music video on TV for his Eurovision song Dizzy.

In a small rural Australian town in 2004, two teenage outcasts come into conflict with their families on the night Ruslana wins the Eurovision Song Contest for Ukraine. 17-year-old Todd faces awkward and unsubtle probing from his family about his sexuality, specifically whether or not he will take a girl to the upcoming school dance. Across town, Lesia Lysenko, the only girl from an immigrant family at Todd's conservative, Catholic High School, clashes with her strict, Ukrainian father, who insists that Lesia take her younger brother to chaperone her to that same school dance. As Lesia experiments with a newfound sense of rebellion, Todd is asked out by a clueless, smitten girl with a pet hate of pop music. He practises the dance moves from Ruslana's song in his family's tool shed and hatches a secret plan to get the song played at the disco. The film moves towards its fabulous, genuinely heartwarming climax as Lesia and Todd learn that life begins when you dance to your own beat.

A nostalgia trip back to the 80s when the Herrey brothers created hysteria with their win in Eurovision 1984 with the song Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley. It's about what it was like to deal with the fans, the press and the sudden celebrity. This year marks 40 years since their breakthrough, and it's time to make new music and get on the stage again.

BBC Eurovision Commentator for over 10 years Scott Mills loves the annual song contest and in this special compilation he is joined by EastEnders’s star, Natalie Cassidy for a celebration of the pure joy, unity and downright banging tunes that is… Eurovision. They will delve in to some of the most iconic performances and look back at incredible staging, memorable moments and of course costume.

Comedian Jason Manford and singer-songwriter Chelcee Grimes present Eurovision Calling: Jason and Chelcee’s Ultimate Guide. This entertainment programme will see the pair explore why the Eurovision Song Contest is the greatest show on Earth. Using a mix of fascinating archive footage and revealing interviews with fans, experts and competitors, this one hour film will delve into the story of how the Contest has become the world’s largest live music event, creating global superstars and leaving an impact on the lives of many.

From Liverpool's world-famous waterfront, Fleur East presents a special Top 20 Eurovision Countdown - songs that missed out on the big prize but still went on to become monster hits. Compiled by combining worldwide online streaming and viewing figures, Fleur reveals the Eurovision entries watched and listened to in their millions.

Sam became a viral TikTok star during the pandemic, reaching a huge fanbase of 12 million people. We follow his journey as he represents the UK at the 66th Eurovision Song Contest