The Eurovision Song Contest’s interval act is always the topic of much discussion - sometimes becoming much more than the moment to sneak a cup of tea between the extended musical session and the even more lengthy voting business.
Last year saw superstar Justin Timberlake take to the floor in Sweden, in a surprise, and not altogether pleasing, move by the contest arrangers. This year, Ukraine is offering up not one but three interval acts - the country’s two previous winners Ruslana and Jamala. In addition, their home-grown ‘sensation’ Onuka will be appearing.
We’ve come to expect much from the interval act - it has to showcase the home nation’s musical talents, be memorable in its own right, but without distracting from or overshadowing the acts that have come before. It’s no small order, and perfectly understandable why ABBA have (so far!) resisted all offers to revisit the arena of their initial triumph. In the meantime, we’ve had these to console us, and distract us from the voting that is to come...
10 Wombles UK, 1974
ABBA were about to win, but in the meantime… we give you Orinoco and a children’s choir. There is nothing not to love.
9 Boyzone, Ireland, 1997
If ever there was a clue that the blond frontman had his eye on a solo career, this was it, as he belted out ‘Let The Message Run Free’ and his bandmates climbed a ladder. Oh, and in case he didn’t have enough to do, he also co-hosted the Contest.
8 Hothouse Flowers, Ireland, 1988
“Don’t Go,” they sang. And they didn’t. It went on and on and on.
7 Aqua, Denmark, 2001
With so many hits behind them, this poptastic group were a safe booking for Danish hosts, and they delivered in spades, with a medley including their song that could have been born for Eurovision, ‘Barbie Girl’.
6 Petra Mede, Sweden, 2013
If ever you’re thinking of studying a Swedish GCSE, save time and make notes from this performance. All the Swedes hold dear is mentioned, from Ikea to Abba, via Volvo. Cap must be doffed also to the Muppets’ Swedish chef.
5 Emellie De Forrest, Denmark, 2014
The country’s winner from the previous year, with an ethereal ‘Rainmaker’ which emerged from the stage like the strange but true lovechild of The Lion King and Avatar. Epic.
4 Jupiter and co, UK, 1998
This isn’t a partisan entry, this was a truly spectacular montage kicked off by the BBC Concert Orchestra, with contribution by violinist Vanessa Mae, culminating in a chandelier-smashing aria from Lesley Garrett. Anybody still convinced the Brits only do understatement needs to sit through these 7 minutes and 59 trembling seconds.
3 Prague Theatre of Illuminated Drawings, Czechoslovakia, 1984
THIS is how you participate in Eurovision, without actually competing. You don’t try to sing like the contestants who’ve come before, you just do something completely different, and beautiful.
2 Madcon, Norway, 2010
An incredibly talented rap duo who got the whole of Europe singing along.
1 Riverdance, Ireland, 1994
There will never be anything this stunning in any part of the Eurovision Song Contest, interval or otherwise. Michael Flatley may have become significantly more tanned and self-satisfied in the intervening years, but in 1994, we saw the arrival of a tapping god, and it was glorious.
The Eurovision Song Contest takes part tonight in Kiev, Ukraine. It will be streamed live and aired on TV from 8pm.
8 Reasons Sweden Owns Eurovision
MUNICIPAL MUSIC SCHOOLS(01 of08)
Open Image ModalSwedish children are raised on tunes, with municipal music schools popular since the 1970s, with access to instruments and lessons giving youngsters to try all sorts until landing on their favourite.Music reporter Anders Nunstedt explains, "During these decades success from artists like ABBA gave young Swedish musicians confidence that, even though Sweden is a small country, we can still make a big impact on the international music scene."Europe drummer Ian Haugland, who did two years at kommunala musikskolan says, "Apart from the drums I can also play a little guitar and keyboards, but not enough to scare the rats out of the cellar!"
SINGING IN CHOIRS(02 of08)
Open Image ModalAccording to Sveriges Körförbund (the Swedish choir union), roughly 600,000 Swedes sing in choirs, and the union represents about 500 choirs. While these numbers may not seem staggering at first glance, they actually make Sweden the country with the highest number of choirs per capita in the entire world. Sweden’s strong choral tradition comes from a deep-seated culture of singing folk songs, especially around Midsummer and major festivities like Christmas.
THE SWEDISH GOVERNMENT LOVES ROCK MUSIC TOO(03 of08)
Open Image ModalSince 1997, the Swedish government has awarded its Music Export Prize in recognition of international musical achievements by Swedes. Past honourees have included Swedish House Mafia, Robyn, members of ABBA, The Hives, The Cardigans, Max Martin, and Roxette."Our well-developed social system makes it possible for people to create music even though they do not have a lot of income," says music industry researcher Daniel Johansson. This is often expressed as ‘socialbidraget som ligger bakom det svenska musikundret’ (‘the social welfare behind the Swedish music miracle’), highlighting the Swedish government’s support of musicians and artists through the Swedish Arts Council - allocating roughly SEK 1 billion (EUR 116 million) in the form of grants to performing arts every year.
SWEDES BEHIND THE SCENES(04 of08)
Open Image ModalSwedish songwriters lie behind many chart-topping pop songs today. Max Martin has penned catchy pop tunes for Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Pink, Usher, Backstreet Boys, and ‘N Sync. Shellback topped Billboard’s 2012 chart as the #1 producer and has written for Maroon 5. And there is RedOne, who has written for Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Pitbull, and One Direction. "A lot of talent was attracted to Cheiron Studios in Stockholm where they recorded their smash hits alongside Swedish songwriters’, adds Nunstedt. ‘International acts like Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys came to Cheiron and left Sweden with Billboard top hits in their hand luggage."Though Cheiron Studios closed its doors in 1998 due to Denniz Pop’s untimely death, its producers such as Max Martin have gone on to elevate Swedish songwriting globally.Sweden also boasts music video directors such as Johan Renck, who has directed music videos for Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, and Sweden’s own Robyn, as well as director Jonas Åkerlund, who keeps pushing boundaries with edgy music videos for Madonna, Lady Gaga, Moby, Christina Aguilera, Pink, and U2.
INDEPENDENCE IS VALUED(05 of08)
Open Image ModalMany Swedish artists take full control of their creative process – from songwriting to owning their own labels and marketing themselves independently – and pop rock sensation Robyn is just one example. She founded Konichiwa Records in 2005 to cover all aspects of her music career such as media management, recording contracts, and her creative process."I reached a point where it was no fun anymore," Robyn says regarding a previous record company relationship. "I wanted to alter my situation and create a bubble of my own where I could decide the parameters myself." This keeps their style and sounds organically unique without the pressures of third party management companies.
TECHNOLOGY(06 of08)
Open Image ModalMany Swedish artists also control how their music is consumed and disseminated digitally. Audio platform SoundCloud allows artists to upload, record, promote and share their original sounds. Swedish singer-songwriter Lykke Li actively uses SoundCloud to spread her music and share it with SoundCloud’s 20+ million member-strong communities of fans, followers, and fellow artists.Internationally acclaimed Swedish DJ Tim Bergling, more widely known as Avicii, organised the X You project which was touted as the world’s largest music collaboration – bringing together 4,199 people from 140 countries who contributed 12,951 melodies, basslines, beats, rhythms, breaks and effects – all made possible by technology.Sweden-based Spotify is the modern day digital equivalent of ‘word of mouth’ music recommendations. Started in 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon, Spotify allows users to freely listen to, stream, and share millions of music tracks to their computers and smartphones. Many artists, both international and Swedish, maintain Spotify profiles – Avicii is one of them.
EUROVISION(07 of08)
Open Image ModalSweden’s annual Melodifestivalen is the most watched TV program in Sweden, with roughly 4 million viewers out of almost 10 million residents unleashing their inner music critic while voting. More importantly, the winner of Melodifestivalen goes on to represent Sweden in the annual Eurovision Song Contest – the world’s most watched non-sporting event.Sweden has won Eurovision five times, making it the second most winning country after Ireland which has won seven times.Winning Eurovision in 1974 with their chart topping ‘Waterloo’, it certainly has come full circle for ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus who, alongside Avicii, were tasked with composing the official anthem for the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest held in Malmö, Sweden.
THE ABBA EFFECT(08 of08)
Open Image ModalIt’s nearly impossible not to include the influence of ABBA in a list like this one. Chart-topping Swedish musical acts and songwriters keep passing the proverbial hit-making baton to each other as they move through the decades."We have a strong tradition of folk music in Sweden but I also think great artists serve as inspiration to other artists to make it," says Ian Haugland. "Let´s say The Spotnicks in the 60s inspired ABBA in the 70s which inspired Roxette in the 80s and so on."After ABBA, who ruled the 70s and early 80s to become the second most successful group ever behind the Beatles, came Roxette, Neneh Cherry, and Europe who rocked the 80s and early 90s.The 90s also brought with it Ace of Base and Neneh’s brother Eagle Eye Cherry alongside bands like The Cardigans who would later pass the baton into the early 2000s to the likes of indie rockers The Hives, Peter Bjorn & John, and Jens Lekman. Today, artists Robyn, Lykke Li, and Miss Li now dominate pop charts in their respective genres.