Eurovision, the biggest live music event in the world, is back. And the accompanying circus descended on Turin, northern Italy, which won the right to host the competition after rock band Måneskin won the competition last year.

This year’s contest feels like a release valve for many after two incredibly tough years. Eurovision was one of the first major events canceled due to the pandemic in 2020, and in 2021 a limited show took place without the usual festival surrounding it. This is my sixth time attending the Eurovision final and it’s hard to describe what a joy it is, year after year. Fans from all over Europe (I’ve decided the collective name is “Eurofans euphoria”) gather to dance with abandon in a sweaty basement bar all the way to the entrance that turned ranked 16th in 2013. (It’s “Solayoh” by Belarusian Alyona Lanskaya, if you want to add it to your playlist.)

It seems particularly fitting that this year’s competition is taking place in Italy, the European country which was first and hardest hit by Covid. As I walk through the Eurovision Village in Parco del Valentino, I see Turinese delighted to be able to party again. For Italians, the contest represents a chance to kick off what they hope will be a bumper summer for tourism, as restrictions are finally lifted.

There is, however, another dark cloud over Europe, which Eurovision found impossible to ignore: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. After initially trying to maintain its longstanding policy of staying out of politics, the European Broadcasting Union, which runs the competition, responded to pressure from its members to ban Russian and Russian participation. Belarus. Stefano Lo Russo, the mayor of Turin, told me that the organizers could not ignore what was happening: “It is an opportunity to promote music and the message of unity at European level, especially at such a difficult time for our continent with the war in Ukraine.

Many Ukrainians hope the competition will send a signal to the world of European unity and defiance in the face of oppression. Representing the country are rap-folk fusion group Kalush Orchestra, with their ode to mothers, “Stefania.” The song would be an unlikely winner – its genre-blending sound is very different from more contemporary winners of recent years – but it’s currently a favorite with bookmakers, and it’s easy to see why. Picking up the phone to vote for Ukraine could be a way for many people across Europe to send support to the country, and the song touched many Ukrainians during the invasion.

The song also went viral on video-sharing app TikTok. Over 150,000 videos have been made using the song, making it one of the top performers among Eurovision entries this year. Ukrainian flags litter the arena; even other competitors from Latvia and Lithuania waved blue and yellow in the Green Room during Tuesday night’s semi-final.

TikTok has played a big role in transforming Eurovision. Now in its 66th year, the pageant is a far cry from the days of Sandie Shaw and Dana. In 2022, it’s a nifty multimedia event, with acts learning that success can come from a ten-second clip on social media.

Someone who knows this better than many is UK entry Sam Ryder, who started his pop music career filming covers in front of a green screen to post on TikTok. He amassed 12 million followers and, after the ignominy of the UK null points in 2021, his glam-rock song “Space Man” now has the chance to relieve British fans who have been desperate for a good performance from their country for most of the 21st century. “Eurovision is a celebration of everything it stands for: peace, love, inclusiveness, expression, songwriting, music, joy,” Ryder said when we met. at his hotel in Turin.

He is now the second favorite to win, up there with Eurovision titans like Sweden and Italy. As I queue for a drink at Euroclub, I constantly pinch myself when fans from the Netherlands and France tell me, spontaneously, how much they love the song. Final scores aren’t too important to Ryder, though. Instead, he hopes the contest will allow the UK to connect with global audiences. “It’s so crucial to remember that because otherwise you think it’s just the dashboard, and [a low score] means you are not liked by other countries,” he said. “That’s just not the case. I refuse to subscribe to it, as it has not been the experience of me or my teams during this process.

A modern Eurovision is not without quirks. Norway is represented by Subwoofer, a duo who claim to be four billion year old moon aliens. Using the aliases Keith and Jim, they sing in yellow wolf masks about their penchant for bananas. Rumors Big Stars Are Hiding Inside Suits, Like The Masked Singer, are spreading like wildfire among Eurovision fans. Either way, this slightly crazy performance will be a Eurovision earworm that will last until 2023. The Latvian “Eat Your Salad”, a sexually explicit song promoting the virtues of vegetarianism to save the planet , was unfortunately eliminated in the semi-finals, but there is still time to see the singer from San Marino ride a mechanical bull.

Eurovision fans in Turin are just happy that we can once again enjoy the contest in person. When the winner is announced on Saturday night, we’ll know where the party is heading next year – so we can get ready to start all over again.

What to watch out for at night

Favorites
Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra is the favorite to win, as viewers are expected to vote for the country in its war against Russia. The song, “Stefania”, is a mix of dance pop, Ukrainian folk and rap that you won’t hear anywhere else but at Eurovision.

The UK – and it’s hard to believe I’m typing this – is also one of the favorites this year. Sam Ryder has perhaps the best staging of the contest, and sings the big notes of his song “Space Man”. There’s a lot to love about this song, and Ryder’s bubbly personality shone during his public appearances in Turin.

Sweden, the powerhouse of the past two decades, could have another solid year. Cornelia Jakobs’ “Hold Me Closer” became a massive fan favorite after winning Sweden’s Melodifestivaalen – their national selection competition. It’s a very contemporary pop song, performed by a great singer.

Glasses
The Norwegian Subwoofer has to be seen to be believed: bright yellow wolves named Keith and Jim in sharp suits rave about bananas, backed by an astronaut DJ.

Armenia’s Rosa Linn performs in front of a giant tissue paper wall, which needs an army of stagehands to support it, before a dramatic finale.

Moldova is a small country that takes Eurovision by storm every year. This year, expect them to get another strong phone vote with their eye-catching hit on a train ride from Chisinau to Bucharest, which features accordionists, violinists and the sole use of the hidden drawbridge. from the scene.

The hosts
You may remember Lebanese-British singer Mika, who had hits in the 2000s with “Grace Kelly” and “Big Girl.” This year, he hosts with Italian singer Laura Pausini and MTV host Alessandro Cattelan. With two singers on stage, they are likely to perform alongside the competing artists.

[See also: Ukraine’s 2022 Eurovision song – explained]