The Great Eurovision Final here. Some wonder whether Canada will change its melody on the competition

If you haven’t seen the Eurovision Song competition before, you are missing an unparalleled scene. Countries from Europe – and abroad compete with fiery shows and detailed groups in a sea of ​​fans, flags and national pride.

Tens of millions around the big final world will be seen on Saturday from Basel, Switzerland, while casting voices for their favorite songs and country. This cultural phenomenon, which first appeared in 1956 and is now in version 69, is a week -long relationship with musicians from 37 countries competing for the higher award.

Canadians compete on behalf of other countries and even they won, but we have never participated. The previous batch of making Canada compete because of the concerns about cost and appetite, but it receives attention again, especially in light of a group of recent national pride after the comments of US President Donald Trump about making Canada country 51.

“It is literally Hunger games A Canadian song, a Canadian song, said, “The UK’s songs, the author of a Canadian song, who has reached the 2019 final, which the Netherlands won.

“I think it would be huge to share Canada,” Parker said. “There are a lot of talents here and we have a lot to say, a lot of participation and a lot of love to present it.”

Canadians compete for others – but not Canada

Although many Eurovision are not continuing to become international sensations, there are some noticeable exceptions, including ABBA in Sweden. They won in 1974 with the song WaterlooTheir victory contributed to their eternal popularity.

Then, Canada’s demand for the famous Eurovision – Céline Dion, which competed on behalf of Switzerland in 1988 and won its performance Do not leave me (don’t leave me). She was twenty years old, and Eurofing was reinforced with her help on the global stars.

For artists, the opportunity to appear in front of a huge international audience is invaluable.

“I don’t think there is a directly television place from Eurovision,” said Parker. “That people sing words and singing and be in the arena that you see all of this happens, it was very pleasant.”

Karen Fricker, a Eurovision expert in Toronto, who was covering the competition for more than 20 years, says the Canada’s argument for competition is strengthened by our strong presence in the competition throughout its history.

“If we are good enough to sing and win another country, why don’t we do the effort to make our own action.”

“The matter will go down to the will of an announcer, and the audience pressed that broadcaster to pressure the saying.” It is time to compete with Canada. ”

Canada is not in Europe – but not Australia

EUROVISION is organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), an alliance of public broadcasters and public media. It also included countries in countries that revolve around Europe in West Asia-including Israel, which has participated in the competition since 1973, as well as Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Australia, about 14,000 km from Europe, started participating in the competition 10 years ago when EBU granted it special approval to participate.

Australia’s special broadcasting service (SBS), a member of EBU, has been broadcasting Eurovision since 1983, which Fricker says if he contributed to its huge follow -up there.

“There must be a will to join,” said Fricker.

Although it is not sure of the strength of this in Canada, Fricker notes that the current level of Canadian pride in the face of American aggression can help revive attention in Canada.

“I mean, the United States has never competed in Eurovision as well. Thus, this question about how we can play North America at this stage, as I think, it is something that must be seen seriously.”

Canada Eurovision Quest

Insight Productions, which is based in Toronto, tried to bring Canada to the Eurovision in 2022, and Troch Eurofision Canada competition The musicians compete from every province and lands at the national level, where the winner represents Canada in Europe.

But there was no participation at the time from the public broadcaster in Canada, CBC/Radio-Canada. CBC is also an EBU associate member, who indicated that he will be the only Canadian broadcaster “who can hope for virtual participation” in Eurovision.

Lindsey Cox, the official of the Insight Productions content, recently told the Canadian press that after announcing its plans in 2022, its team realized “the complexity of the Canadian who goes to Europe and compete.”

However, it says that the company did not give up and reformulate its stadium.

CBC spokesman Chuck Thompson told CBC News that the broadcaster considered the possibility that the stakeholders faced, but in the end he decided that he was “expensive.”

“In the end, (we) could not make it work for us,” he said in a statement.

But the televised national competition is not necessary in order to make an entry. According to EBU, broadcasters can invite the submission or seam artists and/or recording labels. There can also be mixed format as the leading broadcaster chooses, but the public sounds are on the song.

Tomson confirmed to CBC News that the public broadcaster has never thought about these options.

Economics of Eurovision

Participation in Eurovision does not come at a large price.

The entry fees differ from one year to another and the country to the country, with “the most powerful shoulders to carry the largest weight,” he said Eurovision website.

EBU CBC News told that it does not make the fees she received, but the Irish public broadcaster RTé recently released the cost of her participation.

Last year, the broadcaster occupied 389,999 euros (about $ 575,000 CDN), which included participation fees and production costs, transportation and accommodation.

The country that wins the hosting of the following competition tends, and this is where the costs really escalate.

Last year, NEMO won in Switzerland, SThe Swiss city of Basel hosts Eurovision 2025. Basel agreed General financing What is equivalent to $ 55 million CDN For hosting – a step supported with a little 67 percent of the municipal voters in A. November referendum.

But there can be a financial side for the host cities as well.

In 2023, the British city of Liverpool took over the hosting duties from Ukraine, which won the competition in 2022 months after the invasion of Russia and was unable to host the war.

The cost of hosting was estimated At about $ 24 million (about $ 40 million Canadian dollars, but according to Evaluation commissioned by the Liverpool City Council, It resulted in an economic batch of 55 million pounds (about $ 92 million CDN).

An opportunity to build relations with Europe

Fricker says that participating in Eurovision is a little “chicken and eggs” because the broadcaster cannot know the size of the audience that they can attract until they try.

But it also refers to the roots of Eurovision in the post -Second Unit of the World War and says that there are similarities today with the shift in relations between the United States and allies such as Europe and Canada.

“There is a great way to build a relationship with Europe is to participate in the song competition,” she said.