Eurovision Song Contest 2012

Eurovision Song Contest 2012
Year	2012
Final	26 May 2012
Presenters	Leyla Əliyeva, Eldar Qasımov, Nərgiz Birk-Petersen
Director	Torbjörn Ehrwall
Executive supervisor	Jon Ola Sand
Host broadcaster	İTV
Venue	Baku Crystal Hall, Baku, Azerbaijan
Winner	Sweden, "Euphoria", Loreen
Votes	Televoting and jury
Entries	42
Return	Montenegro
Withdraw	Armenia, Poland

Eurovision Song Contest 2012 was the 57th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest, organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). It was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, following the victory of Ell & Nikki with "Running Scared" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf. The contest was hosted at the newly constructed Baku Crystal Hall on the shores of the Caspian Sea. The event was presented by Leyla Əliyeva, Eldar Qasımov, and Nərgiz Birk-Petersen, with Jon Ola Sand serving as the executive supervisor.

Background

The victory of Azerbaijan at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 marked the first time the nation had won the competition since its debut in 2008. The host broadcaster, İTV, selected Baku as the host city, leading to the rapid construction of the Baku Crystal Hall on a site previously used for the 2011 winner's celebration. The choice of venue and the significant investment by the Government of Azerbaijan were subjects of international media attention and some controversy regarding human rights in Azerbaijan. The contest's theme, "Light Your Fire!", was intended to symbolize the nation's cultural heritage and modern ambitions.

Participating countries

A total of 42 countries participated in the contest, matching the record set at the 2011 event. Montenegro returned after a one-year absence, while Armenia withdrew due to security concerns and Poland withdrew citing financial reasons. Notable returning artists included the Russian entry, Buranovskiye Babushki, a group of grandmothers from Udmurtia, and the United Kingdom's veteran crooner Engelbert Humperdinck. Other participants included Romania's Mandinga, Italy's Nina Zilli, and Iceland's Gréta Salóme and Jónsi.

Format

The contest consisted of two semi-finals held on 22 and 24 May, and a grand final on 26 May 2012. The allocation draw, which determined which semi-final each country would compete in, was held at the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum in January. The "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) and the host country, Azerbaijan, were pre-qualified for the final. The running order for the final was decided by the production team, a change from the previous random draw. The stage design, overseen by Florian Wieder, featured a massive LED screen and a "bridge" extending into the audience.

Contest overview

The first semi-final was won by Romania, Moldova, and Albania, with surprising eliminations for Latvia and Belgium. The second semi-final saw victories for Serbia, FYR Macedonia, and Malta. The grand final was opened by the United Kingdom's Engelbert Humperdinck and closed by Italy's Nina Zilli. The performances were highly varied, from the ethno-pop of Buranovskiye Babushki to the modern dance of Sweden's Loreen. The interval act featured a performance by Emin and a medley of Azerbaijani music by Rashid Behbudov.

Voting

The voting system combined a national jury and televote in each participating country, with each counting for 50% of the total points. The voting sequence during the final was notably tense, with Russia leading for much of the procedure. However, a strong showing from Western European juries and televoters propelled Sweden's Loreen to a decisive victory with her song "Euphoria". She amassed 372 points, one of the highest totals in contest history at the time. Russia's Buranovskiye Babushki finished second, while Serbia's Željko Joksimović took third place. The voting also revealed a continued split between jury and public favorites, such as the high televote for Albania's Rona Nishliu.

Aftermath

Loreen's victory for Sweden with "Euphoria" became a global hit, topping charts across Europe and influencing the sound of subsequent contests. The hosting of the event in Baku was heavily scrutinized by organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, which criticized the Government of Azerbaijan's record. The contest's financial cost, estimated at nearly €600 million, was debated within Azerbaijan. The success of the event led to the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 being held in Malmö, Sweden, organized by Sveriges Television (SVT). The 2012 contest also saw a significant rise in digital engagement, with the official Eurovision YouTube channel experiencing record viewership.

Category:Eurovision Song Contest by year Category:2012 in Azerbaijan Category:2012 in music Category:May 2012 events in Asia