Eurovision Song Contest 2012
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| Eurovision Song Contest 2012 | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Eurovision Song Contest 2012 |
| Year | 2012 |
| Host city | Baku, Azerbaijan |
| Venue | Baku Crystal Hall |
| Dates | Semi-finals: 22 & 24 May 2012; Final: 26 May 2012 |
| Entrants | 42 |
| Winner | Sweden — Loreen, "Euphoria" |
Eurovision Song Contest 2012
The 57th edition of the contest was held in Baku at the Baku Crystal Hall following Azerbaijan at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011; the event brought together artists from across Europe, Australia, and beyond in a televised song competition. The contest combined live music, televised production, and pan-national voting, featuring entries from member broadcasters of the European Broadcasting Union and staging at a newly completed arena designed for large-scale events.
Background and host city
The right to host followed Azerbaijan at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 victory by Eldar & Nigar (Ell/Nikki), whose win for Azerbaijan activated the customary handover to the winning broadcaster İctimai Television and national authorities. Organising responsibilities fell to İTV in cooperation with the European Broadcasting Union, local government bodies in Baku, and international production partners. The selection of Baku Crystal Hall as venue was influenced by its capacity and modern facilities, with infrastructure projects tied to cultural promotion and major events in the capital. Delegations arrived from across the participating network, with logistical coordination involving airlines, hotels, and national delegations such as BBC, SVT, and RTÉ representatives.
Participating countries and format
Forty-two countries participated, including returning broadcasters and those absent from earlier editions; the contest maintained the two semi-final format introduced after the expansion of entrants in the early 2000s. The Big Five—United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy—along with Azerbaijan as host qualified automatically for the final under rules administered by the European Broadcasting Union. Other participants, including delegations from Sweden, Russia, Greece, Norway, and Denmark, competed in one of two semi-finals for places in the final lineup. The running order and allocation draw were overseen by EBU officials and head producers, following procedures similar to prior editions such as Eurovision Song Contest 2008 and Eurovision Song Contest 2011.
Selection and pre-contest events
National selection processes varied widely: broadcasters staged televised national finals such as Melodifestivalen in Sweden, Melodi Grand Prix in Norway, and Dansk Melodi Grand Prix in Denmark, while others used internal selections common to broadcasters like RTÉ in Ireland and BBC in the United Kingdom. Prominent artists selected included Loreen for Sweden, Sakis Rouvas for Greece, and Anmary for Latvia; songwriting teams featured figures with credits linked to events like the Brit Awards and the MTV Europe Music Awards. Pre-contest promotion involved appearances at events such as the Eurovision In Concert showcase in Amsterdam and the London Eurovision Party in London, alongside press conferences at the Baku venue and delegation rehearsals for staging, choreography, and vocal coaching.
The shows (semi-finals and final)
The semi-finals on 22 and 24 May featured televised performances judged by professional juries and public televote, with stage direction by an international production team. The final on 26 May assembled qualifiers alongside automatic finalists in a grand live broadcast featuring interval acts and guest performances, including appearances by previous winners like Alexander Rybak and production pieces referencing Azerbaijani culture and contemporary pop spectacle. The production employed LED staging, pyrotechnics, and camera direction techniques used in large-scale televised events such as the Academy Awards telecasts and major sporting ceremonies. Hosts handled multilingual presentation duties consistent with past editions hosted by cities such as Moscow and Düsseldorf.
Voting and results
Voting combined public televoting and national professional juries appointed by each participating broadcaster, according to EBU voting rules updated after earlier contests. The final result saw Sweden's entry "Euphoria" performed by Loreen win with a wide margin, earning high points from countries such as Norway, Iceland, United Kingdom, and Germany; runner-up positions included Russia and Serbia. The points allocation followed the points system used since the late 20th century, with 12 points as the maximum from any national vote. Tabulation and presentation of results were managed by the EBU and the host broadcaster, with spokespersons from delegations like Israel, Portugal, and Turkey announcing their national tallies.
Controversies and notable incidents
The 2012 contest attracted scrutiny concerning issues raised by media outlets and non-governmental organisations, including debate over domestic policies in Azerbaijan and the involvement of international broadcasters. Protests and commentary from organisations such as Amnesty International and appearances by activists were reported alongside diplomatic dialogues involving missions from Sweden and United Kingdom delegations. Technical incidents during rehearsals and live shows, including staging delays and sound checks affecting delegations like Spain and Greece, prompted on-site troubleshooting by production crews. Broadcast censorship concerns emerged in some markets, while discussions about voting patterns and diaspora influence recalled controversies from previous editions such as Eurovision Song Contest 2004 and Eurovision Song Contest 2009.
Legacy and impact
The victory of Loreen with "Euphoria" influenced subsequent popular music programming and reinforced Sweden's reputation established through Melodifestivalen and hitmaking songwriters associated with the Swedish pop music industry. The contest elevated Baku and Azerbaijan in the international events calendar, contributing to later bids for sporting events and cultural projects. The production techniques and televoting/jury balance implemented in 2012 informed EBU policy discussions and staging practices for later editions such as Eurovision Song Contest 2013 and Eurovision Song Contest 2014, while the record-setting chart performance of the winning single impacted playlists across Europe and in national charts like those of Germany and United Kingdom.