Join us in viewing the 62nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest! Watch and listen as forty-three countries participate in the longest-running annual international song competition, performing original songs live for television audiences numbering as many as 204 million viewers. Televoting combined with professional juries represent each country to vote for the most popular among other countries’ songs. Such artists as ABBA (winner 1974) and Céline Dion (winner 1988) launched worldwide careers following their Eurovision performances. Originating in 1956 as lighthearted entertainment to bring together the countries of the European Broadcasting Union, and therefore are officially politically neutral, even though there is always a cultural subtext. Each year, the Contest chooses a theme, and for 2017 it is: “Celebrate Diversity.”

$3/Ticket with UCID

$5/Ticket without UCID

Sold only at door.

Everyone is welcome to join! The program is entirely in English, and food will be served!

This year’s competition will take place in Kiev, Ukraine, following Ukraine’s win last year.
Although Ukraine withdrew from Eurovision 2015, Ukraine returned victorious in 2016, winning with Jamala’s performance of  “1944.” Inspired by her great-grandmother’s youth, Jamala expresses the plight of Crimean Tatars deported by the Soviet Union. The song received a positive critical reception prior to its selection for Eurovision, but since winning it has been accused of containing political content, which is prohibited by the competition, on the grounds that it reflects renewed repression of Crimean Tatars since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. “1944” is also remarkable for its inclusion of lyrics in Crimean Tatar, the first song submitted to Eurovision to do so. Jamala incorporated these lyrics from a folk song sung by her great-grandmother as she reflected on her personal loss of years spent in her homeland. The song also includes the mugham vocal style and the duduk, an ancient double-reeded flute.

Click here to read the article about this event by Global Voices Metcalf Fellow, Caitlin Moroney.

Sponsored by the University of Chicago Global Voices Performing Arts Series, the University of Chicago French Club, German Club, Polish Club, Italian Club, and EUChicago.