Mysteries of the EuroVerse

Zoë Më, Voyage, Switzerland (11:47), Go-Jo, Milkshake Man, Australia (26:53), Ziferblat, Bird of Pray, Ukraine (35:21), Aurin Squire, The Good Fight, (49:59)
 
 
 
 
On this episode, we're reporting on Eurovision 2025 from Basel! First we give you updates on this year's contest directly from the press center, covering the changes to the semi-final broadcasts and Eurovision's controversial flag rule.

 
 
 
Then we interview three artists from this year's Eurovision -  Switzerland's Zoe Me (Voyage), Australia's Go-Jo (Milkshake Man) and Ukraine's Ziferblat (Bird of Pray).

 
 
 
 
Finally, we sit down with television and Broadway writer Aurin Squire for a game about songwriting at Eurovision 2025 that we're calling "It Takes Two to Tango, but Many More to EuroDance"

 
 
 
 
"It Takes Two to Tango, but Many More to EuroDance"
 
 
 
 
Marko Bosnjak, Poison Cake (Croatia) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOodVfY8hCs
 
 
 
 
Mamagama, Run With You (Azerbaijan) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upbiPJ9uA70
 
 
 
 
Mariam Shengelia, Freedom (Georgia) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3wu0dUNd4c
 
 
 
 
 
Louane, Maman (France) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj2DTSLcNnI
 
 
 
 
 
Gabry Ponte, Tutta L'italia (San Marino) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vkDhFhgNX0
 
 
 
 
 
Remember Monday, What The Hell Just Happened (UK) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hu6R3ZnOdY

Rambo Amadeus (Montenegro, 2012) - 23:05, Nico Carney (Vulture, Comedian You Should Know) - 42:30

 

 

 

 

On this episode, we talk about how Eurovision can achieve its goal of expansion. First, we use the occasion of Montenegro returning to the contest to explore the ways that Eurovision can make it easier for even more countries to join. 

 

 

 

 

Then we talk to iconic Montenegrin artist, Rambo Amadeus, whose Euro Nero explores the complications of integrating into the larger European project. We talk to him about whether participating in European institutions makes sense for Montenegro - and explore why Europe is facing rising tides of nationalism and isolation.

 

 

 

 

Finally, we sit down with comedian Nico Carney to explore the difference between Yugoslavian entrants into Eurovision and the Montenegrin entrants that followed. It's a game we're calling "The Full Montenegro."

 

 

 

 

 

SONGS FROM THE FULL MONTENEGRO:

 

 

 

 

1. Tajči, Hajde da ludujemo (Yugoslavia, 1990) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksPXBLCwaL4

 

 

 

 

2. Rambo Amadeus, Euro Neuro (Montenegro, 2012) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHnqF5PLP2w

 

 

 

 

3. Sergej Cetkovic, Moj Svijet (Montenegro, 2014) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FJtzRSKHKg

 

 

 

4. Knez, Adio (Montenegro 2015) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4giAO-2aICo

 

 

 

 

5. Riva, Rock Me (Yugoslavia, 1989) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1glDWFMK_0

 

 

 

 

6. Who See, Igranka (Montenegro 2013) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR9rtB2ilZU

 

 

 

7. Novi Fosili, Ja sam za ples (Yugoslavia, 1987) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvOPsKnKNIQ

Wouter Hardy (Arcade)- 3:36, NYLAN (The Code, Shhhh) - 23:46, Benji Alasu (The Code, Survivor) - 41:43

 

 

 

This week, we're talking to the songwriters behind two Eurovision winning hits. First we sit down with Wouter Hardy, who co-wrote Duncan Laurence's Arcade - the first Eurovision song in nearly a quarter century to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Then we turn to two writers, NYLAN and Benji Alasu who, along with Linda Dale and Nemo themselves, wrote last year's Eurovision winner, Nemo's The Code. These writers give us a window into their unique processes and help us further explore the diversity of ways in which Eurovision songs get written - and how that diversity in process affects the song you end up with in the end.

 

 

 

Featured Songs:

 

 

Duncan Laurence, Arcade - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eztx7Wr8PtE

 

 

Duncan Laurence, Stars - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1Zv_xZiaok

 

 

 

Gjons Tears, Tout L’Univers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpM6o6UiBIw

 

 

 

Nemo, The Code - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiGDvM14Kwg

 

 

 

Theo Evans, Shh - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbfQqWyqgJw

 

 

 

Elsie Bay, 100 Years - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UbFfO_Uy80

 

 

 

Parg, Survivor - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfH5o3XtI2c

 

 

 

Milune, Torn - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwBN-17HXGE

 

 

 

Remo Forrer, Not Okay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXZM-DH5Zb4

Sissal (Hallucination, Denmark 2025) - 3:59, Shkodra Electronike (Zjerm, Albania 2025) - 22:19, Pixie Aventura (Hulu's Drag Me To Dinner) - 43:00
 
 
 
 

This is our first episode featuring interviews with Eurovision 2025 contestants! We've talked about Eurovision's dual identity as a place for both global pop and culturally specific numbers, and in this episode we talk to two acts who embody either side of that identity: Sissal, representing Denmark with an instant Scandipop classic, Hallucination, and Albania's Shkodra Elektronike, whose song Zjerm is infused with the traditional sounds drawn from the history of music from Shkoder.

 
 
 
 
We then sit down with EuroVerse favorite Pixie Aventura who brings her Eurovision expertise to a discussion of her favorites of this year, as well as to a game covering some of this year's non-English language entries called "It's All Greek (And Lithuanian and French and Icelandic and Montenegrin and Latvian) To Me!" Eurovision 2025 features the most non-English songs since the language rule was dropped. For more information on the language rule, check-out Season 1, Episode 4.
 
 
 
 
SONGS:
 
 
 
Sissal
 
 
Dino Jelusic, Ti Si Moja Prva Ljubav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=RT8eDwbt_CQ
 
 
The Olsen Brothers, Fly on The Wings of Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF8fkHK0AWs
 
 
 
Sissal, Here Me Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZILZGDMyTI
 
 
 
Sissal, Far From Sober: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAEyRIvmdaw
 
 
 
 
Shkodra Electronike
 
 
 
Turtulleshë, Shkodra Elektronike - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHVz0GkB0HQ
 
 
 
"Turkish Kaval played by Nadishana" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PkWYNJAZqY
 
 
 
Saz, An Introduction, Filip Holm - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLZ0DBsa0v0
 
 
 
Sufi Music: Zikr, Celebrate Humanity - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKyCXVuQ9Es
 
 
 
Cifteli popullore, Ciftelia TV - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS6aIJ5WPpk
 
 
 
Pixie Aventura:
 
 
Esa Diva, Melody (Spain, 2025) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvVxhbCW9rw
 
 
 
*Gorilla Song, Melody - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90avMgG5NAM
 
 
 
GAJA, Justyna Steczkowska (Poland 2025) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXHHDjiclxA
 
 
 
The Tower, Luna (Poland 2024) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhvDkF9XZx0
 
 
 
C'est La Vie, Claude (The Netherlands 2025) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEHwr5k9pd0
 
 
 
Volevo Essere Un Duro, Lucio Corsi (Italy 2025) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfAf9-5Oevw
 
 

Espresso Macchiato, Tommy Cash (Eurovision 2025) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK6CUNXip7Q
 
 
 
Bur Man Laimi, Tautumeitas (Latvia 2025) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_t79mQkm4
 
 
 
"It's All Greek (And Lithuanian and French and Icelandic and Montenegrin and Latvian) To Me!"
 
 
 
Asteromáta, Klavdia (Greece 2025)  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxzeTezgey4
 
 
 
Voyage, Zoe Me (Switzerland 2025) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGX54zRExR8
 
 
 
RÓA, VÆB (Iceland 2025) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZE1WzOwtQQ
 
 
 
Dobrodošli, Nina Žižić (Montenegro 2025) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zs0yq39aFA

Martin Green (Director of Eurovision) - 24:37, Santino Fontana (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Frozen, Tootsie) - 42:08

 

 

First we deep dive into the controversy around three of Eurovision’s most provocative acts: Australia’s Milkshake Man (Go Jo), Malta’s Serving (Miriana Conte), and Finland’s Ich Komme (Erika Vikman). We discuss broader trends that have led the contest once known exclusively as a “family show” to have to confront these boundary pushing acts - and talk about how Eurovision’s recently released Code of Conduct could be a road map for the future.

 

 

Then, in a very special interview, we talk to the new Director of Eurovision - Martin Green. We discuss the various controversies the contest has to face in these politically divided, fractious times - and get a sense of how he and the organization are thinking about navigating the current social moment.

 

 

Finally, we sit down with Tony Award-winning star of stage and screen Santino Fontana (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Hans in Disney’s Frozen, Tootsie) for a look at how right-wing politicians have tried to tame Eurovision acts in the past, in a game we're calling "Crazy Ex-Governments."

 

 

 

CRAZY EX-GOVERNMENTS:

 

SPAIN

 

Barei, Say Yay! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0I37W3RN_U

 

Blanco Paloma, Eaea - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxuO0qZITko

 

 

POLAND

Gromee feat Lukas Meijer, Light Me Up - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfUJ2eDm6ng

 

Luna, The Tower - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhvDkF9XZx0

 

Donatan and Cleo, We Are Slavic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ920cN2HmA

 

 

UK

 

James Newman, Embers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMDGTsa_Qq0

 

Olly Alexander, Dizzy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLNUj7kvn2w

 

 

HUNGARY

 

Joci Papai, Origo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LflrKXL022U

 

Zoli Ádok, Dance With Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXjY3Y9RMZI

 

 

ISRAEL

 

Harel Skaat, Milim - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj0qaNnLk9M

 

Noa and Mira Awad, There Must Be Another Way - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBTQFOkFZw8