Eurovision Rants

Opening Acts | Interval Acts

(Eurovision isn't only about songs, voting, drama or the eventual winning act. Today we're covering another crucial characteristic which plays a big role in hosting an Eurovision contest.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello again, Kebab here.
So, we've covered most of the big elements that compose Eurovision: types of songs, languages, voting (despite covered rather vaguely) and so on.

But there's one tiny thing which we've kinda omitted from the picture. And which people - not only europals. They seem to be kinda overlooked even in the main events in general.

Opening Acts and Interval Acts.

The concept of opening act is pretty much self-explanatory.
In Eurovision standards, the opening act differs from one host country to the other. It usually ranges from an intrumental act, to a choreography, songs performed by several artists, etc.

Though it's not uncommon for the winner of the previous year to open the edition.

And trust me, some openings are incredibly extra even for us, which are used with getting such kind of stuff.

Kind examples in this manner:
What would be a perfect opening act?

- a big performance with dancers and all? sure.
- one (1) fire instrumental with everything extra in between? it's good.
- a very metal intro with pyrotechnics which could possibly burn the entire location at the smallest mistake, but anyway would be all worth it? absolutely.
- a lesbian wedding? I mean, Eurovision 2017 girls had to inspire somewhere for the wedding concept, but why not?
- a fashion parade with random Swedish models, outfits and IKEA ideas transformed into concepts? obviously.

There's more to count in this category.

But in order to start one big contest like Eurovision became, you need to stand out in some way. And usually the hosts aren't messing up with that. Either too extra, either what are you even doing on the stage of Eurovision - it's between extra, very extra and chaotic extra.

Nothing else in between.

But usually the opening acts are nothing in comparison with the famous yet even more extra interval acts.

Basically an interval act (or, if you really are keen on fancier words, intermission) is a break between the performance or production.

In Eurovision standards, the interval-acts play as a filler for the audience and juries respectively, in order to cast their votes and eventually combine them.

But basically an Eurovision interval-act can range between a choreography, an instrumental, a performance by one or more people, a joke act narrating our lives, or even some songs specially made just for the interval-act.

Fellow examples:
Atypical interval-acts in Eurovision?

- Lynda Woodruff (aka the one and only queen of Sweden)
- Love Love Peace Peace interval (which I did find it entertaining but people seem to overrate it so much it's not even funny anymore)
- the futuristic astronauts from Ukraine (aka ONUKA hi)
- the 2014 interval with the China thematic, forgot the name
- LET'S GLOOOOOOOOW (not the entire arena dancing to the same song, not at all)
- The 5 Winner Medley in 2012 (dubbed also as the Waterloo massacre in my notebook, but hey, it was hilarious and I would've prefered it over commercials *sigh*)
- The iconic Riverdance from 1994 (I mean, all in all but this was great)
- Verka's small moment in 2017 as well can be a good mention

And other ones.

Many people seem to underestimate the interval-acts in general. But also most of the times the opening-acts, if it isn't that "interesting" to them.

But for the host country, the openings and intervals allow them to show their culture and traditions to the entire Europe (and nowadays also Australia) and showcase it in their best ways possible.

In the recent years, it also began to show a short history of Eurovision from the very beginning untill now (through small fun facts), thing that actually I thought it's a nice concept. Many Eurovision fans watch it since a very tiny amount of time, and it's good that they've interested to showcase the history of the contest in a small interval.

Plus, some people might have absolutely no clue about how long Eurovision Song Contest has been going through and how much it had to evolve untill the point of the 21st century.

It's a great addition for a complete show.
Eurovision wouldn't be as notorious and hilariously epic without openings and interval-acts.

After all, to host Eurovision requires the full package, just like a song. All the elements go hand in hand and make one of the biggest, if not THE biggest musical contest the world has seen.

And the best thing is that they're distinctive.
Europe is not a continent with the same culture, traditions or language. It's a whole mess.

But that's what makes Eurovision great.
It showcases the best of both worlds, but it just molds it into one big family. You might not be an European, but you can feel the amount of love and diversity.

You just feel like home in a way or another.
It just works. A big dysfunctional family, but we're all united by the same thing we all love the most and that's music.

And I guess this is the legacy that Eurovision leaves behind in just 4 kind words:
Diversity, Acceptance, Unity & Love.

~Kebab