Eurovision 2023: A very political song contest

The UK is holding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine which won last year but can’t fulfil its hosting duties because of the war. So what can we expect? What role is Eurovision playing in the war effort? And why have cyber security experts been drafted in?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guests:

• Tom Ball, northern correspondent, The Times. 
• Tina Karol, Ukrainian celebrity, singer and philanthropist.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Olivia Case.

Clips: Eurovision Song Contest; BBC; SKY; Crossroads news; Tyler Rumple; Channel 4; Mojo; Russia Today; Vice; WiWibloggs; Kyivstar; European Broadcasting Union; Eurovision Network; Charity Concerts for Ukraine; Voice of Peace; Kyivstar TV / The Voice Ukraine / Namalyuyu tobi zori / Dimash Daulyetov.

Music clips:

Show Me Your Love / Mikhail Nekrasov, Tina Karol, Pavlo Shylko / Lavina Music.

Hard Rock Hallelujah / Miss Awa, Mr. Amen, Mr. Kalma, Mr Kita, Mr Lordi / Sony BMG Music Entertainment.

Oi u luzi chervona kalyna / Andriy Khlivnyuk / Volodymyr Antonovych, Mykhailo Drahomanov.

Waterloo / ABBA / Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Stig Anderson / Polar / Epic / Polydor / Atlantic.

Ukrainian national anthem (State Anthem Of Ukraine) / Ukrainian opera singers / Mykhailo Verbytsky, Pavlo Chubynsky.

Baila El Chiki Chiki / Rodolfo Chikilicuatre and friends / ARD Entertainment.

Stefania / Kalush Orchestra / Ihor Didenchuk, Tymofii Muzychuk, Vitalii Duzhyk, Ivan Klymenko / Sony.

Heart of Steel / TVORCHI / Jimoh Augustus Kehinde, Andrii Hutsuliak / Independent. 

Refrain / Lys Assia / Géo Voumard, Émile Gardaz / Decca.

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