What is Eurovision? The Sensation Behind Netflix’s ‘Eurovision: Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga’

Eurovision might be the greatest global competition that America doesn’t care about. However that’s all about to change as Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga premieres on Netflix. The Will Ferrell film follows a Eurovision-obsessed Icelandic band as they compete in the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest. It’s a concept that simultaneously celebrates and satirizes Eurovision, which is to say, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga pays honor to all that Eurovision represents.

Of course, you might still be asking yourself: What is Eurovision?

Don’t be embarrassed if you’ve never heard of this wildly popular international event before. Even though it’s kind of like the World Cup of pop music, it’s, uh, kind of like the World Cup of pop music(?). It’s one of those rare things that the rest of the world goes crazy for that the US still hasn’t figured out how to hack or dominate. In fact, it’s not even officially broadcast stateside and the United States of America is ineligible to compete!

Which means that many Americans’ first taste of Eurovision will be Netflix’s new flick, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. The musical comedy stars Will Ferrell as Lars Erickssong and Rachel McAdams as Sigrit Ericksdottirk, Icelandic bandmates in a pop synth band called Fire Saga. When Fire Saga gets into Eurovision by default, it pits the underdog band against super talent like Dan Stevens’s Alexander Lemtov and Demi Lovato’s Katiana.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Eurovision Song Contest, the Netflix Eurovision movie’s release date, and what’s going on with Eurovision 2020…

WHAT IS EUROVISION?

The Eurovision Song Contest was launched in 1956 as a fun and playful way to get European Broadcasting Union nations to come together in a post-WWII landscape. Participating nations would submit one original song in the competition and they would send a delegated performer on TV to sing the song. Nations vote on the winner, and it’s noteworthy that participating countries cannot vote for themselves. In later years, the public could add their vote to the tally. As of today, 50 nations compete each year, including Australia. However, only seven countries competed in the first Eurovision Song Contest Grand Prix (as it was called then).

Over the years, Eurovision has become a must-watch for two reasons. One, some seriously great songs and musical acts have come out of the competition. The most noteworthy, of course, is ABBA, who wowed the competition in 1974. A young Celine Dion was launched onto the international stage when she sang and won for Switzerland in 1988. And even Riverdance became an international phenomenon when they performed in the intervals.

However, Eurovision is also beloved because sometimes — and that’s code for most times — it’s delicious trash. Over the years, Eurovision has pushed novelty acts front and center in a hope to stand out from the crowded competition. What this means is we get some truly over-the-top and inadvertently hilarious performances in between the really great cheesy pop.

WHAT IS THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST: THE STORY OF FIRE SAGA NETFLIX RELEASE DATE?

The new Will Ferrell Eurovision movie, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, will be premiering on Netflix on Friday, June 26, aka today. That’s right. You can watch Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga on Netflix right now.

IS EUROVISION 2020 ON NETFLIX?

Uh, you mean: Can you watch the real Eurovision Song Contest on Netflix? Nope. Netflix does not have the streaming rights to this year’s or any year’s Eurovision contest. You can, of course, watch clips of past performances on YouTube. As for this year’s Eurovision…

WHEN IS EUROVISION 2020?

Funny story: Eurovision 2020 was supposed to be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands last month, in May 2020. However, because the entire world has been overtaken by this really obnoxious pandemic called COVID-19, the Eurovision Song Contest was cancelled this year. This marks the first time in the competition’s 64-year-long run that it’s been cancelled.

WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST EUROVISION MOMENTS?

Look, I’m just one woman, and this is only my opinion, but excluding the phenomenal debut of ABBA’s “Waterloo,” my favorite Eurovision song is definitely Denmark’s 2013 entry, “Only Teardrops.” (Love me a tin whistle!)

 

The absolute worst? Well, speaking as an Irish-American, nothing can atone for the sheer embarrassment of 2008’s Dustin the Turkey, a literal turkey puppet (??) who sang a truly terrible song about Ireland. The culture of Yeats, Joyce, and the Book of Kells should not have been treated thusly!

Eurovision giveth and Eurovision taketh away.