Eurovision is not only distinguished by its songs, crazy costumes or drama, the hosts often make or break Eurovision. Will it be a spectacular funfest or a boring yawnfest? You cannot have a competition without connecting the acts and breaking the songs into more palatable blocks of music. This is why I decided to present three of my favorite interval acts.
Perhaps the most iconic interval act (that many do not know started out this way) is Riverdance. That is right, one of the most famous theatrical shows was first performed during the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 in Ireland. It prominently featured Irish Dancing Champions Michael Flatley and Jean Butler. The act was expanded into a show by John McColgan and Moya Doherty, premiering in Dublin less than a year later.
The biggest in scope, perhaps, was 2010’s rap interval from Madcon and their song Glow. Here, not only the whole hall and its spectators participated, but people from every participating country as well. The duo started the song in the hall, but the live version soon gave into small shots from every European country and people dancing on their home turf.
As usual, the best for last. If I could, I would use the article just to talk about Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm (with Petra Mede and Mans Zelmerlow as hosts) but that would be unfair to the rest of the hidden gems throughout the years. However, 2016’s Eurovision was undoubtedly the best hosted contest in quite a while. Mede and Zelmerlow (the previous year’s winner) were just amazing, but their best act was Love, Love, Peace, Peace, where they told the future singers what to include to win the Eurovision Song Contest (which they also acted out). Just hilarious!