EP 8: The Fandom (On the Internet, On the Ground, and Moving into the Future)

Blanka (Poland 2023) - 19:31

Her song, Solo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvQRpV1-ZhY

Theodor Andrei (Romania 2023) - 30:09

His song, DGT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRxv-AUCinQ

Pixie Aventura (Hulu's Drag Me To Dinner) - 42:16

On this episode, we're talking about the fandom! The unique nature of the Eurovision fandom comes from the fact that it's a sprawling international set, communicating across national boundaries, but then uniting once a year in a completely different city. We explore the network of Eurovision fanclubs under the OGAE umbrella-- with help from the president of OGAE himself, Simon Bennett. We talk about how social media has affected the fandom, the unique character of the Eurovision community and how that's been shaped by the particular nature of the song contest.

Then we interview two 2023 artists, Blanka (Poland), and Theodor Andrei (Romania) who each experienced the darker side of the fandom-- we talk about how each dealt with their situation, and how, in both cases, blame for fans anger can really be laid at the feet of their national broadcasters.

Finally, Pixie Aventura (Hulu's Drag Me To Dinner) stops by and shares her Eurovision expertise with us, as we evaluate which Eurovision numbers have that true camp punch to be able to survive on NY's cut throat Drag Scene.


1. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x81g3nx Manizha Russian Woman 2021 (Russia)
2. https://youtu.be/76KOUIfDry8?si=J_dxvXKnjPpny6y9 Elina Nechayeva - La Forza - Estonia Eurovision 2018
3. https://youtu.be/VlpBPO9_L4E?si=KCAfnHu9vs_fWYWY - Kate Miller-Heidke - Zero Gravity - Australia Eurovision 2019
4. La Zarra - Évidemment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbrTtYHL5nQ
5. https://youtu.be/CZQjBCvFd9E?si=vm3P2eVnglGiOhEb - Sébastien Tellier - Divine (France) Live 2008 Eurovision Song Contest

6. https://youtu.be/3Qa7_y21oOY?si=mqtUyhff5a7KtP3M - Can Bonomo - Love Me Back - Turkey - Live - Grand Final - 2012 Eurovision Song Contest

Liverpool Revenue from Eurovision: https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2023/10/26/university-joins-liverpool-in-eurovision-civic-pride/