Eurovision has a reputation for weird and wacky music, outrageous costumes, and loyal, dedicated fans. The contest, now in it's 67th year, often sees the very best of European musical talent - and sometimes, it doesn't.
After two poptastic semi-finals, 26 acts will take to Europe's biggest stage with millions of music fans expected to vote on who they wish to see crowned music champion of the event. Votes are cast by a jury of music experts and by members of the public, with the vote totals combined into on final score.
But it hasn't always been this way - this combined voting method is the 13th iteration of Eurovision's voting rules since the contest began in 1956. During the first ever contest, juries were even allowed to vote for their own country - something which has not been permitted since.
This year's contest is being hosted in Liverpool on behalf of last year's winners, the Kalush Orchestra of Ukraine. Eurovision bosses rule the contest could not be held in Kyiv due to the ongoing war with Russia and it was announced last August the UK would hold the competition in their place.
It's not the first time the UK has stepped in to hold the contest on another country's behalf; we have hosted the event for the Netherlands, Monaco, France, and Luxembourg for various reasons through the years - as of this year, the UK has hosted the contest more times on behalf of another winner than it has as a winner.
Eurovision rules are frequently changed from year to year - new for 2023, the contest has introduced voting for countries not participating in Eurovision for the first time. Here are the top seven strangest rule changes over the years.
No live instruments
Until 1999, there used to be a live orchestra to accompany musicians through their performances but that was scrapped as a cost-cutting measure just before the millennium. Now musicians must sing along to a backing track. The official Eurovision rules state there must be no live, plugged in instruments played on stage.
As a work around, one contestant this year, Alika for Estonia, sang alongside a 'haunted piano' which appeared to play itself in time with the backing music. But there were no ghostly fingers gracing the keys - only clever technology.
No lip-synching
The ESC might have a reputation for being the campest musical contest around but there's no Drag Race-style lip-sync battles here, thank you very much. All performers on stage must be singing live. Not to worry though, it is often very easy to tell the acts are singing live.
In recent years, Eurovision has permitted some vocals on the backing track - for harmonies and the like. This was introduced in 2021.
No live animals on stage
Whether this is down to the logistics surrounding having an animal on stage or because any country with a dog in their performance will almost surely claim the win, we'll never know. It has led to some entertaining work-arounds for acts who do wants to depict some kind of creature in their performance.
Ireland's 2008 act featuring a puppet turkey named Dustin, for example, or Italy in 2017 with their dancing gorilla.
Contestants must be aged 16 or above
This rule was introduced in 1990 as a direct result of Sandra Kim's win for Belgium in 1986 aged just 13. After two more young performers competed in the competition aged 11 and 12, Eurovision bosses introduced the age limit which is currently set at 16. One of this year's contestants, Greece's Victor Vernicos is just 16-years-old but, sadly, did not make it through Thursday's semi-final to compete on the main stage.
No politics
Fans cry 'politics' whenever the UK fails to score any points - a not-uncommon occurrence - but the show is supposed to be an apolitical as possible. The official Eurovision website says: "The ESC is a non-political event.
"All Participating Broadcasters, including the Host Broadcaster, shall be responsible to ensure that all necessary measures are undertaken within in their respective Delegations and teams to safeguard the interests and the integrity of the ESC and to make sure that the ESC shall in no case be politicised and/or instrumentalized and/or otherwise brought into disrepute in any way."
This was the reason given when Ukrainian Presidant Volodymr Zelenski was refused the opportunity to broadcast to the Eurovision final on Saturday (May 13) despite this year's contest being Ukraine's event. European Broadcasting Union, which is responsible for the event, said yesterday Mr Zelensky had “laudable intentions” but “regrettably” his request was against the rules.
Had to sing in their native language
Until as recently as 1999, performers were restricted to singing in their native language. This is one of those rules which has been enforced and relaxed a number of times over Eurovison's long history but has been removed for a modern audience. Many countries often choose to sing in their own language, however; musicians sent by France famously only sing in French.
Other nations have made a point of singing in their native language - Norway's Keiino sang parts of the 2019 entry Spirit in the Sky in Northern Sámi, spoken by some 15,000-25,000 people across Scandinavia.
Voting rules have changed 13 times since the show began
We won't go through all of the changed, but it took decades before the dual jury/public voting system we know today was reached. And, new for this year, Eurovision bosses have introduced voting for non-participating countries. For the first time, Eurovision fans across the world - from America to South Africa, to India will be able to vote on their favourite performances.
If you'd like to get in on the Eurovision action, you can watch the Eurovision Song Contest final on BBC 1 from 9pm on Saturday, May 13.
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