BONUS EP 2: Election Special - Authoritarianism at Eurovision

GUESTS: Alesia Michele (American Eurovision YouTuber, 22:43), Joe Iconis (Be More Chill, NBC's Smash, 39:29)   This is a very special election themed episode, where we channel our anxiety about the fall of American democracy into a discussion about Eurovision and authoritarianism.     We begin with a celebration of our wins at both the Signal Awards and Davey Awards (more award announcements to come), before diving into our main topic. We use two stories about Eurovision's interaction with Authoritarian regimes to get at the unique relationship authoritarians have to music. Trump looms large over this segment.     Then we interview preeminent American Eurovision YouTuber Alesia Michelle to talk about the state of Eurovision in the aftermath of last year's controversy.     Finally, we talk to Broadway composer Joe Iconis (Be More Chill, Bloodsong of Love, NBC's Smash), for a game about how Eurovision songs have been used in the political sphere that we're calling "Bounce or Backlash: Fear and Loathing At Eurovision"     Bounce or Backlash: Fear and Loathing At Eurovision     Dum Tek Tek, Hadise, Turkey 2009: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzKgojZqO5Y     Everyway That I Can, Sertab Erener, Turkey 2003: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0_QrKnqd5E     ABBA, Waterloo, Sweden 1974: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XJBNJ2wq0Y     Mahmood, Soldi, Italy 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22lISUXgSUw     Galasy ZMesta, I'll Teach You, 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPPOi0OjspU     Bilal Hassani, Roi, France 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VydsMYa9lyI