Catalonia calling – Eurovision, identity and song

This week the 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Basel, Switzerland. To celebrate, we look back over the history of the competition and explore Catalonia’s involvement, from Catalan language entries to the stories of Catalan artists who’ve graced the Eurovision stage. We interview Jordi Ramos, a journalist for the Catalan radio station, Rac1. He's an expert on Eurovision and the perfect person to explain, through Catalan eyes, what the song contest is all about. Reporter Gigi Giulia catches up with Alfred García, the famous singer from El Prat de Llobregat who represented Spain in Eurovision in 2018, performing the duet Tu Canción with his then-girlfriend Amaia Romero. He reflects on his Eurovision experience and how it marked a turning point in his career.  Plus, reporter Lorcan Doherty analyzes Catalonia’s push to become a member of the European Broadcasting Association and compete independently, and host Beth Cohen explores the importance of Eurovision for Catalonia’s LGBTQI+ community. This week, our Catalan phrase is “Cantar com els àngels" - “To sing like the angels”, a metaphor used to describe someone who sings exceptionally well, with a voice so beautiful and pure that it seems almost heavenly.