EP18 | 歐洲歌唱大賽：從瘋狂舞台到音樂文化的魅力 | Eurovision: Music, Madness and Cultural Charm

你聽過歐洲歌唱大賽（Eurovision）嗎？這個擁有超過60年歷史的國際音樂比賽，不只是唱歌，更是一場結合文化、創意與話題性的表演盛宴。本集帶你認識Eurovision的起源、比賽方式，以及它為何能吸引上億觀眾。同時也會聊到它誇張又充滿爭議的舞台風格，並比較與亞洲歌唱節目的差異。 Have you heard of Eurovision? In this episode, we explore what it is, how it started, and why millions still watch it today. From dramatic performances to cultural meaning, we also compare it with Asian music shows and share personal thoughts on live music, creativity, and authenticity. Leave a comment and share your thoughts: Transcript: Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. If you’re into pop music—like catchy songs, big performances, and discovering new artists—then today’s episode is really for you. (Pop music 流行樂) So today, we’re talking about… Eurovision. And I want to start with a quick story. The first time I heard about Eurovision wasn’t from the real contest. It was actually from a movie—Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but I loved this movie. It’s such a fun and heart-warming comedy, and the songs are surprisingly beautiful. I remember watching it and thinking, “Is there actually a competition like this?” And then I found out—yes, it’s real. And honestly, it’s even more dramatic than the movie. So what exactly is Eurovision? Basically, it’s a huge international song competition (比賽). Every year, different countries send one singer or group to represent them. Each country performs one original song on stage (original, 原始的; 在這裡是原創的), and then after all the performances, the countries vote for each other. And here’s an important detail—countries can’t vote for themselves. So the whole system depends on how other countries see your song. Usually, there are two semi-finals (準決賽; semi- 一半的) and then a big final (決賽). That final is the main show, where everything happens. The winner is decided by a mix of professional judges and regular people voting from home. So it’s not just about who sings the best—it’s also about who connects with the audience. And sometimes… there’s a little bit of politics involved too Eurovision actually started a long time ago, in 1956. At that time, Europe had just gone through World War II (第二次世界大戰), and countries were trying to rebuild relationships. So the idea was simple: use music to bring people together. In the beginning, the show was very small and simple. The stage wasn’t huge, there weren’t many countries, and the performances were quite basic. But over time, it slowly grew into something much bigger. Now it’s a massive production with lights, effects, dancers, and sometimes really unexpected ideas. Even though it’s called Eurovision, not every country is actually in Europe. Most participants are European, of course, but some countries outside Europe can join if they are part of the broadcasting system. That’s why countries like Australia or Israel have participated. So it’s less about geography (地理位置), and more about being part of this network. Usually, you’ll see around 35 to 40 countries competing each year, which makes it feel really international So now you might be thinking—okay, but is it really that popular? The answer is yes. It’s actually one of the biggest non-sports events in the world. Every year, the final gets around 160 to 200 million viewers. That’s a huge number. In many European countries, Eurovision night is kind of like a big event. People watch it with friends, talk about the performances, and react together in real time. And even though fewer people watch traditional TV now, Eurovision is still very strong online. It trends on social media, people share clips, and some performances go viral (在網路上爆紅) So why do people still love it after so many years? Part of the reason is that Eurovision has changed with the times. The performances today are designed for platforms like YouTube or TikTok, so they’re very visual, which means easy to be seen, and it is also easy to share. At the same time, the music styles are much more diverse now. You don’t just hear pop—you might hear rock (搖滾樂), electronic music (電子樂), or something completely unexpected. Another important reason is the strong connection with the LGBTQ+ community. For many people, Eurovision feels like a space where you can be yourself, express your identity, and feel accepted. That gives the show a very special atmosphere. It’s also interesting because it’s not only about music. You can sometimes see culture and even politics in the voting. Certain countries tend to support each other, and that adds another layer to the competition. And of course, Eurovision can change people’s lives. Some artists become internationally famous after the contest. So for many performers, it’s a huge opportunity Now let’s talk about the style of the performances, because this is where Eurovision gets really interesting. The performances are often very dramatic (戲劇化; 很誇張). Sometimes they’re exaggerated (誇張), sometimes they’re a bit strange, and sometimes they’re just completely unexpected. You might see wild costumes, unusual dance moves, or crazy stage effects. It can feel like you’re watching a concert, a fashion show, and a comedy show all at the same time. And this is exactly why some people don’t like it. Some people feel it’s too weird, or not serious enough. They think the focus is more on the show than the music. Others feel that the quality of the songs can be inconsistent. Inconsistent means it is not stable, it doesn’t always stay the same. It means some songs are really great, but others are easy to forget. And then there’s the voting. Some viewers believe that countries sometimes vote based on relationships, not just the music. So yes, Eurovision is very popular—but it’s also quite controversial (有爭議性的). If you’re curious and want to see what Eurovision is really like, there are a couple of performances I’d really recommend. One is “Euphoria.” This song was perform by a Sweden performer. It’s one of the most famous Eurovision songs ever. The performance is actually quite simple, but very powerful, and the song is still popular today. If you like energetic songs and powerful singing style, you might like it. Another one is “Zitti e buoni” by the Italian contestant. This one feels completely different—it’s energetic rock music, and the band became internationally famous after winning. I personally like the performance a lot, and it is very exciting to watch. If you watch these two, you’ll already start to understand the range of Eurovision—from emotional and artistic to modern and cool. Now let’s compare Eurovision with something you might be more familiar with—music competitions in Asia. The biggest difference is probably the focus. In Eurovision, you’re not just watching a singer—you’re watching a country. There’s a sense of national identity (國家的認同感), and the performances are often very big and dramatic. In many Asian shows, the focus is more on the individual or the group. The attention is on vocal skill, training, and improvement. Judges (評審) also play a much bigger role. It seems like in Asia, people still like to hear the opinions from the authority figures (權威人士). So the feeling is quite different. Asian competitions often feel more emotional and skill-focused, while Eurovision feels more like a creative show—sometimes unpredictable, sometimes even a little chaotic (混亂). And now there’s something new happening. Eurovision is planning to launch a version in Asia in 2026, with the Grand Final to be hosted in Bangkok, Thailand on November 14. This new competition is expected to include countries like Thailand or South Korea, and it will try to combine Eurovision’s style with Asian pop music culture. It’s a really interesting idea, because Asia has huge audiences and very strong music industries—especially when you think about things like K-pop. But at the same time, there are questions. Different countries have different tastes, different cultures, and sometimes political tensions. So it’s not clear if the Eurovision style will work in the same way. Still, it’s definitely something worth watching. Before we finish, I want to share my opinion. I really like the spirit of Eurovision. It feels creative and different. It celebrates many kinds of people and styles. Don’t get me wrong, I still like some aspect in Asian music industry, but when I look at some Asian music shows, I sometimes feel they are more similar. The styles and beauty standards can feel the same. I also like that Eurovision is live. You can hear real voices. You can feel the singer’s emotion and passion. It may not be perfect, but it feels real. Some Asian singing shows use lip-sync (對嘴) to sound perfect. But for me, that can feel a bit empty. It looks good, but it doesn’t feel alive. I also like that Eurovision sometimes talks about serious topics. Music and art can show our thoughts and feelings. That makes it more real and more meaningful. So for me, Eurovision is feels human and alive. Now I want to ask you: What kind of shows do you enjoy more—serious singing competitions, or something more fun and dramatic? Share your thoughts with me in the comments! Alright, that’s it for today’s episode. I’m Miss Y, and I really hope you enjoyed learning English with me today. If you liked this episode, come back next time for another fun 15 to 20 minutes of simple, clear English and a brand-new topic to explore. Stay curious, and learn about the world in simple English. Powered by Firstory Hosting