Eurovision Asia to debut in Bangkok with 11 countries competing

K-pop, love songs and even beatboxing will take center stage as Eurovision prepares to launch its first Asian edition in Bangkok next Saturday, bringing the European song contest’s distinctive blend of music, spectacle and geopolitics to the world’s most populous region, AFP reported, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

Eleven countries, including Laos, Mongolia and the Philippines, will compete in the inaugural Eurovision Asia contest, while major regional powers India, Japan and China will not participate.

The original Eurovision Song Contest has become one of the world’s most prominent annual live television events, helping launch the international careers of artists such as ABBA and Céline Dion.

An American version of the competition was held in 2022 but was not renewed for subsequent seasons.

“Eurovision is very popular in Europe, and it’s very new in Asia,” executive producer Assaf Blecher said, adding that three years of preparations had helped generate public interest in the new competition.

“It’s a window into other countries, music, people and costumes,” he added.

K-pop, beatboxing and dance music

The finalists were selected through national competitions, with some already enjoying established careers in their home countries.

Vietnamese singer Toc Tien is considered among the favorites with a pop-dance entry.

South Korea will be represented by K-pop singer Junhee, while Bangladesh will send Beatmosphere, an all-male group specializing in a cappella singing and beatboxing.

Pratik Himal Rai will represent Nepal.

The competition is expected to feature a wide range of musical styles, reflecting the region’s cultural and linguistic diversity.

Eurovision faces political tensions

The Asian edition comes amid controversy surrounding the European competition, which, according to the report, lost 35 million viewers compared with the previous year following a boycott by five countries over Israel’s participation.

Eurovision has long been associated with elaborate choreography, extravagant costumes, kitsch aesthetics and an eclectic mix of musical genres.

Its cultural influence has extended well beyond Europe, with Canada reportedly set to join the competition next year.

Under Eurovision’s traditional voting system, results are determined equally by professional juries and public votes, with each accounting for 50% of the total.

Countries are not permitted to vote for their own entries, and voting patterns have sometimes reflected political and regional relationships.

Blecher suggested that tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, which experienced a border conflict last year, could influence how the two countries vote.

Experts question the contest’s musical diversity

Unlike the original Eurovision Song Contest, the Asian edition is organized by commercial broadcasters.

However, Eurovision historian and author Dean Vuletic expressed concern that most of the songs selected for the new competition are conventional love songs.

He argued that the entries lack the provocative themes and strong messages that have helped distinguish the European contest.

“The show lacks a certain provocation or a strong message that resonates with international audiences,” Vuletic told AFP.

According to the expert, this is one of the characteristics that sets the European Eurovision Song Contest apart from other international music competitions.

Photo: Eurovision Song Contest Asia/Facebook.com