The grand final of Eurovision 2020 is less than three months away and now the host broadcasters have revealed details of the star-studded grand final interval act. Seven former Eurovision winners will perform a medley, representing the previous decades of the song contest.
Celebrating the 65th anniversary of the song contest, the organising broadcasters NPO/NOS/AVROTROS say the show will become “a celebration of music and diversity, building a bridge to connect generations.”
Representing the 1960s will be Italy’s 1964 winner Gigliola Cinquetti who will sing her winning song “Non ho l’etĂ ”. The four-way win of 1969 will be covered by the Dutch singer Lenny Kuhr who will perform “De Troubadour”.
The Netherlands will also be represented by Getty Kaspers, the lead singer of 1975 winners Teach-In. She will perform their hit “Ding-a-Dong”. Belgium’s Sandra Kim â who was only 13 when she won Eurovision 1986 â will perform her song “J’aime la vie”.
Ireland dominated Eurovision in the 1990s, so it makes sense that the decade is represented by Ireland’s 1994 winners Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan. They will perform “Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids”. Alexander Rybak will represent the 2000s with his smash hit “Fairytale”. And of course, the 2010 decade will be represented by the fifth Dutch winner, Duncan Laurence with “Arcade”.
Sadly, the passing of time means that the four Eurovision winners from the 1950s are no longer with us.
The winners medley follows similar interval acts from recent years. In 2012, recent Eurovision winners Marija Ć erifoviÄ, Dima Bilan, Alexander Rybak, Lena and Ell & Nikki performed in the semi-final two interval act. While in 2019, Conchita Wurst, MĂ„ns Zelmerlöw, Eleni Foureira, Verka Serduchka and Gali Atari performed each others’ songs at the grand final as part ofthe iconic “Switch Song”.
Edsilia Rombley’s side hustle as a taxi driver
The show will also feature pre-recorded segments starring co-host Edsilia Rombley. She will moonlight as a taxi driver, taking four past Eurovision winners around Rotterdam. Her passengers will include Anne-Marie David (Luxembourg 1973), Izhar Cohen (Israel 1973), Niamh Kavanagh (Ireland 1993) and Ruslana (Ukraine 2004).
The broadcaster says Edsilia will chat with each of the acts about winning Eurovision and how it affected their music careers. And we can’t help but wonder if there will be a little carpool karaoke happening along the way!
This won’t be the first time that a taxi used has been used to spread Eurovision joy. In 2016, show hosts Petra Mede and MĂ„ns Zelmerlöw disguised themselves and drove unsuspecting Eurovision superfans â and wiwibloggs’ William and Deban â around Stockholm before suddenly revealing their true identity.
Breakdancer Redo will open semi-final two
Details have also been released of the opening act for the second semi-final. Acclaimed Dutch breakdancer Redo (Redouan Aiit Chit) will open the second semi-final.
Redo was born with several physical malformations, including a shorter right arm and shorter right leg. He also uses a prosthetic device on his leg. But despite all these physical challenges, Redo has become an internally renowned breakdancer and motivational speaker.
The Eurovision 2020 Head of Show Gerben Bakker, says: “We would like to show Dutch talent in all its facets. Redo’s enormous talent and story fit perfectly with the inclusivity and diversity of this year’s contest and the theme Open Up!”
Details of the remaining opening and interval acts for the three Eurovision 2020 shows will be revealed in coming weeks.
What do you think? Are you excited for the all-star medley? What other acts would you like to see in the Eurovision 2020 shows? Tell us your thoughts below!
Off topic:
There has been new details released about the stage design. There will be a see through led screen between the two stages
I like that they’re honoring ESC history, but it sounds a bit uninspired to have some past winners sing their winning songs.
the Breakdancer seems interesting though.
I know many people are tired of seeing Alexander Rybak so often at Eurovision, but it’s honestly charming to me. đ You can tell he really loves Eurovision with his whole heart, and is happy to be a part of it (compared to some winners who often feel like they have to distance themselves from Eurovision in order to be seen as successful). I’m delighted to see tribute to older Eurovision winners, too, with how focused it tends to be on recent years! I’m always delighted when “Eurovision culture” is riffed on/explored – 2014’s Eurovision Book of Records had be… Read more »
“Dansevise” – “Non ho l’etĂ ” – “PoupĂ©e de cire, poupĂ©e de son” is probably my favorite triad of back to back Eurovision winner songs, so I’m excited that Gigliola will perform. But the whole list is very interesting and I think it’s great when the contest makes an effort to bring the spotlight back to iconic performers.
It will be nice to EBU and host nation, have in final as part of interval act , part Memories (to remembers singers,composer,conductor…who pass away between 2 Eurovision)
Yes yes yes… Sandra Kim all the way… At least there will be a Belgian in the final
ik zen zot
I love it when Eurovisionâs history Is acknowledged at the contest.
This all sounds awesome. Can’t wait to see Anne Marie and Gigliola again.
shook at gigliola cinquetti! we love this italian representation
Again Alexander Rybak? It’s getting boring with Rybak and MĂ„ns Zelmerlöw….
Ok, he had a nice, basic song….nothing super amazing
That decade had amazing winners! (Dima Bilan, Lordi, Paparizou, Ruslana, Ć erifovi? and of course Sertab!)
Alexander is super, but I agree with Angelika. He’s already had an interval moment as well as a being a return contestant. I think Dave Benton would have been THE perfect choice from the 2000s. The oldest ever winner, on the same stage as the youngest, Sandra Kim. And with Dutch connections,
At least it’s not Conchita or Verka. I thought they will be there every year…
Meh
Gigliolaaaaaaaah!
Paul & Charlie performing Rock N Roll Kids together? I thought they had a falling out and never worked together again..
I don’t mind it though. For me Rock N Roll Kids was the best winning Irish entry of the 90’s. It’s a magical song!
Theyâve performed it together a bunch of times recently (including with Ryan OâShaughnessy when he said it was his favorite Eurovision song). And itâs my favorite Irish entry too! That or The Voice.
The winners I like the least of all. Along with Sobral
Good, last years’ interval act was a horrible disaster. The idea was good, but….Why was the Fuego-girl invited last year? She didn’t win, and only Euovision-fans and cypriotic/greek people remembered her. The Fuego-girl is not an ESC-legend.
Really? Fuego girl….you can do better
For exactly the same reason Verka Serduchka was in!
She was in it because she is an iconic runner up, like Verka is an iconic runner up.
Please ask CĂ©line Dion to come back the Eurovision stage this year. She will be touring in Europe during the Eurovision week and have time for attending the semi-finals!
If they could get her I’m sure they would. Personally I’d like to see Sweden win in 2023 so that ABBA might return, in some form, for the 2024 contest. Fifty years after their Waterloo.
A breakdancer to open a show? I personally don’t like to watch solo dancers and those dance shows on tv. But I also think the interval acts should be about music. It’s a music competition. So I think it’s a bit weird. Having him performing next to a singer (or in the background) would make more sense if u ask me.
For older ESC fans, Riverdance was the most legendary interval act. This was also not about singing.
Do they perform in jury and family shows too?
Those shows are technically rehearsals, identical to the televised event on Saturday.
But will they sing their winning songs? The only mention is that they will perform. Maybe they sing a medley of all sorts of eurovision songs.
I’m sure Lenny Kuhr will sing De Troubadour. She still performs on stage regularly as a singer-songwriter, so I expect that she will do well.
Izhar Cohen (Israel 1973) – fix to 1978
I am moved by Gigliola Cinquetti’s decision to accept to sing again “Non ho l’eta'”. As in many other countries in Europe, in the early sixties Italy’s cultural environment was still traditionalist, patriarchal and religion-dominated, so it was in the mainstream to hear a sixteen-year old girl singing on the national TV “I don’t have the age to love you, I don’t have the age to go out alone with you” (Non ho l’eta’ per amarti, non ho l’eta’ per uscire sola con te). When I listen to her singing in Rotterdam, my thoughts will go to how our societies… Read more »
Edsilia is perfect in the role of cab driver, get ready for some laughs.. đ love the idea of past winners, never gets old..
I love Gigliola Cinquetti and her winning song.. Glad to see she’ll return alongside Alexander Duncan and Sandra Kim. And thank God no MĂ„ns xD
The ultimate and most ambitious crossover event to date since Avengers Endgame and Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Unfortunately all winners from the 1950s are no longer with us. People on the Dutch esc fan forum (Sietse Bakker and his team do read the posts) have proposed a plan to make a hologram for one of the 50s winners. Hopefully they will actually do that in May to make it complete
I would not like that. Represent them through video, sure, but don’t try and bring them back from the dead.
If only Jacqueline Boyer was on that list. Since she’s the earliest winner to still be alive. But nevertheless I’m super excited and more than thankful for the Dutch to invite all these great musicians with their amazing entries!
Half of ESCFans are yawning when hearing that Rybak will be once again a special guest of ESC…
I mean… what’s so special about a person who somehow appears almost every year….
Yyh. Yaaaaaaaaawn.
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I really like the fact that most of these winners are not usually in the spotlight and yet they’ve been chosen đ
I’m so excited for this year’s contest!
I love including the winners from the past, they totally deserve a spot in every year’s contest
Yes. The melfest in Sweden has started whith A Hall of fame. I think that there should be Ă Hall of fame for ESC to were new pearsons whould be included each year. Not only winners. And I would love a museum over ESC. A bit like the ABBA museum whith a live show to. Imagine. ( There might be otpther better than the ABBA museum , but that is the only I know anything about) Or a musical whith different ESC songs like mamma Mia where every country has its song and can be proud and shine. . A… Read more »
Not to sound like a grump, but too many fans nowadays only know about Eurovision from the â00s-on. There are so many great Eurovision songs from its first 44 years that deserve more recognition from younger generations, and Iâm glad the Dutch are promoting them. They made the contest what it is today.
That’s why I was so impressed when Wiwibloggs carried an obituary for poor Pearl Carr this week. I did not see that anywhere else (at least not immediately) in the UK media.
I have watched for the first time in 1998 but it was a pleasure to discover the past songs. For example I remember loving “Disco Tango” from 1979 and thinking that this girl from the background deserves spotlight and credit. It was very fun to discover that she was the main performer 2 years later with Tommy Seebach and the same pair of other vocalists. Stuff like that, many great songs and performances. Poland not participating in 1970s is my big regret – I guess we would have the win back then.