They are Eurovision’s answer to the critics’ choice awards.
And on the day of Saturday’s grand final, the annual Marcel Bezençon Awards ceremony took place.
This year, Italy’s Mahmood, The Netherlands’ Duncan Laurence and Australia’s Kate Miller-Heidke are the lucky winners.
The well-known awards have been handed out every year since the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest in Tallinn — founded by Melodifestivalen and Eurovision producer Christer Björkman.
Over the years several categories have been included in the award ceremony.
Currently, there’s a press award, an award voted by the commentators, as well as the composer award.
The composer award
This year’s composer award goes to Italy’s Mahmood. “Soldi”, written and produced by Alessandro Mahmoud himself, Dario “Dardust” Faini and Paolo Alberto Monachetti took the trophy this year. Notably, this marks the first time an Italian act has won the composer award since it was first awarded in 2004. Congratulations to Mahmood.
(Credits: Rai 1)
The press award
This year’s press award goes to the Netherlands’ Duncan Laurence. “Arcade” follows up last year’s Madame Monsieur who took the award for their country with “Mercy”. Just like Italy’s win at the composer category, this is the first time that the Netherlands has managed to top the press award. And for sure this won’t be the last time Duncan receives an award. Congratulations to Duncan!
The commentators’ award
And finally, the show commentators also had their say on this year’s Eurovision acts. Australia’s Kate Miller-Heidke managed to impress commentators all over Europe and thus receives this year’s award voted by the commentators. Interestingly, this is the first time since 2011 that the award winner hasn’t finished within the top two of the grand final. But nevertheless, Kate is a deserving winner.
What do you think about this year’s winners? Do you agree with the choices within each category? Let us know in the comments down below!
I agree with the composer and press awards. The commentators choice was the worst.
Kate had a great staging and impressive vocals but her song is not that good.
They should come up with the best presentation award. Then it would be Australia.
When are the Barbara Dex Awards? those are fun. Paenda? Tamara? Mahmood? Roko? Who knows…but perhaps if one goes to the press it should go to William for sporting flip flops…
Fair enough. I still think they should be renamed the “Harel Skaat Awards” though.
Very happy with these winners. Especially good that each award category had a different winner. Good variety. (Go Kate!)
Why did Duncan win the press award? Just asking because I don’t know how the process works
According to the criteria, the Press Award is given to the best overall song in the grand final as voted on by all members of the accredited press at the contest (digital and print). They all voted, and they agreed that Duncan’s song was the best
All very deserved, in my opinion. The Marcel Bezençon Awards usually make smart choices.
Well done to Duncan and Mahmood. Just a reminder that Italy won the Press Award in 2017 with Francesco Gabbani and his hit ‘Occidentali’s Karma.
Il Volo also won one of these.
Dear Mahmood we are proud of you, you deserved this award because you are a great composer, not only for Soldi but also for your other wonderful songs! Sunday you announced you’ll release soon a new single, whose first letter is B….what could it be ? we look forward to listening to it !
These were also my top 3 in the grand final, so I’m happy.
Wow…. what does the award presenter have against Italians? ;p
Alessandra…XD
I suppose is what it happens when the season’s off and the autopilot on.
ALLESANDRO! Nikki is a homephobe.
They wrote his name as Alessandra at the beginning. They must have corrected it since. I’m laughing at a typo.