On Tuesday, the EBU revealed that all 41 Eurovision 2020 acts have been invited to sing-a-long to Katrina and the Waves 1997 winner “Love Shine A Light” during Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light. Now, organisers have reached out to fans and asked them to take part too.
Like the artists, fans will also get a chance to sing a Eurovision classic — Johnny Logan’s “What’s Another Year”. The song represented Ireland in 1980. It was the country’s second win and Johnny’s first. He would go on to win again as a singer-songwriter in 1987 and songwriter in 1992.
“What’s Another Year” for Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light
In the official press release, the Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light team explains that it is hoping to create “an unforgettable sing-a-long moment to the screen”. They want to create a “huge Eurovision choir” and sing Logan’s hit together.
While Katrina’s “Love Shine A Light” was chosen for its unifying lyrics, “What’s Another Year” appears to have been picked for its status as one of the contest’s biggest hits. The press release points out that it topped the charts in seven countries and went top ten in another five.
Given the current circumstances, it might be best not to dwell too much on the song’s lyrics. Songwriter Shay Healy has said on multiple occasions that “What’s Another Year” is about watching the pain his father went through upon the death of his wife.
How to take part in the Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light sing-a-long
The Eurovision team urges fans to get dressed in their best ESC outfit and to decorate the room where they want to film their clip with flags and props. They want to have a “Eurovision-feel”.
Fans should record themselves singing “What’s Another Year” in full. They should also wave their arms at the chorus.
The submission deadline is Friday 24 April 2020.
Technical video specifications
- Use the device 16:9, horizontal/landscape;
- Record in 1920 x 1080 HD;
- Use the latest device possible with a tripod, or on a steady base;
- Submit the files in Quicktime / MOV format (your device should do this automatically);
- Ensure you are well lit by a window or a light near your device;
- Send the file in the highest resolution via Wetransfer to [email protected] (alternatively via Google Drive, OneDrive, Box and Dropbox);
- Include your name, country, age(s), email address and phone number.
Fans of all ages are welcome to enter. However, under 18s will need to send parental permission if singing alone in the clip. Entrants are free to sing with their family or housemates.
By sending these files, fans give the Eurovision Song Contest and the host broadcasters permission to broadcast and post your video on the official social media channels of the Eurovision Song Contest.
What do you think of the initiative? Is it a good song choice? Let us know in the comments below.
How is it best to sing it? With the song in the background or somehow get the instrumental version?
How do they expect to get it?
Save all your kisses for me. When the world is better x
It would be a good idea, but this beautiful song is very difficult to sing, it requires professional singing. I think more appropriate song in those times would be Insieme for example.
Because we all speak Italian.. The key isn’t important, most of us aren’t professional singers anyway.. It’s the feeling that counts
Not keen on Logan’s personality – but What’s Another Year is surely one of the best eurovison winner of all time. And Logan’s voice is undeniably pure chocoloate. The whole thing so complete. Such quality! Simply superb!
Wow such uplifting lyrics 😛 My grandma is more creative and cool than this EBU people I swear 😀
Instead of “What’s another year” (really tone-deaf on the part of the EBU to choose those lyrics as if saying who cares if the year is lost) I hope fans start covering “Every way that I can”, which is exactly what the EBU did not do this year.
Honestly, I was waiting for my country to announce the broadcast, but after the latest news, frankly, I don’t know if I hope they will air it because it looks terrible. I can accept “Love shine a light”, I don’t like it and I find it a cliché and cheesy choice, which I hate, but I think it’s a good compromise both for the intent of the show and to please old fans who are obsessed with this song for some reason. But why this “What’s Another Year”? Who cares about an online chorus made by fans? All these antics… Read more »
Get our hopes up about what? What are you expecting?
This year’s contest has been cancelled. There’s no way to produce anything that could compensate for that. If everybody took your attitude, then this show really would be doomed too.
I expect something that isn’t imbued with rhetoric and false goodness, like your comment.
Like what?
I’m sorry that Jonas’ comment is getting all the minuses for simply stating the facts that:
(1) this year’s contest has been cancelled (no other solution was possible on such a short notice and much of this community seems to be in denial of this),
(2) there is no way to produce anything remotely as exciting as a live ESC (short notice or no short notice).
We should all deal with this and stop moaning about practically any attempt that is made to at least remind us that a contest was to take place in May.
Assuming you’re Italian, I just got word that RAI confirmed that it will broadcast Europe Shine a Light.
That moment when San Marino virtual hugs and dance challenges are more interesting and creative.
What’s next? You Let Me Walk Alone (Germany 2018)??
Why that song? Strange choice lyrics wise. Is that their way of saying we shouldn’t miss ESC to much? That it will be back next year? Or another corona related lyrics? Apart from that it is not even that great of a winning song. Will this program even contain something relatively today instead of retro acts who had thier time to shine?
Bizarre choice. One would think they’d choose a more cheerful and anthemic song, like “Love Shine A Light”. “What’s Another Year?” is a great song, but it’s very melancholic and wistful, not really something that would keep people’s morale up. I think hits like “Volare” or “Insieme: 1992” would suit the show’s theme much better. P.S. I don’t get the “old songs” argument. Some songs don’t age, for example in 1980, when Logan won the contest for the first time, all-time classics such as “The Winner Takes It All”, “Another One Bites The Dust”, “Once In A Lifetime”, “Ashes To… Read more »
Good choices for 1980 classics (an OK year for Eurovision – strong top 5, plus two all-time great bizarro acts from Belgium and Norway). I think it makes sense as a song to melodramatically belt out at the top of your lungs, as many Irish entries are. Not the best one for that, though: that’d be the other Johnny Logan winner, “Hold Me Now,” and that isn’t super happy either.
I’m also annoyed by fans wondering why the big group songs are winners from the twentieth century. “They’ve had their time to shine”? So has literally every other class of Eurovision participants, but you don’t see people calling for Eleni Foureira or Loreen to not show up for special events. Eurovision existed before the twenty-first century, folks. If you’re a (and I hate to use this term but in this case it’s applicable) *real* Eurovision fan, or at least as hardcore a fan as you say you are, you do your research. Same thing for older generations who poo-poo the… Read more »
There’s no such thing as a real Eurovision fan. You don’t have to know every Eurovision song to enjoy the contest. It’s all about inclusivity. I’ve listened to every Eurovision entry, and I can safely say that at least 50% of them ranged from bad to mediocre. You don’t have to torture yourself with ’50s chansons if that’s not your style. What I dislike is the immidiate assumption that old = worse. Many old Eurovision songs still hold up and deserve a fair shot. If the message is relevant, why not use them for the show?
You are absolutely right, on all counts.
Regarding Eurovision 1980: it’s actually one of my favourite editions and one of the rare instances where I liked all the songs competing. So many great entries: the Netherlands (Maggie would have been a great winner, she probably shouldn’t have sung about Amsterdam in The Hague), Sweden, Belgium (one of the most iconic performances in ESC history for sure), Denmark, Morroco, Norway, Italy, Ireland… I could go on and on. Many sing-a-long entries, some “extragavant” ones that you’ve mentioned (I think that would apply to Luxembourg as well), in one word, a bit of everything.
Some I like, some I find a bit mediocre. Never got into Luxembourg even though it does fit that mold. And singing about Amsterdam in the Hague is kinda moot when the Netherlands can’t vote for themselves. (Singing about Venice in Rome, or North Macedonia in Croatia, on the other hand…)
I guess singing about Brazil in Rome is a real detriment (though the Austrian attempt to attract Italian votes didn’t work either).
At least one country liked a song about Brazil. It wasn’t just the Italians who had no patience for a song about Venice. (Then again, their own entry was in Neapolitan. You wanna talk about underrated Eurovision entries, that’s a real hidden gem).
“Comme è ddoce ‘o mare” wasn’t one of my favourites that year (then again, I didn’t like Eurovision 1991 all that much, I know we disagree on that one). But I do love when countries opt for a lesser known language (Switzerland 1989, Ireland 1972 and France 1993 come to mind).
When it comes to these soporific celebrations the EBU puts on the usual worship of Anglo-Saxon entries, and stuff sung in English. In the end probably neither the BBC nor Irish (or Australian) TV will air this show.
Wasn’t necessarily the case with the 50th anniversary thing. Six of the competing “all-time classics” were in languages other than English.
And only the UK and Ireland had two songs each, which kinda confirms my point xD (even though they were chosen by the audience).
I prefer to not say what I really think
I didn’t think it was possible, but I think this show is getting worse.
Why not Hold Me Now? It’s a thousand times better.
Harder for the general public to sing I suppose
The money note in What’s Another Year is less straining than the huge “I will aaaalwaayys…LOOOOVE YOOUUU!!” key change.
When I read this I thought it was part of your April fools joke. Unfortunately not!
I’m going to say it again and again until I get sick of saying it. Stop with all the retro gimmicks. These artists had the luxury of completing and have had years in the spotlight. For a lot of this years singers they won’t get to come back next year. Please it’s all about the class of 2020. It’s only a two hour show so by the time all the added extras have been shown we will be lucky to hear 30 seconds from each artist. The best way to get the fans together is to honour this year. It’s… Read more »
What’s another year, right? 🙂