Are pre-recorded backing vocals allowed at Eurovision 2022 in Italy? Well the official rules for the song contest say yes.
The EBU’s Rules of the 66th Eurovision Song Contest were uploaded to the web site of Icelandic broadcaster RUV on Friday, coinciding with the announcement they’d opened submissions for their national selection show Söngvakeppnin.
As was the case for Eurovision 2021, the rules state that the lead singer must perform live. But there’s again flexibility regarding the backing track. The rules state:
“The accompanying Backing track may optionally contain Backing Vocals. However, the Backing track in question shall not contain (i) Lead Vocals, (ii) Lead Dubs and/or (iii) any other vocals that would have the effect of, or aim at, replacing or unduly assisting the Lead Vocal(s) during the live performance on stage.”
Pre-recorded backing vocals are allowed for Eurovision 2022
In June 2020, Eurovision Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl revealed that the EBU would give broadcasters the option to use pre-recorded backing vocals during Eurovision 2021 in Rotterdam. It was meant to help create a more sustainable contest.
Österdahl explained that the EBU was relaxing the rules on backing vocalists singing live in order to help countries cope with new realities.
“The lessons learned from the spring of 2020 are that we need to plan for a global crisis, and we have tailored the rules of the Contest to that effect. We must be able to be more flexible and to make changes even to the format itself and how we organize the event in these challenging times.”
The EBU elaborated on some of the advantages, saying it would allow songwriters and producers “to present their work as close as possible to their original composition” and to save delegations money by allowing them to bring fewer people. (At the same time, they could opt to use those funds to bring extra dancers instead).
It added that permitting recorded backing vocals “also contributes to reducing the technical burden and costs for the host broadcaster as well.”
At Eurovision 2021 in Rotterdam, several countries made the most of pre-recorded backing vocals. Croatia’s Albina, for instance, used her own voice on her backing track, helping to create a truly intoxicating mix.
Several other artists — most famously Iceland’s Dadi Freyr — included large choirs on their track. His even included hundreds of his own fans, including Germany’s act Jendrik.
Pre-recorded vocals were not completely alien to the contest prior to Rotterdam. Popular national finals such as Sweden’s Melodifestivalen and Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix have made use of pre-recorded backing vocalists in the past few years. Norway’s Eurovision 2017 entry JOWST was also allowed to use a vocal sampling during his performance of “Grab The Moment” in Kyiv.
In 2021 it was a disaster lol what are they thinking?
If you’re gonna say something sh*tty about a rule change, it’d be wiser to shut the hell up. No one needs your negativity!
I really feel that the EBU need put down stricter rules to ensure less chances of “cheating” with precorded backing vocals: –The lead/main singer cannot provide their own backing vocals on the track. —All backing tracks need to be reviewed in isolation before rehearsals to ensure there are no “cheat” notes –To prevent unscrupulous delegations from switching out backing tracks after the review, all backing tracks should be held in custody until rehearsals and live shows. I fear of a scandal in the future where if a singer wins but during their winner’s reprise, it’s revealed (ala Anton Ewald) that… Read more »
Anton Edwald fiasco is almost guaranteed to happen sooner or later. Many artists are overwhelmed with emotions after winning and therefore diverge from the original performance to some extent. Someone going off the pre-recorded track will happen if such performance wins.
My only hope is that people will continue to refuse performances with pre-recorded vocals, just like this year. EBU really should have took a hint but apparently they will only address the issue once a disaster happens.
If they’re really trying to help everyone out why not just pre-record all the vocals and turn it into a Lip Sync for You Life Contest. It’s 99% of the way there anyway.
Terrible choice. What are they thinking? It was a complete fiasco in 2021 and hurts the reputation of the contest.
ESC is dying and turning into a circus show.
I don’t ike this new rule and I fear that it will be permanent, even after covid. They will defend it by saying that it gets less expensive for countries to participate because they can travel with fewer people…
I seriously hope that it won’t lead to many “sugar” like performances, where the backing vocals are so loud and powerful that you can’t hear the (weak) voice of the singer.
it will but we can still tell when the singer is trash so it doesnt matter
Hope this rule change won’t be permanent. Hopefully after the Covid pandemic ends the “vocals always have to be live” rule will be brought back. I do understand the “optional pre-recorded backing track” rule is meant so countries can perform with less delegation members during this seemingly endless pandemic.
This is why Sweden is broken in Eurovision. They need to be nerfed at some point in their history.
pff pathetic. #BoycottESC2022
Please move on. You’re sh*tting on what is considered an opportunity.
Perhaps one day acts will be allowed to create sexier digital versions of themselves, pre-record all vocals then perform in the contest as holograms. Hang on, that could never happen!
lol
NO !!
Maybe if there were a 30 second limit to the total amount of pre-recorded backing vocals allowed, but this rule opens the door for all sorts of exploitation.
Let’s be honest, this can constitute as cheating on behalf of Sweden since every year they had to adapt to Eurovision from Melfest. Anyone remember the 2011 drama with the dancers? They’ve had to sacrifice them sometimes for singers. This is an attempt to send people like Ace Wilder 2014 where the backing track is the main vocal. And their artists just plays along. Imagine how they would’ve performed Busy Doin Nothing live!?!?! Now they can easily win with a performance like that which relies on the backing track
Anis Don Demina’s Vem e Som Oss is a good example as well. It was 95% backing vocals
Bad decision. The spirit of the contest lies in being live. This is turning it into any other American reality TV singing contest.
u mean melfest
Terrible decision. Some of the acts (Malta and Israel for example) clearly seemed to be using pre recorded “backing vocals” at points to cover the lead vocal. It’ll get to the point where they may just as well send a video.
to cover the lead vocal? pretty sure they were the best vocals of the last edition
Talk about the least surprising decision since the announcement that Australia would be returning to the contest every year after 2015. It would be nice if all those Swedish organisers at least pretended to try not to be so predictable in their attempts to turn the contest into “Eurovision Melody Festival”… :/
Worst decision ever made! What’s left of Eurovision? Costumes? Some frantic staging? And a few bars of live singing? The fun is gone. I’m out – have lost interest.
Well, I don’t think any country saved money not sending backing vocalists to the Contest as they sent 5 dancers instead. Frankly speaking having 5 dancers on the stage makes the show more visually interesting than having backing vocalists.
“having 5 dancers on the stage makes the show more visually interesting”
Not if they all do it. And now that they can, they will.
This stinks, I think there was never any intention not to continue with what we were told was an ‘experiment’. I predict the same will happen again for the next ‘innovation’ which moves us nearer to a reality TV format. Which hopefully won’t be celebrity judges.
Experiment never means its just once Experiment means we will try it out and see how it goes. Thats how things go. Bringing the juries back was a experiment. Allowing the audience to vote was a experiment. Even ESC itself started as experiment once
It should mean just once if the experiment failed, Denis. In my opinion, the experiment failed in 2021. We saw act after act with more live dancers than singers, and at least one of those singers hid behind their backing vocal. It was tiresome and fake. The top three didn’t have pre-recorded vocals.
Gjon did, but it was very fair use, just for the ad lib at the end.
I understand that a full live orchestra would be challenging given how much the show has grown, but what they should do (especially now that RAI is in charge) is to allow those who wish to play their own instruments on stage. It was totally ridiculous to watch bands like Måneskin and Hooverphonic pretend to play. Recorded vocals should only be allowed in special cases where there are sounds like samplings, loopers etc. that can’t be replicated on stage. And if they leave it as it is, they should police their own rules and not allow weak singers to cheat,… Read more »
Live orchestra is out of question as it is not compatible with most of songs that are being sent to ESC. I would love them allowing live instruments though. But there are some challenges: 1. Eurovision is already very complicated technically with up to 6 new people going on state every 4 minutes. It’s challenginf to ensure the sound mix is right and adding instruments would further complicate this. 2. They would have to police the input from live instruments to make sure no one adds something that is forbidden into the mix (e.g. pre-recorded vocals before they were allowed).… Read more »
Ok, I understood the reasons behind the pre-recorded vocals during the pandemic but now that things have gotten EVEN A LITTLE better (I can assume that in May even plan-A could work) it’s useless and removes the vocal part of the competition sometimes. Look at Efendi without the pre-recorded vocals and then WITH them. If the rule didn’t exist, Efendi wouldn’t even qualify!
I dont think ESC will ever go back to normal whatever that is. Pandemics have thaught us to be flexible and that is how the future will look like. Because covid isnt the last pandemic that will hit us. Its all about finding new ways to adapt, even ESC
And what exactly are we adapting to with pre-recorded vocals? If there ever is a situation when you need to make delegations smaller, we can talk about it. But 6 performers were permitted this year, just like in previous decades. This argument doesn’t stick.
Honestly didn’t notice the vocals were pre recorded this year. They’ve not done Melodifestivalen any harm.
Who is honestly judging the backing vocals when it comes to vote?
Go ask Josh Dubovie.
If you didn’t even notice the at times awfully loud backing vocals, then you’ve proved the harm they can do.
I am, I want to give my points to the act who get it right on the night
This is actually a big trap for the countries. Just look at last year’s scoreboard. The top 6 songs had NO pre recorded vocals and many countries had a poor sound mixing, ending up fake miming. You can make a bad lead singer sound better but you can’t make a country do well ?
Just wait a few years until they learn how to do it properly.
Yeah, and by then they’ll all be “singing” cover versions in American accents, with celebrity judges determining half of the vote. Thanks a bunch, Martin.
Not quite true, Iceland placed 4th and they had that little choir bit…
It’s time to throw the current rulebook out and dare to go back to a full orchestra (including all electronic instuments and machines) and only live singing. It is technically more challenging to sing with a live orchestra than with a backing track and since we are talking about “the Olympics of music” it should be made as technically challenging as possible. With what the EBU gets a funding from the broadcasters they can easily have a Eurovision Orchestra that can even tour around the world for 7 months. From January till the shows they have ample time to perfect… Read more »
I think this will coin a new Eurovision tradition – falsely accusing artists of full on lipsyncing. How Efendi can be heard breathing down the mic but be accused of “miming” will never fail to astound me. I think it’s naive to think covid is going to disappear in the 9 or so months before ESC 2022. Dancers who don’t sing can wear masks backstage and during soundchecks. They require less contact with technicians than backing singers. Singing also massively increases the risk of someone who has it transmitting the virus. Note how the the two delegations that had COVID… Read more »
What about Moldowa? That‘s the dangerous direction this rule is paving the path for.
Why only prerecorded backing? Prerecord everything and turn the show into a lipsinging competition for all, not just for Kirkorows act. And while we‘re at it: why actual singers? Put some holograms of animated avatars on stage. As for the voting: let it be done by random algorithms. After all, it isn’t a singing competition, right? Go on – destroy Eurovision as a whole.
This is awesome. When they implemented the rule this year, I didn’t even realise it. Hopefully countries will take full advantage of this and really push the boundaries of music.
Your nick explains everything.
Despite the rule, many countries still opted to use live backing vocals, oftentimes, back-to-back with prerecorded ones. Looking at how they stated it in the rules, I understand that as long as prerecorded ones do not impede or drown out the lead vocals, a.k.a. the ones we should be hearing the most out of the whole performance, then it’s not a problem. Some delegation still have backing vocalists behind the stage (Cyprus) and on the stage itself (Belgium). I was able to list down the countries who opted for live backing vocals, and you’d be surprised to ones who did… Read more »
Iceland technically did partially use prerecorded backing vocals in the choir part
Apart Dadi all other s were even lip syncing.
Please don’t let this become a permanent rule
Very bad decision… In 2021 some countries already completely abused the rules. During the performances of Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, you could barely hear the actual singers cause they were fully covered by backing vocals. Some countries will definitely take advantage of that to make it full lip-syncing.
Also the excuse “it would allow songwriters and producers “to present their work as close as possible to their original composition”” is absolutely hilarious. Basically means that if a singer can’t sing live (which happens), they would still perform something “as close as possible to the original” thanks to playback. It’s ridiculous.
And look where those countries placed in the end–none of them were in the top ten. Also, I recalled that Serbia was using live backing vocals, not prerecorded ones, so at least it was live vocals overpowering them.
Bruh finally someone with an opinion that actually makes sense I completely agree with u! I just woke up and thank you you made my day ?
Serbia didn’t use pre recorded vocals but live once. Your point still stands tho.
Yeah, just wanted to say that – Serbia actually used live backvocals. Yup, they were THAT good.
They used prerecorded vocals for the intro and live ones for the rest of the song. About them being overpowered – only Ivana during the last chorus where she had the lead. But that’s understandable because she’s the least experienced vocalist among them and she danced her sass off. She still sang but was out of breath and lacked intensity. Ksenija opted not to sing 2-3 words during her chorus but that’s not being overpowered. She was pacing herself. You can clearly hear her sing live. And Sanja overpowered? lol
Also, if a song is too difficult to sing for trained singers, maybe it just isn’t a good composition after all. And supposedly it still is a competition for composers.
this rule needs to go! not having backing vocalist cuz covid or expenses, but the acts will bring dancers anyway, just like it happened in Rotterdam
Welcome to the Melodieurovisionfestivalen
yeah but it’s not like Vasil, Ana and Anxhela didn’t do well because of the rule but rather because their songs were weak. Destiny was also never a winner in my eyes but rather just another overhyped entry (I love it tho but again it was never a winner).
Top 3 did well because they had great songs, great staging and great performers not because they didn’t use pre-recorded vocals.
Excuse you but Albania had a masterpiece but anyways I agree
albina was never a qualifier sorry
Everybody knew that the pandemic was an excuse for the Swedish mafia to do what they ve been trying for years. Backing vocals can’t save artists that can’t sing *cough Anton Ewald*
Jaja excactly
Dont you ever get tired of bashing Sweden every single post? Or blaming them for everything you dislike? Even though they have done nothing. Has Sweden done something to you? You do know no country can decide any rules..
It clearly states its an option, not a must. So artists can still choose to be live. So where is problem?And besides thats how music sounds these days. ESC should evolve or risk staying a thing of the past
The problem is that several delegations will abuse this rule
You can evolve positively or negatively. This one is the latter of the two.
“thats how music sounds these days” – what, like it’s not coming out of the mouths of singers? Next let’s have the Olympics where gold medals can be won by performances from six months earlier.
Awful. It is clear what it is coming next!
Fake! The link to PDF on Icelandic page is not available or found.
It was removed as it wasn’t intended to be published in the first place.
Let’s keep Eurovision live!
Bring back the orchestra and keep live vocals
In a way, I think it would’ve been for the best to keep the decision is each delegation’s hands. But if one delegation is able to completely drown their vocalist in pre-recorded vocals and music, it’s completely unfair not to let live music on the request of another. Slovenia 2014 situation still makes me salty. Tinkara had a beautiful song, which would’ve been even more magical if she was allowed to play that flute live.
If Alexander Rybak had actually needed to play that violin live, would he have been able to? Maybe it would have been Reykjavík 2010. These rules might be more important than they seem.
Alexander performed live with a violin multiple times, ridiculous to think it would be a problem for him. But it is a huge problem for the organizers to plug in 40 seconds a live instrument and hope that everything works properly without the ability to do a proper sound check (because there’s no time for that). That was one of the reasons they banned the looper for Netta. Too many things could go wrong and in her live performances many times she indeed had issues with it and had to pause the performance.
I wasn’t questioning his ability to play the violin, more his ability to do it perfectly on a night of nerves and pressure – while still being conscious of staging and camera. I don’t really think Iceland would have won, it was just an example – maybe a bad one.
I think the example was a very good one. Even if he played it perfectly on the night, it might not have been recorded perfectly by the microphone with all that movement, and the total impression might have been less than perfect.
And if they could get it right in the 50s and 60s, why can’t they get it right now.
Alright guys I agree with this but I’m this article is not about live music but about live VOCALS
Haha, I’m glad you’re not questioning his ability to the play the violin, since he graduated with an A in violin performance from a premier music conservatory! 🙂 The motifs and the phrases in the violin parts are fairly easy and repetetive, and when he played he didn’t have that much eye contact with the camera, other than when it was straight in front of him, so I don’t think he faced that many struggles.
The other thing, as Milan mentioned, is all that technical stuff.
That‘s why we admire good artists: they perform well under pressure. That‘s the magic of a live act, and the whole point why you attend them. Otherwise just listen to a record…
Alright guys I agree with this but I’m this article is not about live music but about live VOCALS
I think we all saw it coming… In all honesty, there are songs in which this rule helps a lot. At least it does as a replacement for a bigger choir, if 6 people rule remains intact. For instance, I believe that ”Oculis videre” would’ve been glorious with a 40 people choir on the tape following Iva, as long as her vocal is never overshadowed. Still, I see it will be a cop out for many who want to hide vocal imperfections of the main artist. Then, it just becomes lazy, and should be restricted.
Oculis Videre <3
Hope Ive returns to Songvakeppnin this time.
I’d love to see her return.
SWEDEN, GET OUT OF THE CONTEST ALREADY!!!
ENOUGH!
It’s disgusting to see how the Swedish delegation is affecting the contest in a bad way
I’m not asking agresivly I don’t won’t to argue, I just don’t know why and who said the Swedish delegation is mixed I mean even bjorkman left
An entry like Voilà showed the simple power of an outstanding and emotional live vocal performance that was far superior to the studio version. The winning performance of Zitti e Buoni with the uncensored original lyrics highlighted the spontaneity that only real LIVE allows.
Yet there were noticeable entries in 2021 that already stretched the EBU’s definition of backing vocals (and the use of live-yet-helpfully-offstage vocalists). It feels like only a matter of time until one of these entries win and I’m sorry, that will be a real shame.
I prefer not to talk about this as I don’t want to be offensive towards certain acts and their fans, but this rule has to go
Let’s be honest: pre-recorded vocals make the contest more modern. The world moves on, Eurovision should too. I get that there is a sense of nostalgia with live vocals, but as long as the lead is live, we’re good.
Modern doesn’t mean necessarily correct or good for the contest
Seriously, by which means is live music supposed to be old-fashioned? It’s still very well and alive and it’ll never die.
Instead, two years from now, those fake-ass dj’s like David Guetta will be a thing of the past.
Talented people who can ACTUALLY sing, rap or play instruments will always be looked up to. Måneskin’s success with the TikTok generation just proved it once again.
Let‘s be honest – you have no idea what you‘re talking!
And maybe why modern music sucks also !!
When it was announced as a measure to deal with the pandemic, it made perfect sense. But then we’ve seen delegations just exchanging backing vocals for extra dancers (in most cases, far from creatively) and we knew this new rule would come to stay and I don’t like it it all. Hello 123 and Patrick Pastor have a point though, it allows some popular modern genres to be more present in the contest. The solution would be to allow those recorded vocals in specific situations. What JOWST did should be allowed, as long you have a clear lead vocalist as… Read more »
I can’t really accept that it will do some good. Even if it does, it will do far more harm. We can not complain about any “serious” singer or musician or band who thinks the contest is not for them… when they have very good reason to think that.
I agree that, considering the way it’s written now, the negative aspects of the rule won’t compensate positive outcomes. Hopefully, some delegations will insist with live backing vocals and get rewarded for it. As Robyn pointed, the bad use of recorded vocals made some entries sound silly at times. While no perfectly crafted recorded sound would substitute what the Mamas did for “Too Late For Love” or Manizha’s guys did for “Russian Woman”.
I just hope we never get an Anton Ewald situation.
what’s the deal with Anton Ewald ? I missed it and everybody talks about him.
He broke down in tears after getting through to the final, but yet somehow the song carried on without him. It’s on YouTube.
This. Absolutely this. 🙂
It shouldn’t be difficult, but let’s say dealing with grey areas in their norms and regulations isn’t one of EBU’s strenghts. There’s still some hope that in a post-pandemic world they will go back to the previous rule, but I think they’re taking the opportunity to push the “smooth TV show” thing you mentioned.
And there was me wishing that RAI had the potential to bring back the orchestra.
The only broadcaster I could see doing it . Oh well . Less credibility it is
Mixed feelings for this. On the one hand it allows people to focus more on an impeccable performance and have space for people who will actually be on stage to be included in the delegation. On the other hand the show becomes a bit artificial and it also gives bad vocalists enough coverage to pose as good ones. It is also a bit sad that a festival that started as a completely live one (with an orchestra and all) is gradually morphing into a pre-recorded celebrity show like the MAD awards here in Greece. Nevertheless, we still don’t know what… Read more »
She just needs to learn how to hold a microphone properly
As well as not to shout EUROPE when out of breath lol
Now acts like Efendi can almost mime themselves to the final
I do wonder how this rule is fair for everyone though. Having no exact limit of the main vocal and the backing ones, no limit on the amount of people can be in that backing vocal… I think it’s good in terms of production, and allows more creativity in stage since no money is spent on live backing vocals, but i think the rule should be restricted more
We knew that it was probably going to happen but I’m still upset
Honestly I was hoping this change won’t stay but yeah whatever…
As long as main singers are not taking credit for something backing vocalists are singing I am ok with it…
Ew.