The Eurovision 2022 stage design, entitled “The Sun Within”, was meant to play on the movement and energy of the sun. The design, which you can watch in the animated rendering below, includes a series of moving arches. One side features an LED that should display stunning graphics, while the other side has countless lights that emit glorious hues across the spectrum.
Unfortunately the sun within ain’t moving. It now resembles a static black rainbow of death or an ominous space craft from Close Encounters of the Third Kind and has marred many of the rehearsals so far. Delegations — who spent months planning their stage shows around the large moving orb — have had to tweak their plans at the last minute. Let’s be real though: Not everyone is going to be able to put a Band-Aid over the out-of-place object that’s blocking the bigger LED graphics behind it.
Eurovision 2022 stage problems: Kinetic sun will remain in place
?? WOW! #Eurovision host broadcaster RAI and design house Atelier Francesca Montinaro have shared this teaser of how the Turin stage will look in motion. pic.twitter.com/x2ijU7NAEo
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) April 14, 2022
In a statement sent to Danish broadcaster DR, the European Broadcasting Union confirmed that the sun will remain in place even if it’s kaput.
“During the technical tests in Turin, the production team has experienced challenges with how long it takes to adjust the sun to different positions in the time between the different performances.”
“Together with the host broadcaster RAI (Italian TV), it was therefore decided that the sun will remain in the same position during all 40 songs, to ensure a fair competition for all participating countries.”
Is it fair though? Some countries seem to have suffered more from the large black expanse eating up TV space than others.
In the main photo above, Romania’s on-screen graphics of the lyrics “Hola mi bebébé” are completely obscured. You’ll recall that they played a key role in WRS’ national final performance, helping people follow along with the song.
As you can see in the photographs of Estonia’s performance below, the black arches are very visible on stage — blotting out what’s behind it.
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Birgitte Næss-Schmidt — Denmark’s stage director for Eurovision 2022 — spilled a lot of tea to Danish broadcaster DR.
“We were told that the stage did not work three days before our first rehearsal,” she said. “Fortunately, we had chosen not to use the turntable itself in advance, because we did not think it worked optimally, so it has been fairly simple for us to adapt our performance.”
Cyprus is among the countries that have managed to dodge a sun-shaped bullet by not incorporating the kinetic sun into their original stage plans.
By standing inside a glorious seashell, Andromache is able to serve non-stop colour and emotion without fear of those arches.
It’s a similar story for Portugal. By using Stage B — and tweaking camera angles — they will likely avoid the sunken star.
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How come Israel managed a moving stage very professionally over 40 years ago and Italy can’t in 2022?
Why didnt they just remove to sun?
Blimey, all these comments are exhausting. Lighten up guys, there is a war going on in Ukraine.
Florian Wielder come back!!
didn’t something similar happen in lisbon?
Interestingly I see no mention of the “black hole” on the section of the RAI website dealing with ESC, I wonder why?
Embarrassed by their own incompetence, maybe? You have to wonder what this will do to viewership.
MGP stage 2016-2019 stage was better and looks like it!
Cannot believe this is actually happening… The scene this year looks absolutely horrible, the most affected performances are going to be the ‘colourful’ ones. Ballads sang in dark scenery are not going to be as affected cause the ‘rainbow’ is just black, there is no way of talking about fairness here. Big disappointment. After watching the official rehearsal videos posted on official Eurovision youtube channel I am just sad… some national finals were presented in a much better way.
Believe it. If there had been the potential for a safety hazard, and they left things as they are now, they’d be liable for negligence or worse.
As it stands, this could cost some contenders significant points for their efforts, maybe enough to cause some razor’s edge countries to fail to qualify.
If I were them, I’d bring big LED screens with them as props, pre-programmed by their teams for their performances, with graphics to appear as close as possible to what they intended for that kinetic sun-turned-black hole.
Oh, Italy….
If it stays like this it’s officially the ugliest stage in the history of ESC
I understand people’s disappointment, and yes, the EBU and RAI should’ve addressed this earlier. Counterpoint: if you don’t like it, don’t watch it. Yeah, maybe if your favorite was Romania, you’re going to be rightfully disappointed. But when push comes to shove, Eurovision with a faulty LED screen is still Eurovision. I’m here for some great performances and I’m gonna see ’em. If it’s not ruining the artists’ mood, it’s not ruining mine.
Thank you Joe.
Lithuania would beg to differ, if I read correctly about the chaos this malfunction caused for them.
Well, my favorite is France this year and they didn’t plan to use the dead star for their staging, but I still think that it’s not fair for other delegations that spent months planning their performance. Italy started to build the stage way too late and didn’t think of any plan B. After the success in Rotterdam last year, it’s unforgivable. And their arrogance to warn the contestants 48h before their arrival…… no comment about that…
Just like an Italian car, looks 10/10, reliability 1/10
I still don’t understand why they can’t move that sun even if it means longer breaks . Last time Eurovision was in Italy it went over an hour over schedule, so why not now ?
Agreed
This just sucks 🙁 How have they not explored other options? If it takes, for example, 50 seconds to turn the sun around, make longer postcards. Is there something that can be done with the running order? Since that is now flexible (with the exception of Italy’s being 9th and first half/second half etc, can they not group all the LED sides in one section of the 1st half and the Lights side in another section, and repeat this process for the 2nd half, with ‘talking in the green room’ and ‘skits’ being aired in the time where the sun… Read more »
What chance is there that someone is going to resort to bringing their own LED screen as a prop for their performance, like Michael Schulte (Germany 2018) did?
THIS IS A JOKE!
On a different note, quite a lot of Polish staging videos can be found on this clip from Polish tv: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7lcnNjlmfo
I dont understand how it was supposed to work the sun thing. On the pic we see the Romanian act and behind the ‘sun’ there is a screen where we can partially read Hol bebé but it is blocked by the sun. Had the sun worked properly how would we have seen the screen anyway? Spinning or not spinning the sun would have been in the way.
the text would have continued on the led screen of the sun
The Serbian song is terrible so it match
I don’t understand why can’t they just take the led screens from the sun and make a makeshift portable led screen for everyone to use.
So Danish delegation knew what’s going on days before the rehearsals, but others were just left to be surprised and improvise on the spot? Shameful
And yet their staging is worse than everyone else’s x)
What a lot of fuss about nothing. In the end whatever song connects with enough juries and televoters will win regardless of what the back drop looks like. Perhaps this is a good lesson for the EBU to instruct host broadcasters to keep it simple. Btw I totally agree with you Emma. There are a significant number of people commenting here who believe criticism and invective are the same thing.
What are u talking about? Sweden for example wouldn’t have won in 2015 if the screen behind Mans didn’t work.
“simple” doesn’t mean getting rid of the LED screens altogether?
Romania is keeping it “simple” but their entire concept is ruined because the sun isn’t working. What is your point?
Mess! Either turn it around to the LED side Or rip it out and then it’s a level playing field. Clearly not prepared or tested enough, disgusting hope all the delegations go hard on the complaints.
Just turn around the thing so at least we don’t have to see the eye of sauron in every performance! Because now it’s the only thing I can see on the stage, really.
They are not going to turn it around because most part of the delegations had already planned to use it on the side without the LED. So the problem and the unfairness remain for the delegations that planned to use LED.
I mean, it kinda sucks to suck for the delegations that were over-reliant on LEDs. It’s like 2018 all over again: sometimes you gotta just bring the performance and hope that Europe follows along.
This is unfortunate. I feel for the acts who will be most effected by this and understand how disappointing it must feel after months of hard work. However, the needless toxicity and nastiness from so called ‘eurofans’ is utterly, utterly atrocious. Have Italy made a mistake, yes, are they therefore incompetent at hosting because part of the stage doesn’t work? uh no, it could’ve happened to anyone, hosting is more than the stage. I also find it disgusting, how a minority of people are using this to disrespect Mahmood and Blanco because they are the host act and well, they… Read more »
Do you really think it could have happened to anyone? Maybe – but they would have tested it for a at least a month before the competition. The whole thing is highly unprofessional. It is a worldwide viewed television program – not some Sunday morning family show. Better to use experienced professionals that knows how to do it to be safe. But I hope we see some over reacting here. The delegations will find solutions to the problem. So I think it will be a great show anyway. Looking forward to it. And I see very few persons attacking Mahmoud… Read more »
those tiktok videos are ads.
The whole “sun-gate” is annoying me in so many levels, from the fact EBU and RAI didn’t have a plan B and keep pretending it isn’t happening to part of the fandom eating up the drama and seizing the opportunity to be toxic. So let me propose a different angle: who has a problem with the “dark rainbow” on the stage and how they could deal with that. Latvia: Sure, their led is screwed, but in Supernova the performance was more about the guys. They’re entertaining, their outfits are colorful, they’re many and hyperactive. If wide angles are avoided, I… Read more »
In my opnion eclipse of sun will makes Mahmood chances in jury votes lower cause many will be think twice before risk again Italy 3rd time destroy esc .
You could be right about the jury votes. Anyway, Italy isn’t destroying ESC this time: it is a big problem, but we can still try to enjoy the rest of the show which will be beautiful.
Back in February (when this stage design came to light), I remember having the hunch that this so-called “sun” was a disaster waiting to happen. Sometimes, pushing the envelope is not enough when overseeing teams lack expertise and professionalism. What a shame, anyway.
can we all stop calling it sun? it’s maybe a blackhole but noway a sun
I’ve been calling it a black hole since Sunday morning!
I hope the Space Man can use it to his advantage!
This is just… disappointing
Sorry for saying this but Italian can only do staging with orchestra – it seems like everyone said Italy is perfect but somehow no and that’s the life … at the end of the day – it is a song Contest and not staging Contest – it always made me cancerthat people love songs based on staging and TV production… Lets move on – andiamoo
Måns Zelmerlöw wins ESC just because he’s staging was so good. We are living in 21st. century and visuals are important as much as song.
maybe for some, but i voted for it because i likes the song
If it’s just a “song” contest let’s just cancel the show and air it on a radio..
I did not say – it should be in radio but feels like visuals are more important than the songs 🙂
Thanks for dislikes 😉 but thats my opinion 🙂
Yes it is a song contest, and they had a nice idea that worked only in theory. This way it only showed how unprepared they were with everything. It seems like “the sun” was their least concern which became their biggest problem. And now they are not even trying to find a solution but instead are just oh well, it is what it is.
If staging wasn’t important why they created such a overcomplicated stage? Staging is important, maybe not for all performances but it’s important for the show, to keep people watching even the songs they don’t like.
Konstrakta replied to someone’s message on instagram and said that the sun was off the table and that they needed to figure out how to get the most out of the lights now.
First she wasn’t allowed to use subtitles, now there’s gonna be no meaningful visuals. I hope the few key translations they planned were gonna be an overlay (or are gonna become now) because without at least some text on the screen she’s screwed.
Can you elaborate a bit on the subtitles thing? Is there an official rule against those? I’ve always advocated for the possibility of optional subtitles via DUAL technology or sth like that. Since the EBU is also in theory devoted to tech breakthroughs for me it was a glaring an absurd omission that they have never considered it…
Now I read your comment and my hunch was kind of confirmed, they simply wouldn’t (why? because they think most lyrics are lackluster?)
there is no rule against subs. just most broadcasters dont use them. estonia has had subs for every song for over 20 years.
I thought the sun was a bad idea anyway, why having such a massive object when most delegations don’t even need it and makes it harder for them to do the show their way. The sun can destroy the vibe. Better have a plain stage.
serbia and lithuania, my top 2 have both been hurt the most by this. it’s really infuriating
I just realised that the official logo looks exactly like the black sun blocking the background. Their vision has become reality.
Imagine being a designer with the job of making all the LED and light design of a performance, and then, three days before, you are informed that a bunch of tasteless and basic steel and lights strobes will block and ruin your ideas.
Seriously, this is totally unprofessional and an embarassment to the italian organisation
Imagine artists like Konstrakta… Most of her visual identity was based on LED screens. That’s so awful! I don’t even know why she still perform under miserable conditions.
It can’t be fixed? There is still time to fix it.
Even if there is,the simply won’t do it..
If there was a safety issue involved, there’d be hell to pay for that kind of attitude. If it collapses during mid-show, they’d have a safety issue on their hands and would be required to stop the show for repairs; maybe postpone the show, and have all the contenders perform their songs again at a later date should an even bigger malfunction or collapse occur before the last contender gets to perform.
They should rotate the first, third and fifth ring to show the LED side and leave the other three with the lights as it is .
good idea!
At least they can rotate the first, third and fifth ring and leave the other three with the lights as it is
If history is repeating itself, Italy should withdraw from Eurovision in 2 years time!
Wow really? If this had happened with any other country, you’d be saying the same thing. The country is irrelevant. This toxic Italy hate is frankly disgusting and I’d be saying the same thing if another country had stage issues.
I saw a small video of the Latvian on-camera.
It looks even more miserable on camera – all that blackness in the middle of the stage is just, not cool.
Hi guys.
As an Italian that has been following Eurovision since 2007 (before we even returned, I’m half Romanian), I’m completely heartbroken for what’s been done.
I feel ashamed for the lack of organization, I’ve dreamt about Eurovision being popular again in Italy, was absolutely excited about this moment, but you can’t deny how HORRIBLE and wrong this looks.
I’m so sorry.
JFC why should you feel ashamed, just because all the toxic people are making you feel ashamed? Its not your fault.
I am sure the morning after the grand final most people will be praising Italy for a fantastic show.
I am sure you will have lots of reasons to be proud
I went to see my nephews school drama play last weekend.. They had LCDs and a movable stage? He is 10 years old. The kids did all the work with lighting, changing the stage, and effects. If a bunch of 10 year olds can do that, how come these people in Italy can’t manage a decent stage for such a huge event?
I don’t know what’s exactly the problem, but that thing must weight A LOT and it’s probably very complicated to move fast enough safely.
y’all, you should all remember that Italy is a third world country with good food and nice architecture
Next time you’re thinking about posting a comment, I would like you to take 1 minute to think about it, then write it down on a piece of paper, and push it back deep in your an*s where it belongs. You’ll feel better. Ok buddy? 😉
Why are you so hurt by his comment, I don’t get it.
Uhm…third world country? Does that sound like something normal to refer to any place, furthermore in Europe?
….. you clearly need some vitD in your life…
Have you even been in a third world country?
I found this, looks like broken sun screwed Kalush performance same as others, oh hell , please fix this , I’m scared to watch second rehearsals tomorrow… 🙁
https://twitter.com/tasha_tsuman/status/1521441089500196865?s=20&t=Z5gLFGdj2w1iyj9nfXV_Dg
that sounds bad, Kalush is one of contenders,even if I don’t think Ukrainians really want to win this year but I would still be pissed if my planned staging being screwed by black hole as for everybody else too, nobody deserves this, about half of countries are done dirty by this stage
If the stage is called ‘the sun within’ this certainly looks more like a solar eclipse. Seriously why not just flip the stupid thing around if it ‘takes too long to turn in between performances’? Then at least the thing won’t block the back LED as much as it does now
i actually dont mind the sun at all.. i think it gives the stage of a character and makes it different from all the other eurovision stages in the past. i do believe that it kills some of the acts but it rly helps some others. i think its how the each country uses it .
stop lying, it’s like getting a black eye and putting cheap concealer over it… an eyesore, literally
They’re obviously not lying if that’s their honest opinion.
Ah Italians. Just like Greeks, full of passion but not a grain of proper organisation
( but tbf, Greeks did host a great Eurovision back in 2006 )
we had 6 giant led pieces changing for every act 16 years ago, we did it much better and there is not even a point of comparison
We lack many things, but we as Eurovision hosts were very decent, just like the Olympics in 2004.
I loved the Olympics back then. They had a human touch, even with all those issues of sorts. I can’t say the same for recent OGs.
Greeks are not organised but they do their best when they host Eurovision or Olympic Games for example. Fokas Evangelinos, the Greek director and choreographer is the most successful director in Eurovision history
Eurosivion 2006 was freaking awesome 🙂
Why wouldn’t they rotate it asymmetricaly to make it look like on the original drawings, that would totally feel nice and the lights attached to it would have it covered just fine while making LED screen in the back fully visible.
Even though I’m sad because this is happening to Italy as a host, there are no excuses for this situation.
On the other side, I am not surprised ‘cause this kind of stage didn’t seem logical and very realistic from the beginning.
People would think that designing a complex staging like this would have some kind of testing months before the contest in some real time simulation… I still hope they’re gonna figure something out, let’s not judge before the official statement.
They have one week. I can imagine Osterdahl’s ears are ringing with all the screaming coming through his phone.
What a complete mess. The EBU or the RAI should be returning the money those delegations affected by this malfunction invested in professionals for developing the visuals or the staging itself. We could even argue if are elegible for a compesation as the career of various professionals involved are on the line.
The organization seems to have given up and they are not even trying to fix it at this point. Also, I wouldn’t say this is the fairest solution. Now a lot of performances will look very similar and those who have brought their props and “stage” will benefit.