Back in May, Icelandic Eurovision alum Daði Freyr tweeted that “it’s time for Eurovision to stop allowing vocals on the backing track,” adding that “it’s just not as interesting” as hearing all voices live.
The European Broadcasting Union clearly disagrees. It has confirmed that pre-recorded backing vocals will be allowed for a third straight year.
However, as laid out in the abridged rules, which have been published on the official Eurovision site, no one on stage can lip-sync for their life.
As the rules state: “No on-stage Contestant (whether Lead Vocals, Lead Dubs or Backing Vocals or dancers) shall be allowed to lip-sync (playback) in such a way as to make it appear that they are singing all or most of the song when they actually are not.”
Pre-recorded backing vocals allowed under Eurovision 2023 rules
Here’s the exact wording of the abridged rules, published by the EBU.
2.2.3 PERFORMANCES AT THE ESC
(…)
(ii) LIVE PERFORMANCES ON STAGE All songs shall be performed live on stage with a recorded Backing track complying with the requirements listed under par (iii) hereafter.
The lead singer(s) of the selected song (the “Lead Vocal(s)”) shall perform live on stage only.
- Eventual vocal support(s) for the Lead Vocal(s) (the “Lead Dub(s)”) shall perform live, on stage or off stage, only.
- All other backing vocal(s) performing vocal harmonies (the “Backing Vocals”) may perform either live on stage or off stage and/or on a Backing track compliant to the requirements under par (iii) hereafter.
No on-stage Contestant (whether Lead Vocals, Lead Dubs or Backing Vocals or dancers) shall be allowed to lip-sync (playback) in such a way as to make it appear that they are singing all or most of the song when they actually are not.
(iii) BACKING TRACKS
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.
In case there are live Backing Vocals, on or off stage, as part of the Act, they shall be mixed with the Backing track’s Backing Vocals (if any). […]
When did pre-recorded backing vocals become a thing?
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.
Do you think pre-recorded backing makes for a better show? Let us know down below!
Could they at least ban autotune from recorded back vocals. That should be the minimum.
All pre-recorded vocals should be recorded in live conditions without any studio effect.
It’s a contest. I would like all of the vocals to be performed live. That’s just me.
I agree with Daði: pre-recorded backing vocalsare not as “magical” or “interesting” as full live vocals. I was hoping that now that covid is not relevant anymore (which was the excuse to reduce the number of ppl in the delegations) full live vocals would come back in 2023, but well, Osterdahl definately has other plans… I wonder how, for instance, “In Corpore Sano” or even “SloMo” or “Give That Wolf a Banana” would’ve sounded with full live vocals. Maybe live vocals would’ve ruined the performances, or make them sound even better
Whenever i hear the words “eurovision pre recorded backing vocals” my mind instantly takes me to that car crash example of Malta 2021.
Reading the comments I realise that you don’t know what “backing vocals” are. This rule is for the backing vocals of the song, these backing vocals can be live or pre-recorded and can NOT contain the voice of the lead singer or singer(s) in case of the group and of course not cover their voice. Nothing has changed, everything remains the same. The artist can choose whether to bring backing singers with her/him/them or choose to bring the backing singers vocals pre recorded in order to have more space in the performance for dancers, actors etc. Because remember that only… Read more »
I know what backing vocals are. I want them live.
This is really annoying . The same guy who delivered jury votes due to “technical issues” is the one turning this into the fake song contest, aka dance contest. The singing isn’t fully real, the music isn’t live and the juries are algorithms.
Why don’t one just project live-on-tape performances and save a lot of money? 🙁
BACK VOCALS!!!!! Not the lead vocals. The main vocals still 100% live this is about the backing vocals
Agree, but sometimes backing vocals are similars to the main vocals, to give the impression they are the same one.
You have written around 20 comments trying to convince people but it doesn’t work.
The same thing was said last year, and yet nothing was done to punish acts using pre-recorded lead vocals. They said it was cheaper than bringing backing vocalists, however countries with small budgets have been sending backing vocalists for years. I wish they would admit that vocalists messing up live doesn’t look good for the brand they want Eurovision to be.
For many years some countries have used locals to do live backing vocals for example Malta (!) 2000 and 2002. Why do they need to be flown in? I also recall a trio called The Dolls (? Swedish) who provided backup for more than one country.
This is one rule I never really had anything against, but one thing I still find dumb, is… why do people still need to fake-play their instruments on stage? What benefit does that have? I’m all for making performances realistic as far as the main vocal goes, but the instruments used should sound real too, and that applies even more with band performances.
Good point Vivian. It looks so silly when we know it’s fake, but the show is pretending it is for real. It was so much better with live play.
I don’t support the idea of pre recorded backing vocals, but I don’t care about the “fake” musicians. It depends on the artistic vision the broadcaster or the artist theirselves got about the staging. And if the song is performed by a band, it would be kinda unfair for the drummer or the bassist (for instance) being pulled off the stage just because they don’t sing
I just wonder if all the fans who passionately fight to keep all the vocals live will be more forgiving over (most of the time) minor vocal flaws? Everyone wants it to be 100% live (which I mostly agree with), but then let’s also embrace the potential for the imperfections some of the 100% live versions bring. Just to be clear, I’m not talking about your XXLs and Krassimir Avramovs. I’m talking about your Roxens, your Dominikas, your Bennys, and your Jedwards. Performances that are generally still very much on the above average side, yet clearly not as crystally flawless… Read more »
Why would they be willing to over look live vocals that are not good? You can either sing the song well live or you can’t. If the choreography is getting in the way than you adjust it so it isn’t.
Also in Roxens case the staging was not good so I think that’s what sunk her rather than the vocal alone and in Bennys case the song just wasn’t that good or popular to start with.
There’d be nothing to forgive. Not sounding exactly like the recording is not a flaw. Live is always more special.
Exactly. The recording of B&H 2004 left me cold. However, the live version was banging.
Average live singing has taken many contestants to the top spots. Sometimes charisma is enough… Singers don’t have to be flawless, although it is magical when they are. If a singer can’t give a decent vocal performance because the choreography is demanding, then they should drop the choreography, because, in my humble opinion, Eurovision is still a song contest and the song should be delivered in a competent manner. If one wants to keep the choreography, then one should work to to be able to do it while singing- just look at Chanel, she actually trained in high heels while… Read more »
Haha, I would have put Jedward in your XXL and Krassimir (and the shouting older lady) basket.
Im glad 99% of the fans agree that this rule is bad. Hopefully ESC rethinks its decision later on. I understand they want to expand the reach of ESC by making it “modern” but they can do this without sacrificing the value of a LIVE competition.
Ukraine should be allowed to perform with fully prerecorded vocals. They don’t have the time and space to rehearse their voice.
#ClownEmoji
Live music is always better.
Live backing vocals is much better and delegations should be given the option of Live instruments/orchestra
And Malta is going fully internally for Eurovision 2023 🙂
The Swedish mafia needs to realize that they do now own the contest. Pre recorded backing vocals work on local shows where “artists” without good vocals participate (Hej Eric Saade, Anton Ewald etc). Eurovision is not a karaoke talent show for the best staging. Somebody needs to react to the turn of Eurovision to a replica of melodifestivalen but they are all silent.
Eric can sing …. It was based on Covid restrictions and seems like everyone on EBU starting to like it
Eric can sing and I am Queen Elisabeth II. Now we both are saying the truth!
Well Its your opinion and i am fine with that, i am just sick of people who always hate Sweden and swedish music, if i dont like it, write a petition and dont cry here about that 🙂
If u*
Dear Tom, I do not hate anything Swedish! If it is good music, why hate it?! If is it a capable singer with an amazing voice, why hate it?! It is a SONG contest and I want the participants to SING. If Mr Österdahl manages it to rename it Eurovision SHOW Contest, he shall do whatever pleases the SVT! I wouldn’t care. But as long it is the Eurovision SONG Contest I want live singing!
So long as everything is kept in check I don’t oppose this rule. I’d rather have clean and pleasant backing vocals that aren’t sung live, than messy and hindering vocals that ARE sung live. In the end it only serves to increase the chances that songs will sound better live, even if it isn’t ‘real’
Imagine using Chanel as the cover of this article instead of Norway’s Subwoolfer or Czechia’s Dominika (she lip synced those high notes in the final).
Maybe u are deft
Deaf*
It seems we are not close to having the return of the LIVE orchestra…
It’s 20-freaking-22. The Eurovision Song Contest has gone more modern. They didn’t want the orchestra anymore, but maybe they can change things up and use a live band.
So what? San Remo is still using the orchestra and it even fit (very well, by the way) with Maneskin.
See, this is why I hate lip-syncing. Eurovision contestants put their hearts and efforts to sing live and more powerful than in the studio version. So if in the studio version someone raps with a lower tone, when performing live, they deliver a more powerful and loud rap.
However, although it makes sense for pre-recorded backing vocals to be allowed from the 2023 edition onwards because you may not be able to sing the whole song, I hope they scrap it ASAP. There may be playback accusations.
Is this different to last year or is this the same?
Another step for turning the Eurovision Song Contest into Melodivestival – European edition. SVT ideas are just disgusting!
i don’t like this rule at all. rather than enhancing performances, pre-rec backing vocals make them sound soulless. most songs would really benefit from 100% live vocals.
Pre recorded vocals are just too much. We need to go back a bit.
Bring back live vocals, that was the best part of Eurovision. And also stop political voting. That’s all we ask for.
the vocals are still live. This is about the back vocals!
I wonder how do fans imagine stopping political voting. Getting rid of the televote lmao? It’s literally the viewers that vote politically.
Guys BACKING VOCALS!!! Not Lead Vocals!!! Those pre recorded backing vocals are from the back up singers not from the singer or the group. Itt´s so easy in Eurovision there only can be 6 person in the stage. So If they alloweed pre recorded backing vocals, the singer can use more dancers in his/her performance. With the old rules, they hace to use one or 2 back up singer and only 3 or 4 dancers.
Why u put Chanel?. Chanel didn´t have any pre recorded backing vocals on her performance. Her dancer Maria was singing the backing vocals live while she was dancing like Chanel.
Well, there were both: María and pre-recorded. But, as far as I know, no syncronized playblack.
there wasnt any pre recorded vocals were in the chorus, the part of “mo mo mo mo” the rest of the song is 100% Chanel live vocals and in some parts with Maria´s vocals.
I don’t understand what you mean? There wasn’t any? Or the mo mo mo was actually pre-recorded? Both things at the same time are impossible.
Guys BACKING VOCALS!!! Not Lead Vocals!!! Those pre recorded backing vocals are from the back up singers not from the singer or the group.
Doesn’t matter.
it is matter because there only can 6 person in stage!! So if u need 3 back up singers, only u can have 2 dancers. With this rules, every solo singer can have more dancers or persons to do a great performance.
1. We don’t need more dancers.
2. It’s funny because EBU sells this as a way to reduce delegation sizes but what happened instead is what you describe – delegations are just as large as they always were, but with more dancers and fewer vocalists.
Is this the change we really want? Think what you want about Jon Ola Sand but he managed to pull Eurovision from being a complete trash, to a respectable music competition. Why does Osterdahl want to reverse it is beyond me.
Yes this what I want because anything changes. U can chose: back singers with u in the performances or backing vocals pre recorded and u have more space for people in the stage. The backing vocals never are louder than the main vocalist and also didnt have their vocals
Some backing vocalists need to be turned down though, for example, Malta 1999 and 2006, Switzerland 2000.
Backing vocals can´t not have the voice of the lead singer, or the singers in case of a group. It´s just intead of having the back singers singing live in the stage, they have their voices pre recorded. Its not that difficult to understand.
Screw this and screw Österdahl!
I will never blame any bands for thinking the contest is “beneath” them, when these kinds of rules give them reason to think it is. The people in charge are making it that way. Television over music.
And I really don’t understand it. Salvador Sobral, The Common Linnets, Barbara Pravi and Duncan Laurence should be proof enough that Europe isn’t craving for more dancing and hamster wheels, but for actual authenticity.
They didn’t use backing vocals.
Or live instruments. Duncan pretended to play the piano for three minutes. I don’t blame him, of course, just the rules.
I am sure he would actually had preferred playing it actually.
In the German NF of 2013, there was a brass band called LaBrassBanda finishing second. They actually even played their instruments live like they always did ever since they were kids. Before the NF, they claimed they’d also play their instruments live in Malmö.
Of course they wouldn’t have been allowed. Just think about it … the EBU apparently is afraid of music.
Same happened with Amaia and Alfred, Spain 2019. In the first show, they played piano. They did not play in the national final because, if they were chosen to go to Lisbon, as it actually happened, they would not be allowed and they did not want to play fake.
Sorry, 2018.
Sorry, but I don’t like the new approach of Martin Österdahl, the prerecorded vocals are too much, we so that in the first time that was introduced that take so much out, we are losing the live feeling of the contest, and he don’t care about the community he don’t care that people don’t want that, artists don’t want that, and that feels like he try to change everything. In the first place the prerecorded vocals were because of COVID and clearly that was a lie and he will start to change more and allow more dancers, and more changes… Read more »
Well, Norway last year benefited way too much from this rule. While Czechia had sown suspicious sound mix for the high notes. My main problem is that it blurs the line between ESC and every other reality tv singing show. I love heading the raw voices, even when they’re bad. Its the beauty of a live show
No. It was supposed to be back up plan in case of positive covid test. What’s excuse now?
Clearly to make the contest more Americanized and “modern” benefiting the Scandinavian countries.
I mean, official one
I see that a lot of people have a strong opinion on the subject of keeping the traditional rules or not, so I suggest two polls: a) WHICH TRADITIONAL ESC RULE, WHICH CURRENTLY ISN’T (FULLY) ENFORCED WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE RETURNING: All vocals, leading and backing, have to be live (1956-2019) Live orchestra (1956-1998) No length of duration for songs (with a recommendation of them being under 3:30) No tiebreaker rules for songs other than the winner or 10th qualifier (1956-2007) All countries having to perform in an official language of the country (1977-1998) 100% jury vote (1956-1996) 100%… Read more »
Increase the length limit to 3:30 and award points for the top 15 instead of the top 10 for both rankings, but only during the final. What should never be brought back is 100% televote, it would kill the contest.
I would surely be in favour of longer songs. I always hate it when some songs need to be cut to fit the time limit. But on the other hand that could lead to the participating countries in the GF being reduced because not everyone enjoys watching a 5-hour show (even if I would certainly not mind 🙂 ). Changing NF winners is something I never like seeing. It’s cancelling the public’s choice and I don’t think that’s fair. Even fans that have watched a NF and have felt happy with the winner are then disappointed (of course it can… Read more »
There was an hour in between the end of the songs and the start of the points in Tel Aviv. I would have preferred to get the full Soldi than all those intervals.
I agree. Especially in Tel Aviv, I think intervals were longer than ever. And frankly only a few intervals are really worth it but broadcasters need something as a filler while people vote and while the votes are counted (and more intervals usually equals more voting time and thus more money made) . I don’t think though that any fan would mind if we cut some intervals to allow for longer songs.
Thank you everyone who responded! You obviously took time to write a lot, Thanos, and I appreciate that. I read it all, and I mostly agree. Personally, I’d like to keep vocals live, with live instruments being optional. I mostly like the 50/50% system between juries and televoters, and you pretty much summed-up the reasons perfectly. Juries should defend the well produced and vocally exceptional entries, especially slower ones, and televoters should defend the unique oddballs which make this festival one of a kind. Relegation shouldn’t happen again, while a possible addition of Andorra, Monaco, Turkiye, Slovakia, Luxembourg, and Bosnia… Read more »
Points 1-25/26 is actually really interesting and I am also mixed about it. On the one hand, it would be more fair for a song that ended 11th many times in countries’ rankings which under the current system would earn nothing. But at the same time as you said, exceptional entries are pulled down by that and more middle-of-the-road songs are benefited: songs that perhaps don’t bring something new to the table even if it is nice to have some of them in th contest. I also have no idea which one would better. Perhaps if we could see how… Read more »
I don’t think it’s worth losing the famous “douze points” for. The only goal is to find a winner, it’s never been important to find out who finishes 16th. It might be interesting, but not really necessary.
I think that any spot up or down is worth noting, and is highly discussed on these boads (and among people in general). Being 4th, 9th, 12th, 16th, 24th, 11th in a semi, 14th in a semi, or 18th in a semi are very different scenarios, and it’s important to highlight all the shades between them. Of course, finding the winner is a crowning moment, but for many countries, finishing top 10, 15, or even just qualifying is an achievement worth fighting for.
I agree with all that, I just meant that all the contest sets out to do is find a winner. Going all the way down the board is just incidental.
Then we agree. Finding a winner is the final goal of the contest, and that said, famous ”douze pointe” are quite iconic, and I am quite fond of them. 🙂
Another random idea: Perhaps songs ranked as 10th-15th by each country could get one point each? That way, no point scenario would really be reserved only for those who are really forgettable.
Anything that could have stopped Jeangu from getting zero televote points is definitely worth investigating.
I’m in two minds, honestly. Like, it is more interesting when all the vocals are live, but when you couple that rule with the 6-people-on-stage rule, it does severely limit what you can do presentation-wise. Honestly, if it were up to me, I’d say bring back the all-vocals-must-be-live rule, but also increase the number of people you can have in your performance. Or, if we have keep it at six people on stage, then at least let them be allowed to have up to two or three additional off-stage backing vocalists. I’m sure that would solve a lot of the… Read more »
I agree. Why not increase the number of folks to 8 or 9? That way, you can have dancers and enough folks to cover LIVE backing vocals if necessary.
Yes!
All vocals should be live. Live instruments should be allowed. I will never be happy with anything less.
I would love to have live instruments! However, every artist should be able decide for themselves what works best.
That’s all I ask.
If u alloweed live isntruments again. All the electronic and dance songs are going to be a jokke because they can´t be played live. So the jurys could vote more for others songs with live intruments. And thanks to that no one would send electronic or moden songs to eurovision like in the 80s and 90s. That´s the reason why the quit live instruments.
Maybe if juries weren’t people like “backup dancers from 90s” or “tv personality from 00s”
More restrictions and regulations on election of jury and jury night. Do we just want to risk that next year cheating won’t happen and that EBU won’t allocate random points instead?
We understand that Martin Österdahl is biased and that he wants Eurovision to remind him of his beloved Melfest
If he loves Melfest so much he should work on it instead of ESC imo
Everybody knew it was going to stay, COVID was just an excuse.
However, I do feel like this elevates the quality of the performances. Some songs just don’t work without a backing track or with just live vocals. How many times have people said: “I like the song, but it doesn’t sound good live”? The answer: too many times. Everything in the direction of a quality ESC should be applauded, as long as the lead vocals are live.
I agree. I find it a bit sad but at the same time the last 2 years were great and it felt like the show was better.
Would anyone from 2021 or 2022 have been disqualified had this rule been in force?
I actually wonder what acts from this year relied more heavily on backing vocals. I think I found more such acts in the 2021 contest rather than this year but of course I could be wrong.
As with many things, this rule has its pros and its cons. However, all things considered, I’m inclined to agree. As with the decision to pull the 2023 contest from Ukraine, the EBU has to be practical, and not so much sentimental. I do, though, find it somewhat hypocritical for Daoi to crititcise a provision that he himself took advantage of. He wouldn’t have been able to have that choir live. I’m not saying that he shouldn’t have had it in his song, on the contrary, it was a nice touch. I just don’t think there’s much credibility to doing… Read more »
There is nothing practical about this. The stated goal of having smaller delegations wasn’t achieved as most of them just replaced vocalists with more dancers.
Even if that were true, which it wouldn’t be un every case, there’s more to it than that. It makes things a little easier for the host broadcaster from a technical perspective. I’m not saying this rule is perfect, because it’s not. But, I can appreciate why it was included, and accept it.
First the gatekeeping of press accreditation and now this. Martin Österdahl is ruining the contest since his reign began
I said the same! He brought nothing good to the contest. Jon Ola Sand was so much better.
When does his reign end? I’d really like to know bc I can’t stand him anymore
Maybe by 2031. No?
Bring back live vocals only! did you all not watch America Song Contest? All that jazz just to find out the winner cannot sing…
Actually it’s been explained the reason why AleXa sang as poorly as she did in her winner’s reprise, and only her first qualifiers round had her voice be disguised by her backing track. Also, live vocals only is an option, no one is enforcing the delegations to throw that away, but making it an enforced rule is quite the risk. As an example, in 2019 both Greece and Belarus had their songs be dragged down due to poor backing vocals, which wouldn’t be the song’s fault nor the broadcaster’s, and at the end of the day, what we’re supposed to… Read more »
honey BACKING VOCALS! Not lead vocals! the singers sing 100% live.The back singers cant not be louder than the lead vocalist. Thats the reason why Pia Maria didnt get throug to the final. We all hear her bad vocals.
This is a very very very fine line. i’d rather not have it crossed
This is a good sign of progress. If this is enforced, at least we’ll get less opportunity for the leading singer to be drowned in pre-recorded backing vocals. I know that many of us would be happier with all vocals being sung live, but this is a step in the right direction.
I don’t think I really care. I have never paid attention to backing vocals. All I can think of is that Spanish guy who really missed his high note and left a dent in my ears. LOL
I don’t believe for a second that they’ll enforce their own rules so…no thanks.