A total of 16 countries will participate in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Yerevan, Armenia.
And to celebrate the news Armenia’s public broadcaster AMPTV has also shared this year’s theme art and slogan “Spin the Magic.” The artwork revolves around a spinning top, a toy common across the world, which, in the video teaser below, unleashes neon colors as it brings children together.
“It was very important for us to choose a symbol that would reflect the magic of the competition, and the 20th spin of Junior Eurovision that would unite all the children taking part,” says Hovhannes Movsisyan, the broadcaster’s CEO.
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“I am convinced that everyone has fond memories about this toy. While developing the idea, we realised that a lot of countries have spinning tops, each of them unique. This perfectly reflects the values of Junior Eurovision — everyone is united around the idea of magic, music and joy, and at the same time presenting a different song and performance.”
The Armenian version of the toy comes with intricate carvings that reflect a traditional pattern. You see it on carpets and costumes, and also buildings around the Caucasus country.
The EBU’s reports on the news do not reference the recent hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia, a flare-up reflecting decades of animosity over a disputed mountain region. However, Armenia’s Head of Delegation did nod to the situation, writing that Armenia is determined to deliver. He said:
“This December we Spin the Magic with 16 countries from all over Europe!”
“Due to the recent events we had to postpone the launch of our amazing theme art for this year’s Junior Eurovision, created by @zuckagency. We are determined to proceed with our production as planned and deliver you a truly magical show!”
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Junior Eurovision 2022: Participating Countries
- 🇦🇱 Albania (RTSH)
- 🇦🇲 Armenia (AMPTV)
- 🇫🇷 France (France TV)
- 🇬🇪 Georgia (GPB)
- 🇮🇪 Ireland (TG4)
- 🇮🇹 Italy (Rai)
- 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan (Khabar Agency)
- 🇲🇹 Malta (PBS)
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands (AVROTROS)
- 🇲🇰 North Macedonia (MKRTV)
- 🇵🇱 Poland (TVP)
- 🇵🇹 Portugal (RTP)
- 🇷🇸 Serbia (RTS)
- 🇪🇸 Spain (TVE)
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom (BBC)
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine (UA:PBC)
In a statement, the executive supervisor of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest nodded to the show’s 20th anniversary. Martin Österdahl said:
“We’re delighted to be welcoming talented young artists from 16 countries this year to Yerevan for the 20th Junior Eurovision Song Contest. It’s exciting to be returning to the Armenian capital for the first time in over a decade to ‘Spin The Magic’ on this special anniversary – and welcoming back the United Kingdom to the competition, our host country for Eurovision 2023. There’s so much energy, passion and creativity from our colleagues at AMPTV and we can’t wait to see a spectacular show in December.”
Are you impressed with the art work? Do you love the theme? And which countries are you sad to see sitting out? Let us know in the comments box below!
It looks like the BBC is sending a child this year. That’s actually the first I have heard about it. It’s a change of stance towards JESC, so I’d like to ask the BBC: Why now?
i like it
I think Ukraine will win this contest again. But I am not very sure that the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will be held in Ukraine, the country still needs more money to organize this contest.
I like it! Definitely has a bit more thought put into it than last year’s.
Three songs selected so far, one of which is very competitive (the other two not so much) so starting to get a little hyped!
The logo’s like a dreidel. What a great theme for Hanukkah season!
cancel culture EBU strikes again
not bothering to watch now
Some local press reports that EBU wants to move the contest to another country due to the constant attacks on Armenia by Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan targeted several villages, towns and infrastructure inside Armenia on 13-15 September 2022, leaving hundreds of people killed, around 8000 displaced, many captives etc. it all happened inside Armenia, nothing to do with Nagorno-Karabakh or Artsakh. No surprise if EBU decides to cancel the show in Armenia.
From April – June 2012 (before, during and after Eurovision) Armenia attacked Azerbaijani territory, not including Artsakh.
To note, this Eurovision was held in Baku, but obviously, Armenia never attacked Baku before and they wouldn’t decide to randomly attack Baku because Eurovision was hosted there, so ESC 2012 went ahead. The same can be applied to JESC 2022 as Azerbaijan hasn’t attacked Yerevan, so it’s extremely unlikely they’ll randomly decide to do it now.
There goes Baku’s mouthpiece again. Trust me, people are no longer buying Azeri propaganda. It worked in late 2000’s and into early 2010’s but that ship has long sailed.
I love the last time Armenia hosted the show. It wasn’t a grand production or anything, but I love it.
It looks nice! 16 isn’t a bad total number. Hoping for a first-time win for any remaining competitors 🙂
I don’t care about JESC. Any information about ESC? Still only 33 countries?!? This is not competition at all…
You’ll know when they announce it. The EBU has a set deadline for countries to confirm their participation. Just have to be a little patient and considerate.
Ultramagnetic Top!
Where are you ICELAND??!
I still think 16 is a low number. Anyway, I’ll be reluctant to participate too given the fact that Ukraine is winning it all no matter what. Well, Armenia is now on the run too. So sad a music contest has turned into a pity fest. Of course, suffering a war is so sad but we should not be giving music trophies because of that.
the contest hasn’t even happened yet and we’ve only heard three of the songs. it’s really unfair to put that expectation on the ukrainian representative and even more unfair to the rest of the CHILDREN who will compete and just want to share their talents with the world & have a good time. keep your anti-ukrainian conspiracies out of JESC and let these kids enjoy themselves. they deserve it.
the day is september 26, 2022 and spanish eurofans are still making salty comments about ukraine
16 is quite a healthy number for a one-night song contest but you do you.
I like the logo it’s pretty cool ! I just wish we would stop with those impersonal dark blue starry backgrounds… they look so bland and lazy
That slogan sounds like a strip club name, ha ha.
my thoughts exactly, sounds cheap and uncreative!
I’m a simple girl. I see an artwork that appeals to my eyes, I like it ??
Bye bye Azerbuyjan 🙂
First, it’s Azerbaijan and not ‘Azerbuyjan’
And Azerbaijan did try to participate in this year’s JESC but it did not work out. So lets see if they participate next edition cause the more countries the better.
Amazing logo and graphics. It’s kid’s friends but also maintains an Armenian identity in the detail and I’m sure they’ll incorporate cultural details of each participating country on the logo. Would be awesome if they had a massive versions of these toy spread all over Yerevan and in the arena…
I quite like it, I like the colors, I find it cool, the jesc logos are so better than those made for the adult contests, there’s not even competition.
Oh, it’s not good… at all.
If a logo makes zero sense without seeing the slogan, or vice-versa, then it’s not a good idea.
hater detected
Please educate yourself on the difference between a critique and a hate comment.
Criticism should be constructive and based on arguments.
The logo and visuals make sense separately – since the logo spins, and the slogan says spin. And also, they are supposed to work together, not in separation. Maybe educate yourself on this.
But thanks for your critical comment, I really appreciate it.
Once again, what I said was a critique, not a hate comment.
I explained my critique and stated that if a logo makes no sense without seeing both elements (the logo and slogan) then it’s a flawed design. As a design student, we’re taught that elements of branding should be understandable separate AND together, hence why I said it’s flawed.
Okay, thanks for your perspectives
What? How dare you? You’re just jealous because whoever made the slogan has a talent for exceptional graphic design.
The slogan doesn’t make sense without seeing the logo: a spinning top.
That’s a flawed design.
Lol you’re ridiculous. Should just give up. You’ve got no audience here.
This is a discussion section for an article, right? So what’s with the ‘audience’ comment?
Stop being so ridiculous and respect that everyone has opinions and critiques.
Your opinion is biased given you’re an Azeri and an Armenian-hater. So, we don’t care about your critique or opinion. Go dance for your dictator.
Thallo is literally just expressing his opinion. Calm down please, expressing your opinion does not mean that they are a hater. They just disslike it. Same comes down to not liking Qami Qami, it’s just an opinion. Stop not allowing people to express their opinion, especially if it’s done in a polite manner.
Eurovision slogans rarely mean anything at all, I for one love them mostly because of this. What does “a modern fairytale” mean? no idea, it’s just an excuse for some fun motion graphics (:
Heeheehee… you say so because don’t appreciate REAL art!! 😛
Just waiting for the stage design now.
I really like how they have created branding that is universal, but also reflects Armenian culture – very clever. Shame about having fewer countries, but at least UK is returning. Hopefully, with the return of Germany, and maybe Bulgaria/Azerbaijan/Iceland, the number will go back up next year.
I read the reasoning behind the slogan but as a statement it just doesn’t make a lot of sense?
Everything makes zero sense without seeing the artwork or the slogan, you need to see them together to understand it.
That’s simply a flawed design in my opinion.
It’s for children, though. A toy. Magic. They don’t need to understand or overthink. Just enjoy and get excited. I think it’s better than usual.
If adults can’t understand it, children obviously won’t.
Maybe don´t talk on behalf of all adults?
Kids like spinning tops, or in millenial terms: Beyblades. 🙂
#Letitrip
Hater alert!
meh, he claims to be just a critique LOL
Nice logo. Surely Azerbaijan will be missed, but of course for safety reason it is better not to compete in a country that launches a militaryagression against it
hater
Like it or not, the boss of Armenia’s broadcaster AMPTV hopes the contest will be held in peaceful conditions.
LOL nobody is going to miss your toxic country in the contest. Let’s hope this is the beginning of Azeri withdrawal from Eurovision altogether.
said no one ever outside of azerbaijan. i swear your country has the most brainwashed people i’ve ever encountered, by far haha!
I love how Junior Eurovision kept politics away and there were no dramas about Azerbaijan’s participation. Obviouly they are out because of political reasons, but I like that it did not make the highlights of news, and it was just kept low-key
Or they’re out because they couldn’t bear the thought to broadcast something from Armenia. The Azeri hosts talked over Malena’s performance for 3 minutes non-stop because they’re such haters.
Agreed! Whatever it is, I am glad there were no dramas about it.
bulgaria hopefully saving funds for esc. and azerbaijan hopefully on its way out of esc too!
From our mouth to Martin’s ears. Let’s hope this is the beginning of Azerbaijan’s end at Eurovision.
Definately worth the wait! ? I am excited! ?
The background is dark blue, not purple. As to why it’s used so much, probably because it works more than any other colour. Although it would be nice for something different once in a while, like Italy using red/brown. I would also like to see more countries to join JESC.
This red/brown was so ugly and was one of the reason why I didn’t like the Esc 2022 logo. It’s cool to try to be different but for me it didn’t work.
hmmmm a country run by a dictator that is advocating genocide and has attacked a countries sovereign territory … if russia was thrown out bc of this than azerbaijan has to be banned too not forgetting that azerbaijan has violated esc rules MULTIPLE times
I thought 17 countries had confirmed. So, one country is out?
Bulgaria had confirmed their participation, but they eventually decided to withdraw.
Not surprised by Azerbaijan not participating. One of their fan media tried to get the contest cancelled. Epic fail, Glad the contest can still take place. Also happy for the UK to return. Can’t wait to hear the rest of the songs
On the one hand, I am glad that the competition will take place, but on the other hand, it makes me sad that for the 20th edition of the competition we only have 16 countries, and I already thought that Croatia would come back, and Bulgaria says no, and Azerbaijan also refused, you know why I keep my fingers crossed for the Balkans
I also hope the following countries realize how important Junior Eurovision was to them in their heyday. Belgium: VRT should’ve used Wie wordt Junior has national selection process for Junior Eurovision 2013. Denmark: DR should realize that children never strive to be adults, even if they listen to the likes of Billie Eilish, Ed Sheeran, Rina Sawayama, Lady Gaga, and Ariana Grande. Norway: NRK should realize that participants never feel pressure and basically have the time of their lives. Should TV2 take over, they’ll first need to look into participation and settle for an internal selection unless NRK finally regrets… Read more »
I’m very disappointed in Germany’s “excuse” for withdrawal. And I agree, past countries should have joined the celebration for the 20th edition of the contest – countries like Sweden, Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Belgium…